Roast Squash by my granny

Squash (any type) de-seeded and chunked.
Small onions, skinned
Cloves of garlic, skinned.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (OK granny didn't use olive oil but I prefer it)
Cajun Spice

Place the vegetables in a roasting dish and drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with a good dash of Cajun spice and toss together.

Place in a hot oven for 20 - 30 minutes, or until just tender.

Vegetable Box 1

Well I got my first veggie box today and not a sprout in sight, deep sigh of relief. So what did I get for my ten quid. More than I thought I would I need more space for putting it in for sure.

Anyway lets start from the top, grapefruit (yummy I loves those split in half with brown sugar (organic of course) lightly grilled) so no prizes for guess what is for breakfast.

Apples not that I get to taste those as they are red ones and so lunch box for Jamie. He's the sporty type dude so healthy food all the way and already he's cottoned on to organic being healthier.

A lovely red oak lettuce so my lunch box salad and chicken sandwich is set. Griddle a chicken breast with a touch of Cajun spice (ever the southern belle me). Allow to cool and slice toss with salad greens and a simple dressing of lemon juice, black pepper and the extra virgin olive oil. Yeah I'm freaky about my oils too and avoid any with that bane of the country side and hay fever sufferers rapeseed.

A nice firm cauliflower, that will be Monday's tea with a brie sauce. Probably have that with a bit of bacon or cold pork. I love cauliflower just don't like it boiled to death like a school dinner, it needs to have a nice bite.

Courgettes so ratatouille too as I have some plum tomatoes that have gone past salad stage so are now for cooking.

Green pepper which I will stuff with mushroom rice and pinch a tad of courgette from the ratatouille maybe.

Runner beans nice with roast leg of pork (old spot still the best pork ever).

Carrots still with there green on so can feed next doors bunny too. Might not do them as a veg dish as Paul and I love carrot cake so ooh the temptation.

Potatoes, too good for anything except butter and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Red cabbage a new one on me will let you know.

And a huge great squash, roast with the pork I think, well some of it the rest will be an experiment with pasta or couscous I think.

Over all well impressed and looking forward to an interesting veggie week.

Post script: I don't normally edit my posts once they are up on the blog but in this case I want to link to the supplier of my vegetable box so (big fanfare)...

Shropshire Organics

I have tried a few boxes from various places but for me this is the company where it's at. And if they permit I will post weekly on my box as this is a major transition in my life from that of saying I want to be organic to being organic.

Beauty without cruelty

I have never believed in the use of animals for testing make up, actually not sure we have a right or there is a useful purpose to testing on animals for anything really.

Today we have lost a pioneer of our age who fought to produce cruelty free cosmetics. Anita Roddick and the Body Shop has made it possible for anyone to follow their ethics and use beauty treatments. Other companies have followed suit and use cruelty free ingredients.

Thank you Anita rest peacefully, and heart felt wishes of support to her family.

Anita Roddick

Tributes pour in for Body Shop founder --- full story

Tributes have been pouring in for Body Shop founder Dame Anita Roddick who has died at the age of 64.

Dame Anita suffered a major brain haemorrhage and died at St Richard's Hospital in Chichester.

Her husband, Gordon, and daughters Sam and Justine were all with her.

She was famous for the Body Shop but also gained international recognition for championing many causes closes to her heart, from green issues to human rights and Third World debt.

Vegetable Boxes

When I get back from Sabbatical I have arranged to get a weekly vegetable box delivered from a local farm.

I don't get to choose what is in it but the vegetables will be seasonal and grown on the farm and of course ORGANIC.

I'm actually quite excited about this as it will encourage me to get in the kitchen and do something interesting with a sprout... or whatever. Can you do something interesting with a sprout and is it legal?

I love my veggies but I really don't do much more than roast or steam and I know that's dull and pathetic. I love veggie curry but naughty Jems goes to the local curry house for that so maybe that's something I can have a go at.

Anyway I thought each week I would post what I get and what I do with it and see how far I get from steaming and roasting. So watch this space fellow tree huggers.