How to be more like me. (What I did this week).: Check your bonfire for hedgehogs

Remember, remember the week beginning the 4th of November.
(For the purposes of this blog of course. The week begins on a Sunday as we all know).
Well, I have been buoyed by the increase in my followers - an exponential growth, rather like bacteria. I calculate world domination in no time. This week is for fireworks and the provision of sparklers to children while at the same time, stressing compulsively the position of the bucket of cold water.

What to Cook:

Roasted Red Soup

This is ideal to take to somebody else's bonfire party.

1 butternut squash - peeled and cut length-ways into 8 bits

4 red peppers - cut in half and seeded

12 tomatoes - halved

2 cloves of garlic - don't bother peeling

A couple of tips of fresh rosemary if you have it in the garden

Put all the above into a roasting tin and sprinkle liberally with olive oil and black pepper. Roast at 200 degrees centigrade for about 40 minutes until tender and slightly scorched at the edges. Now scrape everything from the roasting tin into a large saucepan, and add:

2 tins of tomatoes,
2 tsps sugar,
and if you can bring yourself, a tin of tomato soup.
1 tsp dried chili flakes (optional)
1 tblspn balsamic vinegar
And for posh, 2 tblspn soured cream

Warm through and blitz the whole lot with a soup wand.

If your kids think that they don't like soup, try serving as a snack or starter in a small cup with buttered soldiers on the side. In this way, its much more fun and if they really won't eat it, there is not much wasted and you won't get cross. As with every food, keep trying it on the kids as eventually, they will realise that you are right.

What to do in the Garden:

Get your bulbs in.

In April, this scrabby old cabbage will be replaced by a triumph of tulips

This is a great weekend for putting your spring bulbs in. Before the frost comes and makes the soil like pig-iron. As a general rule, bulbs should be planted at a depth of twice their own height. A layer of sharp sand beneath them will help prevent rot. I have found that narcissus and alliums are as tough as old boots and can be left in situ all year round. As for tulips, I plant them in tubs so that I can bring them close to the house for the winter. This keeps the bulbs warmer and drier and also prevents the pots from getting frost damaged. Usually!

If you don't have space outside for any more flowers, pot up a couple of tubs for your window sill. Dwarf iris makes a welcome change from the over-powering hyacinth.

A Walk for the Weekend.

Length: You choose!

Grizedale Forest, near Hawkshead in the Lake Disrict is a brilliant destination for a walk or cycle trail. There are many routes to take of varying length and difficulty, all way marked. An added dimention is added by the sculpture that appears as you wander. On our first visit, when my kids where small, I took a box of cooked sausages and every time they saw a new sculpture, they got a sausage. We positively romped through the forest.