Scorchio! The Perfect Summer Evening

Whew! Summer hit hard today- it was unbearably hot. I stupidly have taken to going running around midday under the (probably mistaken) idea that it'll serve me well come rugby season. What an error! I practically melted. Oh well, my evening more than made up for it. This is my original (i.e. completely made up) chicken pie recipe- I know pie seems out of place for summer, but my supper seemed to frame the evening beautifully.

Charlie's Ambrosial Chicken Pie

1. Cut up some spring onions

2. Quarter some mushrooms

3. Fry these off in a pot

4. Add half a leftover roast chicken (or whatever really!)

5. Add a glass of good white wine

6. Pour and drink a glass for yourself

7. Add 2 cups of water to the pot

8. Add chicken and mushroom stock

9. Season to taste with pepper, tobasco and wholegrain mustard

10. Boil down until the chicken breaks up and is gloriously juicy and tender

11. Add some cream

12. Chop parsley finely and add it to the pot

13. Boil down again until liquid is minimal

14. Pour into pie vessel (a.k.a. a dish!)

15. Cover in pastry

16. Cook in oven

17. Pour and drink more sauvignon

18. Eat pie! (with salad so there's the illusion of healthiness)

Furthermore, I recommend playing Joe Dassin's 'Les Champs-Elysées' in the background. If, like me, you enjoy tinkling the ivories now and then, this song is really quite easy to play. The sheet music is here and here.

You know, despite the fact that I have done exactly nothing today, I've really enjoyed myself. I'm going to save this memory of contentment for more stressed days!