Sauced

Lately, I've been experimenting with sauces. Here are four favourites: (proportions to taste)

For stir fry or noodles, soy sauce with garlic, fresh ginger squeeze of honey and watered down with a bit of instant chicken stock. Shake and keep in a jamjar in the fridge.

For middle eastern foods and mezze: tahini paste watered down with lemon juice, water and garlic. This does a weird textural thing where it goes all white and thick when shaken, keep adding more water.

Barbecue sauce for meat: equal amounts of ketchup, worcester sauce, lemon juice, tabasco, melted butter. This is the Lady Bird Johnson sauce from my new texas cookbook. It seems like all the presidents wives had to post out recipes to enquirers! Feminist rant. Actually it looked like Lady Bird was a lot smarter than Lyndon anyway.

And a classic bechamel cheese sauce which I tried on gnocchi instead of pasta for a change.

Gnomic Chic

Spotted this lady shopping in Sainsburys. Sporting a giant bobble hat and plaid cape with armholes. A wonderfully eccentic look.

Seen from the Road

Seen from the road as I drove to Dundee for the weekend. This little Arts and Crafts church, ringed by conifers, in the busy suburb of Monifieth. The church was built in 1909 and looks like it should be in the depths of the country somewhere. Perhaps in 1909, it was.

Late Flowers

It has been a very mild Autumn. Personally I am hoping for a nice, snowy Winter. Anyway, there are still lots of beautiful flowers to enjoy. These lace top hydrangeas are in the small garden behind our flats.

Science fact: hydrangeas change colour according to the acidity of the soil. Nature's PH meter.

Mini Me

Not a very good colour on this, but this is a building I love. It is the Rannes Public Hall, in Kennethmont. Built in 1909 it is an almost exact replica of Leith Hall, at the end of the village. There seems to have been an urge for local landowners to create public buildings in the form of their own homes...

This mini-me always gives me a smile as I drive to the Hall though. An interesting Feature is the horizontal plank fixed to the roof. This is to stop a sudden load of snow dropping on people going through the door. The weather is very bad as you head up into the Aberdeenshire hills.

Cookery course

A quick post with useful tips from that cookery course I took. It really opened my eyes to not bodging, and I have had better results since.

Useful equipment: 

A spatula or spoonula for stirring is really useful, more hygenic than a wooden spoon and can get into all the corners. 

A meat thermometer will let you know when meat is hot enough to be safe, without being dried to a crisp. No more food poisoning worries or fibrous chicken.

Useful tips: 

Lay out all your ingredients and equipment on the worktop first. This helps you to be organised and feels professional.

Always wear an apron to stay clean. I just need a protective screen for my glasses now.

Measure carefully and don't make too much or put in extra leftovers which will only spoil it.

Focus and take your time!

Women Still travelling

I was asked to update on my women's travel books project. Actually, I am finding it harder to find good books to read about this, which don't repeat locations or authors.

Some of the best from the last few months....

Indonesia etc by Elizabeth Pisani, a long book, providing a fascinating insight into this huge and complex country...many islands, nationalities and religions. Really enjoyed this.

The Slow Breath of Stone by Pamela Petro retraces the travels of two architectural historians photographing historic churches in France, and their difficult and doomed relationship. Gripping and reads more like a novel.

Bury me Standing by Isabel Fonseca explores the history and travels of the Romany or Gypsy people and their unique culture. A must read to understand these much maligned and misunderstood people and their tragic story.