MY HERBS
FIONA'S FLOWERS AND SNOWHITE'S ONIONS
MY WASH DAY BLUES
MY MARIGOLDS AND SNOWHITE'S LETTUCEFor the last week the weather forecasters have been predicting mostly rain BUT the sun has mostly been shining and when they have predicted sun, then it has rained!
And when the rain falls it is so showery that I just don't bother bringing the washing in as it is dry by the end of the day anyway.
Today is catch-up day.....Beauty wakes at 4am for 2 days and then 8am the next day,I am sure I will feel better later!
My brain feels positively addled at the moment.
I was checking the fridge this morning and found mozzarella cheese.....nothing strange about that I know but it was meant to go in the Italian Job food on Monday AND DIDN'T and I hadn't noticed until today!
My present project is to clear my laundry room(Dining Room!) of ironing, I have mountains of washing to put away.Where does it all come from?
I feel like Mother Ruggles in The Family From One End Street,
one of my favorite story books.
I also have a painting in progress, I am painting from this picture which I took at The Wetlands
in the bay. It will not be an exact copy but I am being inspired by it. I love the colour of the flowers.
Hi Ariel ,
I hope you are having fun in Florida and you are recovering from the jet-lag.
Remember to help Belle lots and to take Woody for lots of walks.
Lots of love to Belle and Beau.
Love
Mum x
A SUGGESTION FOR A PIE YOU COULD MAKE ARIEL.
CORNED BEEF HASH PIE
Making the Shortcrust Pastry
Ingredients
125g/4oz plain flour
pinch of salt
55g/2oz butter, cubed
30-45ml/2-3 tbsp cold water
Method
1. Put the flour and salt in a large bowl and add the cubes of butter.
2. Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour until you have a mixture that resembles coarse breadcrumbs with no large lumps of butter remaining. Try to work quickly so that it does not become greasy.
3. Using a knife, stir in just enough of the cold water to bind the dough together.
4. Wrap the dough in clingfilm and chill for 10-15 minutes before using.
5. Alternatively using a food processor, put the flour, butter and salt in the food processor and pulse until the fat is rubbed into the flour.
6. With the motor running, gradually add the water through the funnel until the dough comes together. Only add enough water to bind it and then stop.
7. Wrap the dough in clingfilm as before and chill for 10-15 minutes before using.
Making the Mashed Potato.
Cooking and preparation
15 minutes preparation, 30 minutes cooking
Ingredients
500g/1lb 2oz potatoes, such as Maris Piper
50g/1¾oz butter
Milk
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Method
1. Peel the potatoes and chop them in half.
2. Place the potatoes in a large pan of water over a high heat. Add a pinch of salt and bring to the boil.
3. Boil the potatoes gently until tender. When you can break the potatoes with a fork or cut them easily with a knife, they're done. Drain them in a colander.
4. Leave the potatoes in the colander until the steam has evaporated (about 3-4 minutes). If the potatoes are still wet when you start to mash, you will end up with watery mash.
5. Place the potatoes in a large bowl and mash them with a potato masher. The harder you work them, the lighter and fluffier they'll become. Don't use anything electrical. Electric whisks or food processors will ruin the texture. If you get tired, stop for a minute, shake your arms and then get back to it.
6. Once you're sure there are no more lumps in the potatoes, add the butter.
7. Mash the butter into the potato. Once it has melted into the mash, add some milk . Mash again and check the consistency, adding more milk if necessary. Taste and add a bit of salt and freshly ground black pepper, to your liking.
Step by Step
Step 1
Peel the potatoes and chop them in half.
Step 2
Place the potatoes in a large pan of water over a high heat. Add a pinch of salt and bring to the boil. Boil the potatoes gently until tender.
Step 3
Test them with a knife or fork. When you can break them easily with a knife, they're done.
Step 4
Leave the potatoes in the colander until the steam has evaporated (about 3-4 minutes). If the potatoes are still wet when you start to mash, you'll end up with watery mash.
Step 5
Place the potatoes in a large bowl and mash them with a potato masher. The harder you work them, the lighter and fluffier they'll become. Don't use anything electrical. Electric whisks or food processors will ruin the texture. If you get tired, stop for a minute, shake your arms and then get back to it.
Step 6
Once you're sure there are no more lumps in the potatoes, add the butter. Mash the butter into the potato.
Step 7
Once the butter has melted into the mash, add some milk.
Step 8Mash again and check the consistency, adding more milk if necessary. Taste and add a bit of salt and freshly ground black pepper, to your liking.
Open a tin of corned beef and cut into small pieces and mash into the potato.
Roll out half to line the dish and half to put on top.
Pierce the pastry with a fork.
Put in a pre-heated oven on gas mark 4 and cook until golden brown.
Serve with vegetables and gravy.
2 comments:
Weather same here - just planted some grass seed and were eagerly awaiting the promised deilvery of rain to help bed it in... nothing turned up! I feel very let down.
It looks like another grey day here but even though we are forecast rain I am sure that I will have to water my plants without the aid of the rain.
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