Keeping warm...

This morning I was contacted by Andrea who had not been able to contact Edda this morning.  I was sure that Edda would have been ok but understood Andrea's concern so I was going to go round although that filled me with some trepidation just in case something untoward had occurred but just before I did I rang her and eventually Edda did answer.  I asked her if she was ok and she told me that she had managed some sleep, had got up and got dressed but was upset because she couldn't find her favourite cat.  I said that because it had been really stormy overnight she was probably hunkered down somewhere keeping dry and warm and would return.  I am not sure that Edda believed me but at least I knew that she was up and about and reported back to Andrea who was hugely relieved.  Thankfully Edda and David's son Julian returns today so will be around to deal with any issues.

It is, not to put too fine a point on it, bitterly cold here on the island and so we find ways to keep warm.  It is too cold for me to go out in the garden so I prefer to spend my time cooking because that keeps me warm and results in an end product which keeps us both warm.  Poor John went out in the driving rain to take my car to Savvas the Tyreman to get the puncture sorted - in the end he decided that because the tyre was pretty old he would just get Savvas to replace it and the other front tyre at the same time - that was farewell to €150!

Whilst he was out I was finishing making some soup for our lunch.  This was to be a chunky Thai spiced vegetable concoction which I made with a lonely sad looking leek, a sweet potato, potato, onion and carrot with the remainder of the carton of coconut milk substitute and a packet of Ainsley Harriot's Thai chicken and lemongrass soup which was looking lonely in the cupboard.  Topped with some fresh coriander and the 'knob ends' of a corn loaf it was delicious and warming and even better there is some left over for another day.

John wanted to watch the Mighty Blades this afternoon and we were eating afterwards - we had saved our date night steak for tonight.  I decided I would have a go at making some onion rings because (a) we didn't have any in the freezer and (b) the ones we had had recently were a bit disappointing.   I wasn't sure how these would turn out as they were made in batter rather than breadcrumbs but they were really nice - I cooked them in oil first and then reheated and recrisped them in the oven with my paprika chips.

The Blades managed a win and we celebrated with our regular Shuks fillet steak which was fabulous as always, served with roasted red peppers, paprika chips and home-made onion rings and my mustard and vinegar steak sauce.  I would just say normally I would insist on something green on my plate but it was raining to blooming hard to venture out to the freezer!!!