Today

"it's those black clouds that make the blue skies even more beautiful." Kelly Clarkson

In the spirit of yesterday's post about tiny moments of joy herewith a photograph.

I was actually out in the garden trying to find something to match the above quote - it is now a blue sky day - when I saw this flower. I took the photograph not just because of its innate beauty, but because it is a small miracle attached to two tiny stories.

First story - shortly after we moved into this house - some 40 years ago, I planted this creeper - just outside my desktop window in fact - because it was said to have beautiful flowers. But in all those forty years, in spite of the plant itself flourishing, there has not been one single flower on that plant. Not one. So this one is indeed a miracle.

Second story - It's name is Pandorea Jasminoides and the name reminded me - a little sadly - in a happy way - if you know what I mean, of our long dead first ever dog Pandora - a supposedly German shepherd/Siberian husky cross. German shepherd - yes, Siberian husky - well maybe but maybe not. But we all adored her. So many happy associated memories flood into my head. From a flower.

And one more unexpected moment of happy surprise. As I was struggling with my full supermarket trolley in our very sloping Coles car park a young man was suddenly there offering to hold the trolley to stop it rolling down the slope, whilst I loaded the car. A smile, a small piece of generosity - a random act of kindness. And he was young - which disproves that theory that the young are only thinking of themselves. A moment that proves that you should never generalise. Maybe he did it because Ihe was taking pity on an old, old lady but so what? I am.

But what about food? Well first of all - the Friday night quiche with which I was well pleased. Well actually not absolutely as, for some reason, the pastry was not as crisp as usual. Well possibly the reason was that inadvertently I had removed a ball of sweet pastry from the freezer. For a moment I thought of making some fresh pastry, but it was getting late so I went ahead with sweet. It didn't taste sweet, but yes it was a little bit soggy - which may be because my normal quiche pastry has some polenta in it. And maybe even a little bit of sugar in the pastry makes it soft. It's an interesting thought, that the polenta may well be the thing that makes my pastry crisp. A tip from Jane Grigson I think. The filling was bacon, sliced courgettes, half a sliced shallot, and a handful of frozen peas, softened with a little butter in the microwave, and then mixed into the egg and cream mixture which was flavoured with chopped tarragon - stalks and all - and a goodly dollop of Dijon mustard. Gently and soothingly tasty. Comfort.

Today, for me, has really been all about preparing for tomorrow's feast - mostly by doing the shopping. I'm making Nigel's pork, leeks and green peppercorns but could find no peppercorns in either of the two major supermarkets. I knew I had some at home, but did I have enough? Fortunately yes - but why were there none in the shops? Out of fashion? Failed harvest? Discontinued product - either from the manufacturer's end or the supermarket end? I shall not worry about it until I need them again.

I always forget something - and this time it was coriander - for our lone vegetarian's dish of Cheesy baked rice with okra and tomato - from the Ottolenghi book Comfort - although I think this dish is from Helen Goh. I'm taking their suggestion of substituting green beans - like the lady of the website Cuisine Fiend - which has the recipe. She said it was delicious, so I'm crossing fingers. Both those dishes are for tomorrow though. Together with Tom Hunt's Cheese straw misfits - gloriously messy looking - for nibbles - which are basically puff pastry twists flavoured with either kimchi or sauerkraut and cheese. Or pesto. I actually bought a small tin of kimchi - I've been meaning to experiment with kimchi for some time now. If this is a success I might do kimchi instead of miso in my familiarising myself with new ingredients experiment. Sauerkraut is not an experiment. I love sauerkraut and should definitely use it more.

There will definitely be potatoes. Nigel recommends plain boiled potatoes, slightly crushed, but somehow I don't think my family will go for them, so I might make a stock based gratin, which I know they like.

As for tonight - something simple. Salmon with pesto is the plan because I have a bunch of basil which will go off soon if I don't make it into pesto. And salmon baked with pesto and maybe some oven chips is a good way to use it. We had pasta the other day.

The sky is still blue. I am looking forward to a big cook up, rather than cooking for two, and there is, at very long last - a flower on the creeper outside my window. And a mended - over two days leak in a pipe under our bathroom floor. A new mains line, a hole outside the bathroom, and a bit of a mess to clean up. But no more leakage. What a relief.

March 21 - done.

YEARS GONE BY

March 21

2025 - Guilty reserve drawers

2024 - Tajín - a quickie

2023 - Middle-Eastern - then and now

2022 - The menu

2021 - Missing

2020 - Missing

2019 - Lucky dip - Kedgeree

2018 - Yes pepitas and pumpkin seeds are the same things

2017 - Palak or saag? Chicken, beef or lamb?