essentials

I roasted a huge piece of beef rump last week, with the absolute intention of keeping back vast leftovers. We eat cold, faintly-rare slices of beef in sandwiches for a day or so, and then the reminder was chopped small and turned into a cottage pie.

Asides the usual happy trilogy of carrot, onion and garlic (and/or celery if you can be bothered) I like to add cumin seed and green leaf (chard today) to my pie, with the carefully reserved juices and gravy from the original roast, and swede added to the potato hat. Otherwise it isn't really a recipe, more of a pattern. The only suggestion i make is that it is worth letting the meat cool slightly before adding the potato - it stops the potato sinking. Oh, and a little worcestershire sauce and ketchup for seasoning. Bake in a hot oven until it bubbles and browns satisfactorily.

My boyfriend is on holiday. I went shopping for underwear at the weekend and in the over-bright changing room i take photos to send him to tease, and find that i enjoy the exhibitionism once more. It has been a long time since i joined in HNT or such. I think my breasts have grown.