We went to Leclerc this morning and then the Wok place for lunch. It's been raining on and off all day. I hope it's dry tomorrow as we are going to see Richard III in the open air tomorrow evening, a visiting English Shakespeare company. I think we had summer in June, it seems to be over now.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
My son competed in the 100m for his local club and school at county level in his teens so I love watching the sprints, but I'm gripped by all the track events and most of the field too ... and at the moment son is involved in setting up the Communications along the Mall for the Walking events on Sunday, so I shall be watching those ............ he did the Comms on Tower Bridge for the Marathon the other day, and has also been working on the sound system in the VIP area of the stadium so he's been surrounded by his heroes ...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We had a lovely walk. We could have done with a bit more breeze to dry the sweat, but it's a very varied route including ancient woods, late bilberries, muddy fields with views, flowery meadows, tracks past picturesque houses, steep ups and steep downs...
...finishing with a cafe lunch in the next town, including pudding... ...and then we took the bus home. Bit stiff now but feeling content.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Gorgeous flowers, Obx and Dacha. Evening light and lilies always makes me think of that John Singer Sargent painting 'Carnation, lily, lily, rose'. My lilies were eaten by squirrels. I'll try again next year.
I watched the first part of Man in the Orange Shirt when it was on, but haven't caught up with the second part yet. I hear it's even better. Did anyone watch that Joy of Stats programme that was on quite recently? It wasn't new but it was brilliant.
Had a bit of a garden tidy today as we've got family coming for a barbecue on Saturday. But spent most of the day trying to make the house vaguely presentable, as it looks like it might be a bit chilly to spend much time outside. Making a cake or two tomorrow and then all the food on the actual day will be OH's territory. Any ideas for something I can prepare in advance with courgettes (savoury, not a cake)?
Anyone heard from DD recently?
Oh and 'hi' back to Liri .
Last edited: 10 August 2017 22:08:56
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
We like courgette fritters flavoured with curry powder.
You could keep it simple and spiralise or ribbon slice the courgettes then dress with lemon juice and olive oil and maybe some fresh mint or thyme according to preference.
There's a wonderful tagine recipe in one of Prue Lieth's books using aubergines which I really don't like any more so now I substitute chunks of courgette but don't cook them as long -
Tagine of Aubergine, Dates and Almonds - 6
Taken from Leith's Contemporary Cooking, Bloomsbury Publishing 1994
If you don't like aubergines, use courgettes cut lengthways into four strips then cut across into chunks. Treat with salt as directed to remove excess water and firm them up or they'll collapse into a horrible mush.
4 firm aubergines, cut into chunks 5 tbs olive oil 2 large onions, roughly chopped 4 wide strips lemon zest 2 fat cloves garlic, crushed 2 tbs ground turmeric 1 tbs ground cinnamon or a few pieces of whole cinnamon 800g tinned, chopped tomatoes 2 tbs chopped coriander ½ lemon, juice only 1 tin chick peas, drained 200g fresh dates, stoned and cut into 4 lengthways 100g whole blanched almonds, toasted salt and pepper to taste
Place the aubergine chunks in a colander, sprinkle generously with salt and leave for 30 minutes, tossing occasionally to redistribute the salt. Rinse thoroughly and drain. This helps prevent them absorbing too much oil.
Heat the oil in a casserole and fry the onions and lemon zest over a low heat for about 10 minutes until the onion is transparent. Add the garlic, turmeric and cinnamon, turn up the heat and fry till the onions start to brown. Stir in the aubergine chunks and cook till they start to brown.
Reduce heat and add the tomatoes, coriander and lemon juice and simmer for twenty minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. You can prepare the dish a day ahead to this point if you like.
Add the chick peas, dates and almonds and stir. If the mixture is dry, add a little water. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Check seasoning and serve with couscous or rice.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
Here you go Ob.... they look wonderful
I'm in front of the athletics now .........................
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
So which discipline do you dream about Dove ?
Amazing lilies!
I haven't had email notifications today.
We went to Leclerc this morning and then the Wok place for lunch. It's been raining on and off all day. I hope it's dry tomorrow as we are going to see Richard III in the open air tomorrow evening, a visiting English Shakespeare company. I think we had summer in June, it seems to be over now.
My son competed in the 100m for his local club and school at county level in his teens so I love watching the sprints, but I'm gripped by all the track events and most of the field too ... and at the moment son is involved in setting up the Communications along the Mall for the Walking events on Sunday, so I shall be watching those ............ he did the Comms on Tower Bridge for the Marathon the other day, and has also been working on the sound system in the VIP area of the stadium so he's been surrounded by his heroes ...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi everyone. I love the LillIes. They look very healthy and happy.
Dacha, that's a very unusual shaped building. Is it built with the steep roof for snow reasons?
Beautiful lilies, Dacha & Obelixx.
We had a lovely walk. We could have done with a bit more breeze to dry the sweat, but it's a very varied route including ancient woods, late bilberries, muddy fields with views, flowery meadows, tracks past picturesque houses, steep ups and steep downs...
...finishing with a cafe lunch in the next town, including pudding...
...and then we took the bus home. Bit stiff now but feeling content. 
Gorgeous flowers, Obx and Dacha. Evening light and lilies always makes me think of that John Singer Sargent painting 'Carnation, lily, lily, rose'. My lilies were eaten by squirrels. I'll try again next year.
I watched the first part of Man in the Orange Shirt when it was on, but haven't caught up with the second part yet. I hear it's even better. Did anyone watch that Joy of Stats programme that was on quite recently? It wasn't new but it was brilliant.
Had a bit of a garden tidy today as we've got family coming for a barbecue on Saturday. But spent most of the day trying to make the house vaguely presentable, as it looks like it might be a bit chilly to spend much time outside. Making a cake or two tomorrow and then all the food on the actual day will be OH's territory. Any ideas for something I can prepare in advance with courgettes (savoury, not a cake)?
Anyone heard from DD recently?
Oh and 'hi' back to Liri
.
Last edited: 10 August 2017 22:08:56
Hi LG. I like baked courgettes stuffed with veggies a bit like this - https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2141644/italian-stuffed-courgettes
We like courgette fritters flavoured with curry powder.
You could keep it simple and spiralise or ribbon slice the courgettes then dress with lemon juice and olive oil and maybe some fresh mint or thyme according to preference.
There's a wonderful tagine recipe in one of Prue Lieth's books using aubergines which I really don't like any more so now I substitute chunks of courgette but don't cook them as long -
Tagine of Aubergine, Dates and Almonds - 6
Taken from Leith's Contemporary Cooking, Bloomsbury Publishing 1994
If you don't like aubergines, use courgettes cut lengthways into four strips then cut across into chunks. Treat with salt as directed to remove excess water and firm them up or they'll collapse into a horrible mush.
4 firm aubergines, cut into chunks
5 tbs olive oil
2 large onions, roughly chopped
4 wide strips lemon zest
2 fat cloves garlic, crushed
2 tbs ground turmeric
1 tbs ground cinnamon or a few pieces of whole cinnamon
800g tinned, chopped tomatoes
2 tbs chopped coriander
½ lemon, juice only
1 tin chick peas, drained
200g fresh dates, stoned and cut into 4 lengthways
100g whole blanched almonds, toasted
salt and pepper to taste
Place the aubergine chunks in a colander, sprinkle generously with salt and leave for 30 minutes, tossing occasionally to redistribute the salt. Rinse thoroughly and drain. This helps prevent them absorbing too much oil.
Heat the oil in a casserole and fry the onions and lemon zest over a low heat for about 10 minutes until the onion is transparent. Add the garlic, turmeric and cinnamon, turn up the heat and fry till the onions start to brown. Stir in the aubergine chunks and cook till they start to brown.
Reduce heat and add the tomatoes, coriander and lemon juice and simmer for twenty minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. You can prepare the dish a day ahead to this point if you like.
Add the chick peas, dates and almonds and stir. If the mixture is dry, add a little water. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Check seasoning and serve with couscous or rice.
love the pics, lilies are my favourite, next to sweet peas and snowdrops!
my first grand daughter was called after my favourite flower. She now loves flowers too and often "phones" me to ask what is the name of............
this bbq sounds yum, wish our weather was conducive
LG the L I think DD may be very busy , BL might know
we haven't grown courgettes this year so can't really join that chat, but the apples are looking great?
A A Milne