A Campari for the weekend…..

I became fond of a Campari or an Aperol on my hols the year before last in Venice. Topped up with prosecco this is a perfect aperitif, and the sunshine made me break open a bottle to welcome in the summer!

The past 3 days I have worked late so no real dinner to speak of, unfortunately. So tonight I have made an effort: Roast Topside of Beef with a Mallorcan Tombet. The Tombet came from a cookbook Colin’s parents brought me back from a recent jaunt to Majorca. It is a layered vegetable bake, and although it took a little while to assemble it was well worth the effort. Here’s the recipe……

2 large potatoes

1 large aubergine

1 large courgette

1 large yellow pepper

2 garlic cloves, chopped

Small glass of white wine

1 tin chopped tomatoes

• Cut the potato, aubergine and courgette into slices
• Chop the pepper into long strips
• Heat some oil in a frying pan and brown the vegetables, both sides, one veg at a time
• In a baking dish place the potatoes in a layer. Top with a layer of aubergine, the courgette, and then pepper.

• In a separate pan add a splash of olive oil and fry the garlic for 1min. Add the wine and reduce by 1/3. Add the tomatoes and a tin full of water and reduce until thick.
• Pour the sauce over the vegetables and bake in the oven for 30mins until bubbling away nicely.

Washed down with some delicious Valpolicella, and accompanied by some roasted beef, this was a lovely Sunday night dinner.