Ms Cradock the Second

I am over the moon... I have a pinny! I had looked in a snobby department store at aprons recently, and yes, I do appreciate how sad that sounds, but the only one I really liked was too small for me. Shame really, as it was pink with a silver sequin trim. I could overlook the fact it said “Mummy’s Little Helper”, but I could not fail to notice it was more than a little bit too small for me. Lee the Veggie Man had read last week’s blog and I am now the proud owner of a Riverford pinny. So what if I am a walking sandwich board for my favourite organic food company, at least I will no longer be popping to the shop for a bottle of wine with a great big splodge of tomato based sauce down my top. I feel like a real chef now, so much so that I thought I might soon share my favourite recipe with you – home made Lamb stew. Or is it a casserole? I never did grasp the difference. Regardless, it has been a winner every time, without exception. The recipe will be on next week’s blog.

I know I bark on about how Riverford are the best thing since the discovery of crop rotation, but I am a genuinely happy customer. My only real issue are those ‘easy fold’ boxes. They really are not easy at all. I spent ten quality minutes with them this week but they refused to flatten. I left them for Lee the Veggie Man today and was glad to be out when he called as I just know he would have insisted on showing me again how to fold them. Clearly origami does not come naturally to me.

I have ordered a roots and greens box because my boys are house sitting for my parents, which means they will survive for three days in their pjs, with the curtains still closed, glued to the xbox and only eating anything which takes five minutes to microwave. Therefore they will need me to cram them with veggies and other real food to build up their resources and warm up their pale skin. No doubt they will need a long bath too. Honestly I hope they go on to university after all this student lifestyle training.

Before I sign off, I have to tell you that the PSB – purple sprouting as my Granddad used to call it (said with a very thick Black Country accent) was beyond divine. It is in season now, and it is very good for you. I steamed mine, retaining the flavour and goodness. Thankfully no one noticed I had somewhat more on my plate than they did.

Join me next week when I will publish my lamb casserole recipe and put a bottle of red wine to good use.

PS. Lee the Veggie Man, if you are reading this, how I wish I had a new car...

©Meriel Flavell 2010