Autumn Cottage Diarist

Hunkering Down on a Sunday

Roz's Ratatouille - wonderful with fish dishes

We have a forecast of the temperature rising and going 'into double figures' by midweek - but at the moment, we have grey skies and a bitterly cold wind blowing across the south of England. 'Outside' is not a pleasant place to be.

The place to be is indoors, with fires lit and casseroles on the cooker; some to fill the freezer, some to fill our tums, accompanied by a glass of wine and followed by sitting in a nook with a jolly good book!

This is what I have been doing this weekend - and this is where I am doing it…

Portioning up the Ratatouille for the freezer - recycled 'takeaway' meal tubs hold just the right amount for two!

Add a batch of Leek and Potato soups - very satisfying! (Pip not interested, though...)

...and for the tum? Friday supper - Sausages in Cider with Black Olives...served with mashed potato

On the bookshelf...plenty to keep me occupied...

...tucked up in this cosy book corner on the landing

Always a good topic for our journals - our food, drink and books say so much about our lives, don't they? So what are you eating, drinking or reading this weekend?

 

Roz's Cheap & Easy Ratatouille

(Makes approx 12 portions)

 

2 x 500 gm packs inexpensive mixed sweet peppers

3 red onions

1 head celery

3 tins  'Value' or 'Economy' chopped tomatoes

1/2 tube tomato puree

1 glass white wine

2 tbsp sliced black olives

5 large cloves garlic

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tsp Mixed Italian herbs

2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp ground black pepper

 

Slice in half and remove the seeds from the peppers, then cut into roughly 2 cm (1 inch) pieces

Peel onions, cut into similar chunks

Wash celery, slice into 2 cm pieces

Chop garlic, add to onion

Fry all for 5-10 minutes in the olive oil until onions start to become transparent

Add glass of wine, simmer for 2-3 minutes

Add tinned tomatoes, bring to simmer.

When hot, Add italian herbs, season to taste with salt & pepper.

Stir in tomato puree & sliced olives. Cover and simmer for 1 hr.

Allow to cool before placing in tubs.

 

Bringing the Wild Inside...

Some of you will remember how pleased I was to find a lovely 'sleeping fox' cushion a few years ago at the local branch of 'Next'. I am always on the look-out for interior decorating items with particular themes, and it will be no surprise that one of my favourite themes is that of 'Wildlife', but - (as in many other areas of my life!) - I am particular as to those items I find that are both affordable and of good quality. It's been very pleasing, therefore, to find a couple more cushions over the last couple of months which fit nicely into that bracket - positive bargains, in fact. It's surprising what you can find if you keep your 'thrifty' eye open!

Post Christmas sales come up with the goods! This beautiful watercolour print stag - £4.00 UK pounds from Tesco

The reverse print on the stag cushion - and with the motifs facing both ways - how I wish other manufacturers would do this - they would sell twice as many products to me if I could buy matching, bi-directional pairs!

...and this little character - a lovely, woven 'tapestry' - a bargain fiver from Dunelm Mill, who are always worth a visit for a huge range of soft furnishings at good prices and in a great range of colours.

I love 'Thrifty Interiors' - how about you? I'd love to hear about some of your own special bargains.