Home Made Food

Unusually, I have been watching some television. This happened some time ago and so it is not a modern event.

The programme that was being shown was on an ITV (Independent Television) channel that was being aired on the Malaysian satellite system known as ‘ASTRO’.

We no longer receive ITV on ‘ASTRO’. It is still being broadcast but it has become a ‘pay’ channel for which we do not pay and, therefore, it is now denied to us.

Now you will probably, at this point, denounce me as a mean person—a miser even. But the fact is that there are very few programmes on that particular channel (or any other channel) that I should wish to put aside time to sit and watch.

I should, from time to time, take some leisure with “Doc. Martin” who is a fictitious character living in an equally fictitious village by the sea in Cornwall. 

Porth Wenn in the story is actually Porth Isaac but a neighbouring village, Porth Quin, used to be called Porth Wenn in the old days. 

Cornwall is, itself, almost a work of fiction being well known as Devon’s largest car park.

[Local joke, by the way!]

The personage of ‘Doc. Martin’ was admirably portrayed by an actor know as Martin Clunes but this was not the programme referred to in the opening of this ‘Blog.

'Doc Martin' - Martin Clunes

'Louise Glasson' - Caroline Catz

'Porth Wenn' - Porth Isaac

I was occasionally wont to settle down in front of the television set to watch a fellow called Ade Edmondson. He was, at one time, famous for being one of the “Young Ones” along with Rick Mayall and Nigel Planer. This was some sort of mad comedy that mixed slapstick with lunacy.

'The Young Ones'

Ade Edmondson on the left

In later years Ade Edmondson has calmed down just a tiny bit and began making a series of programmes called “Ade in Britain”.

This is an excellent series, it is well worth watching.

Why?

Because Ade travels around Britain in a Mini attached to a trailer that transforms into a kitchen at the drop of a tailgate.

In his travels he interviews local people who are known in that locality to be ‘characters’ or who are famous for some obscure feat.

For example, liquorice is now hardly made from the original liquorice plant but Ade found somebody who grew it and made liquorice in the old-fashioned way. This was, of course, in Pontefract where the liquorice is formed into coin shaped pieces and sold as ‘Pontefract Cakes’.

Ade met with a person who grows enormous gooseberries and took some to a lady who makes jam from these fruit. He has met Cornish Pastry makers and Devon Cream manufacturers—all sorts of people who would otherwise have never appeared or had their trades broadcast.

We must not forget the wonderful ‘Earthworm Divining World Championships’ where each contestant is given a small plot and the winner is the person who can encourage the most earthworms to reveal themselves without actually digging them up.

Then there’s Morris Dancers and Brass Bands. All kinds of interesting people appear and then, at the end, Ade makes a local delicacy on his travelling kitchen range to distribute to the dancers or the players or whomsoever is occupying the end part of the show.

The recipes are really simple of necessity because his culinary tools are somewhat limited and yet they often seem extremely tempting.

My wife spotted one and decided to try it. Now you must trust me with this—it is not only delicious but special; it is also remarkably simple.

She slices some potatoes and chops up a couple of thick leeks that are first fried in butter to soften them. These are covered in water and simmered. At some point during the start of this she adds grated cheese. It has to be a strong-ish cheese because the leeks will hide the flavour of anything on the weak side.

On the Internet you will find all sorts of recipes for this and they all make it complicated with so many ingredients that your refrigerator will run dry.

Remember ‘KISS’ = Keep It Simple, Stupid!

[OK, OK! Actually, it is ‘Keep It Simple and Straightforward’ but this is my ‘Blog’...]

Just stick to the basic ingredients. Never mind the garlic and the cream and the...

Maybe just a tad of salt and then a little black pepper sprinkled on the top is enough.

Sliced potatoes, leeks and cheese simmered until the potatoes are cooked. That’s it. Simple.

Wife adds a few slices of zuccini to her taste which is also good.

Try. I think you will find it a good bowl of soup to watch football by on the television.

Now! Where’s that remote...