Mince Pies (an anniversary)

 Who likes mince pies? I don't like them particularly, yet I always have some this time of year, and on this very date. You may know why, but for the people who are new to this blog, let me tell you the story again. So this evening 22 years ago, after spending ages on my PhD thesis, I went to the kitchen on my hall of residence to eat a mince pie, because I was feeling peckish. Why did I buy mince pie? I can't remember, because it's not my kind of dessert. Maybe I was curious, because they're everywhere in England this time of year. Anyway, as I was indulging my Québecois sweet tooth, in walked Veggie Carrie. In the kitchen and in my life. So since then, I have a mince pie to celebrate.

New Sign of Halloween

I got so very happy from our last shopping trip to Asda. Which is ironic, because of all the shopping centre, it might be the one that I dislike the most. And I really hate shopping. But my wife pointed out a few autumnal items, like candles and cushions, and also this throw. With a winged cat, bats, a pumpkin... This is the first genuine Halloween thing on sale I have seen this year. Well except the Reese's Jack O's, but I'm sure that was old stock. It should not surprise me: Asda is owned by Wal-Mart after all. For the record, I didn't buy it. We were in a rush and I'm not sure I like it enough. Nevertheless, it's nice to see a new sign of Halloween.

First "Large" Pumpkin

For today's (first?) countdown to Halloween post, some trivial Jack O'Lantern news. We bought the first pumpkin this week, with an Asda order. It is meant to be a "large" pumpkin and when I saw the label, I thought they were joking. Surely this can't be a large pumpkin! It is an average one at best. Well, I should not complain: it is only £1.50 and it will most definitely not be the only pumpkin of Halloween. Oh how I miss the big ones from Montreal! But Wolfie likes it very much and is very eager to carve it soon. And by soon I mean now: since he saw the pumpkin he's been asking to make it into a Jack O'Lantern. I keep telling him that it is too early and that I don't want it to go mouldy before the 31st, he does not want to wait.

Strawberry Jam Recipe

I have discovered recently the Good For You strawberry jam from ASDA, which is absolutely delicious, almost like eating fresh strawberries. It inspired me to write this blog entry (and yes, it's another food entry). This is a childhood classic, a recipe of straberry jam that comes from my dad's side of the family. I still make it today, when I have the right strawberries. They must be ripe and juicy. So here it is.

You will need:
-A bowl
-A fork
-Lots of strawberries
-Sugar

Put the strawberries in the bowl. Pour on a bit of sugar. The juicier the strawberries (like the ones from l'Île d'Orléans) you barely need any sugar. You mash the strawberries with the fork and voilà, you have an instant strawberry jam, that tastes like strawberry and not jam and is lovely to put on toasts. Take my word for it.