C++
I made a vow about 20 years ago not to attempt to learn C++, when a colleague went on a C++ course. I did buy a C++ book, but it wasn’t that useful. I have looked at the source of various C++ programs over the years to attempt to find out how they worked. I have, until recently, invariably found that the code that does something useful is either hidden in include files, or buried so deep in obscure code that just seems to create and do strange things with various objects, that I have been unable to find it.
Read more →Java Collections
I find Java Collections frustrating and insane. I have been through this loop on several occasions. I decide I want a list to do whatever. So I look up List in the docs and find it’s an interface, ie: roll yer own. So I look down the hierarchy and find AbstractList, which is abstract, again: roll yer own. So finally I get to ArrayList which might do the job, but the docs aren’t too clear, so I try it and it works.
Read more →Stuffed Peppers
Lunch for two. Ingredients 4 bell peppers 1/2 cup cous cous 6-8 slices chorizo cut into four pieces 2-3 cloves garlic, sliced small onion, chopped 1/4 vegetable stock cube 1/2 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp oregano boiling water olive oil Method Trim the stems of the peppers, cut the tops off, and remove the seeds and pulp from inside. Cover the bottom of a small pan with oil and add the garlic, onion, chorizo, paprika and oregano, place on a gentle heat and cook until the onions are transparent.
Read more →Unobtainium
unob·ta·ni·um (unob-tayn-ium) Ingredient not available on the shelf at your local major supermarket. If you attempt to use any celebrity or TV chef recipe, you will find at least one ingredient is unobtainable locally. You will also find a healthy disregard of the cleaning up operation afterwards. Usually most of this nonsense can be safely ignored and locally available ingredients used instead, and the recipe converted from an N-pot recipe to a one-pot recipe.
Read more →Coarse Ratatouille
This is slow cooked vegetables using whatever comes to hand. Ingredients Onions, sliced Potatoes, sliced Carrots, sliced Whatever else is going, sliced or chopped Oil Large heavy frying pan or skillet with lid Method Warm up your skillet and put a dollop of oil in it Arrange a layer of sliced onions, making sure to spread the oil around Next a layer of sliced potato Next a layer of sliced carrots Add layers of whatever else is to hand to fill up the pan Pour a bit more oil over the top Put the lid on and cook gently until the carrots are cooked.
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