Today I’ve spent a happy few hours in the kitchen cooking. My parents are coming for dinner on Saturday along with a couple of friends, and I’m doing tapas for our meal. This afternoon, I have made the sauce for meatballs, empanada fillings (not strictly tapas, but who cares? – spinach and ricotta, and chilli), the base for strawberry shortcake and Bolognese sauce for tonight’s dinner.

I’ve still got to make potato cakes, garlic prawns, tortilla and some fritters. My mum is providing arancini (she makes the best arancini I have ever tasted) and I will maybe do a paella as well. Can’t wait. It all looks nice.

As I’ve decided we’re doing a cocktail taste test for an event I’m holding in August, we’re also having cocktails. So, today I also made sugar syrup and my own grenadine (which is surprisingly easy to make!):

I have a list of about seven cocktails I want to make to see which ones I will serve at the aforementioned event. Will let you know how I get on.

I have really enjoyed this afternoon. I used to really love cooking, but over the past few years, as the kids turn their noses up at my always-delicious-meals or I am too tired to cook, that love has diminished. However, with the radio on and the dogs looking up hopefully every time I walked past them (see below), I found myself really enjoying it. There was no stress, no worry, just me and my chopping board and a tonne of garlic!

How can I resist that wee face? Well I did. Cos it was butter I was chopping up and not cheese!

So, how are you all today? Hope you are all well. What’s been happening in your life. I’ve had a really nice week this week. On Monday, I met up with my editor, Graham, for lunch. We went to Zizzi’s in Royal Exchange Square and talked for ages. We had a good laugh and it’s always nice to see him. I also sent off my final assignment for this current uni module on Tuesday – phew. Once I sent it, I was finally able to relax. Have been stressing about it a wee bit. Don’t know why because I’m doing this course just for the sake of it and not for any other purpose. My future career doesn’t rely on it. However, I want to do really well in it, which is why I’ve been like Stressed Eric recently. Do you remember Stressed Eric? I used to love it.

Yesterday, I took the morning off doing any work (well, I deserved it) then went to Zumba in the afternoon. When I came back, I did a bit of gardening and shocked myself by actually enjoying it. The garden looks a lot neater, but still needs a fair bit of work on it. I’ll get that done over the coming weeks. That’s my current plan anyway!

Right, I am going to love you and leave you now. I am away to vote. Not sure why. Doesn’t seem like there’s any point really what with Brexit coming up (again), but I’ll do it. Til next time.

Dawnxx