Nothing Much

Dear Reader,

I do hope this finds you in both fine and hearty spirits. Many people close to us have been suffering with various ailments, from the sniffles to Covid...yes the beast remains at large, though thankfully now a much more relaxed attitude to it is the norm. However, old habits die hard and so as it's made its way to the care home I work in I find myself donning a mask if I need to see anyone I know to be vulnerable. My cold has largely run it's course and I really really hope not to pick up anything else I could so do without.

I am intending to have a be kind to myself sort of day. Making no promises of what I should like to achieve.  I have however removed quite a layer of dust from various surfaces in both the living room and dining hall. Our Holly & Ivy china has remained up on the dresser since the Midwinter Festivities and with a glimmer of sunshine outside I thought it the ideal time to have a change about to something a little more Springlike.  So far the space has been cleared and cleaned. I'm afraid the lure of a fresh cup of tea rather took my fancy and so I sit here now by the lit woodturner with an empty cup and only a crust remaining from the last of the potato pasty I made for our tea yesterday. Eaten with some homemade harvest chutney it made for a most welcome late Winter early lunch.

February is to be a month of living out of our freezers as much as possible. Therefore no Sunday roast transpired here at Little Winter yesterday, instead  a rather hearty cottage pie served us and the family next door well, with the added bonus of having enough left over for this evenings meal.

Also fresh from the Aga yesterday was a bacon, onion and cheese quiche (of which half remains for tomorrows lunches), a dozen raspberry jam tarts, some nutty flapjack, a lemon meringue pie and last but not least a potato cake.

The potato cake has all been eaten, it is delicious warm or cold with lashings of golden syrup.

I'm not sure if potato cake is a thing where you live, however I am aware that here in Devon the recipe can and does vary from village to village. 

My Mother used cold suet for the fat portion, I have changed that to melted butter. My husbands grandmother used to fry hers, whereas ours always go in the oven.

Potato Cake

Quantity of cold cooked potato

1/2 the weight of the potato in flour (SR or plain)

1/4 the weight of the potato in fat of your choice

A few sultanas

Method

Mash the cold potato and add in the flour and fat. Sprinkle in a few sultanas. Pack into a baking dish. I like to rough up the surface with a fork a little.

Bake in a moderate oven...using an Aga timings can vary so I just have to judge when it it cooked. It should be a light golden brown, roughly 25-30 minutes.

Delicious served warm with lashings of golden syrup.

I have spent some time looking back through my old photos for a picture of some potato cake, but have not had any luck as yet, I guess this means I will have to make some more and be sure to take a snap before it all gets eaten!

Instead I give you a picture of Hairy Harry...recently down from Scotland...the cats are unsure whether to love or hate him! 

So back to doing nothing much by the fire...it is still Winter after all and so very much allowed!

Blessings, J. x