It’s a long time since I’ve needed a blood test – last time the tourniquet had a vampire pattern on! This time the nurse had trouble finding a viable vein and I came home feeling like a pincushion. I’ve spent the day wrapping my brain round my dissertation, and needed something to clear my mind this evening.
I’ve been on a bit of a cracker kick – crisp seedy crackers with cream cheese or guacamole have made up lunch at least three times this week. I was running short of crackers, so thought I’d try making them myself.
Herby spelt crackers with chicken liver and mushroom pâté
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Always a little on the odd side, my friends Meg and Drew looked at the continuous heavy rain of the last month, and organised a barbecue for yesterday. Time away from my dissertation, and the novel chance to not be the one in the kitchen, enticed me over.
It is considered good practice, of course, to arrive with drink or food. Everyone else was instructed to bring the booze: from me, couscous. I volunteered to bring cupcakes too, as sweet stuff never goes unwanted at social events.
red velvet cupcakes, and black bottom cheesecake cupcakes… Continue reading →
It’s summer, which means rain and wind and breezy sunlight. The garden has exploded into a cool jungle. The french beans have climbed their extra supports, becoming so heavy that they’ve made arches and swaying, leafy bridges across the garden, covered in creamy flowers. Everything that needs to ripen is teetering on the edge, waiting for a burst of sunshine to bring out the colour. Whole vines of fat green tomatoes keep promising me they’ll be ready next week.
The summer here means heavy rain, and the garden has been thoroughly soaked. I needed cosseting, comforting. I spent the other weekend back home, enjoying the clear air and beautiful Yorkshire landscape. Coffee and a film with an old friend turned into drinks and kisses, as unexpected as it was delicious. All our old familiarities seemed to have become comforts, things we shared unselfconsciously. Too promising, the loveliness has failed to materialise and he has disappeared from contact. So a weekend forward, and I need comfort and peace: the rich complexity of rhubarb snuggled under mounds of fluffy crisp-topped meringue. And perhaps a glass of wine or two.
Rhubarb Meringue Pie Continue reading →
Hullo blogosphere. Hardly a virgin blogger, but a littler nervy nontheless. I cook, I eat, and all the other things I do are slightly defined by my love of both. When forced out of the kitchen, I’m an MA student still slightly startled to find myself studying children’s books. I’ve just spent a month writing recipes for a cookbook and realised it’s a lot more fun than it sounds. Food is meant to be shared, so here is my food, and my world.
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