The North Yorkshire Chronicles, Part One: Cold Spring up North
We have just arrived in North Yorkshire for a week’s well-deserved holiday. After meticulously packing what seemed like the entire kitchen into the car for a week in a pet-friendly cottage, we set off for the 6-hour drive. The doggies were settled all snug in their beds in the back of the estate (station wagon) and off we went. No sooner had we gotten on the M3 motorway, we were serenaded by our dog Billy’s incessant barking at the motorcycle following us. Oh joy, another 5 and a half hours like this and I’ll need some serious food therapy!
The weather forecast was looking dubious but hope springs eternal in my breast and I was optimistic along the 125 miles on the M1. No sooner had we crossed into Yorkshire but the heavens unfurled and it began pouring with rain. Oh well, so much for my optimism.
We arrived at about 4 pm at Aislaby Lodge Cottages near Whitby, on the North Yorkshire coast. It is so nice here in this stone cottage overlooking the Esk Valley, with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway steam train chugging along below us at regular intervals that this is our second year in a row staying here. It’s also the second year that the wind, rain and cold have been here to greet us in June! But never mind, long walks in this beautiful, hilly countryside will warm our bodies and souls.
On a more mundane level, after unpacking our mountains of stuff – including my trusty Thermomix, of course – and taking the doggies on a 2-mile, very hilly walk, it is time to warm our bodies with food and drink. On the menu tonight were baby back ribs of pork and hoi sin sauce. Taking inspiration from the ever-clever Helene’s succulent slow-cooked rib recipe, I microwave-braised my ribs with red wine, ginger, garlic and chilli, then reduced the braising liquid in my Thermomix with the hoi sin Chinese barbecue sauce which I had mixed with orange juice and sherry.
It was hard to keep my wits about me amongst the amazingly delicious smells coming from my Thermomix but I persevered in the name of gastronomy. While the ribs caramelised in the oven I steamed some perfect rice in the internal steamer basket of my Thermomix while I steamed aubergine (eggplant), courgette (zucchini), onion, red pepper and coriander in the Varoma steamer on top. And while all this cooking was going on, John and I had a glass of wine and relaxed.
Thank you, Thermomix, for making it so fast and easy to eat well and cook with joy!
Bon appétit !
“Yum to life” is so right, Helene! Despite the rain – on both sides of the Atlantic – we are living life to the fullest and enjoying it while we can. And yes, I’m taking advantage of some time off to catch up on some blog posts!
Oh you really DO know how to make the best of a situation, don’t you? The loveliness of a rainy time away is only made better by this heady meal and glass of wine. And between the raindrops, dog walks and Thermomixing… still you are blogging. So all is right with the world, I think. “Yum” to the dinner, and especially, “yum to life!”