What`s for dinner Clarey?: Christmas
Yes its crept up on me again rattling i...: Christmas Yes its crept up on me again rattling it`s paper chains like Jacob Marley and I am not ready to even contemplate the ghost of Ch...
Sunday, 8 December 2013
Christmas
Yes its crept up on me again rattling it`s paper chains like Jacob Marley and I am not ready to even contemplate the ghost of Christmas present or future. I can just close my eyes and I am transported back to the past when Christmas was exciting and special and my Grandad Poppa Roy was alive. I can picture him now sashaying down the hall at Greencliffe Drive, party hat all cockeyed , bottle of Hock on the cork cabinet and a tin full of homemade lemon curd tarts and mince pies in his sights. He was big hearted but sadly weak hearted and was under strict doctors orders not to overindulge. The patron saint of pork pies and savoury ducks had other ideas clearly. My Grandparents house was very tidy I remember, it smelled of furniture polish and fruit in a wooden bowl. There was always a lovely welcome waiting for you and usually a pan of homemade soup.
My Grandfather was quite simply one of the best. He was a social worker after retiring from the police force and his bright orange Beetle was his trade mark as he pootled around York placing children in need into foster homes. A giant of a man but as gentle as a lamb. He was to me just perfect. Always proud of us, never critical ,unconditional love was free for the taking.He died 22 years ago and left such a hole in all of our hearts, that has little by little been filled by my Matty and each new baby as they have come along with blue eyes just like his as polished as Whitby jet.
He left a legacy of Love to us all and I want my family to know they are cut from the same cloth of someone extra special. Not a captain of industry or multi millionaire, he was just skipper of all our hearts and a man in a million. I will start getting festive now and put up my tree and count all my blessings, because someone as sparky as he does not just evaporate, flickers and faint rendolences of the man he was are still alight in my home and my family. The best things in life are not gift wrapped or hands free.
Happy healthy children all sitting round the fire , blonde and blue eyed just like Poppa is his gift to me.
Right in honour of Poppa`s fruit bowl and terrible sweet tooth I have made sticky toffee banana pudding tonight, God he`d have loved it!
6 ripe bananas
4oz butter
6oz SR Flour
6oz soft brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp bicarb
Toffee sauce
6oz soft brown sugar
4oz butter
150ml double cream
To make the sponge melt the butter and sugar in a pan and add flour, mashed bananas and eggs and stir until a runny melted mixture is made, add the bicarb and take off heat add a little milk if not dropping consistency.
Bake in a medium oven for about 15-20 mins until springy to touch.
To make toffee sauce melt all ingredients and simmer until a thick consistency and golden colour is achieved, pour over sponge and serve with more cream on top, whilst wearing a party hat at a jaunty angle of course!
I know this Christmas story might seem far fetched to some but if I get to meet my Poppa again then I`m keeping my angel wings crossed.xxx
Yes its crept up on me again rattling it`s paper chains like Jacob Marley and I am not ready to even contemplate the ghost of Christmas present or future. I can just close my eyes and I am transported back to the past when Christmas was exciting and special and my Grandad Poppa Roy was alive. I can picture him now sashaying down the hall at Greencliffe Drive, party hat all cockeyed , bottle of Hock on the cork cabinet and a tin full of homemade lemon curd tarts and mince pies in his sights. He was big hearted but sadly weak hearted and was under strict doctors orders not to overindulge. The patron saint of pork pies and savoury ducks had other ideas clearly. My Grandparents house was very tidy I remember, it smelled of furniture polish and fruit in a wooden bowl. There was always a lovely welcome waiting for you and usually a pan of homemade soup.
My Grandfather was quite simply one of the best. He was a social worker after retiring from the police force and his bright orange Beetle was his trade mark as he pootled around York placing children in need into foster homes. A giant of a man but as gentle as a lamb. He was to me just perfect. Always proud of us, never critical ,unconditional love was free for the taking.He died 22 years ago and left such a hole in all of our hearts, that has little by little been filled by my Matty and each new baby as they have come along with blue eyes just like his as polished as Whitby jet.
He left a legacy of Love to us all and I want my family to know they are cut from the same cloth of someone extra special. Not a captain of industry or multi millionaire, he was just skipper of all our hearts and a man in a million. I will start getting festive now and put up my tree and count all my blessings, because someone as sparky as he does not just evaporate, flickers and faint rendolences of the man he was are still alight in my home and my family. The best things in life are not gift wrapped or hands free.
Happy healthy children all sitting round the fire , blonde and blue eyed just like Poppa is his gift to me.
Right in honour of Poppa`s fruit bowl and terrible sweet tooth I have made sticky toffee banana pudding tonight, God he`d have loved it!
6 ripe bananas
4oz butter
6oz SR Flour
6oz soft brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp bicarb
Toffee sauce
6oz soft brown sugar
4oz butter
150ml double cream
To make the sponge melt the butter and sugar in a pan and add flour, mashed bananas and eggs and stir until a runny melted mixture is made, add the bicarb and take off heat add a little milk if not dropping consistency.
Bake in a medium oven for about 15-20 mins until springy to touch.
To make toffee sauce melt all ingredients and simmer until a thick consistency and golden colour is achieved, pour over sponge and serve with more cream on top, whilst wearing a party hat at a jaunty angle of course!
I know this Christmas story might seem far fetched to some but if I get to meet my Poppa again then I`m keeping my angel wings crossed.xxx
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: The scent of Mrs FreemanAs a small child I hat...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: The scent of Mrs Freeman
As a small child I hat...: The scent of Mrs Freeman As a small child I hated school. Every moment seemed an eternity until my lovely Mummy appeared at the window w...
As a small child I hat...: The scent of Mrs Freeman As a small child I hated school. Every moment seemed an eternity until my lovely Mummy appeared at the window w...
The scent of Mrs Freeman
As a small child I hated school. Every moment seemed an eternity until my lovely Mummy appeared at the window wearing bunchies and drainpipe jeans and an angelic smile ready to take us home and love us.
School smelled funny. Cabbage. Liver. Chips. Even the lollipop lady who smelled like fags was preferable to inside the building of St.Helens CE Primary School.
I spent most mornings hanging onto the steering wheel of my Mum`s MG Midget.If she didn`t manage to prise me off the walnut dashboard I would be marched home with only the girl and the chalkboard test card for company-bliss to me. Anything was better than the scent of fear which emanated from every class room.
I used to cry- alot. Poor Miss Ogilvey must have thought I was disturbed as I disturbed her mornings every morning. Until... Mrs Freeman arrived. She was the most lovely Teaching assistant who would turn my hair bunches off "one tap off, two taps off" and as soon as I saw her I was fine. She smelled divine. Estee Lauder White Linen I have deduced. So every time I enter a department store I think of her and her kindness , the faint rendolence of the scent of a seventies educationalist who taught me that school could smell sweet, lingers on.
Hilariously I am a Primary school teacher and for the past twenty years I must have spent a fortune on Coco Chanel just incase I encounter a little person who finds school an alien place and so I make sure I always give them a lovely welcome just like Mrs freeman. Happiness rests on such little things. We are such sensory beings. Comfort and Joy should be the National Curriculum for every child.
Coca cola gammon
Gammon and pineapple was so 70s. This recipe is from Fatclub and is gorgeous.
Put a small gammon joint in the slow cooker , add a can of diet cola and cook all day. It will fall off and taste slightly BBQed, serve with baked potatoes, coleslaw and some pineapple charred on a wrought iron skillet.
Cheers to Mrs Freeman, Miss Ogilvey, Miss Ponsford, Mrs McKnally, Mr Williams and Mr Day and the late Mr Warner who were so very kind to an awkward little spud who grew up to love school.xxx
As a small child I hated school. Every moment seemed an eternity until my lovely Mummy appeared at the window wearing bunchies and drainpipe jeans and an angelic smile ready to take us home and love us.
School smelled funny. Cabbage. Liver. Chips. Even the lollipop lady who smelled like fags was preferable to inside the building of St.Helens CE Primary School.
I spent most mornings hanging onto the steering wheel of my Mum`s MG Midget.If she didn`t manage to prise me off the walnut dashboard I would be marched home with only the girl and the chalkboard test card for company-bliss to me. Anything was better than the scent of fear which emanated from every class room.
I used to cry- alot. Poor Miss Ogilvey must have thought I was disturbed as I disturbed her mornings every morning. Until... Mrs Freeman arrived. She was the most lovely Teaching assistant who would turn my hair bunches off "one tap off, two taps off" and as soon as I saw her I was fine. She smelled divine. Estee Lauder White Linen I have deduced. So every time I enter a department store I think of her and her kindness , the faint rendolence of the scent of a seventies educationalist who taught me that school could smell sweet, lingers on.
Hilariously I am a Primary school teacher and for the past twenty years I must have spent a fortune on Coco Chanel just incase I encounter a little person who finds school an alien place and so I make sure I always give them a lovely welcome just like Mrs freeman. Happiness rests on such little things. We are such sensory beings. Comfort and Joy should be the National Curriculum for every child.
Coca cola gammon
Gammon and pineapple was so 70s. This recipe is from Fatclub and is gorgeous.
Put a small gammon joint in the slow cooker , add a can of diet cola and cook all day. It will fall off and taste slightly BBQed, serve with baked potatoes, coleslaw and some pineapple charred on a wrought iron skillet.
Cheers to Mrs Freeman, Miss Ogilvey, Miss Ponsford, Mrs McKnally, Mr Williams and Mr Day and the late Mr Warner who were so very kind to an awkward little spud who grew up to love school.xxx
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Quistmas QuackersI have been wrapping presents t...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Quistmas Quackers
I have been wrapping presents t...: Quistmas Quackers I have been wrapping presents tonight determined not to be doing so at 3am 25.12.13 as usual! I think I need to get ...
I have been wrapping presents t...: Quistmas Quackers I have been wrapping presents tonight determined not to be doing so at 3am 25.12.13 as usual! I think I need to get ...
Quistmas Quackers
I have been wrapping presents tonight determined not to be doing so at 3am 25.12.13 as usual!
I think I need to get one of those sellotape dispensers, a bottle of mulled wine , The Now 99 Christmas CD and my "Feast your eyes on my mince pies "slightly rude Tshirt on.
My sweetheart darling Mum used to wrap in the early hours after a few sherries I`m guessing with hilarious results. Mixed up labels would have us hysterical with laughter as we swapped Top Gun for Pretty Woman, thongs for cricket boxes, she was our Mummy Christmas and we adored her for her nuttiness if she were one of Santa`s reindeer she`d be "Slapdasher" no doubt.
Maybe she had the right idea. We put ourselves under too much pressure to be perfect with the right wrapping and the right gift. I`ll settle for spending it with Mr Right and a nice bottle of fizz.
I have had an Epiphany(just like the three wise men!) They arrived weeks late and I`m sure baby Jesus was underwhelmed with his Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. But I`m sure they weren`t apologetic!Christmas is going to be fun this year, with mixed up labels and no sprouts-(nobody likes them so why spend hours peeling the little farters!!) Fun should not be an F word . Which leads me to the title of my writing tonight.
One Christmas in our house Matty was having hammer troubles and broke something and shouted the F word loudly. Lily the next day (aged 2) broke the head off one of her Barbies and said "Mummy she`s F***ed!" Right context wrong word.
"Lily darling you really mustn`t use the F word, it`s a bad word"
"Daddy said it"
"I know but you mustn`t"
"Well James said the "Qu" word"
"What`s the Qu word , there isn`t a swear word starting with Qu"
"Qwap (crap!!)"
I hope none of us go Qwistmas quackers or have a qwap time this year.xxx
Melanies mountains from Mars
As a student one Christmas I appeared on "This Morning" with my friend Mel, I made curry in a Yorkshire pudding, she made these, we made Richard Madeley go "Yum!" and made Judy jealous needless to say we didn`t win!
200g butter
6 mars bars
200g rice crispies
250g milk chocolate
Melt the butter and bars and mix into crispies, put in mountains to set, top with melted choc, leave to set.
More Qwistmas wecipes tomorrow!
Sunday, 17 November 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Someone always wants to Pi*$ on your fireworks!I...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Someone always wants to Pi*$ on your fireworks!
I...: Someone always wants to Pi*$ on your fireworks! I`ve recently decided I`m not a glass half empty or a glass half full kind of a gal. I`m i...
I...: Someone always wants to Pi*$ on your fireworks! I`ve recently decided I`m not a glass half empty or a glass half full kind of a gal. I`m i...
Someone always wants to Pi*$ on your fireworks!
I`ve recently decided I`m not a glass half empty or a glass half full kind of a gal. I`m in the we`re all bloody lucky to have a glass and something in it school of thought.
My name means light or bright and clear and that`s how I try to be on a daily basis. Shining a little light on whatever shadows draw in around me and my brood. I may be completely wrong, my name may actually mean clownish, thick dullard but noone`s ever going to buy a keyring with that on. I for one prefer to be a bobby dazzler as often as possible.
I love all variations of light, candle light makes you look less wrinkly, firelight makes you feel safe and warm and a teensy bit frisky on occasion! Fairy lights make every night Christmas in our living room. Like an old moth to the flame I am instinctively drawn to the light.
So last weekend, on a particularly dark Saturday I rang up our little cracker, Grandma Betty, to see how she was. She said "ok" but her voice said different. Living alone is a problem for so many older people. Betty`s house is always warm and welcoming, she has over the years been a beacon of light to children who needed somewhere lovely to stay for Christmas or for holidays. But as we burn our candles at both ends , it is increasingly difficult to spend enough time with her. Loneliness is a dark disease we close our curtains on. So we jumped in the car and went to see her. We had a gorgeous sunny time, going out for lunch and icecreams at Parkgate as Autumn gave it`s last but sweetest smile. We all felt better for a few hours in each others company, our wild rumpuses, messiness and ability to use every dish in the house only brought smiles as we all mucked in to tidy away the weekend. Just as we were leaving we thought we`d have a fine finale to our stay and set off some fireworks. They were rather tame and Grandma "Oooed" and "Aaahed" obediently but quite frankly, she wanted a nice Irish coffee and a sit down and was really rather underwhelmed. Spurred on by her faint praise Matty went to the garage and produced "The Cluster bomb" for Betty`s delight.
This 16 rocket monstrosity was guaranteed to thrill the grumpiest of Grandmas and Jimmy proudly prepared to film it on his phone. WHOOSH! WHOOSH! Two beautiful fountainous showers of stars exploded above us before it all went slightly Vietnam. The other 14 rockets came at us sideways for the next terrifying two minutes. With all thoughts of Help the Aged pushed aside the children stampeded back inside shoving Grandma behind the green waste bin. One scudded across Matty`s face leaving a scorch mark down his cheek the Red Baron would have been proud of. Jimmy took one in the leg but was scorched thankfully not burned. Jemima thought it was all planned and "awesome" the neighbours thought there had been a murder and I just calmly walked inside and poured myself a pint of Yellow tail Shiraz for my nerves.
The moral of the story is...someone will always want to pi$$ on your fireworks in life, don`t make it worse by bringing out a cluster bomb to impress them. You have nothing to prove. You shine your own particular light in the World , just keep twinkling, even when days are dark.
Gorgeous Grandma curried cauliflower soup
When we visit Betty we always have a soup competition. Here is this week`s effort, for Betty a lady who has hidden her considerable light under a bushell for 80 years and she`s not getting it out for anyone!
1 large cauliflower
1 tbs curry powder (hot)
1 pint milk
sugar
salt
nutmeg
4oz mature cheddar grated
cream to swirl
Boil the cauliflower in enough water with a tbs of sugar until soft. Add a pint of milk, curry powder
and blitz with a soup wand. Add enough cream, cheese, seasoning until it tastes like a fabulous cauliflower cheese in a bowl. Drink politely with someone older , who has lived throught WW2 and the Liverpool blitz who never lets it show but she would never pi** on your fireworks! xx
I`ve recently decided I`m not a glass half empty or a glass half full kind of a gal. I`m in the we`re all bloody lucky to have a glass and something in it school of thought.
My name means light or bright and clear and that`s how I try to be on a daily basis. Shining a little light on whatever shadows draw in around me and my brood. I may be completely wrong, my name may actually mean clownish, thick dullard but noone`s ever going to buy a keyring with that on. I for one prefer to be a bobby dazzler as often as possible.
I love all variations of light, candle light makes you look less wrinkly, firelight makes you feel safe and warm and a teensy bit frisky on occasion! Fairy lights make every night Christmas in our living room. Like an old moth to the flame I am instinctively drawn to the light.
So last weekend, on a particularly dark Saturday I rang up our little cracker, Grandma Betty, to see how she was. She said "ok" but her voice said different. Living alone is a problem for so many older people. Betty`s house is always warm and welcoming, she has over the years been a beacon of light to children who needed somewhere lovely to stay for Christmas or for holidays. But as we burn our candles at both ends , it is increasingly difficult to spend enough time with her. Loneliness is a dark disease we close our curtains on. So we jumped in the car and went to see her. We had a gorgeous sunny time, going out for lunch and icecreams at Parkgate as Autumn gave it`s last but sweetest smile. We all felt better for a few hours in each others company, our wild rumpuses, messiness and ability to use every dish in the house only brought smiles as we all mucked in to tidy away the weekend. Just as we were leaving we thought we`d have a fine finale to our stay and set off some fireworks. They were rather tame and Grandma "Oooed" and "Aaahed" obediently but quite frankly, she wanted a nice Irish coffee and a sit down and was really rather underwhelmed. Spurred on by her faint praise Matty went to the garage and produced "The Cluster bomb" for Betty`s delight.
This 16 rocket monstrosity was guaranteed to thrill the grumpiest of Grandmas and Jimmy proudly prepared to film it on his phone. WHOOSH! WHOOSH! Two beautiful fountainous showers of stars exploded above us before it all went slightly Vietnam. The other 14 rockets came at us sideways for the next terrifying two minutes. With all thoughts of Help the Aged pushed aside the children stampeded back inside shoving Grandma behind the green waste bin. One scudded across Matty`s face leaving a scorch mark down his cheek the Red Baron would have been proud of. Jimmy took one in the leg but was scorched thankfully not burned. Jemima thought it was all planned and "awesome" the neighbours thought there had been a murder and I just calmly walked inside and poured myself a pint of Yellow tail Shiraz for my nerves.
The moral of the story is...someone will always want to pi$$ on your fireworks in life, don`t make it worse by bringing out a cluster bomb to impress them. You have nothing to prove. You shine your own particular light in the World , just keep twinkling, even when days are dark.
Gorgeous Grandma curried cauliflower soup
When we visit Betty we always have a soup competition. Here is this week`s effort, for Betty a lady who has hidden her considerable light under a bushell for 80 years and she`s not getting it out for anyone!
1 large cauliflower
1 tbs curry powder (hot)
1 pint milk
sugar
salt
nutmeg
4oz mature cheddar grated
cream to swirl
Boil the cauliflower in enough water with a tbs of sugar until soft. Add a pint of milk, curry powder
and blitz with a soup wand. Add enough cream, cheese, seasoning until it tastes like a fabulous cauliflower cheese in a bowl. Drink politely with someone older , who has lived throught WW2 and the Liverpool blitz who never lets it show but she would never pi** on your fireworks! xx
Tuesday, 12 November 2013
The Bodrum
When I was a student in Manchester in the late 80s no sugar Daddies were to be found. I had been used to York , all cobbled streets and teashops and razzing around in my mum`s Suzuki jeep.
Life at University wasn`t as much fun as I had been told! First, living in Moss side was a rather large eye opener. One day a man jumped over our back gate, phoned for an escape driver all whilst I was making curry in the kitchen. Fortunately I was living with a 7ft Barabadian at the time called Godfrey or "God" as he was known to his adoring hareem. As my heart was literally pounding out of my chest as the fugitive sat panting on the sofa, Godfrey padded through to the living room , still in his sleeping bag and proceeded to calm the guy down and then he was gone in a puff of smoke.
My dearest friend Emerald lived with me too and being a Yorkie like me she also found the Manchester scene less than scenic!We held each others hands making one another marmite toast and tea and sympathy as hearts got broken along the way. She is still my most precious friend in the World. Like me Emma had to have a part time job to survive in Manchester. So we went to the Arndale Centre , Em in River Island and me in Top Shop but we made more than money there, we made friends with real people. Later I worked in The Bodrum Turkish restaurant and made fantastic friends. There was Maria from Malta and Garo from Turkey, Dionne the delicious belly dancer and Mohammed the Morroccan chef. The chef once asked if he could walk me home, to which I agreed , he was a little disappointed to find I lived upstairs, so our romantic walk was short! I met a wonderful Chemistry professor called Brian, who I waited on for years, when I graduated he took me out for dinner, at you`ve guessed it The Bodrum. What a gentleman, giggling in a cloud of Capstan full strength, he was quite grandpaternal to me , but if I`d have been born in another time I would have been happy to cook for him all his life. So sad the days that are no more . Every Saturday to make extra money I would make chocolate roulade for the restaurant. If I had come from a rich background, my life at University wouldn`t have been half so rich. The melange of people and jobs I had to deal with to struggle through makes me proud of my student days. I did meet a rather lovely Greek God there too , we went to see a football match at Rochdale and in the crowds afterwards he grabbed held of my hand and has been holding it tightly for the last 22 years.
Chocolate roulade
melt 8oz of plain chocolate over a bowl of hot water, separate two eggs and beat the yolks into the melted choc and then whisk the whites and fold in to make a simple mousse, add a couple of tbs of brandy now if you are a boozer like me.Put in fridge to set. Make roulade sponge.
Put 6 egg yolks in a bowl and whisk til thick, add 6oz caster sugar and 2oz cocoa whisk again.Whisk the whites til stiff , fold together.Bake in a greased swiss roll tin til springy to touch, gas4 for 25 mins.
When cooled, spread the mousse on cake whip 8floz double cream and top the choc.Roll up and put back in fridge to firm up, dust with icing sugar. Eat in the company of belly dancers, or your best friends.xx
When I was a student in Manchester in the late 80s no sugar Daddies were to be found. I had been used to York , all cobbled streets and teashops and razzing around in my mum`s Suzuki jeep.
Life at University wasn`t as much fun as I had been told! First, living in Moss side was a rather large eye opener. One day a man jumped over our back gate, phoned for an escape driver all whilst I was making curry in the kitchen. Fortunately I was living with a 7ft Barabadian at the time called Godfrey or "God" as he was known to his adoring hareem. As my heart was literally pounding out of my chest as the fugitive sat panting on the sofa, Godfrey padded through to the living room , still in his sleeping bag and proceeded to calm the guy down and then he was gone in a puff of smoke.
My dearest friend Emerald lived with me too and being a Yorkie like me she also found the Manchester scene less than scenic!We held each others hands making one another marmite toast and tea and sympathy as hearts got broken along the way. She is still my most precious friend in the World. Like me Emma had to have a part time job to survive in Manchester. So we went to the Arndale Centre , Em in River Island and me in Top Shop but we made more than money there, we made friends with real people. Later I worked in The Bodrum Turkish restaurant and made fantastic friends. There was Maria from Malta and Garo from Turkey, Dionne the delicious belly dancer and Mohammed the Morroccan chef. The chef once asked if he could walk me home, to which I agreed , he was a little disappointed to find I lived upstairs, so our romantic walk was short! I met a wonderful Chemistry professor called Brian, who I waited on for years, when I graduated he took me out for dinner, at you`ve guessed it The Bodrum. What a gentleman, giggling in a cloud of Capstan full strength, he was quite grandpaternal to me , but if I`d have been born in another time I would have been happy to cook for him all his life. So sad the days that are no more . Every Saturday to make extra money I would make chocolate roulade for the restaurant. If I had come from a rich background, my life at University wouldn`t have been half so rich. The melange of people and jobs I had to deal with to struggle through makes me proud of my student days. I did meet a rather lovely Greek God there too , we went to see a football match at Rochdale and in the crowds afterwards he grabbed held of my hand and has been holding it tightly for the last 22 years.
Chocolate roulade
melt 8oz of plain chocolate over a bowl of hot water, separate two eggs and beat the yolks into the melted choc and then whisk the whites and fold in to make a simple mousse, add a couple of tbs of brandy now if you are a boozer like me.Put in fridge to set. Make roulade sponge.
Put 6 egg yolks in a bowl and whisk til thick, add 6oz caster sugar and 2oz cocoa whisk again.Whisk the whites til stiff , fold together.Bake in a greased swiss roll tin til springy to touch, gas4 for 25 mins.
When cooled, spread the mousse on cake whip 8floz double cream and top the choc.Roll up and put back in fridge to firm up, dust with icing sugar. Eat in the company of belly dancers, or your best friends.xx
Sunday, 10 November 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Remembrance dayI went to church today and shed a...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Remembrance day
I went to church today and shed a...: Remembrance day I went to church today and shed a little tear for all the casualties of War. All the bright red poppies pinned to the hear...
I went to church today and shed a...: Remembrance day I went to church today and shed a little tear for all the casualties of War. All the bright red poppies pinned to the hear...
Remembrance day
I went to church today and shed a little tear for all the casualties of War. All the bright red poppies pinned to the hearts of people who had lost loved ones. We all have lost people we have loved in the daily battle that is life. I remember my gorgeous Nanna when I smell freesias or eat battenburg cake! I remember my wonderful grandmother Lucie when I see yellow roses and eat Rock buns her signature bakes.
If you have been privileged to have truly loved and lost, everyday is remembrance day
Rock buns
200g SR flour
100g butter cubed
1 egg
100g mixed fruit/peel
80g soft brown sugar
more sugar for dusting
Rub the butter into the flour to make breadcrumbs add the sugar, fruit and a little mixed spice, combine with the egg and a little milk if necessary to make a firm cake mixture. Spoon into 10 rock like balls and bake for 10-15 mins at 220 degrees gas mark 5. Sprinkle with a little caster sugar and cinnammon before wolfing down , or double the quantities and put half in a tin to produce all "Gaggy-like" when a cake, cuddle and a cup of tea is required. :)
You never forget how your Grandma made you feel.
I went to church today and shed a little tear for all the casualties of War. All the bright red poppies pinned to the hearts of people who had lost loved ones. We all have lost people we have loved in the daily battle that is life. I remember my gorgeous Nanna when I smell freesias or eat battenburg cake! I remember my wonderful grandmother Lucie when I see yellow roses and eat Rock buns her signature bakes.
If you have been privileged to have truly loved and lost, everyday is remembrance day
Rock buns
200g SR flour
100g butter cubed
1 egg
100g mixed fruit/peel
80g soft brown sugar
more sugar for dusting
Rub the butter into the flour to make breadcrumbs add the sugar, fruit and a little mixed spice, combine with the egg and a little milk if necessary to make a firm cake mixture. Spoon into 10 rock like balls and bake for 10-15 mins at 220 degrees gas mark 5. Sprinkle with a little caster sugar and cinnammon before wolfing down , or double the quantities and put half in a tin to produce all "Gaggy-like" when a cake, cuddle and a cup of tea is required. :)
You never forget how your Grandma made you feel.
Friday, 8 November 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: The Hills are alive!Kendal is an old grey town n...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: The Hills are alive!
Kendal is an old grey town n...: The Hills are alive! Kendal is an old grey town nestled in the lap of the beautiful Howgill fells, home of Kendal Mintcake, Mountain ware...
Kendal is an old grey town n...: The Hills are alive! Kendal is an old grey town nestled in the lap of the beautiful Howgill fells, home of Kendal Mintcake, Mountain ware...
The Hills are alive!
Kendal is an old grey town nestled in the lap of the beautiful Howgill fells, home of Kendal Mintcake, Mountain warehouse and Team Neal .
The town council have come up with a genius acronym for developing this mecca of Charity shops the "Kendal regeneration action plan" or "KRAP" is not a figment of my slightly childish imagination it is for real.
So it was with trepidation this week that I agreed to go and see the local amateur production of "The Sound of Music" put on by Kendal amateur operatic society or KAOS!
Crap and Chaos spelt with a K pretty much sums up the past decade of my life up here in the rainiest place on Earth!! Newsflash!!
I absolutely flipping LOVED it and cried buckets throughout, much to my children`s harrumphing embarrassment. I hadn`t watched the film since I was a child and to me it brought back the memories of many marvellous Christmas Day afternoons , presents massacred, turkey demolished and my two best buddies my brothers Tim and Jamie to play with.
The best memory was when I had a rather sumo wrestlingesque joust with big brother Tim as we grappled over the TV remote. He wanted to watch "Planet of the apes" and I wanted Fraulein Maria. I think I won the fight but only because he bent my thumb back so far he broke it!
So the musical transported me back to the halcyon days of being a child with Christmas on it`s way. Afterwards we went back stage for Lily to congratulate one of her lovely friends who was in the show. I had taught Captain Von Trapp`s little boy years ago and as he strode past ready to fight his way through the army of granny fans outside he said hello and gave me a peck on the cheek.
"My Mum kissed Captain Von Trapp!" was Jemima`s circle time boast the day after. I don`t care if her teachers think I am a slummy mummy leiderhosen fancier. I skipped home having escaped the Kendal gloom for an evening. The sound of music, or any music really does lift us up in these dark days before Christmas rescues us from the brink with it`s sparkles and shine.
I am happy to report I am going to my brother Tim`s for Christmas! I cannot wait! I am going to buy "The planet of the apes" and "The Sound of music"on DVD and we can fight it out over a big bottle of chateau neuf du pape! The Clarey Regeneration Action Plan (Crap) is also in full swing , half a stone down , the mass of a small Oompa Loompa to go. I am looking forward to Chrimbo when I will surely regain all that has been lost, all my love handles but most importantly oceans of time with my brother, my perfect gift.
Reindeer biscuits
6oz butter
3oz caster sugar
9oz plain flour
cherries
chocolate icing
curly wurly minis
gingerbreadman cutter
put the butter and sugar and flour in a bowl and rub in, squeeze the dough together and cut out with a gingerbread man cutter. bake the biscuits for 10 mins at gas mark 4.
When cooled turn upsidedown to give a perfect reindeer face shape. Use the chocolate icing to draw on eyes and cement a glace cherry nose. Put mini curlwurly antlers on, attach with icing. Ho Ho Ho!
Eat with your brothers and sisters as a peace offering after you`ve had a pre Boxing day bust up!
Monday, 4 November 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: When I was a BrownieIn the 70s I was a Brownie. ...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: When I was a Brownie
In the 70s I was a Brownie. ...: When I was a Brownie In the 70s I was a Brownie. We had a brown beret and a brown shirt dress with lots of pockets, containing a clean han...
In the 70s I was a Brownie. ...: When I was a Brownie In the 70s I was a Brownie. We had a brown beret and a brown shirt dress with lots of pockets, containing a clean han...
When I was a Brownie
In the 70s I was a Brownie. We had a brown beret and a brown shirt dress with lots of pockets, containing a clean hankie and 2p in case of emergency so you could go to the local phone box and call the police or your Mum or both.
I was a sixer , which meant you were really important(bossy) and we got to sing "we`re Brownie friends!" as we jumped over a fairy toadstool. I was in the Leprachaun pack and we got to do crazy stuff like "The Hostess badge" where you basically had to make someone a cup of tea and put it on a tray with a packet of Nice biscuits and deliver it to Brown owl without sloshing it in the saucer.
Well one Halloween I think I ate about ten hot dogs at the United Reform Church hall Brownie jamboree and drank rather alot of Pepsi Cola and somehow managed to jump on the aforementioned toadstool and broke it. I think I might have said "bollocks" innocently as I wasn`t sure what that word meant but my Dad used it when upset. I think I was given a dishonourable discharge from the pack and never did manage to get that bloody "Hostess badge".
Ahh the toadstools in our memories that we have to overleap, I`m still a bit bossy, still ring my mum in an emergency, married a 6 ft leprachaun and my favourite saying "Bollocks" will be on my tombstone!
Bollocks to the Hostess badge Brownies
450g unsalted butter
450g plain chocolate(posh high cocoa variety)
8eggs
450g dark brown sugar
220g plain flour
160g white chocolate chips
80g walnuts chopped
icing sugar
Over a pan of just off the boil water, melt butter and choc in a pyrex bowl. Mix up the sugar and eggs until thick, whack it all in a mixer for 10 mins to achieve this, stir in the buttery choc mixture and finally fold in the nuts, flour and choc chips.Bake in a tin for 35mins gas mark 3 /170C. Leave to cool dust with icing sugar.
Eat on a toadstool with a leprachaun.
In the 70s I was a Brownie. We had a brown beret and a brown shirt dress with lots of pockets, containing a clean hankie and 2p in case of emergency so you could go to the local phone box and call the police or your Mum or both.
I was a sixer , which meant you were really important(bossy) and we got to sing "we`re Brownie friends!" as we jumped over a fairy toadstool. I was in the Leprachaun pack and we got to do crazy stuff like "The Hostess badge" where you basically had to make someone a cup of tea and put it on a tray with a packet of Nice biscuits and deliver it to Brown owl without sloshing it in the saucer.
Well one Halloween I think I ate about ten hot dogs at the United Reform Church hall Brownie jamboree and drank rather alot of Pepsi Cola and somehow managed to jump on the aforementioned toadstool and broke it. I think I might have said "bollocks" innocently as I wasn`t sure what that word meant but my Dad used it when upset. I think I was given a dishonourable discharge from the pack and never did manage to get that bloody "Hostess badge".
Ahh the toadstools in our memories that we have to overleap, I`m still a bit bossy, still ring my mum in an emergency, married a 6 ft leprachaun and my favourite saying "Bollocks" will be on my tombstone!
Bollocks to the Hostess badge Brownies
450g unsalted butter
450g plain chocolate(posh high cocoa variety)
8eggs
450g dark brown sugar
220g plain flour
160g white chocolate chips
80g walnuts chopped
icing sugar
Over a pan of just off the boil water, melt butter and choc in a pyrex bowl. Mix up the sugar and eggs until thick, whack it all in a mixer for 10 mins to achieve this, stir in the buttery choc mixture and finally fold in the nuts, flour and choc chips.Bake in a tin for 35mins gas mark 3 /170C. Leave to cool dust with icing sugar.
Eat on a toadstool with a leprachaun.
Thursday, 31 October 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Tidying awayI admit it I am gloriously messy. I ...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Tidying away
I admit it I am gloriously messy. I ...: Tidying away I admit it I am gloriously messy. I step over all the pants that other people have dropped , or better still hoover them up. ...
I admit it I am gloriously messy. I ...: Tidying away I admit it I am gloriously messy. I step over all the pants that other people have dropped , or better still hoover them up. ...
Tidying away
I admit it I am gloriously messy. I step over all the pants that other people have dropped , or better still hoover them up. The land of the sad single sock is a definite reality in our house. Where do they all go?
I love cobwebs, it would be callous to dust them all away, destroy a spider`s home, especially on Halloween. So the gothic look of dusty cobwebby chandeliers is one I embrace. Shabby chic or just plain shabby suits me fine.
I will be tidying away my office this week , chucking out years of teaching resources that have piled up and seem to have invaded the dining table. We happily dine in the kitchen but I know Mr N resents all my many bags full of school work that stand in the way of him dining in the dining room. So black bin bag time it is. 20 years of teaching has flown by and though I endeavour to throw away the paper work and files I no longer need, every little shining face that I have been lucky enough to engage and help to read can never be tidied away as they are firmly seated in my heart ,safe as cobwebs.
Celery soup
I was very tempted to throw away a sad looking head of celery yesterday, so glad I didn`t!
4 banana shallots sliced
1 potato
1 sweet potato
1 pint veg bouillion stock
1 pint skimmed milk
1 head celery sliced
applewood smoked cheese 1 small wedge
Fry the shallots, potato,sweet potato and celery in a little oil.Add the milk and stock and simmer until all cooked, whizz up and add the cheese and stir until melted.serve with a swirl of chilli oil and toasted pitta bread.
Happy Halloween everyone. Pumpkin pie recipe tomorrow.
I admit it I am gloriously messy. I step over all the pants that other people have dropped , or better still hoover them up. The land of the sad single sock is a definite reality in our house. Where do they all go?
I love cobwebs, it would be callous to dust them all away, destroy a spider`s home, especially on Halloween. So the gothic look of dusty cobwebby chandeliers is one I embrace. Shabby chic or just plain shabby suits me fine.
I will be tidying away my office this week , chucking out years of teaching resources that have piled up and seem to have invaded the dining table. We happily dine in the kitchen but I know Mr N resents all my many bags full of school work that stand in the way of him dining in the dining room. So black bin bag time it is. 20 years of teaching has flown by and though I endeavour to throw away the paper work and files I no longer need, every little shining face that I have been lucky enough to engage and help to read can never be tidied away as they are firmly seated in my heart ,safe as cobwebs.
Celery soup
I was very tempted to throw away a sad looking head of celery yesterday, so glad I didn`t!
4 banana shallots sliced
1 potato
1 sweet potato
1 pint veg bouillion stock
1 pint skimmed milk
1 head celery sliced
applewood smoked cheese 1 small wedge
Fry the shallots, potato,sweet potato and celery in a little oil.Add the milk and stock and simmer until all cooked, whizz up and add the cheese and stir until melted.serve with a swirl of chilli oil and toasted pitta bread.
Happy Halloween everyone. Pumpkin pie recipe tomorrow.
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Fat club part 2I went again tonight, scurrying t...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Fat club part 2
I went again tonight, scurrying t...: Fat club part 2 I went again tonight, scurrying through the darkness of the old grey town,dodging the puddles , hurrrying past the steamy ...
I went again tonight, scurrying t...: Fat club part 2 I went again tonight, scurrying through the darkness of the old grey town,dodging the puddles , hurrrying past the steamy ...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Fat club part 2I went again tonight, scurrying t...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Fat club part 2
I went again tonight, scurrying t...: Fat club part 2 I went again tonight, scurrying through the darkness of the old grey town,dodging the puddles , hurrrying past the steamy ...
I went again tonight, scurrying t...: Fat club part 2 I went again tonight, scurrying through the darkness of the old grey town,dodging the puddles , hurrrying past the steamy ...
Fat club part 2
I went again tonight, scurrying through the darkness of the old grey town,dodging the puddles , hurrrying past the steamy windows of the chip shop where skinny people queued for bags of chips with scraps.
I have really tried this week to look after myself. To eat breakfast like sane people do.Not to stick my whole head in the biscuit tin when work has been rough.To eat mindfully and actually enjoy food rather than envisaging it attaching itself slyly to my bum as I sleep.
"How do you think you`ve done?" smiled fat club leader.
The Champagne and Quavers spotlight beamed down on me as I recalled a fun weekend on the bouncy castle of lurve. But then also the brisk walk in the sunny park on Sunday with the kids, pushing them on the swings and roundabouts until they went "Wheeeee!"and charging round the city walls of Chester with them yesterday gave me the guts to reply...
"fabulous thanks!"
I stood on the scales still firmly registering "Man weight" but I`ll have you know I am 5 pounds lighter after only a week of knocking sugar and biccies on the head.
Life is all swings and roundabouts really isn`t it, but as I skipped out into the Cumbrian precipitation I had to restrain myself from squealing "Wheeeeeee!"
Tonight my Dad came to dinner and it was so lovely to have him here for once.
Spam omelette
thinly slice a tin of spam and dry fry it in a non stick pan until it goes all crispy, pour in 6 whisked up eggs and a few leftover cooked potatoes and a pipkin of seasalt. Pop under the grill to cook through and puff up, slice like a cake. Just the ticket for a war baby like Jimmy snr.
Happy days are here again.
I went again tonight, scurrying through the darkness of the old grey town,dodging the puddles , hurrrying past the steamy windows of the chip shop where skinny people queued for bags of chips with scraps.
I have really tried this week to look after myself. To eat breakfast like sane people do.Not to stick my whole head in the biscuit tin when work has been rough.To eat mindfully and actually enjoy food rather than envisaging it attaching itself slyly to my bum as I sleep.
"How do you think you`ve done?" smiled fat club leader.
The Champagne and Quavers spotlight beamed down on me as I recalled a fun weekend on the bouncy castle of lurve. But then also the brisk walk in the sunny park on Sunday with the kids, pushing them on the swings and roundabouts until they went "Wheeeee!"and charging round the city walls of Chester with them yesterday gave me the guts to reply...
"fabulous thanks!"
I stood on the scales still firmly registering "Man weight" but I`ll have you know I am 5 pounds lighter after only a week of knocking sugar and biccies on the head.
Life is all swings and roundabouts really isn`t it, but as I skipped out into the Cumbrian precipitation I had to restrain myself from squealing "Wheeeeeee!"
Tonight my Dad came to dinner and it was so lovely to have him here for once.
Spam omelette
thinly slice a tin of spam and dry fry it in a non stick pan until it goes all crispy, pour in 6 whisked up eggs and a few leftover cooked potatoes and a pipkin of seasalt. Pop under the grill to cook through and puff up, slice like a cake. Just the ticket for a war baby like Jimmy snr.
Happy days are here again.
Monday, 28 October 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: The rain it raineth everydayIt has been five yea...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: The rain it raineth everyday
It has been five yea...: The rain it raineth everyday It has been five years since my Dad came to my house. I don`t think it was anything I said. It`s just that Cu...
It has been five yea...: The rain it raineth everyday It has been five years since my Dad came to my house. I don`t think it was anything I said. It`s just that Cu...
The rain it raineth everyday
It has been five years since my Dad came to my house. I don`t think it was anything I said. It`s just that Cumbria is such a long way away from my family and it rains all the time.
I used to have one of those whirly gig clothes lines and I would hang out my knickers with pride, usually wearing my pyjamas chatting with my beautiful neighbour Jillian over the garden fence. Those long lion days of popping Cava in the back garden are long gone.
When it`s sunny and I`m not working which let`s face it is about once a year, the Lakes are unbelievably beautiful and they are where we have paddled for the past decade. Where the twins have turned into head turning teens and Jemima has grown from a little gem into a diamond. The dress code is harsh, wellies and anoraks are essential and so not me. Every time I wear my Jaeger leopard print mac to town I fear I might get arrested. But I get up, dress up and turn up everyday to hopefully light up the Kendal gloom for my little anklebiters at school.
I still don`t know why on earth I am here. I really don`t belong and I miss the seaside. A dip in the sea at Filey and a fresh crab from Flamborough head is all my heart desires.
So back to Jimy snr who storm clouds permitting is arriving like the Queen of Sheba in time for lunch- or dinner if you`re from Yorkshire and so tomorrow it`ll be "what`s for tea our lass?"rather than "what`s for dinner Clarey?"
Shepherd`s pie and Champagne of course (after my return visit to fat club which I will report on I promise!)
which go together like Torvill and Dean or George Michael and Andrew Ridgely or Chas and Dave, all terribly unfashionable but secretly my faves!!
Champagne- Pol Roger , chill and pop silently like a duchess`s fart.
Shepherd`s pie
beef mince
tomato puree
salt and pepper
onions
garlic
celery
butter
carrot diced
beef stock
sherry
maris piper potatoes
butter
milk
condensed milk
Fry the mince, onions and 4 cloves of garlic with 2 celery sticks sliced and a diced carrot in a little butter. Add a tbs of tomato puree and cook for 10 mins until it caramelises. Season and add 1/2 pint of beef stock, a little milk and a slosh of sherry. Boil the potatoes in salted water and mash until smooth. Add butter , seasoning, milk and a tbs of condensed milk. Top the mince with the buttery mash and put in the oven until heated through and crispy on tram lined top.
Serve with savoy cabbage, finely sliced and steamed with garlic,butter and a few drops of soya sauce.
Give to your Dad with all your love and the promise of another dinner date in five years time!
It has been five years since my Dad came to my house. I don`t think it was anything I said. It`s just that Cumbria is such a long way away from my family and it rains all the time.
I used to have one of those whirly gig clothes lines and I would hang out my knickers with pride, usually wearing my pyjamas chatting with my beautiful neighbour Jillian over the garden fence. Those long lion days of popping Cava in the back garden are long gone.
When it`s sunny and I`m not working which let`s face it is about once a year, the Lakes are unbelievably beautiful and they are where we have paddled for the past decade. Where the twins have turned into head turning teens and Jemima has grown from a little gem into a diamond. The dress code is harsh, wellies and anoraks are essential and so not me. Every time I wear my Jaeger leopard print mac to town I fear I might get arrested. But I get up, dress up and turn up everyday to hopefully light up the Kendal gloom for my little anklebiters at school.
I still don`t know why on earth I am here. I really don`t belong and I miss the seaside. A dip in the sea at Filey and a fresh crab from Flamborough head is all my heart desires.
So back to Jimy snr who storm clouds permitting is arriving like the Queen of Sheba in time for lunch- or dinner if you`re from Yorkshire and so tomorrow it`ll be "what`s for tea our lass?"rather than "what`s for dinner Clarey?"
Shepherd`s pie and Champagne of course (after my return visit to fat club which I will report on I promise!)
which go together like Torvill and Dean or George Michael and Andrew Ridgely or Chas and Dave, all terribly unfashionable but secretly my faves!!
Champagne- Pol Roger , chill and pop silently like a duchess`s fart.
Shepherd`s pie
beef mince
tomato puree
salt and pepper
onions
garlic
celery
butter
carrot diced
beef stock
sherry
maris piper potatoes
butter
milk
condensed milk
Fry the mince, onions and 4 cloves of garlic with 2 celery sticks sliced and a diced carrot in a little butter. Add a tbs of tomato puree and cook for 10 mins until it caramelises. Season and add 1/2 pint of beef stock, a little milk and a slosh of sherry. Boil the potatoes in salted water and mash until smooth. Add butter , seasoning, milk and a tbs of condensed milk. Top the mince with the buttery mash and put in the oven until heated through and crispy on tram lined top.
Serve with savoy cabbage, finely sliced and steamed with garlic,butter and a few drops of soya sauce.
Give to your Dad with all your love and the promise of another dinner date in five years time!
Sunday, 27 October 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: The clocks went backLast night I had to sleep in...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: The clocks went back
Last night I had to sleep in...: The clocks went back Last night I had to sleep in my mother-in-law`s dining room on an inflatable double bed with the amorous Matty Neal f...
Last night I had to sleep in...: The clocks went back Last night I had to sleep in my mother-in-law`s dining room on an inflatable double bed with the amorous Matty Neal f...
The clocks went back
Last night I had to sleep in my mother-in-law`s dining room on an inflatable double bed with the amorous Matty Neal for company having had a bit of a hooley with his brothers. It was like being on a bouncy castle of lurve with a water buffalo! The rafting snores made me giggle and the ticking of several alarm clocks drove me insane but I was snuggled up with my sweetheart with the half term holidays stretching out before me like a red carpet to freedom, pampering and laziness. James and Matty had set all the clocks in order to be up at six to drive to windy Blackpool for a 4* table tennis tournament . "ping pong" the glue in our marriage`s love sandwich.We got to bed at 1am and getting comfy was like trying to get out of a ball pool covered in superglue, having imbibed several VATs (Vodka and Tonic my new skinny drink of choice). First the snoring kept me awake, then the wind rattling the roof tiles. Eventually I decamped to the leather settee with the reclining leg rest. It kept going up and down like a bride`s nightie as I rolled around under a scant blanket.
I blessed the sunrise and Matty and James trolled off to Blackpool at 7am full of ping and pong.
Sadly we had forgotten that the clocks went back last night and they arrived an hour early , so trundled off to the golden arches for brekky.
I scampered upstairs and sunk into a marshmallow duvet double bed vacated by the girls who had tripped downstairs to watch SpongeBob.
It has been the perfect Autumn day today, we have been to the park, had a party tea of sandwiches and chips and now the lights are low and the fire is on and tonight I am claiming a bed. I am too old to go for a ride on the bouncy castle of lurve tonight, I deserve a good night`s kip.
Cheesey leeks
4 large leeks
4 slices thick Yorkshire ham
1tbs butter
1tbs flour
1 pint milk
creme fraiche
1tsp English mustard
1 pack grated mature cheddar
1 pack grated mozzarella
1 pack grated fresh parmesan
Slice the leeks and boil in salted water. To make the cheese sauce, melt the butter stir in the flour and add the milk. Stir over a gentle heat until smooth sauce ,add a grating of mace and lots of cheese and mustard. Stir til a cheesey silky sauce is made. Wrap the leeks with ham and put in an oven proof dish , cover with cheese sauce, top with grated mozzarella and grated parmesan, op in a hot oven for 20mins. Cheesey heaven! Guaranteed to give you dreams all night even if you are on a bouncy castle of lurve! x
Last night I had to sleep in my mother-in-law`s dining room on an inflatable double bed with the amorous Matty Neal for company having had a bit of a hooley with his brothers. It was like being on a bouncy castle of lurve with a water buffalo! The rafting snores made me giggle and the ticking of several alarm clocks drove me insane but I was snuggled up with my sweetheart with the half term holidays stretching out before me like a red carpet to freedom, pampering and laziness. James and Matty had set all the clocks in order to be up at six to drive to windy Blackpool for a 4* table tennis tournament . "ping pong" the glue in our marriage`s love sandwich.We got to bed at 1am and getting comfy was like trying to get out of a ball pool covered in superglue, having imbibed several VATs (Vodka and Tonic my new skinny drink of choice). First the snoring kept me awake, then the wind rattling the roof tiles. Eventually I decamped to the leather settee with the reclining leg rest. It kept going up and down like a bride`s nightie as I rolled around under a scant blanket.
I blessed the sunrise and Matty and James trolled off to Blackpool at 7am full of ping and pong.
Sadly we had forgotten that the clocks went back last night and they arrived an hour early , so trundled off to the golden arches for brekky.
I scampered upstairs and sunk into a marshmallow duvet double bed vacated by the girls who had tripped downstairs to watch SpongeBob.
It has been the perfect Autumn day today, we have been to the park, had a party tea of sandwiches and chips and now the lights are low and the fire is on and tonight I am claiming a bed. I am too old to go for a ride on the bouncy castle of lurve tonight, I deserve a good night`s kip.
Cheesey leeks
4 large leeks
4 slices thick Yorkshire ham
1tbs butter
1tbs flour
1 pint milk
creme fraiche
1tsp English mustard
1 pack grated mature cheddar
1 pack grated mozzarella
1 pack grated fresh parmesan
Slice the leeks and boil in salted water. To make the cheese sauce, melt the butter stir in the flour and add the milk. Stir over a gentle heat until smooth sauce ,add a grating of mace and lots of cheese and mustard. Stir til a cheesey silky sauce is made. Wrap the leeks with ham and put in an oven proof dish , cover with cheese sauce, top with grated mozzarella and grated parmesan, op in a hot oven for 20mins. Cheesey heaven! Guaranteed to give you dreams all night even if you are on a bouncy castle of lurve! x
Saturday, 26 October 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: It`s nice to be important but it`s more important ...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: It`s nice to be important but it`s more important ...: It`s nice to be important but it`s more important to be nice. I am blessed with a beautiful lack of ambition. All I want to be is happy a...
It`s nice to be important but it`s more important to be nice.
I am blessed with a beautiful lack of ambition. All I want to be is happy and that is my ambition for my children too.
Everyday and all through my life and I am sure it is the same for most people there are lots of people telling you what to do , wanting to be in charge. I like to think I am too cerebral to be ruthless like that, the traffic warden mentality that you can spoil someones day everyday because of your rules or power is not a mind path I choose to follow.
The democracy that exists in my home can lead to chaos, with lack of bedtimes and routines for where to put your dirty socks but out of chaos comes a loving order that we are all happy in the gutter looking up at the stars.
Having worked full time recently , I can`t say housework is the top of my priority list! Yesterday was my day to tidy! Then a call came in that last minute guests were looking for a room at the Inn. "Of course" I said with a horrified shudder, toilet brush time is not my favourite sport! So I was like a whirling dervish all day, cleaning out my mental and real closets. Then just as the table was set and the fire lit we got a call that our guests had been waylaid, weren`t coming.
Mr N arrived home to a haven of orderly domestic bliss, plumped up cushions , roaring fire, three types of curry and a rather fine bottle of Chianti on the go. "I wish someone would ring up and pretend to be coming every Friday night " he beamed.
However grey the day, however chaotic your life if you keep shining your light out into the World it always beams right back to you. Instead of being grumpy I was liberated that the will to help someone else yesterday actually boomeranged back to me and I helped myself. Half term holidays will be fun now and feather duster and toilet brush time is over!
Three curries and a ping pong match.
Curry 1-Salmon curry
Thai red paste
8 salmon fillets
coriander
3 onions , 3 cloves of garlic,
light coconut milk
Marinate the salmon in the thai paste, meanwhile fry the onions and garlic until they are caramelised , microwave the fillets for about 4 minutes until just steamed and add to the onions stir in the milk and add a tsp of sugar . Gently simmer and add a big bunch of coriander snipped up.
Curry 2- Cauliflower cheese , pumpkin and potato curry.
1 cauliflower
paneer cheese
gnocci
hot curry powder
madras paste
pumpkin flesh
olive oil
sea salt
Boil a small cauliflower until tender, fry a packet of gnocci in a little olive oil and salt until crispy then roll in hot curry powder, roast some pumpkin flesh in the oven with a little olive oil, seasalt and fennel seeds,
To make the curry combine the cauliflower and pumpkin in a pan with a tbs of madras paste, add a tin of light coconut milk a tsp of sugar and the Indian cheese and cook over a gentle heat until reduced , to finish add lts of fresh coriander and the crispy curried gnocci balls.
Curry 3- Prawn madras
2 packs of prawns
madras paste
tinned tomatoes
skimmed milk
coriander
garlic
This is my skinny one! To make the sauce , dry fry 4 cloves of crushed garlic, add 1 tbs of madras paste and then a tin of tomatoes and half a bunch of chopped coriander. Once the sauce is reduced , add the prawns and a slosh of skimmed milk and the other half of the coriander.
Serve with brown rice,boiled with cardomon pods and ...
Fat free raita
1 pot of fat free greek yoghurt
1 cucumber grated
1 tbs mint sauce
1/2 red onion grated
Combine alltogether.
Phew what a pallaver trying to spice up my life! Follow with a good game of ping pong with a Forrest Gump lookalike (Mattos!)
I am blessed with a beautiful lack of ambition. All I want to be is happy and that is my ambition for my children too.
Everyday and all through my life and I am sure it is the same for most people there are lots of people telling you what to do , wanting to be in charge. I like to think I am too cerebral to be ruthless like that, the traffic warden mentality that you can spoil someones day everyday because of your rules or power is not a mind path I choose to follow.
The democracy that exists in my home can lead to chaos, with lack of bedtimes and routines for where to put your dirty socks but out of chaos comes a loving order that we are all happy in the gutter looking up at the stars.
Having worked full time recently , I can`t say housework is the top of my priority list! Yesterday was my day to tidy! Then a call came in that last minute guests were looking for a room at the Inn. "Of course" I said with a horrified shudder, toilet brush time is not my favourite sport! So I was like a whirling dervish all day, cleaning out my mental and real closets. Then just as the table was set and the fire lit we got a call that our guests had been waylaid, weren`t coming.
Mr N arrived home to a haven of orderly domestic bliss, plumped up cushions , roaring fire, three types of curry and a rather fine bottle of Chianti on the go. "I wish someone would ring up and pretend to be coming every Friday night " he beamed.
However grey the day, however chaotic your life if you keep shining your light out into the World it always beams right back to you. Instead of being grumpy I was liberated that the will to help someone else yesterday actually boomeranged back to me and I helped myself. Half term holidays will be fun now and feather duster and toilet brush time is over!
Three curries and a ping pong match.
Curry 1-Salmon curry
Thai red paste
8 salmon fillets
coriander
3 onions , 3 cloves of garlic,
light coconut milk
Marinate the salmon in the thai paste, meanwhile fry the onions and garlic until they are caramelised , microwave the fillets for about 4 minutes until just steamed and add to the onions stir in the milk and add a tsp of sugar . Gently simmer and add a big bunch of coriander snipped up.
Curry 2- Cauliflower cheese , pumpkin and potato curry.
1 cauliflower
paneer cheese
gnocci
hot curry powder
madras paste
pumpkin flesh
olive oil
sea salt
Boil a small cauliflower until tender, fry a packet of gnocci in a little olive oil and salt until crispy then roll in hot curry powder, roast some pumpkin flesh in the oven with a little olive oil, seasalt and fennel seeds,
To make the curry combine the cauliflower and pumpkin in a pan with a tbs of madras paste, add a tin of light coconut milk a tsp of sugar and the Indian cheese and cook over a gentle heat until reduced , to finish add lts of fresh coriander and the crispy curried gnocci balls.
Curry 3- Prawn madras
2 packs of prawns
madras paste
tinned tomatoes
skimmed milk
coriander
garlic
This is my skinny one! To make the sauce , dry fry 4 cloves of crushed garlic, add 1 tbs of madras paste and then a tin of tomatoes and half a bunch of chopped coriander. Once the sauce is reduced , add the prawns and a slosh of skimmed milk and the other half of the coriander.
Serve with brown rice,boiled with cardomon pods and ...
Fat free raita
1 pot of fat free greek yoghurt
1 cucumber grated
1 tbs mint sauce
1/2 red onion grated
Combine alltogether.
Phew what a pallaver trying to spice up my life! Follow with a good game of ping pong with a Forrest Gump lookalike (Mattos!)
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Day one of being good
After my Buddha moment on the carpet I finally decided that I should rejoin fat club! "Nice to see you" the slimming consultant beamed ("big fat boomerang!") she must have been secretly thinking!
So I got on the scales (first time in about 3 years shocking I know) and wondered to myself as the digital scales rocketed to "man weight!" a)could I possibly be with child?b) could a child be possibly hiding in my cardigan pocket ?or c) maybe had I let myself go rather alot!
"What are your weaknesses?" she asked in front of a huge hall of huge ladies.
"Food?" I lamely replied.
(I love it , every sticky toffee, space dust, belly busting ,bacon butty mouthful of it. My plea in the dock of big ,fat,round court would have to be guilty.Guilty pleasures though.)
So as I sit here weighing around the same amount as before I was about to deliver twins I am inspired to see if I can eat myself slimmer. At the moment I skip breakfast, eat choccy biscuits and coffee all day and then have a gourmet dinner with my sweetheart and have a fair few shandies each and every night.
I have worked hard to develop a more beautiful soul and like my Nanna always said "you get the face you deserve pet!" unfortunately you get the bum you deserve too!
Everyone who had lost weight at fat club this week had said they had eaten lots of pea and ham soup-
so here goes. Big and bouncy I`ll always be but able to run up Kendal fell and tie my own shoelaces without having a tussle with my chest would have to be my personal target!
Pea and ham soup for lardy(that`s what my name is when you don`t use predictive text!!)
1 bag of frozen peas
1 small ham hock
onions
potatoes
tarragon
stock
Boil the ham in water until cooked , discard half the water if too salty and top up to 2pints with chicken stock, boil everything up together including the ham from the bone. Add a little tarragon and black pepper.
Whizz up til thick, have for your lunch and feel virtuous for once.
Wish me luck, a hungry foodie is a frightening thing to behold.
After my Buddha moment on the carpet I finally decided that I should rejoin fat club! "Nice to see you" the slimming consultant beamed ("big fat boomerang!") she must have been secretly thinking!
So I got on the scales (first time in about 3 years shocking I know) and wondered to myself as the digital scales rocketed to "man weight!" a)could I possibly be with child?b) could a child be possibly hiding in my cardigan pocket ?or c) maybe had I let myself go rather alot!
"What are your weaknesses?" she asked in front of a huge hall of huge ladies.
"Food?" I lamely replied.
(I love it , every sticky toffee, space dust, belly busting ,bacon butty mouthful of it. My plea in the dock of big ,fat,round court would have to be guilty.Guilty pleasures though.)
So as I sit here weighing around the same amount as before I was about to deliver twins I am inspired to see if I can eat myself slimmer. At the moment I skip breakfast, eat choccy biscuits and coffee all day and then have a gourmet dinner with my sweetheart and have a fair few shandies each and every night.
I have worked hard to develop a more beautiful soul and like my Nanna always said "you get the face you deserve pet!" unfortunately you get the bum you deserve too!
Everyone who had lost weight at fat club this week had said they had eaten lots of pea and ham soup-
so here goes. Big and bouncy I`ll always be but able to run up Kendal fell and tie my own shoelaces without having a tussle with my chest would have to be my personal target!
Pea and ham soup for lardy(that`s what my name is when you don`t use predictive text!!)
1 bag of frozen peas
1 small ham hock
onions
potatoes
tarragon
stock
Boil the ham in water until cooked , discard half the water if too salty and top up to 2pints with chicken stock, boil everything up together including the ham from the bone. Add a little tarragon and black pepper.
Whizz up til thick, have for your lunch and feel virtuous for once.
Wish me luck, a hungry foodie is a frightening thing to behold.
Monday, 21 October 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Christmas is coming and Clarey`s getting fat!It...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Christmas is coming and Clarey`s getting fat!
It...: Christmas is coming and Clarey`s getting fat! It is about 10 or 11 weeks until Christmas and the thought of all that is undone just sends...
It...: Christmas is coming and Clarey`s getting fat! It is about 10 or 11 weeks until Christmas and the thought of all that is undone just sends...
Christmas is coming and Clarey`s getting fat!
It is about 10 or 11 weeks until Christmas and the thought of all that is undone just sends me into a chocolate biscuit eating frenzy!
I know I shouldn`t - I`m not that keen on chocolate biscuits and as the gusset on my tights works it`s way down to my knees whilst sitting cross legged on the carpet trying to be spiritual in RE with my class, I am slowly turning into a Buddha. I blame it on the dark nights...when I get home I want a gravy dinner, I want mash and a steamed sponge pudding with custard! I even had a spoonful of condensed milk to sweeten up the darkest and wettest of Mondays tonight , so before I transform into the mother of all comfort eaters and apply to be a Father Christmas at the Co op I am going to stop and let this little cookery blog be my saving grace.
I am a big fan of big knobs of butter, lashings of cream and Baileys on everything but in a vain attempt to squeeze into a party dress rather than tent I am going to be good for the rest of the year . So if I plan what`s for dinner tomorrow tonight it might prevent me from rushing from staff meetings (chocolatey Clare covered in Kit Kat crumbs!) to the wine aisle. I am going to drink water and have lots of soup and no bread. If I have no bread there is no need for butter - my bete noir(black beast!!) I suppose then I better go swimming too (my fave thing to do)as I haven`t been for a swim since I splashed in the waves in Cornwall in August.
Work just gets in the way of being the best me I can be. So I am going to spend the most quality time I can with those who would find me irreplaceable ( a very select number!) and get ready to sparkle and shine in December.
Yesterday I made Grandma Betty this carrot soup she was recalling carrot jam in the war and how she used to take shrapnel into school instead of conkers and it was delicious...so here goes 10 weeks of no butter , sugar or alcohol (gulp!)
Blitz up Carrot soup
4 sticks celery
2 large red onions
8 carrots chopped
3 large cloves of garlic
1tbs curry powder
1 tbs Turmeric
chicken stock
semi skimmed milk
seasoning
a little slosh of olive oil
Fry the vegetables in a little olive oil and add turmeric and curry powder, 2 pints of chicken stock and boil until tender. Blitz and add a little milk to make it creamy and then serve in warmed bowls with lots of black pepper and those people who would find you irreplaceable even if you looked like a Buddha.
It is about 10 or 11 weeks until Christmas and the thought of all that is undone just sends me into a chocolate biscuit eating frenzy!
I know I shouldn`t - I`m not that keen on chocolate biscuits and as the gusset on my tights works it`s way down to my knees whilst sitting cross legged on the carpet trying to be spiritual in RE with my class, I am slowly turning into a Buddha. I blame it on the dark nights...when I get home I want a gravy dinner, I want mash and a steamed sponge pudding with custard! I even had a spoonful of condensed milk to sweeten up the darkest and wettest of Mondays tonight , so before I transform into the mother of all comfort eaters and apply to be a Father Christmas at the Co op I am going to stop and let this little cookery blog be my saving grace.
I am a big fan of big knobs of butter, lashings of cream and Baileys on everything but in a vain attempt to squeeze into a party dress rather than tent I am going to be good for the rest of the year . So if I plan what`s for dinner tomorrow tonight it might prevent me from rushing from staff meetings (chocolatey Clare covered in Kit Kat crumbs!) to the wine aisle. I am going to drink water and have lots of soup and no bread. If I have no bread there is no need for butter - my bete noir(black beast!!) I suppose then I better go swimming too (my fave thing to do)as I haven`t been for a swim since I splashed in the waves in Cornwall in August.
Work just gets in the way of being the best me I can be. So I am going to spend the most quality time I can with those who would find me irreplaceable ( a very select number!) and get ready to sparkle and shine in December.
Yesterday I made Grandma Betty this carrot soup she was recalling carrot jam in the war and how she used to take shrapnel into school instead of conkers and it was delicious...so here goes 10 weeks of no butter , sugar or alcohol (gulp!)
Blitz up Carrot soup
4 sticks celery
2 large red onions
8 carrots chopped
3 large cloves of garlic
1tbs curry powder
1 tbs Turmeric
chicken stock
semi skimmed milk
seasoning
a little slosh of olive oil
Fry the vegetables in a little olive oil and add turmeric and curry powder, 2 pints of chicken stock and boil until tender. Blitz and add a little milk to make it creamy and then serve in warmed bowls with lots of black pepper and those people who would find you irreplaceable even if you looked like a Buddha.
Friday, 27 September 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Lessons in loveI had the most hilarious email ch...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Lessons in love
I had the most hilarious email ch...: Lessons in love I had the most hilarious email chat with my daughter`s French teacher last night apologising for recycling Lily`s French b...
I had the most hilarious email ch...: Lessons in love I had the most hilarious email chat with my daughter`s French teacher last night apologising for recycling Lily`s French b...
Lessons in love
I had the most hilarious email chat with my daughter`s French teacher last night apologising for recycling Lily`s French book. The night before we had had a very productive Mamman bebe revision session all about going to Paris. In my dreams!
Then I bid Lily bonne nuit and after a little glass of Cava decided to recycle my stash of Food magazines (dogg eared and well read) and my Health and fitness magazines (pristine and unread unsurprisingly)and took them down to my local surgery.
Next evening Quelle horreur Lily had lost her French book and I could just imagine Iris and Daphne sitting in Captain French Lane surgery waiting for a flu jab reading Lilys French book graffitti saying how much Elle aimez Harry Styles!!
After mucho teenage eye rolling and door slamming at my recycling debacle I wrote her French teacher a cheeky email promising never to mix housework and homework again.
Of course the charming man sent one back saying it had given him the biggest laugh of the day and of course he would supply her with a new one today.
Today he confessed to having found Lily`s French book and so I was exonnerated!!
Lily and James came first and second in their class test and it goes to show, however awful the predicament if you face your problems face on, with a smile on that face, nothing is ever as bad as you fear it may be. Most of the things we worry about never happen.
All that matters is NOW.
Enjoy your weekend O gorgeous ones and homework can wait.
Gnocchi
Shallow fry two packs of gnocchi in olive oil until crispy, then stir in a small pot of green pesto and some pancetta or bacon lardons fried til crispy. Pour into a warm bowl and top with shards of fresh parmesan.
Sit and eat it with your children and tell them that they are wonderful, beautiful, clever and brilliant. It` s just an idea that they may allow to grow into reality. Dreams grow if you water them, if you never feed dreams they die.
I had the most hilarious email chat with my daughter`s French teacher last night apologising for recycling Lily`s French book. The night before we had had a very productive Mamman bebe revision session all about going to Paris. In my dreams!
Then I bid Lily bonne nuit and after a little glass of Cava decided to recycle my stash of Food magazines (dogg eared and well read) and my Health and fitness magazines (pristine and unread unsurprisingly)and took them down to my local surgery.
Next evening Quelle horreur Lily had lost her French book and I could just imagine Iris and Daphne sitting in Captain French Lane surgery waiting for a flu jab reading Lilys French book graffitti saying how much Elle aimez Harry Styles!!
After mucho teenage eye rolling and door slamming at my recycling debacle I wrote her French teacher a cheeky email promising never to mix housework and homework again.
Of course the charming man sent one back saying it had given him the biggest laugh of the day and of course he would supply her with a new one today.
Today he confessed to having found Lily`s French book and so I was exonnerated!!
Lily and James came first and second in their class test and it goes to show, however awful the predicament if you face your problems face on, with a smile on that face, nothing is ever as bad as you fear it may be. Most of the things we worry about never happen.
All that matters is NOW.
Enjoy your weekend O gorgeous ones and homework can wait.
Gnocchi
Shallow fry two packs of gnocchi in olive oil until crispy, then stir in a small pot of green pesto and some pancetta or bacon lardons fried til crispy. Pour into a warm bowl and top with shards of fresh parmesan.
Sit and eat it with your children and tell them that they are wonderful, beautiful, clever and brilliant. It` s just an idea that they may allow to grow into reality. Dreams grow if you water them, if you never feed dreams they die.
Thursday, 12 September 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: BlackberriesMy Mum Joey is quite simply the best...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Blackberries
My Mum Joey is quite simply the best...: Blackberries My Mum Joey is quite simply the best person I know. When I was young , growing up with an impossibly beautiful mother when yo...
My Mum Joey is quite simply the best...: Blackberries My Mum Joey is quite simply the best person I know. When I was young , growing up with an impossibly beautiful mother when yo...
Blackberries
My Mum Joey is quite simply the best person I know. When I was young , growing up with an impossibly beautiful mother when your nickname at school was "sturdy girl!"could have caused tensions- not a bit of it. She was a true lioness for my brothers and I and we adored her for it. She used to go to dinner dances with my Dad at the Grosvenor in London and Blenheim palace and we would all swoon as she rustled past us in silk and taffeta. She was the post lady in our eyes as she always delivered!
Once when we lived in St.Albans (the old Roman Verulanium) , she found a Roman coin in our garden. She bought my brother Tim a leather jacket with the proceedings.When I was forced to eat beans at school she came in and wiped the table with the dinner ladies. When my fat little brother Jamie couldn`t get a game of footy, she wrote to York City and he got signed! Ah Motherlove ...if only we could bottle it , it could power the Nation.
Now I am a mother, and that is all I require to be written on my tombstone,I know all about motherlove and it`s power.The overriding desire to protect your special ones is preternatural , if any one harmed any of them I would want blood. My Mum used to tell us a story about when she was little in the 1950s and went blackberrying. Joey went cycling to Strensall aerodrome to pick berries for a pie. A man said "there`s lots of big ones over here" and always fond of her food she was about to follow and perhaps come a cropper with the strange guy in the bushes. Fortunately her much wiser friend Pat screamed "Get on your bike and ride lass!"So Pat saved her and Joey lived to bramble another day and grow up to be my brilliant Mother.
I went blackberrying this week with my class, we went into the churchyard and found oodles of juicy brambles(obviously very fertile soil in there!) We went back to school and made mini crumbles to give away as a random act of kindness at the Westmorland County Show.
After a weary day I returned to the showground to collect our stand, and was thrilled to hear that the President of the show thought they were superb.
Anything made with unconditional love as my Mum showed me always turns out grand!
Mini Blackberry and pear crumbles
silver foil pudding cases
brambles
pears
sugar
flour
Stork margarine
Line each case with a little chopped up pear and 4 blackberries and a tsp sugar, top with crumble made from 8oz plain flour, 5oz stork margarine - rub in until crumb like then add 4tbs sugar 1 tbs oats 1 tbs muscovado sugar and press onto fruit. Bake at 180 degrees for 15 mins until golden.
The best things in life are free like marvellous Mummies and brambles for tea.xxx
My Mum Joey is quite simply the best person I know. When I was young , growing up with an impossibly beautiful mother when your nickname at school was "sturdy girl!"could have caused tensions- not a bit of it. She was a true lioness for my brothers and I and we adored her for it. She used to go to dinner dances with my Dad at the Grosvenor in London and Blenheim palace and we would all swoon as she rustled past us in silk and taffeta. She was the post lady in our eyes as she always delivered!
Once when we lived in St.Albans (the old Roman Verulanium) , she found a Roman coin in our garden. She bought my brother Tim a leather jacket with the proceedings.When I was forced to eat beans at school she came in and wiped the table with the dinner ladies. When my fat little brother Jamie couldn`t get a game of footy, she wrote to York City and he got signed! Ah Motherlove ...if only we could bottle it , it could power the Nation.
Now I am a mother, and that is all I require to be written on my tombstone,I know all about motherlove and it`s power.The overriding desire to protect your special ones is preternatural , if any one harmed any of them I would want blood. My Mum used to tell us a story about when she was little in the 1950s and went blackberrying. Joey went cycling to Strensall aerodrome to pick berries for a pie. A man said "there`s lots of big ones over here" and always fond of her food she was about to follow and perhaps come a cropper with the strange guy in the bushes. Fortunately her much wiser friend Pat screamed "Get on your bike and ride lass!"So Pat saved her and Joey lived to bramble another day and grow up to be my brilliant Mother.
I went blackberrying this week with my class, we went into the churchyard and found oodles of juicy brambles(obviously very fertile soil in there!) We went back to school and made mini crumbles to give away as a random act of kindness at the Westmorland County Show.
After a weary day I returned to the showground to collect our stand, and was thrilled to hear that the President of the show thought they were superb.
Anything made with unconditional love as my Mum showed me always turns out grand!
Mini Blackberry and pear crumbles
silver foil pudding cases
brambles
pears
sugar
flour
Stork margarine
Line each case with a little chopped up pear and 4 blackberries and a tsp sugar, top with crumble made from 8oz plain flour, 5oz stork margarine - rub in until crumb like then add 4tbs sugar 1 tbs oats 1 tbs muscovado sugar and press onto fruit. Bake at 180 degrees for 15 mins until golden.
The best things in life are free like marvellous Mummies and brambles for tea.xxx
Tuesday, 10 September 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Heartbreak pieHave you ever been chucked or hear...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Heartbreak pie
Have you ever been chucked or hear...: Heartbreak pie Have you ever been chucked or heartbroken. I have lots of times. All adolescent cravings and just not meant to be, but at t...
Have you ever been chucked or hear...: Heartbreak pie Have you ever been chucked or heartbroken. I have lots of times. All adolescent cravings and just not meant to be, but at t...
Heartbreak pie
Have you ever been chucked or heartbroken. I have lots of times. All adolescent cravings and just not meant to be, but at the time, although it wasn`t the end of the World -it felt like it. I can remember driving dramatically in the rain sobbing along to "Breaking up is hard to do" and another time getting on a bus with no money and the conductor at seeing my distress just giving me a cuddle and then let me off the fare.(He must have been an angel in disguise.)
Usually I was thrown over for another girl (with the figure of Baywatch and the face of Crimewatch!!)
I really am grateful for being so trusting and so disappointed in equal measures because it never made me hard , quite the opposite it gave me the will to go on and find someone who deserved me. When you are loved you fulfil your potential and confidence makes you beautiful.
All those boys who I loved and lost I salute you, I hope you are loved and have married great cooks!
Losing someone you love is Universal, this recipe helps to heal if you have like me a "terminally romantic never give up hope" condition of the heart.
Clareyxx
Love pie
When I grew up I had three children who are the loves of my life, my love for them is not like a pie that they get a third of...they get a pie each!
8oz shortcrust pastry (double all quantities if you are having a little pity party!)
1 block feta cheese
1 red onion
1 bag spinach wilted (like our heroine) in a little butter and garlic
Roll out the pastry into a large oval, if homemade you can add a little olive oil and grated cheese to the pastry.
Put the spinach , crumbled feta , fried onion in the middle then pull the edges together so it looks like a giant pasty or Klingon`s forehead. Bake on a tray for 25 mins until the pastry is cooked and the cheese has melted. Even the hardest of hearts go gooey for this in our house. Serve with tabouleh salad and a spoon of hummus.
mucho love.xx
Have you ever been chucked or heartbroken. I have lots of times. All adolescent cravings and just not meant to be, but at the time, although it wasn`t the end of the World -it felt like it. I can remember driving dramatically in the rain sobbing along to "Breaking up is hard to do" and another time getting on a bus with no money and the conductor at seeing my distress just giving me a cuddle and then let me off the fare.(He must have been an angel in disguise.)
Usually I was thrown over for another girl (with the figure of Baywatch and the face of Crimewatch!!)
I really am grateful for being so trusting and so disappointed in equal measures because it never made me hard , quite the opposite it gave me the will to go on and find someone who deserved me. When you are loved you fulfil your potential and confidence makes you beautiful.
All those boys who I loved and lost I salute you, I hope you are loved and have married great cooks!
Losing someone you love is Universal, this recipe helps to heal if you have like me a "terminally romantic never give up hope" condition of the heart.
Clareyxx
Love pie
When I grew up I had three children who are the loves of my life, my love for them is not like a pie that they get a third of...they get a pie each!
8oz shortcrust pastry (double all quantities if you are having a little pity party!)
1 block feta cheese
1 red onion
1 bag spinach wilted (like our heroine) in a little butter and garlic
Roll out the pastry into a large oval, if homemade you can add a little olive oil and grated cheese to the pastry.
Put the spinach , crumbled feta , fried onion in the middle then pull the edges together so it looks like a giant pasty or Klingon`s forehead. Bake on a tray for 25 mins until the pastry is cooked and the cheese has melted. Even the hardest of hearts go gooey for this in our house. Serve with tabouleh salad and a spoon of hummus.
mucho love.xx
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Slummy MummyThis morning I did the walk of shame...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Slummy Mummy
This morning I did the walk of shame...: Slummy Mummy This morning I did the walk of shame...late...late ...late through the playground with my youngest little darling Jem in tow....
This morning I did the walk of shame...: Slummy Mummy This morning I did the walk of shame...late...late ...late through the playground with my youngest little darling Jem in tow....
Slummy Mummy
This morning I did the walk of shame...late...late ...late through the playground with my youngest little darling Jem in tow. We were cruising through town at a quarter to nine singing along loudly to "Sir Duke" , sunny day in Kendal on our way to a training day at my school. Jemima had selected her outfit the night before skinny jeans, stripey blazer and shades and had come prepared for a lazy day clutching equal amounts of chocolate and DVDs (chick flicks she had pilfered from her teen dream sister Lily!) As we prepared to blow a raspberry at her school gates and sing in unison "No school today!" her little face dropped. Lots of shiny looking little people all squeaking along in new shoes , book bags and PE kits flying in the wind were swarming into the playground ready for the first day back.
"Fishfingers!"(or something rather ruder I gasped) as I swooped round U turning like Cagney and Lacey.At exactly 9.02 am she was on the carpet in her new classroom answering the register, probably with price tags allover her person as we had moved in SAS style. Her packed lunch was a makeshift sausage sarnie, mars bar, huge bag of tortillas, huge bag of popcorn, I drew the line at a can of Red Bull , not wanting her to go loco on her first morning in the Junior department.
The unfalappable Jemima Neal glided through it all , delighted to see all her friends again and grinning from ear to ear at the prospect of the World`s unhealthiest lunch bag ever.
The slummy Mummy had landed , all the other pushchair strolling gang were popping into town for coffees as I screeched out of the car park trying to get to my school not too late.
I thought I`d just tiptoe in and not share my stressful start with my colleagues- I needn`t have worried the aforementioned lovely Lilster had rung ahead to inform my boss of her Mummy`s slumminess! If you pay your PA in Haribo what more could you expect?
When I got home and we all sat down to tea I had to laugh at the greatness of my lateness. I still managed to knock out a gorgeous dinner and secretly high fived myself at knocking out such resilient, cool children too.
We all had a nip of sherry and toasted my Nanna "Cheers my luvvybums!" we chorused. Slummy Mummys rule OK!
Glamorgan sausages
2onions
4eggs
12oz mature cheddar
almost a full white loaf for breadcrumbs
herbs, seasoning and mustard
mix finely chopped onions, grated cheese 200g breadcrumbs, herbs, egg yolks
roll mixture into approx 24 small sausages use beaten egg white to coat sausages in the remaining breadcrumbs, deep fry for 5 mins
Serve with chilli jam and a poached egg
Eat with those who love you the most.xx
This morning I did the walk of shame...late...late ...late through the playground with my youngest little darling Jem in tow. We were cruising through town at a quarter to nine singing along loudly to "Sir Duke" , sunny day in Kendal on our way to a training day at my school. Jemima had selected her outfit the night before skinny jeans, stripey blazer and shades and had come prepared for a lazy day clutching equal amounts of chocolate and DVDs (chick flicks she had pilfered from her teen dream sister Lily!) As we prepared to blow a raspberry at her school gates and sing in unison "No school today!" her little face dropped. Lots of shiny looking little people all squeaking along in new shoes , book bags and PE kits flying in the wind were swarming into the playground ready for the first day back.
"Fishfingers!"(or something rather ruder I gasped) as I swooped round U turning like Cagney and Lacey.At exactly 9.02 am she was on the carpet in her new classroom answering the register, probably with price tags allover her person as we had moved in SAS style. Her packed lunch was a makeshift sausage sarnie, mars bar, huge bag of tortillas, huge bag of popcorn, I drew the line at a can of Red Bull , not wanting her to go loco on her first morning in the Junior department.
The unfalappable Jemima Neal glided through it all , delighted to see all her friends again and grinning from ear to ear at the prospect of the World`s unhealthiest lunch bag ever.
The slummy Mummy had landed , all the other pushchair strolling gang were popping into town for coffees as I screeched out of the car park trying to get to my school not too late.
I thought I`d just tiptoe in and not share my stressful start with my colleagues- I needn`t have worried the aforementioned lovely Lilster had rung ahead to inform my boss of her Mummy`s slumminess! If you pay your PA in Haribo what more could you expect?
When I got home and we all sat down to tea I had to laugh at the greatness of my lateness. I still managed to knock out a gorgeous dinner and secretly high fived myself at knocking out such resilient, cool children too.
We all had a nip of sherry and toasted my Nanna "Cheers my luvvybums!" we chorused. Slummy Mummys rule OK!
Glamorgan sausages
2onions
4eggs
12oz mature cheddar
almost a full white loaf for breadcrumbs
herbs, seasoning and mustard
mix finely chopped onions, grated cheese 200g breadcrumbs, herbs, egg yolks
roll mixture into approx 24 small sausages use beaten egg white to coat sausages in the remaining breadcrumbs, deep fry for 5 mins
Serve with chilli jam and a poached egg
Eat with those who love you the most.xx
Monday, 2 September 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: The dining roomMy dining room has been a compute...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: The dining room
My dining room has been a compute...: The dining room My dining room has been a computer room/office for years now but today I am reclaiming it back. This is going to take cons...
My dining room has been a compute...: The dining room My dining room has been a computer room/office for years now but today I am reclaiming it back. This is going to take cons...
The dining room
My dining room has been a computer room/office for years now but today I am reclaiming it back. This is going to take considerable effort on my part to chuck out a lifetime of teaching resources that I`ve been hanging onto for 20 years , yes I am that old. When did the new girl suddenly become the old bag? Time is moving too fast . I want to slow it down and maybe returning my dining room into a space to eat not work or waste time checking out my facebook friends when I should be spending time with real people will assist my turn back time mission.
I have loved every year of my teaching career and remember all the first days of little ones I have been privileged to oversee. They are of course now growing and grown up , some with families of their own , or at University. My maiden name was Davison and the biggest compliment a child ever paid me was mispronouncing it as Miss Daisysun. I want to be her again, cycling to work, going out for drinks, meeting my sweetheart at the York Tandoori.
I thought by the time I was 40 I would have friends over for dinner and be a grown up. But I am yet young in deed I feel just as apprehensive before the first day back as the little five year olds who come to my classroom in search of untold fun and the nearest I get to a dinner party is my nightly party of five who should all become food critics. Enough!
I am going to reclaim my dining room back today and then have lots of friends round to play and there`s a big lad called Matty whom I `m going to ask for a sleepover!!
Grownup jelly part 2
Raspberry jelly
raspberries
fresh orange juice
slosh of Vodka
1/4 pt sparkly rose wine
Make up the jelly with boiling water and then add wine and orange juice and vodka to top up to 1pt of liquid. Pour into wine glasses with a few fresh raspberries in the bottom. Leave to set in the fridge.
Serve with your best mates and some squirty cream, so trashy , so fabulous!!!
My dining room has been a computer room/office for years now but today I am reclaiming it back. This is going to take considerable effort on my part to chuck out a lifetime of teaching resources that I`ve been hanging onto for 20 years , yes I am that old. When did the new girl suddenly become the old bag? Time is moving too fast . I want to slow it down and maybe returning my dining room into a space to eat not work or waste time checking out my facebook friends when I should be spending time with real people will assist my turn back time mission.
I have loved every year of my teaching career and remember all the first days of little ones I have been privileged to oversee. They are of course now growing and grown up , some with families of their own , or at University. My maiden name was Davison and the biggest compliment a child ever paid me was mispronouncing it as Miss Daisysun. I want to be her again, cycling to work, going out for drinks, meeting my sweetheart at the York Tandoori.
I thought by the time I was 40 I would have friends over for dinner and be a grown up. But I am yet young in deed I feel just as apprehensive before the first day back as the little five year olds who come to my classroom in search of untold fun and the nearest I get to a dinner party is my nightly party of five who should all become food critics. Enough!
I am going to reclaim my dining room back today and then have lots of friends round to play and there`s a big lad called Matty whom I `m going to ask for a sleepover!!
Grownup jelly part 2
Raspberry jelly
raspberries
fresh orange juice
slosh of Vodka
1/4 pt sparkly rose wine
Make up the jelly with boiling water and then add wine and orange juice and vodka to top up to 1pt of liquid. Pour into wine glasses with a few fresh raspberries in the bottom. Leave to set in the fridge.
Serve with your best mates and some squirty cream, so trashy , so fabulous!!!
Saturday, 31 August 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Feeding time...They say the family who eats toge...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Feeding time...
They say the family who eats toge...: Feeding time... They say the family who eats together keeps together, well providing you wear a blindfold and earplugs round my table!! Us...
They say the family who eats toge...: Feeding time... They say the family who eats together keeps together, well providing you wear a blindfold and earplugs round my table!! Us...
Feeding time...
They say the family who eats together keeps together, well providing you wear a blindfold and earplugs round my table!! Usually before I`ve sat down to eat they are asking for seconds, thirds or a drink.I do love to share a meal with my family but music in the background is preferable as it drowns out all the chomping and my innocent looking cola is rarely virginal- usually laced with rum or whiskey and that`s the way I roll to make mealtimes more convivial. Then after all the hard work slaving over a hot stove , vroom and the food`s gone! That`s why I think some of my most memorable meals were eaten outside or on paper plates so the dreaded washing up was avoided.
Before I got married we were a bit poor , but the best fish and chips I ever tasted were from The Wetherby whaler and we had to share one portion between two. The trip up Kendal fell on my birthday when I was treated to a bottle of fizz at the top is the best bubbles I have tasted, that cup of tea and toast after the twins were born was delicious.A real quiche Lorraine on top of a mountain in France when I was 18 and in love and the first apple crumble my James made for me all of these are my favourite cooking heavenly highs. The lows have to be being forced to eat baked beans at Primary school (never eaten them since!) a tuna mayonnaise jacket potato in Filey that had the devil`s food"salad cream" on it bleugh and Spam fritters lovingly cooked for me by my husband when Ofsted were coming(I think I found the Inspectors more palatable!)
I do try to express my love for others by the food I serve them, Queen`s pud for Matty, Sushi for Jemima, Fishfinger sarnies for Lily and Pork fillet with cider cream sauce and chips for James. I know these foods get a direct line to to their hearts and are on hand to mend broken hearts, diminish disappointments and bring smiles to sad days. If life was all beer and skittles we`d exist on crunchy nut cornflakes , but I see food as a way to feed your soul too and to know that you are loved .
James`s pork fillet
1 pork fillet
4 cloves garlic
olive oil
carrot
celery
onions
butter
can of cider
cream
rosemary
oven chips
garlic butter
flat leafed parsley
Fry the onion, carrot celery and garlic and rosemary until golden then add the pork and seal it until brown on all sides. Add the cider and some salt and pepper and roast off in the oven on a low heat for two hours until cooked through but still moist. Finish on the stove by adding double cream , and adjust seasoning , a little tsp of sugar brings the sauce together, then loads of freshly ground black pepper to finish. Take the meat out to rest and then carve into medallions.
Meanwhile you have cooked the oven chips to finish them off , toss them in melted garlic butter and flat leafed parsley. Serve the pork on a bed of wilted spinach,butter,mace sprinking over the top with the garlic chips on the side.
This meal will bring a smile to Jimmy and seems so right when the football or pingpong match has gone wrong! x
They say the family who eats together keeps together, well providing you wear a blindfold and earplugs round my table!! Usually before I`ve sat down to eat they are asking for seconds, thirds or a drink.I do love to share a meal with my family but music in the background is preferable as it drowns out all the chomping and my innocent looking cola is rarely virginal- usually laced with rum or whiskey and that`s the way I roll to make mealtimes more convivial. Then after all the hard work slaving over a hot stove , vroom and the food`s gone! That`s why I think some of my most memorable meals were eaten outside or on paper plates so the dreaded washing up was avoided.
Before I got married we were a bit poor , but the best fish and chips I ever tasted were from The Wetherby whaler and we had to share one portion between two. The trip up Kendal fell on my birthday when I was treated to a bottle of fizz at the top is the best bubbles I have tasted, that cup of tea and toast after the twins were born was delicious.A real quiche Lorraine on top of a mountain in France when I was 18 and in love and the first apple crumble my James made for me all of these are my favourite cooking heavenly highs. The lows have to be being forced to eat baked beans at Primary school (never eaten them since!) a tuna mayonnaise jacket potato in Filey that had the devil`s food"salad cream" on it bleugh and Spam fritters lovingly cooked for me by my husband when Ofsted were coming(I think I found the Inspectors more palatable!)
I do try to express my love for others by the food I serve them, Queen`s pud for Matty, Sushi for Jemima, Fishfinger sarnies for Lily and Pork fillet with cider cream sauce and chips for James. I know these foods get a direct line to to their hearts and are on hand to mend broken hearts, diminish disappointments and bring smiles to sad days. If life was all beer and skittles we`d exist on crunchy nut cornflakes , but I see food as a way to feed your soul too and to know that you are loved .
James`s pork fillet
1 pork fillet
4 cloves garlic
olive oil
carrot
celery
onions
butter
can of cider
cream
rosemary
oven chips
garlic butter
flat leafed parsley
Fry the onion, carrot celery and garlic and rosemary until golden then add the pork and seal it until brown on all sides. Add the cider and some salt and pepper and roast off in the oven on a low heat for two hours until cooked through but still moist. Finish on the stove by adding double cream , and adjust seasoning , a little tsp of sugar brings the sauce together, then loads of freshly ground black pepper to finish. Take the meat out to rest and then carve into medallions.
Meanwhile you have cooked the oven chips to finish them off , toss them in melted garlic butter and flat leafed parsley. Serve the pork on a bed of wilted spinach,butter,mace sprinking over the top with the garlic chips on the side.
This meal will bring a smile to Jimmy and seems so right when the football or pingpong match has gone wrong! x
Friday, 30 August 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Autumn daysTonight it feels like Autumn, we have...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Autumn days
Tonight it feels like Autumn, we have...: Autumn days Tonight it feels like Autumn, we have candles, red wine and a little kindling fire crackling in the grate, I so hate to say go...
Tonight it feels like Autumn, we have...: Autumn days Tonight it feels like Autumn, we have candles, red wine and a little kindling fire crackling in the grate, I so hate to say go...
Autumn days
Tonight it feels like Autumn, we have candles, red wine and a little kindling fire crackling in the grate, I so hate to say goodbye to Summer. It is a pang , like when you miss your first love when he goes away.This Summer has quite simply been one of our best, I have loved being with my children everyday, tucking them in, reading stories, dragging them out of bed and telling them to tidy up their rooms!! All to no avail of course. The house was meant to be all tidy after six weeks but of course it`s a total wreck we`ve been too busy having the time of our lives to dust the cobwebs. I rather like cobwebs anyway.
All the dust and cobwebs will still remain when we are long gone. So we are having too much fun to think about the end of the holidays or to brandish any dusters tonight. Tonight I give thanks for all the comfort and joy we take for granted and all the Autumn days to come and that went before.Memories of running along toYork City FC on a cold night , drinking Bovril,getting off the school bus and coming home to a coal fire all ignite hope in me that my little family have the same little rituals to look forward to and to mould them and comfort them when they are grown up and it is the end of Summer for them one day...
Curried parsnip soup
Boil up a chicken carcass with celery, onions and garlic to make a stock. Add 4 large parsnips peeled and chopped and a pint of milk and simmer until soft . Season with salt, pepper and curry paste, a little sugar and cream for silky sweetness and blend until smooth. Serve in warmed bowls with malted brown bread and a slab of butter.The best thing about Autumn is that the dress code is "No bikinis" - goody!
Tonight it feels like Autumn, we have candles, red wine and a little kindling fire crackling in the grate, I so hate to say goodbye to Summer. It is a pang , like when you miss your first love when he goes away.This Summer has quite simply been one of our best, I have loved being with my children everyday, tucking them in, reading stories, dragging them out of bed and telling them to tidy up their rooms!! All to no avail of course. The house was meant to be all tidy after six weeks but of course it`s a total wreck we`ve been too busy having the time of our lives to dust the cobwebs. I rather like cobwebs anyway.
All the dust and cobwebs will still remain when we are long gone. So we are having too much fun to think about the end of the holidays or to brandish any dusters tonight. Tonight I give thanks for all the comfort and joy we take for granted and all the Autumn days to come and that went before.Memories of running along toYork City FC on a cold night , drinking Bovril,getting off the school bus and coming home to a coal fire all ignite hope in me that my little family have the same little rituals to look forward to and to mould them and comfort them when they are grown up and it is the end of Summer for them one day...
Curried parsnip soup
Boil up a chicken carcass with celery, onions and garlic to make a stock. Add 4 large parsnips peeled and chopped and a pint of milk and simmer until soft . Season with salt, pepper and curry paste, a little sugar and cream for silky sweetness and blend until smooth. Serve in warmed bowls with malted brown bread and a slab of butter.The best thing about Autumn is that the dress code is "No bikinis" - goody!
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: The end of the holidays are nigh for the fat rasca...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: The end of the holidays are nigh for the fat rasca...: The end of the holidays are nigh for the fat rascals! Being a Primary school teacher, just like the children I longed for the Summer holid...
The end of the holidays are nigh for the fat rascals!
Being a Primary school teacher, just like the children I longed for the Summer holidays to begin. Being a mother of twins and a yummy little one too the six weeks stretched out ahead of us full of untold fun and we have had plenty of it. We have been on a gastro tour of the UK with my hungry little munchkins delighted to sample everything on all those sunny delicious days. Highlights have been Naga lamb curry in Hereford, Philps Cornish pasties in Marazion, cream teas at Porthcurno,Thomas`s Yorkshire curd tarts and Betty`s fat rascals in York and smoked salmon in Ayr.
We`ll soon return to the hamster wheel of schooldays revolving around in a haze of homework and early nights and early mornings. What is most important is that we have all refuelled for whatever life is going to throw at us this coming term. I am sure we will have big portions of happiness and second helpings of stressful days too. Holidays are essential. Recreation literally does what it says on the tin - it recreates something, in our case our family bonds.We have had many memorable meals together the Champagne and super noodle feast looking over to the purple haze of Arran will last a life time for me. Memory is certainly seated in the heart and all the food we have shared has been delicious because we ate it together.
Life is brief we are all just passing through, so yes we are all a pack of fat rascals after the holidays but i wouldn`t have missed it for the World. Noone need be an outcast at life`s feast as long as they have a friend to share a cup of kindness with...
Today`s recipe is for sweet tooths!
Mars bar tiffin
1 packet digestive biscuits crushed
8oz butter
4tbs syrup
4tbs brown sugar
2tbs cocoa
4 mars bars chopped
Begian white chocolate
Bag of maltesers
Melt the butter, syrup, sugar, cocoa mars bars until a caramel chocolate sauce is bubbling, add the biscuits and press into a tray and put in the fridge to set . When firm cover with drizzles of melted white chocolate pressing random maltesers into the gaps and pop back into the chiller to firm up.
Serve in little squares with a good coffee and a good friend.xx
Being a Primary school teacher, just like the children I longed for the Summer holidays to begin. Being a mother of twins and a yummy little one too the six weeks stretched out ahead of us full of untold fun and we have had plenty of it. We have been on a gastro tour of the UK with my hungry little munchkins delighted to sample everything on all those sunny delicious days. Highlights have been Naga lamb curry in Hereford, Philps Cornish pasties in Marazion, cream teas at Porthcurno,Thomas`s Yorkshire curd tarts and Betty`s fat rascals in York and smoked salmon in Ayr.
We`ll soon return to the hamster wheel of schooldays revolving around in a haze of homework and early nights and early mornings. What is most important is that we have all refuelled for whatever life is going to throw at us this coming term. I am sure we will have big portions of happiness and second helpings of stressful days too. Holidays are essential. Recreation literally does what it says on the tin - it recreates something, in our case our family bonds.We have had many memorable meals together the Champagne and super noodle feast looking over to the purple haze of Arran will last a life time for me. Memory is certainly seated in the heart and all the food we have shared has been delicious because we ate it together.
Life is brief we are all just passing through, so yes we are all a pack of fat rascals after the holidays but i wouldn`t have missed it for the World. Noone need be an outcast at life`s feast as long as they have a friend to share a cup of kindness with...
Today`s recipe is for sweet tooths!
Mars bar tiffin
1 packet digestive biscuits crushed
8oz butter
4tbs syrup
4tbs brown sugar
2tbs cocoa
4 mars bars chopped
Begian white chocolate
Bag of maltesers
Melt the butter, syrup, sugar, cocoa mars bars until a caramel chocolate sauce is bubbling, add the biscuits and press into a tray and put in the fridge to set . When firm cover with drizzles of melted white chocolate pressing random maltesers into the gaps and pop back into the chiller to firm up.
Serve in little squares with a good coffee and a good friend.xx
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Happy campers!We went camping to Scotland this w...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Happy campers!
We went camping to Scotland this w...: Happy campers! We went camping to Scotland this weekend and I fell in love...with the place. Mountains , seaside, forests, sunsets it was ...
We went camping to Scotland this w...: Happy campers! We went camping to Scotland this weekend and I fell in love...with the place. Mountains , seaside, forests, sunsets it was ...
Happy campers!
We went camping to Scotland this weekend and I fell in love...with the place. Mountains , seaside, forests, sunsets it was breathtaking. The camp site looked over to the isle of Arran. We left kendal in the rain Volvo loaded with tents and Champagne super noodle provisions. As we drove into Scotland it was blue skies and pine forests as far as the eye could see.
We pitched our tent and walked through the woods to Calzean Castle where a loan piper was playing as a bride and groom stepped out of the castle. The piper came over to us and we marvelled at the scenery and the imposing Goat fell across the sea before us.He was a charmer and recited Robbie Burns Tam o shanter to us and even gave us his card as he had a holiday house on Arran. We said goodbye and went for a little swim Neal style in just our pants! As we were winding our way home a beautiful red sports car drew up near to us ad the electric window rolled down- it was the piper dekilted and looking more James Bond like than bag pipe! "Enjoy the sunset!" he smiled .
This unexpected sunny weekend was like a little gift to us all, we ate simply and read books as the TV was but a memory, we went to bed early and all snuggled up close together to keep warm. bacon and sausages cooked on a little stove tasted like heaven.I was so sad to leave Scotland and come back to reality. But the magical sunsets have left an afterglow and I know we will go to Arran soon for another adventure. You can pay big bucks for a holiday and take a year to plan it, 5 star luxury would be nice but nothing in my mind could compare to sharing a sleeping bag and a bacon sandwich in the sunshine with the people I love the most.
Haloumi cheese BBQ
When we got home we continued the holiday with a barbecue, there wasn`t much in my fridge but this was delicious.
1 block haloumi cheese sliced thinly
1 red, 1 green, 1 yellow pepper
olive oil
Barbecue the peppers until charred , barbecue the haloumi until stripey, serve inside the peppers with rocket salad, squeeze of lemon juice, slosh of olive oil, lovely with pitta and aubergine hummous.
We went camping to Scotland this weekend and I fell in love...with the place. Mountains , seaside, forests, sunsets it was breathtaking. The camp site looked over to the isle of Arran. We left kendal in the rain Volvo loaded with tents and Champagne super noodle provisions. As we drove into Scotland it was blue skies and pine forests as far as the eye could see.
We pitched our tent and walked through the woods to Calzean Castle where a loan piper was playing as a bride and groom stepped out of the castle. The piper came over to us and we marvelled at the scenery and the imposing Goat fell across the sea before us.He was a charmer and recited Robbie Burns Tam o shanter to us and even gave us his card as he had a holiday house on Arran. We said goodbye and went for a little swim Neal style in just our pants! As we were winding our way home a beautiful red sports car drew up near to us ad the electric window rolled down- it was the piper dekilted and looking more James Bond like than bag pipe! "Enjoy the sunset!" he smiled .
This unexpected sunny weekend was like a little gift to us all, we ate simply and read books as the TV was but a memory, we went to bed early and all snuggled up close together to keep warm. bacon and sausages cooked on a little stove tasted like heaven.I was so sad to leave Scotland and come back to reality. But the magical sunsets have left an afterglow and I know we will go to Arran soon for another adventure. You can pay big bucks for a holiday and take a year to plan it, 5 star luxury would be nice but nothing in my mind could compare to sharing a sleeping bag and a bacon sandwich in the sunshine with the people I love the most.
Haloumi cheese BBQ
When we got home we continued the holiday with a barbecue, there wasn`t much in my fridge but this was delicious.
1 block haloumi cheese sliced thinly
1 red, 1 green, 1 yellow pepper
olive oil
Barbecue the peppers until charred , barbecue the haloumi until stripey, serve inside the peppers with rocket salad, squeeze of lemon juice, slosh of olive oil, lovely with pitta and aubergine hummous.
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Whatever the weather bring your own sunshine!Liv...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: Whatever the weather bring your own sunshine!
Liv...: Whatever the weather bring your own sunshine! Living in the Lake district for 10 years I think I have just realised that those lakes don...
Liv...: Whatever the weather bring your own sunshine! Living in the Lake district for 10 years I think I have just realised that those lakes don...
Whatever the weather bring your own sunshine!
Living in the Lake district for 10 years I think I have just realised that those lakes don`t fill themselves. We are enjoying some liquid sunshine today and after all the fantastic sunbaked days we have enjoyed I don`t mind at all. Yesterday was hot with candy floss clouds so Team Neal demanded a look at the sea and a trip up Blackpool Tower.I know my Nanna and Grandad loved Blackpool and when we peeked in the ballroom all red velvety and gold rococo I imagined them there dancing cheek to cheek in a kiss me quickstep style. (I bet they are doing similar in heaven right now- I hope they are.) George and Muriel are quite simply influential giants in my life. A dinner lady and a care taker who took care of us all. Teaching us to play cards, eat sweets, play schools in the back room, love wrestling and love each other, that was their legacy.
They lived in a little council house in Clifton in York with no central heating but the warmth they generated in that little home fuelled my childhood with radiant good times and inspired me to recreate a happy family of my own. I`m always missing my home town and cups of tea with my Nanna in her sunny front room but yesterday the short trip to Blackpool reconnected us through space and time to a sunny seaside town that like us is unsophisticated , uncomplicated and unapologetically dedicated to having a good time.
So the lesson of yesterday was Geography and History, even if separated by distances of spiritual miles which cannot be travelled , where we come from, those we have loved , our shared histories shape who we are today and tomorrow. Whatever the weather , bringing your own sunshine to each day helps make our lives worthwhile. We have over 200 bones in our bodies but my Nanna had only 3 to mention. A Wish bone to hope for happy days and good health ,a back bone to stand up to sad times and illness and a funny bone to laugh off all adversity and rainy days.
Vodka and Orange jellies
These are my step Mum Helen`s creations and look innocent but are really wicked!
2 packs of orange jelly
Posh fresh orange with juicey bits
vodka
Make up the jelly with boiling water then after dissolved add fresh juice and vodka instead of the other half of water pour into little glass jam jars and leave to set in the fridge. You must try these for a grown up teatime treat.
Living in the Lake district for 10 years I think I have just realised that those lakes don`t fill themselves. We are enjoying some liquid sunshine today and after all the fantastic sunbaked days we have enjoyed I don`t mind at all. Yesterday was hot with candy floss clouds so Team Neal demanded a look at the sea and a trip up Blackpool Tower.I know my Nanna and Grandad loved Blackpool and when we peeked in the ballroom all red velvety and gold rococo I imagined them there dancing cheek to cheek in a kiss me quickstep style. (I bet they are doing similar in heaven right now- I hope they are.) George and Muriel are quite simply influential giants in my life. A dinner lady and a care taker who took care of us all. Teaching us to play cards, eat sweets, play schools in the back room, love wrestling and love each other, that was their legacy.
They lived in a little council house in Clifton in York with no central heating but the warmth they generated in that little home fuelled my childhood with radiant good times and inspired me to recreate a happy family of my own. I`m always missing my home town and cups of tea with my Nanna in her sunny front room but yesterday the short trip to Blackpool reconnected us through space and time to a sunny seaside town that like us is unsophisticated , uncomplicated and unapologetically dedicated to having a good time.
So the lesson of yesterday was Geography and History, even if separated by distances of spiritual miles which cannot be travelled , where we come from, those we have loved , our shared histories shape who we are today and tomorrow. Whatever the weather , bringing your own sunshine to each day helps make our lives worthwhile. We have over 200 bones in our bodies but my Nanna had only 3 to mention. A Wish bone to hope for happy days and good health ,a back bone to stand up to sad times and illness and a funny bone to laugh off all adversity and rainy days.
Vodka and Orange jellies
These are my step Mum Helen`s creations and look innocent but are really wicked!
2 packs of orange jelly
Posh fresh orange with juicey bits
vodka
Make up the jelly with boiling water then after dissolved add fresh juice and vodka instead of the other half of water pour into little glass jam jars and leave to set in the fridge. You must try these for a grown up teatime treat.
Friday, 16 August 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: A Mermaid`s taleI am back from Cornwall where I ...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: A Mermaid`s tale
I am back from Cornwall where I ...: A Mermaid`s tale I am back from Cornwall where I swam in the sea everyday and remembered what life can be like. All worry clouds have floa...
I am back from Cornwall where I ...: A Mermaid`s tale I am back from Cornwall where I swam in the sea everyday and remembered what life can be like. All worry clouds have floa...
A Mermaid`s tale
I am back from Cornwall where I swam in the sea everyday and remembered what life can be like. All worry clouds have floated away for the moment and we are still on holiday.
Sand in all your crevices and sand in your sandwiches was inevitable, sun burn, sea water in your ears and jelly fish attacking your wet suits. But as long as we danced in the waves everyday until the tides literally wore us out we were happy. Drunk with tiredness and the after glow of behaving more like children than the Captain Sensibles our everyday work life requires us to be.
Or does it? My new year`s resolution is to go swimming everyday and not give up being a mermaid anytime soon.
Mermaid pate
1 bag of watercress
1 tub of cream cheese
Blend together until seaweed green and silky smooth, spread on oatcakes and top with smoked salmon.grab a merman and have a little frolick in the waves. Much better than sunbathing like ordinary people!
I am back from Cornwall where I swam in the sea everyday and remembered what life can be like. All worry clouds have floated away for the moment and we are still on holiday.
Sand in all your crevices and sand in your sandwiches was inevitable, sun burn, sea water in your ears and jelly fish attacking your wet suits. But as long as we danced in the waves everyday until the tides literally wore us out we were happy. Drunk with tiredness and the after glow of behaving more like children than the Captain Sensibles our everyday work life requires us to be.
Or does it? My new year`s resolution is to go swimming everyday and not give up being a mermaid anytime soon.
Mermaid pate
1 bag of watercress
1 tub of cream cheese
Blend together until seaweed green and silky smooth, spread on oatcakes and top with smoked salmon.grab a merman and have a little frolick in the waves. Much better than sunbathing like ordinary people!
Monday, 22 July 2013
The Costa del Barrow
Whenever it is hot and sunny in the Lakes ( which isn`t very often) I long for my Yorkshire roots and a dip in the ocean at Filey or Scarborough or Whitby. Heaven to me is simple, a swim in the sea and a fresh crab for tea.
Today was the first day of the Summer holidays and the washing machine broke down. Mr N`s parting shot was "wouldn`t it be nice to eat dinner in the dining room tonight?" So I sat on the bottom stair like a deflated Cinderella who thought she was off to the ball then got a puncture in her pumpkin!
Undeterred by lack of washing machine and years of school work mountainous on the dining room table I had a little cry then had a very strong coffee and rolled my sleeves up...
My three children were lounging around draped allover the place second only to my three fat pussycats for sheer outstretched laziness.
Well I hand washed some shirts for Matty and Bridget Jones knickers for me and really enjoyed wringing them out ...having a little imagine I was wringing someones neck who thought he might shadow my first day of the holidays shine. It was actually rather good fun and pegging them out in the glorious sunshine made me even more determined to grenade the dining room before escaping.
I was surprised to find the wood beneath the piles of work, and was even spurred to polish it. Then just to make Matty feel bad I set it with a lovely blue tablecloth, blue glasses and even a candlabra.
I poured a whole bottle of bleach into my hairy shower , squeezed the kiddies into the car that was full of black bags of doom (useless school policies and recycling) and drove to my nearest beach.
Roan Head is nearly in Barrow , not your first choice for a holiday, all inclusive would comprise of a four pack of special brew and a tattoo! The beach though is breathtaking. White sand dunes (full of fornicating Barrow teenagers but apart from that it`s delicious) and beautiful shells looking onto the mountains of the Lakes in the distance.
After my frenzied first housework in six months I felt a bit grumpy, overheated and wished I was 7 like Jemima and could get my bum out without getting arrested. We skimmed stones and rolled down the huge sand dune and then going "oo oo aarr aaarr ow ow" we gingerly made our way home across the stony expanse. I still was feeling a little hett up.
Then out of nowhere a gorgeous labrador , a little panty, a little chubby, a little wheezy, trotted along by my side and kept me company. He was a dead ringer for my beloved dog Ben and made the walk to the car park a cool breeze. A sweet old lady caught him up and I asked her what was his name. "Yorkie" she said. Being a York lass this made me smile and we got chatting. The lady was swinging a lead that said "retired guide dog" that made my heart swell for this beautiful dog who had helped me cross the hard rocks to my car.
She then went on "he was my son`s guide dog, but sadly he died in January. We of course kept Yorkie as he is family. Sometimes we lose him and find him sitting by the bed in what was my son`s room. He`s probably the only one who understands how much we miss my son as he does too, terribly."
Well big tears welled in my eyes and I put on my shades to hide my emotions.
"See you again luvvy" she smiled and drove away.
Now I don`t know if I dreamed her but my feet no longer ached , I wasn`t grumpy or hot and bothered. I felt I had been in the prescence of true love , angelic and magical.We are guided to marvellousness everyday by our angels -the people and animals who pull us through this mortal coil that is life. I`ll be happy hoovering or whatever tomorrow as I realise how lucky I am and how I sometimes take my special ones for granted.
Happy holidays...I know mine will be now.
Knicker bocker glories
posh vanilla ice cream
whipped cream
sliced strawberries
chocolate sauce
strawberry sauce
chocolate flakes
maraschino cherries
slosh of pimms (For grown ups)
Layer the icecream, cream ,strawberries and sauces in a sundae glass top with cherries more cream, choc sauce and a crumbling of flake , serve with a side shot of Pimms or amaretto or whatever is your tipple and you`ll need a long spoon as your tongue won`t be long enough!
Whenever it is hot and sunny in the Lakes ( which isn`t very often) I long for my Yorkshire roots and a dip in the ocean at Filey or Scarborough or Whitby. Heaven to me is simple, a swim in the sea and a fresh crab for tea.
Today was the first day of the Summer holidays and the washing machine broke down. Mr N`s parting shot was "wouldn`t it be nice to eat dinner in the dining room tonight?" So I sat on the bottom stair like a deflated Cinderella who thought she was off to the ball then got a puncture in her pumpkin!
Undeterred by lack of washing machine and years of school work mountainous on the dining room table I had a little cry then had a very strong coffee and rolled my sleeves up...
My three children were lounging around draped allover the place second only to my three fat pussycats for sheer outstretched laziness.
Well I hand washed some shirts for Matty and Bridget Jones knickers for me and really enjoyed wringing them out ...having a little imagine I was wringing someones neck who thought he might shadow my first day of the holidays shine. It was actually rather good fun and pegging them out in the glorious sunshine made me even more determined to grenade the dining room before escaping.
I was surprised to find the wood beneath the piles of work, and was even spurred to polish it. Then just to make Matty feel bad I set it with a lovely blue tablecloth, blue glasses and even a candlabra.
I poured a whole bottle of bleach into my hairy shower , squeezed the kiddies into the car that was full of black bags of doom (useless school policies and recycling) and drove to my nearest beach.
Roan Head is nearly in Barrow , not your first choice for a holiday, all inclusive would comprise of a four pack of special brew and a tattoo! The beach though is breathtaking. White sand dunes (full of fornicating Barrow teenagers but apart from that it`s delicious) and beautiful shells looking onto the mountains of the Lakes in the distance.
After my frenzied first housework in six months I felt a bit grumpy, overheated and wished I was 7 like Jemima and could get my bum out without getting arrested. We skimmed stones and rolled down the huge sand dune and then going "oo oo aarr aaarr ow ow" we gingerly made our way home across the stony expanse. I still was feeling a little hett up.
Then out of nowhere a gorgeous labrador , a little panty, a little chubby, a little wheezy, trotted along by my side and kept me company. He was a dead ringer for my beloved dog Ben and made the walk to the car park a cool breeze. A sweet old lady caught him up and I asked her what was his name. "Yorkie" she said. Being a York lass this made me smile and we got chatting. The lady was swinging a lead that said "retired guide dog" that made my heart swell for this beautiful dog who had helped me cross the hard rocks to my car.
She then went on "he was my son`s guide dog, but sadly he died in January. We of course kept Yorkie as he is family. Sometimes we lose him and find him sitting by the bed in what was my son`s room. He`s probably the only one who understands how much we miss my son as he does too, terribly."
Well big tears welled in my eyes and I put on my shades to hide my emotions.
"See you again luvvy" she smiled and drove away.
Now I don`t know if I dreamed her but my feet no longer ached , I wasn`t grumpy or hot and bothered. I felt I had been in the prescence of true love , angelic and magical.We are guided to marvellousness everyday by our angels -the people and animals who pull us through this mortal coil that is life. I`ll be happy hoovering or whatever tomorrow as I realise how lucky I am and how I sometimes take my special ones for granted.
Happy holidays...I know mine will be now.
Knicker bocker glories
posh vanilla ice cream
whipped cream
sliced strawberries
chocolate sauce
strawberry sauce
chocolate flakes
maraschino cherries
slosh of pimms (For grown ups)
Layer the icecream, cream ,strawberries and sauces in a sundae glass top with cherries more cream, choc sauce and a crumbling of flake , serve with a side shot of Pimms or amaretto or whatever is your tipple and you`ll need a long spoon as your tongue won`t be long enough!
Friday, 7 June 2013
Ah Summer`s arrived.
We all could benefit from a little sun on our backs. This week work has been a breeze because the sun has made everybody shine. Last week we went to Wales and stayed in a log cabin. I felt like I was in little House on the prairie! It was sunny, I woke up to blue skies and breakfast outside. We pottered around Port Meirion and went to possibly the best beer garden in the World looking onto the Rhinog mountains. Infact everywhere you go in Wales there`s a huge voluptuous mountain as if drawn by a child ,green lush and bulbous just waiting to be climbed. I was let off just for a few days and life was simple and wine soaked and sweet again. The children swung on rope swings and whizzed off on their bikes. Faint music from radios and barbecue smoke drifted into the cabin and we all ate together and were grateful to be a part of our family.
We went to Bethgelert and ate pistaschio ice cream and sawtwo brides walk through the village in the sunshine to "oos' and 'aarrs" from all the tourists. We visited Gelert`s grave and read the legend of a faithful friend.
Centuries ago Prince Llewellyn ruled over Wales and had a loyal hound called Gelert. He went out hunting one day but Gelert did not join him. On his return he was shocked to see Gelert greet him covered in blood. He rushed to his son`s nursery and seeing the empty cradle and babe nowhere to be found he slayed his dog in a fit of fatherly rage. Moments later the child crawled out from the up turned cradle alive and untouched and behind the curtain he found the body of a wolf which Gelert had slain protecting the baby prince.- it is said that Llewellyn never smiled again...
Wow! The love we have for our friends (furry ones) and family knows no end. In the sunshine we all feel alive again after the longest of Winters.I hope we all get a little sun on our backs this weekend and we count all our many blessings. Just waking up everyday is enough when the sky is blue.
Best brekky ever for a sunny day
Cava and orange juice
Toasted wholemeal bagel
Lashings of butter
smoked salmon
twist of lemon juice
black pepper
Scrambled eggs
3 large eggs whisked
drop of single cream
pinch of salt
chopped fresh chives
make sure your pan is ever so hot and melt a big knob of butter in it first, add the eggs and gently stir until pale and still creamy, take off heat to set, almost like a custard- pile onto bagel and top with salmon.
(Anyone who crucifies scrambled eggs in a microwave without salt will never be my tasse du the!!)
Eat your eggs sunny and runny and get outside to prevent rickets!
Friday, 26 April 2013
Moaning Lisa
I think I`ve been moaning a bit lately and I`m sorry. Last week I had no car for a week as it needed lots doing to it, to pass it`s MOT. Everyday I caught the bus and whilst waiting for the bus sitting on the wall I saw loads of people I know and friends who offered me lifts. People I hardly knew were rattling their car keys at me willing to go out of their way to help me.I was flabberghasted by the kindness that matched the downpours of Lakeland rain. Downpours of kindness are irresistible.
I chatted to the same bus driver who talked about how his life was a struggle and how hard it was for him to spend time with his little boy. I made a mental note to be more grateful for all the holiday time I get with my adorables even if they are stinky teenagers who think they live at The Ritz!
Then on Friday the sun was shining and I was full of energy, maybe as a result of having no traffic jams in my way for a week.At lunchtime I was really drawn to some beautiful yellow tulips in the newsagents."You can have them for two pounds" the shop girl said.I didn`t need them but I really wanted them. Sometimes I buy flowers , then let the Universe deliver them to someone who needs them more than me.Sitting at the bus stop later a lovely lady offered me a lift which set me down at my front gate an hour earlier than expected. Who was walking past at that very moment?The Mummy of our beautiful Sam who we lost to the big C in November.I knew straightaway who the flowers were for and said a little prayer to the beautiful spirit who had sent them.
We`re all on a journey everyday and sometimes we travel not in the style we are accustomed to! All of our lives are full of metaphorical road works or red lights, but sometimes if we just buy a ticket and go along for the ride and allow ourselves to be taken where we need to go, it`s less of a bumpy ride than we expected.
I am a pain in the neck and have one too Lasagne.
This week`s moan has been about a trapped nerve in my neck which has prevented me from driving very well(ha ha),being smiley(boo hoo) and doing the YMCA dance with my class! So I made this and it made me happy and several glasses of Cava and handfuls of cocodomol later,I am pleased to report it is Friday and I can do my own bra up!
6 sheets green lasagne
2 courgettes chopped
1 red onion chopped
4 fat cloves of garlic crushed
4 large mushrooms chopped
1 pack of bacon cubed
2 leeks chopped
butter
flour
milk
2tsps English mustard
grated mature cheddar
grated mozzarella
grated parmesan
I am amazed I had all this in my fridge and larder , but as poorly as I was feeling cooking has a healing effect and poured balm on my hurt mind and neck!
First make a big pan of bechamel sauce, 1tbs butter, 1 tbs flour, 1 pint milk, stir over a low heat until a creamy sauce is made , add mature cheese and mustard to make a lovely cheesy sauce add a tsp of dried rosemary if you have it. Fry the red onion,garlic,butter,mushrooms and courgettes in one pan and the bacon and leeks,more garlic and butter in another.Then layer it up, courgettes and mushrooms,cheeses sauce,green lasagne,then bacon and leeks,more cheese sauce and green lasagne and so on until you`ve got to the top of your dish.Finish with cheese sauce and grated mozzarella and parmesan for a dreamy delicious cheesy top!
So the Universe delivered on many levels last week. My neck is healed and the car is better too, so I have had the pleasure of chauffeuring my brood to school and embarrassing them by peeping my horn and singing like Taylor Swift "I don`t know about you, but I`m feeling 42!!" Team Neal keeps on winning!
Saturday, 13 April 2013
What`s for dinner Clarey?: The end of the holidays...It has been a wonderfu...
What`s for dinner Clarey?: The end of the holidays...
It has been a wonderfu...: The end of the holidays... It has been a wonderfully long holiday full of good times and PJ days. I love my children more than life itsel...
It has been a wonderfu...: The end of the holidays... It has been a wonderfully long holiday full of good times and PJ days. I love my children more than life itsel...
The end of the holidays...
Make it better biscuits
My Mum used to put these in our packed lunches , she was no master baker, but she was the loveliest Mum. I used to long to see her face outside the classroom window and she always had a little treat for us , for going to school without a fuss. We all hated school, which is why it is so funny that I have spent 20years in the classroom. My Mum taught me all you really need to learn and that is to always be kind. "You catch more flies with honey, Clarey, than you do with vinegar." She would say and she was right.
Makes 4
8 digestive biscuits
honey
butter cream icing
smarties
It has been a wonderfully long holiday full of good times and PJ days. I love my children more than life itself but holding the sick bucket , constant " open" sign up at Clarey`s cafe, washing and cleaning all day everyday is HARD work. I had forgotten . I usually ,after one week that flies by, wish I was still at home lounging around, but this end of the holidays has been different. I need a little time on my own, even if that is just my drive to work and back with The Foo Fighters blaring out soaking up all my worries.
We all need a focus in our lives and my children fill every corner of my waking hours and sometimes break into my sleeping ones too. Both weeks of the holidays have been shadowed by a sickness bug which has played havoc with our fun. No sooner had I got one well, the over affectionate lot had licked each other or shared the same milkshake straw and so I have not been on playground duty this fortnight but sick bucket duty which is so much worse. Even so these dioralyte days are coming to an end and everyone seems a little perkier today just in time for the return to school. I would rather be ill myself than have them pale faced and listless clogging up my sofas and calling out for flat coca cola to cure all ills. I have tried to be a honey Mummy and have waited on them hand and foot, neglecting my own wants. You only get one chance to give them a lovely childhood and if you mess that up , it doesn`t matter how accomplished you are in other areas of your life, that doesn`t really count. So I`ll hold the sick bucket, keep the Clarey cafe open and look forward to going back to work next week!!
Make it better biscuits
My Mum used to put these in our packed lunches , she was no master baker, but she was the loveliest Mum. I used to long to see her face outside the classroom window and she always had a little treat for us , for going to school without a fuss. We all hated school, which is why it is so funny that I have spent 20years in the classroom. My Mum taught me all you really need to learn and that is to always be kind. "You catch more flies with honey, Clarey, than you do with vinegar." She would say and she was right.
Makes 4
8 digestive biscuits
honey
butter cream icing
smarties
Sandwich the biscuits together with honey, top with buttercream and smarties. Heaven!
Monday, 8 April 2013
Fruit salad Sangria
BC (before children) The Easter hols consisted of Matty whisking me off to somewhere dusky and sunny and we would pop Cava for breakfast into the orange groves and loll around all day just being in love, me usually sneaking a st.Moritz menthol on the balcony whilst sipping a lovely big glass of rose.
It is a little different now, we still go to fabulous places but we are a party of five,no lolling allowed!
Today we have been to the beach at Arnside and I have turned into my Mother crying "get down, don`t come running to me if you break your leg!"as they scaled rock faces many times in their wellies, kings and Queens of the castle all.
When we got home I needed a drink, but thought I`d better get the supper sorted before wine 0`clock chimed. So we had the time to make a fruit salad, wow what a lovely pudding, of course in term time I don`t seem to have the time, but from now on I`m getting home earlier to make the time. I am not advocating turning children into gin drinking lushes but this fruit salad was a marvel, as delicious as my husband (who has just come home winner of the Kendal and District league div 2 Ping Pong winning promotion to Div 1!)and is asking for another bowlful. Ping Pong widow that I am no wonder I need to fortify fruit salads!!!!!
Fruit salad
1 punnet of strawberries
4 ripe plums
4 ripe Kiwis
3 bananas
4 small red apples
3 oranges
Juice of three oranges
So fruit salad is simples- chop up and put in a big glass dish and feel magnificent that you are offering your family 5 of their 5 aday all in one go.
Next top up (to avoid colouration and ping pong induced insanity)with half a bottle of chilled Mateus rose and put in the fridge for a few hours to mingle.
I then drained all the pink fruit flavoured liquid into a jug and topped up with ice cold pear cider- ping and the pong of TT socks are gone! OMG divine- you must try this drink.
The fruit salad was yummy too with a big slosh of cream ( I just drank the cocktail!!)
BC (before children) The Easter hols consisted of Matty whisking me off to somewhere dusky and sunny and we would pop Cava for breakfast into the orange groves and loll around all day just being in love, me usually sneaking a st.Moritz menthol on the balcony whilst sipping a lovely big glass of rose.
It is a little different now, we still go to fabulous places but we are a party of five,no lolling allowed!
Today we have been to the beach at Arnside and I have turned into my Mother crying "get down, don`t come running to me if you break your leg!"as they scaled rock faces many times in their wellies, kings and Queens of the castle all.
When we got home I needed a drink, but thought I`d better get the supper sorted before wine 0`clock chimed. So we had the time to make a fruit salad, wow what a lovely pudding, of course in term time I don`t seem to have the time, but from now on I`m getting home earlier to make the time. I am not advocating turning children into gin drinking lushes but this fruit salad was a marvel, as delicious as my husband (who has just come home winner of the Kendal and District league div 2 Ping Pong winning promotion to Div 1!)and is asking for another bowlful. Ping Pong widow that I am no wonder I need to fortify fruit salads!!!!!
Fruit salad
1 punnet of strawberries
4 ripe plums
4 ripe Kiwis
3 bananas
4 small red apples
3 oranges
Juice of three oranges
So fruit salad is simples- chop up and put in a big glass dish and feel magnificent that you are offering your family 5 of their 5 aday all in one go.
Next top up (to avoid colouration and ping pong induced insanity)with half a bottle of chilled Mateus rose and put in the fridge for a few hours to mingle.
I then drained all the pink fruit flavoured liquid into a jug and topped up with ice cold pear cider- ping and the pong of TT socks are gone! OMG divine- you must try this drink.
The fruit salad was yummy too with a big slosh of cream ( I just drank the cocktail!!)
Sunday, 7 April 2013
Happy holidays.
You know you are relaxed when you have no aches and pains, no thumping stress headaches. I am so grateful for this back to front holiday. Easter is everything Christmas is not. Relatively stress free, nothing but chocolate to buy, no cards to write, no crazy present haul via Amazon!!Last Sunday was Easter day and we woke up super early and drove over to the Wirral and went to church where we got married. it was a sunny joyful day and I love that special church as everyone I have ever loved had been there for our marriage 15 years ago.So the weekend was glorious and now we have oodles of time to just be. Be lazy, be a proper Mummy baking, be able to go for days out without having to be somewhere at a certain time.
So we ventured out today to Sedbergh, Hawes and Dent. I felt really energised and calm , that`s when Matty said "it`s probably because you`re in Yorkshire." We had veered over the Cumbrian border and that is maybe why I felt so "at home". We went barefoot into the meditation centre where we had said goodbye to our beautiful friend Sam in November. This time though it was warm in there and sunny and all the harshness of Winter had melted away and hope was springing up everywhere in the countryside. We stopped for cider and pork scratchings in the pub there which was rammed with rosey faced walkers all huddling round the real fire. The day just felt "real" and I was with who I really wanted to be with. We went to hawdraw falls and just marvelled at the sheer force of nature and ran underneath the thundering waterfall , like loonies. Then it was hometime, I think of Yorkshire as my spiritual home but wherever Matty, James,Lily and Jemima are is my true home. They were all starving and were threatening to break into the pot noodles,so I promised I could make them something more delicious quicker.This is what I came up with and they all are snoozing now with full tummies, dreaming of sheep and waterfalls and happy days...
No pot noodle supper
1 pack of spaghetti
salt
1 pack smoked salmon
1 garlic cheese roule
single cream
lemon juice
black pepper
1 pack sugar snap peas
Cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water for ten minutes, add a nob of butter to make glossy. Stir in the salmon, cheese, cream , pepper and squeeze of lemon. Microwave the peas for 1 minute and add to the pot. reheat til the creamy sauce is warmed through and the salmon is pink. Yum. Eat greedily in 5 big bowls, better than a pot noodle anyday.
You know you are relaxed when you have no aches and pains, no thumping stress headaches. I am so grateful for this back to front holiday. Easter is everything Christmas is not. Relatively stress free, nothing but chocolate to buy, no cards to write, no crazy present haul via Amazon!!Last Sunday was Easter day and we woke up super early and drove over to the Wirral and went to church where we got married. it was a sunny joyful day and I love that special church as everyone I have ever loved had been there for our marriage 15 years ago.So the weekend was glorious and now we have oodles of time to just be. Be lazy, be a proper Mummy baking, be able to go for days out without having to be somewhere at a certain time.
So we ventured out today to Sedbergh, Hawes and Dent. I felt really energised and calm , that`s when Matty said "it`s probably because you`re in Yorkshire." We had veered over the Cumbrian border and that is maybe why I felt so "at home". We went barefoot into the meditation centre where we had said goodbye to our beautiful friend Sam in November. This time though it was warm in there and sunny and all the harshness of Winter had melted away and hope was springing up everywhere in the countryside. We stopped for cider and pork scratchings in the pub there which was rammed with rosey faced walkers all huddling round the real fire. The day just felt "real" and I was with who I really wanted to be with. We went to hawdraw falls and just marvelled at the sheer force of nature and ran underneath the thundering waterfall , like loonies. Then it was hometime, I think of Yorkshire as my spiritual home but wherever Matty, James,Lily and Jemima are is my true home. They were all starving and were threatening to break into the pot noodles,so I promised I could make them something more delicious quicker.This is what I came up with and they all are snoozing now with full tummies, dreaming of sheep and waterfalls and happy days...
No pot noodle supper
1 pack of spaghetti
salt
1 pack smoked salmon
1 garlic cheese roule
single cream
lemon juice
black pepper
1 pack sugar snap peas
Cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water for ten minutes, add a nob of butter to make glossy. Stir in the salmon, cheese, cream , pepper and squeeze of lemon. Microwave the peas for 1 minute and add to the pot. reheat til the creamy sauce is warmed through and the salmon is pink. Yum. Eat greedily in 5 big bowls, better than a pot noodle anyday.
Saturday, 6 April 2013
Spring has sprung!
I woke up to three magpies cawing at my window- I think that`s lucky. Three for a girl, which sounds like a lot of hocum but they were accompanied by the sun and the bluest of skies so I`m a happy girl. After an unconventional breakfast of flatbreads with chicken tikka we bounced down to a bustling Kendal to put that all important bet on the National. No luck this year but I made a lovely log fire and we pretended we were there eating cucumber sandwiches me drinking pink fizz and the girls were on the lemonade. A great result for Yorkshire , what a magnificent race.
Then a hike up Kendal Fell to watch the sun go down. A bottle of Mateus rose in my back pack made the walk a little kinder and a run down the hill avoiding all the golfers and dog walkers made us hungry.We filled my bag with sticks to rekindle the fire on our return and shortly we will be having a yummy lamb curry. If Spring has sprung I am relieved, happiness rests on little things- emptying the shopping from the car when there is no rain, hanging school uniforms on the line to be air dried by the sweet kendal sun, walks after work helps you reclaim your day for you and makes you sleep more soundly. Little flowers and buds and blossom just dress our world appropriately for the season, snow is pretty when it`s snowing but the slush is so tiresome when it`s going. I for one prefer the gentle rays of Springtime, and all the new life that springs up out of nowhere like a dream.
I just want to be outside drinking gorgeous wine , drinking in the sun and feeling peaceful and optimistic that we have made it through another finger stinging Winter and a new season of wild swimming and wild times await. I love Winter too but onesies are so unnattractive, bring on the sunshine. I have also bought a disco ball for my kitchen , parties are in order. my birthday next hoorah. Cinderella was a schmuck let`s all have a ball!
Lamb curry (let`s turn on the disco ball)
The remainders of a leg of lamb, garlic and rosemary studded
Leeks and onions sliced
4 cloves garlic
1 tbs butter
1/2 tbs king naga chilli paste
1 carton of passata
1 carton single cream
1 tbs hot curry powder
1tbs peanut butter
1 bunch coriander chopped
2 potatoes diced
2tbs red lentils
Fry the lentils and garlic in the butter and add the potatoes and curry powder. Add the onions and leek and chilli paste and then stir in the lamb, passata and cream, then add the peanut butter and simmer until heated through and the potatoes are cooked and the lentils are dhaal like. Top with the chopped coriander and serve with a peshwari naan and a side dish of creamed spinach (1 bag of spinach wilted in a tbs of butter with small pot of cream, nutmeg and black pepper twist) and a glass slipper of something fizzy(Stella will do this cinders isn`t fussy!)
I woke up to three magpies cawing at my window- I think that`s lucky. Three for a girl, which sounds like a lot of hocum but they were accompanied by the sun and the bluest of skies so I`m a happy girl. After an unconventional breakfast of flatbreads with chicken tikka we bounced down to a bustling Kendal to put that all important bet on the National. No luck this year but I made a lovely log fire and we pretended we were there eating cucumber sandwiches me drinking pink fizz and the girls were on the lemonade. A great result for Yorkshire , what a magnificent race.
Then a hike up Kendal Fell to watch the sun go down. A bottle of Mateus rose in my back pack made the walk a little kinder and a run down the hill avoiding all the golfers and dog walkers made us hungry.We filled my bag with sticks to rekindle the fire on our return and shortly we will be having a yummy lamb curry. If Spring has sprung I am relieved, happiness rests on little things- emptying the shopping from the car when there is no rain, hanging school uniforms on the line to be air dried by the sweet kendal sun, walks after work helps you reclaim your day for you and makes you sleep more soundly. Little flowers and buds and blossom just dress our world appropriately for the season, snow is pretty when it`s snowing but the slush is so tiresome when it`s going. I for one prefer the gentle rays of Springtime, and all the new life that springs up out of nowhere like a dream.
I just want to be outside drinking gorgeous wine , drinking in the sun and feeling peaceful and optimistic that we have made it through another finger stinging Winter and a new season of wild swimming and wild times await. I love Winter too but onesies are so unnattractive, bring on the sunshine. I have also bought a disco ball for my kitchen , parties are in order. my birthday next hoorah. Cinderella was a schmuck let`s all have a ball!
Lamb curry (let`s turn on the disco ball)
The remainders of a leg of lamb, garlic and rosemary studded
Leeks and onions sliced
4 cloves garlic
1 tbs butter
1/2 tbs king naga chilli paste
1 carton of passata
1 carton single cream
1 tbs hot curry powder
1tbs peanut butter
1 bunch coriander chopped
2 potatoes diced
2tbs red lentils
Fry the lentils and garlic in the butter and add the potatoes and curry powder. Add the onions and leek and chilli paste and then stir in the lamb, passata and cream, then add the peanut butter and simmer until heated through and the potatoes are cooked and the lentils are dhaal like. Top with the chopped coriander and serve with a peshwari naan and a side dish of creamed spinach (1 bag of spinach wilted in a tbs of butter with small pot of cream, nutmeg and black pepper twist) and a glass slipper of something fizzy(Stella will do this cinders isn`t fussy!)
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Maple chicken macaroni (not a Mc crappy meal)
I had such a silly day yesterday, I felt really cross which is so not me, born with boring happy genes. Mr N on the other hand he`s up and down like a bride`s nightie. Happily I take full responsibility for being a dumb Mum for a short while! Well, I got a card through the door from the postie who said I had a "parcel" to collect with some excess to pay. Maybe Mr N had made up for the lack of an Easter egg by sending me something lovely...so I skipped down to town with the kiddiwinkles in tow asking for icecreams all the way. The "parcel" was infact a letter from Eva my 4 yr old niece who had scrumpled her scribblings up a bit so although it was a small piece of paper Royal Mail clearly defined it as a parcel and fleeced me for another one pound twenty! I queued patiently like yummy mummies do , then Postzilla refused my 20 quid and said "correct change only "in his best Kendalian/not been to charm school ,or possibly any school patter! So this is when I really was stupido! I sent three children into the unchartered waters of the Golden arches to get me some change...they raced off and perhaps didn`t hear my "get yourself a Mc icecream" request. I was still trying not to explode at Postman prat.Ten minutes later I realised they weren`t coming back with my twenty quid in change, they had been seduced by Ronald and yes I found them gobbling up 18 chicken nuggets , monster fries and real coke!! They were really sorry and knew by my extra quiet non smiley demeanour that they had perhaps been a bit greedy.So we caught the bus home with them glumly slurping on their cola and all developed hiccups and dodgey tummies within minutes of returning home- must have been all the lard and sugar coarsing through their veins. I really should take them to Mcd`s more often, so they don`t see it as forbidden fruit. Any way I inwardly thought it was rather funny when I suggested they might not be requiring dinner and they all rioted. So I made them some proper food and all was well again for Team Neal.I wasn`t cross for very long especially when they washed up and even offered to hoover later on! Never underestimate the power of a homecooked meal and a Mummy`s cuddle when you feel unwell. I`m 41 and when I`ve overdone it all I want is my Mum!
So the antidote to an"Unhappy"meal was...
Maple chicken macaroni
Marinate 5 chicken breasts(diced) in maple syrup,soya sauce, olive oil for a couple of hours
Meanwhile cook up enough macaroni for 5 in salted water, drain and add a spoon of butter and seasalt to finish.
Fry the chicken in the marinade the maple syrup will begin to bubble and boil so add a good slosh of sherry and half a pint of milkand a chicken stock cube to make a lovely gravy, add plenty of dried rosemary and then mix with the macaroni. It sounds bizarre but they loved it!
I never go to bed on an argument with anyone, we had a big team hug before bedtime and tonight they all asked for beans on toast. happiness rests on such simple pleasures.
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Easter egg mousse
Easter day was so sunny this year , the snow and wind seemed to stay away if only for a day and we felt the warm sunshine on our faces. My childhood Easter memories are of the Lakes , usually Keswick with daffodils, chicks, lakes and sunshine. Fast forward 35 years and these will be my children`s memories too.You are never too old to receive an Easter egg with delight. We should be more child like more often, demolishing chocolate eggs without guilt.Going for windy day walks , all wrapped up in search of eggs or new life in whatever shape or form it takes. The weather has been disappointing and harsh- so is life , most of the time.When you are given a little space and time with the right people in your lives , mix it together with hope for a new season of discovery stretching out before you then life is a sweet confection indeed. Easter to me signifies hope for warmer times ahead growth and change if we need it , growth and change more importantly when we think we don`t need it! Magic and dreams are there for the taking. I once walked past Betty`s in York and saw the most beautiful white chocolate egg in the window , decorated with bluebells. It was beyond my dreams and market stall wages! Some kind wonderful person bought it for me, it took a month to eat and a lifetime to forget that sometimes you get just what you wished for and life can be fantastic.I feel like that these days when I have precious time to cook with my adorables at home. There was a huge belgian chocolate egg sitting on the side this lunchtime so we melted it down and made something beautiful. That`s what our lives are like , sweet like chocolate and always full of surprises if we make it so.
Chocolate egg mousse
1 large thick chocolate Easter egg
3 eggs separated
Melt the chocolate and stir in the egg yolks until glossy. Whip the whites till stiff and fold into the chocolate mixture to make a luxurious chocolate mousse for a family. Pour into ramekins and pop into fridge. Tonight I shall be "YayYummy Mummy we have pud" instead of my usual "slummy fulltime teacher Mummy no pudding...sorree".
I love school holidays.xxx
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