Sgt Pepper is having some time off, chilled and relaxed, for the first time in about two and a half years. I will get to the Bolognese sauce later on that is simmering in my kitchen.
Weather is on the chilly side, 18 degrees and rain, nevertheless I feel really good sitting on my terrace watching the trees shaking in the wind, and my wild garden become a little wilder every day.
When was the last time you felt you are free, in control of your life, all the options open? For me, that has been years ago. Emergencies, no brainers, react instead of act, I have been following up instead of shaping reality. As much as I miss my wife and baby daughter who went off for holidays in West Africa, I realize that these few weeks have the potential of reshaping my life, redefining my future more than anything in the past seven years. [The number seven referring to the date I originally met my wife.]
What is making me happy right now: Wind and rain. Chianti Superior. The Bolognese sauce simmering in my kitchen. The garden – I know it is a mess out there, I have only done the minimum amount of work like basic lawn-mowing every couple of weels, nevertheless there is beauty in the wilderness, thanks to the previous owner who managed to take care of it quite nicely, whereever you look. My home office which has become a lot more organised over the past week.
Finally, the Bolognese sauce. Simple approach today, fried 500 g of ground beef, 150 g of speck, 200 g of chicken liver, add 1/4 l of red wine, 150 g of celery, 150 g of carrots, two onions, all chopped nicely. One can of tomato pulp, three freshly chopped tomatoes, two red habanero peppers, and about 75 g of tomato paste. Add salt and peppers, couple more spices, let simmer for a couple of hours… Add a bit of red wine every 30 minutes, and let it simmer.
In that process right now. Had to drive to the supermarket again to get more red wine, this this using my scooter instead of the car. Figured that the Bolognese would only get better every hour, no rush. Filled the wine glass to the top with Staatlich Fachingen mineral water, nice on the tongue after a bit of Chianti. It starts drizzling again. More water, more wine later on.
