Food is Love

In a clinic waiting room in South Africa, I read an article which contained the line "Only eat food cooked by someone who loves you". So simple, so powerful,it has stayed with me. Preparing and serving food has been the way I have expressed my love for my family. Eating in a restaurant feels so alien to me.... to eat food cooked by someone who has no relationship to me, doesn't know me or care about me, can't even see what I look like. Some religious devotees are very careful about who prepares their food. The mood of the person preparing the meal can affect the person eating it. When we eat we experience the food before us and the intention behind the preparation and serving of the food.

Le Creuset Lust

Currently top of my Lust List. According to Mumsnet this makes me an "chav with aspirations". I used to own the entire range in Volcanic Orange but gave it away because it didn't match my cream kitchen. That's how shallow I am. Which is why the Le Creuset 30cm Shallow Casserole and I are destined for each other. And yes, that cream kitchen is Farrow and Ball bruv.

Queen of Pies

This is the Pie That Chloe Made. Break through the gold crispy sugary shell to the custardy appley filling. Why have I never thought of this before - custard beneath the pastry. So simple and perfect. Pure comfort.
For the recipe see the Legendary Nigel Slater's recipe for Apple Custard Tart in Tender Vol 2.
We love you Nige. Let us give thanks for The Piemakers.

Cocoon

By summer's end I am exhausted with the pressure of having endless fun in the sun.
Braai invitations, seaside outings, wedding celebrations, family picnics, camping trips, fetes and festivals...
There's a sigh of relief as the days grow shorter and cooler and thoughts turn to the pleasures of the Cocoon. The very word, the shape and sound of it, is resonant of its warm embrace.
Whereas summer is very yang, out there,loud and extrovert, winter is a yin time.
Time to retreat to a safe place and be quiet, reflective, spiritual.
Cocooning
soaking in a warm aromatic bath
lounging around in flanelette pjs
an inexhaustible supply of butternut soup
layering the bedding with blankets and quilts
lighting open fires and burning tibetan incense
swaddling myself in my orange Ethiopian gabi
reading,writing letters, keeping a journal

What does your Winter Cocoon look and feel like?