Don't bother looking in Spar

I have been trying some new recipes lately because my repertoire has become a bit passé.

Cate reads the newspapers on her iPad and there are always new and exciting recipes in The Times and the Sydney Morning Herald. She emails these to me saying ‘I would like this please’.  I have also been browsing through my recipe books for inspiration.

One of the difficulties being in Vienna is that some of the ingredients used in the recipes do not seem to exist here  – or – if they do – are certainly not available at my local Spar or local markets.

I am – for example – looking at a Bill Granger’s  recipe for ‘Baked orecchiette with sausage and cavolo nero’.

Now I do actually know what orecchiette is because I tried a new recipe with this last week. Mind you – I could not find it anywhere so made do with something that looked much the same.

But cavolo nero? Turns out it is a type of black cabbage – but doesn’t look like a cabbage – and is a member of the kale family.

Well I can’t even get spinach at my local Spar so there is no point in looking there.

I may have to ask Merisi – she knows where to buy everything one needs in Vienna. And if all else fails I will try broccoli which I think will work with the recipe – which I must say looks good – as many of Bill's recipes do.

Anyway – I find it best if I try something completely new when Cate is away – to avoid disappointment. Otherwise she is likely to say something like ‘this is interesting’ as she pushes the food around her plate.

Her all time low score was when she pronounced something as ‘hideous’ and I could only agree. Not one of my best efforts – too much adlibbing.

She is going to the USA next week so I shall try a couple of completely new things.

Last week was so glorious in Vienna I went to Stadtpark nearly every day to take photos. That is why you are getting another one today.