Our morning routine, Monday to Friday, is to eat breakfast at the kitchen table, then take our (very large) cups of tea through to the lounge. We then read for a while. However, that routine was thoroughly disrupted this morning, with the arrival of these two birds on the peanut feeder
Yes, goldfinch! I didn't need to use my new bird book to identify them
The book I have been using is a childs' book (yes, I stole it from my own son!!) and the drawings in it aren't always clear. However this book, as well as drawings, has stunning photos of birds, and lots of information
Usually when we get an unusual bird in the garden, I am lucky to get one blurry photo before it flies away, but they stayed for most of the morning, so I ended up taking dozens of photos ..... here are a few of them!
The collared dove appeared later in the day, posing prettily on the other bird table
Later in the afternoon, Malcolm was working in the front garden, when he came to the door to let me know that the first swallow had arrived!! We think this is at least a week earlier than last year.
But I wouldn't want you to think that all I did today was take photos of birds!
From the fridge, I assembled these ingredients
red onion, mushrooms, sweet red peppers and leftover lamb (from Sunday dinner). To these I added
tomato puree, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, garlic - and apricot jam. As always, I had to get out my special tiny measuring spoons, as the smoked paprika is very strong, and I only need to add a smidgen!
I started by gently frying the onions and mushrooms in some olive oil
then added the garlic and the seasoning, and cooked it a little bit more, then added the jam and the meat. Finally I added the tomato puree, and a little bit of water
This is when I realised that I had forgotten to include the next ingredient in the earlier photos!
As you can see, Sainsbury's are very precise and don't call this cheese 'feta' - but that's what it looks and tastes like! I diced it and stirred it on to the mixture, then spooned it into the peppers
Then it was into the oven for thirty minutes. I wish you could smell this ....... delicious!
Thank you for all the advice and good wishes for my poor sore wrists. I have almost finished the gardening gloves, and won't do any more knitting this week!