Kitchen Diaries pasta

It's getting to be that time of year when I can actually get more than a few greens from the garden - of course that also means it's getting to be the time of year when I need to be creative with broad beans. Nigel Slater to the rescue!

Broad bean, ricotta, mint and chorizo pasta - based on a recipe by Nigel Slater

• Make ricotta (it's easy!) (or use store bought)
• Get some pasta on the go - whatever kind you fancy really
• Pop broadbeans in boiling water for 3-4 mins, then drain and pop from skins if they are large
• Fry some garlic (first of the new season garlic - lovely!) in some olive oil, then pop in the chorizo, broad beans, mint and ricotta and warm though
• Add the drained pasta, and a bit more oil
• Toss through the parmesan and serve

The original recipe didn't call for chorizo, but I had some left and I think it would have been too bland for my taste without it. It still needed (to me) a liberal grinding of black pepper - but I like spicy/hot food . It woudl also be good with bacon I think.

On the table in 20 mins tops if you don't make your own ricotta first.

Lost and found

Guess what I found in the woodshed? Apart from wood and bark and assorted junk items that may be useful in the future.....

Eggs!  I wondered why there had only been one...or none for the past few weeks - I thought it was just because the chickens were getting a bit old (only 1 stared laying this year). But no - they clearly find the bark more comfy than their nice nest boxes!

The dorking is the main culprit (the only chicken we have that lays white eggs) - in all there were at least 17 - a couple slipped beyond my reach.

Now I'm off to test how many of them are still fresh!

More meals from the Kitchen Diaries

I have only managed to make about 3 new meals from Nigel Slater's Kitchen Diaries, so I think I'll keep the same book for November!  I made a low-egg frittata, but forgot to take a picture (sorry).

Last week I made chicken legs with yoghurt, harissa and mint - very easy and tasty. Use leg (deboned) or thigh fillets. Mix a couple of tablespoons of thick yoghurt and harissa (less if you don't like it so hot), then drizzle in 2-3 tablespoons of oil. It won't look too appealing but hat's OK. Coat the chicken in the paste,  then grill or pan fry (recipe says grill, I pan fried). When cooked top with mint, and serve with the accompaniment of your choice. Quick, easy and very tasty.

Day tripping

Sometimes you just have to take a day off from the chores.  Enjoy yourself by just hanging around and catching some sun...

  Make a new friend, and watch someone else do some work...

Take an old time riverboat cruise and let someone else make you lunch while you watch the water under your feet...

 and enjoy the scenery...

 Thanks Jerry for a great day out!

 Your reward - proper English pork pies ... don't eat them all at once - it's a long trip to get some more!