ticktock and a tale of one chicken.

There are three alarm clocks ticking next to me. I love the gentle rhythmic beat. It’s one of those old fashioned sounds like the tapping of typewriter keys that always take me back to my childhood. I remember playing games in the hallway with my three sisters, listening to dad hammering away on his old Adler typewriter in his smoke filled study. Mum would call one of us to take a mug of tea to him. When it was my turn I’d knock on the door, the typing would stop, “come into the office” he’d say in a mock, stern voice. I’d step into the fog and carefully place it on the drawing board, being extremely careful not to spill any. I was pleased to be allowed into his (rather unhealthy...well extremely unhealthy) world, and spend a bit of time with my hero.

One ticking clock is good, three is excessive...I don’t have an urgent appointment that I’m afraid of missing. It’s just that we bought lots of lovely vintage things at the weekend, including the clocks. We wound them all up last night to check if they work. They work; they are working with a vengeance. I’m contemplating taking two outside. 

It was fifteen degrees yesterday, today the temperature has dropped and rain with tiny hailstones is pounding on the roof, adding another element to the percussion. It's inches of rain and I'm worried the main road will be flooded again, and glad that we managed a quick trip into town at the weekend while we could. The towpath was visible so we cut along the river bank. I was missing the book shops and the library. We came back, loaded up with books and dvd's. Oh and lot's of ideas after a scoot through the covered market and speedy look in my favourite Toast. 

Winter's bones with Jennifer lawrence 

Rabbit Hole with Nicole Kidman.

A tale of one chicken:

When there are only two of you at home one chicken can go a long, long way. Especially if it's a good sized one and neither of you are big meat eaters. 

I made the following with my medium sized chicken:

• Salad olivier a Russian salad that I make the economical way that mama (A's mum) used to, boiling the potatoes and eggs in the same pan. Less fuel...less washing up.

• Poached chicken with Persian barbary rice, served with salad, sour yoghurt and garlic that has been pickled until sweet and caramelised. 

• Clear chicken soup made whilst poaching the chicken for the other two recipes. 

To make a clear chicken soup you will need:

• One chicken, with the excess fat removed 
• A good sized leek or two small ones cut lengthwise and then chopped into small pieces, washed very well to remove any soil.
• One good sized carrot, peeled, sliced and cut in half if necessary
• One of two potatoes, peeled and sliced very thinly
• One peeled, halved and then sliced parsnip
• A piece of swede (rutabaga), peeled and then chopped into small pieces.
• A couple of bay leaves and any fresh herbs that you have. Rosemary and thyme work well. If you don't have any fresh, dried are the next best thing.
• A handful or two of fresh spinach leaves. 
• One  lemon
• Sea salt and crushed black pepper.

method:

1. Simply wash the chicken and place into a solid pan.
2. Add all the other ingredients
3. Place on the hob, cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover and leave until the chicken is cooked and the vegetables tender. 
4. In the last minute or so add the spinach. 
5. Remove the chicken and allow to drain. Select some nice pieces of meat and place into soup dishes.
6. Check the seasoning of the soup and adjust if necessary and then ladle over the chicken in the soup bowls.
7. Serve with lots of fresh lemon squeezed into it. 
8. The remaining chicken is succulent and tender, perfect for making the salad olivier, for sandwich filling or to serve with the barbari rice. 

This is my favourite chicken soup. It's very fresh and light. Sometimes I make it with a little ground turmeric or saffron. Other times with noodles or pasta. It is the best thing when you have a bad throat or are coming down with the flu. It is so easy to make and so tasty. But at any time it's a lovely comforting soup...and it's always nice to have a bit of home comfort. 

Thank you, for all the lovely comments, emails and messages about the last post. The naughty blog is still up there but doesn't seem to be copying any new content. I've taken on board all the good advice from you and am processing it. 

Thank you for caring.

Happy new month. I hope that it's a very good one for you. 

debx