…grayblog…

Author: graybo

  • Waaay behind

    I’m waaay behind. Way behind with work. Way behind with stuff that needs doing around the house. Way behind in keeping in contact with people (sorry). Way behind in sleep. Way behind in blogging.

    Part of the reason is that this weekend sees the 14th Garden Event at West Dean. Last year we were royally rained upon – 32mm in the first few hours. I’ve confidently been telling people that we couldn’t possibly have two years in a row like that, but the forecast suggests that I might be wrong. Oh well, at least Sunday looks a bit better, and West Dean is on a shallow soil over gravel, so drains remarkbly quickly.

    Anyway, do come along. It will be good – plants, tools, equipment – in fact, pretty much everything garden related, plus a good selection of food and drink. Bring an umbrella to keep you dry and some cash to spend. And your mere presence will cheer me up.

    UPDATE: the forecast now says that we should miss the worst of the rain tomorrow during the day (it will be damp, rather than wet, when we are setting-up in the morning). The heaviest rain will pass through overnight tomorrow, so I’m hoping we might just get away with it.

  • links for 2008-06-18

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  • Good Old Sussex By The Sea

    Today is Sussex Day. Hurrah! I expect you all to be singing.

  • links for 2008-06-14

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  • Graybo’s Yummy Tarragon Chicken

    Really, it’s yummy.

    INGREDIENTS (serves two):

    • 1 small tub (200ml) of crème fraîche, reduced fat if you must.
    • 2 chicken breasts, roughly cubed. For goodness sake, get decent chicken, not cheap water-filled, factory-farmed rubbish.
    • 1 leek, trimmed and thinly sliced
    • a little butter
    • a little olive oil
    • a good handful of tarragon, roughly chopped or torn, stems removed. You’ve got this growing outside the door, right?
    • tagliatelli sufficient for two. Fresh stuff.
    • black pepper
    • a bottle of good red wine, maybe two

    METHOD:

    • open the wine. Have a glass for yourself and one for your dining partner.
    • boil some water for doing the tag.
    • in a large pan or, better still, a wok, melt a good dollop of butter over a medium to high heat.
    • fry the leek until just beginning to soften. Remove from the pan and reserve.
    • refill your glasses.
    • add a little olive oil to the pan and get it hot.
    • throw in the chicken and scoot around the pan until lightly browned.
    • get the tag going (I assume you have decent fresh pasta, none of the dried stuff – if you have dried pasta, you should have started this a while ago).
    • add the entire pot of crème fraîche to the chicken. Stir.
    • return the leeks to the pan. Stir some more.
    • mill in some black pepper (nice if you have one of those crusher-type mills, rather than a grinding-type). Stir it.
    • throw in the tarragon. Yes, you guessed – stir.
    • stir it all up some more.
    • drain the pasta and get it on the plate.
    • pour the chicken/tarragon/leek/crème fraîche mix over the top.
    • blimey, those glasses look low. Top ’em up.
    • Eat. Drink. Relax. Candles. Good music. You know the deal.

    Takes but ten minutes. Ideal for Friday night. We had it after a starter of fresh local asparagus with shaved parmesan, butter and apple balsamic vinegar. With gin. And tonic.

  • links for 2008-05-29