StokeySue
@stokeysue.bsky.social
Retired scientist, interested in science, medicine, food, drink, and travel. Rapidly losing patience with politics.
I made Madhur Jaffrey's cabbage dal at the weekend, except I used the rosette of leaves from a cauliflower instead of cabbage, I considered adding a touch of asafoetida but surprisingly the browned garlic, onions and cauli in the tarka tasted to me as if there was just a little in there,
December 3, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I made Madhur Jaffrey's cabbage dal at the weekend, except I used the rosette of leaves from a cauliflower instead of cabbage, I considered adding a touch of asafoetida but surprisingly the browned garlic, onions and cauli in the tarka tasted to me as if there was just a little in there,
I itch at the mere idea of a hot bath, especially one with Luxury Stuff in it but sounds like a Sunday thing if you enjoy it
September 7, 2025 at 10:06 PM
I itch at the mere idea of a hot bath, especially one with Luxury Stuff in it but sounds like a Sunday thing if you enjoy it
Also variants such as the clothing firm, who when I looked at a top online sent an email ‘we caught you peeking…’ - where’s GDPR when you need it?
September 7, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Also variants such as the clothing firm, who when I looked at a top online sent an email ‘we caught you peeking…’ - where’s GDPR when you need it?
Speaking as a retired biomedical scientist with both allergies and issues with other substances - ridiculous to try to cover so much in one article, it’s unfocused and inaccurate.
I am a fan of La Roche Posay Toleriane range, no fragrance, packed to allow minimal use of preservatives.
I am a fan of La Roche Posay Toleriane range, no fragrance, packed to allow minimal use of preservatives.
September 7, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Speaking as a retired biomedical scientist with both allergies and issues with other substances - ridiculous to try to cover so much in one article, it’s unfocused and inaccurate.
I am a fan of La Roche Posay Toleriane range, no fragrance, packed to allow minimal use of preservatives.
I am a fan of La Roche Posay Toleriane range, no fragrance, packed to allow minimal use of preservatives.
I was 26 in 1980 and I read Cosmopolitan so well aware of the diet fads
September 6, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I was 26 in 1980 and I read Cosmopolitan so well aware of the diet fads
I think 2 slightly different things?
Grapefruit with sugar for breakfast started afaik as a 1930s marketing thing
The diet was the 'Mayo Clinic Diet', grapefruit before any meal to 'speed the metabolism' (lol) and lots of hard boiled eggs. The Mayo disowned it.
Grapefruit with sugar for breakfast started afaik as a 1930s marketing thing
The diet was the 'Mayo Clinic Diet', grapefruit before any meal to 'speed the metabolism' (lol) and lots of hard boiled eggs. The Mayo disowned it.
September 6, 2025 at 7:01 PM
I think 2 slightly different things?
Grapefruit with sugar for breakfast started afaik as a 1930s marketing thing
The diet was the 'Mayo Clinic Diet', grapefruit before any meal to 'speed the metabolism' (lol) and lots of hard boiled eggs. The Mayo disowned it.
Grapefruit with sugar for breakfast started afaik as a 1930s marketing thing
The diet was the 'Mayo Clinic Diet', grapefruit before any meal to 'speed the metabolism' (lol) and lots of hard boiled eggs. The Mayo disowned it.
They are increasingly often doing that thing of making the 4th part of a row so obscure and tenuously linked to the others it's random even when you have spotted the category
September 5, 2025 at 11:09 AM
They are increasingly often doing that thing of making the 4th part of a row so obscure and tenuously linked to the others it's random even when you have spotted the category
Didn’t realise you knew ‘mes cousines’
September 4, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Didn’t realise you knew ‘mes cousines’
The thing is the earthing up , used for the fenland stuff, if you can get it,was the standard UK method of growing it until perhaps the 1960s and my grandpa, whose veg won prizes in the 1920s, didn’t trust ‘self-blanching’ celery.
August 28, 2025 at 12:04 PM
The thing is the earthing up , used for the fenland stuff, if you can get it,was the standard UK method of growing it until perhaps the 1960s and my grandpa, whose veg won prizes in the 1920s, didn’t trust ‘self-blanching’ celery.
It was one of those things my Dad said was better after a frost, and as we grew trench celery we were still burying it in September.
I’ve found that summer celery often has the flower stalk which is tough and bitter so I don’t buy it now.
I’ve found that summer celery often has the flower stalk which is tough and bitter so I don’t buy it now.
August 28, 2025 at 8:01 AM
It was one of those things my Dad said was better after a frost, and as we grew trench celery we were still burying it in September.
I’ve found that summer celery often has the flower stalk which is tough and bitter so I don’t buy it now.
I’ve found that summer celery often has the flower stalk which is tough and bitter so I don’t buy it now.
Celery in August? Is it edible before Halloween?
August 27, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Celery in August? Is it edible before Halloween?
I think the only time I’ve had a leamington - made by a Kiwi in London so possibly a variant - she might have replaced both copha and cocoa with something like Scotbloc, one of those chocolate flavoured meltable coatings. I don’t like desecrated coconut though.
August 27, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I think the only time I’ve had a leamington - made by a Kiwi in London so possibly a variant - she might have replaced both copha and cocoa with something like Scotbloc, one of those chocolate flavoured meltable coatings. I don’t like desecrated coconut though.
Going clippity-clop on the stair
August 26, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Going clippity-clop on the stair
How lovely, but sorry for your loss, condolences
August 19, 2025 at 4:32 PM
How lovely, but sorry for your loss, condolences
Thanks - no I never prep a full pesto to store, always at least add cheese when using
August 14, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Thanks - no I never prep a full pesto to store, always at least add cheese when using
I run a local Facebook group so
Ad: we’re hiring [catering staff]! For details & to apply call Jim on 111 222 333
17 responses: please inbox me with details
Every single time
Ad: we’re hiring [catering staff]! For details & to apply call Jim on 111 222 333
17 responses: please inbox me with details
Every single time
August 14, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I run a local Facebook group so
Ad: we’re hiring [catering staff]! For details & to apply call Jim on 111 222 333
17 responses: please inbox me with details
Every single time
Ad: we’re hiring [catering staff]! For details & to apply call Jim on 111 222 333
17 responses: please inbox me with details
Every single time
Intrigued. Never come across this before. Does it work with a single herb? I have a small hedge of Thai basil, most of which will go to waste
August 14, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Intrigued. Never come across this before. Does it work with a single herb? I have a small hedge of Thai basil, most of which will go to waste
Well, you can stitch that on a cushion.
But it is reasonable to expect that named movements with a common aim have some consistency in their approach.
But it is reasonable to expect that named movements with a common aim have some consistency in their approach.
August 11, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Well, you can stitch that on a cushion.
But it is reasonable to expect that named movements with a common aim have some consistency in their approach.
But it is reasonable to expect that named movements with a common aim have some consistency in their approach.
I’m not in favour of the ban either. But I have seen the scary CCTV of 3 men claiming to represent PA wrecking a legitimate local Jewish owned business they allege are landlords of an Israeli arms firm (denied), not expressing free speech, not peaceful; PA is not a homogeneous group at all.
August 11, 2025 at 10:46 AM
I’m not in favour of the ban either. But I have seen the scary CCTV of 3 men claiming to represent PA wrecking a legitimate local Jewish owned business they allege are landlords of an Israeli arms firm (denied), not expressing free speech, not peaceful; PA is not a homogeneous group at all.
That took me way too long!
August 9, 2025 at 5:51 PM
That took me way too long!
I stayed in student halls in Glasgow a couple of years ago, not that different from one in London 50 years ago, except the room was much bigger with a double not single bed, there was an en suite shower room, and the kitchen-diners on each corridor were bigger and better equipped, and key cards
August 9, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I stayed in student halls in Glasgow a couple of years ago, not that different from one in London 50 years ago, except the room was much bigger with a double not single bed, there was an en suite shower room, and the kitchen-diners on each corridor were bigger and better equipped, and key cards
I don’t think that’s cultural lag at all - the word Stan is alive and kicking, why not look at its history? Which many R4 stans won’t know of course 😂
August 7, 2025 at 8:52 AM
I don’t think that’s cultural lag at all - the word Stan is alive and kicking, why not look at its history? Which many R4 stans won’t know of course 😂
I also have my father’s cousin Emanuel, same, who died before dad was born and so he had no memory of him, and I think WW2 reset memories
August 5, 2025 at 10:10 AM
I also have my father’s cousin Emanuel, same, who died before dad was born and so he had no memory of him, and I think WW2 reset memories
All the cranks insist that in any argument with them you only win it by citing THE single research paper that 'proves' your point, and if you mention there's whole body of evidence you are just sie0stepping, while they continue to cite one 1935 paper that hasn't specifically been rebutted
August 3, 2025 at 2:22 PM
All the cranks insist that in any argument with them you only win it by citing THE single research paper that 'proves' your point, and if you mention there's whole body of evidence you are just sie0stepping, while they continue to cite one 1935 paper that hasn't specifically been rebutted
How much worse is it going to be than the aging cleric who having been given 5 bullet point pieces of information about the deceased delivers a long and rambling speech that doesn't touch on any of them? I've sat through a few of those
August 3, 2025 at 12:51 PM
How much worse is it going to be than the aging cleric who having been given 5 bullet point pieces of information about the deceased delivers a long and rambling speech that doesn't touch on any of them? I've sat through a few of those