Tortilla Espagnole

  Made with shallots, spinach and potatoes, so not quite authentic ! Now I can't get the camera to work why do they have to keep on changing the whole thing? Most frustrating.and now I have olive oil on the lens... It's hard enough bring onehanded, but this is ridiculous.  I just can't hold it ,or take a photo. Totally defeated.

Worn myself out

By thinking ( as usual) that I can do everything as I used to before all this happened. 

Sunday lunch was rump steaks with a mushroom and garlic red wine sauce,plus braised red cabbage made with chopped leeks, a touch of Allspice, sone brown sugar, salt and enlighten orange juice to moisten it while cooking.

We also had French beans and Mangetout Peas, and wedge potatoes done with a tiny bit of oil in the oven. 

Then I made some Apple Strudels, trying to unroll the Filo pastry was very difficult,so I was glad that I still have a carer to help me! Chopped three Bramley apples into small cubes, mixed them together with a handful of breadcrumbs, caster sugar, some candied peel ,flaked almonds and some Cinnamon.

Brushed three  sheets of filo with melted unsalted butter,placed the filling on one side,and then rolled it up ,tucking in the sides so it made a parcel. Brushed the top with more melted butter.

Baked in a hot oven for around 3/4 of an hour, but check to see that it isn't burning! 

After that I made a cake , no wonder I was exhausted.

Chicken, ham ,leek and mushroom pie. What to do with some left over roast chicken and a bit of ham!,so I have made this pie, with I' m afraid not home made pastry.

Please note, I got the pie out of the case by placing it rather precariously on a tin of fruit ! Tasted good, but I made too much sauce which then spilled out over the work top. Will probably eat ithe rest cold tomorrow.

Ten pots of marmalade, and some parsnip, Parmesan and sage bread!

As well as preparing for the meal tonight. Will post pics later .

Menu, 

Homemade potted shrimps( get them from friends in Norfolk,and then crush mace, pepper corns, lemon zest and chilli Pepper, and then melt some unsalted butter,and mix the spices together,and when warm pour over the shrimps.

Pigeon breasts( shot by son in law) with celeriac and potato mash, routs with bacon and chestnuts

Prosecco jelly with pomegranate seeds and oranges in the jelly, not very easy to get into the fridge one handed!

Cheeses if we have say room. Plus walnuts and Majool dates.

The kitchen smells gorgeous, all citrusy ,and I haven't made too much of a mess for once!

Must go and sit down,as I ache all over.

What did I do for Christmas?

I made the following, 

a dozen mince pies, home made pastry and mince meat naturally.plus the brandy butter sauce to go with them.

Spiced red cabbage ,and a carrot and parsnip pureé to go with the meat.

Bread sauce.  The vegetables and bread sauce went into the freezer a week before hand.

Then I did some mini crab cakes for eating with drinks before the meal, plus some very stiff pesto for spreading onto tiny pieces toasted bread, plus some tapenade .

A large terrine,pork and pancetta and chicken livers, with  sour cherries and pistachio  nuts in the mix. 

A pear cake, not unlike a Tarte Tatin, but with a cake mix poured on the caramelised pears,and then cooked in the oven in a frying pan, to be served with a home made chocolate ice cream

Finally ,chees biscuits I always make these when thre are odd bits of cheese hanging around, so they are always different! I roll them into a sausage,and thrn freeze the rolls, then there are always some in the freezer for emergencies.

Exhausted by the time that lot was done. 

Only 2 weeks  to go before the final chemotherapy! Then hopefully I will be finished with it.have had weird symptoms this time, , mouthulcers and unexplained bruising, never had THAT before.

Cinnamon bun, made from a recipe from the Guardian Cook last week.we will have it for breakfast on Christmas Day

This is now the third time I have tried to add a comment to the cinnamon  bun. 

So here goes again! I wish that they wouldn't keep on  changing their configurations. I find it so tiresome.

The cinnamon bun was tried by all the family who were here over the holiday, and their reaction was overall positive. It lasted well, I didn't freeze it, but warmed  it in the oven.

I shall definitely make it again, but reverse the ratio of Wholemeal/plain flour,as I found it a bit " worthy" 

Such a.shame that much of the luscious filling of butter ,sugar and cinnamon ended up on the base of the oven, so that when I opened the door, the whole house was filled with blue aromatic smoke!

Puddings,made for our book group Christmas meal. As you can see, a pavlova with mango, pineapple and passion fruit, plus a chocolate Marquise,with Raspberries.