I phoned my nephew yesterday as it was his birthday. He has just turned fourteen and is heavily in to sport. He is never happier than when kicking a football about. Sport was never my thing really, except in a purely armchair capacity...
And speaking of armchairs, this Sunday afternoon I have spent quite a lot of time reclining in one!
It has been a particularly sunny day:
. . . and I have been feeling particularly lazy: sitting idly in one of my favourite chairs, with the sun shining upon me . . .
. . . and what's more I have had a nap - which is always a nice thing to do.
(My father called taking a nap 'resting the great brain'.)
It is a delicious feeling to be sitting in a comfortable position, in a comfortable armchair, and suddenly becoming aware that one is starting to drift - to 'nod off'.
At that moment one has two options: shake it off or succumb. This afternoon I chose to allow Morpheus to have his way with me - and half an hour later awoke feeling revived, refreshed and just in time for a cup of tea!
Actually I was slightly late, because as everyone knows, everything stops for tea at 4 o'clock, not 4:14!
And where there are cups of tea, there must also be cake.
I think I may have made mention of a wonderful cake/tart I had, at a little cafe in the old town of Barcelona last June. At the time I was determined to find out what the name of that heavenly creation was, and more importantly, how to make it.
I soon ascertained that it is called Tarta de Santiago.
The next thing thing was to find out how to make it.
There were all sorts of variations to be found on the Internet, but checking through my recipe box I found that I had had the foresight to cut out a particularly nice sounding version found in a fabulous magazine I subscribe to: Australian Gourmet Traveller.
And so this weekend I made it (complete with the Cross of Santiago stencilled on top in icing sugar:
I know it is bragging but I must point out that the result was a complete success! Basically a short crust pastry shell filled with an lemon scented almond mixture, it is very easily made (and very easily eaten too!)
And so there I sat, enjoying the afternoon.
I was sublimely content.
I also knew that something wonderful for dinner was slow cooking in the oven, courtesy of AGA:
And all was right with the world.
And that's it . . .
Sometimes there is nothing nicer than a lazy afternoon at home! Don't you agree?
