Mum and Angie come to visit... part 1

Last weekend (I'm really behind schedule) my Mum and her sister Angie came to visit in the middle of the Mancunian heatwave. They arrived late Friday and I managed to get the Saturday off work to spend a lovely 2 full days with them.

I always enjoy a day or a weekend tour of places in Manchester, my favourite places, for the benefit of visitors. This weekend was North Star Deli in Chorlton and a tram ride to town on a never ending search for a fascinator. My Mother tried on every hair decoration in the city and bought nothing. She better have something spectacular in her hair come Lee and Dani's wedding in August.

We ate at Simple, NQ for lunch and Bar San Juan on Beech Road, Chorlton for a tapas dinner. All the food was spectacular. 

Here are the highlights from Saturday morning....

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Curry in the park. Obviously.

The weather has been so beautiful recently. This isn't normal for England. It's rare and it's so wonderful. It makes everyday feel like an opportunity, which is something that passes me by when it rains. I want to wake up in the morning, I love not drawing my blinds because the sun bursts in everyday and I'm so glad for it.

Last Sunday I finished work at 7pm. I don't usually work a Sunday, I'm usually cooking or reading or napping. I cycled home and Oliver and I spent a little on a curry and took it to the park. We ate a tasty lamb karahi, saag paneer (spinach and cheese) and rice and naans and poppadoms. My favourite place in Chorlton is Asian Fusion. Their interior is a little old school so we decided Chorlton Park was a better setting. It was a peaceful evening, aside from the gangs of kids lining Barlow Moor Road, but we left that behind.

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Mojitos!

Sunshine and a day off calls for homemade cocktails. Thursday, I perfected these mojitos by myself and drank them at my doorstep. Then when Camille arrived, we made them in Chorlton park and got very sticky in the process. The original recipe is here, and here's what we did...

You need, per glass...

1 1/2 capfuls White Rum (I like CHEAP!)

1 tablespoon Granulated Sugar

6 Mint Leaves

Quarter of a Lime

150ml Water, still or sparkling

A few ice cubes.

Muddle the sugar, mint leaves and lime wedge in a sturdy glass or a mug. It's kind of easier to squeeze the lime juice in, mash up the juice, mint leaves and sugar with the end of a rolling pin and then add the remainder of the lime wedge back in afterwards. Add the rum; swill. In a fancy tall glass, or whatever is clean, put in your ice, add the rummy, lime, mint, sugar mash up and fill to taste with the water.

A mint leave to garnish is fancy, but probably a waste. Add more sugar/rum/water to taste.

Couple of notes: granulated sugar is best because it helps to release the minty flavour when you're muddling with the rolling pin, anything finer will dissolve too quickly. You can up end your fancy glass if you're feeling plush, dip the rim in lime juice or honey and then in sugar. Looks pretty, tastes good, makes up for the cheap rum.

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Camille came to stay, Part 2

Saturday, we had brunch with Katie and Jill at Tea Hive in Chorlton. A pricey ricotta, banana and chocolate toastie was on the specials menu. It was tasty, but I'm glad I split one. Then we headed to town to meet Alan and sat in Picadilly Gardens with the masses. We gorged on Rice and cheap China Town snacks.

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Camille came to stay, Part 1

Camille came to stay this weekend. We've known each other since school and I usually see her for 2 hours at a time when I come home to Corby, or for the odd hen party (which seem more commonplace these days, is that just me?). It was such a treat to see her for a whole weekend, have time off work and not just catch up, but do things we'll remember next time we meet. (Camille is not fond of having her picture taken, as you will see.)

It's also the start of the British summer. It should have started a while back but June was wind and rain. It's hot outside! The sun is out and I have to wear factor 50 everyday! I'm pale and ginger, so you wouldn't naturally associate my kind to this weather but it won't keep me inside. It feels so good to be in the sun for a whole week. It certainly feels like a holiday. I can wear shorts and tshirt cycling to work each day, that's a treat. 

We spent Friday evening at a pub in Withington, then making mojitos in Chorlton park. It was on the cheap... mint from my garden, the cheapest white rum going, 23p bags of tortillas... you know the kind.

The mojito recipe we used is here, and we were inventive with our tools whilst making them in the park!

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