Author Archives: cinders54

#Pandemic #Lockdown 2020 Cooking for a #War #Zone

22 Wednesday Apr 2020

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Lockdown.   We were all glued to the TV 5pm 23rd March 2020.  Our Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.  The children did not make a sound.  The day we all changed forever

As life progressed through the lockdown we have all come to be like Darwins Finches – evolving in our environments.  So far life is pretty much the same.  The major difference is #Shopping, which I adore.  Don’t take me to Shopping Malls or large department stores – All I want is Food Markets & Food Halls !!!

I miss shopping for food so much I find it’s the one and only upsetting part of Lockdown.  I now have a Vegetable / Fruit Man who drops the most delicious fresh vegetables and fruit at my door.  I have my most amazing HERO in My Butcher Matthew https://www.facebook.com/mitchellsbutchers533/.  Matthew Mitchell’s butchers Lytham Road Blackpool has been my butcher for years – now he delivers to my doorstep.  I adore my sweet sweet Milkman he is also a star and supplies the freshest milk and cream three times a week to my front door.

I bake bread 4 days a week.  I am love being home in the Kitchen.  I have seven to feed in my family home now and we are here for the Lockdown and beyond.

Here is my list of dinners we have had each day during lockdown.   Lucky for us the family meals have not changed too much though.  My favourite time of day is when the family sitting and eat together each evening ……….

 

Pandemic Lockdown

 

March 23rd Monday.                        Ragu

March 24th Tuesday                        Chicken Pie

March 25th Wednesday                  Mexican

March 26th Thursday                      Thai Green Curry

March 27th Friday                           Fish on the BBQ

March 28th Saturday                      BBQ

March 29th Sunday                        Roast Lamb Dinner

March 30th Monday                      Chicken Pie

March 31st Tuesday                      Pizza

April 1st Wednesday                     Steak on the BBQ

April 2nd Thursday                      Indian

April 3rd Friday                            Fish on the BBQ

April 4th Saturday                        BBQ Hamburgers

April 5th Sunday                          Roast Leg of Lamb dinner

April 6th Monday                         Chilli & Rice

April 7th Tuesday                        Leo Birthday 13 years old Homemade Pizza Night

April 8th Wednesday                  Beef Rendang with coconut rice

April 9th Thursday                      Panacklty

April 10th Friday                         Fish on the BBQ

April 11th Saturday                    Chilli

April 12th Sunday Easter          Roast Leg of Lamb

April 13th Monday 3 weeks from Lockdown.  Beef Bourgignon

April 14th Tuesday                      Chicken Parmigiana

April 15th Wednesday                 Nachos

April 16th Thursday                     Ragu

April 17th Friday                           Fish on the BBQ

April 18th Saturday                      Indian Take away

April 19th Sunday                        Chicken Roast

April 20th Monday                      Burgers 5 Guys style

April 21st Tuesday                      Chicken Curry & Dhal

 

Soooo I have decided to start a Pandemic Recipe Book.  If anyone wishes to have any of the recipes just contact me.  I shall be uploading all of them very soon

Watch this space

#Stay #Home #Stay #Safe

We shall #all #meet #again x x x

 

 

 

 

 

Poutine Addict

01 Sunday Dec 2019

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Well, life can be difficult when you are a Poutine addict.   I travel around the World and I have to search out Poutine and I’m not even Canadian!!  I recently had the most amazing Poutine in Houston TEXAS at Tubs Poutine near Katy Texas.

Poutine

TO DIE FOR – My last meal of choice would be Poutine!

Oh my #World.  The most #Awesome #mouthwatering #Divine #Dynamic #Delicious #poutine I have #Ever tasted in my Life.  The #Fresh #Fries / #Chips The #Cheese #Curds #Finest #Steak #Onions #Garlic #oh #mouthwatering #Taste #sensation #buttery #Brown #Jus #Gravy #Simply #exquisite #Tubs #poutine you surpassed everything x @tubspoutine Amazing x x Thank You 🙇 x x x x — at Tubs Poutine.

 

 

Perfect Boiled Eggs

20 Sunday Oct 2019

Posted by in Appetizers, Breakfast, Food, Healthy, Protein, Recipes, Tips, Uncategorized

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Creating the perfect boiled egg is an art:-

eggsbreakfast

 

NOT anymore.  Americans say you cannot make a hard-boiled egg in under 10 minutes I beg to differ.  

Put the Kettle on no, not for tea – well you could as long as you have enough boiling water.  Bring to a boil – place your ROOM temperature eggs in a saucepan – when the water is boiling pour gently over to cover the eggs.

Bring the water back to a rolling boil – Turn down to simmer. 

Set a timer for 4 minutes for large eggs, 3 minutes for small eggs and 5 minutes for extra large.

After the timer goes off pour the water away and run the eggs under a cold tap while still in the saucepan.  When cool enough to peel – peel and enjoy

I serve mine with organic Spinach and guacamole for a great breakfast

Enjoy x x

 

 

Mama’s Tagliatelle al Ragù Made with Love

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Posted by in Food, Italian, Recipes, Sauce, Uncategorized

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Ragu10This recipe is for a large Family -Or -you can adjust the quantities to fit the amount you need or do like I do and freeze it.   It is so yummy you will want to stock the freezer with this one.

 

 Act 1

1lb Stewing Steak (chuck in America)

2lb Minced lean Steak

1lb minced pork or pork sausage meat

6 slices of Bacon chopped

6 slices of Pancetta fine dice

8 oz Consomme or beef stock (I use Baxters or homemade Beef stock )

1/2 bottle of Red Wine

2 large onions finely diced

6 cloves of garlic crushed (I adore garlic – use as much as you wish)

1 celery stalk finely diced with the leaves

4 carrots fine cubes

4 Tbs Tomato Purree

4 cans of organic tomatoes (Not the chopped ones) whole tomatoes

1 Teaspoon Raw cane sugar

1 large bunch Basil

1 Lemon

Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce

Salt & Pepper to taste

Good quality Olive oil (extra virgin)

Large wedge FRESH Parmasan

Act 1

Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large saucepan, then add the Bacon and Pancetta.  Fry until crisp

Add the onion and carrot.   Fry gently over medium heat until the onion has softened slightly.

In another pan – add a splash of olive oil,  turn the heat to high and add the beef cubes.  Fry for a few minutes and keep rolling.   Once browned well add the rest of the meat and pork and brown this too.

When all the meat is browned, add to the vegetables with the crushed garlic.  Stir well and add the tomato puree.   Stir to cook

Add tomatoes the beef stock,  Lea and Perrins and salt & pepper to taste

Sprinkle the teaspoon of sugar

After an hour shred the Basil and add to the pot with the zest of lemon

I pop mine in the oven at 160C for at least an hour

Stir well back into the oven for another hour (sometimes I leave mine a tad longer to reduce the sauce).  You really want a thick sauce to stick to the tagliatelle

You will see a slick of oil on the top – you can strain this off or leave it in and stir well

Cook the Tagliatelle according to pack instructions or make your own Pasta (I do when I have time) in lots of salted boiling water.  I add lots of salt (taste of the sea). The packs of good quality pasta  you get these days are quite acceptable

I sprinkle my pasta with Olive oil and shake well

 

Act Two

Bringing it all together

 

In a large frying pan add as much sauce as you need.   Throw in the pasta with 4 tablespoons of the pasta water

Mix to coat every scrummy yummy strand

Grate over the top a large amount of Parmesan

Just before serving – sprinkle shredded Basil and the juice of the Lemon and salt and pepper.

Serve with Garlic sticky bread

Enjoy Buon Appetito

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miss Saigon Prince Hotel Vietnam

28 Wednesday Aug 2019

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Should be A Boutique Hotel
What an absolute STAR in HOTELS
Such a perfect location
The bedrooms are great Views awesome
Staff so helpful nothing is too much trouble
Just an ideal spot for Saigon Vietnam
Yummy Pho Bo
Breakfast is excellent lots of choices pork bacon pork sausages
The pool is bijou but cute
Walkout to all the shops and fun bars
Tip Upgrade to a Club Room – Much better Value
Just LOVE This HOTEL x x x

Garden Inn Katy Texas

28 Wednesday Aug 2019

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The Greatest Garden Inn by Hilton,

A SECRET THAT I WOULD PREFER TO BE KEPT SECRET FOR FEAR OF BEING OVERRUN!

This is the most adorable Hilton Garden Inn Katy West TX
BUT SHH! DON’T TELL EVERYONE.

I love this hotel, it is not like a hotel it is like HOME FROM HOME.

Everyone from Housekeeping to the manager Kim is fantastic, AND nothing here is too much trouble
THE BEDROOMS ARE DELIGHTFUL AND THE COMMUNAL AREAS MOST COMFORTABLE Has a Bar with excellent service

A Great made from scratch Breakfast no powdered Scrambled Eggs! FRESH!

THE Pool is A PERFECT temperature WITH AREAS OF SHADE AND SUN.

THIS IS MY HOTEL OF CHOICE every time I am in Katy.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY Thank You to Ryan who is just the sweetest boy on the desk – always greeting ME with a smile and NOTHING IS TOO MUCH TROUBLE

Hotel is spotless so clean

I am going to be in Katy every 6 weeks and would not stay at any other Hotel Love Love Love This Hotel x x

The Beautiful Bar Midland Texas

28 Wednesday Aug 2019

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Brilliant Bar THE BAR

It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way, even by death, and we fly back to first principles of hope and enjoyment …..

..Wow – what a day Midland Broke all temperature records at 126f = 52.2222 It was so hot – I just stepped out of the Bath! and the Power in the Hotel went – I was stuck! ……….10th-floor Naked! with NO A/C ……….Managed to get dressed in the dark – called down to reception to ask what to do …………..Walk down 10 flights of stairs Mam!!

so Being British I walked down 10 flights of stairs to where my Son Kieran Frend said to go to be safe! ………The Bar ……..could not eat or drink in the hotel so found a great BAR around the corner where all the people from the block without power met…………Fabulous atmosphere COLD drinks and Hot food …….Would never have found that THE BAR if it had not happened! ……….this great find is fabulous Amazing place Service Food Drinks Atmosphere simply the very Best BAR in Midland ……..shush going again tonight x x x x

Jewelled Jaime’s

27 Tuesday Aug 2019

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Jewelled Jamie’s

Jamie’s Restaurant…………………..
There are over 6,000 Restaurants in the Fylde Coast so one does have a lot of choice. I have eaten at quite a few but there is not one in Blackpool as great as Jamie’s.
I have tried Nigel Haworth, Paul Heathcotes, Jason Atherton, Ramsey’s, Corrigan’s Marco’s and most of Lytham and St Annes
Now………………………………. I can actually say, hand on heart, that I have found a true hidden gem

My word…………………..
This restaurant is not just exceedingly good, it is sensational. From greeting to leaving it was perfection – not stuffy or cold, everyone was warm and genuinely friendly. Dan was suburb *********
Friendly, warm welcome and from the start I knew it was going to be delicious just by the ambience and looking at other plates! But it was simply sensational.
When I tasted the food I was so surprised. Power packed flavours and great presentation.
Service begins with stilton bonbons, so yummy I dream about them.

To start we ordered a sharing platter for two. There were 4 of us and we did not manage to finish it but carried on ordering. Simply beautiful.
For Main – Tapas. Pork loin and blackpudding skewers, sea bass, squid, teriyaki beef and prawns. Everything divine, cooked to perfection with so many flavours
OH MY- The whole experience was simply perfection.
I shall return. I want to eat everything so the tasting menu sounds perfect. Jamie’s is my new favourite restaurant. Thank you to all who made our visit so very special.

Hearsay Hearsay Hearsay

27 Tuesday Aug 2019

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Hearsay Hearsay Hearsay

Historic Market Square

 

Oyez, Oyez, Oyez

 

Sip -Savour & Shake Love Love Love

 

What a FAULOUS Place –

 

History of The W .L. Foley Building

The second building on the block designed by prolific Texas courthouse architect Eugene T. Heiner, the venue features two stories of wood, brick and mirrored walls that light up with vibrant colours at night. While built in 1889, much of the modern updates are accredited to former owner Lee Benner

 

 

Amazing Food

 

Amazing Atmosphere

 

 

Amazing service

 

This is the best little find in Downtown Houston

 

Managed to book Upper Seating – A super cocktail table overlooking the Bar and downstairs dining area

 

From the greeting to the leaving – Everything was perfect so much so we are going returning next week  -booked the same table

 

I had the Pork Chop cooked to perfection so delirious devilish & dreamy

 

The Steak again cooked to perfection Simply cooked but delicious with the best Mashed Potatoes in Houston Asparagus cooked to perfection Al Dente

 

I just want to say a great BIG Thank You to Josh Demshar General Manager -Plus his team you were all so extraordinary My New Favourite Restaurant Downtown

 

A must visit when in Houston x

Cancun Mexican Grill Midland TX

27 Tuesday Aug 2019

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Well there is not too much I can say about Midland – except for the People are so lovely friendly and kind

It is not the food capital of the World

BUT

One little place that I can now say is my favourite in Midland Texas

Cancun Mexican Grill

Steaks Pork chop shrimp just everything

On a bustling Saturday night with no reservation – we walked to the restaurant

From entering, we were greeted warmly seated on the last table but a great one – just made very welcome

Instantly served drinks corn chips and dips.

The server came back for the food order – I could not decide so much choice – advice on the whole menu gratefully received

The food came in perfect timing to order a second drink. 

Hot fresh and absolutely delicious cooked to perfection

I cannot rate this restaurant highly enough.

It is so good I am eating there the next FOUR Nights until we depart from Midland Texas to Houston.