February - Transitions

With January behind us, things are starting to look a bit brighter at last.  Little by little the days are starting to grow a little longer and our outside lives can start to take shape again.  Hopefully the shock of January’s parsimony is behind us and we’ve adjusted to smaller portions (adjusted to, lost hope – potayto, potarto!) and the excesses of Christmas a dim and distant memory. 

Cheese and Potato Pie

Outside we can begin tidying up the garden and gearing up for a lovely spring and then a glorious summer.  Already in my garden the bulbs are showing through now, snowdrops and crocuses at first, daffs and tulips to come.  As pretty as the little snowdrops are, the crocuses are my real favourite, the golden yellow and glorious purple flowers always raise a smile.

I
n the kitchen not much has changed yet, soups, casseroles, mashed potato topped pies and pasta bakes are still very much the order of the day.  We need the comfort and sustenance. 

Spaghetti Carbonara

One of my favourite winter treat pies is the very calorie laden cheese and potato pie that I first learned to make in cookery lessons in school.  I replaced the onion (which used to be boiled up with the potato!) with chopped leek which I slowly sweat in butter before adding to the mashed potato and cheese.  Another one of my favourites is good old spaghetti carbonara.  A classic treat and it takes next to no time to prepare - it can all be done in the 10 minutes it takes the pasta to cook.

At least February is a nice short month, and the last one of the winter season too!  Spring is just around the corner with all its the promise. 

http://thehappyhousewife12.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/cheese-and-potato-pie.html

http://thehappyhousewife12.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/spaghetti-carbonara.html