Covid continues to confuse – or at least the statistics do. I would love to be at University and have proper access to the stats and the computer technology to analyse them.
SANDFORD STORES
My local shop and staff have been nominated as “Local heroes” for their efforts during the Covid Lockdown. They are into the last 20 in a competition run by Boost Energy Drinks.
The reasons why I think they should be in with a chance for the winners title are as follows. At no time did they ever ask for anything in return – shopping was done, drugs and prescriptions collected, co-ordination with volunteers was arranged without fuss. Days off were not contemplated. All done quietly and efficiently. Local councillors were hiding in their nuclear bunkers. Thanks should also be made to Thatchers Cider who set up a dedicated help line for locals. All this was co-ordinated by Aaron Bleach who fortunately is still an invaluable member of our community.
TAPAS
Firstly I love the idea of nibbles. So a book of tapas and these are the ones I will make.
lamb with lemon, garlic prawns, spicy moorish kebabs, meat balls in tomato sauce, Catalan chick pea salad, chicken with garlic, potatoes in tomato sauce, stuffed mushrooms and peppers, aubergine cheese fritters, spinach, pine nuts and raisins.
Roasted almonds with paprika, picos breadsticks, anchovy stuffed eggs, chorizo and tomato loaf, fennel and citrus pork belly, chorizo in red wine, romensco chicken wings, paprika chicken wings and garlic, moorish skewers, ham croquettes, spinach, tomato and egg tarts, ricotta and red onion tortilla, garlic potatoes, potatoes with spicy tomato sauce.
I think I am drooling at the moment.
Now looking up recipes for okra – roasting seems a good choice?
EXCITED COOKING
A friend has shopped for me at a market in London – no instructions so I am fairly ignorant of what to expect other than I have been told Cassava or yucca. Recipes here or African bean cassava. But this Caribbean one looks so edible!
WINSTON MOMENT
FOOTBALL
Gerrard to Villa – seems like a good move as he did great things at Rangers. Lampard to Norwich – it might have been a bit optimistic for him to have taken over Chelsea, and he did not disgrace himself. But I have a little chuckle at Delia’s recipes and Frank’s bedtime stories being a little too …,, I don’t know, rural, English, comfortable?
BELARUS
threatens the EU with cutting gas pipeline from Russia. Not sure Putin would be too keen on this? I(t is interesting how Eastern Europe is so different from Western Europe. Not just the economic differences, but the social and even football ones too. To keep it close we could look at Hungary – formerly part of the Habsburg Empire, and yet seemingly inherently racist and homophobic. Even Austria seems more remote from the liberal west.
CHRISTMAS CAKE
Made the cake – now for mango chutney and another variation. and one from Jamie Oliver
And I think some madeleines with clementine zest and lemon?
Oh and I think some apple with cinnamon and cloves and lemon and zest and maybe almonds – I can see this getting to be more of a cookie?
I have some second hand cook books coming today – so maybe wait and see what inspiration comes?
CORRUPT
CHINA
Can we please stop the hypocrisy. China is not a virtuous virgin of world politics, but neither is a panacea of all ills. Its human rights record is appalling – we will never know if Covid originated in a lab, but can be sure that if it did we would suffer from a pandemic sooner or latter. The odds are that it developed from bush meat or the strange eating habits associated with traditional Chinese medicine.