The MAD Awards make the world seem smaller

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Kate

Isn’t it funny how you can be pootling through life when all of a sudden the world seems smaller, just through some random connection? I had seen mention of The MAD Awards on Twitter and various other blogs so went to check it out.

Turns out that there were various ‘worth a follow’ blogs that I had not yet discovered, so I subscribed to some of the finalist’s feeds and got back to work.

I went to read (clear out) my backlog of posts and suddenly much to my surprise recognised someone! The blog is SuburbanMummyUK and her daughter went to baby ballet with my youngest right here in Chislehurst. So I went from feeling that the world is a big place, to suddenly thinking it is sometimes quite small.

It happened on another occasion, when my Auntie who lives in Vancouver, Canada, suddenly announced that she had started talking to an English guy at a bus stop when he asked directions. It turned out (after a bit of discussion) that he was actually in my class in Secondary School and was just over there doing a bit of travelling. He and his girlfriend ended up spending the night at my Aunties and having a meal and beers – how random is that?!

Have you ever had that feeling?

Madonna Tribute – Glee

Posted on May 10, 2010 by Kate

I admit I may be a little old to like Glee, but I cant help it. The music is great, the plot doesn’t take up too much brainpower after a hard day and like singing along as I know most if not all of the tracks.

This particular tribute by Sue (one of my favourite characters, because she is sooooo sarcastic) is definitely worth a watch.

Are you a secret Gleek too?

Melting Moments – Recipe Alert!

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Kate

These are so delicious you may want to make them and then hide them for your ‘me time’!! However, if you are feeling generous the entire family is sure to really enjoy these biscuits. This is another of my Gran at the Seaside’s recipes, so I hope you like – do let me know what you think.

Ingredients

8 oz margarine
6 oz caster sugar
1 egg
1/4 teasp vanilla essence
10 oz S.R. flour
2 oz crushed cornflakes

Mix marg and sugar, beat in egg and vanilla.

Stir in flour, mix in dough.

Wet hands and roll mixture in balls and then roll them in the cornflakes.

Bake on a greased tray 350degF. for 20 minutes.

Cumberland Cookies (or Gran's Cookies!) – Recipe Alert!

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Kate

Another of my Gran’s recipes, which despite my terrible long term memory, I do remember having these delicious cookies at my Gran at the Seaside’s house. They are quick and easy to make, but do remember to take them out of the oven when still soft otherwise you may break a tooth!!

Ingredients

2 cups S.R.flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup soft brown sugar
1 teasp.bicarb of soda
1/4 hard margarine (Stork or similar) (I think its about 2 oz)
2 tabls. syrup
1 teasp. ginger powder
pinch salt

Put marg and syrup in pan to melt. Mix together in a bowl the flour, oats, sugar, ginger and salt. Add the bicarb of soda dissolved in a little warm water, and then add the melted margarine and syrup. Mix well and roll into balls. Place on a greased baking sheet and flatten a little with a fork. Bake in a moderate oven about 15 mins.

Cold Tea Fruitbread – Recipe Alert!

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Kate

This is such an easy recipe to make, but a goodie. This came from my Gran and I remember her making it, so I hope you will enjoy it too. Its really nice still warm and buttered along with a cup of tea and putting your feet up for 10 mins. Also great for packed lunches and a quick snack.

Fruit Loaf :-

8 oz mixed fruit or just sultanas if you prefer
1/4 pint tea
4 oz soft brown sugar
8 oz S.R. flour
1/4 teasp. mixed spice
1 egg
1 tablesp. marmalade

Leave fruit to soak overnight in tea. Add all ingredients and mix well. Place in greased tin 325deg F. for 1 1/4- 1 1/2 hours.

Leftover Easter Eggs?! – Recipe Alert

Posted on April 19, 2010 by Kate

Did you receive so many Easter eggs that you are struggling to finish them all? “Don’t be silly!” – I hear you cry, but just in case you have a few left over my lovely friend, Alison, has donated this recipe to help you use them up by making something tasty.

*****

Rainbow Bites

Prep – takes 10 mins plus overnight chilling

200g bar dark chocolate – but we use milk as dark is too bitter for us!!
100g unsalted butter
100g golden syrup
100g marshmallows, big ones cut in half or use the mini ones
100g pink wafers, crushed
125g mini eggs

Line a 20 x 20cm square tin with a layer of greaseproof paper.

Place the chocolate, butter and golden syrup in a saucepan and heat gently until melted together. Stir in the marshmallows and crushed wafers.

Pour the chocolate mixture into the tin and top with the mini eggs. Put in the fridge overnight to set. Cut into squares and serve.

*****

If you have any good recipes that you think others would like, please do send them to us and we will put them on the blog – along with a link if you have a website or blog yourself.

Largest Dead Snake – Must See!

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Kate

I am not a fan of snakes, can’t even bear earthworms – they just make my skin crawl, so a very kind friend sent this over to me and I thought I ought to pass it on.

So click the link below and ENJOY!!

Largest Dead Snake!

Do let me know what you think, won’t you?

Sowing Time

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Kate

We have been very busy now that the weather has improved and started the preparations for our little vegetable garden. We do not have a great big allotment type plot (did, but that is a whole other story!), more of a collection of pots and containers on the patio, but hopefully we will still be able to harvest some crops eventually.

We have started the ball rolling with 4 types of tomatoes, 2 types of peppers, 5 types of chillies, runner beans and sweet peas. We already have strawberries, as they managed to resurrect themselves despite the horrible winter that they weathered. In a week or two we will sow some courgettes (although only 2 plants this year as we had a courgette mountain last year from 4 plants), aubergines, spinach and lots of different salad leaves.

The kids really enjoyed getting mucky and helping to sow all of the seeds. We even had enough toilet roll tubes for the runner beans despite the binoculars incident (see previous post)!

Just have to keep fingers and toes crossed now that some veggies grow or the kids gardening enthusiasm will not last very long!

What are you growing this year? Are there any vegetables that you would recommend we try?

Baked Macaroni Frittata – Recipe Alert!

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Kate

Ingredients

1/2 tsp. olive oil
85g/3oz fusilli or macaroni
1 leek, thinly sliced
85g/3oz frozen or canned sweetcorn
85g/3oz frozen peas
1 red pepper, seeded and chopped
2 large eggs
150ml/ 1/4pt semi skimmed milk
1 tblsp. fresh thyme leaves
50g/2oz grated cheddar
2 tbsp. parmesan, finely grated

1. Heat the oven to 190c / fan 170c /gas 5. Grease a 1.2 litre baking dish with the olive oil.

2. Cook the pasta in salted boiling water in a large pan for eight minutes.

Add all the veg and cook for another two to three minutes until the pasta is tender and vegetables slightly softened. Drain, then tip into the baking dish and stir together.

3. Beat together the eggs and milk in a jug and add the thyme. Mix the two cheeses together and add most of it to the egg mixture. Grind in some black pepper and a sprinkling of salt.

4. Pour into the baking dish, stir gently, then scatter the rest of the

cheese on top. Bake for 35-40 minutes until set and golden. Cool for a

few minutes, then cut into four and serve with a salad.

Sausage, Tomato and Potato Pie – Recipe Alert!

Posted on April 6, 2010 by Kate

This is a perfect mid-week meal and is delicious reheated too, but you probably won’t have leftovers to find out!

Ingredients

300g potatoes, peeled and boiled.
150g. cauliflower, cut into bite-sized pieces and steamed or boiled
1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
25g parmesan cheese, grated
450g good quality sausages
1 tablesp. olive oil
1 tablesp. freshly torn basil
2 tablesps. tomato puree
1 medium leek, washed and thinly sliced
2 cloves or garlic, finely chopped
100g cheese, such as strong cheddar
2 onions thinly sliced
black pepper
6 tablsp. natural full cream yoghurt
2 teasp. dijon mustard

Mash the potatoes and cauliflower together with the yoghurt, mature cheese, mustard and black pepper. Season to taste – but you shouldn’t need any salt as the pepper and mustard give the mixture great flavours.

Grill the sausages until golden brown, then drain and dab with kitchen roll to remove the excess fat. Slice and set aside.

Gently fry the onions, garlic and leek in the olive oil until they turn golden brown and soft. Add the tomatoes, tomato puree and fresh basil, bring to the boil and simmer for ten minutes.

In a large ovenproof dish, arrange layers of the sausage, tomato and potato mixtures, finishing with potato on the top. Top with parmesan cheese and set aside until you’re ready to start cooking it (it can be stored uncooked in the fridge for 24 hours.) Preheat the oven to 190c and cook the pie for about 30 minutes, until piping hot and crunchy on top.