Hi folks,
I haven't done a blog for a while. It's not that I didn't have anything to say, far from it, it's just that I was side-tracked in my writing. John and myself have been doing some serious family ancestry research, something I've wanted to do for a long time. John has been doing some on his family going right back to the 17th century. He promised that he would help me with mine and now together with help from a family friend (John Calnan) we have uncovered some amazing details so far on my father's side. John Calnan works alongside my brother Arthur in the Quay Co-op where our nutroasts are made; they are lifelong friends.
This is what has been consuming me. I can't take credit for carrying out the research, the two Johns have done that. Using what they've uncovered and what I already know myself about our family ancestry I’ve been writing stories that have linked their finds together and given a narrative to them that makes sense. I've really enjoyed doing it, but I didn't realise how emotional, moving, upsetting and exciting it can be to create these stories. At times it feels like bringing deceased relatives back into our lives. My siblings are my audience for all of this and possibly their children and, you never know, maybe their children in the future. It's good writing something that my siblings will enjoy even though there are only six of us now. We were seven but my dearly loved brother Bill died last year. I know that he would have loved the research and he would have been able to make a great contribution to it also. You don't need a huge audience to enjoy your writing, which is a very nice discovery I’ve made.
We are taking a little break from ancestry research now, only for a while, as we need to give our attention to other things but we will be returning to it again soon. There is much more to do and so much more to uncover. Mystery has always surrounded my father’s family. That’s why I wanted to start on that side to begin with. My mother’s side is a very different kettle of fish, so that should be great to get going on also - a very large, noisy, vocal, talented, diverse bunch who I’ve no doubt will come up with some interesting stories and skeletons in the cupboard! John is like a dog with a bone (his own words) with my family ancestry which is great so we shall continue. He says he now has a much better handle on many of my family that I’ve been going on about for the last 20 years.
I won't go on too much about the ancestry research but I’d just like to tell you about our two family claims to fame. Firstly there’s my great aunt Kate, my grandfather's sister on my father's side. She was married to Paddy Flaherty, who Paddy whiskey was named after, so Paddy Flaherty is my great uncle. My parents lived in his house when they were first married and my brother Bill and sister Mary lived there during the early years of their lives. Our dining room table that we all sat around as we were children and growing up was a gift to my parents from Paddy. My brother Arthur still has it and uses it. I love to sit at it when I visit him. Arthur still lives in part of what used to be our family home. It's a very interesting story how the whisky was called after Paddy; you can Google it to find out more.
The other family claim to fame which I've always enjoyed and have been very proud of is the fact that I grew up in the house that is purported to be the one where the Duke of Wellington came to stay after his success at the battle of Waterloo, where he defeated Napoleon Bonaparte.
Now I say purported because there isn't any written evidence as such but it is part of the history and folklore of my family home. It was originally called Waterloo House in Wellington Square, in Cork, and was an army barracks at the time. Army recruits would have come and gone in our house at the time of the Napoleonic wars and it finally became the home for retired generals before it became a private residence. The centuries-old story is that the Duke either stayed in or visited our house and evidence or no evidence I'm sticking with that story because I love it. I was told it as a child so there's no shifting me on that. There's loads more to the story of our house but that's enough for my blog; my brother Arthur had a little book written about it all and it’s a family treasure.
Now to the recipe, which I can honestly say is one of our favourites. I don't know where I got it from; I think I made it up during the early years after I met John and had to quickly come up with tasty vegetarian meals for both of us. It hasn't got a name so I thought I’d better give it one for the blog. We usually refer to it as ‘that pasta dish’. I give you my permission to call it whatever you like!
Ingredients for Not Out Of A Bottle Pasta Sauce
3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 red onions, sliced
6 big cloves of crushed garlic
3 or 4 large chopped tomatoes
250g of chestnut mushrooms, sliced
1 large courgette, sliced and chopped into bite-size pieces
2 red peppers sliced into strips
1 yellow pepper sliced into strips
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
1 400g tin of butter beans
2 teaspoons of dried basil
1teaspoon of mixed herbs
Salt and pepper
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of tomato puree
Fresh basil, as much as you like. I like loads!
First chop the peppers and courgette, sprinkle with half of the oil and roast in the oven for 20 minutes or so. This increases the flavour.
Fry the garlic, onions and mushrooms until they are nicely sautéed.
Put all the ingredients into a large heavy-bottomed dish and cook in the oven for about 40 minutes at gas 5 or 180°C. Halfway through cooking add the fresh basil.
Serve with penne pasta, grated cheddar, parmesan, garlic bread and a green salad.
It is delicious. This quantity makes enough for John and myself for two nights which is terrifically handy. It matures in the fridge and we will have it a few nights later. You can also freeze the portions.
Let me know if you try it, and if you do, enjoy!
