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Archive for the ‘Food’ Category

And half a pig, is being delivered.

Asha is covered in mud head to toe, as she has been in the garden, the do room is covered in bits of paper, the kitchen looks like we are in the middle of a market garden, and we have half a pig to deal with..

I smile.. look around, and move the half eaten cake of the one “clean” surface and suggest he puts the large box down there..Offer the man some money.. and realise that may be we ought to have cleaned the kitchen this morning.. not cut some of the large bushes down in the garden, but the sun was out, and we would like some of it to get into the back this year.

Anyway, its now 10 pm, and were waiting for the salt and sugar to cool down, so we can pop the meat into it to cure it… We will then cook it and freeze it..

Wonderful..

Popularity: 4% [?]

We sat and watched the bee movie again in bed, then Asha and Daddy got up, whilst i struggled to wake enough to get to the drs.

After a trip to the drs, Asha and I sat and watched a 1995 version of Little Women on video. Asha seems to have understood much of it, but got confused over the characters a bit.. the older girls did look rather similar to her!.

We had shepards pie for dinner, and home made rice pudding for pudding.

Asha listened to “The Little Prince” published in 1943, is French aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s most famous novel.

We have not covered “The Little Prince” before, so hopefully it will be something new for her to talk to us about for a few days. Normally with audio books, we have read the book, prior to introducing the audio book but I am interested to find out how much she listens to from the audio book on its own.

After bed tonight, steve and i cut out some material to make me some new clothes.. We just need to get some cotton now, to sew the bits together!!

I was going to write a new status up on facebook when the skye boat song, popped into my head.. so i have put it here instead!

The Skye Boat Song

(Chorus)
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing
Onward the sailors cry
Carry the lad that’s born to be king
Over the sea to Skye

Loud the wind howls, loud the waves roar,
Thunderclaps rend the air
Baffled our foes, stand by the shore
Follow they will not dare

Chorus

Many’s the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore did wield
When the night came, silently lain
Dead on Culloden field

Chorus

Though the waves heave, soft will ye sleep
Ocean’s a royal bed
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head

Chorus

Burned are our homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men
Yet e’er the sword cool in the sheath
Charlie will come again.

Chorus

Popularity: 3% [?]

8 oz Self Raising Flour
2 eggs
2oz sugar
1oz melted butter
Milk.

mix together, heat pan up and put a spoonfull of mix on pan.. YUMMY

Thanks to Pippa for this..

Popularity: 3% [?]

Dear Friends,

I know some of you will be familiar with this, for others you may not be aware
of what parliament is about to do in your name. Codex Alimentairus is a law
designed to hand over the control of natural remedies to the pharmaceutical
giants. One more attempt to regulate us – with potentially dire consequences.
Unless we take this last opportunity and act now we will not be able to buy
vitamins or health/nutritional supplements without a doctor’s prescription -
they will be banned from 31st December 2009.

You may think this can’t happen, you may think why haven’t I heard about this
before. The reason is that there are vested interests, giant multinational
pharmaceutical companies, and it’s not in their interest that you know about and
oppose this. They and our lawmakers in Europe are banking on public apathy.
Despite considerable pressure already exerted our government is still planning
to implement this law – UNLESS THERE IS MASSIVE OPPOSITION IT WILL GO AHEAD.

Like many health and safety matters this was started with good intentions, in
1962 by the United Nations, to establish international free trade foods but has
become a major threat to our civil liberties and freedom of choice.

As the song says: YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’VE GOT TILL IT’S GONE

Please, sign the petition to the Prime Minister . . It takes 10 seconds! This
is for our health, and well-being and the health and well-being of our
children. Please copy and paste the link below …”

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/vitamins/

Popularity: 24% [?]

During Elizabethan times, Shakespeare refers to the custom of wearing a leek as an “ancient tradition”, and his character Henry V tells Fluellen that he is wearing a leek “for I am Welsh, you know, good countryman.”

Even earlier than this, entries in the household accounts of the ‘Welsh’ Tudor Kings of England, record payments for leeks worn by the household guards on St. David’s Day.

Earlier still in the fourteenth century, it is known that the feared Welsh archers adopted the green and white colours of the leek for their uniforms, perhaps at the Battle of Crecy.

Earlier than this however, myth and legend begin to intertwine. According to one legend recorded by the English poet Michael Drayton in the early 1600’s, the leek was associated with St. David the Patron Saint of Wales who died in 589 AD. It is possible that the poet made up the story; however it tells how St. David ordered his soldiers to wear the leek on their helmets in a battle against the hated pagan Saxon invaders of Britain. The battle itself is also said to have taken place in a field full of leeks.

http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/Wales-History/TheLeek.htm

Popularity: 44% [?]

Ginger is a spice from Indo-Malaysia. The ginger root was believed to sooth an upset stomach or to prevent a cold.

Each ginger species has a different culinary usage; for example, myoga is valued for the stem and flowers.

Myoga ginger

Garden ginger’s rhizome is the classic spice “ginger”, and may be used whole,

candied (known commonly as crystallized ginger), or dried and powdered. Other popular gingers used in cooking include cardamom and turmeric, though neither of these examples is a “true ginger” – they belong to different genera in the Zingiberaceae family.

More ….

Popularity: 22% [?]

Concentration!

The back door.

It took time, but it was worth the effort mummy… Do you like it?

I love it, especially the concentration, and enjoyment..

And the finished product, complete and done… Wonderful!

Popularity: 17% [?]

Asha at least has been a bit brighter today. She didn’t ask once for the TV, or even her computer to be put on.

So what did she do today then? This morning she and I read a few dozen books in my bed. Whilst eating Stollen, and drinking coffee..

After lunch.. cold meats and cheese, I did a bit of nothing, whilst she played with her toys in the lounge, and generally used up her energy. If only I had 1/20th of her energy, I would feel human..

After a while, Steve and I finally agreed to help her make her gingerbread house, which Granny had bought for her. It is now sitting proudly in the corner of the “living” room – we must decide on a name for this room!

After she had completed this mammoth task, which I was really impressed with her concentration throught, off she then did a bit of jumping around untill eventually she asked me for something interesting to do again. I supplied her with christmas cards to decorate.

So far she has done 6, she has about another 5 to do I think!

This evening, Asha asked me if every week after Wednesday she could have two days at home, as she enjoys it. I would like to myself.. I wonder if we can do it?

I “should” get some pics up of her creation soon.

Popularity: 19% [?]

In 2000 B.C. wealthy Greek families sailed to the Isle of Rhodes to get spiced honey cakes. Later in the eleventh century, pilgrims and soldiers introduced ginger to the Europeans.

The English created ginger sweets. Typical english use hey!!!

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 27% [?]

What a little hero she is. She loves it.

She rolled around, jumped around, followed the line around, played tick, and went on the horse thingy. She smiles, and lands with her hands together and has a great time.

I just hope she keeps on loving it!

The rest of the day wasnt as sucessfull, we think Asha is stuggling with milk and gluten in her diet, and as such is being a number one cling on. Which is tireing and hard work. Though she did play outside for a while with daddy, and she did have a small rest when we went for a drive, as she was so tired.

Education done today. Not loads, but we have talked, we have read a few stories and we did look at a big plan of a human body, and talk about teeth, blood cells and veins. We also looked at where our hearts were… My child is 4, and knows more biology than I knew at 16!

Its actually very hard for Asha not to get an education in our house, as we have SO many books of all kinds lieing around.. and with her toys as well!!!!

Oh we also melted some chocolate and added corn flakes to it. We then made some pepermint iceing up, and dropped it into the chocolate crispy cakes. Its really interesting what then happens.. you have after eight choclate crisp cakes!

Oh and before bath, Asha also played with ff.
Vicki xx

Popularity: 22% [?]

Steve woke me in a panic, as he had forgotten we needed to catch the post office van this morning. We made it although I dont know how focused I was on the very short drive there.

Anyway, we then headed off to Bangor, and by the time I left the post office van car park, I was awake and ready for the August rain drive.  Its a beautifull drive through some of the most beautifull scenery in north wales (if you go via snowdonia) or its a stop start nightmare, if you follow the main roads around. Guess what i did.. Yep, I was in the stop start .. Untill brain cell kicked in, and off onto the back roads we went,,, Yes. It may be wet, windy, dull and horrid out. But even then Wales can look fantastic.

50 mins later, and the rain had eased off enough for us to get Asha’s play mate for the day, and we headed home and to Parc Glasfryn. Asha and L had a lovely afternoon on the soft play area. Then the two of them played in Asha’s play room – which she had spent time tidying for the occasion

I even managed a bath whilst the two of them were playing. My first uniterrupted bath for I really dont know how long!

Four o’clock and its back out into the madness, to return L to his parents, and the tourists, then to Tescos – well for S anyway, A and I sat in the car.

Home at last we explored another incredibably fast tea.. I really didnt realise how much freedom gluten and wheat gives you.. Chicken nuggets, peas and bread for tea!

I am seriously narked now, as I realise we spent about 40 mins a day extra careing for Asha than most parents do,.. as we have to home make EVERY meal normally!

Vicki xx

Popularity: 21% [?]

All it has done today is rain, rain, rain. However first thing this morning we headed off to Glasfryn Park for the French Market from Normandy.

We brought some lovely cheese, some “friendship bread” know by most people as Baguettes, and some bread. We also bought assorted other bits and pieces and something rather special for Grandad for Christmas.

Asha loved it. For lunch we enjoyed a selection of the cheeses and sausages with the friendship bread, and then we sort of all potted around infront of the Olympics for the rest of the day.

We had planned on Asha doing some of her Wild Square today, but I am sorry its not THAT important!

Popularity: 17% [?]

Still taking it easy today. That said we went shopping at around 1pm and by 2pm I was making a roast dinner. Asha really liked hers and ate quite a bit of it. She wanted extra helpings of gravy and another roast potato. It was really nice. We have lost the kitchen again though.

Asha also started eating wheat and gluten today and for the next 2 weeks. This is so the doctors can work out if she is Coeliac.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Anglesey Cake: [Teisen Sir Fôn]

4 oz butter

4 oz sugar

1 egg beaten

8 oz G.F Self Raising Flour.

Pinch of salt.

4 oz currants

4 oz sultanas

Milk (i used long life soya milk, sweetened)

( I also use what ever dried fruit i have in)

Set oven to gas mark 4 / 350 F.

Cream butter and sugar together, once fluffy beat in egg.

Sift in flour and salt, fold in.

Stir in dried fruit,

add sufficient milk to give a dropping consistency.

Turn into a greased cake tin. The recipie states a 6″ cake tin, but I tend to double up the recipie and cook in a few small loaf tins :d

The instructions also say bake for 45 mins to an hour, but I find with LPG and gluten free it takes slightly longer, but well keep an eye on it!

Enjoy!

Popularity: 24% [?]

After an awfull trip around our local Tesco’s today, where Asha was screaming and everything. Just as we were about to leave Asha said to me.. Can I buy you a present mummy?

Rather dumbstruck I replied, yes, what do you want to get me?  At which stage she pointed at a box of Celebrations. Well what can a woman say!

When we got to the till, I put them on first and gave Asha the money to pay for them.. No she didnt have money on her :d  Though we did make an “event” out of that a bit, just the two of us..  Asha was made up to have her own receipt.. Funny thing, I think that is actually why she wanted to buy me something, and I am the proud eatter currently of a box of chocolates.. Yummy.. anyone want one?

box of chocs to share

Popularity: 17% [?]

Bodnant Gardens Web Site.

Everyone has always told me how fantastic they are, but to be honest:-

Disabled Parking, used by anyone who thinks they are disabled, no badges in site. I had to park somewhere else then move.

Wheelchair access diabolical and no signage for alternative routes.

Food provision for an Asha – fruit salad, out of a tin.. It “should” be o.k.

The producation by The Chapter House Theater group, was o.k., but i wish it had said in its blurb it was aimed at 4 – 8 year olds, and not sold as an outdoor production of sleeping beauty.. It was slightly confusing, I wish they had omitted the stork and the baby bit, and it took me about 3/4 of it to actually enjoy it.

Asha however loved it.

PDF file on Bodnant Garden and Estate

Popularity: 26% [?]

Bara Brith.

I never realised how easy this cake was to make, or how cheap! I use the cheapest dried fruit mix I can get hold of, as you are soaking it overnight in tea!

10 oz Mixed dried fruit.

2/3 pint of hot tea. I made it in a pyrex jug. No milk!

3oz Soft brown sugar.

Grated rind of 1 lemon

12 oz of gluten free flour. (I added a tsp of gluten free baking powder as well)

1and a bit of a  large tsp of mixed spice.

1 large egg.

Soaked dried fruit overnight in tea.

Next day, set oven to gas mark 4, and greased some small loaf tins (I doubled up recipie again)

Strain the fruit, and keep the liquid.

Mix fruit and other ingredients in a bowl. Add liquid untill a soft dropping consistency. Pour mixture into tins, and bake for about 45 mins (depending on cooker, ingredients and stuff)

Cool and serve sliced and marged :d

Popularity: 17% [?]

We didnt have a cooked breakfast every day. We did have baked beans and Sausage some days.

We did have cereals, however Mummy ran out of cows milk.

We did eat loads of home made cake.

Carrot cake made with gluten free flour is fine, I used a delia recipie adapted

I used sunflower oil, in place of groundnut oil, and dove farm self raising gluten free flour.

I adapted a recipie out of one of the

Welsh Teatime Recipes
Traditional Welsh Cakes, for both Bara Brith and Anglsey Cake.

Having looked on line, at others it appears to be missing some ingredients, however Asha enjoyed it.

We didnt eat as much fruit as i would have liked, however as I put fruit and veg in all the cakes, yes even the chocolate one, i didnt worry too much!

Frozen stew re-heated worked well. Trying to make a curry was hard work.

We will look into canned veg for the next camp. Fresh veg, is too hard to prepare in the wind and rain.

Crips worked well to keep us going. We didnt eat any of the lentils or tins of assorted beans.

Oh well, looks like cake and tinned food next camp.. Oh and fresh coffee, we need to take enough for three a day, not two!

Popularity: 16% [?]

After a week, nearly of incessent pain on mummys front. Very little sleep for Daddy, and Asha waking up most nights either crying due to cramp, or nightmares, we called it a day today.

Camp has been wonderfull, but we are all suffering too much. Mummy can hardly walk again. Asha now has a snotty nose. and daddy is rather bad tempered. The kids and other parents have been great. The hosts have been truly angels, in what they have done for us. And I am greatfull for all the help and support. But I am suffereing.

So what did we do today?

got up. Steve and Asha had breakfast, I cant face it at the moment. I had cake later!
Slowly packed up, sorting out the washing, and things on the way. Asha fell asleep on Daddy for a while. She also couldnt stand up on the trampoline, her poor legs are that tired.

We sat and talked a lot, as none of us have a rush in us!. Steve played with the kids, and I pottered a bit. Eventually we got everything in the car, and went and dropped off some clothes someone had left by mistake, on the way home. We also opted for tea at petes eats, as we realised we had nothing in, and I couldnt face a shop!

Exhausted we got home. Asha had first bath, then spent two hours fighting sleep.. The silly girl.

Night all!

Popularity: 34% [?]

And today its rocket making..

Plastic bottle, cork, one bycle inner tube, and a small valve. Wow the effects were fantastic.

the kids loved them, the older kids. thought they were brilliant, and all the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

At night, we had a communal food, which we got to late, as we had to nip home to feed the cat. We did however stay up far too late, and have a great evening.

Popularity: 27% [?]