Monday roast.

The thing about shift work is that your weekend is not necessarily at the weekend. This week, my weekend falls on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. And, after a few days of sandwiches, leftovers etc. at work I want proper food.

So today I have slept in, mooched about, and made a roast. Well, it gave me something to do while the football's on.

Still, it would be over the top to do full on roast potatoes, roast veg and Yorkshire pudding. It's supposed to be June after all. So here it is; belly pork, cooked simply, with steamed greens and new potatoes.

I have done a belly pork blog before, but I really don't think you can go wrong with it as a cut of meat, and that was a much heavier wintry dish.

First: Get your butcher to score the skin of the meat, because it's a right faff to do it yourself. Pour some boiling water over the skin of the meat then dry it with some kitchen roll and leave it out to dry out for about twenty minutes, while you put your oven on to preheat to it's very very highest heat. 

Then season the underside, and rub lots of salt, pepper and thyme leaves into the skin, particularly in the scores. Now shove in the oven for half an hour, before turning the heat down to about 180 degrees. Leave it in there for an hour.

Boil your new potatoes in well salted water, and steam some asparagus, broccoli and spinach to go with it. Toss the veg in a little extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and plenty of salt and pepper.

To make a light gravy (jus? Or maybe a reduction?) Take the pork out of the oven and put it on one side to rest. Pour away all of the fat, then stick the pan over a high heat and add a small glass of white wine. Start scraping up the tasty bits from the bottom and let it simmer away the alcohol for a few minutes. Then add half a pint of vegetable stock. Turn the heat down and reduce for about five – ten minutes while the meat rests then serve. 

Must remember to take more than one picture of the finished dish for blog purposes.

Whilst making this I mostly listened to: Match commentary. 

Now if you don't mind, t'other half has taken a few days off to enjoy my non-weekend weekend with me, so we're off to the pub.