SWISS ROSTI, THE EASY WAY

Since I mentioned that I had made Swiss rosti recently I have received several requests for the recipe. Originating in Switzerland rosti is traditionally served warm with cold meats, however it is very versatile and very simple to prepare.

First of all ignore all the cheffy types who tell you to grate raw potato in to a tea towel add lots of salt and the ring it out .mangle fashion to remove excess water,this is unnecessary and unles you work like a bat out of hell your finished rosti will be a rather unpleasant shade of grey and practically raw in to the bargain. The method below is fool proof providing that you follow the simple instructions to the letter.

SIMPLE SWISS ROSTI
1lb peeled potatoes
1 oz beef dripping
pinch of salt

Parboil the potatoes for around five minutes another minute if they are whoppers. Remove from the heat and plunge in to cold water, leave for a few moments until the potatoes at cool enough to handle.

Coarsely grate the potatoes using a well seasoned skillet or a non stick pan melt the dripping and heat until it smokes a little them pile in the grated potato and spread it around the pan to form a round cake. Reduce the heat slight l and cook until the bottom is golden brown, this should take about four minutes. Slide the rosti onto a large dinner plate and turn bake in to the pan to brown the other side season to taste at this point .
When the underside is brown the rosti is done and will be cooked through.

Many ingredients can be added to this basic recipe such as a little crushed garlic or some grated onion.

I like to serve plain rosti with char grilled chicken accompanied by a salad and a creamy sauce. My son love it with sausages and hot tomato sauce and Pa Likes his with a grilled lamb chop.
Individual rosti are easy to make but we prefer the large sharing rosti, sizzling away in its skillet it makes a hearty centre piece summer and winter alike.

JAM SEASON BEGINS

Despite the cold wet spring that last few days of warmth have helped the fruit to ripen at last. Gooseberries which I always pick green for the pectin they hold have been ready for a week or two and at last the strawberries are ripening too. Making a disgustingly early start I took Pa a coffee at seven and set about the bread making,two split tins, a bloomer and two baguettes for today.

When my son arrived home from work I gave him breakfast and we chatted while Pa collected himself and as soon as my son went off to bed Pa was up and ready for his breakfast,second sitting.

The first real jam making session of the year has an excitement all its own, I think it has a lot to do with the alchemy of turning raw fruits in to a gorgeous substance sticky sweet which will give us the taste of the fruits we love all through the winter months.
Jars in the oven sterilising,lids scalded and in the maslin pan four pounds of strawberries
one pound of gooseberries, the juice of a lemon and three pounds of sugar......at this point a remembered that I had broken my sugar thermometre at the end of last year and had forgotten to buy another.

Of course there are other ways of testing if setting point has been reached, dropping a little hot jam on to a cold plate usually works but when the weather is very hot this method can be unreliable.,In the end I took my best guess and fortunately it was good enough, the jam set perfectly.....Pheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew!

Once again the garden called and I went willingly and glad of heart in to the warm sunshine there to plant out chives, gourds and salad plants. Amazingly the seeds sown over the weekend have germinated and I now have six short roes of radish, rocket salads and beets, warm humid weather may be sticky and horrid but at this time of year it makes me rejoice, nature is helping again and all is well.

Back in the kitchen I fired up the wok and made a pork Nd vegetable stir fry with noodles and everyone enjoyed it I am happy to say. Now wearing the end of this busy day I feel happy, of all days I like best the days when I make,,or bake or garden, imagine my delight on a day when I have managed to do all three. I can snuggle up in bed remembering the rich red glow of the jars of new jam,the crusty tasty bread and the wonderful shower of rain which came just as I had finished planting and watered in the tender seedlings. Life is sweet.

PARSLY SAGE ROSEMARY AND BADGERS

Three days have elapsed since the sowing of this years parsley, done with due ceremony and the customary seven fold curse, all should have been well. Yesterdays inspection of the garden revealed that our resident badgers had been at it again, digging for chaffer grubs, we are used to this. Undeterred I smoothed over the soil sprinkled on a little more seed and covered the seed bed with a net.
Came the dawn, yet again the bed had been disturbed except that this time the entire bed had been excavated to a depth of six inches and more so that any seeds would either be scattered on the path or buried so deep that even with the devils assistance they would never be able it germinate.

Pondering the problem I decided to maw out the grass pathways in the flower garden it was while I was edging that I made up my mind what to do., in need of a break after mowing I buzzed off to the garden centre where I purchased a large tub of parsley. Basil was on special offer to gardening club members and I purchased a container with several varieties of well grown plants.

Temptation got the better of me and as well as some more parsley seed I also brought two edible gourd plants of a kind I am unfamiliar with,I like to try new things. Apart from a little watering there was time for nothing more as I needed to be back in the kitchen preparing dinner. Sausages wrapped in streaky bacon served with baked tomatoes, potato roster,a tomato sauce and a wholegrain mustard cream sauce for Pa

During the meal we discussed the problems in the herb garden, foxes have destroyed two quite large rosemary bushes by rubbing themselves vigorously against the plants in an attempt to deter fleas ticks and mites. Several thyme plants are now quit bald after being raided by starlings to line their nests for similar reasons.

Years ago I planted a small herb garden at the bottom of the vegetable garden for the foxes especial use but they seem to prefer the convenience of the herbs in the flower garde and who can blame them?

Sadly little can be done as we all love the foxes and the badgers however there is one thing which really annoys me and that is people who come to my garden for fresh herbs(and many are welcome) without bringing a pair of secateurs or scissors. Pulling and tugging at the plants damages them dreadfully ,One of my bay bushes died after receiving this treatment from several frequent callers,needles to say the new bay trees are sited no where near the front door this time.

Tomorrow the builders move in for the duration,wish me luck.

THE HEAT IS ON

Monday morning did not go quite according to the manual as a succession of callers slowed my progress through the usual Monday chores to a total halt. Pa refused to get up so I made the days bread while he was thinking about it then set about preparing breakfast for the two of us.
Still insisting that he is going to work tonight my son remained in bed and it had been my intention to leave him there for as long as possible,it was unfortunate therefore that some benighted imbecile decided to test the sound system for Saturdays Jubilee Party which is to be held at a public house a couple of hundred yards away.

Bell-ringers, a pest at the best of times decided to practice their Jubilee peal which added t the din and by ten my son was wide awake and so joined us for a breakfast of pancakes .
When at last the noise subsided he returned to his room to rest but did not sleep again worse luck!

Three trays of shortbread were gently baking in the oven when a knock at the door producing the man who is to oversee the building work,unfortunately he could not tell us when they would start just that it would be some time soon. It was over an hour before I could return to my work. Washing up took for ever as my telephone kept on ringing and in the end I turned the blessed thing off to get a little peace and quiet.

When at last I gained the sanctuary of the garden there was the question of where to start, the grass on the path ways was long, I gritted my teeth ,put some two stroke in the strimmer and off I went. Keeping the grass paths short has been difficulties year as the rain has made the grass grow while at the same time preventing me form cutting it.

Poles, posts and fences are anathema to a strimmer, the least contact with any of these will cause the cord to wrap around the object in question and pull out leaving a useless head and an over revving engine. While struggling to fit a new length of cord I hear a voice from behind me saying “Is the kettle on?” It wasn't but I was resigned and tottered into the kitchen ,made a pot of tea and broached one of the trays of shortbread all the while feeling about as hospitable as an irate wasp!

Eventually I returned to the garden and had just enough time to finish the strimming and set up the sprinkler before hauling ass back indoors to prepare dinner. Simple omelettes with cheese ham and mushroom fillings with salad from the garden and fresh bread …..lovely.

Returning to the garden for a few moments as the sun was setting I photographed the work in progress and although I am much less oft that last year things are shaping up nicely. Twiggy took a turn with me about the flower garden but of course she refused to have any truck with the kitchen garden where water was still spraying the strawberry beds.

Life is returning to normal at least for a short time before chaos in the form of plumbers,builders electricians ,gas fitters and sundry other artisans descend upon us...........I long for a few quiet days to rest and relax but a blue snow on August bank holiday is more likely I am afraid, oh well nothing daunted we shall soldier on ,but oh won,t I be glad when it's all over?

BLOOMERS

Perhaps it was the long exposure to discord which I experienced last night,perhaps a chemical hangover from the large doses of pain relief I took at midnight, perhaps I am just going potty,who can say. Whatever the cause for some reason I awoke this morning convinced that it was Monday which foolish misconception had a bizarre effect upon the whole day.

I rose early and made coffee for Pa and I, I left my son asleep as he is adamant that he will be going to work on Monday,so thinking that it was Monday I left him to sleep on. Exhorting Pa up “get a move on.” I tackled some of the Monday morning chores. Nothing happened to break the spell until I announced to Pa that was going to make bread before cooking his breakfast.
Baffled Pa remarked that I usually make bread on Mondays, and I concurred stating that as this was Monday his remark was redundant, it was at this juncture I realised my very stupid mistake.

Help! Sunday morning, past nine and y sons friends would be arriving soon for their game, with my son still in bed and fast asleep I made the fastest coffee on record and woke him at one with of course profound apologies!

What followed during the next hour was a speeded up version of our usual Sunday breakfast through out which I pondered as to what the devil had made me so convinced that it was Monday. When you reach my age these sudden mental aberrations could have a sinister cause and the be frank this is not the first time in recent weeks that such a thing has occurred.

A ll too soon people began to arrive signalling an end of peace and quiet for the time being.
Suddenly I remembered the party,BUM!!!!! Acute laryngitis had caused my son to cancel his own birthday party some weeks ago and as today is the birthday of another member of the group it was agreed that today should be a joint affair.
Still unwell my son has refused to cancel again and so a huge chocolate fudge cake awaited the occasion along with copious amounts of vanilla iced cream.....how could I have forgotten.

Murphy being the aggravating fellow he is the boys arrived early (it ever rains) and as soon as the had departed I cleared the kitchen and escaped to the garden hoping that the peace and quiet would effect a repair upon my scattered wits. Alas it was not to be.

Tools at the ready I was just about to begin clearing the old spinach bed when and anguished cry from the house called me back indoors, and it was did I have any idea where the clean shirts were;of course I did they were in the ironing basket...........BUM1

Sunday is an ironing day and having been busy during the past week I have neglected this delightful task,I set yo the ironing board and with a very bad grace. Shirts,T shirts and the usual pesky odds and ends took an age but once done I was heading for the garden again when Pa reminded me that since we were soon it have a house full of revellers were we having our baths during the afternoon.....BUM BUM BUM !!!!!!!!!!

Events over took me as it happened and I did not manage to bathe before the hungry hoards descended having been waylaid by a passing acquaintance, quite literally ,who kept me nattering for far too long and causing me to remember why I had for some time been avoiding working in the front garden on a Sunday. BUM!

Perhaps it was fortunate that I had not time for much work in the garden as I was already in a good deal of pain from my previous exertions.
Down stairs the revellers are playing a card game and eating cake, the party will break up much earlier than usual as my son wants to get an early night to prepare him for work tomorrow night and another of the guests has an early interview.

One of my sons friends is a recruitment officer of some standing, a renown head hunter who has been trying to persuade my son to leave his present outfit for a more promising location where his undoubted talents and many contacts would be appreciated. During a conversation this evening he confessed to me that he was baffled as to why my son kept refusing the ever increasing offers in spite of the fact that his employers treat their staff so badly.

Explaining my son's attitude was difficult as these days the concept of honour is considered in the light of weakness rather than a matter worthy of praise. Killer instinct ,much prized these days has been largely responsible for the bloody awful mess that our country and many others are in. Power hungry testosterone fuelled overly ambitious go getters who got the goods all right and left both companies and countries bankrupt.

My son is ambitious though he would not harm his friends to achieve his goal. My son is honourable, he has integrity and I love him for it.
All the same I wish with all my heart that he could be persuaded to cock a snook at the self satisfied oiks who pretend to run the show while resting upon others laurels.

Enough of this frippery, my views upon these persons are well known and they have been the victims of my strictures on many occasions, THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE!

GOLDEN OLDIES

Another year has roiled away and here it is again The Euro vision Song Contest, annual farce!
Once again I am watching in the company of my son who is an addict,in every other respect he
is a normal sane individual...well we all have our little foibles!

Englebert Humpadink versus a gaggle of Russian babushkas ,bring back Lordi I say! Spain has told it's contestant to be sure and loose as they cannot afford to host the show next year if they win. Ireland is so afraid of winning again that they are sending the truly appalling Jedwood again ,we are living in strange times indeed.

Strangest of all is the fact that for once the competing countries will be giving the highest scores to their enemies quite a switch when you remember the normal format.

Englebert was reasonable although a trifle flat at times, I have heard worse and judging by the Fascist Republic of Hungary’s entry I shall again. Threatened with the longest show ever I wish that I had planned an escape but too late,I am doomed.


Albania...........................OH My God!!!!!!!!!

CONFUSED,?YOU WILL BE!

Today was Pa's third day in hospital and during those three days we have quite naturally been interested in how he is getting along, what progress ,if any is being made and of course when came we expect him home? Pa himself has no idea, the nurses have no idea ,the clinical technician who is running the tests has no idea and the specialist in charge of the case makes himself so exclusive that none of the nurses actually know who he is.

When yesterday I visited Pa he told me that he would probably be coming home today, last night when I called him he said the same thing, this morning he tells me that the nurses
think he May be discharged today but they cannot be certain until the elusive specialist deigns to put in an appearance. The fact of the matter is that we were no wiser and this has made life rather difficult.

Further complications have manifested themselves in that Pa was told that his medications were to be change while he was under observation and apparently this has not taken place and Pa is now worried that he may have to stay in longer for this to be done. Pa was admitted to hospital for between one to five days and so far every day we are being told that he will be coming home tomorrow, since the hospital is quite a long and logistically difficult journey away this uncertainty has made visiting very difficult.After all since it takes such an age to get to the hospita; Pa could be back home before I arrive to visit him!

During the past few days I have formed the opinion that no one actually knows why Pa is is being kept in bed with about twenty cables attached to his head, and being filmed around the clock. Apart from checking his stats three of four times a day and regaling him periodically with disgusting meals he sees no one and talks to no one. He is going slowly potty, the room is sweltering, the windows will not open and he may not take a bath.


Long,long ago when a patient was unable to bathe a nurse was detailed to wash and shave the patient, not any more, Poor old Pa is stubbly and he is getting rather whiffy to, normally he bathes once a day so he is finding this intolerable.

Today, tomorrow,Sunday, who knows and in the mean time I am trying to prepare the house for the builders another group who are vague as to their comings and goings as we have still not been informed just when to expect them, soon is as good as if gets.

Morning turned to afternoon and the afternoon wore on with no word from Pa and we resigned ourselves to another night without the old boy. Vodka was needed for the Blueberry vodka which to say truth I am rather late in making this year so I decided to trot out and buy some and it was during this trip that Pa called to tell me that he could come home.

Quick as a flash I sent a taxi it pick him up, called my son with the good news and hurried home. Having only about an hour I steamed the kitchen floor, covered the fence with bunting, ran the Union Jack up the flag pole and picked a gorgeous bunch of flowers from the garden for Pa's room.

Pa received quite a welcome as some friends arrived just as he did and came in for tea and cakes and even Twiggy appeared clamouring for his attention,poor little cat, she has missed him sorely.


Finally when everyone had gone we ran a hot bath for the dear old chap while I prepared dinner,since my son is still suffering with a very sore throat pasta In a creamy sauce was decided upon followed by iced cream and chilled sarsaparilla.

Knowing that Pa is safe at home I am more relaxed than have been for days and very glad also that shall not have to endure another dreadful trip to visit him as this afternoon my knee joint gave up and I fell and hurt myself , the knee is now the size of a football bit I do not care, Pa is home and as soon as I have finished this blog I shall make hot chocolate for him and pop him in to bed for he is very tired.

My son and I may watch a film but I suspect that after all that has happened these past days we shall both fall asleep in our chairs long before the end.

Weekend is here and I wish for everyone a happy and sunny holiday.