The greenhouse is fixed

Finally got those panes of glass in the greenhouse that smashed in the high winds fixed, thanks Wheelie and Abbey Glass!

Walking behind a waterfall

Today I went on a trip to meet some of the people that work for the Forestry Commission in Wales, which included a trip to the Garwnant Visitor Centre, and the amazing waterfalls near the Brecon Beacons. 


I walked right underneath this one! It's called Sgwd yr Eira which means falls of snow in Welsh. It was such a brilliant experience, amazingly peaceful even though the water's so loud and powerful.

Dinner this evening: Leek and Stilton quiche from Pontyclun Delicatessen, lovely!

This evening we're off to see wonder folk Jackie Oates at the Lyceum Folk Club in Newport, it's going to be great! 

Seed swapping

I'm looking for a local potato day (to buy seed potatoes) but I can't find one. I did find 2 local seed swapping days:
25 Feb in Chapter Arts Centre - Seedy Swap
4 March in Roath Park 
but can't go to either of them! 


I might see if anyone at work wants to do one.

Two Greedy Italians: Courgette Risotto

This evening I made Courgette Risotto (Risotto con fiori di zucchini - without the courgette flowers!) from the Two Greedy Italians book (which accompanied the Antonio Carluccio and Genaro Contaldo TV series). It was ok, a bit bland but I added parsley which helped the flavour. The recipe says it needs two litres of stock, but that's far too much. I also added dry vermouth, a la Jamie Oliver's risotto recipe. 

Fresh rocket pesto

Tonight I made rocket pesto from this BBC Good Food recipe. It's very quick and easy to make, a simple fresh meal (seeing as I had leftover curry for lunch).


Take some rocket:

Add pine nuts:

A clove of garlic:

Blend together, adding some olive oil:

Add cheese (I used grana padano):

Mix with the pasta:

And it's done.

There's even some left over to put in a pot for another meal!

Oh my, we love this place

Being vegetarian for a month, well it's a good excuse to go to Vegetarian Food Studio again isn't it?!? 


After a lovely afternoon eating some fantastic cakes baked by a friend for another friend's birthday, we needed to eat, and the suggestion was made to go to VFS... So I had a thali, and there was enough left over to have for lunch tomorrow too! 

Here's a box of barfi that VFS gave our friend to celebrate her birthday! 

Aubergine Curry with Chilli and Tomato inspired by a Rick Stein recipe

After some more digging in the garden (I found yet more bamboo underneath the lawn!) I cooked aubergine curry today. I found a recipe in Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey book, but rather than using shrimp paste and lime leaves and kecap manis (what on earth is that anyway?!) I added some Rendang Thai curry paste. Much easier and it involved less hunting around in lots of shops. I don't often cook things out of this book as most of them require so many unusual ingredients, and even though I have quite a collection now of spices and herbs I never seem to have the right ones for these recipes.


We ate it with some rice and popadoms, and some rather lovely Patak's Brinjal Pickle which a friend introduced us to a few years ago and we always have in the fridge.