Weekend round up and recipe number 11/52 and 13/52

Saturday, we walked in the Yorkshire Dales. It was wonderful, the fresh spring air, the crisp breeze and the gently warming sun.  We sat and drank in the view as we drank our tea. There was hardly any one about so we, in splendid isolation, revelled in the wild beauty of it all.

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Made some Jam-packed flapjacks (from BBC food) only have one to say about them - they didn't last long! Going to make them again. I did my usual and adapted the recipe slightly to our tastes and what was available in the store cupboard. (11/52)

Also tried two more different recipes and put them together for tonight's evening meal.

Lemon spaghetti 

This was a brilliantly simple and quick dish and Himself tucked in only pausing to hmmmm hmmmm as he chewed. Might be making this one again too :)

• 12oz/350g dried spaghetti
• juice of one lemon ( the recipe called for a large lemon, I used a smallish one and found this to plenty)
• good glug of olive oil
• seasoning

• cook the pasta in salted boiling water to taste, drain well and return to the pan
• mix the oil and lemon juice and salt and pepper
• pour onto the spaghetti, toss well and serve in warmed bowls.

I would be quite happy just to eat that dish with a bit of salad, but Himself likes a 'little something' extra so I made a creamy mushroom sauce to plonk on the top of the spaghetti.

I sliced mushrooms and gently fried them in a bit of butter and olive oil, then sprinkled flour on, stirred until the flour coloured slightly then added some milk to make a 'white sauce'. I then sliced thinly some garlic and chucked that in the simmering sauce. Added lots of black pepper and when cooked I served it on the spaghetti. It didn't stay on our plates for long! Nom nom (as Colouritgreen says when she has a yummy recipe!) (13/52)

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Japan - I will let you know what I doing tomorrow xx 

12/52 and Red Nose Day baking

Last night, after the marathon baking sesh, the boys went off to music. Once they returned, they rolled up their sleeves, washed their hands and iced each and every bun. 

Then, this morning, I helped Youngest to carry into his school, one small tub and 6 large tins full of chocolate iced buns. Success!


 I suspect there won't be a single one left this afternoon - oh well, back to the kitchen......

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Last night, after all that baking and icing, the last thing I wanted to do was cook an evening meal. However, Himself has permanent hollow legs and looked rather forlorn at the prospect of nothing to eat.

So a quick look in what I call my 'lazy cook book'  I found this - 

Baked Leek and Potato Gratin. 

It was really quick and easy and filling. (So it is recipe number 12/52)

2lbs potatoes - sliced (the recipe called for thinly - mine were a bit more 'rustic' in size)

2 large leeks (or several smaller ones dug out of the garden)

7oz grated cheese (the recipe called for brie or camembert but I used cheddar)

3/4 pint cream (I used milk!!)

1. Preheat the oven to 180 deg c
2. cook potatoes in salted boiling water until slightly softened and drain well
3. cut the leeks into 1cm lengths and blanch in boiling water then drain (I actually chucked mine into the potato water as it was already lovely and hot and just waiting there)
4. turn half the potatoes into a shallow ovenproof dish and spread out to cover the base
5. chuck in most of the leeks over the potato layer
6. cover with the remaining half of potato slices, leeks and the cheese
7. pour on the milk
8. season with salt and pepper to taste

Bake for about an hour until tender and golden and smelling absolutely delish!

The recipe suggests that if the top browns too quickly to cover with some tin foil to prevent burning.

I'd accidently broken a couple of eggs after the bun making marathon so I fried those and served them on top of the gratin and the look on Himself's face when he saw that I was still going to feed him was delightful!

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**walking* baking* thinking**

Walking:

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Thinking:

Further to my last post (Japan) things have progressed, I will let you know soon x

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Baking:

At this very moment I am baking buns for Youngest's fund raising at school for Red Nose Day, the kitchen is wall to wall with chocolate buns in various stages of completion. When the boys come home tonight we will have a marathon icing session - oh the mess the mess!

I love, love, love these silicone baking cases, the colours are really cheery and bright.

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Japan

I feel that I can not waffle on today about my life when so so many people are destitute, traumatised, missing or trying to survive the awful conditions over in Japan. 

I sit in silence with my hands on my mouth trying not to cry every time I see the footage of their bewildered faces as they try to pick through their damaged environment.

I dearly want to help and am in the throws of trying to sort something out. I will let you know as soon as it is all in place - you might even want to get involved too.

That is all for now.

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Walking with oddbods ......2

Years ago - I think the boys were 3 and 5 years old. We were out walking - got to train 'em young you see!  Our foot path was meandering lazily along through farm lands as we happily strolled in early summer sunshine. We were almost finished our walk with only a few fields to go. We followed the path as it entered a little farm house huddled by winter blown trees and as we drew closer we could see a goat grazing on the toy strewn back lawn.  The stone stile dropped us directly into the back garden where we were instantly spotted by the goat.

Hello  bleated cute little goat (CLG) resplendent in shiny red collar.

 .....Nice to see you, you look good enough to gently head butt  

We all decided, that yes CLG was indeed cute and little and a goat. 

We had lessons - "boys - this is a goat, only a little one and definitely cute, now say hello, then say good bye and lets carry on with our walk".

Lesson over, boys happy, sun shining, pathway beckoning, we carried on over the farm's lawn, carefully stepping over toys and balls.  CLG trotted ahead of us bleating....

this way, this way, this is the pa-a-a-aa-aaath you need, come along now, c'mon

We dutifully followed for indeed CLG was leading us out of his garden. And yes he was correct, there in front of us was the stile into the fields. We were of course impressed with his manners and his courtesy. CLG hopped on the stile (the first warning tingle appeared) and tipped toed through and turned around baa-ing encouragement....

thaaa-aaa-a-a-t's it, this wa-a-a-ay..... this waaa-a-a-a-a-ay......

The boys squealed with delight at this but Himself and I both had simultaneous thoughts, 

*hope this cute goat doesn't come any further*

(further warning tingles were coming good and fast)

Moments later, CLG dropped down, on-the-other-side, and clipperty-clopperty trotted through the field bleating a constant stream of instructions and encouragement. We looked ahead of him and saw the path lead directly to a gate. Phew..... this was obviously  his field and could pop into his owners garden. Things were looking up.  Himself, ever the man and taking the situation by the horns (erm sorry about the pun) stood firm as I ushered the boys through the gate. Himself drawing up looking tall and fiercesome stared firmly at CLG and told him to go home. 

CLG cocked his head sideways, gave Himself a funny little goat look, and....

Excuse me, he bleated, move alo-o-o-o-ong, move along

Himself was still standing firm, began to back away, not losing eye contact with said CLG (rapidly losing cute status), and reversed through the gate, which was duly slammed shut with a triumphant gleam in his eye. He almost slapped his hands together in a satisfied way but......

How ru-u-u-uuuu-uuuude grumbled CLG......

 .....as he 'klip-springed' up onto the wall, and gave Himself a severe looking at - at eye level. With a firm 'ignore him boys' we set off, through the field, our lazy stroll becoming a bit of a yomp. The boys thought this was excellent fun and giggled and clapped hands each and every time we hurtled over a stile or through a gate only to be raced and beaten by CLG. We were not so much as being followed as we were following him!! 

By the time we had reached the farm edge, Himself had had enough and bodily picked up CLG (definitely not cute at all now) and put him back over the final wall issuing instructions for us to get moving up the lane and get to the car. However, we were beaten to it............by a rather completely-not-cute-any-more little goat.

We had been outwitted. Himself decided that we would return the sodding goat (his words) to the farm by car. This was the pinnacle of excitement to the boys who clambered in and were helped by a horrible little goat to eat their sandwiches. It's bovidae little face grinning triumphantly at our puny human efforts to out manoeuvre this cloven hoofed creature.

Himself with white knuckle clenched hands gripped the steering wheel as we drove up the farm's lane, that !/**|> goat happily sitting in the boot with it's head leaning between the boys, all three of them chewing......

We reached the farm (for the second time) and we turfed the goat out, marched up to the door and knocked on it. After a moment or two a rather harassed woman appeared. 

"Sorry to bother you," I started, "but we were followed by your goat, right down to the bottom of the lane, we have returned it in our car.................."

She looked over our shoulders to that infernal creature, still bleating happily, still chewing the last remenants of the boys sandwiches, and said.............

"Do you want it?"

I don't think we could get off the farm quick enough...................... suffice to say, we've not walked on that path since.

walking with oddbods - 1

 A while ago, by that I mean a couple of years, we were out walking on our local hills. It is a short hop (well not so much as a hop more of a yomp) over the hill into the next valley where another rather time-static-tourist-trap village resides. It was one of those beautiful autumnal days where the sky is a brilliant blue and the trees are resplendent in fiery form. We were warmly wrapped and chatting happily along a familiar path that wraps itself around an expensively done-up barn and garden. As usual their caged dogs went ballistic, firing a volley of barks and growls at us. We chose to ignore the trappings of insecurity and visual wealth and carried on chatting when suddenly...

Hello, hi, how are you, hi, hi!

Collectively we turned to see who'd called to us in such a friendly manner when we saw a rather large pretty ginger and white  kitten - about 6 months old, with the biggest and friendliest face ever! He was on the garden wall and trotting alongside of us.

Hello back we said (first mistake)

Ooh, nice people who say hello back said Pretty Ginger Kitten

The boys did the polite thing and responded with a tickle and giggle (second mistake)


Ooh ooh purred PGK (Pretty Ginger Kitten) nice people who say hello back AND tickle

We smiled at his effusive happy demeanour, the huge feet and rather magnificent whiskers. We started to walk on. PGK looked briefly disconcerted, then with a shrug of his fluffy ginger shoulders he trotted along side us again on the wall top.

I live here said PGK this is my house and my garden!


The boys went back over to stroke PGK who was delighted.(compounding mistake number 2) By now we had gone round the garden wall and had reached the property's gate where the footpath turned to go down their lane. The boys gave PGK a farewell pat and we turned away.

Wait, hello, hellooo-o, wait wait yowled PGK don't go-o-o-o-o---ooooo-o-o-o-oooooo.......

We turned back briefly to see a rather dejected little ginger and white figure sitting on the wall next to the gate looking so forlorn. Himself and I smiled at this silly little fur-ball and as I turned forward to continue our walk, I caught in the corner of my eye, PGK tottering carefully across the gate and joining the wall alongside the lane. When................


Wait, wait, hello hello-o-o-o! shrieked PGK


We turned to see the ginger fur-ball pounding along the top of the uneven stonewall on rather large fluffy white feet, Within a few seconds he'd caught us up and with a beaming furry face yelled....


Hello, nice to see you again, as I was saying I live here and I like people,


Himself and I looked at each other again and said to the boys

'leave him, he'll stop following if we ignore him. 

We don't want him following us away from his home'

So, avoiding eye contact and speeding up somewhat we carried on along the lane. For a moment or two PGK seemed content to trot along us on the wall, occasionally stopping to watch leaves whorl round on the floor when he jumped down off the wall out of sight.


Now's our chance, we speed up again and with legs a blurrrrrr we walked off quickly, smiling at how we managed to give PGK the slip.  Himself looked back and saw no sign of him at which the boys muttered their disappointment. As we slowed down to a more sedate pace we were subjected to...


Hello, there to you are, I was just in the field sneaking up, silly people thinking you could get away................


PGK was there again, on the wall, keeping up a steady stream of chatter and purr.


With firm instructions to the boys to ignore said kitten-cat and Himself making shoo-shoo flapping arm type movements, we sped up again.  PGK was not impressed at all and jumped off the wall back into the field and vanished. This time we kept up the mad pace. When.................


Hello! Wait for me said PGK in a cross little puff, his white fluffy paws a blur as he trotted quickly to keep up. 


We again made flapping shooing hands and kept up a break neck when Himself noticed that coming towards us was a couple of walkers - we sneaked a look at each other - they might be out salvation. We moved to the far side of the lane away from the wall and carried on our breathless trot with our ginger and white shadow keeping up as he shouted little hellos and wait-for-me at us.


We briefly nodded a greeting at the other walkers who looked at us slightly alarmed as we sped by but they were soon distracted by this cute and fluffy ginger and white kitten who said....


Hello, hi, how are you, hi, hi, I live here and I like people!

**mwahahaheheheheh - manic laughter 

as we saw the walkers slow down to say 

hello..............**

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walking weekend, 9/52 and 10/52

Right.

You are about to go on a walk and you have been asked to get together all the stuff you will need. Bearing in mind that there is about a 20 minute car drive first

  and  you are a 10 year old boy. 

Ok? Ready? well off you go............

• Did you remember to take your toy car? 
• And that large TransFormer and his mini-me side kick? 
• Oh yes don't forget you need to take your camera (sans batteries) 
• And your GPS (plus flat batteries and then ask mid way to walk if any one has any spare batteries..)
• And for good measure - would you have remembered to take....(wait for it....) your guitar?... I thought not.
• You would have, I suspect, not taken your gloves, or found your hat, or collected your scarf or even begun to look for your walking boots or coat.  For which, as your mother, I would have said a thing or two about your choice of equipment.

Having addressed the balance we would have got in the car, you would have a cross face and a restricted toy collection and I would have a furrowed brow. Then on the journey to our walk, our collective grumpy demeanour would have evaporated with the miles and by the time Himself had parked the car, we would be ready for our walk :)

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While we were out, I took some photos, and I thought I'd share them with you...............

The oh-so cute fisherman's cottage with it's snowdrops and daffodils. 

The happy giddy dog smiling for the camera as we walked towards Elbolton Hill (where we stopped and had lunch)

The wonderful view were we lapped up the sunshine. 

The nip in the air just about bearable as we sat eating our sandwiches 

minus our usual layers of fleeces.

Meandering drover's tracks gently falling away from the hills

leading us to quaint little villages, 

where time appears to have stood still - 

the only hint of modernity are the expensive looking shiny 4x4s littering the driveways.

A strange earth working machinery rusting quietly next to a rickety shelter, 

the vehicle reminded me of Scoop from BoB the Builder

The sunshine bright enough to gift us strong shadows which kept us company all day

Two lovely days of walking.

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We have a book club at work, where a company comes in and drops off a selection of books for us to look at and potentially buy.  I flipped through a cook book idly on Friday evening as I waited for the last patient to leave, when I spotted a couple of recipes that looked quick and easy. After further reading I found several more that really interested me, so I have put my name down for a copy. The first two recipes that caught my attention I wrote down on a scrap of paper to try this weekend and both got the thumbs up from Himself.

One was leek fritters and the other was a very quick lentil dhal - which initially tasted rather dull but with a bit of tweaking, soon improved. I will make them again I am sure, but until then I now have numbers 9 and 10 to add to my 52 recipes I've not tried before. 

Quick, easy and cheap = excellent in my book!

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Time for me to finish waffling, I am sure I could say so much more but it's getting late. So I wish you a good night and hope the spring-like sun shone for you this weekend :)
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Oh - and before I forget, I have been doing some crochet but I can't show you just yet - no, it's not a surprise, it's blogger stopping me downloading any more photos until I pay them some money!!

Ha!