So far, I’ve been in a pretty privileged position when it comes to food in this crisis. I have always kept my kitchen cupboards well stocked with tins and essentials – I think it’s part of having been brought up by parents who were born at the end of World War Two and remember rationing. It’s a cushion against financial hardship.

I know that supermarkets have also been struggling with supplies of fresh fruit and vegetables, but I’ve been picking up my veg box from Beanies – they are closing their doors at the end of this week, but will still be open for orders and will be doing deliveries, so they are still going to be around.

By last Thursday, I didn’t have much fresh veg left, so I decided to make a stew. As it cooked, I wrote a poem about the fantastic cooking at the Ty Newydd Writers’ Centre in Wales, where I was due to spend a writing retreat this Easter, and it came out tasting just like Tony the chef’s speciality, Scouse stew, although my original inspiration for this comes from the traditional Nottingham home-cooking of my grandmother. I don’t suppose there’s much difference! It’s a tasty way of using up those sad looking vegetables at the bottom of the fridge.

Vegan Scouse – with Dumplings

Serves 3-4

Method and Ingredients:

For the stew:

1 soya-based veggie burger (I used Tesco own brand) – you could use soya chunks, or even make your own seitan – or maybe a handful of lentils or beans.

1 onion, chopped

1-2 carrots, sliced

1 parsnip, sliced

1-2 cloves of garlic – thinly sliced

2 smallish potatoes, cubed

Spices: smoked paprika, chilli flakes, cinnamon (to taste)

Mixed herbs

Vegetarian stock cube

Vegetarian Gravy granules

Salt and pepper

Method:

In a large lidded saucepan, sautee the onions and add the veggie burger. When the veggie burger has defrosted, chop it into 8ths – and then smaller pieces with your spatula. Stir well, then add the carrots, parsnips and potatoes. You can add different vegetables – whatever you have in the house! Then add the thinly-sliced garlic, mixed herbs and spices. Crumble in a vegetarian stock cube and three teaspoons of vegetarian gravy granules and add salt and pepper. Cover with boiling water until the vegetables are just covered – about 1.5 pints – about 800ml, should do it. Stir well, and leave to simmer on a medium heat.

For the dumplings:

50g vegetable suet (or you could use margarine)

100g self-raising flour

Water

Method:

Weigh the suet into a bowl, then add in the self-raising flour. Mix well, then add in approximately 75ml of cold water to form a firm dough. Knead for a few minutes, before dividing the dough into eight equal pieces, then roll each piece into a ball – you may need some extra flour for doing this.

Place the dumplings on top of the stew and put the lid on. Turn the heat down low, but keep it simmering. You might need to give it a stir from time to time.

Then sit at your laptop for at least half an hour while the stew cooks and the dumplings expand into fluffy masterpieces. You can write a poem if you like! I did!

Virtual Tŷ Newydd

If I inhale, I’m actually there,

Just before dinner time.

Tony has cooked up a treat.

Scouse, his signature dish –

Vegetables in a rich gravy;

Homemade seitan.

Chocolate cake for pudding.

Chatting to him earlier,

About his vegan recipes –

Taking a writing break;

A melt-in- the-mouth Anzac biscuit.

 

I settle back on the squashy white sofa,

Legs stretched out, balancing my laptop.

Facing the garden and the sea.

Fresh spring air fills the room

With the scents of spring;

The deep silence of the library walls

Letting in small, friendly noises –

Led Zeppelin leaks in from the kitchen speakers;

A gull cries as it crosses the hazy sky;

A blue tit chitters from sycamore tree branches.

 

The sea is a vague blue stripe that blends with the clouds;

The land on the other side of the bay is a wash of green.

Sometimes you can make out detail; houses, cars.

I know this view so well; the sea below the fields,

Past the sweep of the garden,

The copper beech; the magnolia in bloom;

The blackbird that hops across the lawn

Towards the giant chair.

 

I leave the laptop on the sofa;

Stand in the bay window to take in the view,

Under the echo that we play with while reading our work

To the others in the evenings, soft with wine

As the view fades into darkness.

 

I will return to this room,

I tell the echo.