Song of the day: Amy McDonald “Mr. Rock & Roll”. It came up sporadically, but it was there. Not a bad song to have stuck in your head, though. I’m moving up…I hope.
A much-interrupted edit is the main theme this morning, more pressing matters taking precedence, and all that. We only manage a page or two, and add another half in a short writing session, for no other reason than that it is necessary to explain some minor choke points in the story through dialogue. Not bad, but it doesn’t go as smoothly as I would have liked. I’m scatterbrained today.
It is a beautiful warm day…well after noon that is. Though it started out cloudy, a warm southern breeze blew in and dissipated the obstructions in the sky, making the temperature warm but fresh when we head on out into the yard.
During the past two months the vines in the lower part of the garden have been sweeping up en mass, slowly, but steadily making their way up the plants once more. This warrants another trimming session for everyone on this rather pleasant May day.
With gloves, scythes and hedge cutters we tackle the out-of-control plants, much like we did at the end of winter. We are charmed by the sight of white Oleander blooming cheerfully, however. Roses of a deep red peek from under their canopy and the bougainvillea show fresh sprouts of a vibrant green…we feared that they hadn’t survived the disaster area, the lower garden resemble back then, but they have. Yay.
The dogs thoroughly enjoy the trip down, rushing back and forth, barging through fresh undergrowth. Even Bommel has followed us down, though he took almost half an hour to get there. The poor Bobtail still wants to keep up with the rest of the pack when he can barely see or hear at all. In the end he finds me working in the under brushes, however, and settles down in the shade.
We spend several hours cutting through the incredibly nifty fines, marveling each and every time at how fast they recovered from the massive removal it suffered through during the last gardening session. I guess that they REALLY enjoyed the few rain storms we had in the past couple of months. Huge clusters are twining their way up the trees, the dark green leaves vibrant with life and their first deep purple flowers rearing their heads in all their glory.
Since the car needs to be brought to the garage for its yearly checkup, both sisters head up to clean the cab so it will have a semblance of cleanness. Can’t give a bad impression, naturally.
By the time we’re done in the lower part of the garden and head on up to the house, big brother and grandpa head out to quickly get a last load of sand. While they’re gone I decide to make some dinner for a change. On the way up, it becomes clear that Bommel has lost his way, so I need to go back, pick him up and carry him to the part of the yard that he is intimately familiar with. Poor dog is completely wiped out from the trip down.
But let’s get back to dinner. God, even thinking about it now my mouth waters. Hah.
I’m in the mood for Indian, something sturdy and tasteful.
Curried potatoes with cauliflower on the side are just what we need after today.
Well, since I’m thinking about this anyway, I figure I might as well deviate from the course a bit and give the recipe. It’s easy and really good, so give it a shot sometime.
Curried Potatoes
6 persons
Potatoes: 12-18 Diced, small cubes.
Onion: 1-2 Chopped.
Garlic: 3-6 cloves. Minced.
Sugar: 1-2 teaspoon.
Salt: 1-3 teaspoon.
Olive oil/sunflower seed oil.
Yogurt: 400 gr.
Apricot jam: 1-2 tablespoon.
Spices:
Curcuma: 1-3 teaspoon.
Cilantro/Koreander: 1-2 teaspoon
Cardamom: A large pinch.
Cumin: 1 teaspoon.
Paprika: 1-2 teaspoon.
Pepper: A small pinch-1/2 teaspoon.
Or: A basic Curry mix 2-4 teaspoon.
Preparation:
Peel your potatoes (or wash them really well if you prefer them with the peel, it’s also tasteful and very healthy). Pour some oil into a large skillet or wok and heat with all spices except the Cilantro/Koreander and paprika. Don’t let it burn, it happens really fast. Add your garlic and leave on a low burn until the garlic starts to bake.
Pour in the potatoes and turn up the heat a bit. After a few stirs…the potatoes should be getting warm…add the two remaining spices, sugar, salt and the union. Stir frequently while the mix heats. When the first crusts start to form put in the yogurt and apricot jam and let it all simmer on medium-high flame until the potatoes are close to soft and have turned to a deep ochre. Lots of crusting is advisable. Makes it better.
For serving, add some cottage cheese or yogurt on top. It’s delicious.
Now, I hear a lot of people who don’t like Cauliflower dishes, but this one is an all time favorite in my family. Give it a try sometimes.
Cauliflower with mustard seeds.
4-6 person.
Cauliflower: 1 mid-size. Roughly chopped or diced.
Olive oil/Sunflower seed oil
Mustard: 1 teaspoon.
Sugar: 1 teaspoon.
Salt: 1 teaspoon.
Pepper: 1 pinch.
Spices:
Curcuma: 1-2 teaspoon.
Cylantro/Koreander: 1 teaspoon.
Mustard seeds: 2-3 tablespoons.
Preparation:
Heat the oil with both spices and mustard seeds on a low fire until the first seeds start to pop. Throw in the cauliflower pieces, add sugar, salt and pepper and stir. Let it bake for about ten to fifteen minutes, stir every three minutes or so. Be careful not to let the vegetable get mushy, crusts are fine, but the vegetable needs to stay slightly crispy for the best taste.
Well, how’s that for deviating, huh? Hah.
Anyways, after dinner big brother, grandpa and I head out to get another load of rocks from the spot we noticed yesterday. It takes only thirty minutes to fill up the back of the truck and soon we’re back home, just when the sun sets and darkness falls.
We unload the lot with the help of little brother and then go inside to resume with the edit.
I have considerable trouble with it tonight. For some reason I am unable to create the distance I need to look at the story, pages, paragraphs and sentences objectively. But we struggle through and finally finish up the day when we reach today’s quota. I’m not in the best of moods when I bring my dogs up to the cabin…the inability to focus on an edit, like to tonight, makes me grumpy.
I really should be in a better mood tomorrow, if not…well, then I’m going to be really ticked off with myself. Hah.
No comments:
Post a Comment