Sunday 17 February 2013

No reason



Don't you think there's something wonderful about smoke from a chimney? I never drew a house without a smoking chimney when I was little. Nor does my daughter now.

It says it all, says enough. That there's life in that house there. Maybe a fireside with a real fire. Toasty toes in scratchy socks. Things drying. A stew on the hob. It's cold outside, but not in that house with smoke from its chimney.  




D took two days off work. Just like that, no reason. That's the best reason of all; when it's time taken just be to be at home doing something something, nothing nothing.

We went for walks and fed the ducks and had a pizza by the river. We read books, toes touching. We took the training-wheels off Chotto-Ma's bike and watched her wobble and tip. It's funny how her nervousness made her hum all the way, the tune rising sharply in pitch every time she tipped.

It was kind of wonderful. Like smoke from a chimney, with a stew cooking under it.




Adzuki beans, carrots & chorizo stew


1 1/2 cups adzuki beans
2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 onion, sliced
4-5 carrots, diced in circles
4-5 inches chorizo, diced in circles
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cumin powder
Some feta, crumbled
Olive oil
Salt





Soak the beans overnight. Boil the next morning with bay leaves, garlic, tomato and salt.The beans should be simmered till soft.
Heat olive oil in a pan with a lid, and saute the onions, carrots and chorizo.
Add the boiled beans, pepper and cumin. Add more salt if needed and let is simmer till the carrots are cooked.
Take it off the heat. Let it cool a little and sprinkle the crumbled feta on top. Drizzle with olive oil.

We had ours with couscous.































14 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks Nic, it's good to hear from you as always :)

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  2. Lovely. The no-reason days off are just so good.

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  3. Isn't it amazing? To picture what's happening inside the house just from looking at it from far far away.....Now Chotto ma is riding the bike?? Amazing that she sings when she's nervous, she's never off tune though :)....Mishtanna

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    Replies
    1. It's like me seeing one of your paintings from far, far away :)
      Haan, she's riding (but still with a helping hand!). Tor or gaan mone aache? :)

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  4. i love holidays without reasons :) That's probably the only time we do things randomly, unplanned and enjoy every second.

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  5. Such a fairy tale like writing. Enjoyed it Pia.

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    Replies
    1. I'm a little bit in love with your note today, Anita. Fairy tale like writing :)
      Thank you, always, always, for reading what I write.

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  6. At this time of year, I can always tell when are neighbours are in from the chimneys!! The stew looks beautiful and just perfect for central heating! :)

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it was a central-heating kind of stew, Emma. And makes-your-glasses-fog-up kind of stew too :)

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  7. The stew looks warm, comforting and homely. Just the way you described smoke from a chimney. I always associated smoking chimneys with food cooking. Period. Hahaha!

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