Isn't wonderful to meet up with old friends and talk on ,eat and visit old places that were once familiar to us. This happened at a beach where my friends and myself, along with others, lived in a motor camp. The rent was affordable and the accommodation was varied depending on the amount of money one decided to pay for rent. Some lived in one room with bunk beds, there were 3 bedroom flats with large living quarters, and there were small 2 bedroom concrete flats that were awful to say the least. We were all happy and had many good laughs and many children shared visits to the beach all year around. Myself and the couple I met have written at Xmas in cards and have visited a couple of times in 30years, but this time we decided to revisit the old familiars surroundings that were home to us. There is now a supermarket where the motor camp was, and the face of the beach has changed, but not the memories. One of the people who lived at the camp was a keen fisherman, and parked his car on the beach while out fishing. Of course you all know what happened, yes , the tide came in and the car was swamped. This bloke had it towed out and cleaned it out and to our amazement drove off in it one day. Such was the character of the ecclectic group that lived there. My friends invited some others to dinner with myself and made the most amazing curried food that I had ever eaten!! Probably the only ever orginal curried food!!!!!! So I asked mt friend for a recipe after 30years and here it is and I hope you enjoy it.
MARAMMA'S POTATO CURRY.
400gms potatoes, peeled ,washed and cut. 1 onion chopped
3 tablespoons oil 3 cloves garlic crushed
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds 1/4 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 teaspoon garam masala 1 teaspoon tumeric
1 tablespoon lemon juice salt to taste
METHOD.
1. Cut potatos into large pieces.
2. Heat oil in medium saucepan , fry chopped onion, mustard and cumin seeds.When onion is just turning brown add garlic and tumeric and fry 1 minute, then add potato and salt to taste.
3. Mix together and make sure all the spices and potato are mixed well.
4. Turn the heat to low, put lid on and stir every 5 to 10 minutes and cook for 30 minutes.
5. If potatoes are sticking to the pan add 2 or 3 tablespoons water.
6. You can now add some fresh corriander leaves and 1 chilli.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Highs and Lows
Em and Al
They’re a couple, a bride and a groom united
two of them made into one.
They achieved this by doing everything twice!
Two father figures, one a brother, one an uncle.
Two aisles to walk down in a beautiful long dress.
Two services, one in London, one in New Zealand.
Two ministers, one a woman, one a man.
Two service sheets with vows uttered twice.
Two decorated tiered cakes, one made by church friends,
one bought down the road.
Two afternoon teas, one at their London church and one at
the bride’s old College.
Two families, one in England, one in N.Z. with
overlap of travelling companions and friends.
A twice worn Las Vegas bought dress and a suit with
a bowler hat and a polished cane.
Twice dedicated rings, twice blessed like me -
mother of the bride.
Two relaxed smiles, nothing between 12 thousand miles!
Well, there's nothing like a family wedding for a high, but
when they've all gone home you feel like a flat pancake for a while!
Here's a Korean recipe for a pancake, called Pa Jon.
Sift one cup of flour and a pinch of salt
with 1 teaspoon of cumin and a quarter teaspoon
(I added this cos my fellow blogger says I'm a
sprinkler)
of cayenne pepper.
Beat an egg in a cup and fill up with water
Add another half cup of water
I whipped this up in my blender but a bowl
will do.
Carefully mix in half a finely chopped onion and half of a
red/green pepper thinly sliced.
Heat a large frying pan with oil and cook the pancakes
on both sides until golden. Makes 3 to 4 pancakes depending
how thick you like them. Evidently in Korea they cut them
like we would a pizza. Enjoy!
They’re a couple, a bride and a groom united
two of them made into one.
They achieved this by doing everything twice!
Two father figures, one a brother, one an uncle.
Two aisles to walk down in a beautiful long dress.
Two services, one in London, one in New Zealand.
Two ministers, one a woman, one a man.
Two service sheets with vows uttered twice.
Two decorated tiered cakes, one made by church friends,
one bought down the road.
Two afternoon teas, one at their London church and one at
the bride’s old College.
Two families, one in England, one in N.Z. with
overlap of travelling companions and friends.
A twice worn Las Vegas bought dress and a suit with
a bowler hat and a polished cane.
Twice dedicated rings, twice blessed like me -
mother of the bride.
Two relaxed smiles, nothing between 12 thousand miles!
Well, there's nothing like a family wedding for a high, but
when they've all gone home you feel like a flat pancake for a while!
Here's a Korean recipe for a pancake, called Pa Jon.
Sift one cup of flour and a pinch of salt
with 1 teaspoon of cumin and a quarter teaspoon
(I added this cos my fellow blogger says I'm a
sprinkler)
of cayenne pepper.
Beat an egg in a cup and fill up with water
Add another half cup of water
I whipped this up in my blender but a bowl
will do.
Carefully mix in half a finely chopped onion and half of a
red/green pepper thinly sliced.
Heat a large frying pan with oil and cook the pancakes
on both sides until golden. Makes 3 to 4 pancakes depending
how thick you like them. Evidently in Korea they cut them
like we would a pizza. Enjoy!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The Old Amber Jug.
In the late 60's my Mum worked at the Dairy Laboratory in Upper Hutt, Wellington , with a young scientist who claimed my Mum as his own!!. They had a great friendship, him being the son my parents never had. Eventually he married ,and his new bride inherited all her Mums china that had been stored in a barn ,in wooden fruit boxes with hay and years of grime. Her Mum and Dad had died in a car accident when she was small,and had been brought up by her farming Uncle and Aunt.
The young man and his wife divorced some years later and because my Mum had been good to them,she was given two of the boxes of china, in which was a large amber jug made of depression glass, . The loveliest thing I had seen . This was the start of my many years of collecting amber and green glass.
Fast forward 40 years!!!. I adopted a 2yr old tabby cat and while exploring her new home decided for no reason that I can explain, thought she would like to sit up on the wall shelves with my glass. Well we know that didn't work, and down fell the cat, glass and shelves in that order. The amber jug and many other pieces in
pieces.
I have been browsing a popular buying site and to my amazement there was an Amber Jug, just like the one I had lost, so on ent my bid and I crossed my fingers. I watched each day and at the end of 5 long days, I WON. So the story
has gone full circle.I now have a start to a new collection.
Here is a recipe to go in the jug I used to make for my boys for pudding with peaches.
CHOCOLATE CUSTARD
1 pint{500mls} milk 3 heaped tablespoons cocoa
3 heaped tablespoons sugar 3 heaped tablespoons cornflour.
METHOD.
PLace milk in saucepan, and bring to boil. MIx together the cocoa, sugar and cornflour with a little milk. Add to milk and stir, and add 2 drops vanilla essence. Delicious hot or cold with stewed fruit or puddings of any description.
The young man and his wife divorced some years later and because my Mum had been good to them,she was given two of the boxes of china, in which was a large amber jug made of depression glass, . The loveliest thing I had seen . This was the start of my many years of collecting amber and green glass.
Fast forward 40 years!!!. I adopted a 2yr old tabby cat and while exploring her new home decided for no reason that I can explain, thought she would like to sit up on the wall shelves with my glass. Well we know that didn't work, and down fell the cat, glass and shelves in that order. The amber jug and many other pieces in
pieces.
I have been browsing a popular buying site and to my amazement there was an Amber Jug, just like the one I had lost, so on ent my bid and I crossed my fingers. I watched each day and at the end of 5 long days, I WON. So the story
has gone full circle.I now have a start to a new collection.
Here is a recipe to go in the jug I used to make for my boys for pudding with peaches.
CHOCOLATE CUSTARD
1 pint{500mls} milk 3 heaped tablespoons cocoa
3 heaped tablespoons sugar 3 heaped tablespoons cornflour.
METHOD.
PLace milk in saucepan, and bring to boil. MIx together the cocoa, sugar and cornflour with a little milk. Add to milk and stir, and add 2 drops vanilla essence. Delicious hot or cold with stewed fruit or puddings of any description.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Buttons and Recipes
Collectors’ Items – Recipes and Buttons!
Buttons are like recipes,
each a different taste or colour.
Each tie thread or hunger
from breast to torso to face
the world their way on.
Buttons are fancy bridal white
subtle mother of pearl,
black with brassy anchor
or Edwardian jewel insert.
Crocheted rose or woollen
satin stitched, a leaf, plastic
moulded or silver filigree – a
button is a fashion fastening
one size fits all isn’t said, nor
is unisex!
Harris Tweed leather woven,
a romantic heart enameled
or tiny whites line a work
shirt, or duffle coat toggles,
keeping out the cold.
Summer corn yellow, puffs
of popcorn patterns, marbled
Oriental, teal and terracotta.
Baby pinks and mauves, royal
blue, designer black, an amber
jewel shines through.
Tapestry threaded, chocolate
twirls, beaded and laced they
sit rounded, expectant, thumbed,
twinkling or dull, hoping not to
come loose and lie forgotten
down a sofa, or worse, down a drain
or loo! Decorative and useful, just
like recipes, what tales they could
tell, especially from a camel
coat’s point of view!
Finally I've managed to create a good
pumpkin soup in my slow cooker:-
1/2 a small pumpkin or 1 buttercup
cut up small and peeled.
1 carrot, peeled and cut up lengthwise smallish.
1 onion peeled and diced with 4 cloves garlic
cook these for 3mins in the microwave
2 handfuls of red lentils
teaspn. cumin
teaspn. tumeric
and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper
salt
Put everything in slow cooker and
almost cover with hot water.
Cook for 5/6 hours on low and when
tender and slightly cooled, blend, yummy.
Buttons are like recipes,
each a different taste or colour.
Each tie thread or hunger
from breast to torso to face
the world their way on.
Buttons are fancy bridal white
subtle mother of pearl,
black with brassy anchor
or Edwardian jewel insert.
Crocheted rose or woollen
satin stitched, a leaf, plastic
moulded or silver filigree – a
button is a fashion fastening
one size fits all isn’t said, nor
is unisex!
Harris Tweed leather woven,
a romantic heart enameled
or tiny whites line a work
shirt, or duffle coat toggles,
keeping out the cold.
Summer corn yellow, puffs
of popcorn patterns, marbled
Oriental, teal and terracotta.
Baby pinks and mauves, royal
blue, designer black, an amber
jewel shines through.
Tapestry threaded, chocolate
twirls, beaded and laced they
sit rounded, expectant, thumbed,
twinkling or dull, hoping not to
come loose and lie forgotten
down a sofa, or worse, down a drain
or loo! Decorative and useful, just
like recipes, what tales they could
tell, especially from a camel
coat’s point of view!
Finally I've managed to create a good
pumpkin soup in my slow cooker:-
1/2 a small pumpkin or 1 buttercup
cut up small and peeled.
1 carrot, peeled and cut up lengthwise smallish.
1 onion peeled and diced with 4 cloves garlic
cook these for 3mins in the microwave
2 handfuls of red lentils
teaspn. cumin
teaspn. tumeric
and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper
salt
Put everything in slow cooker and
almost cover with hot water.
Cook for 5/6 hours on low and when
tender and slightly cooled, blend, yummy.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
pressure cooker pea soup
Many years ago as in many families, my Mum and Dad had friends my sister and I called Uncle and Auntie. I just loved this one couple in particular as they would live outragously and just do things that my parents were to conservitive to do!.Uncle and Aunt were running the fish shop at the bottom of Queen Street in Auckland City and worked extremly hard and long hours. The off beat thing about this was they were renting a magnificent mansion opposite a prestegious boys school and many good memories I have of thathome.On this occasion There was there sons 21st birthdayheld at this palacious home and as a young child I can still see their daughter and myself sliding down the very grand bannister that was on the very wide curvacious staircase. We were standing on the landing watching and listening to the singing and fun and there was my Mother with the crystal drop off the very expensive chandaleir on the bridge of her nose balancing it while she sang something that was from a young Elvis Presley!!! I have no doubt someone would have had to stand on a chair to be able to retrieve this beautiful object for my mother to use in such a fashion. Thanks Mum for that memory and for the wonderful pea soup receipe. PRESSURE COOKER PEA SOUP.
3 OR 4 SMOKED MEAT BONES 2 CUPS DRIED GREEN PEAS.
2 grated carrots. 1 diced onion and 2 cloves garlic if preferre
cover with water to 1/2 up the pressure cooker.
METHOD.
PLACE ALL INGREDIENTS IN PRESSURE COOKER, PUT ON LID,BRING UP TO PRESSURE AND PUT ON WEIGHTS. BRING TO PRESSURE AGAIN AND COOK FOR 30MINUTES. TAKE COOKER OFF HEAT AND REDUCE PRESSURE SLOWLY. TAKE OFF WEIGHT AND LID AND ADD CHOPPED PARSLEY IF DESIRED.
3 OR 4 SMOKED MEAT BONES 2 CUPS DRIED GREEN PEAS.
2 grated carrots. 1 diced onion and 2 cloves garlic if preferre
cover with water to 1/2 up the pressure cooker.
METHOD.
PLACE ALL INGREDIENTS IN PRESSURE COOKER, PUT ON LID,BRING UP TO PRESSURE AND PUT ON WEIGHTS. BRING TO PRESSURE AGAIN AND COOK FOR 30MINUTES. TAKE COOKER OFF HEAT AND REDUCE PRESSURE SLOWLY. TAKE OFF WEIGHT AND LID AND ADD CHOPPED PARSLEY IF DESIRED.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Suspicious Mint Jelly
A girl in my class
asked,'What's suspicious' Miss?
'Well,' I began, 'I was chopping vege
for my evening meal at my bench
when a man shouted 'Help!' over the fence.
He leapt across and banged on the glass,and
as I opened the door just a tad
he told me through the screen
he was being chased by a man who was bad!
I offered to dial 111, but apparently
that was over the edge,
so I directed him to the neighbours by the hedge.
They were brilliant and let him phone his girl
who came round pretty smartly as if he were a pearl.
He shook my neighbour's hand and said he'd
learnt his lesson today, but what lesson
I wondered 'suspiciously', then I forgot him
as I wandered back to my nutrious kitchen!
Mint Jelly
3lbs of apples
5 cups water
2and 1/2 cups white vinegar
A Big bunch of mint from the garden
2 drops of green colouring
sugar.
Cut apples into chunks and place in a large saucepan with water and vinegar. Finely chop mint to give 4 to 5 tablespoons and reserve. Place remainer of bunch in the pan.
Boil and simmer until apples are soft. Strain through a muslin bag or sieve.
2 cups of sugar to 2 and 1/2 cups juice. Add chopped mint and colouring.
Boil rapidly until set. Sterilize jam jars in warm oven then pour in mint jelly and seal. Great on lamb or salad or in your sandwiches for lunch.
asked,'What's suspicious' Miss?
'Well,' I began, 'I was chopping vege
for my evening meal at my bench
when a man shouted 'Help!' over the fence.
He leapt across and banged on the glass,and
as I opened the door just a tad
he told me through the screen
he was being chased by a man who was bad!
I offered to dial 111, but apparently
that was over the edge,
so I directed him to the neighbours by the hedge.
They were brilliant and let him phone his girl
who came round pretty smartly as if he were a pearl.
He shook my neighbour's hand and said he'd
learnt his lesson today, but what lesson
I wondered 'suspiciously', then I forgot him
as I wandered back to my nutrious kitchen!
Mint Jelly
3lbs of apples
5 cups water
2and 1/2 cups white vinegar
A Big bunch of mint from the garden
2 drops of green colouring
sugar.
Cut apples into chunks and place in a large saucepan with water and vinegar. Finely chop mint to give 4 to 5 tablespoons and reserve. Place remainer of bunch in the pan.
Boil and simmer until apples are soft. Strain through a muslin bag or sieve.
2 cups of sugar to 2 and 1/2 cups juice. Add chopped mint and colouring.
Boil rapidly until set. Sterilize jam jars in warm oven then pour in mint jelly and seal. Great on lamb or salad or in your sandwiches for lunch.
Monday, April 7, 2008
DEPUTY PIZZAS
PUSHING MY PRAM HOME WITH A BABY INSIDE, AND A TODDLER ON THE SEAT, I PASSED A SHOP WITH A VERY LARGE SIGH OUTSIDE ADVERTISING A LUNCHEON THE FOLLOWING WEEK WITH AN OPPOSITION PARTY'S DEPUTY LEADERS WIFE. NOW AT THE TIME, THIS POLICITION WAS A VERY COLOURFUL MAN IN MANY WAYS , SO MY FRIEND AND I DECIDED TO ATTEND. DRESSED IN OUR BEST CLOTHES,IT WAS THE MID 60'S, WE TOOK OUR CHILDREN AND ENJOYED A VERY ENTERTAINING AFTERNOON WITH THIS CHARMING LADY AND LOTS OF BLUE RINSE BRIGADE FOLLOWERS. IT DID TAKE SOME TIME FOR OUR FAMILIES TO BELIEVE WE WERE CHEEKY ENOUGH TO ATTEND THIS LUNCHEON AS WE WERE MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSING POLITICAL PARTY!!!. SO IT WAS IN THAT TIME THAT PIZZAS WERE MADE AND EATEN IN ITALY. HERE ARE 2 RECEIPES I HAVE USED AND FOUND VERY STAPLE. ENJOY.
EMMAS PIZZA BASE.
2CUPS SELF RAISING FLOUR, OR 2CUPS PLAIN FLOUR AND 3TEASPOONS BAKING POWDER
1/2CUP GRATED CHEESE
1/2TEASPOON BASIL
1/2TEASPOON MARGARINE
1/4TEASPOON MILK.
METHOD.
MIX ALL INGREDIENTS TOGETHER IN A BOWL AND LINE A PIZZA TRAY, OR A SWISS ROLL TIN. COVER WITH YOUR FAVORITE TOPPING AND BAKE 200OC FOR 12-25 MINUTES.
TOPPING #1.
1 LARGE TIN SPAGETTI IN TOMATO SAUCE.
1 FINELY CHOPPED ONION
2 RASHERS CHOPPED BACON
2 TOMATOES CHOPPED.
2 CUPS CHEESE.
OPTIONS, PINAPPLE, SALAMI,APRICOTS.
TOPPING #2. BUTTER CHICKEN PIZZA
ABOUT 1 CUP HUMMUS
ABOUT 2CUPS BUTTER CHICKEN MIXTURE, TINNED OR THE RECEIPE ON THIS BLOG SPOT.
2-3 HANDFULS SPINICH LEAVES
CHICKEN VERY FINELY CHOPPED NOT BIG CHUNKS. ABOUT 2CUPS
1CUP GRATED CHEESE OF YOUR CHOICE.
METHOD.
SPREAD THE BASE WITH THE HUMMUS.
SPREAD CAREFULLY THE BUTTER CHICKEN MIXTURE ON TOP.IF USING SEPARATE CHICKEN ADD NOW.
SCATTER OVER THE SPINICH LEAVES.
SPRINKLE ON THE CHEESE.
BAKE AT 200CFOR 12-15 MINUTES UNTIL GOLDEN AND ENJOY.
EMMAS PIZZA BASE.
2CUPS SELF RAISING FLOUR, OR 2CUPS PLAIN FLOUR AND 3TEASPOONS BAKING POWDER
1/2CUP GRATED CHEESE
1/2TEASPOON BASIL
1/2TEASPOON MARGARINE
1/4TEASPOON MILK.
METHOD.
MIX ALL INGREDIENTS TOGETHER IN A BOWL AND LINE A PIZZA TRAY, OR A SWISS ROLL TIN. COVER WITH YOUR FAVORITE TOPPING AND BAKE 200OC FOR 12-25 MINUTES.
TOPPING #1.
1 LARGE TIN SPAGETTI IN TOMATO SAUCE.
1 FINELY CHOPPED ONION
2 RASHERS CHOPPED BACON
2 TOMATOES CHOPPED.
2 CUPS CHEESE.
OPTIONS, PINAPPLE, SALAMI,APRICOTS.
TOPPING #2. BUTTER CHICKEN PIZZA
ABOUT 1 CUP HUMMUS
ABOUT 2CUPS BUTTER CHICKEN MIXTURE, TINNED OR THE RECEIPE ON THIS BLOG SPOT.
2-3 HANDFULS SPINICH LEAVES
CHICKEN VERY FINELY CHOPPED NOT BIG CHUNKS. ABOUT 2CUPS
1CUP GRATED CHEESE OF YOUR CHOICE.
METHOD.
SPREAD THE BASE WITH THE HUMMUS.
SPREAD CAREFULLY THE BUTTER CHICKEN MIXTURE ON TOP.IF USING SEPARATE CHICKEN ADD NOW.
SCATTER OVER THE SPINICH LEAVES.
SPRINKLE ON THE CHEESE.
BAKE AT 200CFOR 12-15 MINUTES UNTIL GOLDEN AND ENJOY.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Caramel Crusted Rhubarb Pudding or Everest Crumbles
Not sure what to do now Sir Ed. is dead.
Recipes seem too small a mountain to climb
though passion reigns in tv cooks’ eyes,
pushing complicated versions of once
humble pies.
A giant of a man, Sir Ed., gangling strength
combined with foolscap pads of meticulous
planning
like a recipe for climbing a mountain, then,
when the weather turns foul, and your
designer cake refuses to resemble
the picture and crumbles,
Ed, wouldn’t have turned a hair, but
gone forward to plan B or Z.
Which of course is how all domestic cooks
worth their salt feed their families.
It’s called ingenuity – OR -
making do with what you’ve got!
This crumble was given to me by Karen and is delicious
and if you haven't got rhubarb in your garden yet,
contact Pat's husband Reg!
3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup rolled oats
3/4 white or brown sugar
100 grams melted butter
4 cups sliced rhubarb
Sift flour and baking powder tog. Add oats and sugar and mix in butter. Sprinkle over raw rhubarb.
Topping
3/4 brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornflour
1/4 cup of boiling water.
Combine sugar and cornflour, sprinkle over crumble then pour boiling water over the mixture. Bake for 1/2 hour on 180c Serve with icecream or yoghurt.
Recipes seem too small a mountain to climb
though passion reigns in tv cooks’ eyes,
pushing complicated versions of once
humble pies.
A giant of a man, Sir Ed., gangling strength
combined with foolscap pads of meticulous
planning
like a recipe for climbing a mountain, then,
when the weather turns foul, and your
designer cake refuses to resemble
the picture and crumbles,
Ed, wouldn’t have turned a hair, but
gone forward to plan B or Z.
Which of course is how all domestic cooks
worth their salt feed their families.
It’s called ingenuity – OR -
making do with what you’ve got!
This crumble was given to me by Karen and is delicious
and if you haven't got rhubarb in your garden yet,
contact Pat's husband Reg!
3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup rolled oats
3/4 white or brown sugar
100 grams melted butter
4 cups sliced rhubarb
Sift flour and baking powder tog. Add oats and sugar and mix in butter. Sprinkle over raw rhubarb.
Topping
3/4 brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornflour
1/4 cup of boiling water.
Combine sugar and cornflour, sprinkle over crumble then pour boiling water over the mixture. Bake for 1/2 hour on 180c Serve with icecream or yoghurt.
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