Cupboard cooking

For various and varied reasons, I have recently re-discovered 'store-cupboard' cooking. This means cooking a main meal just with stuff you have in storage, and I was blessed to grow up with a mother who taught me the importance of a well-stocked larder.

I bought a tin of campbell's condensed mushroom soup some time ago, after realising it was a sauce component in many US recipes. As I happened to have noodles and tuna in the cupboard, I decided to try a new recipe:

Tuna noodle casserole
Serves 2-4
Prep: 15 min Cooking: 20-30 min

1 Tin tuna, drained (preferably chunky type)
1 Tin condensed mushroom soup
2 packets instant noodles or equal amount of egg noodles
1 Tin mushrooms
1 slice bread
1-1 1/2 inch square of cheese

Pre-heat oven to Gas mark 6
1. Put noodles on to boil; drain tuna and mushrooms.
2. Drain noodles. Mix together soup, tuna, mushrooms. Add 1/3 tin water and mix well.
3. Put mixture into shallow oven dish. Crumble bread over top. Grate cheese over the top.
4. Cook in oven, on top shelf, for 20-30 minutes until top in golden and cheese has melted.

I went for a walk today, a much long awaited walk. I having to been waiting for the time, the weather and most importantly the motivation to go to Richmond park for several weeks now. Yesterday at work I had the strange experience of my mind craving bright sunshine so much it actually felt like if I had been able to see outside, it would actually have been so.

And this morning I woke up to exactly that. Blue skies, bright sunshine and the day to myself. Time to head out, spend some time with God in His beautiful creation.

I bussed down to Kingston Gate and then headed in the direction of Pembrooke Lodge. The park was busy with families and groups of chatty adults. It wasn't exactly the quiet getaway I'd hoped for, but because I had set out quite late, I didn't want to stray too far from the main paths and risk being shut in at dusk. I would have to create my own quiet. Usually I create my own safe haven by plugging in the ear phones and turning up the volume, but not today. Today I wanted silence, my own at least.