Domestic Goddessry

No shows this weekend!!! So I decided to try to have a 'normal' weekend, like 'normal' people have? ;o)



(No dogs were harmed in this domesticity, we still had a lovely long walk and playtimes!) but I also:

Cleaned the house – not just the normal flick round so it looks not too embarrassing on the surface, but real proper cleaning that involves moving heavy items of furniture and evicting civilisations of fuzz-bunnies


Washed curtains & rugs, beat heavy rugs


Caught up with a (non-doggy!!!) friend and had the loveliest hour drinking coffee and laughing :D


Bagged up all the change in the ‘copper’ jar - £27+


Re-plumbed the kitchen sink so it drains in a more logical manner - ie. mostly downwards


Re-potted and fed houseplants


Tidied the cellar and found, amongst other things: a dusty bottle of wine – vintage chateau neuf du co-op, a (very) dead mouse, my favourite lump hammer, a bottle of rust-killer – slightly irksome after buying a new bottle yesterday, a teapot I’ve never ever met before, some fab turquoise paint – still can’t find anything to paint it on to but it’s such a pretty colour anyway :)


Cooked a huge pan of Aloo Gobi


Here’s a recipe(ish)


Aloo Gobi


Smallish cauliflower – roughly broken into florets
About 2lb potatoes – medium chunks
Handful of frozen peas
Small red onion – chopped small
Bunch of fresh coriander
1 fresh red chilli – finely chopped
4 big cloves of garlic – mediumly chopped
Half a sq. inch of fresh ginger – finely chopped
Spices – teaspoon each of powdered: coriander, cumin, garam masala, turmeric
Salt to taste
About 4 tbsp veg oil


Use a large pan – I use the largest Le Creusset casserole pan


Heat oil then add chilli, onion, ginger then garlic


Add potatoes and stir well, add powdered spices and salt, then add about half a mug of water and stir again


Turn heat down (electric mk 2-3ish) and keep stirring, cover and leave about 20 mins, keeping stirring and adding a little water to cover the bottom of the pan. (The potatoes cook by sort of a combination of frying and steaming – there is probably a proper name for this process.)


Add in the cauliflower and frozen peas and cook for about a further 30 mins until all veg are cooked through

When finished the dish should be quite dry


Leave to stand uncovered for about 5 mins


Check and add salt to taste


Stir through and garnish with chopped fresh coriander


Serve with rice &/or chapattis, mint raita (natural yoghurt and chopped fresh mint) and pickles – I used garlic pickle – and nice cold lager. Yummmm.


So what do the 'normal' folk do next?? I might try watching a film - curled up with a pile of hairy doggies of course :o)


Tomorrow I might try do some "Culture" ?!?!...