1:05pm
A biblically rainy day here. This morning I went to a cafe with a mate who I’ve known since primary school, where we discussed the trials and tribulations of applying for jobs whilst making our way through enormous smoothies. Mine was orange, hers was pink. I am still mentally and physically processing how much carrot juice I have ingested.
On the way back I got my 4th covid booster for Benji, and then stopped in London Cash and Carry (I don’t know why it’s called that either), my favourite shop in Maidstone. I found a suspiciously titled packet of instant noodles, some more potential rogue drinks, as well as some rose petals, but bought none of them as I had spent all my money on skincare from Superdrug. Ugh, vanity.
2:15pm
Lunch was leftover noodles with my kimchi that I made on Tuesday. It’s not as liquid-y as it should be, but it’s definitely got the right flavour and texture. I only made a quick version I found on BBC Good Food, but it seems to have turned out quite well, so all in all not bad for a procrastination project. I will be pickling more things in future.
4:00pm
Dinner is something exciting. I have only heard of this thing from foodie programmes, where a minor celebrity with a ‘real passion for good, honest cuisine’ flounces round Italy for an extended period of time. It is called porchetta. What a ridiculous word. Adding ‘etta’ to the end is a fabulous way to jazz up the word pork, which is so dull. ‘Pork’ sounds like the name of a greying provincial town. Porchetta, on the other hand, sounds like a girl from Surrey who wears a lot of expensive thrifted clothing and likes to pretend she didn’t attend a fee-paying school. One is certainly more entertaining, linguistically speaking. I will be googling porchetta before we eat it later on.
4:30pm
I am googling porchetta whilst attempting to make myself a chocolate chai, ideally like the one I had on Monday. It is apparently roasted, boneless pork which can be stuffed with any number of things. Apparently, in Italy, you can get this in a sandwich - an idea that greatly excites me. I deduce from this piece of information that Italians are not culinarily above the idea of a hog roast.
8:30pm
Porchetta was really tasty. If you don’t like fatty meat, it won’t be for you, but if you don’t mind that sort of thing, it’s definitely worth trying. Mum’s roast potatoes were also a highlight - her top tip is to do them in really really hot sunflower oil to get them crispy.
I know it’s sad when summer goes, but I do love roast dinner season. I am a sucker for feeling cozy and finding comfort in hot food. Normally, we’d have a lot of roast beef around autumn, but since it would be rare, Benji can’t have it. He loves rare meat, sushi and anything else that can be had almost raw, but that’s all off the menu, seeing as the chemo means even the bacteria in rare/raw meat could be dangerous. I’m glad we’ve found something tasty that can be well-cooked, so he doesn’t feel like he’s missing out so much.
I want to put a photo of the porchetta in, but my photography skills have made it look so unappealing it’s just worth a google on your part to get a better, more attractive idea of things.
Find Emily on instagram @em1lyread.