After I drifted to the hairdressers, to celebrate my twentieth anniversary as a customer there, the Dogg and I ran to the hills. Ever since I was a teenager it's something that I've always done to regain my energy with I'm faced with challenges.
In the hills I saw in the middle distance an old classmate and her young family silhouetted against a high rocky outcrop. They appeared to have been harvesting pumpkins at a nearby farm; no doubt for the children to carve into lanterns. Still not feeling like much the Dogg and I drifted on and thoughts turned to a visit being made to a house in the suburbs of a midland city for a murder mystery night that evening.
By the evening I had brightened up and we set off in our fancy dress costumes, which mixed glamour, comedy and surreal subversion, along the well-lit roads which cut through the city buildings frozen by mellow, artificial electric light. Surveying the scene as the Panda sped along the gridiron roads I noticed tall blocks of flats and offices that formed the local university buildings. It put in mind depictions of this part of the twenty-first century that are often found in the 1980s action films of my childhood. I almost felt that were like time travellers on this journey.
We arrived at the house hosting the party and found lots of wonderful company, tasty homemade fajitas, high drama, intrigue, enthusiastic acting and capital memories.
Waking up a little fresher the next morning I realised that it was time to create something seasonal and new. I had recently been provided with a large Pumpkin acquired from a rudimentary farm shop in a former mining town that possesses a controversial cricket team.
In spite of intense warnings from a close family member that Pumpkin might have been for display and not consumption; I soldiered on and used it as a key ingredient in a flavoursome but seasonal casserole.
On the player was an album by an artist, some might say that's a loose term for this gentleman, who has enjoyed massive success in 1980s but also polarised individuals. The album was the formerly ubiquitous Phil Collins' 1985 smash hit "No Jacket Required". For my generation Collins is quite a divisive figure as when we were younger we often dismissed his work as bland and uncool pap that our equally uncool parents listened to.
However, as happens so often when we grow up and review our relationships with our parents, a reappraisal of opinions has taken place. I recently saw some footage of Collins' current tour and his voice was still in good nick. However he cut a sad figure with the way he walked to the stage with his cane and sat down on a special chair to sing his songs for the duration of the set. He is a similar age to my parents and his slowing down and health difficulties struck a chord with me that we are all getting older and he, like my parents, is no longer as invincible as he appeared to me when I was a child in 1980s.
Despite some very dated production and synthesiser sounds "No Jacket Required" holds up well and has some surprises. "Sussudio" with its uptempo funk and oblique lyrics is entertaining enough. However although "One More Night" was a massive hit it is by no means the best track on the record and when you look passed this you'll find the catchy "Inside Out" and "Long Long Way to Go". Both are well arranged and have a good depth.
However the highlight is "Take Me Home" which is all about a dementia patient who can understand all that is happening to them but cannot communicate this to those around them. It reminded me of a summer visit to a family member. She was once a sharp, witty lady who kept me on my toes when I was an earnest misfit of a youngster. When I saw her in the summer I sat next to her. Initially she stared at me from her wheelchair with a look of puzzlement and a half-smile as if she didn't recognise me. However on closer inspection it was almost as if that half-smile really was meant to convey to me "don't worry; underneath all this it's still me and I still recognise you". Since that day "Take Me Home" has had a real resonance with me as no doubt it has to others in this age of longer lives and the resulting rise of dementia.
So the ingredients of this recipe which were as follows:
Twelve Ounces of Diced Beef.
Twelve Ounces of Pumpkin Cubes.
Three Fresh Tomatoes cut into Cubes.
One diced Shallot.
One diced Red Onion
Four Ounces of Sun Dried Tomatoes.
Eight Ounces of Pui Lentals.
A bunch of Fresh Basil.
A teaspoon of Tomato Puree.
An Ounce of Garlic Salt.
An Ounce of Harissa Seasoning
An Ounce of Barbecue Seasoning.
An Ounce of Paprika.
A can of Butterbeans.
The method was the following:
1. Boil the Pui Lentils in water for forty five minutes.
2. While the Pui Lentils are cooking fry in Olive Oil in a Le Cresceut the Shallot, Red Onion, Tomato Puree, Spices, Half of the Basil for ten minutes on a medium heat on the hob.
3. Add the Diced Beef and stew for a further twenty minutes stirring regularly on a low heat.
4. Add the Pumpkin, Tomatoes, Sun Dried Tomotoes and remainder of the Basil and cook for another twenty minutes stirring regularly on a medium heat.
5. Introduce the Pui Lentils and the water they were boiled in and simmer for twenty minutes until the ingredients have softened and the water absorbed.
6. Add the Butter Beans and warm through prior to serving.
There was a lot of flavour in this recipe and the freshness of the Basil is offset by the smoky fire of the Harissa and Barbecue Seasonings that warmed through a wet Autumn lunchtime. The Butterbeans and Lentils meanwhile, together with the Beef, gave much needed protein while the Pumpkin was strongly enlivened by the strong flavours.
