It's one of my rare nights to entertain tonight! You have no idea how stressful this makes me. I'm pretty much used to my own lowly standards of hygiene and cuisine. Inviting people into my home to judge me is not a pleasant prospect. Luckily, the friend who's calling over is a good one. Unfortunately, she's also an amazing cook. Who's had the opportunity to sample most of the de Winter standards. So... on the menu tonight is a chicken dish I cooked for lovely Sergei a few weeks ago. It's from the much-lamented Slow Cooked in Blighty and is very tasty indeed. Even better, it's something I can bung in the slow cooker well before my guest arrives, allowing me to focus on the side dishes of roasted vegetables and spicy broccoli. For afters, I'm making Chocolate Cola Cake to a recipe gleaned from the marvellous boards.ie Cake & Pie forum. I know: baking isn't thrifty but I have a few eggs which need using up (a work colleague gifted half a dozen from her own brood in Donegal!) and most of the ingredients are in the store cupboard. Right here we go...

Candle light supper burnout...

I'm tired. Feel like I'm approaching the end of some nasty project. Woke up with scratchy, burning eyes. Need to get going and prepare for the three friends who are calling over this evening. Found myself under a bit of pressure yesterday. Thought it would be thrifty to invite my cousin over for lunch. Which it was. And it was kinda smart in that I was forced to make a nice midday meal AND I partially cleaned the flat. So the burden ahead of tonight isn't so great. But there's been a lot of washing up in the last few weeks.
After a lot of too-ing and fro-ing, the menu tonight will comprise a vegetable moussaka and - perhaps - broccoli in red wine. Easing the pressure a lot is the fact that Soos has to leave at 9 and it won't be a late night for any of us.
Meanwhile, a friend who has loads of holidays to take has suggested a quick break away in the sun for next month... Mmm, tempting...