(prompt: 'start' 17/4/2020)

My mother would have told you my sense of humour was seriously warped, right from the start... when I kept her awake night after night, both before and after birth, demanding attention and someone to listen to me (I hadn't learned to write yet). Possibly, it's all been worsened by the present putrid pandemic or plannedemic or damned panic or whatever you choose. My choice is 'un-Australian'... but that's another story.

Thanks to an abundance of spinach, I was seeking new and exciting recipes, when off to one side - meant to distract my taste buds, but capturing my imagination instead! - came a suggestion of Baked Buffalo Wings. It's not the first time I've seen mention of these delicacies (?) - but it never ceases to put a foolish grin on my face as I try to imagine the size wings it would take to get a buffalo airborne. Would not want to be in a traffic jam with aeronauticals such as them. Imagine an aerial holding pattern of a herd of flying buffaloes (and it may pay to stop imagining right now, right there! The picture gets decidedly ugly.)

The culinary side of Life just became far more cheerful as I considered Lamb Drumsticks - cannot stop imagining a flock of woolly jumpers mincing around on dainty little chicken-like drumstick legs; flitting the light fandango over the fields; cha-cha-ing through the clover; baa-ing through the barley. No time to be sheepish, girls - especially if the rams are a-ramping! Best keep top speed engaged, fellows - on the next page of the cookbook there were Curried Lamb Balls. Oowhaa...

Then along came Spam Sushi. I'm really not surprised by that one - can't say I've ever heard or seen any 'well-done' SPAM. Have you? With the swing back to home cooking with a focus on 'tried but true' recipes, how about the good old Pigs in a Blanket? And I found a Southern USA dish called Hoppin' John, that I understand is possibly a kissing cousin of Limping Susan, another well-loved dish from that neck of the woods.

I reminisced and licked my lips at the thought of those delicious antiquities called Bubble and Squeak, Devils on Horseback and Toad in the Hole. And when I remembered another golden oldie, Junket, I got to wondering if that was actually an early recycling effort? When I arrived at the cheesy section, I discovered a hitherto unknown - truly a cheese described as having an odor reminiscent of dirty socks and wet towels. It's called Stinking Bishop cheese. Hmm...

But best news awaits on the other side of all the current angst - a recipe for a feast when the icy-lation business is done. It's Stuffed Camel, a delicious delight you can enjoy at leisure with 149 of your closest friends!

I DID try to warn you not to get me started, but would you listen??

I've previously mentioned liquid lovelies I have known.

Another day for the rest. OK?