Monday, June 21st

Read and enjoyed Mrs Beeton's Household Book, edited by Kay Fairfax, yesterday. I am deeply thankful not to be a maid! "The influence of the cook is immense upon the happiness of a household." she says.

Abandoned Jesus the Man, but read the first part of another book by Barbara Thiering, Jesus of the Apocalypse. According to The Book of General Ignorance there never was a 666, the correct translation would be 616.....

Finally finished In the Devil's Garden by Stewart Lee Allen. This led me to contemplate the origins of food prejudice in communities and individuals. The loss of prejudice against eating apes and monkeys is fast leading to the extinction of the big apes in Africa, who are being turned into bushmeat at an alarming rate.

I have many food prejudices, and would be unwilling to eat many of the dishes recommended by Mrs Beeton; no widgeon, woodcock, snipe or larks for me! Mr Allen describes pregnant sows kicked to death to impart extra savour as well as many other revolting practices.

I seem to have few prejudices against trying vegetables and cooked strange brown tubers yesterday, matumbis. They tasted somewhat like potatoes with the texture of a sweet potato.

Gammon

400ml Coke, poured into deep Pyrex
250ml Dry red wine, add to coke

150g Pesto
5ml Salt
15ml Garlic, chopped.
Mix together.

1.7kg Gammon
Spread with pesto, place in coke & wine mixture, put lid on. Bake at 180C for 3 hours.