Tuesday 11 March 2014

Season's greetings


Epic fail in the healthy eating stakes this weekend, when Number Two Son spat out my lovingly prepared Leek, Wensleydale and Pear Quiche, dismissing it as ‘rank’ and reaching for the freezer door in search of pizza. Some you win…

Stretching out after a spot of digging
The leeks came from the allotment, where they had been successfully overwintered. At this time of year, the plot looks rather bleak. Most of it is covered with cardboard and old carpet where dormant beds lie waiting for spring sowing. The only stuff still being harvested, apart from the leeks, is Jerusalem artichokes. I have a theory that come the day when the world finally gives up on us, the cockroaches will have these tenacious vegetables to feast on. They are, like the bugs, indestructible. Note to self: four roots of Jerusalem artichokes is three too many.

An allotment is a great place to work on my mindfulness skills, because there is plenty to stimulate the senses. On my last trip, there was a particularly good challenge for my sense of smell, as the air was filled with the heady mix of cow muck and two-stroke, this latter from the trial bikes that hurtle up and down in an adjacent field.

Best treat for the sense of touch, though, is when I get home and clean my hands with warmed olive oil and sugar. Mmm.

8 comments:

  1. I love allotments... that other people look after! I wouldn't enjoy the digging but I certainly enjoy eating the produce when my friends with allotments have too much for themselves.

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    1. The amount of hard labour involved can't be overstated, Wendy. We've seen many plot neighbours come and go, once they realise what they've taken on. I think it's well worth it, though.

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  2. The quiche sounds lovely Julia, I'd have eaten it. Glad to see you getting some yoga in. I must take it up again.

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    1. It was really tasty. I'll be making it again - but not serving it to the offspring.

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  3. I know too well the online searches for leek recipes in order to cope with the fridge full of them! I probably have a box of frozen leeks somewhere waiting to be reincarnated into something beautiful. There is though, something quite magical in growing food. Well done!

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    1. You really can't beat the satisfaction of serving up something that, just an hour ago, was still in the ground.

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  4. The quiche sounds very interesting - I love leeks! What a god idea to do some stretching like that to counteract the digging.

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    1. There's isn't anything that can't be improved by a little yoga, Rosemary. ;)

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