Oh new starts.
I am fairly settled in a new house with marvellous housemates. Our shower pours through the ceiling, and everywhere we move is full of boxes. It’s rather humbling seeing your whole life packed up, I’d forgotten.
I’m getting used to early mornings, smelling of Lush all the time (mmm), being glittery a lot and, oddly, having a massive team. They’re wonderful, batty and passionate and funny and clever, and I’m thoroughly enjoying work.
At home, I’m learning my way round a gas oven (oh hellooooooooooooo, sexy gas hob), the oven’s a bit under temp but I’ve just turned out a perfect loaf so I feel like I know my way round it now.
My first big project with the oven was pumpkin pie. No recipe as it was all a bit ad-hoc, a little onion squash roasted with butter, then mashed with maybe 200g soft light brown sugar, 300ml buttermilk, two eggs and poured into a blind-baked sweet shortcrust pastry case. Baked for an hour and a half on a medium gas mark, though it turns out my oven is maybe a gas mark below what it should be.
Things aren’t perfect, but I’m roasting pumpkins and sharing wine with my lovely housemates, working with a brilliant team and about to embark on a very exciting PhD.
I love to bake, it’s like creating your own little atmosphere. If only I had a magic crab…
