pie and books: the finer things in life

1) Today I baked a pie, very very loosely based on one of Yotam Ottolenghi's recipes for a roasted vegetable tart. Said tart, while delicious-sounding, uses lots of flavors I associate with late summer and autumn, like sweet potato and roasted bell peppers, and I wanted springlike veggies. So I used spinach and arugula, artichoke hearts, and chives as well as the onion, garlic, feta, and ricotta called for in the original recipe. It turned out quite nice, especially the pastry (I used Paul Hollywood's shortcrust recipe), though unfortunately I didn't entirely think through the consequences of substituting very mild ingredients for strongly-flavored ones. So, yes, a little bit bland, but not bad. I want to make it again, with its original ingredients, in September or thereabouts. Anyway, I feel a sense of satisfaction at having achieved Proper Cooking--as I define it for myself--for the first time in ages.

I have a little steak thawing in the refrigerator for tomorrow, and I also intend to make an Amalfi-style potato salad from one of Marcella Hazan's cookbooks: small boiled potatoes dressed with anchovies, garlic, capers, and olives. This combines several of my current favorite things, so I'm looking forward to it.


2) I've finished my binge read of (almost) all of Dick Francis's novels. ( Reactions and such under the cut )