Tuesday 3rd August 2010

I’ve economised with old pine nuts. I’m doing an Ottolenghi – the chicken with za’atar and sumac (p122 Ottolenghi -The Cookbook). As it happens, it was featured on Laura Malcolm’s menu last week. She’d queened za’atar and sumac all the way from London to Normandy. Robert Nevil and Sebastian Archer have had it before in my home too.

But what else to do with those spices?

I’ve rather run out of ideas as well as money, truth to tell. The Gay Mother has been on the phone night and day about that mine. At times the choice of food seems to shrivel, doesn’t it? Just meat, or fish or vegetables. So dreary.

At least I’ve got some of the Gay Mother’s blackcurrant puree for pudding. I didn’t tell you about her currant situation, did I? 86 and still running four abundant bushes. Inundated with fruit in July and August. She forged into my bedroom at 8 am when I was staying with her the other week. ‘There’s a recipe for blackcurrant sauce to have with duck. It’s in Jane Grigson but I can’t find it.’

You can see how it all began – with the Gay Mother. Most Poor Little Rich Gays have got a Gay Mother who started it all, in one way or another.

I’m also offering a true Melba. Do you know it? Real peach, not a cling, good vanilla ice cream and Melba sauce which you make by sieving raspberries and adding icing sugar.

Except I forgot the raspberries, so it won’t be a Melba at all.