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Perfect Boiled Eggs

20 Sunday Oct 2019

Posted by cinders54 in Appetizers, Breakfast, Food, Healthy, Protein, Recipes, Tips, Uncategorized

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delicious, Eggs, Family, Recipe

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

Featured

Posted by cinders54 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cancun Mexican and Grill Midland TX

26 Monday Aug 2019

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Number one resturant in Midland Texas

Cancun Mexican Restaurant Midland Texas

Having to travel to Midland Texas for work- No one would ever go to Midland on holiday – Oilfields Oil workers dusty town

There is not too much I can say about Midland except for the People, are so lovely friendly and kind Texas friendliness

It is also 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 very busy 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

Thank You for your Warmth Friendliness and most of all the most delicious food

Will return

X x x x

Delightful Doubletree Midland TX

26 Monday Aug 2019

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I was warned as I travelled to Midland Texas that it is not a vacation place NO ONE comes to Midland on Holiday!

Arriving Downton at the Doubletree hotel I was warmly greeted

There two weeks for work which is a long time in Midland Texas

The girls at the reception were so understanding – They upgraded my booking to a Junior Suite FABULOUS

Very large King Bed Bathroom with a Bath-Tub little kitchen Fridge Microwave Coffee machine sink A sweet living room with a long large sofa and chair -A swing TV _ Massive room

I adore this hotel in Midland my favourite and if I have to come back to Midland will only stay in the Doubletree

Has a great Bar everyone is so sweet – and THEY HAVE BANNED PLASTIC STRAWS! Only WHEAT STRAWS BRAVO!

Nice pool A great Gym

Just overall fabulous 10 STARS

I will return

Cinders x x x

Wall Street Bar and Grill Midland TX

26 Monday Aug 2019

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RUDE

I was recommended to visit the restaurant for a great steak

On a very busy Saturday night I was willing to wait for a table- I thought even wait 40 minutes would be worth it –

Walked in the door

I stood and stood Not ONE PERSON NOT ONE!!! came over – I watched as the Bartender was even drinking his own beer behind the bar

No one would make eye contact not even the Bartender who knew we were waiting

After 15 MINUTES of not one person even saying HELLO or I will get to you I walked out

Very Disappointed but this is no way to be treated!

I have dined in a lot of restaurants around the world but never have I encountered such RUDE service – Not even in Third World counties –

 

Cinders x x

Power Outage Midland TX

26 Monday Aug 2019

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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 Bar if it had not happened! ……….Now back at the Hotel and all power back on A/C working flat out ………it is still 120f………All in all a productive day! …………..x x x

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A Relaxing Hour at the #Pool they say x x x

13 Tuesday Nov 2018

Posted by cinders54 in Uncategorized

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So you sneak to the POOL for an hour – Surrounded!!! TWO FAG ASH LILS next to me CHAIN SMOKING – A Japanese Chap behind me – on his poolside gaming machine NOT ON SILENT! Pinging and Bonging – in front 2 Russian ladies of negotiable affections with legs wide open forming a queue – A group of drunk Arabs – A German Couple having a violent row! and they say ……………….Go RELAX at the POOL!!! AHEM x x x No Offence to any nations and religions!!!! I just wanted an HOUR! x x x x

Bahrain Travel Tales

02 Friday Mar 2018

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Bahrain

 

So there I was on Day two in Bahrain Ron and Andy had gone to Saudi – so thought I’d go for an hour to the pool!

 

Off I trot to be greeted by the Pool Boy.  He gets me two towels as he knows from the day before I really like two towels.  You see when one gets wet from the swim one needs a dry one to lie on and the wet one to drip dry in the sun

 

Anyway

 

He walks me to the bed I was on the previous day – I was an hour earlier than the day before so the sun had not raised his head on the pool.  Sat reading the local paper

 

Pool boy legs it just like John Cleese in Faulty Towers and struts across the pool toward me “Madam Madam Madam “ What? “Follow me.” ooohheerr Ok

 

We strut and I do mean strut across to the other area of the pool.  “SEE Madam the Sun is out.  You sit on this one. I fetch your things.”

 

Struts off, remakes my new sun lounger.  I lie down. Peace and sunshine!

 

40 minutes go by.   I spy said Pool Boy strutting over “Madam Madam Madam” WHAT? “You follow me now!”

 

So we go to a different area – “You sit here.  In 3 MINUTES The Sun will come – You will be so happy”.  Off he struts again fetches all Madams things – sets up my now new sun lounger.  Three minutes later I swear the Sun appears – Yes very happy Madam Thumbs up – Yes very Happy thank you

 

I go for a swim, it is a long pool so do 10 lengths just to get my lungs working

 

I am all alone at the Pool and it really is a nice peaceful area

 

I relax sigh

 

40 Minutes later

 

YES

 

See said pool boy strutting towards me!! OH NOO Think to myself BOTOX

 

He comes again “Madam Madam Madam” WHAT!!!! “You follow me you will be more than happy”

 

Up I get and we strut to …………………….My Original Bed that I had the Day Before – the one I started on!!! “See Madam I did it all for you. Now you can stay all day.”

 

He makes the bed again fetches all my things

 

I look at my WATCH.  Ah, sorry. One is leaving for the Airport. Had to pack my things and run!

 

Come back Benidorm all is forgiven x x x x  Going to send it to  Darren Litten x x x

Jaime’s Blackpool England

26 Friday Jan 2018

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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

English Prawn Cocktail Vs American Shrimp Cocktail

12 Friday Jan 2018

Posted by cinders54 in Uncategorized

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Gosh this is so good just made both today while in HOUSTON TX x x

 

Shrimp –Vs–Prawns.

 

Please don’t ask for shrimp in Britain.  You will get A little pink curled up thing so tiny that you have ever seen that  resemble a shrimp, they are not even the size of American salad shrimp!  You certainly won’t like what you receive.  The British mainly use shrimp for cooking with rice,  or potted shrimp is an excellent dish for an appetizer or starter spread on toast or crackers.  You can also cut the  cost if making a prawn (shrimp) cocktail by mixing shrimps with prawns as there called in Britain.  They are very, very expensive; they will be a treat served on special occasions such as birth, deaths, marriages, birthdays and Christmas parties.  I always feel sorry for the deceased person at a funeral missing out on a beautiful prawn cocktail.

You will still get a choice of size of your prawns in Britain but they will not be count size as in America.  You have to buy them by the half pound (8oz ) or pound (16oz).The difference in our two recipes is quite amazing to say that they are technically called the same thing.

You really should try both of these to see such differences once more of our two cultures.  Again we don’t say one is better than the other we just say both are excellent, just different.

In UK we serve ours with Brown Bread and Butter cut into TRIANGLES! NOT SQUARES

 

Prawn cocktail English

 

250 g large cooked and peeled cold water prawns

4 large shell on Prawns for decoration

4 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 tablespoons ketchup

Juice of 1 Lemon – plus a  lemon cut into 4 lemon slices for the decoration

1Teaspoon Horseradish sauce

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 Iceberg lettuce , shredded

½ a cucumber chopped small

2 tomatoes chopped small

A few sprinkles of paprika for decoration in the Top

In cocktail glasses

Layer Lettuce cucumber tomatoes add a quarter of the Prawns to each glass

In a mixing bowl add al the wet ingredients whisk until smooth and creamy

Place the sauce on each top of the prawns

Sprinkle with Paprika

Decorate by cutting half way through a thin slice of cucumber and use the cut to fix the slice to the rim of the glass add a slice  of lemon cut the same way as cucumber -hang the tail of a shell on prawn to each glass rim

Serve with Brown bread & Butter cut into triangles

 

If you are making a large Prawn cocktail I layer it all on a wooden platter great a parties

 

American Shrimp Cocktail

Large Shrimp 32

1 cup chili sauce or Ketchup if you don’t like it too hot
2 tablespoons horseradish sauce
1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
Pinch of  salt
Pinch of  freshly-cracked Pepper
2 teaspoons freshly-squeezed lemon
4 drops hot sauce (Tabasco)
splash of  Worcestershire Sauce
1 clove of garlic minced or grated

 

In a bowl whisk ingredient together until smooth

Place into 4 cocktail glasses

Hang shrimp (Prawns) around the rim of the glass by their tails

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cinders54's avatarcinders54

Starters – Appetizers

Shrimp –Vs–Prawns

Now here is a fun quandary:-Is it a Shrimp Or Is it a Prawn

Please do not ask for shrimp in Britain. You will get the smallest little pink curled up things that you have ever seen. I mean little tiny pink shrimps that are not even the size of an American salad shrimp. The best shrimp come from Morecambe Bay (a seaside town in the north west of England) and are know as, guess what, Morecambe Bay Shrimp. In British cookery these are a delicacy served as potted shrimp, an excellent dish for an appetizer or starter spread on toast or crackers. Another use for shrimp is to add to rice dishes. Prawns though area completely different matter, big and juicy, similar to American shrimps.

One way to cut the cost of making a British prawn cocktail is to mix shrimps with the prawns…

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