Saving on the Heating by Lunching in the Boozer.

I had forgotten just how delicious smoked mackerel was but after finding a pack at Sainsbury’s last week, reduced from £2.50 to 49p and doing the above with it (flaking it over creamed spinach) I’ve been craving it ever since.

Yesterday I convinced myself that it would be cheaper for me to work on my column in the boozer than stay at home, eating crisp butties with the heating on.

How happy was I to find this truly divine smoked mackerel pâté on the menu.

It seemed to be mixed with finely grated carrot and was topped with a dill creme fraiche. At £7 with a glass of Sancerre at £4.25 I reckon that’s cheaper than coal+logs+firelighters+central heating+tea+crisps+bread+butter. Has to be.

. . . . and it came with the best ever seedy toasted bread, a whole cow full of butter, dressed greenery and the zingiest, most palate cleansing cornichon and carrot pickle salad ever. I was at Turner’s wine bar in Barrowford. which will upset most of you because it’s here, up North and not wherever you are.

And finally, because I’m good at leftovers I’ll give you a bit of this;

That’s left over roast chicken bits with leftover mozzarella, onion, chilli and spinach. Clever little me did this with it, which would horrify my friend Rhuksana. She always makes her own samosa pastry and her children have never tasted anything other than home made food. I mean completely home made. From scratch. Everything. Anyhow, being me and a bit lazy and pushed for time I bought this fabulous samosa pastry which is just so well behaved that I love it.

I fried some for the kids and baked a few for myself but judging by the amount of oil that seeped out of that lethal chilli pickle (top Christmas present, thank you Angela) I may as well have fried them all.

Bloody hot stuff.