If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would agree not to talk about a five letter word beginning with C, that has been so much part of our lives for almost two years. Instead, we would talk about spring, about trying to remain positive, about the good things around us.
If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would notice that today is Halloween. I would tell you about how it was a simple thing when I was a child growing up in Scotland, with guisers (children who went in disguise from door to door), collecting small amounts of cash to buy fireworks for Guy Fawkes’ Night, thus merging two events into one. I say I am not sure it was like this everywhere, but in our locale it was. We made lamps from turnip (swede), went dooking for apples (trying to grab an apple that is bobbing about in water) and attempted to eat a treacle scone dangling from a string. You laugh and say nothing like the modern commercial version, and I say no, though I did think the decoration on the cable car was quite amusing.
If we were having coffee…even a cup of tea…I would tell you about my not so successful plan to cook only Ottolenghi recipes last week. I say things began well on Saturday with Bridget Jones pan-fried salmon with pine nut salsa, and Sunday’s ricotta and oregano meatballs were also good. Monday’s herby cabbage and potato gratin with Gruyere and ricotta from Shelf Love tasted wonderful, but perhaps was not very photogenic. The leftovers the next day were even better. But then we had to use up some sausages on Wednesday, which wasn’t quite the plan. You laugh and say you can always have another go, and I say yes I can.
If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…I would tell you I had a lovely walk through the Botanic Gardens on Friday, wending my way down from the Cable Car to home. I would tell you I met two cats in the garden, and then another one on the way home, which I considered to be good luck.
If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would talk about the forthcoming Film Festival, places we want to eat (I so want to go to Rita), books we want to read….and then I look at the time and say…would you like a gin and tonic? You say yes, so we head to the kitchen to prepare our drinks, and of course, you will stay for dinner too.
Entered into this week’s coffee share – thanks to Natalie.
You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. As for Twitter….am totally inactive these days. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com
Thistles and Kiwis 
I do like the sound of your potato gratin with Gruyere cheese (my favourite) and ricotta, even if it is not as photogenic as you would like. The Halloween cable car is very decorative, just hope you could dodge the cobwebs when you left! You are very lucky to have the Botanic gardens near you, we really enjoyed walking through those wide paths and looking at all the mature trees. Spring is a lovely time for walking.
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The gratin was very tasty and will definitely do it again. Luckily I dodged the cobwebs! The gardens were a godsend during lockdown as you can imagine.
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I can imagine!
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I think I will steal your idea of cooking for a week from one cookbook. It sounds like fun.
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Yes….might try it again some time!
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Your recipes always sound and look delicious. I’m afraid I have become extremely bored of cooking every day and thinking of new recipes to try. But eating out has become so expensive recently. As for those cobwebs, just visit my house, no need for artificial here!
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Oh I know what you mean about cobwebs! I have to say I do tend to cook similar things….I need to branch out and try something different.
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Happy Halloween and thank you for the virtual coffee.
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Thank you for the coffee. I really like your cup at the top! I hope you are enjoying a great weekend!
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I have 7 Moomin cups collected over the years – they are so much fun.
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Wonderful! I loved them as a kid.
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I’d love to walk in the Botanical Gardens and share a cuppa or gin and tonic with you. Beautiful photos. Thank you for your #weekendcoffeeshare.
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What a lovely place for a stroll. I would definitely take you up on the supper after we finished our gin & tonics. 💖
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The recipes sound delicious, although, I’m allergic to salmon. 🙁 The kitty is too cute! My neighbor down the street had a gray kitty that I used to watch when I was younger when her and her family went out of town. I’m not sure what happened to it since and I think my neighbors moved. A gin and tonic sounds lovely! (Although now it’s 5:30 a.m. Monday morning here in Florida… 😅) I hope you have a great upcoming week!
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Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a good week too!
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The gratin looks amazing!
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It was good!
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