Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Happy Birthday Sid!

Everyday for the last 14 years there has been something not quite right in my world. On 12th October 1998 my families world changed forever when my dear Dad passed away. Always the "soft" parent who we could wrap around our little fingers he left an enormous hole that would or could never be filled. He was only a small man but to us he was always ten feet tall. Ever loving and ever giving, we simply were his world. There isn't a day goes by when thoughts of him don't enter my head. Above all things I wish that he could have met my children, it's not a very nice experience bringing your children to a graveside to meet their Grandad whom you know would have been a fantastic role model in their lives. Unfortunately such is life, bittersweet memories of what was and what could have been. Memories in the head and no more to be made but always love. So happy birthday to my dear Dad, hope you are being as well looked after now as you looked after us then. xxx

Comfort food was a must today so soup was in order. I had this in a cafe recently and enjoyed it so this is my recreation of that.

Chestnut, Parsnip, Apple & Curry Soup.

You will need;
50g butter
2 medium parsnips, grated
2 apples, cored and chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
435g tin of chestnut purée
1 tsp of curry powder
1 tsp dried sage
500ml hot vegetable stock
Salt & pepper

Melt the butter in a large saucepan and add the parsnip which you have grated. Cook for 4 minutes.
Add in the chopped celery and apple and cook for two further minutes or until slightly soft.
Add the curry powder and stir well.
Add in the chestnut purée, sage and the hot stock. Season well.
Cover and simmer for five minutes.
Remove from hit and blend until smooth. I sieved mine after blending to get a really smooth soup.
Serve with a drizzle of creme fraiche and maybe some homemade brown bread with lashings of real butter.

P.S. Ring your mother or father and tell them how wonderful they are and how lucky you are to have them. Life is too short to be all coy and shy about our feelings, let them know how you feel. xxxx


14 comments:

  1. I lost my Dad 13 years ago Paula (he was only 50) and you are right - life is too short. I know his death had (and still has) a dramatic effect on my life and the way I decided which path to choose. One of the reasons I moved back home to Ireland was so that my kids would grow up knowing their Granny. A lovely post. I am a sucker for the 'from the heart' ones xx

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    1. Thanks Mona for your lovely comment. Some days I would give my right arm to sit at the table and have a chat with him as an adult. Was 19 when he passed away and still had a tonne of growing up to do. 50 was too young to pass, dad was 63 and that number seems to pop up everywhere! xxx

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  2. Beautiful. And it's cold, rainy & a tough day here in Paris for the MJ family, but nothing we can't pull through with the amazing love we share! Longing for some of that soup & calling my Dad tonight, thanks & comforting thoughts to you & yours! Xoxo

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    1. Thanks for the lovely comment. You just made me laugh about the cleanliness of the vets compared to the doctors! Fingers crossed all will be well with Freya. Don't forget to make that phonecall. xx

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  3. Beautiful post Paula, brought tears to my eye! And wise words from Mona making an expat feel very far from home!

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    1. Thanks Cliona, sorry for upsetting you. Your loved ones only a phonecall away, xx

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  4. What a beautiful post Paula, it sounds like your dad was a great man and I'm sure he's smiling down at you and your kids. After reading it, I felt the sudden urge of talking to my own dad, so I picked up the phone and rang my mam & dad in Mexico to tell them I love them. Thank you for sharing this with us.

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    1. Aw lily thanks so much for such a lovely comment. Delighted you rang your parents!!! xxxx

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  5. So sweet. what a lovely post. i've no doubt he's looking down on you with huge beaming pride x

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    1. Aw thank you mrs! That rhubarb cake is next up on blog, need to impress those future parents in law of yours! xx

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  6. Lovely post Paula and I know exactly how you feel. Your little ones have a very special guardian angel looking down on them now. Adrienne xx

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    1. Thanks Adrienne for comment. Always hard when special days come around. :-( xxx

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  7. That's a lovely, heart-felt post Paula.

    If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden. :)

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    1. That's a lovely quote Amee, going to remember that one. Thanks for the lovely comment. x

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