Yay


That's my day sorted, then. Nice.
3.5.06 09:25


Woo

This lunchtime, I foolishly went into one of the achingly hip boo-teeks that are scattered about Clerkenwell. And used the "it's my birthday soon" excuse in order to purchase this wondrous thing:

Yes, it's a big bracelet with lots of religious icons. It is F.A.B. And wearing it will ensure I go to heaven. Bonus!
3.5.06 15:41


Picture from the 'Pool

One of the guys from the cast of Windermere just sent me this picture of all the Scousers together:

(My paisley culottes are fortunately obscured in this picture - begad, but they were loud).


I wish we were still doing the play (although maybe at a venue where the lighting board doesn't blow up). We had such laffs. A nicer bunch of people you couldn't wish to meet.


And oh, that Chopper. I desire it so much. In a surprisingly altruistic gesture, Raleigh donated it to the show and we all had a lot of fun pelting around the rehearsal room on it. Now the writer is thinking of selling it and, despite the fact that I know it would get nicked within ten seconds, I'm still half-considering making him an offer... I'd be mad to, right? Right?
4.5.06 10:26


Something fishy this way comes

Due to an organisational snafoo, I found myself at a loose end last night so I decided to cook dinner for him indoors. And, being in a bit of a daring mood, I decided to try out one of Matthew Fort's recipes that I'd torn out of last Saturday's Guardian magazine.


It took a lot longer to make than I'd anticipated, and the house reeked of fish and frying pans all evening. But dear Jeebus and all his little pixies, it was bleedin' gorgeous.


matthew_fort.jpg  Matthew Fort - A God To Me


Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Matthew Fort's granny's Fish Pie. If you make this, your tongue will love you for ever more. I've got leftovers for my lunch and I can't bloody wait.


(N.B. We added mussels to the recipe as well, because Trilby is slightly obsessed with fish. In a good way).


Fish pie

Granny's touch of genius was to sprinkle bits of crispy bacon over the surface of her pie before serving. It adds a wonderful, savoury crunch to this supper dish.

4 eggs
225g smoked haddock
300ml full-cream milk
2 bayleaves
225g fresh haddock, skinned
150g shell-on Atlantic prawns, peeled
25g butter
25g plain flour
Salt and pepper


For the topping

550g potatoes
150ml full-cream milk
1 bunch spring onions
200g thin-cut bacon (or pancetta)
Salt and pepper

Hard-boil the eggs, cool in cold water, peel and set aside. Poach the smoked haddock gently in the milk with the bayleaves for five to six minutes. Lift out the fish, sieve the milk into a bowl and set aside. Skin the smoked haddock and break up the flesh. Cut the fresh haddock into chunks. Put all the fish into a buttered baking dish and add the prawns. Cut up the egg and scatter on top. Heat the butter in a pan. When it is foaming, add the flour and cook for a minute. Add the reserved milk and cook over a high heat until the sauce thickens. Season, then pour over the fish.

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/gas mark 6. Peel, boil and mash the potatoes. Bring the milk to boiling point, then beat into the potatoes. Finely chop the spring onions, including the green bits, and stir in. Dollop the potato over the fish and spread out evenly (which is not the same as smoothly - a touch of unevenness is essential in a fish pie). Bake for 20 minutes. Just before it's ready, fry the bacon until crisp, drain on kitchen towel, break into bits and scatter over the pie before serving.


 
4.5.06 12:30


Nooooo shoooooes....

Dear God, will somebody please take my credit cards off me?


(In my defence, my beloved white wedge sandals gave up the ghost this morning. R.I.P. my lovelies. *sniff*)
4.5.06 15:36


Bang bang!

IT'S.


MY.


BIRTHDAY.


(Champagne + high velocity rifle = double-plus good)
9.5.06 15:55


Moved

Well, I am now officially co-habiting. But the move was so stressful that it makes me do a little sick every time I think about it.


There are boxes everywhere. Why do we both have so much stuff?

We're both working this week and going out tonight and tomorrow night, so the house is going to stay looking like an explosion in a cardboard box factory.


Oop. I just did another little sick.
15.5.06 12:39


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