One of my favourite piece? Nijaay (Just recognised the song on MySpace. I don't speak Wolof!) Have a look on their page, it is really worthwhile.
http://www.myspace.com/orchestrabaobabofficial
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Orchestra Baobab
We went to Warwick Art Centre yesterday to the concert of Orchestra Baobab. They were amazing! I had not heard of them before reading about the band in a Songline magazine a month ago and decided to buy tickets. I particularly liked the Cuban influence in some of their songs (no surprise there, as I love Cuban music!).
One of my favourite piece? Nijaay (Just recognised the song on MySpace. I don't speak Wolof!) Have a look on their page, it is really worthwhile.
http://www.myspace.com/orchestrabaobabofficial
One of my favourite piece? Nijaay (Just recognised the song on MySpace. I don't speak Wolof!) Have a look on their page, it is really worthwhile.
http://www.myspace.com/orchestrabaobabofficial
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Apple and blueberry tart
Trave's parents gave us some apples a month ago and I have made a tart and also some compote with it.
Ingredients for 1 tart (8 people):
1 sesame sweet pastry case
(180g plain flour, 80g butter, 2 TBSP sesame seeds, 2 TBSP caster suger, 3 TBSP cold water)
600g cooking apples, peeled and diced
2 TBSP blueberries
demarara sugar
150 ml double cream
2 eggs
50g almonds, chopped
maple syrup
1. Make the pastry with above ingredients and roll out into a case. Pre-cook for 10 minutes.
2. Arrange the apples and blueberries into the case and sprinkle with demarara sugar.
3. Beat the eggs with the cream and pour over the case.
4. Sprinkle with the almonds and drizzle with maple syrup.
Enjoy hot or cold!
Ingredients for 1 tart (8 people):
1 sesame sweet pastry case
(180g plain flour, 80g butter, 2 TBSP sesame seeds, 2 TBSP caster suger, 3 TBSP cold water)
600g cooking apples, peeled and diced
2 TBSP blueberries
demarara sugar
150 ml double cream
2 eggs
50g almonds, chopped
maple syrup
1. Make the pastry with above ingredients and roll out into a case. Pre-cook for 10 minutes.
2. Arrange the apples and blueberries into the case and sprinkle with demarara sugar.
3. Beat the eggs with the cream and pour over the case.
4. Sprinkle with the almonds and drizzle with maple syrup.
Enjoy hot or cold!
Tomato and macaroni bake
This is a very easy bake and fairly quick to make. And tasty too!
Ingredients for 4 people:
400g macaroni
600g chopped tomatoes
1 TBSP mixed herbs
200g grated Cheddar
100g grated Parmesan
dried bread crumbs
1. Cook the macaroni and drain well.
2. Mixed the 2 types of cheese together.
3. Butter an overproof dish. Layer alternatively chopped tomatoes/ herbs+black pepper/ macaroni/ cheeses/ chopped tomatoes/ herbs+black pepper/ macaroni/ cheeses
finishing with cheese, then sprinkle with bread crumbs.
4. Place in the oven for ~20 minutes until golden brown.
Ingredients for 4 people:
400g macaroni
600g chopped tomatoes
1 TBSP mixed herbs
200g grated Cheddar
100g grated Parmesan
dried bread crumbs
1. Cook the macaroni and drain well.
2. Mixed the 2 types of cheese together.
3. Butter an overproof dish. Layer alternatively chopped tomatoes/ herbs+black pepper/ macaroni/ cheeses/ chopped tomatoes/ herbs+black pepper/ macaroni/ cheeses
finishing with cheese, then sprinkle with bread crumbs.
4. Place in the oven for ~20 minutes until golden brown.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Giving a cat a pill
The following instructions, found on the Internet as we were attempting to give a pill to our tenatious Chatouille yesterday, is very close to what happened:
We did manage in the end... poor Chatouille!
1) Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As the cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
2) Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
3) Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
4) Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
5) Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
6) Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and vigorously rub cat's throat.
7) Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make a note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
8) Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
9) Check label to make sure pill is not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
10) Retrieve cat from neighbour’s shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
11) Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of your last tetanus jab. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
12) Ring fire brigade to retrieve the fringing' cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbour who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.
13) Tie the little @#!*#^~!'s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining room table, find heavy duty Pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.
14) Consume remainder of Scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.
15) Arrange for RSPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and ring local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.
We did manage in the end... poor Chatouille!
Thursday, November 08, 2007
The garden is ready for winter
I have sawn, chopped, and dug all Saturday last week. (Trave did the big root at the bottom of the garden. I had killed my back cutting all the trunk and branches)
So, here are the 'before' pictures:
I have cleared the back of the shed so that we can plant raspberries next spring. I have chopped the old honeysuckle. I love honeysuckle but this tree was quite old and did not produce many flowers. I will most certainly replace it. And I also cut a tree whose leaves looked like nettles and was not very attractive, taking space and blocking the sunlight.
Now we have a good part of the patio covered with branches and roots, waiting to be taken to the tip, as we are the only neighbourhood in town without green wheelie bins.
The garden wildlife defensers will not be too impressed with me chopping trees, but it is our garden and we wanted raspberries. (ok. I wanted raspberries, but Trave likes them too!)
Here is the garden 5 or 6 hours later:
Now, our garden is almost ready for winter. We still need to trim the hedges and prune the apple tree, in order to get more of and bigger pixie apples next year!
So, here are the 'before' pictures:
I have cleared the back of the shed so that we can plant raspberries next spring. I have chopped the old honeysuckle. I love honeysuckle but this tree was quite old and did not produce many flowers. I will most certainly replace it. And I also cut a tree whose leaves looked like nettles and was not very attractive, taking space and blocking the sunlight.
Now we have a good part of the patio covered with branches and roots, waiting to be taken to the tip, as we are the only neighbourhood in town without green wheelie bins.
The garden wildlife defensers will not be too impressed with me chopping trees, but it is our garden and we wanted raspberries. (ok. I wanted raspberries, but Trave likes them too!)
Here is the garden 5 or 6 hours later:
Now, our garden is almost ready for winter. We still need to trim the hedges and prune the apple tree, in order to get more of and bigger pixie apples next year!
Vegetable croquettes
These croquettes have a wonderful and subtle ginger flavour, very nice. The following will feed 5 people:
Ingredients:
1 small cauliflower, cut into small florets
600g potatoes, diced
70g frozen peas
1 small piece of ginger, finely chopped (~2-3 tsp)
3 green chillies, finely chopped
dried bread crumbs to coat
1. Boil the cauliflower and potatoes for 7 minutes, add the peas, and boil for another 5 min. Drain.
2. Mash the veg together and add the ginger and chillies.
3. Shape into patties, coat with the bread crumbs and fry on both sides in groundnut oil. Serve on preheated plates.
TO SERVE:
I had too much ginger so as a side dish I did the following:
- cook some brown rice with some ginger in the boiling water. Drain the rice and discard.
- boil some carrot sticks/slices
- finely chop any ginger leftovers
- add some butter to a saucepan and melt with the rice, carrots and ginger.
It is truly delicious. I will definitely make this again!
Ingredients:
1 small cauliflower, cut into small florets
600g potatoes, diced
70g frozen peas
1 small piece of ginger, finely chopped (~2-3 tsp)
3 green chillies, finely chopped
dried bread crumbs to coat
1. Boil the cauliflower and potatoes for 7 minutes, add the peas, and boil for another 5 min. Drain.
2. Mash the veg together and add the ginger and chillies.
3. Shape into patties, coat with the bread crumbs and fry on both sides in groundnut oil. Serve on preheated plates.
TO SERVE:
I had too much ginger so as a side dish I did the following:
- cook some brown rice with some ginger in the boiling water. Drain the rice and discard.
- boil some carrot sticks/slices
- finely chop any ginger leftovers
- add some butter to a saucepan and melt with the rice, carrots and ginger.
It is truly delicious. I will definitely make this again!
Sunday, November 04, 2007
This week's menu
During the latest month of my course, up until the final exam, we had stopped planning our meals. This lead to less balanced meal in the course of the week, and an increase grocery bill! So we are back to our weekly planning and I have decided to post them here whenever I remember to do it.
So, what's on this week's menu?
Vegetable croquettes with broccoli (new!)
Pumpkin soup (variance on recipe posted before)
Macaroni bake (new!)
Mixed peppers and mushroom quiche
So, what's on this week's menu?
Vegetable croquettes with broccoli (new!)
Pumpkin soup (variance on recipe posted before)
Macaroni bake (new!)
Mixed peppers and mushroom quiche
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Creamy stuffed mushrooms
loads of steam in the kitchen then, not a great photo...These were nice, but I think I preferred the last recipe I used for stuffed mushrooms, which I shall make again and post soon. Although I like mushrooms, I am no big fan of strong wild 'forest' type mushrooms which I was recommended to use here. Next time I make this recipe, I will use standard fresh mushrooms (chestnut mushrooms maybe?) instead of rehydrated dried wild ones.
Ingredients
25g dried wild mushrooms / 40g chestnut mushrooms, chopped
225g floury potatoes, diced
2 TBSP mixed chopped nuts (optional but makes the mixture crunchy!)
4 TBSP double cream
2 TBSP butter, melted
black pepper
8 large open-cap mushrooms
25g grated cheddar
150ml vegetable stock
1. Place the dried mushrooms in a small bowl, cover with boiling water and leave to soak for 20 minutes. Chop finely. (skip this step if using fresh mushrooms)
2. Cook the potatoes for 10 minutes, drain well and mash. Add the chopped mushrroms and nuts. Add the melted butter & cream and season to taste. Optional: add fresh parsley.
3. Remove the stalks from the open-cap mushrooms, chop the stalks and stir them into the potato mixture. Arrange the open-cap mushrooms into a shallow oven-proof dish. Spoon the mixture into the open-cap mushrooms and sprinkle the grated cheese over the top.
4. Pour the vegetable stock into the dish, around the open-cap mushrooms.
5. Place in a preheated oven (200 degrees) for 20-25 minutes until golden.
6. Serve as a side dish or with green vegetables.
PS: please note I have written most of this recipe with my left hand only as Chatouille the cat is lying half-way between my lap and the laptop, taking over 80% of the mousepad... She is a bit scared of the crazy Guy Fawkes' Night fireworks going on outside. Poor Chatouille.
Lentils and Mixed Vegetables
This is surprisingly really nice. Surprisingly because whilst the original recipe I read said "vinegar" in the ingredient list, I was going to omit it. I decided to go for it after all and I was not disappointed. Trave & I coughed for a while though, as we are not used to the strong smell of vinegar.
This recipe is allegedly for four people, but we had not problem finishing it off in one meal just the two of us, with a slice of bread.
Ingredients:
200g green lentils
60g butter
2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
1 TBSP Xeres vinegar (Sherry)
1 red chilli
3 tomatoes, cut into chunks
50g baby sweetcorn cobs, halved lengthway
1 yellow & 1 red peppers, cut into strips
50g French beans, halved
125ml vegetable stock
2 TBSP acacia honey
black pepper
1. Soak the lentils in cold water for 30 minutes, then bring to the boil and cook for 20 min. Drain.
2. Add 1 TBSP butter, 1 TBSP olive oil and the vinegar to the lentils. Mix well
3. Melt the remaining butter with the remaining oil and fry the vegetables for 3-4 minutes.
4. Add the stock, bring to the boil and boil for 10 minutes.
5. Add the honey and season to taste. Stir in the lentils and heat through. Serve warm.
This recipe is allegedly for four people, but we had not problem finishing it off in one meal just the two of us, with a slice of bread.
Ingredients:
200g green lentils
60g butter
2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
1 TBSP Xeres vinegar (Sherry)
1 red chilli
3 tomatoes, cut into chunks
50g baby sweetcorn cobs, halved lengthway
1 yellow & 1 red peppers, cut into strips
50g French beans, halved
125ml vegetable stock
2 TBSP acacia honey
black pepper
1. Soak the lentils in cold water for 30 minutes, then bring to the boil and cook for 20 min. Drain.
2. Add 1 TBSP butter, 1 TBSP olive oil and the vinegar to the lentils. Mix well
3. Melt the remaining butter with the remaining oil and fry the vegetables for 3-4 minutes.
4. Add the stock, bring to the boil and boil for 10 minutes.
5. Add the honey and season to taste. Stir in the lentils and heat through. Serve warm.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Cheesy Vegetable Chowder
This soup is wonderful. On my top 5 soups I think!
The following will serve 4 to 6 people:
Ingredients:
25g butter
1 onion, finely chopped
1 large leek, thinly sliced
55g plain flour
1.2 L vegetable stock
3-4 carrots, finely diced
4 celery sticks, finely diced
2 parsnips, finely diced
2-3 potatoes, finely diced
3-4 sprigs thyme
1 bay leaf
300 ml single cream
350g extra mature cheddar, grated
black pepper
1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan and fry the onion and leek for 5 min, stirring frequently.
2. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 min. Add a little of the stock and keep stirring, then slowly add the rest of the stock. Scrape the bottom of the pan so that the flour does not stick.
3. Add the vegetables and simmer for 30 minutes.
Remove the bayleaf.
4. Stir in the cream and simmer for 3-5 minutes. Do not boil.
5. Add the cheese a little at a time, stirring constantly. Do not boil. Season with plenty of black pepper.
There is no need to add salt as the soup will be salty enough with the stock and cheese.
Serve with a nice home-made bread!
The following will serve 4 to 6 people:
Ingredients:
25g butter
1 onion, finely chopped
1 large leek, thinly sliced
55g plain flour
1.2 L vegetable stock
3-4 carrots, finely diced
4 celery sticks, finely diced
2 parsnips, finely diced
2-3 potatoes, finely diced
3-4 sprigs thyme
1 bay leaf
300 ml single cream
350g extra mature cheddar, grated
black pepper
1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan and fry the onion and leek for 5 min, stirring frequently.
2. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 min. Add a little of the stock and keep stirring, then slowly add the rest of the stock. Scrape the bottom of the pan so that the flour does not stick.
3. Add the vegetables and simmer for 30 minutes.
Remove the bayleaf.4. Stir in the cream and simmer for 3-5 minutes. Do not boil.
5. Add the cheese a little at a time, stirring constantly. Do not boil. Season with plenty of black pepper.
There is no need to add salt as the soup will be salty enough with the stock and cheese.
Serve with a nice home-made bread!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Meals of the forthcoming week
Here is a selection of meals we are planning to make this week:
- Potato and broccoli curry with basmati rice
- cereal galettes
- Cheesy vegetable chowder (new!)
- Lentils and vegetables (new!)
- Creamy stuffed mushrooms (new!)
- Lentil croquettes
Come back later in the week for photos and recipes!
- Potato and broccoli curry with basmati rice
- cereal galettes
- Cheesy vegetable chowder (new!)
- Lentils and vegetables (new!)
- Creamy stuffed mushrooms (new!)
- Lentil croquettes
Come back later in the week for photos and recipes!
Chilli and cheese bread
Chilli & cheese cake/bread
I cannot decide if this is a bread or a cake, as it can be eaten on its own but is also really good as a sandwich base.
PS: Tastes nicest cold and is great as a snack on its own.
I cannot decide if this is a bread or a cake, as it can be eaten on its own but is also really good as a sandwich base.
160 g plain white flour
190g corn flour
150g grated extra mature cheddar
250g plain yoghurt
135ml milk
2 eggs
1 red pepper, diced
1 red chilli pepper, chopped
60g butter
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1. Preheat oven at 200 degrees and grease a 20cm diameter baking form.
PS: Tastes nicest cold and is great as a snack on its own.
Cycling
We decided to go for a ride yesterday, training for our Cycle Cuba challenge. We had a very nice afternoon and the weather was perfect for it. We cycled 33 miles (~55km) in 2.5 hours. Here was our itenerary:
Leamington Spa
Offchurch
Cubbington
Weston-under-Wetherley
Hunningham
Birdingbury
Leamington Hastings
Stockton
Napton-on-the-Hill
Southam
Harbury
Leamington Spa
It was nice to get home for a nice cup of tea!
Leamington Spa
Offchurch
Cubbington
Weston-under-Wetherley
Hunningham
Birdingbury
Leamington Hastings
Stockton
Napton-on-the-Hill
Southam
Harbury
Leamington Spa
It was nice to get home for a nice cup of tea!
our pixie apples
We have picked our apples today. I cheated a bit by picking one 2 weeks ago (I could not wait). It was really nice if a bit sharp. We have not tried today's yet, as we have decided to take them to work tomorrow.
Given the size of the tree, we have had 6 apples altogether this year.
Don't they look yummy?
Given the size of the tree, we have had 6 apples altogether this year.
Don't they look yummy?
Kitten photos
Well, she more like a grown-up cat than a kitten now, let's face it!
What she loves to do:
- pulling the socks drying on the clothes drier
- sitting in the shower cubicle and listening to the foam
- trying to go onto the kitchen table by climbin UNDER the table cover (right, WHO would spot her under there???)
- climbing up the curtains up to the rail
- hiding in the washing machine
- lying on the laptop (only when being used, obviously!)
- scratching/banging the door at 5am to come upstairs with us
- chewing our wrists (almost looks like she's hugging my arm on the picture below, don't be fooled!)
little devil... but she can also be sweet and cudly!
What she loves to do:
- pulling the socks drying on the clothes drier
- sitting in the shower cubicle and listening to the foam
- trying to go onto the kitchen table by climbin UNDER the table cover (right, WHO would spot her under there???)
- climbing up the curtains up to the rail
- hiding in the washing machine
- lying on the laptop (only when being used, obviously!)
- scratching/banging the door at 5am to come upstairs with us
- chewing our wrists (almost looks like she's hugging my arm on the picture below, don't be fooled!)
little devil... but she can also be sweet and cudly!
A day in London
It is such a great feeling not to have to study!
We went to see Ratatouille at the cinema and I really enjoyed it! It is entertaining and makes a good point about food.
On Thursday, we took the train to London as I had appointments at the General Consulate to register our marriage with the French Authorities and apply for a new passport. I applied for a new ID card at the same time, as I realised last week that it had ran out of date.
We bought a bite from Paul's. It was the best sandwich I had in years, literally. I had a 'Méditerranéen': artichokes, red peppers, basil, mozzarella, salad, olive oil in an olive ciabatta bread. Trave had a sesame white baguette with brie and lettuce, and found his equally good. It is a bit pricey, but hey, anything would be expensive in South Kensington so you may as well eat something nice :D
Between the two appointments we walked to Hyde Park, wandered for a bit, and after the second appointments, we went to the Science Museum (which was entirely free), before taking an evening train back home.
A very nice day! I should have my new passport within 4 weeks.
We went to see Ratatouille at the cinema and I really enjoyed it! It is entertaining and makes a good point about food.
On Thursday, we took the train to London as I had appointments at the General Consulate to register our marriage with the French Authorities and apply for a new passport. I applied for a new ID card at the same time, as I realised last week that it had ran out of date.
We bought a bite from Paul's. It was the best sandwich I had in years, literally. I had a 'Méditerranéen': artichokes, red peppers, basil, mozzarella, salad, olive oil in an olive ciabatta bread. Trave had a sesame white baguette with brie and lettuce, and found his equally good. It is a bit pricey, but hey, anything would be expensive in South Kensington so you may as well eat something nice :D
Between the two appointments we walked to Hyde Park, wandered for a bit, and after the second appointments, we went to the Science Museum (which was entirely free), before taking an evening train back home.
A very nice day! I should have my new passport within 4 weeks.
I'm back online!
The exam is over. Let's hope I have passed and won't need to go through all this again in 6 months!
So, back to the cycling, cooking, and capturing our cat's cute and mischievous behaviour. We cycled to Garden Organic Ryton last weekend, to fill up our 5L Ecover washing-up liquid, handwash and shower gel, only to find out that among these, they only offer refill for washing-up liquid ;(
We still had a nice day. We had lunch there and it was absolutely delicious again. And the weather was nice this time so we had a walk around the gardens where I took this picture of a thistle.
So, back to the cycling, cooking, and capturing our cat's cute and mischievous behaviour. We cycled to Garden Organic Ryton last weekend, to fill up our 5L Ecover washing-up liquid, handwash and shower gel, only to find out that among these, they only offer refill for washing-up liquid ;(
We still had a nice day. We had lunch there and it was absolutely delicious again. And the weather was nice this time so we had a walk around the gardens where I took this picture of a thistle.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Revising
3 days to go...
Concepts are spinning in my head: performance indicators, control loop, Sargent's 5 Cs, Mintzberg, TQM, Porter's 5 Forces, 4 Cs, Boston Matrix, you name it!
I have two strategies to calm my nerves:
- eating dark chocolate (full of magnesium)
- stroking our cuddly kitten/cat (supposed to be good against stress!)
Please keep your fingers crossed for me!
Concepts are spinning in my head: performance indicators, control loop, Sargent's 5 Cs, Mintzberg, TQM, Porter's 5 Forces, 4 Cs, Boston Matrix, you name it!
I have two strategies to calm my nerves:
- eating dark chocolate (full of magnesium)
- stroking our cuddly kitten/cat (supposed to be good against stress!)
Please keep your fingers crossed for me!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Just married!
We had a fantastic day on 22nd September and I would like to thank everybody for making this day so special. I think (I hope) everybody had a great time. The food and beverage were excellent and the entertainment entertaining (I will explain the full length of the entertainment in a later post). Don't we look elegant?
Now I have to concentrate on my studies: the exam is on 19th October...
Now I have to concentrate on my studies: the exam is on 19th October...
Thursday, September 20, 2007
First tomatoes
Our cherry tomatoes are now finished for this year but we are starting to see our first 'big' tomatoes. This photo was taken on 9th September. We are not going to have many as the frost is going to creep in very soon, but we have eaten quite a few already and it is very satisfying, even if they do not taste as good as they should. As I have mentioned before, the weather was so bad that we should be grateful to have anything at all!
Sacher Torte and Jurancon
Back to the subject of food, which has been neglected recently on this blog as I am undertaking intense revisions for the final lap of my management course. The exam is on 19th October.
I visited my Austrian customers last week and as a wedding present, they offered me "Die echte Sacher Torte" direct from Vienna, presented in a beautiful wooden box. It was the perfect occasion to open the bottle of Jurancon which my brother gave to Trave for Christmas last year. This cake is an absolute wonder. I had not tried it before but I loved it! So, we have been eating Sacher Torte everyday for the pas 8 days, and just finished it yesterday night!
I visited my Austrian customers last week and as a wedding present, they offered me "Die echte Sacher Torte" direct from Vienna, presented in a beautiful wooden box. It was the perfect occasion to open the bottle of Jurancon which my brother gave to Trave for Christmas last year. This cake is an absolute wonder. I had not tried it before but I loved it! So, we have been eating Sacher Torte everyday for the pas 8 days, and just finished it yesterday night!
Why playing awari in a room with a kitten is not such a good idea
Ever played awari? Then you know how challenging this game can be. Ever played it sitting on a sofa with a hyperactive kitten in the same room? Well done, you have gone one step further on the difficulty ladder.
Our awari was a present to Trave by his brother a few Christmas ago. It had been a while since we had played it by but we started playing again after Longcat's visit last month. The kitten LOVES awari. Particularly chasing the seeds and messing up with our game!
But look, she also have quieter moments, when she just happily lies on the sofa. Isn't she cute?
Our awari was a present to Trave by his brother a few Christmas ago. It had been a while since we had played it by but we started playing again after Longcat's visit last month. The kitten LOVES awari. Particularly chasing the seeds and messing up with our game!
But look, she also have quieter moments, when she just happily lies on the sofa. Isn't she cute?
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Count down & Slow Food
7 days to the wedding...
Right now I am compiling CDs with various styles of music to pass on to the DJ to try to ensure that all tastes for all generations will be catered for. It becomes even more challenging with two cultures! So to keep stereotypes alive, I have inserted some accordeon songs from 1930s-40s to make sure the over 80 will dance too!
I cannot possibly reveal the menu in advance but I will try to report afterwards.
===============
I would also like to mention that today is France' first "Slow Food Day". Interested in the Slow Food Movement? Click here.
Right now I am compiling CDs with various styles of music to pass on to the DJ to try to ensure that all tastes for all generations will be catered for. It becomes even more challenging with two cultures! So to keep stereotypes alive, I have inserted some accordeon songs from 1930s-40s to make sure the over 80 will dance too!
I cannot possibly reveal the menu in advance but I will try to report afterwards.
===============
I would also like to mention that today is France' first "Slow Food Day". Interested in the Slow Food Movement? Click here.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Hemp flour pastry with seeds
Trave's brother Longcat, his girlfriend Gudrun and Trave's sister Felinity visited this weekend. We had a great time together. Obviously the main reason for the visit was to smuggle our kitten back to London. Despite this we thought our guests ought to be fed.
We decided to make a quiche, as this is fairly quick and easy and hassle-free when receiving guests. I used the same pastry recipe as for the hemp flour patry quiche, except I added 3 tablespoons of mixed seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, poppy, millet and crushed hemp seeds).
The filling was made of red & yellow peppers, courgettes, fresh rosemary, dice of mozzarella, and for the cream: 3 eggs, 150ml milk, 120g cheedar (grated), salt and pepper.
As you know I don't have much time for anything at the moment so I did not make a cake (how dare I? Visitors and no cake? This is outrageous, I say!). Instead, Trave bought a cake from the local delicatessen. It was a delicious mocha sponge cake baked by Judith. We will definitely go there again for cakes, they are really nice.
If you really want to know: they failed to kidnap the kitten, but for some reason, she has been sleeping all day today!
We decided to make a quiche, as this is fairly quick and easy and hassle-free when receiving guests. I used the same pastry recipe as for the hemp flour patry quiche, except I added 3 tablespoons of mixed seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, poppy, millet and crushed hemp seeds).
The filling was made of red & yellow peppers, courgettes, fresh rosemary, dice of mozzarella, and for the cream: 3 eggs, 150ml milk, 120g cheedar (grated), salt and pepper.
As you know I don't have much time for anything at the moment so I did not make a cake (how dare I? Visitors and no cake? This is outrageous, I say!). Instead, Trave bought a cake from the local delicatessen. It was a delicious mocha sponge cake baked by Judith. We will definitely go there again for cakes, they are really nice.
If you really want to know: they failed to kidnap the kitten, but for some reason, she has been sleeping all day today!
Raw vegetable salad with feta cheese (2)
This salad is nice and refreshing, great with a few slices of crusty seeded wholemeal bread.
Ingredients:
Cucumber, sliced
Tomatoes, diced,
1 yellow pepper, sliced and slices cut in two
1 red pepper, sliced and slices cut in two
celery branches, sliced
Feta cheese, diced or crumbled
Unrefined extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
Ingredients:
Cucumber, sliced
Tomatoes, diced,
1 yellow pepper, sliced and slices cut in two
1 red pepper, sliced and slices cut in two
celery branches, sliced
Feta cheese, diced or crumbled
Unrefined extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
Raw vegetable salad with feta cheese
We had a few days of sunshine where a nice refreshing salad was a must.
Ingredients:
celery sticks, sliced
carrots, cut into sticks
tomatoes, diced
Cucumber, sliced
Feta cheese, diced
Unrefined, extra virgin olive oil
salt
freshly cracked black pepper
Ingredients:
celery sticks, sliced
carrots, cut into sticks
tomatoes, diced
Cucumber, sliced
Feta cheese, diced
Unrefined, extra virgin olive oil
salt
freshly cracked black pepper
Cheese and crackers
A classic combination if you have little time to cook anything.
For this plate, I used the following biscuits:
oat biscuits,
crackers with pumpkin seeds and rosemary,
"Vollkorn Brot" (German wholemeal bread),
seasalt and thyme biscuits,
and the following cheeses:
mature cheddar,
spreadable goatcheese
Served with a few plum tomatoes. It was very satisfying.
For this plate, I used the following biscuits:
oat biscuits,
crackers with pumpkin seeds and rosemary,
"Vollkorn Brot" (German wholemeal bread),
seasalt and thyme biscuits,
and the following cheeses:
mature cheddar,
spreadable goatcheese
Served with a few plum tomatoes. It was very satisfying.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Hemp flour quiche
It was Trave's birthday on Saturday and his parents took us to Garden Organic Ryton, where they have a lovely restaurant with view on the flower garden and fabulous food! Shame the weather was bad: it would have been really nice spending the afternoon exploring their organic garden.
They have a shop where you can buy vegetables they grow and other organic stuff. I bought some rye flakes (current stock in the cupboard is close to nil), quinoa flakes (I have tried the grain but not the flakes yet) and also some hemp flour, which I used the following day to make a creamy potato and carrot quiche.
Pastry:
170g plain white flour
15g hemp flour
80g butter
pinch of salt
3 TBSP cold water
Filling:
500g potatoes, diced
5 carrots, sliced
60 ml double cream
3 eggs
150ml milk
150+ g mature cheddar cheese (I usually put at least 200g but I'm greedy!)
parsley (from the garden)
freshly cracked black pepper
1. To make the pastry, mix the flour and butter and salt until it ressembles breadcrumbs. Add the water and knead until soft and smooth. Roll and fill a greased quiche dish. Prick the case with a fork and cover with baking beans. Bake in a preheated oven (180 degrees) for 10 min. Remove the beans and return to the oven for 5 min.
2. Meanwhile, boil the potatoes and carrots until cooked but firm. Drain thoroughly then add the double cream and some pepper onto the vegetables and heat through. Add 1/3 of the cheese.
3. Once the cheese is melted, pour the creamy vegetable mixture into the pastry case.
4. Top with the remaining cheese and sprinkle with parsley.
5. Mix the eggs and milk and season with pepper. Pour over the cheese.
6. Place in the oven for about 20 minutes and eat hot with a green salad or vegetables.
They have a shop where you can buy vegetables they grow and other organic stuff. I bought some rye flakes (current stock in the cupboard is close to nil), quinoa flakes (I have tried the grain but not the flakes yet) and also some hemp flour, which I used the following day to make a creamy potato and carrot quiche.
Pastry:
170g plain white flour
15g hemp flour
80g butter
pinch of salt
3 TBSP cold water
Filling:
500g potatoes, diced
5 carrots, sliced
60 ml double cream
3 eggs
150ml milk
150+ g mature cheddar cheese (I usually put at least 200g but I'm greedy!)
parsley (from the garden)
freshly cracked black pepper
1. To make the pastry, mix the flour and butter and salt until it ressembles breadcrumbs. Add the water and knead until soft and smooth. Roll and fill a greased quiche dish. Prick the case with a fork and cover with baking beans. Bake in a preheated oven (180 degrees) for 10 min. Remove the beans and return to the oven for 5 min.
2. Meanwhile, boil the potatoes and carrots until cooked but firm. Drain thoroughly then add the double cream and some pepper onto the vegetables and heat through. Add 1/3 of the cheese.
3. Once the cheese is melted, pour the creamy vegetable mixture into the pastry case.
4. Top with the remaining cheese and sprinkle with parsley.
5. Mix the eggs and milk and season with pepper. Pour over the cheese.
6. Place in the oven for about 20 minutes and eat hot with a green salad or vegetables.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Mixed salad with wild rocket from our garden
Hehe, here are our first home-grown leaves. Soon we will have a few of our own-grown cherry tomatoes to go with them, yum yum!
Simple ingredients for this refreshing salad: wild rocket leaves, tomatoes, Parmesan shavings, freshly cracked black pepper, unrefined extra-virgin olive oil.
Simple ingredients for this refreshing salad: wild rocket leaves, tomatoes, Parmesan shavings, freshly cracked black pepper, unrefined extra-virgin olive oil.
Berry time
The weather has been very miserable this year and if there was any summer at all, it has been brief. Although berries of all sorts are shockingly expensive, we had a few treats involving raspberries and blueberries (one of my favourite berries, especially in pies, cheesecakes and muffins).
On that particular evening, it was Cornish dairy icecream with raspberries and blueberries, absolutely delicious!
I also made blueberry muffins with the other half of the fresh blueberries but they are way too small. Delicious, but too small! When I find a better recipe, I will keep you posted.
On that particular evening, it was Cornish dairy icecream with raspberries and blueberries, absolutely delicious!
I also made blueberry muffins with the other half of the fresh blueberries but they are way too small. Delicious, but too small! When I find a better recipe, I will keep you posted.
More kitten pictures
She has grown so much it is unbelievable! We have started taking her outside in the garden, under supervision only, until she is spayed. No flirting with the local tomcats for our beautiful lioness.
Hiding in cycling paniers is unbelievably fun for a kitten. Well HIDING generally speaking seems to be fun for kittens.
Tissue boxes: she loves them so much we are building a tunnel/labyrinth for her. We are at 4 boxes so far. I wonder I long it will take until she cannot fit in them any longer!
Luckily, she has not knocked any of the plants over yet. I thought she would be discourage by the cactus but she loves rubbing against it. And I suspect she tries to eat the bamboo when we are not around.
Hiding in cycling paniers is unbelievably fun for a kitten. Well HIDING generally speaking seems to be fun for kittens.
Tissue boxes: she loves them so much we are building a tunnel/labyrinth for her. We are at 4 boxes so far. I wonder I long it will take until she cannot fit in them any longer!
Luckily, she has not knocked any of the plants over yet. I thought she would be discourage by the cactus but she loves rubbing against it. And I suspect she tries to eat the bamboo when we are not around.
Cycling through Warwickshire
I have tried many different ways of conciling work + studying + wedding prep + raising funds for African Now + cycle training + cooking & general housekeeping and I am really struggling! So I have now eliminating the cycle training dilema of finding the time by taking a longer route to and from work. Last Friday I started doing 10 miles (16 km) each way and it is really good. The landscape is much nicer, and there is much less traffic, possibly because I leave home at 7 am!
For those who know Warwickshire, from somewhere between Sydenham and Whitnash I cycle through Radford Semele, Offchurch, Hunningham, Weston-under-Wetherley, Cubbington, and get to work.
I might not persevere over winter, but so far so good!
For those who know Warwickshire, from somewhere between Sydenham and Whitnash I cycle through Radford Semele, Offchurch, Hunningham, Weston-under-Wetherley, Cubbington, and get to work.
I might not persevere over winter, but so far so good!
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Film review
We have seen a number of good movies lately. Among them, I recommend:
Mon Meilleur Ami
This is the story of a man who think he can buy everything, who think he is happy, until somebody makes him realise how lonely he is.
I'm a bit of a fan of Daniel Auteuil: La Fille sur le Pont, Le placard, Ma Vie est un Enfer...
Goodbye Bafana
This was extremely difficult to watch at times. Let's put aside the artistic value, which I will not pretend I can judge, I thought the movie was thought-provoking and I would like to learn more about South-Africa during the Apartheid regime (shall I write it with a capital A???).
La Môme
This movie tells the story of the life of Edith Piaf, the famour French singer. It is beautiful and very emotional. I have just read the following critique of the movie on the IMDB. The beginning of the comment is a bit harsh I think, but I did not no much about Edith Piaf before I saw the movie. However I agree with the following statement made by that same critique:
"The movie also assumes previous knowledge of Edith Piaf's life, since it leaves so much unsaid. For instance, on her deathbed, Piaf mentions her husband Theo, but that's the only reference to him in the movie. Worse, the movie skips from 1940 to 1947—missing the World War II years when Piaf was in her prime. And considering "La Vie en Rose" presents Edith as a French folk heroine (she is guided by Saint Therese and discovers her vocal talent singing "La Marseillaise"), it's strange to omit the heroic work she did for the Resistance during this time. Instead, the movie finds its greatest emotional resonance in a love affair Piaf had with boxer Marcel Cerdan (Jean-Pierre Martins) in the late '40s. You can tell that this relationship is doomed from the start—the tension between Edith's wholehearted faith in love, and the way that destiny seems to be set against her, is quite affecting."
No Man's Land
This movie shows the absurdity of war, of any war, of all wars. You must see this movie and show it around you.
Mon Meilleur Ami
This is the story of a man who think he can buy everything, who think he is happy, until somebody makes him realise how lonely he is.
I'm a bit of a fan of Daniel Auteuil: La Fille sur le Pont, Le placard, Ma Vie est un Enfer...
Goodbye Bafana
This was extremely difficult to watch at times. Let's put aside the artistic value, which I will not pretend I can judge, I thought the movie was thought-provoking and I would like to learn more about South-Africa during the Apartheid regime (shall I write it with a capital A???).
La Môme
This movie tells the story of the life of Edith Piaf, the famour French singer. It is beautiful and very emotional. I have just read the following critique of the movie on the IMDB. The beginning of the comment is a bit harsh I think, but I did not no much about Edith Piaf before I saw the movie. However I agree with the following statement made by that same critique:
"The movie also assumes previous knowledge of Edith Piaf's life, since it leaves so much unsaid. For instance, on her deathbed, Piaf mentions her husband Theo, but that's the only reference to him in the movie. Worse, the movie skips from 1940 to 1947—missing the World War II years when Piaf was in her prime. And considering "La Vie en Rose" presents Edith as a French folk heroine (she is guided by Saint Therese and discovers her vocal talent singing "La Marseillaise"), it's strange to omit the heroic work she did for the Resistance during this time. Instead, the movie finds its greatest emotional resonance in a love affair Piaf had with boxer Marcel Cerdan (Jean-Pierre Martins) in the late '40s. You can tell that this relationship is doomed from the start—the tension between Edith's wholehearted faith in love, and the way that destiny seems to be set against her, is quite affecting."
No Man's Land
This movie shows the absurdity of war, of any war, of all wars. You must see this movie and show it around you.
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