Monday's supper.

Two friends tonight, I gave them Thai Beetroot soup, a recipe that was in the Guardian a few weeks back.it is so easy,and so different from a Borsch.
You first make a broth of Thai ingredients, ginger, garlic, shallots, lemongrass, Lime leaves, chilli,and gangal,(which I don't have) so I used some TomYum Paste,which is for soup anyway.
About 500 mls of water is poured onto the previously gently fried ingredients. This broth is simmered for about half an hour, then sieved, the beetroot chopped ,and whizzed up with the liquid, and a tin of light coconut milk is added,and then finally some fish sauce,and fresh lime juice to taste. Finally some fresh Coriander scattered on the top.
It really is delicious,refreshing and definitely Thai tasting.
Then we had a sort of Cassoulet, made with duck breast, very good pork sausages ,gigantic white beans, red and yellow peppers,red onions and a tin of tomatoes, with a couple of pieces of orange peel for flavour,and some duck stock to loosen the mixture.gently cooked a low oven for an hour and a half,and severe with a purée of Celeriac.
Some good cheeses, Roquefort , an English Goat 's cheese, and some mature Gouda,
I have almost come to the end of my piece of Guava Paste brought back from Cuba by a friend, but so expensive to buy online! Far nicer than Membrillo.
Finally we ate the Apple and Pineapple Amaretto tart ,which I had such a problem making at the weekend.
A bottle of Prosecco,and an Australian Merlot during the meal.