Written by: adekun on 31 December, 2006 11:17 pm - Filed under: blog — No Comments »
Plans for the New Year are, first and foremost to stay with my family in Europe for a few months. Secure in the least a reasonable income. The garden will have to take a backseat. Although I expect to be away in the spring, there will still be opportunities throughout the rest of the year in which to exploit the vegetable garden. I would like to grow more from seed and understand more about the individual varieties available here.
In part, perhaps it is a case of seeing what comes up?
Although under a few inches of snow, I managed dug down to retrieve a few potatoes for lunch.
The red team was clearly lagging. After I took this photo and defrosted my fingers, I had another probe about to even things out. The larger ones were a good size to bake in the oven.
Tags: garden
Written by: adekun on 29 December, 2006 2:45 am - Filed under: blog — No Comments »
We had a little snow last night and awoke to find much had fallen during the night. Most of the prefectures facing the Sea of Japan, were reported to have had a fair measure. Nearby Mount Daisen had received 50 cm and here in Yonago 16 cm. I’m glad I spent Christmas Day and Boxing Day changing the tyres. I spent an hour the first day, trying to read the Japanese manual on how to remove the hub cabs. In the end, I left it to somebody else.
I had a trudge around the garden before eight this morning, then decided to retire for a large Scotch whilst things (and my toes) thawed out.
These were taken around half ten. Bottom right is my onion bed, just above, protruding slightly, a two litre bottle.
Spot the herb garden…
Tags: garden
Written by: adekun on 27 December, 2006 1:14 pm - Filed under: baking — No Comments »
Punch the dough down and knead for a few minutes, divide the dough if required.
On a floured surface, roll from the centre outwards, giving it a quarter turn reguarly. With floured hands, pat the round back a forth until you have the desired thickness.
Lay on a lightly floured baking tray. Spoon on the tomato sauce, to within a centimetre of the edge. Sprinke on an amount of cheese, and arrange any further toppings.
Bake at 200ºC for 15-20 minutes
The pictured pizza has a topping of ham, sweetcorn, mushroom, nori and parsley (I don’t have any Basil growing this time of year).
Tags: recipes
- 400 g can of tomatoes
- 100 g onions
- 50 g carrots
-
one clove of garlic
- 1 tbsp olive oil
-
good pinch of salt
- 1 tsp of brown sugar
Sweat the onions and garlic in the oil, adding the carrots after a few minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook for at least 15 minutes. Prepare as needed.
I like to add some chopped rosemary and a little pepper when the tomatoes go in. Basil would be good in the summer.
Tags: recipes, tomatoes
Written by: adekun on 26 December, 2006 11:43 pm - Filed under: blog — No Comments »
A friend of the mother-in-law asked us all to visit yesterday. Her two twin daughters were back from Tokyo. On the premise of an afternoon of absorbing converse, I brought with me a crochet hook and a ball of wool. I made a trip around the corner to the local sake shop, just to be sure. There, to my surprise I found a few bottles of Bass. In the UK this would be quite a way down the pecking order. Over here it is a different matter. The price was reasonable too, about that of the usual “premium” beers.
Between dishes of nimono, I got some needlework tuition whilst my wife received a massage. It’s has been about fifteen years since I tried to crochet and was pleased to receive the help. If I can get the hook facing the correct way and a consistent tension, I might be able to fashion a hat for Kento.
The beer was superb, better than any of the draught pints I have had in the past. My opinion of a bland, indifferent beer was quickly washed away. It had flavours, colour and depth. I am evidently missing British beer. I topped myself up with a magnum bottle of Asahi Super-Dry whilst attempting to remedy a Japanese Blue Screen of Death on our host’s laptop. I did enjoy myself, and it was soon time to go home.
Once back, the drinking continued making a noticeable impression was made upon the bottle of Benriach I’d brought a few days ago. I feel fortunate today, that my mini binge hasn’t left me with a hangover.
Tags: food and drink
