Wexford Girl

Jamie and Me

This is classic procrastinator behavior. When I was in Ireland, fellow lazy blogger Dave and I made a pact that we would do two blog posts before the end of February, so what do I do? Two posts in one day on the last day of the month. 

Ok, this is about how much I love Jamie.

  

This is his new book (it's called Jamie's Food Revolution in the US). Liz and Dave had it in Wexford, and flipping through it, I had to have it too. It's all about simple, healthy food that anyone can make, with clear instructions and photos. 

One of my goals is to become a better cook (so Eric doesn't have to do it all the time), and this book is just wonderful. I've made his chopped salad, cauliflower cheese macaroni, and this granola:

I made a big batch last night, which was the third batch I've made since I came back. It's so easy to make and tastes utterly delicious with yogurt and fresh blueberries, or milk. 

Here is my version. LOOK HOW MUCH LIKE JAMIE'S IT LOOKS!! I used craisins instead of raisins.

 

I probably should have waited and bought the US version of the book instead though. Can you see why?

 

Grams! There are also some names of items that are different in England and America. 

• aubergine = eggplant
• courgette = zucchini 
• cos lettuce = romaine lettuce
• rocket = arugula
• chicory = Belgian endive
• mince = ground beef

But I can mostly figure it out. Translating keeps it interesting.

When I went to take photos of my book out on the deck just now, another cookbook was out there open to this page:

 
And Eric is not here (I just came back from the studio) so I guess he's shopping and that's what we're having for dinner tonight. God bless my lovely husband!

Tim

We found out on Friday January 29th that my dad's scan had revealed colon cancer which had spread to his liver. By Monday, February 1st I was on a plane home. I just couldn't stand to not be there. 

I am so glad I went home. I got to spend time with the family: 

• My mother. We spent a lot of time just the two of us before Eric joined me for the second week. We would watch all her English/Australian/Irish soaps together with me going, "Who's he?" "Why does she want to kill him" "Whose baby is that?" We laughed a lot.
• Liz and Dave and kids, who possess the enviable superpower of effortlessly feeding everyone with delicious meals. I believe I had dinner or lunch at their house all but two days of the two and a half weeks I was there. 
• Michael, my brother in Cork, who drove back to Wexford both weekends I was there to see dad. It was great to see him, and not just because he brought me three Jeu de Paumes books from his trip to Japan last year.
• John and family in Dublin. John picked me up from the airport and we drove to Wexford together. We were both there to see dad just as he came out of surgery. I saw John, Geraldine and their three little girls one more time when I was there, despite John having a bad chest infection that turned out to be pneumonia! He's getting better now.

Dad continues to recover from the colon bypass surgery, and as soon as he is strong enough, he will undergo chemo to address the cancer. One thing I leaned which was encouraging and surprising is that the older you are, the better you can withstand the effects of chemotherapy. My dad is 76, so perhaps it won't be so bad; he might sail through it.

I really feel that dad will be with us for many more years. Tim Galvin is a great man, generous, kind, smart, fun. We are all pulling for him, and it's been great to see the family really come together and get closer. I am far away, but the unexpectedness of this latest trip taught me that I can be there in 24 hours, at the drop of a hat (without the flight costing more than normal too - thanks Aer Lingus). 

Stay strong dad. I will see you in May.