Author Archives: lifelonglearner
Is a writer’s world basically evil or fundamentally sound? Death at the Dolphin Ngaio Marsh
Some crime writers write as if evil is omnipresent and lurks below the most innocuous surface, everyone is capable of crime, and nearly everyone has a secret in their past that they would commit a crime to conceal. Others write as if they feel the world is fundamentally okay, people of goodwill are in the majority, crimes are unusual and happen as an outcome of unusual circumstances Continue reading
Why do I re-read a book? Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Discussion of reasons to re-read a book, and review of Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
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Freeze ahead Roast Potatoes
I’m marooned in my mother’s house, after she’s had a hip operation. Trying not to miss my own kitchen too much, and thinking about the sort of food she likes. So here’s how (when I’m at home) I pre-roast and … Continue reading
Fresh thoughts in January – Butternut squash rissoles
Something to use up a small butternut squash? This one seemed to have been dropped or (of course) squashed. There’s a squished bit on the side. A veggie main or a carnivorous husband’s side dish. Slightly spicy so it … Continue reading
Avoiding gluttony in an Autumn glut
Ironic that successful crops bring such mixed emotions. Through summer and autumn I rejoice and enjoy raspberries, salads, courgettes and beans, and more beans, and more beans (how many recipes do you know for beans?). And apples, so many … Continue reading
Cabbages or Butterflies?
Into the vegetable garden for a cabbage to make spicy cabbage and rice. And yee-uch! My beautiful row of savoys is no more. I’ve been gloating over them for weeks, perfect tight globes securely swelling inside dark green, wavy edged, … Continue reading
You can’t blame the white chocolate and lemon curd wedding cake
A glorious summer afternoon, on my way to a river walk before tea and cake with my brother (I always bring the cake). Spaniel and I enjoying the breeze with the top down for the swooping drive beside the South … Continue reading
Roses all the way
It was to be a summer wedding, in an old tythe barn. A country wedding, meadow flowers, cottage garden blossoms, hessian, twine and lanterns. No actual milkmaids, but old zinc buckets, churns and lanterns. An illusional setting in the tradition … Continue reading
Kale Side Dish
I served this with slow roasted duck, that had been stuffed with peeled cored eating apples, seasoned with chopped sage, lemon and garlic. The quantities are variable – this served four generously. ½ butternut squash, peeled and cut into large … Continue reading
Autumn Pork Casserole
Two giant pork chops, a tree laden with ripe red eating apples that don’t store well and an indeterminate eta for husband and supper led to this casserole, enough for 3 portions. 2 giant pork chops, each cut into three … Continue reading
