My Dad

Dad,

This year, more than ever, you're closer to my mind.

I'm getting married, Dad. To a man I wish you'd been able to meet. I love him so much, and I know that he loves me to, and it's wonderful, and for all that I'm looking forward to being his wife, it's really hard for me to plan the wedding, because every time I think about it, I can't help but feel that there's something—someone—missing.

You're still the first one I want to talk to when anything happens, good or bad, and so much has happened lately that I wish I could have talked to you about.

I can't believe it's been eight years.

I miss you so much.

Ten

Ten years ago I sat at a computer, signed up for blogger, typed some stuff and hit the publish button. Tonight I'm typing this on an iPhone from bed before dropping off to sleep.

Ten years ago I lived in Scotland and couldn't walk the length of myself.

Tonight I live in London and I'm fitter and healthier than I've been in years.

Ten years ago I was (probably) going to wind up a crazy old spinster lady with lots of cats.

Tonight I'm engaged to be married and have no cats.

Life moves on. People change. The world turns.

It comforts me to know that whatever happens in my life, there's a text box I can fill (or not) with my thoughts on it. Whether anyone wants to read them or not.

Ain't technology grand?

Chicken, Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Lasagne

Spurred on by the awesome Jon Topper's talk of goat's cheese and butternut squash Lasagne, I decided that the time had come to make my first home made Lasagne.

As TFH is a meat-loving bloke, I decided to improvise a little. Then, when I got to Sainsbury's, I couldn't remember what all the ingredients were, so I improvised a little more.

Ingredients:

Fresh Lasagne Sheets (or you could make your own)

For the filling:

Average sized pack of cubed chicken (or you could chop your own) 1 pack of butternut squash and sweet potato veg for roasting (or you could chop and roast your own) 1 pot of Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce (or you could make your own) 1 pot of red pesto (or you could make your own) Olive oil (I used garlic infused, you don't have to)

For the sauce:

25g butter 25g plain flour 300ml milk Salt and Pepper to season Nutmeg (if you have it, I didn't, and consequently I assume Gordon Ramsey would tut at me) Gordon Ramsey's white sauce video Cheddar cheese Grated or shaved parmesan

Method:

Put the oven on and when it's hot (around 180), put the roastable veg in a tin with some olive oil for 30-40 minutes, until nicely roasted. When they're done, take them out of the oven and start everything else, turning the oven up to 200.

Take a large frying pan or wok type pan and add some oil to it, then chuck in the chicken so it can brown.

While you're doing that, boil the kettle and put two large (or however many you need) sheets into a flat dish where they can soak for a bit, while you do the other stuff.

Try not to let the chicken burn as you get the stuff for the sauce ready.

When it's brown, chuck the pasta sauce and the pesto in on top of it, along with the roasted vegetables. Mix it all together, breaking up the bigger bits of chicken and veg, and let it simmer for a bit.

Watch the white sauce video, and follow the instructions (they work!) and when the sauce has cooked, add some cheese to it and stir it in well.

Take your dish and lob about half of the chicken and veg mix into the bottom of it, covering it with a (drained) sheet of pasta, then spread about half the sauce over the top. Repeat with the other half of the filling, another sheet of pasta and then the rest of the sauce.

Grate some more cheddar over the top and add some parmesan.

Stick it in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 200, until it's golden brown.

Give it a few minutes to rest when it comes out of the oven, otherwise you'll burn your mouth because it's so good but too hot at the same time.

This will make enough for 4 people, or two very hungry people who like eating leftover lasagne the next day.