Leaden grey sky, raging torrents of rain and a large vehicle bearing the legend”National Grid Gas” greeted my gaze. Listening to the weather forecast telling me that it was raining and would continue to do so for days only added to the gloom and I drank my coffee with a large splash of Rum.
Twiggy our cat had spent the night curled up on my sons bed which sports a very large and very hairy Mongolian fur rug of the sort one finds in a Yurt. Twiggy misses my son when he is away but solaces herself by taking possession of his room, his rug and his lava lamp, she barely raised her head as I passed the bedroom door on my way down stairs.
Breakfast needed to be speedy and so toast ans marmalade was decided upon with a pot of tea and very nice it was. Fortunately our groceries arrived exactly on time and Pa and I stored them safely away, this took a little longer than usual as my son normally helps, a lesson in not taking the dear boy for granted.
Moist gingerbread,always popular at fêtes was my next task and I had two large cakes in the oven by the time our secretary arrived with fifty beautiful geranium plants to sell at the fête. Stowed safely in my green house we went back into the warm kitchen for a chat and to dry out a little. Oat cookies were handy and we all tucked in,while the whole kitchen was wreathed about with the wonderful scent of gingerbread.
Not until our friend was leaving did we discover that not only the foul weather would be keeping us indoors but also a man made barrier created by the Gas Board who had been working in the lane all day. Unnoticed by us they had not only dug a hole right outside our gate ,they had also place two large heavy cones to prevent access. They had done this without a word to us just prior to buggering off for the day!
Pa and I can only leave the house using our mobility scooters as you know. Since there is no dropped kerb outside our gate we must go either left or right and travel some distance before ewe are able to cross the road. Even if we could fit something over the hole we are not able to shift the two heavy based warning cones so in a very real sense we are ,at the moment prisoners.
Should they fail; to return n the morning Pa will be unable drive himself to his hospital appointment and in spite of the fact that the hospital is less that five minutes away a taxi will have to be called. I wonder if the gas Board can be prevailed upon to pay for it?
Soon I was baking again, this time a large batch of stained glass cookies in the shape of hearts and stars, followed by a batch of crystal hearts and stars,so pretty and so appealing to children. It was five thirty before the last batch was b=done and the kitchen cleared. Cleared just in time to be messed yo again by the preparation for dinner!
Shortage of time had made me choose a very easy and quick to cook meal, fortunately it is also very nutritious especially for Pa.
CALVES LIVER WITH CELERIAC MASH
FOR TWO PEOPLE.
4 Potatoes
half a small celeriac
1 oz butter
pinch of salt
Half a pint of ready made gravy
2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
2 slices of calves liver
seasoned flour
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 oz butter
Peel the celeriac and chop into small chunks, peel the potatoes and cut in to even sized pieces.
Place in boiling water and simmer for twenty minutes.
When the potatoes and celeriac are soft drain and mash with the butter and a little salt .Set aside and keep warm.
Put the vegetable oli in a frying pan add the butter and heat until bubbling. Coat the calves liver in the seasoned flour and fry on the hot fat for three minutes until golden brown and tender, turn only once. Remove to a hot plate and keep warm.
In to the pan in which the liver was cooked pour the balsamic vinegar and place of the heat for about a minute stirring constantly then add the ready prepared gravy and bring pt the boil.
To serve place a piece of the calves liver on a hot plate and add scoops of the celeriac mask.
Pour a little of the sauce on to the plate and serve the rest in a jug.
Green vegetables are best with this soft easy to eat dish, I chose kale for today but spring greens would be every bit as good.
Ready made gravy. Leave the gravy granules for the armatures and try this.
1 chicken oxo
I tablespoon of apple jelly
half a pint of cabbage or kale water
1 dessert spoon of cornflour
Mix the stock cube with the jelly then add the cabbage water and bring to the boil.
Slake the cornflour in a little water. Remove the pan from the heat, add the cornflour and return to the heat stirring for a minute or so.
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