Playing with my food...

One of the advantages of living in a city with a diverse ethnic mix is the variety of vegetables that can be purchased. We live about 10 minutes walk from an Asian shop that sells beautiful garlic, ginger and chillies at a fraction of supermarket prices, as well as large bunches of fragrant fresh coriander and fenugreek. When Pete last dropped in he was tempted by shiny purple baby aubergines the size of large chickens eggs, and the fuzzy green pods of okra.

Alex used half the okra last night in a tofu, okra and cashew nut stir-fry which was very tasty, and even convinced himself, a confirmed carnivore, that meals without meat can be delicious! Tonight we stir-fried the remaining okra with a dusting of black pepper and cumin, to serve alongside keema curry (made by Alex), home-made garlic and coriander naans and a variety of salads made by Pete.

I've always found the symmetry of okra very attractive, and they made a good emergency blip as I hadn't got around to any other photography, thanks to a busy schedule of report writing, data entry and a spell of gardening. I finished planting all our cheap bulbs and supervised Alex pruning the apple trees. We also planned our management of the conifer hedge at the end of the garden, but have had to order a new step-ladder before we can make a proper start. I'm keen to get the work underway, as if the weather stays mild it won't be long before the birds start nesting!