Easter Weekend and Derbyshire delights

Ok. So last weekend was a while ago now. Especially since my non bloggable issues, the airline industry coming to a hault with the Icelandic volcanic ash (which rather amusingly no one on the BBC can pronounce - so just aren't,) and the bit political debate last night.

BUT last weekend we stayed at Mottrum Hall in Cheshire. In retrospect, given my tum, we maybe should have stayed home. But those who know me, know I do have a determined streak at times. And this was planned. The place is grand from the outside, and has a nice spa and relaxation area. I got all the info from my manicurist on who is a member. It's footballers wife's country. Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick are all members apparently. And Sir Alex used to be. Some of the Chelsea team were staying in an annexe on the Friday night before the game. Not that I saw any and the less said about Chelsea the better.

Given all this, the rooms are not actually that swish. I mean they are fine. But could probably do with updating. Good breakfast mind.

We tried eating out a couple of times. Bad move on my part. Should have taken a picture of Jonny's face when I ordered the muscles one evening. I mean really. Of all the things to order.

Our time "out" was in Derbyshire on the Sunday. It really is beautiful. Stunning in fact. We visited Buxton briefly only to realise everything was shut on Easter Sunday, but was pretty to see anyway. I post a couple of pics of us out of the car and looking far more active than we actually were, and far less rainy than it actually was. Still loved the fresh air though.

Our time with the family on the Monday was lovely. It was great to see everyone and to see our nephews getting on so well. I think the activity books we chose were a hit too. As Jonny had work to do in Manchester on the Tuesday my sister in law introduced me to the Trafford Centre. Oh and a stop at her favourite local boutique, where I may have purchased a top...

Oh so silent blog

I know I have sent a couple of alarm bells ringing with my lack of blog posts the past few days. So am just updating to say I am still here.

There are some things that when I just don't want to blog about. Too hideous. Too private. Suffice to say I am getting lots of good care and things are slowly improving. Ironically it is the side effects of a tablet to reduce the side effects of the chemo that have caused so much drama.

People are being very kind. Jonny is well fed, which is such a blessing. To not to even have to think what he may have for dinner each night. If only I could join in the eatng more. The food looks good just no tum for it. Very basic diet for me right now.

I have offers of people to come and sit with me. They keep saying they don't mind how I am. The trouble is that I mind. It bothers me.

I know I need to get over myself but it is a step at a time. This is happening to me. And it is for me to know what is right and helpful and what isn't.

Weekend getaway

I have been really looking forward to getting away this weekend. We both so need a change of scene and the country side location looks beautiful. There are some things that doctors can't prescribe but you just know will do you good.

I was getting even more excited yesterday as I was feeling well. Eating and digesting normally. Which has taken a long time to settle. So I have been rather put out by a nasty reaction to a toasted turkey sandwich I made myself for lunch today. I spent the afternoon in bed. And elsewhere. This is getting so bloomin tedious. Now I am worried I will be spending the entire weekend inside the our hotel room bathroom.

Let's be positive. It could have just been one of those things. And careful choices over the next 24 hours should hopefully mean I don't have to order a slice of toast for my dinner in the nice restaurant tomorrow night.

We are still very much going. And we WILL be having a lovely time. There is more to me than my tum.

Cheats Easter Simnal Cake

I haven't posted any recipes in ages. This is a cheats version based on one that Nigella does for the traditional Easter simnal cake. I just do it this way and it is super easy. If you are a marzipan lover this cake is divine.

For those who don't know, it has 11 balls on the top. One for each apostle. Apart from Judas who isn't allowed on the cake.

Ingredients:

175g butter or margarine
100g golden granulated sugar
75g white granulated sugar
230g white self raising flour
3 large organic eggs
500g good quality mixed dried fruit
Dash of milk
75g glace cherries - sliced
Pinch ground Cinnamon
Pinch ground ginger
Pinch All Spice
Approx 750g shop bought golden marzipan
Couple of tablespoons of apricot jam

Method:

Preheat oven to 160

Grease and line a deep spring form baking tin.

In the food mixer blitz the butter, eggs and sugar until smooth. Add the flour, milk and spices and blitz. Stir in the dried fruit.

Roll out about 400g marzipan and cut out a layer of marzipan to go in middle of cake. Put half the mixture in the tin. Put in the marzipan layer. Top with remaining cake mixture.

Place in oven for approx two hours. It is done when it is risen and a skewer test is clear. Leave overnight in tin to cool completely.

The next day remove from tin and remove all the lining paper.

Roll out another marzipan circle. Also roll 11 little apostle balls. Melt some apricot jam and smooth over top of cake. Place your cut circle on top. Fix your apostle balls with either a little of the jam left in the pan or some egg white.

Done. Even if you don't like marzipan it is a great centrepiece to have around over the Easter weekend. I'm not sure ours will last that long.

Change of scene day

So I had my change of scene day today. It's been a week with mainly these four walls of this home. I love my home but it was time for a change today. It was lovely. My friend has more womens magazines than a newsagent so made a good stab at catching up on trends and celebrity in between naps in the morning.

I then ate a whole jacket potato with tuna on it for lunch. I realise that is NO big deal in any one else's world but to me it is a big deal. HUGE. I am starting to eat properly again. Yey.

My afternoon was then a reflexology treatment in the snug as a bug room, and then moved myself onto the spare bed for some afternoon nap time.

I am learning that saying yes to help is sometimes a very good thing.

Tired Girl

Goodness I feel tired. I think it is physical AND emotional stuff today. It's just hard today. The way things are. And then facing being back at the hospital this week. It is exhausting in itself.

I have had a couple of nice enough days. I took care of my friends little girl yesterday which was lots of fun and I had a nice brunch with friends from University this morning. But I have this need for lots of sleep. It just doesn't always happen at night. But I am hopeful it may happen tonight.

People are so kind though. Messages. Support. Food being dropped round. And love. I just long to be free of all this to love back. Or at least be able to return calls I need to.

Maybe tomorrow it will all come together though. After my very good nights sleep.

Treat on the doorstep

I have been dreaming of a proper English afternoon tea. And when I got home this evening there was a little parcel on my doorstep. It was from Betty's Bakery in Harrogate. Hmm I thought. And I opened it up and inside were freshly baked scones, jam, tea and ginger cake.

So now I can have my own little afternoon tea here. Tonight while the scones are so melt in the mouth fresh.

Thank you Kate and John who managed to send me English scones despite living in in Jerusalem. Yum.

Well fed

Yesterday I started eating properly again. I had a very frustrating mid week experience where I wanted to eat more than just toast but my stomach was really struggling to take it in. Last night someone made us fish pie. It hit the spot.

Whilst I have been FED UP, the other member of our household has been very WELL FED all week. We have been so touched by the kindness of the church community who are reaching out with love at this time. For over a week we had Jonny's evening meals delivered for him and this has been a huge help. There have been pangs of guilt. You may have got by now I struggle with accepting help. But goodness. The boy has eaten well.

Obviously this illness doesn't just affect me. On our wedding day we had a phrase from dove poem which read "two parts of a loving whole, two hearts and a single soul." And whilst I am camped out in chemo land at home, the other part of us is working 12 hour days, coming home to try and look after me, as well as dealing with his own emotional fears I know. So having a good proper meal sorted has REALLY helped.

So we say thank you. Thank you. And thank you again.

Tonight we will be eating in Pizza Express. And that feels like a massive treat of a different kind too.

What a night (and Meeting HRH)

Wow. What a night. Cannot believe it. Cannot believe the course of the week. For days I am firmly in chemo land, literally unable to move at times, and then last night I was in a different place.

Ah. Where to start.

The Event. The Anna Valentine Fashion Show in aid of Maggies Cancer Centres. Anna Valentine is an amazing designer who famously dressed HRH The Duchess of Cornwall for her wedding to Prince Charles.

The location. The Royal Courts of Justice, London. LOVE places like this. LOVE this about London. They are so old and so magnificent. Incredible building.

Why am I there? My lovely friend Lucy is an old friend of Anna Valentines. She has been on the committee for organising this event for months. I have been invited to attend like lots of her other friends and committed to go ages ago.

Obviously this week has been so hard it had been very doubtful at times whether I would be able to make it. But I did. And yesterday lunchtime Lucy tells me it is good I am coming because I am her plus one as one of the very specially selected people to meet and greet HRH The Duchess of Cornwall (yes Camilla) herself at the evening. What?!! I know. I know.

So we arrive. I feel like a different person in heels and my black dress. I loose a false nail before we even get to the venue but hope no one will notice. The place looks amazing. There is much re event stress going on - the amount of organisation that has gone into this is incredible.

We head to the drinks reception. I have a glass of champagne. The girl who could only manage ice cubes two days earlier is sipping a glass of fizz and has an enormous smile on her face. All the food is prepared my famous chef Tom Aitken. I like the canapes but don't have many as am too scared it may all ooze down my front before I meet HRH.

We are told that at 7.10 to stand in a particular spot and HRH will come and meet us. It is really crazy busy in there so we are moved to a slightly quieter area. The Hello! photographers are told to make sure they get pictures of us talking to Camilla. Loads of people are now looking at us like we are VIPs ourselves because we are clearly next to meet her.

We have practiced our curtsy's. Apparently the official line we are to say is "It is very nice to meet you your Royal Highness." We are both giggling and think we are going to totally mess that entire thing up. As I am stood there about to meet her I say to Lucy "This is so nuts. I haven't even told my neighbours I have cancer, and now I think I am about to tell the wife of the heir to the throne!"

Camilla is brought over to us. We are introduced. We do some attempt at our curtsy and our line. But Camilla is really down to earth and isn't waiting for us to make sure we do it all right. We talk for probably about 5 minutes or so before she is moved on. We talk about Maggies. We talk about Anna Valentine. We say I have not been well all week and how pleased we are I made it. Camilla smiles and looks at the glass of champagne in my hand and tells me how good it is I am having a glass of that. During that time there are official photographers taking photo's of the moment. And then she is moved on.

And then we move on to talk to..... Rupert Everett and Janet Ellis. Rupert Everett has enormous nostrils. Seriously gigantic. Lucy tries all the shots to get him to laugh at her jokes. I think he must have been nervous about his speech. I get chatting to Janet Ellis. She is SO lovely. It is like a happy childhood moment talking to the Blue Peter presenter of my youth. We talk about her kids. We talk about Maggies. We talk about my week. She is so surprised because last night I looked really well. We start talking about hair and wigs. She knows this amazing wig cutter who apparently will restyle my beautiful Parisian real hair wig for me and make it even better. She says to make sure I give her my phone number during the evening. I feel like she is my new friend!

We then head down for the Event itself. Janet's speech is fabulous. It doesn't make me upset at all. I just agree with every word. Then the show starts.

The models all stick their hips forward and slouch back as they walk. The clothes are beautiful. Truly stunning. Wish I had some of them. The fabrics just float and hang in a way that oozes chic and quality and style.

Then we have some more Tom Aitken food and, yes, I have another glass of champagne. It's the real stuff and tastes fantastic. There is an auction for prizes as well as a silent auction for loads of stuff people have donated. The biggest single amount raised I think was £22,000 for a 2 week holiday in the Seychelles. Sadie Frosts boyfriends band play. We have much debate because no one can remember his name. Scott something. I have no photo's as we were not allowed to take cameras to the evening. But am so hoping to be able to get some of the official ones that the Hello! photographer took. I think I should be able to and then will scan some in and post them.

It gets to nearly 10 and my body starts to give in. I start to feel I am struggling a little to sit in the chair. The event officially ends at 10.30 so decide I must go. I exchange smiles with Lulu Guinness. In true Jo style I have lost my coat tag so cause problems at the cloakroom looking for a black size 8 Karen Millen Coat..... but it is found.

I squeeze my lovely friend Lucy unable to say words of what a fairy tale night it has been. Dare I say it, the sweet is sweeter, given the days before. I step out onto the Strand, get straight into a black cab and am home in bed about half an hour.

As my head touches the pillow I smile. And am grateful for this night. The philosophy of Maggies is not to allow the fear of dying to stop the joy of living. And tonight I had joy living.

http://www.maggiescentres.org/maggies/maggiescentres/home/home.html

Spicy Root Vegetable soup

With all this cold weather at the moment, it SO is the time for soup. The heat of the spices in this one gives that little extra warmth too.

Ingredients:

Big glug of olive oil
1 large sweet potato, diced
1 white potato, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 parsnip, diced
1 leek, finely chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
1 pint of boiling water
Seasoning to taste


Heat the oil in a large heavy based pan. Put all of the vegetables into the pan and clamp the lid on. Stir occasionally but leave them to steam in the oil for about 15 minutes. Add the spices and stir well. Add the boiling water. Bring to the boil and then leave to simmer for about 20 minutes. Blend until smooth. Season to taste.

Hearty, warming and healthy. Perfect lunch option for this cold season.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Day 1 of the New Year. Vegetables needed. Slight problem of too cold/can't be bothered to go to the supermarket. This is based on a soup that we had in Jerusalum and what I could find in the kitchen. Hit the spot.

Ingredients:
1 Butternet Squash
1 red onion
Few cloves of garlic
Few small tomatoes
1/2 pint of vegetable stock
Dash of sherry
Pinch of mixed spice and ground cinniman

Method:
Pre heat oven to 200. Cut and roast all the vegetables for about 50 minutes. Leave the skin on the squash.

Transfer all to a big heavy based pan. Add the hot stock and sherry and spices. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 15 minutes. Whizz and season well.

Nice.

Christmas Day

Woke. Ate. Presents. Drunk. Champagne.

Amazing smoked salmon in the garden with mustard and dill.

Lunch is a feast. The huge turkey is fab. As is the homemade Christmas pudding.

Skype parents at home. They are a bit fuzzy on the screen but good to see them. I am blogging in jonnys ear on my ipod touch right now. It is really annoying him.

So. Christmas here today has been much fun. Warm. Well looked after. Just lovely.

Merry Christmas...xx

Midnight mass at St Georges

We ate extremely well yesterday evening. After a quiz that I did in fact WIN due my expert knowledge of bananarama tracks and 1980's tv theme tunes. This is the first time ever that I think I have beaten Jonny at a quiz. Anyway we had a feast. Sanna, who is Finnish, is also here for Christmas. In Finland the big day is Chrismas Eve so we didn't want her to miss out:

We also presented our secret Santa gifts last night. Kate seemed to genuinely like her Star and Bucks tacky mug and olive wood camel:

I was very touched by a beautiful olive leave pendant which represents steadfastness. It moved me. Jonny got a "visit palestine poster." Sanna got a lovely pendant. But John did the best. The revolving lamp is quite possibly the tackiest thing I have ever seen. Hilarious.

Anyway Kate and John and I walked to st Georges, full of pink champagne:

It was a beautiful service. I don't really like "high" but somehow this seemed special. It was the same sermon as earlier by the same Bishop. But the singing was amazing. Helped massively by the presence of Clare College Cambridge choir in the congregation. Silent night by candlelight has never felt so Christmassy. This is the candle for my BBBs.

I think today is going to be all about the food. The turkey is huge. So huge it literally fills the oven:

There are so many things about living in the UK that we take for granted. Like Waitrose. Kate had to order this turkey from the only Christian butchers in Bethlehem. And a whole load of Christmas food in from the UK. You just can't get the range of food we are so used to here. But as most of Jerusalem is still open for business as usual we can always pop out if we have forgotten anything.

Christmas blessings to everyone.

Christmas eve in Bethlehem

I am a bit worried about John Edwards. He is being very strict about our schedule. The first thing I heard this morning was panic that it was 8.30am and Kate shod have been on her way to collect the turkey. This is very unlike John. He isn't normally one for sticking to timings. I can think of more than one wedding that he has arrived after the bride (although fortunately not his own or ours.)

At 9.30 we were on schedule to head to Bethlehem for our first visit of the day. It takes about 20 minutes to drive there from here and we pass through military check point to get onto the West Bank. The IDF are out in full force today. Seriously. Men with machine guns like everywhere. Craziness.

In Bethlehem we stop in Manger Square to watch the parade. They remind me of the parades I was in when I was in the brownies as a child.

There is such celebration. I am also very warm in my Ugg boots. It is really warm here compared to home. We wander through the Church of the Nativity. Like many of the famous churches in the Holy Land it is divided into various sections, by denomination. And whilst there is much evidence that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there is little that this is where X marks the spot. Still, for me, it is a place to spend a few moments reflecting. Here we are stood outside this famous church:
We then head to buy some secret Santa goodies. As we wall down one of the streets by the church a young boy hassles us to buy chewing gum off him. My heart is saddened as I see all the sores on his face. There is much poverty here, especially amongst the Palastinians.

Bethlehem on Christmas Eve is far from any Christmas card scene you would imagine. It is busy. There are policemen everywhere. There are parades. There are TV crews and jounalists. There are tourists and locals. It has a very real military presence that you are acutely aware of. It is a built up middle eastern town:

It even has it's own take on Starbucks:

We head back to Jerusalem and Jonny and I head into the Old City whilst John has to go and get the wing mirror fixed, which was broken whilst we were parked in Bethlehem. Having been here before we know our way around and wander through the streets of the stations of the Cross in the Christian quarter. We meet Kate outside the Holy Sepleche. John Edwards isn't here so we can go off schedule and buy jewellery and then head to the Austrian hospice for the best apple strudel in the world. And then it feels like we are on top of the world as we climb to the top of the hospice and look out at the views across the city. Truly amazing.

We get back on schedule and return home to them head back to Bethlehem. It is the first service of the day. Carols in shepherds field. We meet some of the clergy. The Bishop here is bishop of 5 countries. The carols are sung in both English and Arabic at the same time. It is a little strange. As is the American tune to O Little Town of Bethlehem. And the message is a little different. But the messages of hope ring true.

The rest of the gang sip whisky to keep warm. I hate the stuff so don't.

The very British tradition on eating far too much at Christmas is still live and kicking in this house. I am missing out on chocolate right now. We still have Christmas Eve roast beef and midnight mass at St Georges tonight. Although my Jonny may opt out of that and play on the wii instead. And try some more whisky. John Edwards made sure that was on schedule throughout the day. Christmas Spirit of the alchoholic variety.

Christmas Day: Take 1

I've just had a lovely Christmas Day. I know it isn't actually December 25th today, but as we are away for Christmas this year, my side of the family celebrated today.

As we were hosting, there was a big emphasis on planning the menu:

Starter: Smoked Salmon platter (courtesy of Sarah and Jon) with Dates stuffed with cheese wrapped in pancetta.

Mains: Roast Turkey crown, Fully festive Ham, Pigs in Blankets, Roast Potatoes, Roast Parsnips, Gingerbread Stuffing, Sprouts, Carrots, Bread Sauce, Cranberry Sauce, Gravy.

Afters: Bouche de Noel, Jelly (courtesy of Mum,) Ice Cream (courtesy of Green and Blacks)

I started preparing 2 days ago. Nigella provided the instructions for most of it, she rarely lets me down and the first section of the Feast book was the source of guidance for most of the mains.

The Ham is my traditional thing to make at Christmas. I have never cooked a turkey before though so followed her method of soaking it in water with lots of spices, which apparently guarantees that it will not dry out. It didn't. The Gingerbread stuffing was also a new one for us. It was recommended by a friend. Jonny didn't like it but everyone else did.

After our night out last night I was a little weary this morning and there were quite a few dishes on the go. Fortunately we had prepared a lot in advance and brainy Jonny provided me with a timing schedule. It was still a bit hectic when we all sat down but everyone ate well.

Maisie had little / no interest in her sleep today. So was a little over excited. We opened all our presents around the tree after lunch, the way we always do, and the biggest hit with Maisie was her Peppa Pig umbrella. We all got lots of nice things.

I sit here rather tired this evening, despite the assistance of lots of hands to wash and wipe and a dishwasher. I have that content Christmas feeling though. Grateful for a lovely day. Grateful for family. Just grateful for today. Christmas day: Take 1.

Visiting the Earps

I went to visit my uni friend Lynds and her family for a couple of days this week. They live near Malvern, which is famous for it's water. It was lovely to get a change of scene and hang out with them. And despite the 3 week old Sophie, and nearly 3 year old Grace not really sleeping much at night, I got some very good sleep indeed.

It's lovely spending time with friends where you don't need to have any particular plan at all. You can just chat and drink tea and spend a lot of time sitting on the sofa. Nice.

Here is Grace - who's best line of the visit was just after eating one of the pink fairy cakes I made her - "that was the best cake I have ever eaten!" She knows how to make me feel good:

And little Sophie. Who looks SO much like Grace did when she was a baby I had a very strange sense of deja vu:

Thank you Earps for a lovely couple of days.

Feeling Festive

The snow is falling and it is crispy cold outside. But it is toasty warm inside.

The first thing I did this morning was to boil up the cranberries for my festive dessert that I am taking for pudding tonight with friends Gen and Adam and Ali and Tris. Cranberries spark thoughts of Christmas to foodies. That rich berry colour is just like that warm feeling of Christmas. I love this time of year.

Next up was the decoration of the Christmas cake that has been nurtured for weeks. How did I do?

Here is the final result:

Later on I visit the local butchers and buy a large gammon that is going to be transformed into a fully festive ham over the weekend. The turkey crown is defrosting in the conservatory. The Christmas log has been baked too.

As I sit here I look at the Christmas tree, sparkling away, with presents underneath - I have peace right now. And I feel very festive.

Christmas Cake 2009 - Icing

So. The cake has been made, fed and marzipanned. Now it was time to move onto icing. I followed the Delia royal icing guidance, which takes about 10 minutes with an electric whisk to get your egg whites and icing sugar looking like this:

I used 4 egg whites and about 550g of icing sugar for my 8 inch diameter cake.

Now it is time for the fun bit. Getting the cake to look snowy Christmassy white. ALWAYS start with the top. It is much harder to blend the sides to the top. Start by dolluping in the centre and then work out towards the edges:

I then used a large plastic pastry brush to cover the sides. And end up with this:

Delia recommends 2 or 3 coats. I have just done my second and it now looks like this:

One more coat and then it will be put away and the final decorations added next weekend. This should make a good centrepiece for the table next weekend when the family arrive. I have to find some use for it. After all. as I have said before, people don't like Christmas cake much. I will be having a slice at some point though and enjoy the weeks of nurturing this cake has had.

Mince Pies

I used my home alone morning today to catch up on some TV, read the papers, go for a long walk in the park and to do some Christmas baking. It was mince pies this morning. They aren't for us. My Mum is making those for our family Christmas lunch next weekend. These are for the carol service. So, they needed to be quite good, or at least look presentable.

Lots of people tend to be fearful of pastry. Believe you me I have tried out a few recipes myself that haven't worked. These days I have one pastry recipe that never fails. So be it a savory or a sweet dish, this the pastry I use. If you have a magi mix it is even easier.

Ingredients:

300g Self raising flour
150g butter / margarine
Pinch of maldon salt
Cold water

Without Magi Mix: You will get your fingers dirty. Using clean hands mix/crumble the fat into the flour to get breadcrumbs. add the salt. Just lift it up lots to get lots of air. Make a well in the centre of your bowl. Drizzle in a couple of tablespoons of water and mix with a metal spoon until the mixture starts to bind. Then use your hand to kneed. If it is too sticky, add more water, and if too crumbly add a little more cold water.

With a Magi Mix. Put the flour, fat and salt into the mixer. Use the large blade to whizz to make breadcrumbs. Switch to the large paddle/dough maker blade. Add a little cold water. Whizz to make dough.

On a good flat clean surface kneed your dough a little more and then roll out to make pastry. For mince pies this needs to be about half a centimetre thick.

For the mince pies you need to grease the linings of a 12 hole cake tin. You also need a large and a smaller cutter. Use the large cutter to cut the bottom linings. Place gently in the tray and then add about 2 spoonfuls of good quality mincemeat to each pie. Take care not to over fill. Then using the smaller cutter, cut the lids. Place on top of each individual pie, using a little water to stick.

Stab each pie a couple of times with a sharp knife. Brush with some milk and sprinkle with some brown sugar. I think brown sugar makes them even more seasonal.

Place in oven for just over 25 minutes, until golden brown. Then transfer to a cooling rack.

These freeze well. That's exactly where mine will be going before being dropped off at church later in the week. I took a picture of them first though:

Sprout watch and Krispy Creme donuts

So. As I sit here supping yet another "sprout smoothie" I have a slight smugness that I have achieved my aim this week - to eat the entire large bowl of Brussel Sprouts.

On Wednesday I tried roasted sprouts.

Ingredients:

1 pumpkin - peeled and diced
1 red pepper - deseeded and sliced
Few chopped shallots
Few pumpkin seeds
Few walnuts
Several brussel sprouts - peeled, washed and halved
Large glug of Olive Oil
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 190. Put all the vegetables and nuts a baking tray. Drizzle with the oil and season well. Place in oven and roast for approx. 45 minutes, turning about half way through.

Serve on green leaves with a large dollup of hummus.

I sound like a health freak. BUT I have also recently made another discovery. Krispy Creme donuts. For years I thought these had cream in them so had no interest. But it turns out they don't and boy do they taste good. I shared a couple of these with my friends earlier in the week. I hope the sprout effort have negated any badness from my sugar consumption.

Krispy Creme donuts V brussel sprouts? No contest.