Today’s blog is dedicated to Uncle Malachy, who died this morning. 
He was the second eldest of my dad’s 6 brothers but he was the leader of the family, the head bombardier, without a doubt. Malachy was a very generous man, not only to family but to his local community. He gave a lot of his time in fundraising and he, along with my Dad and Uncle Danny (who has sadly also passed away and would have celebrated his 75th birthday today), organised the annual “Santa” for the parish and were even understudies for the big man occasionally! (I remember those cold nights in the church hall wrapping presents in preparation and being one of Santa’s helpers, chucking the parcels down the chimney – happy times 🙂 ). The pensioners got an annual dinner dance at the local church hall or school because he made it happen. The 7 brothers went on annual bus trips to far flung places like Bundoran every year and more recently, the 4 remaining brothers living in NI met on a Wednesday for tea and buns in cafes around Northern Ireland – keeping in touch with family was very important. A very religious man, he neither smoked nor drank and enjoyed many pilgrimages to Lourdes and Knock. He was blunt, he was pass-remarkable, but never rude. Above all else, he was a great father, grandfather, great grandfather and great uncle – my two boys enjoyed when I delivered cakes to his house for his grandchildren’s birthdays – he or Aunt Ellie would always slip them a fiver or sweets! RIP Uncle Malachy, you will be missed xx
I’m sure he won’t mind my continuing to update you today on what’s been happening in Chez Mullan.
Before I got the sad news, I went to the Riding for the Disabled “job” and really enjoyed myself. It was freezing cold and smelly but I received the warmest welcome from Avril and Iris, the two leading ladies of the group. There were two primary school groups enjoying lessons and then a small group of adults. I thought I was going to be stuck in an office but oh no, they want me to work with the horses! I’m actually very excited! Watching those riders today was wonderful, especially the blind children, who played “What’s the Time Mr Wolf” on horseback and raced to place their beanbags into a net. I am going to really really enjoy my Thursday mornings. (Sorry, soap box alert!). Look out grant-givers, I’m going to be plaguing you! There is no charge made to schools and community groups for disabled people receiving riding lessons and the grant RDA receives for this group is a pittance.
I was very hungry after all that hanging around a cold barn, that I indulged in a choccie biccie with a cup of coffee in the break room afterwards. By the time I got home I needed instant food – something warm and comforting. So I opened a tin of beans with veggie sausages, zapped them in the microwave and ate the lot. 370 calories but more satisfying than a cheese sandwich (365 calories). But I have to admit that I was also in the mood for a Viennese whirl. Mr Kipling wooed me – but I stopped at one, honest! :).
Dinner tonight was a lovely warming ratatouille from the Hairy Dieters. For the meat-eaters in the house, theirs was served with a fresh tuna steak, as per the recipe. To make up for that, I had a large portion of the ratatouille with a sprinkling of very naughty Parmesan cheese on top. I love the smells, colours and taste of aubergines, courgettes, etc in a tomato sauce, definitely one of my favourite combinations.
As the tuna was going to be chargrilled, I wasn’t to be left out – instead of slightly browning the vegetables in a pan before putting them in the oven with the tomatoes, I threw them onto the grill pan. If you haven’t tried chargrilled peppers, aubergine and courgettes, you are missing a treat.
Definitely one for the “favourites” file, everybody loved this recipe (ok, Sam only liked the tuna, the veggies could stay in the field as far as he’s concerned). Delicious – Sam, you don’t know what you’re missing, son.
How could I have forgotten about ratatouille? It used to be a staple in the Mullan house. With recipes like this, it’s easy to break bad habits of eating ready meals or takeaways.
What does the Pope eat during lent? Holy mackerel!
The Fit Vegetarian 