Well. So last week’s meal plan lasted a mere TWO DAYS before we abandoned it with a sweaty, wilting wave of the hand. It was just too damn hot to even contemplate eating, never mind cooking. Fruit, sandwiches, ice cream on the other hand? Yes.
There were some other extenuating circumstances too. On Thursday I spent the whole day in Rome trying to get my passport situation sorted. Rome is amazing, but let me tell you what I don’t love about it: 40° C inside the tram. More ice cream.
Then on Friday I had to bake a cake. I don’t really bake. I’m too irreverent with recipes to be able to - I guess and I cheat and I leave things out. Baking needs precision and patience, and I have neither of those. I always end up swearing. But a cake sale promise is a cake sale promise, so I managed to produce a (slightly burned) victoria sponge in a kitchen that was already at 30° C. It DID fetch the second-highest bid, but dinner? Not a chance. MORE ice cream.
Anyway, the storms materialised on Friday and Saturday in spectacular fashion, so we’re alright again.
There were some other extenuating circumstances too. On Thursday I spent the whole day in Rome trying to get my passport situation sorted. Rome is amazing, but let me tell you what I don’t love about it: 40° C inside the tram. More ice cream.
Then on Friday I had to bake a cake. I don’t really bake. I’m too irreverent with recipes to be able to - I guess and I cheat and I leave things out. Baking needs precision and patience, and I have neither of those. I always end up swearing. But a cake sale promise is a cake sale promise, so I managed to produce a (slightly burned) victoria sponge in a kitchen that was already at 30° C. It DID fetch the second-highest bid, but dinner? Not a chance. MORE ice cream.
Anyway, the storms materialised on Friday and Saturday in spectacular fashion, so we’re alright again.
The only remaining limiting factor at the moment is the lack of variety when it comes to vegetables. As the market guy said when I asked him for broad beans on Saturday, "NO! It's the season for FRUIT!". So lots of gorgeous fruit we got, but for veg it's a bit dull and a bit make-do: bell pepper, aubergine, tinned beans, frozen peas, carrots (yawn), more bell pepper, more aubergine. Oh well. If I could I'd live off fruit (and ice cream - did I mention ice cream?) anyway.
minestrone with grated carrot, chickpeas & borlotti beans
shakshuka
aubergine & pea curry with rice
carrot & sweetcorn soup with thyme & lemongrass
pasta with creamy roasted aubergine, feta & oregano sauce
shakshuka
aubergine & pea curry with rice
carrot & sweetcorn soup with thyme & lemongrass
pasta with creamy roasted aubergine, feta & oregano sauce
A good and temperate week to all!
