Pegboard

Fed up of having no worktop space so I made this, materials cost a mere £20. Made a schoolboy error though, I failed to compute that pegboard, or any perforated hardboard, has holes at set distances so that the standard hook inserts fit. I just drilled holes at a distance which happened to be the width of a baton - got round it by looping in some twine which somehow looks better!

Nursery!

Not posted in a while, so here's the almost-finished nursery. Sanderson 'mobiles' wallpaper from their 50s range; ikea shelves, rug & pendant light; changing dresser off eBay; 50s/60s school desk and chair found on side of road near me (just needed sanding and oiling); got the tintin poster of eBay and reused a frame I already had - the chair was also an existing possession. All in all very pleased, now just counting down until November for the occupant's arrival!

Beeswax floor polish

Decided to make my own beeswax floor polish after buying an industrial floor polisher off eBay for a mere tenner.

Simple recipe, 4oz beeswax, 4 fl oz turps and a few drops of lavender oil to stop your floors stinking of turps!

Chickpea Curry

Back again! Whipped up this tonight, just a basic store cupboard curry, took all of 20 mins to make!

1 x 400g tin tomatoes
1 x fresh tomato
1 x 400g tin chickpeas

Bunch fresh coriander

Dollop of yoghurt

1 x thumb size piece of ginger
1 x onion
2 x cloves garlic
1 x fresh red chilli deseeded
1 tsp ground coriander seeds
1 tsp ground turmeric
2 tsp cumin seeds
4 cardamom pods
1 x tsp fenugreek seeds

2 x tbs sunflower oil or vegetable oil

Blend the garlic, onion, ginger and chilli into a paste with a dash of oil

Heat a pan of the rest of the oil abs add the ground spices for a minute, then add the blended mix and cook on a medium heat for five minutes.

Add the tomatoes, tinned and fresh and cook for 10 minutes before finally adding the chickpeas and coriander for the final few minutes. Serve with a dollop of yoghurt. Probably totally unauthentic but vibey as...

Vegeree

Forgot to pop this on here last week, it's a vegetable kedgeree, so easy to make, feeds an army and tastes awesome

Chachouka

Made this vibey little dish last night from Hugh's veggie book.. It says it feeds four but don't be fooled, this is just enough for two people. I added some cayenne pepper to give it a kick, but otherwise I followed it to the letter and it came our perfectly, take a look.

Edit: forgot I did stray slightly but only to add some Worcestershire sauce on the eggs!

Saturday afternoon Potatas Bravas

Serves 2

8 Charlotte potatoes quartered
2 cloves of garlic peeled and squashed flat
1/2 sliced red onion
1 tsp cayenne pepper
3 tsp smoked paprika
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper

Add the potatoes, onion, garlic and oil to a dish and put into a 190c oven

After 20 mins add the passata, cayenne and paprika and stir.

Cook for another 20-25 mins until the potatoes are just soft, season to taste.

Serve!