The Witchery - Scottish Fine Dining

In the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town, high up Royal Mile just before you reach the Castle Esplanade, is a very fine old restaurant called the Witchery. E and I had a sumptuous meal here for our first wedding anniversary. I have long hoped that I might return there some day.

Last week (though it seems much longer ago) E and I booked a table for two at the Witchery. I originally discussed the possibility of bringing Sylvia but it just didn't seem the right sort of place to take a baby. She had lots of fun with her aunt HH and cousin Florence instead. So we had our first baby-free meal out for about 10 months.

Apparently Edinburgh was the capital of witch-burning in Europe in the 16th Century. Much of this took place on Castlehill up by the Castle. Hence the name of the restaurant. E thought it looked a bit like something out of ye olde villages in Midsomer Murders but it would not have been out of place in the Witchfinder General.

We had already been past the front with the festive garlands on our visit to the Castle. But going inside is like retreating into the gloom. However, we arrived at the door only to be told we had been given a table in the Secret Garden. When I demurred, I was told we could have a table in the Witchery proper if we preferred. We had a quick look at the Secret Garden which is elegant but light and airy: not at all what we were after.

It was a table in the dark, wood panelled gloom of the historic building that we had booked and it was there we ate. The website says that the panels are original. They are beautifully carved and give the impression of a tudor banqueting hall. The tables are all candle lit. Tankards of holly on the starched linen table cloths add to the atmosphere.

We had decided to order from the festive menu, which was a bargain at £30 per head for lunch. As a vegetarian, I didn't have much choice but enjoyed the menu's copious notes on the interesting history of witches and the building (dating from 1595).

However the best reading was the wine list. It is a literary masterpiece at 95 pages of entertaining prose about each wine. There are chapters for each country, or region in the case of France. I read some choice descriptions aloud to E and astounded him with the price of a bottle of wine going up above £3,000. I presume those who can afford such expensive wine can also afford to stay in the decadent hotel rooms at the Witchery which Danni Minogue describes as a "lust den". E chose a cheap glass of German reisling but was so overwhelmed by the wine list he asked for help and was given friendly advice.

The service is impeccable: friendly and attentive but discreet. Once we had ordered, the waiter came with a basket to offer us a variety of breads. I chose the leek bread and E had tomato bread so we were able to taste each others. You could really taste the leeks in the bread. We were also offered more bread with our main dish too. Note the monogrammed plate.

For starters I ordered butter bean and chestnut velouté, with truffle cream. It was quite a thin soup: remarkably tasty but light enough not to fill me up before the rest of the meal.

E ordered the roast Arran beets, goats cheese and micro sprouts. It was far prettier than mine with different coloured beetroot wedges and he was most impressed with it.

We both agreed that the mains were the low point of the meal. All the food was lovely but my roast pumpkin, ricotta and parmesan tart with a green salad failed to enthuse me. I loved the pastry, which was a buttery and crisp shortcrust that is superior to those you might find in the high street bakery and I really liked the roasted pumpkin seeds on top. But I was not so keen on the pumpkin being served as cooked chunks below a creamy ricotta filling. I would prefer a filling which merges together more. So it was good but not great.

E likewise was not overwhelmed by his cinnamon spiced Loch Duart salmon, sweet potato, brussel sprouts and hollandaise sauce. I did like the philosophy of the Witchery in sourcing good quality local ingredients, which meant even their average dish tasted good.

It was the desserts where the Witchery excelled. For our festive meal, E couldn't go past the traditional plum pudding with honey ice cream. I was tempted and actually got to polish off his leftovers. This was an excellent dense pudding that was full of moist plump fruit. The honey ice cream was an unusual pairing but just so right. You will also see that despite being a traditional dessert it was presented with panache.

The only thing I can remember about the meal we had some years ago for our first wedding anniversary is that the chocolate tart was superb. When I ordered the Valrhona chocolate tart with white chocolate and mint sorbet, I wondered if this was the same one. I am not quite sure it was but it too will remain in my memory long after this meal has passed. This was one of the best chocolate tarts I have ever had. It will be too rich for some but the accompanying sorbet helped to lighten the taste. I barely noticed the pastry because I was so taken with the intense creamy chocolate filling. It was so thick it took some muscle to plough the spoon in and it stuck to the spoon after blissful after blissful mouthful. How can I not love a restaurant that does such wonders with chocolate!

We finally had a cuppa to finish the meal. E had a latte and I had a peppermint tea. Tablet was served with tea and coffee. This is like Scottish fudge for those who don't know it: toothachingly sweet and sandy in texture. The Witchery's tablet was excellent: intensely sweet but soft and caramelly. So different and superior to the hard pale stuff you can buy in a plastic packet from a corner store.

At the end of the meal I was full as a state school and oh so satisfied. It was such a pleasure to enjoy a delicious meal in such gorgeously grand and historic surroundings. Not for everyday meals but this is definitely the place for a special occasion.

We emerging from the gloom back onto the Royal Mile to go and pick up Sylvia. A big thanks to HH for babysitting and a huge thanks to E's parents who thoughtfully gave us some money to spend for Christmas. This was a wonderful Christmas present.

The Witchery by the Castle
Castlehill, The Royal Mile
Edinburgh, EH1 2NF
Telephone: 0131 225 5613
Web: http://www.thewitchery.com/

Christmas Nut Roast in Scotland

When we were planning this trip to Edinburgh, this time of year appealed because it meant that we were not only able to see the wonderful Christmas lights, but also we could have an early Christmas with E's family. When I was young we saw our grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins for Christmas dinner on the days following Christmas and I always enjoyed the festivities stretching out over a few days. This year we will be having two Christmas dinners and I have no complaints. More nut roasts all round!


Our first Christmas dinner was held on our last weekend in Edinburgh, hosted by E's sister, HH. You will not be surprised to hear that I volunteered to bring a nut roast. Here was my chance to try the nut roast recipe in BBC Good Food Vegetarian Christmas special to make to justify the purchase of cooking magazines. I was excited that it had chestnuts and fresh cranberries, both ingredients that are hard to find in Australia. I have read so many bloggers writing about vacuum packed chestnuts that I had to buy some (Merchant Gourmet brand) while I had the chance, even if the first check out chick I asked in Sainsburies did not have a clue and waved vaguely in the direction of the fresh chestnuts.


Now as an enthusiastic advocate of nut roasts (as evidenced by a link to my site from the Wikipedia nut roast page!) I would love to tell you this one is easy to whip up but I will not lie to you. (This is my easy nut roast.) I meant to make it the night before but I found myself tired at the end of another long day in Edinburgh and did not have the energy.


The Parsnip, Cranberry and Chestnut Roast that I made necessitated finely chopping chestnuts and walnuts (in the absence of grinding in a food processor), grating breadcrumbs (ditto), chopping sage, chopping and frying onions, cooking and mashing parsnips, and making a cranberry sauce before assembling the nut roast. I chose not to do the fiddly work of cutting slices of honeyed parsnip to top the loaf and I decided I preferred the parsnip mashed rather than cut in chunks in the loaf.


Fortunately I did summon up enough energy to start some of the preparation the night before. But many tasks faced me the next morning and I was glad that HH had decided to start dinner at 2pm.


I managed to get the nut roast together with E's help with stirring the cranberries while I fed Sylvia. Unfortunately it meant I wasn't sure if it was too thick and added some water which in retrospect I think thinned it out too much and made it less visible in the nut roast slices. Then E had enough time to nip out to buy the Daily Mail for the free Christmas CD. I also roasted some potatoes and pumpkin while I was doing the nut roast. If I do say so myself, this is something I do rather well, having learnt it from my mother.


When the nut roast was done (after 45 minutes I decided it was close enough for jazz as E's father had arrived in the car to take us over to HH's place), we had the presents packed, Sylvia dressed in her Christmas outfit and were ready to go. Almost ready! First we had to wrap the nut roast and vegies in towels to keep them warm. If I had had time I had planned to decorate the nut roast with fresh cranberries and extra sage leaves but this was just wishful thinking in the end.

When we arrived at HH's place, she had the table set beautifully and everything under control. The turkey was warming and the carrots and sprouts were on the stovetop. We opened a bottle of champagne that had been given to us at Sylvia's christening. A glass of bubbly was just the thing as we waited for E's parents to arrive.


Now being able to celebrate Christmas together is always special in a family where members live on opposite sides of the earth but this one is extra special. It is the first Christmas for wee cousins, Sylvia and Florence. The UK shops have a great selection of children's Christmas clothes. Sylvia wore a santa's little helper overall and Florence wore a reindeer outfit.


Soon we were all seated around the table with full plates. The nut roast went down well. In fact, I had expected that I would have quite a bit leftover but there was only a small slice left at the end of the dinner, and HH asked me for the recipe. It was quite a soft nut roast - I wondered if the watery cranberry sauce and the mashed parsnips made it softer than it might have been otherwise. Or maybe it was not cooked for long enough. But I enjoyed the cranberry filling and the actual roast was very tasty, seasoned enough to overcome the sweetness of chestnuts.


While my family traditions always include roast potatoes and pumpkin, E's family have different ones. Brussels sprouts are on the menu but E and his father are renowned for their complaints about them. Chipolatas usually make the plans for Christmas dinner but are often forgotten. HH didn't see the chipolatas in the fridge til later that night. Trifle is a traditional dessert. HH had earlier told me she didn't like fruit in trifle so I was neither surprised nor disappointed to see she had found a chocolate trifle for dessert. But not until the crackers were pulled. In my family the crackers are pulled before eating. However, there always needs to be a pause between courses and it made sense that this is when the crackers came out with a bang. Everyone wore silly hats and groaned as E's nephews had lots of fun reading the jokes.

After the trifle, we opened the Christmas presents. The kids had a wonderful time with presents aplenty and it was great to see the looks on their faces instead of sending presents in the mail. We then relaxed with a cuppa and a mince tart. HH's brother-in-law and family came across from their nearby house for a chat and it was lovely to meet them.


Christmas is not complete without a tree. It was a bit early for the tree to be up in the house so instead I will share with you a photo of a special Christmas tree in Charlotte Square. It is the Tree of Memories that is put up by the St Columba Hospice to remember those who cannot be with us at Christmas. Jacqueline and Lisa have asked for a festive photo for this month's No Croutons Required so I will send them this photo of the tree, if only for the novelty of being able to send a Christmas lights photo this year.


It was a wonderful meal and a great family get together with lots of photos, good food and fun. For us Aussies it was a treat to enjoy a rich festive meal in the cold of midwinter. We will remember our Scottish dinner fondly on Christmas day.

Parsnip, cranberry and chestnut roast
Adapted from BBC Good Food Vegetarian Christmas 2009
Serves at least 4-6

2 tbsp butter
3 onions, chopped
15g sage leaves, finely sliced
200g cooked chestnuts (I used vacuum packed), finely chopped
100g walnuts, crushed with a fork and finely chopped
100g fresh bread (I used about 4 slices of a pumpkin and sesame seed loaf), grated into breadcrumbs
1 tsp salt
½ tsp mace
1 egg
300g parsnips, peeled and chopped

For the cranberry sauce:

500g fresh cranberries
150g castor sugar
2 dessertspoons of honey, or to taste

Make the cranberry sauce first. Place cranberries, sugar and honey in a large saucepan and mix over a high heat, constantly stirring. The sugar will melt and the cranberries will pop. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, frequently stirring, until it is sticky (It shouldn't be too saucy at this stage or it will bleed into nut roast). The recipe said to cook but I found it was cool enough by the time the nut roast is ready to put in the loaf tin.

Preheat oven to 180 C. Grease and line a 2 lb loaf tin (about 22 x 15 cm).

Melt the butter in a frypan and fry onions for about 10-15 minutes over medium heat until very soft and golden brown.

While the onions are frying, cook parsnips in a medium saucepan of boiling water for about 10 minutes or until soft. Mash with a fork or potato masher.

When onions are cooked, add sage and cook an additional minute. Tip into large mixing bowl. Add chestnuts, walnuts, breadcrumbs, salt, mace, egg and parsnips. Stir to combine.

Smooth about one third of nut roast mixture into prepared loaf tin. Spread about one third of cranberry sauce over the top and then cover with the remaining nut roast. Bake for about 1 hour (I did a little less because I ran out of time). Splash a little more water into leftover cranberry puree to make a sauce. Serve nut roast with remaining cranberry sauce.

On the Stereo:
Three Tenors Christmas (freebie from the Daily Mail)

The Elephant House - old town ambience

After my lovely stroll through my Edinburgh with Yarrow and Mindy in my last post, we ended up in the Elephant House for afternoon tea. This is an Edinburgh institution that has been around for at least 15 years (according to our resident Scot). When we got married we had morning tea here with our two witnesses so it is a special place for me.

The place is teaming with elephants. When you walk in the door, there is a cabinet filled with little elephants.

You queue at the counter to order and look up to see a line of elephants above the chalkboard menu.

You walk into the back room to sit down and immediately are confronted by the cutest elephant chair.

You sit down and look around the room. The walls are hung with pictures of elephants and we even had elephant bookends on the fireplace beside us.

You can even eat an elephant - a shortbread elephant, that is. This is not my elephant, it was Mindy's but I was delighted to get a photo of it before she bit into what she described as a very buttery elephant. I think that is a good thing in shortbread.

I chose a slice of fudgy chocolate cake and a pot of peppermint tea. It wasn't the best chocolate cake I have ever had. Not a patch on the storytelling centre cafe. Cakes shouldn't be kept in the fridge. Not for me, anyway. I like them warm and soft. The fridge makes cake too firm. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the rich layers of cake and buttercream. I would have liked some of the mulled wine but had already had imbibed a hot port with lunch at the Last Drop. Toasted foccacia, soup and haggis stromboli are also on the menu.

The food here is nice but the ambience is great. The warmly painted walls hung with interesting artwork, the homely clutter of wooden tables and chairs, the leafy green pot plants, and the large light windows that gaze upon some of Edinburgh's enchanted old town including the castle, all add up to a cosy environment. It is no wonder students want to huddle in here out of the cold. You can see more pictures on the Elephant House gallery.

However, I was surprised to see that now the place is marketing itself as the birthplace of Harry Potter where J.K. Rowling spent hours writing her famous children's fantasy novels. But this seems a tad cheeky because she is far better known for writing at Nicholsons (which has since closed) on Nicholson Street in Newington. It is a shame the Elephant House feels the need to ride on the back of J.K. Rowling's fame when it is a fine institution in itself.

For those who have been following me in my Edinburgh visit, we are now home in sunny Melbourne, feeling jetlagged and trying to get back into a headspace where sunshine means warmth (not just better photos). I have a few more Edinburgh experiences that are yet to be posted. I will continue to post these in chronological order, so although I am home, this blog will remain in Scotland for the next few days.

The Elephant House
21 George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EN
Tel. 0131-220-5355
Web: www.elephanthouse.biz
Open: 8am - 11pm, 7 days a week

The Last Drop - cosy pub grub

We are packing to leave Edinburgh so I am feeling quite nostalgic about the place. Hence I will indulge in a quick pictorial post on my Edinburgh. I love to sit in cosy British pubs while wind and rain pound outside. My favourite pub is the Last Drop in the Grassmarket. I managed to visit twice during my visit and had a lovely meal both times.

My second visit was on the weekend with Sylvia and my friends Yarrow and Mindy. Our day spanned both the New Town and the Old Town starting at the National Scottish Gallery between the two. I love the rich red walls, elegant arches and antique seats which situate the paintings in their era. We had a quick look there and at the nearby German Christmas Markets. Then we took a quick trip into the New Town to Hendersons vegetarian foods shop. If we had been in Edinburgh longer, I would have been tempted by many foods.

We soon returned into the Old Town going up the Mound, past the best view of the Castle across Princes Gardens but it was too wet to really appreciate it from under the brolly. We stopped in at a little gift shop cum gallery and found a book about a dragon called Sylvia that was a compulsory purchase.

Then to the top of Victoria Street where E and I had been married in a gorgeous heritage room of the registry office many years ago. The registry office is now a nightclub selling cheap vodka. How the mighty have fallen!

At least Ian Mellors fancy cheese shop hasn't changed. But it was not easy to get into with a stroller.

I love the curves of Victoria Street, though it was no fun walking along this steep street to work when the footpaths were icy.

Another sign of the changes in the area was the fancy coffee shop next to our old front door. Even the colour of the front door had changed from blue to red.

But Helios Fountain is still full of fun gifts for young and old. E and I had a browse for old times sake when we were in the Grassmarket a few days earlier.

We had been to the Last Drop because it is a pub I remember fondly as a place I loved going for a meal or just taking friends for a drink. It was a short walk from our flat and so cosy inside.

It has something for everyone. Mulled wine for me and haggis for E. I had a smaller plate of vegeraian haggis with some creamy tomato soup. E loved the whisky sauce on his haggis, neeps and tatties.

A few days later I found myself there with Yarrow and Mindy. We were all set to try another pub. The menu on the Beehive in the Grassmarket looked interesting. Mindy wanted chips and beer. The Beehive had vegetarian fish and chips which she was up for trying. Yarrow checked we could bring Sylvia in with her stroller. They didn't have a license for children. So we returned to the Last Drop where I knew children were welcome. The barmaid even remembered us and admired Sylvia's paw mittens.

Yarrow and Mindy were not that hungry and we decided to all share a large plate of nachos. I agree on the condition that we had the version with vegetarian haggis. Mindy was horrified at the fusion of cuisines but I was delighted. In fact I am considering having them at New Year's Eve. My photo does not do it justice but the pile of corn chips, salsa, guacamole, jalapenos, sour cream, grated cheese and vegetarian haggis was wonderful.

After our meal we went to the intersection where the Grassmarket becomes the Cowgate and turns up into Candlemaker Row. I love the evocative street names. E called the Cowgate 'the street of shame'. I am not sure why. Possibly because it was a street of too many nightclubs. If you walk to this intersection you will see one of my favourite castle views, looming over the humble dwellings of the Grassmarket.

We walked up Candlemaker Row to the little statue of Greyfriars Bobby. The statue of the little dog who was remembered for his fierce loyalty to his master is very moving.

We wandered into Greyfriars Kirkyard to stroll among the graves. The church was unfortunately closed and I didn't get to have a neb inside. But the graves are amazing both because they give insight into an age many decades ago and they have the beauty of weathered stone. We discussed how you might feel if you had graves against the back of your house. Then we headed off to explore the Museum of Scotland and finish the afternoon at the Elephant House.

I had better finish packing. I'd much rather be blogging but the computer must be packed in suitcases with everything else. Sunny Melbourne, Zinckie cat and home await us.

The Last Drop
74-78 Grassmarket
Edinburgh, EH1 2JR
Tel: 0131 225 4851
Web: http://www.classicpubs.co.uk/thelastdropgrassmarketedinburgh/
http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/thelastdropgrassmarketedinburgh/ 

Update 2016: On our visit to Edinburgh this year I found that the Last Drop don't have vegetarian haggis nachos on their menu at the moment.  So sad!

David Bann - vegetarian excellence!

When we arrived in Edinburgh we walked through Hunter Square off the Royal Mile and were surprised to see Banns no longer there. Fortunately Jacqueline of Tinned Tomatoes recommended I visit Banns and directed me to where it now resides in St Mary’s Street. Then my friends Yarrow and Mindy arrived in Edinburgh for the weekend and suggested I come to dinner with them at Banns. It was an excellent choice.

How exciting to be out for dinner in the evening! Most of our evenings are spent either visiting E’s folks or at home with Sylvia. I confess to some soapy evenings with East Enders and Coronation Street or a bit of blogging. We are trying to get Sylvia to bed in the evening (although she has recently decided she doesn’t want to be in bed till late). So, we decided E would stay in the apartment with her and I would go out with Yarrow and Mindy.

Now I think I might have been to Banns in Hunter Square before or looked at the menu and not been impressed. It was a bright little café in a prime tourist area. Hence, I was unprepared for the reincarnation, which is called David Bann, being a more upmarket, stylish restaurant. It is painted in dark greys and reds and lit with little fairy lights and candles. A sphere of broken up light is projected onto one wall. Although vegetarian, there are no hippie undertones. There are no pretty Christmas lights such as the ones I passed on the walk down Royal Mile. This is the haunt of serious diners.

Mindy quite rightly commented that the food was some of the best presented vegetarian food she had come across. I am sorry that in the dim light my photos don't do it justice. The menu was a tyranny of choice (with no vegetarian lasagne or haggis in sight). It is always a treat to go to a vegetarian restaurant and not be confined to the grudging vegetarian choice on the menu. It also means that sharing is an easy option. We decided to begin with two starters between the three of us.

I loved the fried smoked tofu which had been marinated and served with a plum sauce. Yaz thought the lettuce rose garnish worthy of photographing. Its simplicity was a great way to start. I was less keen on the Thai fritters made of smoked tofu, which were just that bit too spicy for my liking, though I did enjoy the banana chutney and plum sauce accompanying them.

We ordered different mains and were able to try each others'. Mindy ordered the Roast Aubergine Chickpea Cake with Mash and Gravy and Yarrow ordered the Tart of Jerusalem Artichoke and Celeriac. Both tasted lovely but quite hearty and rich. My favourite, fortunately, was my choice of the Beetroot, Spinach and Dunsyre Blue Timbale.

Now timbales make me think of earnest 1970s vegetarian cookbooks with faded pictures of virtuously healthy food on chunky stoneware dinner plates. Once I overcame this prejudice I was delighted to discover how delicious they can be. Surprisingly at home in sophisticated modern vegetarian cookery. But I think my meal was one where the sum is greater than the parts. Just my kind of thing - lots of complimentary colours and flavours.

The timbale in question was a souffle (cooked in a timbale mould) of beetroot and blue cheese with a topping of spinach and nutmeg. It was served on a wedge of polenta and accompanied with buttered cabbage, roasted swede. My only quibble was that I would have liked the swede roasted a little more. But it was superb. I had a glass of velvety Argentinian Merlot to drink with it (Michel Torino, Cafayate Valley, 2008).

Mindy and Yarrow were too full for dessert but I eat out infrequently enough in the evening that I could justify the indulgence. I passed up the hot pear and passion fruit tart in favour of the dark chocolate souffle. I think my dining companions were pleased just to look at the gorgeous presentation. It tasted as good as it looked. The souffle was rich with a fluffy texture. The vanilla ice cream with white chocolate sauce lightened the intense flavours.

So I will highly recommend David Bann to anyone - vegetarian or not - living in or passing through Edinburgh. It is one of the best meals I have had during our visit here. We are heading home tomorrow so I might squeeze in another entry before packing the laptop but I must attend to so packing now.

David Bann 
56-58 St Mary's Street,
Edinburgh, EH1 1SX (Off the Royal Mile and the Cowgate)
Tel: 0131 556 5888
Email: info@davidbann.co.uk
Web: http://www.davidbann.com/

Leftovers pasta bake

It doesn't take long to build up scraps and pieces in the kitchen that need using. We have tried not to let the kitchen get too full of food that we wont have time to use while we are staying in the Edinburgh apartment. Last week I made a pasta bake out of leftovers and quirky purchases.

It was fairly easy though I could only find a big salad bowl to mix it in. It was more rich and creamy than necessary but very tasty. I would probably not make it exactly like this again but if I did I would possibly use other vegetables than green beans - maybe mushrooms and broccoli.

There is not much more to tell you about the pasta bake. I could tell you lots about our holiday if only Sylvia would sleep. We are continuing to have a wonderful time. I am eating well, hardly cooking and enjoying seeing Sylvia playing with her cousins and grandparents. We have caught up with a few friends but not as many as we would like. But I thought I would show you some of the cards from the christening and otherwise to show how generous so many have been with us.

We have also received many presents but I wanted to point out one today. Sylvia's new green giraffe which was not only sent by Lysy of Munchkin Mail but also knitted by her. I am in awe at her 3D knitting skills. Isn't it gorgeous? A big thanks goes out to Lysy. The giraffe is being named Munchkin in her honour!

I must go as there are lots of things to do and Sylvia still is not sleeping. We only have a few days to go in Edinburgh but I still have lots of places to write up so stay tuned!

Leftovers pasta bake
Serves 4

• 250g dried spaghetti
• 1 cauliflower, trimmed and chopped
• 200g dwarf beans, trimmed and chopped
• 125g double cream
• 250g bottled tomato pasta sauce
• 140g pouch of vegetable and lentil baby food
• 400g tin of black beans, drained and rinsed
• 150g grated cheddar cheese
• 1 piece of bread grated into crumbs

Bring salted water to the boil and place spaghetti and cauliflower in it. Simmer for about 5 minutes and then add dwarf beans. Keep simmering for about 5 minutes or till spaghetti is cooked.

Meanwhile place cream, pasta sauce, baby food, black beans and 100g of cheese in a large bowl and mix. When spaghetti and vegetables are cooked, drain and mix with the sauce in the bowl.

Either set aside remaining cheese and breadcrumbs or stir into pasta mixture. Scrap pasta mixture into a large baking tray (I used a round 23cm baking dish with half the mixture over two nights). Bake for about 25 minutes at 180 C if you have a powerful oven like the one we are using at present.

On the Stereo:
Fourteen Autums and Fifteen Winters: Twilight Sad