Pesto, jacuzzi and a vivid sky.

Tweet

My contribution to this evening’s repast is pesto Genovese. When I asked what we were having for dinner I was told “Pasta”. I then had the temerity to ask “With what?” That was not appreciated so I thought I’d better take charge. As I mushed up garlic, pine nuts, basil, olive oil and the only substitute I could find for non-existent parmesan, I decided to nominate the person who first combined those ingredients with such a pleasing outcome for a Nobel prize. I even found a bottle of Nero d’Avola in the wine cellar so we’re all set for a rare night. Might I also intimate that store bought pesto can’t hold a candle to my bringing together of the necessary ingredients into a delight that stays with you for several days. On another note, I sat in a hot-tub at dawn out behind the house this morning. I’m not a hot-tub kind of person, but this was truly fabulous. I was reticent at first to accept Max’s invitation to join him for a pre-jentacular plunge because I was afraid he might not be wearing anything given his penchant for nudey runs to the bathroom in the morning. However he would be decently clad (his mother assured me) so I accepted. Just before the sun rose we shivered our way (in swimwear) from the unheated house through the frosty cold morning air and lowered ourselves into the cauldron of fizzing hot water that sat on its own little platform overlooking the duck pond. Eventually the sun made an appearance, struggling to shine through the heavy mist that floated everywhere. The morning sky kept changing colour, crimson here, apricot there with a smaragdine tinge sitting on the horizon. Blue didn’t happen till the sun has risen above the trees and by then it was time for coffee and pains au chocolat in the warming kitchen.