What`s for dinner Clarey?: Philematology
I love kissing as much as cooking w...: Philematology I love kissing as much as cooking which is saying something. I used to practise kissing on the back of my hand...but it was...
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Philematology
I love kissing as much as cooking which is saying something.
I used to practise kissing on the back of my hand...but it was too bony.
I tried baby Jamie in the back of my Dad`s Cortina 2000E when I was 3 and he was 1 but he was too slobbery and smelled of rusks.I nearly got kissed in a cornfield once but I chickened out , so when at last my first proper kiss happened I was fighting fit and ready for action. I was in love with two boys who happened to be best friends and so I went from 13 and never been kissed to 13 1/2 and having been smoochy cooched alot! "Careless whisper" was playing in the disco as I had my first taste of super soft smooching ,outside the disco with one and inside with the other! Then there was Wocko he was adorable and could certainly pucker up. Then came true love and I could have kissed him happily forever but he was quickly gone and now I have spent the past 21 yrs kissing Mr N. Without fail every morning and just before we fall asleep I am woken up and drift off dreamily with a kiss. So if I`m not talking or eating I`m kissing, it`s lifeblood to me. So what`s in a kiss? The answers to all the really important questions in life - yes- I`ve missed you- I`m sorry -I love you- goodbye.
On the subject of men my Nanna gave me some classic advice "Now then Clarey"she would say whilst sipping Harveys bristol cream , "You should only regret the ones you didn`t kiss."
Napoletana muffin pizzas
These are super quick and remind me of a lovely boy I don`t regret kissing.
4 English breakfast muffins sliced and lightly toasted and buttered
garlic puree
tomato puree
cubes of mozzarella
grated parmesan
black olives
capers
anchovies
slug of olive oil
pinch of oregano
Butter your muffins and top with a squirt of tomato and garlic purees. Sprinkle the two cheeses on topand scatter olives and capers. Make anchovy kisses on top and sprinkle on a few herbs and a slug of oil . Pop under a hot grill for 5 mins and share with someone you`d like to kiss alot.
xx
I love kissing as much as cooking which is saying something.
I used to practise kissing on the back of my hand...but it was too bony.
I tried baby Jamie in the back of my Dad`s Cortina 2000E when I was 3 and he was 1 but he was too slobbery and smelled of rusks.I nearly got kissed in a cornfield once but I chickened out , so when at last my first proper kiss happened I was fighting fit and ready for action. I was in love with two boys who happened to be best friends and so I went from 13 and never been kissed to 13 1/2 and having been smoochy cooched alot! "Careless whisper" was playing in the disco as I had my first taste of super soft smooching ,outside the disco with one and inside with the other! Then there was Wocko he was adorable and could certainly pucker up. Then came true love and I could have kissed him happily forever but he was quickly gone and now I have spent the past 21 yrs kissing Mr N. Without fail every morning and just before we fall asleep I am woken up and drift off dreamily with a kiss. So if I`m not talking or eating I`m kissing, it`s lifeblood to me. So what`s in a kiss? The answers to all the really important questions in life - yes- I`ve missed you- I`m sorry -I love you- goodbye.
On the subject of men my Nanna gave me some classic advice "Now then Clarey"she would say whilst sipping Harveys bristol cream , "You should only regret the ones you didn`t kiss."
Napoletana muffin pizzas
These are super quick and remind me of a lovely boy I don`t regret kissing.
4 English breakfast muffins sliced and lightly toasted and buttered
garlic puree
tomato puree
cubes of mozzarella
grated parmesan
black olives
capers
anchovies
slug of olive oil
pinch of oregano
Butter your muffins and top with a squirt of tomato and garlic purees. Sprinkle the two cheeses on topand scatter olives and capers. Make anchovy kisses on top and sprinkle on a few herbs and a slug of oil . Pop under a hot grill for 5 mins and share with someone you`d like to kiss alot.
xx
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
When James and Lily escaped
Once upon a time I lived in York , well in a little house just outside of the city. I had 18 month old twins James and Lily and they were so proud of their new found jelly legs. Every morning one would shimmy the other over the stair gate to their room and they would burst into our bedroom and shout "surprise!"
My heart would be in my mouth when I imagined them falling down the stairs , but they would soon make my heart sing by climbing into bed and nuzzling into my hair. Lily would ask "did you have a good sleep Mummy?" and less loquacious James would give me a shy smile and talk Thomas language "naughty diesel ...HUNGRY!"
One beautiful sunny morning I decided to put them on a play mat next to the washing line and me just in a T-shirt hung out the washing as I sang our "nappyhead" special song. I turned the whirlygig round and to my horror they had disappeared! I soon heard them chuckling mischievously to themselves as they squeezed through a small hole in our fence to the neighbouring school playing fields next door.
Try as I might I couldn`t squeeze through the hole and so for a heartstopping 60 seconds I tore down the high street knickerless , cheeks stinging with tears in a vain attempt to head them off before they reached the main road. Some angel was watching over us that day , when I got to the school gates they had been cordoned off by an old couple in their cabbage patch.
"Don`t worry lass, they`ll be getting into reet more trouble than that mark my words, We`ve got twins -they`re 52 now and still a couple of little beggars!"
I picked them up like little rugby balls one under each arm and marched home as they wailed "Daddy, we want daddy." I sat on the back step and cried , smoked 10 marlborough lights in one go and then went inside to make their favourite cake.
That`s love, unconditional love. We have it for only the very special few in our lives who can drive us to the brink and pull us back just as swiftly with a smile.
Lemon drizzle cake for the great escapees.
8oz butter
8oz sugar
4 eggs
1 lemon zest
8oz SR flour
2 tbs lemon curd
Cream the butter and sugar and add all the other ingredients. Spoon into a loaf tin and bake for 45 mins in a gas mark 4 oven. When slightly cooled mix the juice of 2 lemons and 4oz sugar together and pour over the cake to make the drizzle.
Just remember to put your knickers on when you next hang out your washing. xx
Once upon a time I lived in York , well in a little house just outside of the city. I had 18 month old twins James and Lily and they were so proud of their new found jelly legs. Every morning one would shimmy the other over the stair gate to their room and they would burst into our bedroom and shout "surprise!"
My heart would be in my mouth when I imagined them falling down the stairs , but they would soon make my heart sing by climbing into bed and nuzzling into my hair. Lily would ask "did you have a good sleep Mummy?" and less loquacious James would give me a shy smile and talk Thomas language "naughty diesel ...HUNGRY!"
One beautiful sunny morning I decided to put them on a play mat next to the washing line and me just in a T-shirt hung out the washing as I sang our "nappyhead" special song. I turned the whirlygig round and to my horror they had disappeared! I soon heard them chuckling mischievously to themselves as they squeezed through a small hole in our fence to the neighbouring school playing fields next door.
Try as I might I couldn`t squeeze through the hole and so for a heartstopping 60 seconds I tore down the high street knickerless , cheeks stinging with tears in a vain attempt to head them off before they reached the main road. Some angel was watching over us that day , when I got to the school gates they had been cordoned off by an old couple in their cabbage patch.
"Don`t worry lass, they`ll be getting into reet more trouble than that mark my words, We`ve got twins -they`re 52 now and still a couple of little beggars!"
I picked them up like little rugby balls one under each arm and marched home as they wailed "Daddy, we want daddy." I sat on the back step and cried , smoked 10 marlborough lights in one go and then went inside to make their favourite cake.
That`s love, unconditional love. We have it for only the very special few in our lives who can drive us to the brink and pull us back just as swiftly with a smile.
Lemon drizzle cake for the great escapees.
8oz butter
8oz sugar
4 eggs
1 lemon zest
8oz SR flour
2 tbs lemon curd
Cream the butter and sugar and add all the other ingredients. Spoon into a loaf tin and bake for 45 mins in a gas mark 4 oven. When slightly cooled mix the juice of 2 lemons and 4oz sugar together and pour over the cake to make the drizzle.
Just remember to put your knickers on when you next hang out your washing. xx
Monday, 28 May 2012
Oh to be adored
I think most of us have forgotten what it feels like...to be adored that is. We spend our lives racing around looking after others and trying to make ends meet. The hamster wheel existence is not to be envied but for the majority of working Mums it`s all bed and work and the never ending day turns on. This weekend we are all going to have a holiday from ourselves and hopefully from our usual menus.
Jubilee spells out party food to me.
When I was six it was the Silver Jubilee and we had a street party. My Mum put red white and blue ribbons in my hair and baby Jamie was plonked in the high chair in navy blue terry towelling with a white T-shirt and red nappy rash. We feasted on sandwiches and hot chips(still a big favourite with me) and my Mum made butterfly buns and topped them with white icing and red and blue sweeties. We had red jelly and loads of cream and icecream and all the Dads were down the boozer in their Capris or Cortinas chatting up the girls who didn`t have street parties to attend to. I`ll never forget the Silver Jubilee when I was allowed to drink Pepsi cola from my celebration mug and the sun shone and I had no worries apart from whether I would get the last Jammie Dodger before my brothers did!
I know this Jubilee will be magical for my children- we will be in Cornwall , our special place. I will be with my brothers and their children and we will no doubt be drinking Pepsi Cola laced with rum in our Diamond geezer mugs.Food is all about family, feeding and nurturing and cooking up memories that last a lifetime. I hope you will all feel adored this bank holiday and remember what it was like to be a little child full of sweets and hope.
Jubilee Sherry trifle-
I make no apologies for this being a big red white and blue boozy cheat`s recipe!
2 jam Swiss rolls
1 wine glass of sherry
strawberries
blueberries
1 carton of extra special bourbon vanilla custard
1 carton ofdouble cream
more red and blue fruits to decorate
1 raspberry jelly
Line a trifle dish with swiss roll circles completely saturatewith sherry- this is real nanna material. Top with fruit and the jelly solution and put in the fridge until wobbly. Top with custard and lightly whipped cream. Pile on top more red and blue fruits and pop in the fridge until the party. Serve with more single cream and a flake if you`re feeling skinny!!
Happy happy Jubilee , spend it with your sweetheart or your Nanna . xxx
I think most of us have forgotten what it feels like...to be adored that is. We spend our lives racing around looking after others and trying to make ends meet. The hamster wheel existence is not to be envied but for the majority of working Mums it`s all bed and work and the never ending day turns on. This weekend we are all going to have a holiday from ourselves and hopefully from our usual menus.
Jubilee spells out party food to me.
When I was six it was the Silver Jubilee and we had a street party. My Mum put red white and blue ribbons in my hair and baby Jamie was plonked in the high chair in navy blue terry towelling with a white T-shirt and red nappy rash. We feasted on sandwiches and hot chips(still a big favourite with me) and my Mum made butterfly buns and topped them with white icing and red and blue sweeties. We had red jelly and loads of cream and icecream and all the Dads were down the boozer in their Capris or Cortinas chatting up the girls who didn`t have street parties to attend to. I`ll never forget the Silver Jubilee when I was allowed to drink Pepsi cola from my celebration mug and the sun shone and I had no worries apart from whether I would get the last Jammie Dodger before my brothers did!
I know this Jubilee will be magical for my children- we will be in Cornwall , our special place. I will be with my brothers and their children and we will no doubt be drinking Pepsi Cola laced with rum in our Diamond geezer mugs.Food is all about family, feeding and nurturing and cooking up memories that last a lifetime. I hope you will all feel adored this bank holiday and remember what it was like to be a little child full of sweets and hope.
Jubilee Sherry trifle-
I make no apologies for this being a big red white and blue boozy cheat`s recipe!
2 jam Swiss rolls
1 wine glass of sherry
strawberries
blueberries
1 carton of extra special bourbon vanilla custard
1 carton ofdouble cream
more red and blue fruits to decorate
1 raspberry jelly
Line a trifle dish with swiss roll circles completely saturatewith sherry- this is real nanna material. Top with fruit and the jelly solution and put in the fridge until wobbly. Top with custard and lightly whipped cream. Pile on top more red and blue fruits and pop in the fridge until the party. Serve with more single cream and a flake if you`re feeling skinny!!
Happy happy Jubilee , spend it with your sweetheart or your Nanna . xxx
Sunday, 27 May 2012
Dr Sunshine
It has been glorious this weekend, so sizzlingly hot it took me right back to the Summer of 76 when I wore a little Heidi dress and bunches in my hair and rode my Chippy bike down to 33 Tudor road where my Mum was waiting for me in her flared white jeans with a bottle of cream soda and a honey sandwich. Now my Mum Joey was the street hottie we went to collect our family allowance from the post office one day and the postmaster said to her "tell your Mummy she can get two weeks money next week for the bank holiday." To which she replied "I am the Mummy!"
My Mum hates cooking, she was the Yorkshire equivalent of Ab fab way before their time. So Dubbonnet and lemonade in hand she would cook us some experimental dinners which we thought were adorable if a inedible. In 1976 there was a drought and a potato shortage so she used to make us parsnip chips which were amazing dipped in garlic mayonnaise.One day she gave us some black fishy stuff on toast for breakfast and when I wrote at school in my daily diary I had had caviar for breakfast I got the ruler for telling lies. Little did Mrs McNally know my Mum was fabulous.Like a lioness she came into school to sort the old sturgeon out and when I looked up from the carpet at storytime and saw her smiling face there it was like Christmas everyday at 3pm.
Joeys 70s breakfast
1 stack of white buttered toast crusts removed
1 jar of caviar
Toast the bread butter it and top with caviar.
Honey biscuits
2 digestive biscuits
honey
buttercream icing
smarties
Sandwich the biscuits together with honey, top with buttercream and smarties.
Has anyone ever heard of such a decadent way to start the day? At 33 Tudor Road it was just another fiesta with our sweetheart darling Mum Joey.
It has been glorious this weekend, so sizzlingly hot it took me right back to the Summer of 76 when I wore a little Heidi dress and bunches in my hair and rode my Chippy bike down to 33 Tudor road where my Mum was waiting for me in her flared white jeans with a bottle of cream soda and a honey sandwich. Now my Mum Joey was the street hottie we went to collect our family allowance from the post office one day and the postmaster said to her "tell your Mummy she can get two weeks money next week for the bank holiday." To which she replied "I am the Mummy!"
My Mum hates cooking, she was the Yorkshire equivalent of Ab fab way before their time. So Dubbonnet and lemonade in hand she would cook us some experimental dinners which we thought were adorable if a inedible. In 1976 there was a drought and a potato shortage so she used to make us parsnip chips which were amazing dipped in garlic mayonnaise.One day she gave us some black fishy stuff on toast for breakfast and when I wrote at school in my daily diary I had had caviar for breakfast I got the ruler for telling lies. Little did Mrs McNally know my Mum was fabulous.Like a lioness she came into school to sort the old sturgeon out and when I looked up from the carpet at storytime and saw her smiling face there it was like Christmas everyday at 3pm.
Joeys 70s breakfast
1 stack of white buttered toast crusts removed
1 jar of caviar
Toast the bread butter it and top with caviar.
Honey biscuits
2 digestive biscuits
honey
buttercream icing
smarties
Sandwich the biscuits together with honey, top with buttercream and smarties.
Has anyone ever heard of such a decadent way to start the day? At 33 Tudor Road it was just another fiesta with our sweetheart darling Mum Joey.
Thursday, 24 May 2012
Life is beautiful
It always seems that I`m slipping on the banana skin that is life, I am frequently late and this annoys people - I even annoy myself with the certain greatness to my lateness. I am extremely untidy and just a little bit fat! But hey ho - I also have a heart as big as a lion, I am a friend for life if you get me and I have three fabulous bambinos and a big gorgeous husband who hasn`t left me yet! So on a sunny day like today even if you`ve had a disaster or things haven`t gone your way be grateful for all you do have. Failing that follow my recipe below.
Thursday pick me up surprise.
Take 2 bottles of chilled Prosecco (or prozaco as we call it in my house)
Drink them!
Hic!
It always seems that I`m slipping on the banana skin that is life, I am frequently late and this annoys people - I even annoy myself with the certain greatness to my lateness. I am extremely untidy and just a little bit fat! But hey ho - I also have a heart as big as a lion, I am a friend for life if you get me and I have three fabulous bambinos and a big gorgeous husband who hasn`t left me yet! So on a sunny day like today even if you`ve had a disaster or things haven`t gone your way be grateful for all you do have. Failing that follow my recipe below.
Thursday pick me up surprise.
Take 2 bottles of chilled Prosecco (or prozaco as we call it in my house)
Drink them!
Hic!
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Cheese and yoghurt tart
My brother Jamie was born when I was four and I must say he has filled all of our lives with utter sunshine ever since whenever we are lucky enough to be with him. He was a winner from the start, all the nursery nurses and every little girl he met just melted in his company and now he is a big man and a big boss and he has a beautiful wife and two little princesses who adore him just the same as we all do.When he was born Auntie Wendy came to stay. "Windy Wendy" to her friends because she was a vegetarian and trumped alot(!)we had never met one of those people before who ate brown bread. So although Jamie brought the golden times with him,when Wendy was cooking and our mum was in hospital we missed her very much but we tasted this tart and loved it.
Wholemeal pastry-
6oz brown flour
3oz lard/butter
salt
water
1 small pot of natural yoghurt
4oz grated edam cheese
1/2 tomato
Make the pastry and line a flan tin and bake blind for 10 mins.
Pour the yoghurt and cheese into the case and put a tomato in the middle, bake in a medium oven until firm and set. This sounds revolting but is sharp and tangy and a little bit weird. I love it and remember how Windy Wendy looked after us when Jamie was born and how she still looks after us 37 years later.
Serve this with a bean salad and preferably a crazy Aunt , the nuttier the better.xxx
My brother Jamie was born when I was four and I must say he has filled all of our lives with utter sunshine ever since whenever we are lucky enough to be with him. He was a winner from the start, all the nursery nurses and every little girl he met just melted in his company and now he is a big man and a big boss and he has a beautiful wife and two little princesses who adore him just the same as we all do.When he was born Auntie Wendy came to stay. "Windy Wendy" to her friends because she was a vegetarian and trumped alot(!)we had never met one of those people before who ate brown bread. So although Jamie brought the golden times with him,when Wendy was cooking and our mum was in hospital we missed her very much but we tasted this tart and loved it.
Wholemeal pastry-
6oz brown flour
3oz lard/butter
salt
water
1 small pot of natural yoghurt
4oz grated edam cheese
1/2 tomato
Make the pastry and line a flan tin and bake blind for 10 mins.
Pour the yoghurt and cheese into the case and put a tomato in the middle, bake in a medium oven until firm and set. This sounds revolting but is sharp and tangy and a little bit weird. I love it and remember how Windy Wendy looked after us when Jamie was born and how she still looks after us 37 years later.
Serve this with a bean salad and preferably a crazy Aunt , the nuttier the better.xxx
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
The fallowfield penthouse
When I was a student in Manchester I lived with a lovely friend Carol over the top of a Turkish restaurant in Fallowfield. She taught me how to make Chicken and peaches which sounds strange but tastes delicious. We have both grown up and married our Prince Charmings and live in the Lakes and Devon respectively with our gorgeous families. I think my greatest gift is my capacity to appreciate all the luck and love , life has bestowed on me, this overwhelming sense of gratitude puts a skip in my step and a twinkle in my eye everyday . And it is because of the times when I had very little and we lived in a grotty flat eating chicken and peaches and drinking moscato spumante out of mugs that i cherish my life today and all the people who fill my days with friendship and Peace.
Chicken in peaches
A pack of boneless chicken thighs skinned and chopped
1/2 tin of peaches
1 chicken stock cube
2 cloves of garlic
1 onion diced
1 knob of butter
1/2 glass of white wine or sherry
pinch of sugar
salt and pepper
Fry the onion , garlic and chicken in the butter until golden. Add the peaches and a little of the juice the stock cube and wine and reduce down for 20 mins. Taste and season and add more juice or water to make a sauce. A sliced fiery fresh chilli just before serving is a welcome addition.
Serve with a big mug of wine and a very good old friend. Perfect.
When I was a student in Manchester I lived with a lovely friend Carol over the top of a Turkish restaurant in Fallowfield. She taught me how to make Chicken and peaches which sounds strange but tastes delicious. We have both grown up and married our Prince Charmings and live in the Lakes and Devon respectively with our gorgeous families. I think my greatest gift is my capacity to appreciate all the luck and love , life has bestowed on me, this overwhelming sense of gratitude puts a skip in my step and a twinkle in my eye everyday . And it is because of the times when I had very little and we lived in a grotty flat eating chicken and peaches and drinking moscato spumante out of mugs that i cherish my life today and all the people who fill my days with friendship and Peace.
Chicken in peaches
A pack of boneless chicken thighs skinned and chopped
1/2 tin of peaches
1 chicken stock cube
2 cloves of garlic
1 onion diced
1 knob of butter
1/2 glass of white wine or sherry
pinch of sugar
salt and pepper
Fry the onion , garlic and chicken in the butter until golden. Add the peaches and a little of the juice the stock cube and wine and reduce down for 20 mins. Taste and season and add more juice or water to make a sauce. A sliced fiery fresh chilli just before serving is a welcome addition.
Serve with a big mug of wine and a very good old friend. Perfect.
Monday, 21 May 2012
Why does everyone in my house hate liver?
I don`t mind really , it`s just like when I was at school at St.Helen`s primary school, Wheathampstead, Herts. I was in love with Christopher Baines. We used to go to Youth club together and sit in a big black leather chair in the dark TV room and snuggle up. He bought me a beautiful brooch and used to give me his liver at lunchtimes and he said he`d love me forever. Wow! Our romance was short lived but the cuddles at youth club and him giving me his unwanted lunchtime liver rations will warm my heart for a lifetime!
In our house I am a lone liver lover too. Red blooded and full of vitamins and iron - alas this nugget eating generation don`t know that offal`s not awful.
This one`s for Christopher Baines whenever I hear "Gino" by Dexys midnight runners I think of you.
1 pack of lambs liver (calves liver if you`re rich)
1 knob of butter
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 glass white wine
salt and pepper
1 onion sliced
1 Oxo cube
pinch of sugar
pinch of herbs
Fry the onion in the butter , add the garlic and the liver and fry til browned. Add the wine and Oxo sugar and herbs and cook until reduced and the liver is pink inside. Season and serve with mashed potatoes and cabbage.
Drink the other 1/2 glass of wine and dream about that special person who first stole your heart away even though you hadn`t reached double digits! Big love to Bainsey.xx
I don`t mind really , it`s just like when I was at school at St.Helen`s primary school, Wheathampstead, Herts. I was in love with Christopher Baines. We used to go to Youth club together and sit in a big black leather chair in the dark TV room and snuggle up. He bought me a beautiful brooch and used to give me his liver at lunchtimes and he said he`d love me forever. Wow! Our romance was short lived but the cuddles at youth club and him giving me his unwanted lunchtime liver rations will warm my heart for a lifetime!
In our house I am a lone liver lover too. Red blooded and full of vitamins and iron - alas this nugget eating generation don`t know that offal`s not awful.
This one`s for Christopher Baines whenever I hear "Gino" by Dexys midnight runners I think of you.
1 pack of lambs liver (calves liver if you`re rich)
1 knob of butter
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 glass white wine
salt and pepper
1 onion sliced
1 Oxo cube
pinch of sugar
pinch of herbs
Fry the onion in the butter , add the garlic and the liver and fry til browned. Add the wine and Oxo sugar and herbs and cook until reduced and the liver is pink inside. Season and serve with mashed potatoes and cabbage.
Drink the other 1/2 glass of wine and dream about that special person who first stole your heart away even though you hadn`t reached double digits! Big love to Bainsey.xx
Sunday, 13 May 2012
Sunday blues
When the weekend is nearly over and you get a little pang of "I don`t want to go to work" get yourself a big bowl of this and you will soon be looking forward to another great week. Happiness is an act of will , or quite simply a choice. Some people choose to exist...I choose to LIVE! (I think my old mate Oscar wilde said that first) but he was so right.
Sunday night chilli willy
500g best mince
olive oil, a slug of,
4 fat cloves of garlic
tube of tomato puree
fresh herbs chopped
2 large onions sliced
a little sugar
2 tins plum tomatoes
2 red chillis sliced
1tbs crushed dried chillis
more chilli sauce if you are feeling hot
1 glass red wine
1 slug sherry
1 chorizo sausage sliced and fried
2 tins of kidney beans drained
1 stick of celery
1 carrot diced
butter
Fry the onions in the oil with the crushed garlic, celery and carrot and fresh chillis. Add the beef and brown.Add as much tomato puree as you dare and cook out for 10 mins until it caramelises.Then add the tomatoes, a little sugar crushed chillis and chilli sauce if required.Add the wine and sherry and a splash of cream if you have it and simmer for 35 mins until silky and cooked. Add the kidney beans and fresh herbs 15 mins before serving.Add salt, pepper and more chillis if not hot enough. Serve with a massive blob of hummus, a spoon of greek yoghurt, grated mature cheddar and a jacket potato with a knob of butter. Heaven!
Have a fabulous week. Remember it is a choice and although we may not like everyone we meet, we should still try to Love them as what goes around comes around and we all want to be loved today and everyday.
When the weekend is nearly over and you get a little pang of "I don`t want to go to work" get yourself a big bowl of this and you will soon be looking forward to another great week. Happiness is an act of will , or quite simply a choice. Some people choose to exist...I choose to LIVE! (I think my old mate Oscar wilde said that first) but he was so right.
Sunday night chilli willy
500g best mince
olive oil, a slug of,
4 fat cloves of garlic
tube of tomato puree
fresh herbs chopped
2 large onions sliced
a little sugar
2 tins plum tomatoes
2 red chillis sliced
1tbs crushed dried chillis
more chilli sauce if you are feeling hot
1 glass red wine
1 slug sherry
1 chorizo sausage sliced and fried
2 tins of kidney beans drained
1 stick of celery
1 carrot diced
butter
Fry the onions in the oil with the crushed garlic, celery and carrot and fresh chillis. Add the beef and brown.Add as much tomato puree as you dare and cook out for 10 mins until it caramelises.Then add the tomatoes, a little sugar crushed chillis and chilli sauce if required.Add the wine and sherry and a splash of cream if you have it and simmer for 35 mins until silky and cooked. Add the kidney beans and fresh herbs 15 mins before serving.Add salt, pepper and more chillis if not hot enough. Serve with a massive blob of hummus, a spoon of greek yoghurt, grated mature cheddar and a jacket potato with a knob of butter. Heaven!
Have a fabulous week. Remember it is a choice and although we may not like everyone we meet, we should still try to Love them as what goes around comes around and we all want to be loved today and everyday.
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Thursday is the new Friday
I used to live in York and before I had children I lived in a little cottage in the middle of my hometown and Thursdays were always a big night out. These days I`m rushing around chasing my tail , trying to cook and bring up my little family and the rush of excitement when Thursday came around has eluded me I`m afraid. I used to cycle to work(no cellulite then ha ha) and meet my truelove on the corner of Stonegate and nip into a pub for a big glass of wine to celebrate that the weekend was just around the corner. Then we`d toddle off to The York Tandoori for the most amazing King prawn bhuna.Next we would be "Aunt sally and Worzel" in the Castle Howard Ox`s pub quiz and after winning the snowball question we would tipsily skip home to watch "Question time". O what a lovely little life and at the time I thought the days of wine and poppadoms would last forever.
I do still watch "Question time"with my truelove who still looks like Worzel Gummidge and we share a cider in front of the fire and I don`t take any of this wonderful life for granted. Thursday is still practically the weekend so we`ll stay up late tonight and cherish our time together.
Baked potatoes for snuggly Thursdays
2 large baking potatoes
4 rashers of bacon grilled to a crisp
butter
single cream
wholegrain mustard
mature cheddar/parmesan grated
Flat leafed parsley
I microwave the poatoes for 10 mins and then put them on the top shelf of the hottest oven to bake for 30 mins. When cooked through, halve and scoop out the insides and mash in a bowl with lots of sea salt pepper , butter and a splash of single cream.Add the grated cheeses , bacon, flat leafed parsley and 1tsp of mustard. Pile back into the skins and heat in a hot oven until bubbling hot.
Serve with a cold beer and a hot husband!
I used to live in York and before I had children I lived in a little cottage in the middle of my hometown and Thursdays were always a big night out. These days I`m rushing around chasing my tail , trying to cook and bring up my little family and the rush of excitement when Thursday came around has eluded me I`m afraid. I used to cycle to work(no cellulite then ha ha) and meet my truelove on the corner of Stonegate and nip into a pub for a big glass of wine to celebrate that the weekend was just around the corner. Then we`d toddle off to The York Tandoori for the most amazing King prawn bhuna.Next we would be "Aunt sally and Worzel" in the Castle Howard Ox`s pub quiz and after winning the snowball question we would tipsily skip home to watch "Question time". O what a lovely little life and at the time I thought the days of wine and poppadoms would last forever.
I do still watch "Question time"with my truelove who still looks like Worzel Gummidge and we share a cider in front of the fire and I don`t take any of this wonderful life for granted. Thursday is still practically the weekend so we`ll stay up late tonight and cherish our time together.
Baked potatoes for snuggly Thursdays
2 large baking potatoes
4 rashers of bacon grilled to a crisp
butter
single cream
wholegrain mustard
mature cheddar/parmesan grated
Flat leafed parsley
I microwave the poatoes for 10 mins and then put them on the top shelf of the hottest oven to bake for 30 mins. When cooked through, halve and scoop out the insides and mash in a bowl with lots of sea salt pepper , butter and a splash of single cream.Add the grated cheeses , bacon, flat leafed parsley and 1tsp of mustard. Pile back into the skins and heat in a hot oven until bubbling hot.
Serve with a cold beer and a hot husband!
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