Charging head-long in to May without a single tomato plant. It's been a very cold and wet start to the year. I have decided to forget growing greenhouse crops from seed and buy plug plants when the weather finally improves. Sheer bravery I know. (And laziness).
In tulip news:
things are looking pretty rosey!
Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Finely chop a few sun-dried tomatoes and roasted peppers from jars.
You know the ones.
Make a cut in the chicken breast and stuff with your filling.
Wrap in bacon and sit in an oven-proof dish. Make it a nice snug fit.
Smother in your home made tomato sauce or similar.
Cover with foil and roast at 180 degrees for 30 minutes. (Longer if you are using a larger amount of chicken breasts).
Serve with buttery mash and greens. Totally gorgeous.
Slicing before serving makes it more appealing to kids and also means you can feed three people with every two chickens breasts.
Around the Grounds
There comes a time when daffodils become choked and need to be dug up and divided. Happily that time has co-incided with my kids becoming capable of doing this for me. What were the chances?!
These bulbs are being dried in the greenhouse and will be replanted with plenty of space around them in October. Next spring they will produce more flowers and less leaves.
Hob- top Spring Lamb Steaks
Fry one lamb steak or two chops per person until browned on each side.
Remove from the pan and add a nob of butter and some cornflour.
Whisk in a glass of red wine and lamb stock until your desired thickness is reached.
Add a dessert spoon or so of red currant jelly and a sqeeze of garlic puree.
Now return the lamb to the sauce and simmer gently for about ten minutes, until just cooked. Remove from the heat to rest for five minutes before eating.
Apologies and AOB
For those of you on a committee, more strength to your elbow.
Sports clubs, kids groups, community projects and charities would be nothing without you.
If you or someone you know is concidering joining such an association my advice would be to go for it. How bad could it be?
Get yourself into a position where you can make a real contribution, and lots of biscuits for your town.
Funny of the Week
Some gentle comedy to do your tidying up to.
