Celery fest

A few days ago, there being a bit of tired celery hanging about, we though to stew it for lunch, the first time for a while.

Loosely based on a recipe, on an idea, in a cook book from Marks & Spencer.

Started some onions in butter in the largest saucepan, the sauté pan which I would otherwise have used having been already taken. Added a couple of tomatoes, very coarsely chopped. Added the celery, cut into short lengths. Added a little water. Towards the end of the process, added some thinly sliced carrot, the idea being that it should be served very slightly undercooked. The whole process took about an hour.

Served with a few left over Brussels sprouts, brown rice and lamb steaks, these last from Sainsbury's.

All very good.

I had thought this was something that we had done on several occasions over the past year or so, but the only one I can turn up this morning is that at reference 1. I don't think the convert left overs to soup option came up on this occasion, although I don't suppose that we did the whole lot in one go. Perhaps I just took the balance warmed up at some point in the day following? Something warming for breakfast?

PS 1: interested to read after posting this of the controversy in France over replacing some of the windows in Notre Dame, following a competition to select design and artist. To be found at reference 2. Our own established church's record in these matters being rather uneven: I do not, for example, care for the Hockney window in Westminster Abbey at all. To be found at reference 4. Not keen on the Houshiary window in St. Martin in the Fields (snapped above, from the outside), although the subdued tone of that window is better suited to the place than the Hockney effort. And I learn this morning that it is rather more complicated than I had realised, so I must go back for another look. Not sure about the window in the Lady Chapel at Buckfast Abbey.

It is a good space in which to sit, but sometimes the window works, sometimes not. While the modern art at Ely, not stained glass as far as I recall, is a bit grim.

PS 2: it took the power of Google to bring reference 3 anywhere near the top of the search results. Bing did not oblige on this occasion.

References

Reference 1: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2024/11/trolley-767.html.

Reference 2: Claire Tabouret designed Notre-Dame’s new stained-glass windows — now they are dividing France: The artist’s contentious commission has drawn heavy criticism but she’s not shying away from the heritage battle - Annabel Keenan, Financial Times - 2025.

Reference 3: https://www.clairetabouret.com/.

Reference 4: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2023/04/central-hall.html.