Crown Street Backs of Houses

Not my best picture this, but memorised from the car rather than done from a photo. This is the back of a house on Crown Street. This round tower probably houses a staircase. It is small but was once pretentious; the top is rendered. The bottom has the render stripped, revealing small brick pilasters, which should be covered to give a classical effect. It has a stumpy conical roof. The house has obviously come down in the world. Crown Street is a faintly seedy area of b and b's, takeaways and cheap flats. Among it you can find interesting buildings of the early C19th and small private lanes. The road itself meanders crookedly from Union Street down the hill towards Ferryhill, off the beaten track. Worth exploring. I may have to do a photo walk there.

Italian Cookery Project 2

Since the last time I posted I have made the following from my cookbook Gastronomy of Italy:

Lamb and Potato Stew

Vegetable Risotto

Saffron Risotto

Spinach and Ricotta Gnocchi

The stew was hearty and delicious, a bit like a hotpot. It also has onion, mushrooms and tomato paste in. A great recipe for cold weather! 

The veg risotto had tomato puree, peas, courgette and carrot. It was a bit basic but tasty and healthy. You have to chop the carrot very small so it cooks at the same time as softer veg like the courgette. Risotto is a staple recipe for me and I like to make lots of variants. 

The saffron risotto is a bit more exotic with an interesting slightly bitter herbal flavour and lovely golden colour from the saffron. 

The spinach and ricotta gnocchi were very spinachy and an extremely lurid green! I served them with a tomato sauce. I have a strange love of spinach which I believe is super healthy. 

I have one more gnocchi recipe to try using semolina, and a variety of other recipes from spicy prawns to pork stews and cheesy pasta. It's a great cookbook, the recipes are varied, achievable and tasty. I gravitate to stews or quick cooking things as we are often busy.

University Towers

I went to Aberdeen University for a talk about creative education last week. The campus is beautiful, especially these; the amazing Powis Gates. The design is inspired by Islamic minarets.

The gates formerly marked the entrance to the home of Hugh Fraser Leslie of Powis and were erected in 1834.

Sustainable Fashion

This year, as last year, I am trying to avoid buying clothes from the high street. Fast fashion is destroying our environment and creating a mountain of cheap, unwanted, poor quality clothes. Also it is a great money saving measure and an interesting challenge. I have cleared out my wardrobe and will be wearing more of my deep stored and vintage items.

Instead I am making or buying clothes second hand.

The score so far this year includes a turquoise cashmere cardi and a tweed jacket from the Clan shop in Ballater and two exercise tops from Cancer Research Rosemount. Total cost £26.

I am currently sewing a 1950s denim skirt with giant pockets, but my big sewing project is a dress for my brother in laws wedding in November.

Things not included are: underwear and nightwear (bit icky second hand) t-shirts (usually wrecked by the time they are passed on) shoes (ditto) and an allowance for a couple of high quality investment buys.

Do you buy second hand or vintage? Or does it horrify you? Are you addicted to fast fashion or an organised shopper? Did you resist the sales?

Moody Mono

Another mono ink to try and catch the foreboding aspect of the fascinating Blairs Museum where I volunteer. Much of the building is empty and looms terrifyingly out of the woods, like a gothic palace. On the left, the museum and chapel, on the right the seminary with papal crown dome, seen as coming up the long drive.

Cookery Project: Italian

This year I am focussing my cookery projects on one cookbook at a time and making as much as possible from it. My current book is 'Gastronomy of Italy' by Anna del Conde, which was I think a gift from the awesome Maria, queen of Italian food. A classic book on Italian food which is also an encyclopedia of recipes and ingredients.

I gravitate to easy recipes which are either quick (for weekdays) or slow cooker friendly (for sundays). I am trying to follow the recipes closely, with the right ingredients and no shortcuts, which is unlike me...

So far I have made: 

Potato and lamb stew 

Spaghetti alla Amatriciana (tomato and bacon)

Beef with vegetables and Lombardy spices

Pollo alla Cacciatora

Tagliatelle with speck sauce( cream and ham)

Beef stew with paprika and sage

Potato gnocchi

Tagliatelle with lemon and herbs

Aubergine parmigiana

Pumpkin gnocchi.

So far the standouts for me have been gnocchi making (fun), the speck sauce (unhealthy but insanely delicious) the spaghetti (super tasty) and the beef stew with paprika and sage ( interesting new flavour combo). I plan to complete the gnocchi classic trio with ricotta and spinach next.

Wall and Window: The Backs of Buildings

I spotted this lovely wall and window on a back road by the ancient Hardgate road in Aberdeen. This was the original medieval road from the city to the Bridge of Dee and then south. 

I love this wall because it is a hidge podge of many materials; brick, stone, cement, all from different times. The ghost of a door can be seen at the bottom. Also, a lovely arched window has been put in but edged slightly wonkily with old bricks. Often the back of a building or a messy or chaotic wall will reveal where older structures stood or where places have been redesigned, the real history is round the back!

I pass this wall often on my way to the Chinese takeaway!