Early this morning, while Ladybird dressed and collected a bag of hair and make-up accessories (she seems to be the official hair and make-up girl for church weddings nowadays) I laid in bed dozing, enjoying the gentle glow of the starry Christmas lights still looped around the room, and planning my day. First on my list: make Nigel Slater's Cider Loaf.
For my 14th birthday, Autumn Rain gave me a wonderful recipe treasury by Nigel Slater, complete with stunning photography and quaint, humorous kitchen notes that make me want to eat seafood, raw tomatoes and alcohol (all of which I have never liked). The problem with being a foodie is that things you don't like, when described very well and accompanied by a beautiful picture, can seem far too appealing. Then when you cook with them, the results are a painful disappointment. But that's a story for another day. The Cider Loaf was a success (in spite of the alcohol, which only showed up as a piquant tart flavor) and we topped it with sweet, crunchy chicken salad to make a perfect Saturday lunch.
