Busy times

I'm still cooking, but have not found the time to share recipes on this blog yet. My time is divided between work and my course books. Nothing too exciting I'm afraid, except that I will be travelling a bit for work in the next few weeks and I am really looking forward to it. Waiting for the results of my first finance assignment.

Message for Sandrine:
I will be near Duesseldorf on 18th Dec (maybe 19th too) so MAYBE we could meet after all these years? I'll let you know when I know more.

Feedback on my Management Challenge weekend

Last weekend was really good! I very much enjoyed myself during the management challenge. I found it incredibly useful for confidence-building and team work. I found out I could do things I never thought I could, for instance, drawing and presenting a business plan for a merger of two rival companies within 4 hours with people I had never met before.

The weekend was very motivating and I really enjoyed meeting new people and working together with them towards a comman goal.

Now I have loads of studying to be done. I still have 3 books to read and one assignement to write for this module, which is finance by the way, not at all my cup of tea!

Management challenge

I'm off to High-Wycombe in an hour for a management challenge weekend, which is part of the course I'm doing. On the agenda: problem-solving, case-studies and team-building excercises. Should be fun!

More when I'm back. Have a good weekend.

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring

We watched Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring yesterday night. It is a beautiful film which inspires serenity and tranquility (if you are a little bit receptive).

Out of the few religions I have heard of, Buddhism seems to be one which makes sense, and one which has not led to massive killings as far as I know.

Crazy horse

I took a day off today: I have studied for a while and left the flat early afternoon as I had a routine appointment at the dentist. To his regret and my joy, there is nothing wrong with the health of my teeth, so I won't see him again for a year, hurrah! (who likes going to the dentist???)

On my way there, I saw a couple who were jogging down the road... and pushing a pram with a baby inside! They were clearly jogging, not running because they were late or anything.

As I walked past a street on the way home this afternoon, I suddenly felt a massive shadow on my left and I really jumped and even screamed! Then I looked on my left, to understand the reason of my fear, and I realised that there, right in front of me, was "The White Horse" pub... and under the porch in the hallway, there is a life-size sculpture of a horse... Silly horse... scaring me... I am sure this is great entertainment for drinkers inside to stare at the window and spot the scared pedestrians.

Now it's Monday night and our next-door neighbour is giving singing lessons. Doing warm-ups and arpeggios at the moment.

Seu Jorge's concert

Seu Jorge was very very very impressive...

The first part of the concert (Afro Reggae) had been cancelled, so Gilles Peterson, as a perfect, incredible warm-up before Seu Jorge, threw Samba rythms into the room. Just what the local Portuguese community was waiting for: by then end of the first part, hips were in full swing!

Then Seu Jorge arrived on stage with his musicians (mostly percussionists). One thing annoyed me: were they all sponsored by the same sportwear brand??? Anyway, I tried to ignore this detail.

The concert started with songs from the album "Carolina", then there was some very rhythmical, very dense, almost violent samba, and this is where the talents of the musicians stood out. It was incredible.

Halfway through the performance, Seu Jorge, the drummer and the bassist left the stage, leaving the three percussionists showing off their skills. WOW! I thought it was really clever to show the individual sound of some obscure, if not unknown instruments. It worked really well. Then they left the stage and Seu Jorge came back, solo with his guitar.

On a completely dark stage except for a single spotlight above his head, he started singing several of his David Bowie's covers, "Life on Mars" among others. It was really good. Now the second thing that annoyed me during the concert was that at this stage, PEOPLE WERE TALKING!!!! They were on their mobile, or texting, or talking loudly at their neighbours... GGGGRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrr... I find this extremely irritating.

You know how 'in the old days' one used to hold a lighter up in the air during concerts? Well, it seems that it has now been replaced by the neon-blue light of mobile phones. That's progress for you.

Then all musicians were back on stage again and the concert finished at 11pm, after 2 encores, instead of the planned 10pm. Luckily the concert was at the Warwick Arts Centre, at the heart of Warwick University, so there are still a few buses after 11pm, so we could get home OK.

It was an amazing evening.

Potato and leek bake

This is a hassle-free, almost washing-up-free recipe, and it tastes good.

Serves 2 greedy people:

800g potatoes, thinly sliced
2-3 leeks, sliced
4-5 tomatoes, sliced
basil leaves, shredded
300 ml vegetable stock


In a greased ovenproof dish, place one layer of potatoes, then leeks, then tomatoes, then basil, repeat until all the veg are used up, finishing with a layer of potatoes. Pour the stock over. Place in a preheated oven for about 1 hour.



Gratin pommes de terres et poireaux 800g pommes de terres, tranchées finement 2-3 poireaux, tranchés 4-5 tomates, tranchées feuilles de basilic, découpées en lamelles 300ml bouillon de légumes Dans un plat beurré, arranger une couche de pomme de terre, puis une couche de poireaux, puis tomates, puis basilic. Répéter l'opération et terminer par une couche de pomme de terre. Verser le bouillon sur le tout. Passer au four préchauffer pendant environ 1 heure.

Red pepper soup

This recipe is fairly quick and freezes well, so I always double the quantity. The following should serve 4 people.

4 red peppers, sliced
2 green chilli peppers, chopped
2 onions, sliced
600 ml passata
1 litre vegetable stock
2 handfuls of chopped basil

Put all ingredients in a big pan. Bring to the boil and cook for 20 minutes. Process in a food-processor. Return to the pan and reheat.



Soupe de poivrons rouges

Cette soupe est trés facile á faire et se congéle trés bien. Voici la recette pour 4 personnes environ:

4 poivrons rouges, tranchés
2 piments verts, découpés en tous petits morceaux
2 oignons, tranchés
600 ml passata (genre jus de tomates)
1 litre bouillon de legumes
2 poignées de basilic frais

Mettre le tout dans une grande casserole. Porter á ébullition puis faire mijoter pendant 20 minutes. Passer au mixeur. Retourner sur le feu.

Bon appétit !

Life Aquatic and Cousteau

In view of Seu Jorge's concert next Saturday, we have been watching Life Aquatic.


It is a very... different kind of movie. I felt really angry at their portrait of Commandant Cousteau. You see, as a child, Cousteau's ocean life documentaries were one of the few times when the TV was turned on and I loved them. Cousteau was the first to get the general public to know about the sea. I remember seeing La Calypso and the crew on the screen and dreaming of wild spaces and sea creatures. My granddad has a collection of Cousteau's Sealife Encyclopaedia and one of the first things I would do when visiting was to grab one of them and turning the pages. (mostly looking at the pictures I must admit!)


After watching the movie, I read a bit about Cousteau and his life. He was not the kindest man ever and there are some controversial reports about his life, but he did achieve a lot to raise the sealife awareness.


This somehow killed the myth, but I still believe he was a great man.

To Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

Butternut squash curry with Basmati rice

Butternut squash curry with Basmati rice

Ingredients:

3 TBSP groundnut oil
1 butternut squash, diced
1 onion, chopped
1 – 2 garlic cloves
200 ml coconut milk
100 ml water
100g cashew nuts
1 TBSP cumin seeds
1 TSP coriander seeds (can be replaced by ground coriander)
2 TBSP fresh coriander, chopped (or 1 TBSP dried coriander leaves)
Basmati rice

- Fry the onion & squash in the oil for 5 min.

- Add the garlic and cook for another min.

- Add the spices and cook for another min.

- Add the coconut milk and water, mix well, bring to the boil and then simmer for 10-15 minutes until the squash is cooked.

- Add the nuts at the last minute (or they will lose their crunchiness)

Serve with Basmati rice.

Lunchtime

Yum yum... I am eating leftovers from yesterday: curry with squash, cashew nuts and basmati rice. Will post the recipe soon!

Nice and cosy

Call me a geek if you wish but when, like me, your hands are cold all the time, whatever the temperature, this gadget sounds like the ideal solution. If I could be assured that it wouldn't break down within 2 weeks of using it (like many gadgets) I'll put it on my Xmas list and send the list straight away to the north pole or whereever Santa is hiding.

If not clear on the picture, this is a USB-heated pair of fingerless gloves. I have also seen something similar for feet.


Although I get cold hands, it has been so mild here so far that we have put the heating on only once, last Saturday. And it has not rained for several weeks. We have even had bright sunshine for 2 weeks.

I am not complaining, it is nice not to get soaked on my way to work or back home, but it is odd. Last winter was dry too. You tend to notice these things when you cycle twice a day!

Global warming what???

Gougere pictures

I published the recipe back in September, but without any pictures. I made one on Sunday with a cabbage, leek and mushroom filling and remembered to take a photo. Here it is:

Sunset from our living room

I swear I took these pictures. The colours were simply incredible. Can you see the ring-shaped cloud? It looked really odd.

Remember, remember... the Fifth of November

Tonight is Guy Fawkes' Night, or Bonfire night.

Remember remember the fifth of November,

Gunpowder, Treason and Plot,

I see no reason why gunpowder and treason

should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent

to blow up the King and the Parliament.

Three score barrels of powder below,

Poor old England to overthrow:

By God's providence he was catch'd

With a dark lantern and burning match.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, make the bells ring.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

Hip hip hoorah!

In 1605, James I, Protestant, was King of England. A group of Catholic opponents planned to blow up the Parliament by arranging 36 barrels of gun powder in the Houses of Parliament's cellar on a day when the King was due to visit. Betrayed by a member of the gang, Guy Fawkes was caught before the powder was lit, tortured and executed.

But that was over 400 years ago. We do not experience conflicts based on different religious beliefs anymore. We have moved on. We don't kill each other for believing in different divinities or for not believing. We don't think of ourselves superior. And torture and execution have now disappeared. We would not dare judging somebody else's and deprive him/her of his/her life. We now recognise that we are all equal human beings, whatever our personal beliefs are.

...eeehh... U-TO-PIA... is the word to describe the above nonsense. Not a reality yet. One day maybe???

Anyway...
Since then and every year on 5th November, Bonfire Night is celebrated across the United Kingdom by extensive fireworks and bonfires burning the effigy of Guy Fawkes.

The King/Queen of England comes only once a year for the opening of parliament and before he/she enters the building, the cellar is thoroughly searched.

I like fireworks displays but I find it incredible that they are available to be purchased by anyone, even in corner shops and supermarkets. This means that as well as having fireworks and bonfires organised by local councils, many people organise their own little private fireworks in their back gardens. Not unpleasant to see fireworks from the livingroom window, but I find the whole thing very hazardeous. And at least I believe that a new legislation from two years ago should forbid shopkeepers to sell fireworks to under 18s. I still have a question. At such a time of the year when it is dark at 5pm, why do some neighbours lit their fireworks at Midnight???

Oh, grumpy old me, I'll go and make dinner, and then watch The Pink Panther to cheer me up!

The coolest man on the planet

I was standing next to him when Trave read my last post and I could see his intense disappointment when he realised that "the coolest man on the planet" I mentioned was NOT him... I told him I was only quoting The Times! (if The Times says it...)

Now, who would be the coolest man on the planet for me?

YOU, Trave, of course!

:-)