Archives for February 2014

It's been an emotional week here. I went on a random search for a recipe for this weeks 52 cook books yesterday, It happened to be my mums birthday so I thought I'd use one of her books in memory of her! As I pulled the book off the shelf a handful of papers fell out and there was a series of scribbled recipes in her handwriting. So after a bout of sobbing and ringing my dad to tell him about it, I set about making one of the recipes she had thrown at me! I would credit for it, but have no idea where she got it so apologies for stealing what might be someone elses work. Date … [Read more...]

I think one of my biggest regrets in my babies growing up is the loss of bedtime stories. That special time at the end of a busy day all tucked up on the sofa of the end of their bed reading stories. It's a very special time for all concerned and our old favourites were read over and over again! In fact read so often that even now 15 years later I can still quote most of "Each Peach Pear Plum", "Monday Runday", "The Red Witch" and "One Bear, One Dog" We laughed along with the Large family as mum tried to get "Five minutes peace" and trembled with Eddie when he lost his … [Read more...]

I become increasingly more grumpy in my old age and have devised a plan for how I would run public transport if the powers that be would give me the chance - it is for everyones benefit I promise! Following a crowded tube journey into London yesterday I have come to the decision that there should be a selection of carriages where you sit according to a series of criteria. Nothing to do with race or religion just my sanity and the comfort of others! So these groups of people would get a coach for themselves as a group :- 1. Women coated in the smell of cheap nasty perfume and fake … [Read more...]

Well it's a red letter day in our family today. Today my boy is a real life proper grown up. Today he moves on to the next step in his life. No longer a student, with a job to keep him going whilst he studies. Today he moves on to the world of work. The first step on the rungs of a career. Thank you Aberdeen for making my boy a man, and thank you for bringing us our beautiful Irish baby. Here is his goodbye to the City that has been his home since he left us and his parting song! Dear Aberdeen, Its been quite a journey we have shared you and I over the past 4 and … [Read more...]

  Well a special offer on goats cheese this week meant I could have a go at a recipe I have often drooled over! So for the second week in a row - Thank you Nigella for the inspiration - you rock! Here we go 52 cook books - week 8   Oh lordy - it was divine! Now I didn't stick exactly to her recipe - not that anyone is surprised by that, but I had other ingredients at home which i thought would work just as well so I improvised a little..... 1 large butternut squash peeled and cubed into bite sized pieces 1/2lb whole baby plum tomatoes 1 tub of ricotta … [Read more...]

  52 cook books - Week 7 is here and we have a yummy dinner and enough for a leftovers lunch box! I make no bones about the fact I'm a big fan of Nigella and her recipes are very good - unless you're on a diet of course! I have several of her cook books and the Christmas has some very well thumbed pages! For this week I'm using Nigellas Express. A whole heap of quick and easy recipes for when you're in a hurry. We have used it before, the breakfast bars have been a regular bake to put in lunch boxes but we've never made this dish before! With Badger on a gluten free diet lunches … [Read more...]

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and in a few days, people across the globe will be scrambling to show their love and affection to the loves of their lives. You can bet that most of these people will fall back on classics, snatching boxes of chocolates off the shelves and buying red roses by the dozen. As the laws of supply and demand dictate; prices of red roses are bound to soar through the roof. Last year, Business Day reported that the price tag on a single red rose reached highs of $45 (must be some amazing roses!), and stores still experienced selling out of the iconic … [Read more...]

I've not used a cook book this week! I've used an old scrap of paper torn from a magazine goodness knows how many years ago! Yellowing with age and crumbled round the edges. I have no idea when or where I found it, but it obviously appealed and I've kept it ready for this opportunity! So - Pesto and Parmesan bread it is then! Not too tricky - reasonably simple - basic white bread recipe with a swirl of pesto through the centre and a Parmesan crust on the top. I'm not sure I took it for the quantity measurements but rather than for the taste combination - which is a tried and tested … [Read more...]

Yesterday a friend posted a quote on FB - and it appeared in my news stream sandwiched between to awesome photographs of other friends being very silly! So basically (without all the advertising rubbish and chat boxes) my facebook looked like this:- People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel -- Maya Angelou And that just about sums up the last couple of weeks of batons, scooters, running, road trips, elephants, coffee mornings, instagrams, tweets, donations, live action board games, honks and a myriad … [Read more...]

Top Five Outdoor Resolutions for 2014 The New Year is here and brings with it a whole load of new opportunities for change. Rather than making resolutions that will be broken by Valentine’s Day, take the long term view, get yourself kitted out and enjoy the great outdoors. Here are just five ways you can get more fresh air this year: On your bike – cycling is becoming increasingly popular and with more cycle lanes, off-road cycle paths, mountain bike trails and cycling clubs, there’s no reason not to get back in the saddle. You don’t need to spend a fortune on a bike – you can even … [Read more...]