Minestrone the Bucks way.

Dear reader,

I haven't written for a while as I have been away to my parents in Kent. I hope you are well?

We returned today and rushed out to the greenhouse. We had left the window and door open and everything was still alive. Tomatoes were huge and had lots of little green fruits, the squash and butternut squash are both huge too. I think I'm a bit weird, I love the feel of the butternut squash leaves, they are so soft and a bit hairy.
The strawberries are all fruiting and there was one big, fat, red and ripe one which we shared. I love the way strawberries spread out their little tentacles to make another plant. We just let them root in another pot and then get an extra plant for free. We started last year with four which we bought from the boot sale and now we have about 10. Brilliant!

After the last few days of being with family and eating lots of fabulous but fattening food and seeing a picture of myself I have, once again decided to try to lose a few pounds.
Why is it that I think I look quite good and then see a photo of myself? My blow dried and straightened hair looks flat and lank and the gorgeous lippie that makes my lips look fuller is non existent? The jeans that promise to make you look slimmer lied and the push up bra has pushed off.
Ah well, a moment on the lips, a life time on the hips and all that. There is a famous saying, Wallis Simpson I think, "You can't be too rich or too thin" I know that money doesn't make you happy, you only have to see recent pictures of rich celebrities with extremely rich husbands to see that!

We are trying to work out which plants or trees would be best in the garden. I wonder if you could advise? I would be really grateful for any ideas as we are both quite new to gardening.
We have a long straight edge and I would like to put some smallish trees or large shrubs there. Firstly to make it look nice and also for a bit of privacy and security.

I really enjoy reading about recipes and cooking on the blogs I follow. I'm sure you do too and have probably been over to frugal queen regularly like me. I am also trying to use up what I have in July.
Today I scoured the larder cupboard and found a tin of tomatoes and an unopened pack of tiny pasta, (can't recall the exact name-digit something I think). Hmm, minestrone came to mind.
In the freezer I found some chopped, frozen onion which I had previously prepared, a frozen garlic and ginger cube and a small tub of dried pulses I had boiled and frozen some time ago. These were an Approved Food purchase and were a stew mix with pearl barley and peas. I put them in my huge, soup pan with a little water and waited till they defrosted. Then, as I had a surplus of carrots, chopped several in the food processor. I also liquidised the tinned tomatoes and added them both to the pan. Using my pestle and mortar I ground one teaspoon of rock salt, 6 peppercorns, a tiny pinch of our own dried chillies (they are mean!) and one sweetener. I usually add one as otherwise it can taste bitter. I added four of the empty tomato cans of water. I always use the can or jar to swill out the last of whatever was in there. Into that I put two small cups of the dried pasta and turned it down to simmer. After about 15 minutes it was ready, the pasta was soft, the carrots al dente and the pulses were cooked. I topped it with a little grated cheese which melted beautifully.
I had all these ingredients already and it was a really nice, filling soup. I don't think they have pearl barley in it in Italy but they do here in Bucks. I am enjoying a second bowl as I write.

If anyone else is making do with what they have, please send your ideas in a comment and I will show a link to your blog tomorrow so everyone can see.

Much love
FIB. X