Sharing Lockdown Day 14

Everyday has its highlights and disappointments. I headed in to Cromwell specifically to get a refill for our soda stream. as with everyone else stood in a long queue to get in, filled my trolley then found they didn’t have any. Bugger.. But while unloading my groceries into the cat I received a text from the lovely Adrienne Heal to say they have an excess of Figs and next time in Cromwell to come round and collect a box from their gate. Well… I was around there in 5 minutes. They are our favourite and I feel very spoilt. Plus look how gorgeous they look.

The driveway 4 bays were waiting for me in the afternoon. We dig the tussocks up from an area where we don’t want them and soak them in water overnight, fill more buckets of water and head off ready to clear, grub, dig holes, fill with water and plant . But before you can head inside the trailer has to be cleared of the grass. (Usually a Philip Job) There is now a very big compost area.

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Some days are catch up days and today is one of them. Consequently dinner is a heated pie made from the beef ragout, smashed potatoes and green vegetable toss. My mother used to serve Pea, Pie and Pud on Monday nights when my father went to Rotary. This reminds me of our childhood but with a slight change.

Frozen sheets of flaky pastry are a staple in my freezer or you can buy it fresh and ready rolled. I used my ragout which was left over and it makes perfect tasty pies. My old neighbour Annabel from Cliffs Rd text the other night to say hello and said she was making smashed potatoes for dinner . She inspired me to have the same and its preferable to mashed.

Smashed Potatoes

6 small round potatoes, 2 cloves crushed garlic, 3-4 T olive oil, sea salt . I sometimes top with chopped fresh sage and grated parmesan cheese, but we are all out!!

 Simmer washed potatoes in a pot of boiling salted water, enough to just cover the potatoes. Cook potatoes until just cooked, but not too soft. Drain and transfer to a greased baking dish. Using a potato masher squash each potato flat until it is twice as wide and looks like it’s been run over by a bus. Mix the crushed garlic and oil together and brush the tops of the potatoes. Scatter with sea salt. Bake at 200 C for 20 – 25 minutes until crisp and golden. Serve hot.

Green Vegetable Toss

1 small leek – sliced finely , 1 courgette – sliced thinly, 1 cup frozen peas, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.

Sauté the leek and courgettes slices in olive oil until they start to soften . Tip boiling water over the frozen peas. Drain. Add peas and cook for 5 minutes until heated through. Season

Note. This can be any green vegetable – Spinach, silverbeet, green beans, florence fennel, broccoli, asparagus, broad beans, edamame beans etc. I would also love this pie with pan fried cabbage

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Stay Safe Everyone – Enjoy your lockdown home. XXX