If you read the title of this post and chuckled then you are likely to be familiar with Fawlty Towers and the shenanigans of Basil Fawlty. The series is 50 years old and I still see reviews on the internet, when a hotel stay has gone badly wrong, describing the experience as ‘just like in Fawlty Towers’.
The basil experience in my kitchen today comes in the form of fresh herbs from Namayasai Farm, and a real treat with four varieties: cinnamon, lemon, lime and Thai. Pinching a leaf in between my fingers then biting into it has given me a real sensory adventure.
In my vegetable box I also received courgette, kyuuri cucumber, komatsuna, New Zealand spinach, kuso-negi (spring onion), green and bi-colour shiso leaves, wild plums and whitecurrants. As ever, a charming and informative letter from Ikuko and Robin is included, detailing what to do with the vegetables.
A pizza is going into the oven as I write, to be accompanied by a green salad for dinner. What we, and the whole nation, are doing tonight is watching football. A pastor at our church used to tell a funny joke, all in one breath, which went ‘there are only three dates in English history you need to remember 1066 the Norman Conquest 1666 the Great Fire of London and 1966 England wins the World Cup against Germany’. C’est tout.
I am, of course, very fond of 1966 as I was born that year. At my recent birthday lunch I gamely promised my guests another lunch should England win this year’s World Cup. If they do, I really would be happy to celebrate this feat.
But for now, I am going to spend my football time removing the leaves from the basil then working out what I might make with them. Photos below of the vegetables.
An assortment of basil and shiso
Kyuuri cucumber, courgette, NZ spinach and komatsuna
Wild plums, which I sorted out as the red ones were sweet enough to snack on
Kujo-negi which I have used successfully before in my Spring Onion Milk Bread Rolls
White currants, which might go into an apple crumble. Mr Travel Couple came round yesterday with some apples from his apple tree…oh happy days!
