First World Problems

After yesterday's post I wondered what First World problem I could come up with to rival that. Then I thought about Marmite jars.  The idea of upside down jars is great for sauces and the like but for Marmite? Forget it because it just doesn't work. Apart from needing hands with a vice-like grip (which fortunately I have even if they are not as strong as they used to be) you still have to take the top off to get at most of the contents towards the end. I'll stick with the traditional jar thank you.

More Marmite

Anyone who has followed my blogs will know that I love Marmite: that iconic spread that you either love or hate.  In fact I have probably blogged more about Marmite than I have blogged about pigeons.  Anyway when I was away at Helen and Ian's wedding I received a present from Mark and Bryony.  What?  This or should I say these:

I've been reading the cookbook and the tips and even though I am a big user of Marmite in my cooking I've been quite surprised by some of the obvious things that I've missed.  Perhaps I would never have thought of Marmite and watercress toasted soldiers to use with my boiled egg nor would I have put Marmite in my Roquefort, prawn and pear salad (and I'm not sure that I will even now).  I already put Marmite with my baked beans and in stocks.  However there is a whole new Marmite world about to open up:  chicken, avacado and Marmite mayo wraps here I come.

The Marmite Mug turned out to be the same size as the very large Marmite jars that I buy:

This will be absolutely great for drinking, well, yes, for drinking Marmite.  You could possibly use it for ordinary tea.  But green tea with lemon, coffee, hot chocolate and the like?  I think not.  I'm sure that anything sweet would automatically taste of Marmite. Hmmm.  No thanks.  But for Marmite - absolutely!

A Cynical View of a Jar

Before I start this post I should explain that I am referring to British Marmite (also sold in Australia and New Zealand as My Mate).

I love Marmite.  I love the Marmite jar.  I love peanut butter.  I detest the Sun Pat peanut butter jar.  Why the difference? 

Well firstly I should ask what the similarity is.  The similarity is that they are both almost impossible to empty completely with a knife because of their shape.

What is the difference?

The Marmite jar is iconic.  It has been the shape it has since the 1920s and derives from the shape of the original pot which was an small earthenware pot, similar in shape to the kind of French casserole dish called a 'Marmite' (pronounced MAR-MEET). I had always assumed that this was where Marmite obtained its name but the Marmite website simply says that this may be where Marmite gets its name from.

Back to the point.  The Marmite jar was conceived long before the idea was ever likely to have entered the mind of a marketing guru that there could be difficulties getting the last of the contents out of the jar.  Indeed recently the Company introduced an ‘upside down’ squeezy jar with the specific objective of getting the contents out of the jar more easily.

On the other hand the Sun Pat jar is relatively recent.  If my memory serves me correctly Sun Pat peanut butter originally came in a slightly tapered jar which was wider at the top than the bottom.  More recently the jar you see above was introduced.  A jar which it is almost impossible to empty with a knife.  Think about it.  If you create a jar which when thrown away (or cleaned for recycling) still has, say, 2% of its contents inside then that creates a percentage increase in sales equal to the amount left in the jar.  Or to be exact the difference between the amount left in the new jar and the amount left in a jar which can be emptied to a greater degree.

OK so this was a pretty arcane posting.  But it doesn’t alter the fact that I just don’t like the new Sun Pat peanut butter jar.  So why do I buy it?  Because the Coop where I shop doesn’t sell its own brand.  Perhaps I’ll start going to Tesco for their home brand.

Marmite: Yet Again

Anyone who has followed this blog since its inception and knows me knows that I love Marmite. I'm not the sort of person who insists on eating 'British' food when in another country but I do like my Marmite. In the antipodes there is a substance (I use the word advisedly) called Marmite and another called Vegemite. Vegemite (which was first produced in Australia in 1922), in particular, is revered as the very essence of being Australian. If you want to buy the real McCoy in New Zealand you have to buy My Mate.

Now who on earth buys the little ones?

I can even forgive them the silly labels

A Visit To Gisla

On Tuesday (is it really that long ago?) Pat and Dave and I went over to see Carol and Jenny in Gisla. Apart from the excellent company I always enjoy the fact that there is a wonderful garden surrounded by high trees which provides an excellent home for lots of birds - despite the explosion in the semi-feral cat population. They also provide wonderful still air for the midges but that didn't affect us at this time of year. I had hoped to get some photos of the Dunnocks on the bird table but they left soon after we arrived and I didn't see them again.

The most amusing part of the visit was finding squeezy Marmite. As a lover of Marmite I had reservations about such a potential travesty but I'm assured that it's perfectly good. I do love the Marmite manufacturer's sense of humour though:

Les Anglais et Marmite et The Best of British

Les Anglais en France are often accused of being too English and not adapting to the French way of life and one aspect of that is, of course, food. This is not helped by the fact that most of the areas of France where Les Anglais have colonies have a 'Best of British' shop where can be bought such delicacies as English Supemarket Bread (yes, really).

OK I'm being a bit sniffy and there's no reason why there shouldn't be such shops although most of the larger supermarkets have a British food section in these areas. Oddly enough one item missing from their shelves is English Supermarket Bread!

A blog on the subject of French food versus English food would be impractical because, even dealt with in the most cursory fashion, it couldn't be dealt with in less than a book. I think that it is true to say, though, that the French have a more 'natural' and far less sentimental approach to food; particularly meat. Although nowadays international cuisine is common traditional French food seems to prevail in the countryside.

On the other hand I cannot imagine being anywhere in the world without my

Living Alone

I have known for many years that I am quite content living alone: so long as I am not alone - if you see what I mean. I am fortunate that I am not.

However for the last 6 weeks CJ and I have shared the house and I've been amazed at how well we appear to have managed it without any problems. Well that's not quite true. CJ had to get used to my habit of leaving cupboards and drawers open until I have finished with them. This can be an irritating habit. One that doesn't matter if you live on your own.

I mention this simply because of Marmite. You see I sometimes (and in the past almost always) have Marmite and peanut butter (or something similar) on toast for breakfast. By that I mean that I have a piece of toast and onto it I spread Marmite and then peanut butter. OK so many think that that is a fairly disgusting thing to do but I've been doing it for about 50 years (who says I'm a creature of habit?) and I ain't about to change it now. If you don't live alone it's this sort of thing that can lead to problems. Jenni loved peanut butter but hated Marmite. I put my Marmite on my toast before I spread on the peanut butter. I use the same knife. And in such ways are wars started.........