Veggie-tating

While almost all TV networks are reporting the heat extremes at the top of the news, the UK media does by far the best job making it into a life-threatening situation for most of Europe.

I guess with Parliament on summer hols and with the PM and no doubt most champagne quaffing J.R-M's are in their holiday homes on the continent, there isn't anything newsworthy on the British Isles to report.

Personally, I have been haunted by the photos of the young midwife who went missing last week in Stoke-on-Trent and thus when the news came through this afternoon that her body had been found, I was deeply moved. We have to wait to find out what happened but from the minute I first saw her face, she struck me as being exactly the sort of person I would like to see at my hospital bedside. A tragic loss of such a young life.

Back home, I continue to vegetate in the heat. Activity restricted to staying apart from the odd dash to the pool or vegetable garden to get supplies. This evening the pool at 32°C felt refreshing.

Taking a leaf out of my daughter's book, I went for a vegetarian food day. The photo shows my dinner. Had to make a collage as it wasn't all ready at the same time. The starters of self-made humus (chickpeas from a tin and not the garden) with some olive bread and homemade very cold cucumber soup with a glass of Rose. Can't remember the last time I drank Rose but the bottle has been kicking around for a few years and I don't think it generally keeps too well. The first swig was a bit ...Uuugh ... but then as the meal got underway, it became very enjoyable.

I have never made cucumber soup and was astonished at how good it tasted. Very cucumbery and an added kick which I suspect came from using white pepper which I normally avoid at all costs.

Finished the starters just as the bell rang to announce the bean flan should be ready. The recipe was for just beans but as I have a glut of several things, added some baby carrots and peas. There is no base worth talking about, simply a dusting of breadcrumbs and thus the dish was not at all heavy. In the recipe, they recommend bread as an accompaniment. As I had already devoured the bread, I ate it "neat".

And the good news, not only did I survive the meal but thoroughly enjoyed it. 80% of the flan now needs to be eaten as "leftovers" and will make an excellent side dish to some meat dish.

OK .... I have been hiding something wicked from you ......
From blackcurrants in the garden, I made a blackcurrant ice cream! Actually started too late to get the result in for today's Blip. At 23:30 I had to go out to the freezer to give it a whirl as it was getting to the half set stage. Did lick the whisk afterwards and it tasted delicious but the final result cannot be published yet.