In which the Glutton household gets a new addition

You may have noticed (or you may not) that all has been a bit quiet from GG lately. The house has been totally preoccupied with our new arrival, the most gorgeous new ginger kitten called, somewhat improbably, Whitney Houston. Our last cat, the beloved Polly, had been old when we got her and a sedate lady, happy to while away the days snoozing on laps. WH is only happy when she's climbing, biting, or sprinting round our small flat chasing ping pong balls. Lucky for her she's the cutest kitten we've ever seen otherwise it would be slightly dispiriting. Anyway, what with Whitney and GB working late shifts all week I haven't been doing a whole lot of cooking, and what I have been doing has been quick and not especially worth reporting.

The arrival of the cold weather though (and urrgh, wasn't yesterday vile?) means the reappearance of some Glutton household favourites, macaroni cheese, toad in the hole, pie... GB loves a pie and when he's been especially nice he does get rewarded with one - chicken and vegetable or cherry, depending on his mood.

On the subject of pie, I have three tins of pumpkin puree in the cupboard, waiting for thanksgiving. I plan a pumpkin pie (using the recipe on the back of the Libby's tin which, according to the bible that is Saveur magazine, is the best one of all and the most authentic) and possibly even some pumpkin cupcakes from the Hummingbird Bakery book. While I think that book isn't the easiest to use, the recipes are fantastic and have elicited some great comments, so I'm persevering!

More soon, lots of love

GG