Don't read the comments... Except the ones under recipes..

Don't read the comments

We hear that a lot as really there are some terribly ignorant people out there who hate to have to actually think...

But what I think is funny is that don't read the comments really applies to recipe websites and apps. Or in fact do read the comments might be more apt, if you want to laugh out loud. Rarely do they give you any helpful advice about the recipe but they sure can be funny. 

                           

So let's make up a user name - how about MrsICan'tCook or MC for short. MC feels it's necessary to leave a comment every time she follows a recipe, and I use the word 'follow' quite lightly.

So MC might say something like this, presumably with the idea of helping guide others in their culinary journey and recipe choices...

'Well I just have to say I don't think I will make this recipe again. I didn't have any yogurt so I used milk instead. I had to add extra flour also. I didn't have any baking powder so used cream of tartar instead. Plus just as I was making it I remembered I hate cinnamon so I just left it out. I didn't bother chopping the nuts as I needed to get this done quickly. So these yogurt cinnamon muffins really didn't turn out. They didn't even look like muffins! They tasted very bland and the texture was funny. I don't recommend this recipe'

Or

'I was unsure about making this as it seemed complicated. But I gave it a go! I don't like duck so I used chicken. I didn't have cherries so used raisins instead. I prefer not to use butter in cooking so I left that out. When it was done the chicken was a bit dry even though I cooked it for as long as the recipe stated. Plus the raisins were tough and didn't really make much of a sauce. I don't think I would make this again.' 

Poor dear MC. She really has a pea for a brain doesn't she? Look for her though. Next time you search for a recipe have a look at the comments and chances are MC will be there. It's why so many great recipes never get 5 full stars. Because people like MC will bring down the recipe score with their fantastic improvements. 

Also you know MC might be the type of person who feels she has to leave comments about every restaurant and hotel she has ever visited too... Maybe in a future blog MC will comment on her latest holiday. It won't have been fun because MC lives to criticise. If there is nothing to criticise she will simply make something up...

Till next time! 

Some headlines you just have to click on..

There are some headlines you just have to click on. 

Some days you find yourself looking at the oddest pages on the Internet. Those days you often find the silliest or strangest stories that you cannot help clicking on. So yesterday the three stories I just had to click on I thought I would share with you. 

1. "Highway crash cooks chickens, frees bees" 

Seriously how could you not want to read further? Two trucks, one carrying bees and the other frozen chickens manage to crash and cause a huge fireball. The drivers were fine so it's ok to chuckle. Turns out the chooks got cooked, so to speak. I can't help but think of the lovely smell wafting through the air.... The bees needed rounding up so a bee keeper was quickly located. His job was made easier by the fact that the bees seemed somewhat stunned by all the smoke. Possibly too by the fact they suddenly had no idea where they were

2. "Tortoise stolen twice in one weekend." 

Who steals a tortoise? Turns out more than one person. Teo the tortoise who lived happily ( I assume) at Puxton Park Farm in the UK was pinched one Saturday. The farm put out urgent calls for his return and it seems the thief had a pang of conscience and returned Teo. Phew! Except no because a few hours later someone else ( presumably it was someone else) stole Teo again, only this time the thief nabbed Taylor the Tortoise as well! 

So many things going round my mind while reading this story. How does someone manage to disguise two tortoises and get away? Why is it that everyone gives tortoises names that start with a T? Why not Benjamin Tortoise? Or Harold? Of course the big question is why steal a tortoise ( or two?) 

Turns out the BBC is to blame, well sort of. They adapted the Roald Dahl story Esio Trot for TV and it was popular viewing. The gist of the story is that a lonely old man woos his neighbour with a scheme of using ever larger tortoises. The International Tortoise association ( yes, apparently there is such a thing...)  has warned there will be a rush on obtaining tortoises due to the shows success. 

Well let's hope Teo and Taylor find their way home soon and that stupid people don't go stealing animals because of what are obviously comedic elements to fictional stories! 

3. "Mystic Mog: Cat turns light on every time you press her nose" 

How super cool does this sound? Or look even as there is an accompanying video clip. The cat sits next to the touch lamp and its owner presses her nose and the light comes on! Of course it's not magic but simply about making a circuit and easily explained scientifically. So it really isn't all that great a story though it does look sweet. Now if touching the cats nose could turn on the ceiling light or change the TV channel then I would be impressed...

That's it for today. Stay tuned as you never know when I might aimlessly track down odd stories which could well provide for another instalment!