Knickers and spinach

Does anyone else save their favourite knickers for days when they know they're going out? Even if it's only to the shops. I think it's the 'in case I get run over' mentality.

Anyway, as you know, after our holiday, I took a week 'off'. It was lovely and the world didn't collapse around my ears. Now, however, life is as crazy as ever. And actually, I think I prefer it this way.

I am less likely to slump and wallow when I'm too busy to stop.

As well as planning to write fiction every day in November I've picked up the memoir I'm ghost-writing. It's more or less finished; mostly needs the subject to check it for factual inaccuracies. And possibly libel. And tying him down is hard work.

I suppose I should think about a pre-Christmas book-selling push too. Not to mention Christmas shopping. Need to plan ahead to get presents out to Italy. 

Oh, yes, that's what I was going to write about. I knew I came here for a reason. Pam has a post on her blog to celebrate National Cookbook Month. (Yes, seriously.) It's also spinach month as well as caramel, popcorn popping, and many others. 

A few years ago - or it might have been in first lockdown enthusiasm for jobs I've always meant to do but never got round to - I sorted out my cookbook shelves. Got rid of the ones I never used, and sorted the rest into miscellaneous and author order. This is more or less the result.

Most of these will have at least one favourite recipe. And this is probably the most-used cookbook.

I bought it early in married life - so it's probably forty years old - and contains lots of favourite recipes. The months are all out of order and the index is missing anyway.

Oh, I've just read that the author, Katie Stewart, died in 2013. Her obituary in the Guardian said she was 'mentor to a generation who first learned their kitchen skills in the late 1960s and 70s.' That would be me then. 

Now I shall do my bit for National Spinach Month by making lamb and spinach curry. 

P.S. On our family whatsapp page my kitchen cleaning is being dissed. (Is that the right word?) I would like to point out that no-one has ever died directly as a result of eating my food. On the contrary I put it the jury that my lack of attention to kitchen cleanliness has provided my children with the best start in life: a highly developed immune system.

P.P.S. Lest you think my kitchen is totally disgusting, it's not. I keep surfaces clean.