New paintings and regular art updates.
I’m tired and want something quick for tea. I’ve got a few old mushrooms, some king prawns and some baby corn. I’m frying it up with a bit of curry powder.
Then…. I’m going to boil some water and add it to a couple of curry pot noodle things. Once that’s ready I will decant it into a bowl and add the prawn mushroom and baby corn topping…. Noodles with a twist!
Cheers!
You know the story, turn on Instagram and you get photos in a restaurant of beautifully prepared food. Tasty, colourful, edible, delicious.
The trouble is that my photos are usually empty plates… I don’t remember to take a photo until the food is half eaten. Sometimes I take a photo of an ornament or a reflection in a mirror. You don’t have to keep to the rules if you don’t want to. I’d rather show an empty plate which means that I enjoyed the food rather than a pretty picture…..
I really must use these apples up. We have had them for a couple of weeks and apart from stewing them I also made an apple lattice pie. But its that time of year when you get a glut of fruit. Im wondering whether to slice them up and then freeze them? Or maybe make them into apple sauce, or even chutney. But I dont have any recipes. I guess I could make something up…..
I made some cider with a friend last year, its still brewing as far as I know, but she moved away and I dont want to pester her about it.
Apples are interesting. I think there are a lot of old varieties that have disappeared over the years, leaving one or two surviving without people knowing where they are. Old trees in old orchards that have been neglected. But which might be an extraordinary discovery if one is ever found.
More sketches. These are of the restaurant by the river in Otley (finished), a pine tree outside the wizard tea room at Alderley Edge on the way home where we stopped for lunch. A woman and her dog sitting outside at a picnic table at the wizard tea room.
We travelled about 140 miles on that day so I was desperate fit a sit down and it was good to sketch while we were waiting for our food. A similar thing happened at the restaurant. We had a bit of a wait so I sketched the view but the food arrived before I could finish it so I added a few details when we were on the way home.
This is my part cooked pie!
I will add a photo when its cooked. I’m pretty sure it will have a soggy bottom. I’m using pre made puff pasty and some eating apples we got last week that needed using up. I lined a glass pie dish with foil and used butter to stop the pastry sticking. I had raised up the sides of the pastry and bent them in at the top over the top of the apples. I have put it in the oven on gas mark 7 for half an hour.
I can’t eat much sugar so have used a synthetic sugar substitute but because the apples are quite sweet I only used a couple of teaspoons of it.
Used one egg to glaze it, then realised there was too much so poured the rest into the pie through the holes in the roughly made lattice! So basically it’s thrown together, and with the puff pastry it might be a bit flaky!
Will edit when its cooked!
Cooked a little bit burnt…….
Now to make custard!
I’m trying to be a bit healthier so I decided to sautee some vegetables, (mangetout, carrot, onion, orange pepper, mushrooms). …added Brown rice and some tomato pasta sauce at the end.
I like this sort of simple cooking, not too much oil, a bit of water, to keep the fat levels down….not too much pasta sauce, save the rest for tomorrow.
I’m so lucky to have these things available to me. Most of the world does not have a selection of fresh vegetables and meat you can buy all year round. People lack fresh water and sanitation. Life can be hard and harsh. It’s only when you think about others that you realise how well off you are.
I wonder how I would manage if I was put in the situation, the life, of someone living on under a dollar a day? I can’t imagine the hardships. I don’t know enough about it to comment so I will leave the thought in my mind and try and find out more.
Is it wrong to say our way of life is superior anyway? The busy urban life we lead in western cities and towns robs us of contact with nature. The 24 hour a day culture that had grown up around us keeps us from sunlight and air. We are cocooned in our glass plated homes. A chrysalis waiting to emerge? Or to die because we overheated?
Perhaps it would be better if the world shared and pooled its resources, a bit less for the rich, a bit more for the poor. Yes I admit I am an idealist. I want the best for all humanity. If I could share this meal I would,
X.
A continuation of my theme on colours. Lime green seems to mean food to me. I have tried to write a poem about it. Its made me want a curry!
Lime is green, lime as jelly
Lime tastes nice inside my belly.
Lime with gin, lime and lemon,
Lime a sorbet, lime juice with salmon.
Lime is acid, sharp, zesty,
Lime is sweet and lime is tasty.
Lime the colour of new leaves,
Lime is shimmering, cool as a breeze.
Lime is good with chilli too….
Lime pickle burns my mouth anew.
Mallaband-Brown