We Will Survive !!

Wow what a crazy week,!! We have 2 rivers convert here in Fort McMurray, the Athabaska River and the Clearwater River, we have had a long winter and it has stayed colder this year so the Ice is a lot thicker!! We have a huge Ice Jam and the Lover part of Fort McMurray has had to evacuate due to flooding . Through fire and flood, some residents in Fort McMurray are quietly longing for the rocky shores they used to call home while dealing with a pandemic and a natural disaster. There has been about 13,000 people evacuated !! “Hell to High Water!!” What else cold go wrong, Fort McMurray People are strong and

2016 we had the Beast come through our City of Fort MCMurray the entire city was evacuated Approx 90,000 ppl We rebuilt , but this flood has also destroyed a few of the houses and businesses that were re built. My Heart Aches for this town.. David also got temp lay off, so we are Self Isolating at home, this past year was tough on us as I also had a Mgr Surgery and am awaiting another, that was delayed due to the Covid Crisis.

Up and Onward.. 45 yrs married, we have our tiffs, but make a cup of tea and carry on.. We f We both love to cook so for our Anniversary on April 26th I cooked Eggs Benny for breakfast, and David cooked steak for supper and I made twice baked potatoes!! We are missing hugs from our 3 Grand-babies Colin 13, Bailey 9 and Asher almost 10 Months Old !! We planted seeds about 3 weeks ago and they are sprouting, soon we will be able to transplant in to the garden ,Herbs, Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Spring Onions , Strawberries and flowers, it is not a lot but , we love going in to the garden to pick a salad !! Fort McMurray We can do this #StayHome #StaySafe #DontHoard #EveryonehastoSurvive Thank you to all the First Responders, Drs and Nurses all the grocery store workers and Truck Drivers, we could not do this with out you I love you all and Miss you!! I’m a Hugger ..

Antojitos

Sat I was Craving Antojitos, so I tried to replica this, I think I did it, oh my goodness they were good . I did these with a Veggie Stir Fry!! I will make these again.. I served with Sour Cream and a little Basil Pesto .. I also made some Banana Muffins and left a Porch Parcel on Kate, Aaron, Asher and Gracie’s .. My way of saying I love and Miss you.. Asher had the muffins for Breakfast the next day!! I think being able to cook and share my cooking by leaving Porch Parcels to friends and family..

How are you all handling the Self Isolation, what are you doing to keep the stress to the minimal.. David and I , love to joke around, what ever we are doing, Play Backgammon daily, do crosswords, walk George, We cook a lot, this next Sunday April the 26th we will be Celebrating 45 yrs of Marriage, I honestly don’t know where the time has gone, We have had our ups and downs, who dosen’t. I have to say I love this man more each day, we quite often say the same things, he is my soulmate , We have travelled the world, Met some amazing people, met a lot of famous people, the past few years have been tough, we got through it.. I love him more each day, He is an amazing Husband father grandad, fur baby dad, and my best friend .

Black eyed beans my way

  • 1 large Onion Diced
  • 6 rashes of bacon diced
  • 2 tbl spns butter 2 Spicy Sausages ( Your Choice) smoked or Spicy
  • 2 tsp’s minced Garlic..
  • 1 tspnCayenne
  • 1 Jalapeño
  • 1 tsp dried Chilli Peppers
  • 1 tbl spnsmoked paprika
  • 6 cups Stock ( Your Choice)
  • 2 Bay Leaves
  • We love our Plant Based meals, this one I looked up on line, once again did it my way the recipe gave me the basics for this, I added a Spicy sausage and smokey Paprika, lots of Garlic.. I soaked 2 cups of Black Eyed Peas over night ( Beans) cooked them for about 30 mins today, then halved the beans one lot is for The Southern Black Eyed Pea recipe and the other is for my Texas Caviar !!
  • In a Skillet fry onions, bacon and sausage add spices cook on low heat , in a pan add beans and stock add contents of Skillet to beans and stock, bring to the boil and them simmer until stock reduces, David tried this and loves it.

What are y’all doing to#staysane

Happy Friday, We are trying to keep our minds busy, and healthy.. I cleaned out the Gym and we are starting a daily work out along with walking George ! We have been doing lots of Crosswords, Playing Backgammon, Spring cleaning each room.. Also lots of cooking, I make extra and deliver to the porches of friends and family once or twice a week, Pies, bread, soups, pasta sauces , just a little to say hey we love and miss you . I found a recipe from Jamie Oliver a very simple bread, to make 3 ingredients Yeast, Salt and flour, it was a heavy bread but tastes good, Katie gave me a Sour Dough Starter, were on Day 4 with this , fingers crossed I can do it, then pass along the starter, to a friend or family . I am really missing hugging, I am a hugger and would love to hug my family and grand kids,

We are actually eating a lot more fresh, veg and salads , I have an amazing Caesar salad dressing , I find eating light, makes me feel better mentally and physically.. I found a few recipes on line, I am def going to try !

I would like to loose a few more pounds, Found this on the web, we all know eating more fruits and veggies is good for us.. How about a Breakfast Salad , Poached egg and avocado,
Poach the eggs.

Create the salads by layering the lettuce, tomatoes, cooked quinoa, avocado, and pistachios.

Add the poached eggs and top with salt/pepper to taste.

Breakfast salads typically consist of vegetables topped with various other foods, such as eggs, cheese, fruits, nuts, seeds, grains, and beans. 

Fall Harvest Breakfast Salad – A festive fall breakfast salad with cinnamon roasted butternut squash, apple slices, avocado, red onion, walnuts, hemp seeds and an egg!

Blueberry Breakfast Salad

Belly fat-incinerating blueberries, oranges, crunchy granola, and savory salad greens join forces with a light blueberry vinaigrette to create this light and refreshing salad. To keep added sugar from overtaking your breakfast bowl, whip up the dish with one of these healthy granolas.

Berry Quinoa Salad I love Blueberries , berries, nuts, and quinoa—the primary components of this recipe—are all primo sources of antioxidants that karate chop any health-harming free radicals unlucky enough to cross their path.

Substituting your typical breakfast for a salad is an easy way to add more whole foods to your diet. You may also gain an array of health benefits. Breakfast salads are an easy way to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables, which contain numerous nutrients and plant compounds that benefit your health and protect you from disease

Ingredients

  • 1/2 english cucumber, cut into quarters and then thickly sliced
  • 2 large handfuls of cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 red pepper, diced
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 1 small handful of fresh basil, torn into bit sized pieces
  • 1 small handful of parsley, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup of pine nuts, toasted
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 Salt
  • 2 eggs
  • Oil for frying the eggs
  • Combine all veggies, pine nuts, olive oil and salt together in a large bowl and toss well.
  • Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a splash of oil. When the pan is hot crack both of the eggs into the pan. Add a small splash of water to the pan to help the eggs cook. Remove the eggs from the skillet and serve over the salad once they are cooked to your liking.

Eat Salads to Cut Calories and Increase Satisfaction

If losing weight is your goal, you may want to start your meals with a green salad. Studies have shown that eating a low-calorie first course, like a green salad of 150 calories or less, enhances satiety (feelings of fullness) and reduces the total number of calories eaten during the meal.

Eating a little good fat found in olive oil, avocado and nuts) with your vegetables appears to help your body absorb protective phytochemicals, like lycopene from tomatoes and lutein from dark green vegetables.

I love Salads and have never thought of a Breakfast Salad until this past 4 weeks, these are recipes I found on line while looking up recipes . Enjoy and remember #StaySafe #StayHome

#STAYHOME #COOK #SAFE

David and I are finding lots to do during the Self Isolation, We love Chinese food, from the leftover roast beef which wasn’t a lot I cut in to tiny strips, 1 onion in chunky pieces, 4 cloves of garlic diced4 plum tomatoes diced, 1 Jalappeno sliced thin / left over carrots from the roast dinner, I added 2 tbl spoon curry powder, i tsp madras paste, and 1 tsp Grace creamed coconut, the simmered a while then added the left over gravy from the roast, oh my gosh you should taste this curry!! We made a veggie stir fry, rice and spring rolls, these ones I bought in Super Store they we Thai, shrimp and delicious

There wasn’t a lot left over from this dinner Just some rice and curry! Then we went in to the sun room and played our first game of BackGammon for this year, I am getting pretty good t this game.. We always have a playlist on, we sing , cook and do house work to this.. George is enjoying his daily walks , as yet we cant walk him far as yet again he is limping.. this is an intermittent thing on a yearly, basis it comes and goes,

Another day another day to create , hmmm so I have 1 1b ground beef, i brown this meat and half it, one half is going to make my Spaghetti Sauce and will be delivered to friends as a gift, the other half of the meat will go in to malign one of Davids fave Holopshy , For us for Supper I have 1 1/2 cup of cooked rice , 1/2 1lb browned ground beef, 4 garlic cloves diced,Large can tomato sauce, 2 tsp dried mustard , 1 medium green cabbage, fresh ground black pepper , 1/4 the cabbage and slice thn, layer on the bottom of a casserole dish mix meat, onion, rice and garlic laover the cabbage, top layer is thinly sliced cabbage.. Mix the mustard powder , pepper with tomato sauce and poutr over the cabbage, cook in a 360 f oven for about 1 hour, let stand to cool a while.

I also made bread to fo along with the Spaghetti sauce for a gift I will leave on their porch joust to say , we are thinking of you . I have also bee crocheting baby slippers, David has got his seeds planted and keeping the in a warm place, so that when the snow eventually goes we cn plant our garden, out sanctuary for the summer..

How then can we mindfully make good food choices? a web site I got this from health.harvard.edu

  • Make a schedule or a daily meal plan. A schedule is more predictable for you and for everyone in your household.
  • Consider apps to stay connected around a meal. Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime with family and friends. Share recipes or even cook virtually together.
  • Plan for groceries. Try to buy fewer processed, high-salt or high-sugar snacks.
  • Load up on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins.
  • Save money. Skip the high-sugar soda and juices; instead flavor water with edible citrus or berries.
  • Plan and enjoy an occasional comfort food for a weekly treat — pick a day and enjoy whatever you want, just not all your favorites on the same day!
  • Manage your environment. If candy is simply not in the cupboard, then you can’t eat it.

You might be surprised to learn that certain nutrients in foods have been shown to reduce anxiety or spur the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine — and we all want to feel as good as we can during these times of uncertainty. People are feeling a lot of stress right now, and the unfortunate reality is that stress worsens feelings of low mood or angst, and it also suppresses our immune systems. Therefore, targeting immune-boosting foods will have a dual effect — you may feel less anxious and boost your immunity.

I’d suggest incorporating these foods as a way to include healthier options into your nutrition during this unusual time of stress and uncertainty. We all have to eat, so attending to our nutrition is something we can all control, and then reap the benefits of an improved mood.

Reduce anxiety and boost immunity by choosing:

  • Citrus fruit and red bell peppers (both rich in vitamin C, which in some studies has been shown to support your immune system)
  • Spices: ginger, garlic, turmeric, and capsaicin (from chili peppers) can be easily added to soups, stews, stir-frys, or salad dressings.
  • Foods rich in zinc such as oysters, clams, mussels, cashews, liver, beef, and egg yolks. You may recognize zinc as an ingredient is the cold remedy Zicam, as zinc has some virus-fighting effects.
  • Magnesium-rich foods may help you to feel calmer, and help support immunity. Stress can deplete our magnesium levels too. Examples are legumes, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and whole grains.
  • Fatty fish like wild Alaskan salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids. A study on medical students in 2011 was one of the first to show that omega-3s may help reduce anxiety.
  • Eat probiotic-rich foods such as pickles, sauerkraut, miso, and kefir.
  • Add some antioxidants to your anti-anxiety diet, which can support your immune system.

The bottom line:

Staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging for everyone, and the increased anxiety (and boredom) can cause people to abandon their healthy eating intentions and snack on whatever is around. But with a little thought and planning, you can continue to make good food choices and maybe even boost your mood and immunity.

Easter in self Isolation

Happy Easter to all my readers, family and friends,This was a strange Holiday, We are so used to hosting dinners for family and friends, this easter there was just 3 of us, David, myself and our son Ian ohh and George my faithful Springer.. The start of the weekend I groomed George as he was a hairy mess, its nor perfect but he looks not to bad.. Then I decided to put on a great playlist Phil Collins and Glass Tiger.. Sat I cooked Scotch Eggs they were amazing , and some Mushroom Soup.

  • Scotch Eggs
  • 2 pkgs Sausage meat ( I used 2 as I swear these are smaller)
  • 6 Medium Eggs
  • 1 cup panco bread crumbs
  • Italian seasoning
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • Soft boil the eggs, once the water was boiling i cooked the eggs for 3 mins, then took them off the stove emptied the boiling water out and poured cold water on the eggs to stop them cooking.. I then placed half of the bread crumbs in a dish and the other half to coat the scotch eggs in . I peel the shells of the eggs , then mix the sausage meat, bread crumbs, spices then, put a ball of sausage meat in your hand and make a hollow, place the egg in the hollow and wrap sausage meat around it. then roll the egg in bread crumbs, once done deep fry for 5 or 6 mins, let cool an they are ready to eat, they are really good..

Mushroom Soup

  • oyster mushrooms
  • 2 portobello mushrooms
  • White mushrooms slice all the mushrooms
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 celery stalk diced
  • 900 mills veg stock
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • drizzle of truffle oil
  • olive oil
  • 2 tbl spoons sour cream
  • in a pot placate Olive Oil, mushrooms onion and celery, and garlic sauté until soft add the stock bring to the boil and let cool a little, then I blend add sour cream and a drizzle of truffle oil and black pepper, mis and simmer this is delicious with home made bread , to dunk in .. As for the Mushrooms it is your choice of which ones to use, I find the Porcini mushroom has a very earthy taste to it, i usually have a pkg chefs blend dried mushrooms, but did not have this time..
  • Easter Dinner was a Roast Beef. small potatoes, the trivet was Onions,Carrots, and parsnip, I also did leeks in a Dill n Pepper sauce it was not bad, along with that yorkshire puddings all produce was from The real Canadian Super Store, and Save on Foods here in Fort McMurray..
  • After Supper Kare , Aaron, Asher and Miss Gracie face timed us, loved every second of the call. Them Matt, Krystal, Colin and Bailey brought dropped off the most amazing dessert a carrot cake bunt cake in bunny rabbit shapes, it was amazing . Along with Dessert Colin Hand made a leather Note Book for Grandads Birthday, it is beautifully done, great Job Colin.. Grandad will have this for ever.. #Safe Distancing was done.. I love my family, I am a hugger, I hug everyone, I cant wait for this to be Over , I have a lot of hugs to give.. Love y’all #StaySafe #Stay Home and this will all be over soon..

Good O’l English fish n Chips

As its was good Friday, I decided on English Fish n Chips with a beer batter, boy was the batter ever light. What a treat, and today for lunch we had our tourtière Also very good.

Today I think I will do Scotch eggs and chicken wings and pour David a beer , like a British pub lol.. Easter is strange this year, we usually have a big family dinner , So I delivered tourtière yesterday to family.. I will face tome with the grand kids tomorrow . For Easter Dinner we are having a roast beef and all the trimmings. Here are a few easter traditions, a little different tot he ones I was used to in England

  • DYEING EASTER EGGS. The tradition of decorating eggs of all kinds—even ostrich eggs—may go all the way back to the ancient pagans. … 
  • THE EASTER BUNNY. … 
  • HOLLOW CHOCOLATE BUNNIES. … 
  • EASTER BASKETS. … 
  • HOT CROSS BUNS. … 
  • EASTER FASHION PARADES. … 
  • SUNRISE SERVICES. … 
  • EASTER HAM.
  • British Easter Traditions.

INGREDIENTS this recipe is from Epicurious and is very good

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-fine granulated sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 egg
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 1/2 cups milk
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
  • 1/2 stick (1/4) cup unsalted butter
  • Granulated sugar, lemons, and oranges for garnish

PREPARATION

  1. 1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the egg and egg yolks, followed by the milk and 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil. Continue whisking until there are no lumps. In a separate small saucepan, melt the butter until it is golden brown, and whisk it into the pancake mix. Leave the batter to rest for about 15 minutes.
    1. Heat an 8-inch frying pan until hot, and add the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, tilting the pan to spread the oil across the bottom. When the oil starts to smoke, pour the excess into a small bowl for later use. Return the pan to the heat. You now have a sheer coating of oil remaining on the pan.
    1. Pour 2 tablespoons of the batter into the pancake pan, tilting the pan to coat the bottom evenly. Cook until the underside of the pancake is golden brown, and then, using a spatula turn it over and cook the other side. Turn the pancake out onto an upturned dinner plate. Repeat until there is no more batter, using a bit of the reserved oil if the pan appears to be dry, or if the pancakes begin to stick. Continue to stack pancakes on top of each other on your dinner plate.
    1. When finished, served the pancakes straightaway with the sugar for sprinkling and the lemon and orange wedges on the side for squeezing on the pancakes.
  2. 5. If you want to make the pancakes in advance, lightly butter an ovenproof tray, and sprinkle each pancake with sugar after you finish cooking it. Fold the pancakes in half and then half again, arranging them all neatly on the tray. Cover the tray with foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. Serve with the lemon and orange wedges.
  • English pancakes We have these on Shrove Tuesday, are different from American pancakes. They are much thinner and contain no leavening. They are closer to a French Crepe, only slightly thicker. Traditionally they are served on Shrove Tuesday, but are enjoyed year-around. They are best served straight from the pan. In my house the race is to try and make them faster than my children can eat them.Easter egg hunts. First of all, an easter egg is a hollow, egg-shaped chocolate treat. … 
  • Egg painting. Eggs, as you may by now have guessed, are a big part of Easter in Britain. … 
  • Hot Cross Buns. … 
  • Maypole Dancing. … 
  • Nutters dance. … 
  • Morris Dancing. On Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day we would have pancake races..
  • I always got a new Easter outfit with hat gloves and new shoes When I was young as i got older in to my teens it was just a new dress and shoes..
  • During Easter in the UK, some people buy very colourful flowers to decorate their home. These flowers are considered ‘Easter flowers’. Also, lots of Churches around the UK hold flower festivals where they displays lots of Spring flowers. So buy some colourful flowers and celebrate Easter as well.


Here is the amazing recipe Simnel cake.doc
If you don’t fancy cooking then you are in luck as there are many businesses delivering in Cumbria. Your favourite restaurant might be doing just that so give them a call or check out their Facebook page – you might be in luck!

Go for an Egg hunt!

The Easter Bunny still comes every year in our house so we will be designing an Easter Egg Hunt, in the garden if it’s a nice day. We get up early and lay the eggs out so it feels like Christmas morning when the kids wake up and go and explore! These are pics of past easters

#StaySafe #StayHealthy

The world is in turmoil, we are all trying to do our part, by staying home, its tough, we walk the dog twice a day and are eating healthy. I love cooking from scratch , I am reading a lot also, I ordered the Fabulous Finn Book he is an English Police dog and was injured in the line of duty, but he came back from the brink. I have also bee crocheting some different items, ponchos, slippers ,Challenge yourself to pick up a new hobby, or get back to an old one.writing my blog, keeping in touch with friends and family spread all over the world, face time and calling .. Keep a daily routine is important. The hardest thing for me is not being able to see my grandkids . We say Asher and Katie Wednesday from a distance, and Colin and Bailey yesterday also from a distance.. My heart is full Today I have been busy baking Tourtiers, One for Kate, Aaron and Asher , One for Krystal , Matt, Colin and Bailey and one for Deb and Rob Belanger .. One for us to.. For these I used

  • 3 lb minced pork
  • 1 lb minced beef
  • 1lb minced turkey
  • 2 onions diced
  • 12 rashes of bacon cut in to tiny pieces
  • All Spice
  • Sage
  • Mace
  • Garlic
  • salt and pepper It made 4 pies today and I have enough for 2 more pies..

Utilize Online Resources – Ask for help: There are countless options for online learning. On our walk today we encountered a lady with her 2 little dogs we politely kept our distance, she is a health worker, we thanked her and told her to stay safe. I think this may be Mother natures way to cleanse the heart.. It seems so unreal..

Have a Very Happy Easter #StayHome and #Stay Safe

For my grand kids Colin,Bailey and Asher Gram and Grand love you #Stay Safe #Stay Home

Family Traditions

This is a really old tradition Pace Eggs, my mom (Mam) did these every easter , I have always done the with the kids and grand kids, I start to save onion skins at Christmas , My Mam used to individually wrap the egg and onion skins in news paper and tied with thread, I put the eggs in a pan fill with water and dump in the Onion Skins I boiled them for about 7 mins … When we immigrated to Canada in 1980, I thought everyone did this!! Apparently not, it is a Cumbrian thing.. Here is a little info I found on line

Pace eggs………………….

an old cumbria tradition …..the eggs are boiled with onion skins to dye them ……the more skins used the richer the colour…then you polish them with a little dripping from the traditional easter sunday roast…… the reason for this is you hide the pace eggs and let the kids hunt them out……. afterwards then they are kept to play egg dumps down the pub…….egg dumps i hear you say….you pit your egg against everyone elses ….in turn you hold your egg in your clenched hand with the tip out and others hit the top of your egg with the pointed end……whoevers egg is left uncracked wins…….you normally win a free amount of beer at the pub depending on how good or mean the landlord is……………………. then the last bit is just mingin…….they peel the eggs and chuck them into a pack of crisps and swill them in vinegar……then the dirty sods eat them…….. yum…cant beat good old traditions lol..xxxx

The making of Pace Eggs by colouring and dying eggs is a longstanding British tradition at Easter time. Eggs are coloured using natural methods and ingredients (typically onion skins) and are boiled to be eaten on Good Friday and throughout the Easter weekend. It is also traditional to give one of these eggs to each person who visits your home throughout the Easter period. In some parts of the country – mainly the North West – these eggs are rolled down a hill, the winner being the owner of the egg which travels the furthest and survives with the least breaks in it. What ever the holiday I believe in keeping family traditions alive..

Comfort Food, Stewed Links

The world is in turmoil, comfort food is needed. I made a fave of Davids Stewed Links. David grew up eating these , these were quick and easy stewed sausages. Pkg Link sausages, 1 large onion, diced, 2 tomatoes diced , 1 pkg of Onion Soup mix . the British version is Bangers and Mash..

Comfort Food is what we crave in stressful times Scientists have known for some time now that eating calorie-rich foods, commonly known as comfort foods, can help ease stress, even though it can also add flab to the abdomen. Comfort foods provide pleasure and temporarily make us feel better. 1. Feel good. Eating food high in fat, sugar or salt activates the brain’s reward system. I guess we should eat these in moderation. Here are a few Healthy options , I found on the BBC Good Food page

  • Butter bean, mushroom & bacon pot pie
  • 3 tbsp rapeseed oil
  • 2 red onions, thinly sliced
  • 500g mushrooms, thickly sliced
  • 70g smoked streaky bacon, sliced into thin strips
  • 2 tbsp plain flour
  • 500ml low-salt vegetable stock
  • 250g kale, roughly sliced
  • 3 tsp wholegrain mustard
  • 2 tbsp reduced-fat crème fraîche
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped tarragon
  • lemon, zested and juiced
  • 2 x 400g cans butter beans, drained and rinsed
  1. Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a saucepan or large flameproof casserole dish. Fry the onions for 10 mins until soft, then add the mushrooms and bacon and fry for another 5 mins until golden. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 mins more. Gradually pour in the stock, then bring to the boil and bubble for 2 mins. Add the kale and cook for another 5 mins, then stir in the mustard, crème fraîche, half the tarragon and the lemon juice. Spoon the mushroom mixture into four small baking dishes.
  2. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the butter beans in a food processor with the remaining oil and tarragon and the lemon zest. Blitz until chunky, adding 2-3 tbsp water to loosen if needed.
  3. Spoon the butter bean mixture over the filling, smoothing with the back of a spoon. Bake for 20-25 mins until golden. Leave to cool slightly, then serve.
  • Pork and apple stew with parsley & thyme dumplings

Pork & apple stew with parsley & thyme dumplings

This healthy family supper has dumplings that soak up all the flavours of cider, mustard and a hint of apple, and it’s 3 of your 5-a-day

  1. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a flameproof and ovenproof dish. Add the onions, celery, bay and thyme, and fry for about 8 mins until softened. Add the pork and cook for a few mins until it changes colour, but it doesn’t need to brown as you don’t want to overcook it.
  2. Stir in the mustard powder, garlic, flour and vinegar, then pour in the bouillon, stirring to prevent any lumps forming.
  3. Add the apple, leeks and carrots, bring the liquid to the boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover the pan and simmer for 1 hr, stirring occasionally, until the pork and vegetables are tender.
  4. When the stew is nearly cooked, heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. To make the dumplings, tip the flour, baking powder, mustard powder, parsley and thyme into a bowl and stir to combine. Put the yogurt in a jug, make up to 100ml with water, then stir in the oil. Lightly stir the liquid into the flour to make a soft, slightly sticky dough. Divide the dough equally into eight and shape into balls. Drop them on top of the stew, drizzling each one with the remaining oil. Bake for 20 mins until the dumplings are golden. Scatter with the extra thyme, if you like, before serving
  • 500g skinless boneless chicken thighs

For the marinade

  • lemon, juiced
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1-2 tsp hot chilli powder
  • 200g natural yogurt

For the curry

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped (optional)
  • thumb-sized piece ginger, grated
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 2 tsp ground fenugreek
  • 3 tbsp tomato purée
  • 300ml chicken stock
  • 50g flaked almonds, toasted

To serve (optional)

  • cooked basmati rice
  • naan bread
  • mango chutney or lime pickle
  • fresh coriander
  • lime wedges
  1. In a medium bowl, mix all the marinade ingredients with some seasoning. Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces and toss with the marinade. Cover and chill in the fridge for 1 hr or overnight.
  2. In a large, heavy saucepan, heat the oil. Add the onion, garlic, green chilli, ginger and some seasoning. Fry on a medium heat for 10 mins or until soft.
  3. Add the spices with the tomato purée, cook for a further 2 mins until fragrant, then add the stock and marinated chicken. Cook for 15 mins, then add any remaining marinade left in the bowl. Simmer for 5 mins, then sprinkle with the toasted almonds. Serve with rice, naan bread, chutney, coriander and lime wedges, if you like.

TY BBC Good Food for these healthy comfort food recipes. I Love them As I do i adjust these to what I like.

Portuguese Octopus Stew

I have been wanting to make this Octopus Stew for a while, Thank you to a friend in Mary Monteiro Kitimat BC a very long time ago, she introduced us to this amazing dish!! Only missing chorizo sausage!! Next time I also made a pot of stewed Links a fave of Davids when he was growing up..

We made a lot of great friends in Kitimat, they were like family.. The Street we lived in was 90 % Portugese, they were great!! It was a great place to bring up children, Ian was born in the UK, Victoria and Katie were both born in Kitimat BC Dr Kerswell delivered them both.. The fishing was great, david would take the Kids fishing . We got our first Springer Meg , we mated her to beautiful Springer Spencer, June 1998 Meg had 8 beautiful springer puppies, we kept one and called her Molly..

Avocado’s

What a great way to start the day, this is one of our fave breakfasts.. 1 Avocado, 1/2 a tomato, Diced 1/4 onion Diced 2 garlic cloves diced , squeeze of Lime juice , fresh ground black pepper. Quinoa bread toasted..

Avocados and Health benefits An avocado a day is good for your health. Eating an avocado a day is good for your health. Avocados are a fun food to eat, they’re nutritious, and they’re a good source of monounsaturated fat, which can reduce your risk of heart disease

Nutritious and DeliciousThe avocado is one of the most nutrient-dense foods available. Ounce for ounce, they are among the richest in fiber, folate, potassium, vitamin E, and magnesium among all fruits. This nutrition profile makes it a worthy Superfood.

You can find avocados almost everywhere — from grocery stores and farmers markets to chocolate pudding recipes. Try cooking with Avocados it is a healthy fat ..

  • Avocado Brownies
  • 1 ripe avocado, cubed
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅔ cup flour,
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. In a blender or food processor, combine avocado, eggs, honey and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth, scraping down sides as necessary.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder.
  4. Combine the wet and dry mixtures and fold until a batter forms. Pour batter into a greased 8×8 inch baking pan.
  5. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Allow to cool.

Avocados are also great in your morning smoothies. Stay Safe out there and stay healthy.. Sending you a virtual hug

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