I have seemed to be a week ahead of myself. All this week I have been a day ahead. Oh well no matter, if you were out in the grande heat, you too would have a scrambled brain. So I have renumbered the weeks on the website and now I’m up-to-date. So we are just finishing up our 4th week. Hmm, and what happened this week that would amuse you? surprise you? or bore you to death? Let me think.
Food - we’re not fasting so we can talk about it. Dates are coming into season and literally dropping off the trees. I hope that we can acquire some along the way and try them out apparently they are delicious! Dried fruits are fabulous and plentiful. Vegetables can be hit and miss. The beets looked great for a salad with feta and so on, but felt like sponges. I saw fennel bulbs written on a sign but they were very sad, I think they’d caught the bus to the store. Frozen artichokes are delicious. All olives from Spain are divine. Cheeses from France in particular are mouthwatering. The French Butter which Deanne put us onto in Houston is here, we do melt it off in the heat so we can enjoy a little. The Norwegian salmon is fresh and wonderful. Marinaded chicken in a presealed bag with Moroccan spices is really tasty.
Jamie Oliver and his products have made their way into the pantry and what a blessing they have been.
It’s hard to cook without the usual accompaniments.
Risotto with porcinni mushrooms sounded great and looked marvelous in a black cardboard box elegantly scripted in gold embossed Italian. After I’d gently turned the rice to a golden brown in olive oil I reached for the cup of white wine, oh no I whined, no wine! Chicken broth, that French Butter, and sea salt I threw everything I could think of into the risotto and at best it tasted like creamed salty risotto with a missing element, a large missing element - the rounding out element of wine or sherry which I sometimes add to my risotto. Revision, used to add to my risotto. I don’t think I’ll be making risotto again any time soon.
Last night we scored a home run. Rex made a fabulous salad with his awesome dressing. We enjoyed Tandoori Chicken kebabas with a Tomato and Onion couscous accompaniment, a British brand - Waitrose. We purchased several packages on sale. Apparently, like refugees, if we find something we like we are wise to purchase in “bulk” as we may not see it again, for many months ahead. This meal, the NZ Lamb roast and a NZ lamb chop meal, and the NZ Green Lipped Mussels and pasta meal, have been the best we’ve had in a month. I have no idea what we’ll be enjoying tonight.
As I close off, I am about to make Jay, Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookies - yes, I have succumbed to packaged mix for the time being. Today’s forecast is 44C or 111F, so I’ll just add to the heat and get cooking before Jay arrives home from Miss Bunny’s Day School which he is now attending 5 mornings a week. 7.45am to 11am.