Sausage day

IT’S MY big cook day, and I’m doing us old-fashioned curried beef sausages.

And, as usual when attempting something new, I’m a little nervous.

The fact is I’ve never even tasted beef sausages before, let alone used them in slow-cooked curry sauce.

They turn out to be pretty good; less fiery than the more normal pork verities, they nevertheless go well with the warmth of the curry.

All washed down with a very agreeable Australian Durif-Shiraz wine.

Excellent.

Christmas plans and pea soup

I CANNOT believe that the run up to Christmas has already begun.

But yes, we’ve already booked the table for our group festive dinner at the Pub, and our plans for the Big Day are firmly laid.

We’re dining at the home of some friends this year, as a change to eating out which, to be honest, has got a bit tedious.

We’re looking forward to a good, homemade Christmas dinner – a roast turkey with all the trimmings… Promises to be good, especially since PD and his wife Lin always go to the trouble of getting a premium quality bird from Marks and Spencer’s.

Meanwhile, I’m busily soaking some split peas, ready for my pea and ham soup done in the slow cooker tomorrow.

I really do enjoy using our “Big Ears” – the aromas as it plops away, hour after hour, fill the whole house.

I have to admit to a certain apprehension about this soup, though. My mother used to do it to perfection when I was a lad, and the recipe I’m following is definitely not the same as hers.

For example, with mine, everything goes into the pot at the same time; my mother used to boil the ham first, then use the stock to make the soup.

The ingredients are a little different, too.

I guess I shall just have to keep my fingers crossed.