The best British TV period dramas?

So ….. which are the best British TV period dramas?  The best Dickens I have seen were two of his lesser-known works, Bleak House and Little Dorrit which were superior to the better-known Great Expectations and Oliver Twist.

My favorites would definitely include Elizabeth Gaskell’s Wives & Daughters and North & South.  I thought that Cranford was just too “soap opera” and dragged on rather. As did Lark Rise to Candleford though it must be mentioned that some of Flora Thompson’s characters were based on cousins of mine (the Waine’s of Oxfordshire).

John Galsworthy’s The Forsyte Saga certainly gets a nod but I much preferred the newer (2002) version to the “classic” Nyree Dawn Porter original ….. but then the later production has Gina McKee in it which explains all.  If we extend the comments to later in the 20^th century then of course Brideshead Revisited is absolutely superb.

What?  No Jane Austin? What heresy is this?  Too many titles, too many versions so they all morph into one storyline. George Elliott? Her stories were way too sugary for me, especially Mill on the Floss and Silas Marner. The exception of course was Middlemarch but I am not sure the 1994 production has stood the test of time. Maybe I should give it another shot.

And the Bronte’s?  I do not think that any of the TV versions have done justice to the originals but then, I’m a Yorkshire lad.

What is the perfect muesli recipe?

Cost and quantities.  Homemade muesli is not necessarily a cheap breakfast but it’s nutritious and very tasty. I have not specified quantities because it’s fun to experiment.  A starting point might be cereal/dried fruit/nuts in the ratio of about 8/3/2 cups.

Cereal.  Always use organic cereal whenever possible. Usually the basis of muesli is oats. It’s also good to add a combination of barley, wheat and rye flakes if you can get them. Alternatively, a lot of quality stores will sell a “five-grain” combo already mixed.

Dried Fruit. Raisins are usually the staple but do add something else for interest.  Dried cranberries (which come slightly sweetened) are a good extra. Dried blueberries or cherries are both quite expensive and the difference in taste might be lost in the mix anyway. Mix up the raisins and cranberries (or whatever) with some finely ground flax seeds or similar to prevent “clumping”. Chopped dates are also good: they can often be bought already chopped or minced and lightly dusted in flour.

Nuts. Sliced/slivered almonds are the norm. A good second nut is the hazelnut (chopped of course), also known as

Seeds. I am not sure whether it matters whether you use pumpkin seeds or melon seeds. Either way, they should be toasted in the oven at 350 degrees until brown. This should take about 30 minutes.  Check them every five minutes so they do not burn. Some people lightly toss the seeds in canola oil or similar before toasting but I am not sure that is absolutely necessary.

Healthy additives. There are many choices. Here are five alternatives:

Wheat germ.  A good source of various nutrients including Vitamin E and folic acid. Note that wheat germ can become rancid if not properly stored in a refrigerator. This is obviously still true even after it’s been added to the muesli.

Flax seed. Sometimes comes across as the modern “snake oil”. Still, it is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids amongst other things. It should be ground before use.

Chia. Cultivated by the Aztecs and can be used as an alternative to flax. I see no convincing reason to add both.

Psyllium. This is claimed to be effective in reducing blood cholesterol levels. Note that it can be a choking hazard if taken without adequate fluid!

Hemp seed. This is high in essential fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6.

Whatever you use, all should be quite fine and so do not add too much. Otherwise the final product will taste distinctly “dusty”.

Sugar?  Of course this is pure heresy to purist muesli eaters. For many people the dried fruit will provide enough sweetener. However, if you do have a sweet tooth and your diet can accommodate a soupcon of extra sugar, add a couple of tablespoons of soft brown sugar to the mix. 

Road Menders

Eons ago, a little boy who liked ice-cream also used to like digging holes. And so, from a very early age, he used to go down to the dirt lane at the bottom of his garden and play “road menders”. 

That consisted of digging up some of the smaller rocks in the lane and then filling in the resulting hole again, smoothing things out as he proceeded.

Years later, this same little boy married this little girl.

The little girl liked plants. Plants need holes.

And so, the little boy gets to play “road menders” again. Digging the holes and filling them in again.

I think there is an expression “what goes around comes round”.  What a truism this is.