December 2016 - Week 3

Monday 12th to Sunday 18th December 2016

Monday we did our usual supermarket shopping – yawn, yawn. For dinner we had hassle back potatoes to start, then piri piri chicken with savoury rice.

Tuesday I drove to Pretty Bay for a walk and an excellent cappuccino. For dinner I made delicious cauliflower cheese which we had with roasted potatoes. Sam also had some left over chicken.

Wednesday we went to Acquatica for cappuccini. Our landlady and a new handyman came around to sort out a minor problem with our lights. One problem was that the standard lamp in the dining room didn’t work. It turns out it didn’t have a bulb in it! Boy, we really are naturals when it comes to this DIY stuff.

In the evening we went to Valletta again. We had drinks at Charles Grech – very chic – and on this occasion the service was very good. Sam had bloody Mary’s, I had gin and tonics and we nibbled on crisps, olives and nuts. For dinner we went to Crianza. Imagine you are travelling through rural Spain or Italy or France and you come across a local restaurant. Nothing fancy, perhaps a good home cook who has decided to open a restaurant. Well, that’s what Crianza is like; good, honest home cooking served with friendliness and a smile. Sam had sepia ravioli stuffed with swordfish and served with a lemon butter sauce followed by rabbit stew. I had aubergine parmigiana followed by artichoke and chilli ravioli with tomatoes and a ricotta salade (grated dried ricotta), then chocolate profiteroles. The portions were huge, the style unrefined, the flavours anything but subtle but it all added up to a great evening and another pretty perfect night out.

Thursday I cooked a beef, mushroom and Guinness casserole for Friday’s dinner when Chris and Tina are coming around. Sam baked another Christmas cake; this one as a gift for Tina. For dinner Sam had a cheese and spinach wrap and I had corn fritters!

Friday was showery so I stayed local for my walk. For dinner Chris and Tina came around. We had nibbles, beef, mushroom and Guinness pie and Christmas pudding ice cream (strachiatella ice cream with Christmas pudding, glace cherries and orange juice folded in), all delicious.

Saturday was stormy so we didn’t stray out. Left over pie and Christmas pudding ice cream for dinner.

Sunday we brunched at Miracles; a full English breakfast for Sam and a cheese and onion toasty with chips for me. For dinner we had pizzas.