Category Archives: OPRAH

My traditions at Christmas

September is here the garden is beginning to look very sad, but walking the trails with David and my dog George this morning , I did notice how the fall colours are here, I love the fall colours.. This week I made my Christmas Cakes, used my Marks and Spencers recipe, last year I used Jamie Olivers and the year before Paul Holly Woods, this year back to my reg recipe.. I am steaming my Christmas Puddings, I male them about every 4 yrs, depending on how many I give away as gifts.. I use the recipe from Floyd on Britain. and Ireland .. It is amazing so light not like a brick.. I put fresh fruit in instead of the mixed peel.. I also added a little extra Brandy !

My Christmas Cake I have made since we emigrated 1980.

Recipe: Step 1 – make the cake

Ready in 5 hours, plus overnight soaking and feeding
Serves 20

Ingredients

750g mixed sultanas and currants
200g ready-to-eat dried apricots, chopped
100g glacé cherries, rinsed and chopped
100g dried cranberries
2 oranges, both zested, 1 juiced
150ml brandy, sweet sherry or Marsala (plus extra for feeding)
325g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
225g light muscovado sugar
100g golden caster sugar
5 medium eggs
300g plain flour
75g ground almonds
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp ground ginger
100g almonds, finely chopped
1 tbsp golden syrup

Method

  1. In a medium-sized, non-metallic bowl, mix together the dried fruit, orange zest and juice and brandy. Cover with clingfilm and leave in a cool, dark place to soak overnight.
  2. Use a deep, 23cm cake tin. Cut two circles of baking parchment to fit the base of the tin. Measure the circumference of the tin with a piece of string, then use it as a guide to cut a strip of paper long enough to line the sides of the tin, and two and a half times the depth. Fold this strip in half lengthways, then make snips at 2.5cm intervals along the fold.
  3. Grease the base of the tin and put in one circle of parchment. Grease the sides of the tin and insert the folded strip of paper, pressing down the snipped edges on the base. Finally, place the second disc on top to secure the snipped edges in place. Heat the oven to 140°C/120°C fan/ gas 1.
  4. Beat together the butter and sugars with an electric whisk until light and fluffy followed by the eggs, one at a time. Combine the flour, ground almonds, bicarbonate of soda, mixed spice and ground ginger and fold into the butter mixture. Add the chopped almonds and syrup to the soaked fruit, then fold into the mixture.
  5. Spoon it into the prepared tin and bake on the bottom shelf of the oven for 4-4½ hours, until the top is dark golden and a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean.
  6. Leave to cool on a cooling rack, then remove from the tin. Use a skewer to pierce the top of the cake at regular intervals and carefully spoon over 2 tbsp of brandy, so that it soaks in.
  7. Wrap the cake in two layers of fresh baking parchment, then in foil. Feed it with alcohol every two weeks (up to three times before Christmas). Don’t overdo it or your cake will go soggy. It’s also best not to feed it for a week before you ice it. It will keep for up to three months if stored in an airtight tin in a cool, dark place

Nutritional info per serving

Calories: 501 
Fat: 19.9g(saturated 9.3g) 
Carbohydrates: 69.1g
Sugar: 52.1g
Fiber: 2.9g
Protein: 6.3g 
Salt: 0.18g

See more Christmas baking ideas

Step 2 – ice your cake

Takes 35 minutes, plus drying time


The earliest you should ice your cake is one week before Christmas. Our quantities are for a 23cm-diameter cake

Ingredients

750g ready-to-roll marzipan
2 tbsp apricot jam
Icing sugar, for dusting
1kg ready-to-roll fondant icing

Method

  1. Place your cake on a cake board or stand. If it has a bumpy top, carefully slice across it to even it out, then turn over so you have a smooth surface to ice
  2. Put the apricot jam into a small saucepan with 2 tsp water and warm it until it loosens. Strain it through a sieve into a small bowl and use a pastry brush to apply a thin layer to the top and sides of the cake
  3. Measure over the top and sides of the cake with string. This will be your guide to the size of the circles of marzipan and fondant icing you need to roll out
  4. Lightly dust a clean work surface and rolling pin with icing sugar. Knead the marzipan for 2 minutes until pliable.
  5. Roll the marzipan into a circle to cover the cake, plus a little extra. Turn the marzipan every few rolls so that it doesn’t stick to the surface – use a little more icing sugar if you need to. Fold the marzipan onto the rolling pin, and lift it onto the cake. Working from the top, carefully smooth the marzipan over the sides of the cake with your hands. With a small, sharp knife, cut away the excess marzipan. Leave the cake uncovered for 24-48 hours, to let the marzipan dry out a little
  6. When you are ready to ice, brush a small amount of water over the marzipan. Knead the fondant icing until pliable. Lightly dust the work surface and rolling pin with icing sugar – try not to use too much or the fondant icing will dry out and may crack
  7. Using string as a guide as before, repeat step 5 using the icing instead of marzipan. Trim of any excess icing with a small sharp knife.

I have cooked a Floyd’s Christmas Pudding for years , I do them every 4 or 5 yrs depending on how many I gift , I usually double the recipe

Christmas pudding from Floyd on Britain and Ireland (page 208) by Keith Floyd
Ingredients
Notes (0)
Reviews (0)
2 tbsp brandy
Pinch each ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ,mace, nutmeg & salt
Grated rind & juice 1/2 orange and 1/2 lemon
4 oz each raisins & sultanas
1 small eating apple, grated

1 fresh lemon , juice and rind

1 fresh Orange juice and rind
4 oz suet
5 oz currants
4 oz brown sugar
5 oz white breadcrumbs
4 oz plain flour
3 oz candied peel & cherries I leave out the candied peel this is why I put in fresh orange and lemon
2 large eggs, beaten
Milk to mix

Grease a 2 pt pudding basin.
Place the dry ingredients in a bowl with the juices and mix well.
Add the eggs, brandy and enough milk to make a soft dropping consistency.
Cover and leave to stand overnight.
Stir well and put into basin, cover with greaseproof paper then a piece of foil pleated across the centre.
Secure with string
Steam for 6-7 hours, topping up the water as required.
Store in a cool, dry place.
To serve, steam for a further 3 hours then turn out.

Marks and Spencers Christmas Cake the best , I have made these since we married and emigrated here too Canada making this a tradition for my family, my kids will start their own traditions with luck keeping some old traditions. The Kitchen scales are about 40 yrs old, my mom bought them for me, when we looked after her dog Mandy , for 2 weeks, that little girl, didn’t want to go home.. It has been a busy couple of weeks as I started to Crochet toques, scarfs and Christmas Hanging towels for gifts.. As we don’t know what the next few months will bring, there is a big up serge in Covid 19 cases here in Fort McMurray. David and I are staying close to home and washing our hands and using sanitizer when we have to.. Every day I wash down the kitchen and high traffic surfaces with a bleach solution!!

One day this week we made English Fish and Chips with breaded Shrimp and a home made slaw. Amazing.. It was Aaron’s Birthday we as a family unit, had a Birthday for him. Ong Asher was such a little Charmer, with his Hawaiian shirt on and trilby hat ..

Christmas was one of my Moms fave seasons, she get up in an orphanage, was Neve adopted, so she never had a lot. My Mom ( Mam) had a huge heart and would have helped anyone. She always made us an amazing Christmas.. I remember talking with my mom about the orphanage and one of her fave Christmas gifts was. a small dolly made from a clothes Peg.. I can not imagine her child hood, at the age or 16 she was in Service meaning she was cooking and cleaning in a well to do house.. This house was that of a well to do Family, my mom was raped had a baby and it also was put up for adoption and never spoken of.. Different times .. it may have looked like this one.. My mom was an amazing lady, kind, a huge part, funny .. My mom was Christmas!! In my early teens, I met the love of my life, and still is the love of my life.. Now I am like my Mom I love Christmas and making it fun and exciting for family and friends.

Late 1800s Wood Peg Jointed Girl Doll in Period Clothes 9 1/2" Tall | eBay

Scottish recipes and traditions

England, Scotland , Ireland and Wales are steeped in traditions and great recipes. I will just touch on a few .. Soup of the day Cock a leek Soup!! After a long hard day hunting Haggis on the Highlands ( LOL) coming back to a hearty bowl of this amazing soup, consisting of leeks, Carrots, celery and chicken.. After we put a Hutterite chicken on the rotisserie, and had an amazing Family supper, I boiled the carcas, it is surprising how much meat is actually on the carcas!! Slice and dice all veggies, and bacon sauté in Veg Oil, add salt, pepper garlic and herbs ,and pearl barley ( or Rice) bring to boil then simmer for 1 hour..

  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 medium chicken, jointed into pieces
  • 2 rashers smoked bacon
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery sticks, chopped
  • 1-2 leeks, washed and cut into thick rounds
  • 1 1/2 oz pearl barley
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ½ bunch thyme sprigs
  • fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • salt to taste
  • 1/2 tsp minced garlic

Haggis a myth has a Haggis ever run the highlands wild and free!!??

Serve with a crusty fresh made bread!! All you need after a day hunting Haggis ( LOL )

If you believe a haggis is an iconic Scottish dish of sheep’s stomach stuffed with spiced innards and oatmeal, haggis’s Myth states the wild haggis: a creature with four legs and a shaggy mane. Not a Sheeps Stomach filled with oatmeal and sheeps innards ..

Legend surrounds the wild haggis. According to many cryptid directories, the wild haggis is an unbalanced beast whose legs of unequal length enable it to lope up steep Scottish hillsides with ease. for wild haggi, with their babies, hagglets to “graze along the steep mountain slopes and move through the heather. It is a 4 legged creature with 2 short legs on one side for walking on the Highlands ( LOL) found this pic on line of a full grown Haggis Mac-Haggi

35 Best Haggis images | National dish, Burns supper, Burns night
  • Tartan & Kilts. Kilts are one of the most iconic items associated with Scotland. … 
  • Bagpipes. The sound of the bagpipes can often be heard all over Scottish towns and cities; whether it’s pipers entertaining passers-by, pipe bands in parades or at the world famous Highland games. … 
  • Ceilidhs. … 
  • Highland Games. ..
  • Weddings

For Robbie Burns Birthday we created a Bard Pie omg it was amazing Def doing this for Robbie Burns Birthday next year!!

Scottish ShortBread

Not a Bread, This is from Historic-UK.com thought it was very interesting

The History of Scottish Shortbread

Scottish cooks have always been famous for their soups, haggis (a dish traditionally served on Burns Night) and their baking, especially scones, pancakes, fruit cakes, oatcakes and shortbread.

The story of shortbread begins with the medieval “biscuit bread”. Any leftover dough from bread making was dried out in a low oven until it hardened into a type of rusk: the word “biscuit” means “twice cooked”. Gradually the yeast in the bread was replaced by butter, and biscuit bread developed into shortbread.

Shortbread was an expensive luxury and for ordinary people, shortbread was a special treat reserved just for special occasions such as weddings, Christmas and New Year. In Shetland it was traditional to break a decorated shortbread cake over the head of a new bride on the threshold of her new home. The custom of eating shortbread at New Year has its origins in the ancient pagan Yule Cakes which symbolised the sun. In Scotland it is still traditionally offered to “first footers” at New Year.

Shortbread has been attributed to Mary, Queen of Scots, who in the mid-16th century was said to be very fond of Petticoat Tails, a thin, crisp, buttery shortbread originally flavoured with caraway seeds.

There are two theories regarding the name of these biscuits. It has been suggested that the name “petticoat tail”

Traditional Scottish shortbread biscuits may in fact date back beyond the 12th century. The theory here is that the name may have come from the word for the pattern which was ‘tally’, and so the biscuits became known as ‘petticoat tallis’. to resemble the petticoat ary Queen pf Scotts wore alone with other ladies!!

Shortbread is traditionally formed into one of three shapes: one large circle divided into segments (“Petticoat Tails”); individual round biscuits (“Shortbread Rounds”); or a thick rectangular slab cut into “fingers.”

There are many different recipes and regional variations for shortbread. The following recipe uses rice flour to give a slightly grainy texture:

Scottish Shortbread

6 oz. plain flour ~ 2oz. caster sugar ~ 1 oz. icing sugar ~ 2 oz. rice flour ~ 5 oz. butter ~ pinch of salt Instead of the rice flour I use corn starch!

Preheat oven to 140°C (280°F or Gas mark 2). In a mixing bowl, cream together the sugars and the butter. Sift in the flours and salt: work by hand to a stiff dough. Roll out the dough to 1/2 inch thickness. Form either into a round or into fingers and prick with a fork. Bake in the oven until light golden brown, around 30 – 40 minutes.

How about Tattie Scones hmm Delish

Tattie Scones are made with mashed potato and butter , with salt to taste. Plain flour is added to make it into a dough which is then rolled out and put on a grill skillet to cook and are flat. They are traditionally served hot, and cold potato scones are often reheated by toasting or frying. Potato scones are made with a small proportion of flour to a large proportion of potatoes: one traditional recipe calls for two ounces of flour and half an ounce of butter to a pound of potatoes. A version of the scone is made in circles about 6 inches across and then cut into quarters. They are about an inch thick, more than what is usually considered a scone. They are served as part of the “full Scottish breakfast” (and England, Wales and Ulster have their own variations) with fried eggs, square sausage, black pudding, bacon usually Ayrshire bacon!! , baked beans and grilled or fried tomato with mushrooms. Mushroom are an option They are often eaten in a roll with “just” the fried egg, sausage and bacon Yummy I have made these and they are delish.. I feel a weekend Brunch coming on 🙂 Potato scones originated as a Scottish these are a type of quick bread. Originally made with oats and griddle-baked, today’s version is more often made with flour and baked in the oven. Some claim it comes from the Dutch word ‘schoonbrot’, which means beautiful bread, while others argue it comes from Stone of Destiny, where the Kings of Scotland were crowned, I think it is the stone of Destiny!! Sounds Romantic! According to Webster’s Dictionary, scones originated in Scotland in the early 1500s. I love finding out about these ethnic foods and traditions..

Christmas in Scotland

What is a traditional Scottish Christmas dinner?Dishes like Roast Pork, Glazed Ham, Roast Angus Beef, Steak pie, Roast Leg of Lamb are also served at the Christmas dining table. For dessert, the most traditional is the Christmas pudding, usually served with brandy sauce cream. Turkey is the Norm now!!

Image result for Where did potato scones originate?

Hogmanay to New Years Eve!!!

Hogmanay is what we Scots call New Year’s Eve – 31 December – the big night that marks the arrival of the new year. Its origins reach back to the celebration of the winter solstice among the Vikings with wild parties in late December.

An English Christmas Is very much the same today!! This is pretty much how we used to celebrate Christmas minus the Wassail

Christmas crackers add a bit of pop to dinner! a def must have for the silly jokes and paper crowns ..

like the main staples of decorating your home, putting up a tree, exchanging presents and having a mid-day dinner. We usually have some one at our Christmas Table that is alone ay Christmas, no one should be alone at Christmas..

1. Letters to Santa
I children to write letters to Santa Claus. But, the Brits take it a step further and burn the letters in the fireplace so the ashes fly up the chimney and Father Christmas can read the smoke. I remember doing this, modern day the children write or email a letter to Santa.

2. Stockings
Rather than hanging stockings above the fireplace, British children hang them at the end of their bed hoping they will be filled by Christmas morning. That would be a nice surprise to wake up to. At the same time it might be difficult for “Santa” to fill without waking the wee ones. We also had a Pillowcase Santa filled with our Christmas Presents . in the stocking was usually Oranges.Nuts a fe candies and a Christmas Cracker today it is a little different

3. Crackers
The cracker is a paper tube, covered in foil, twisted at both ends. It’s shaped like a large sweet with hidden treasures inside. Each person crosses their arms, using their right hand to hold their cracker, and pulling their neighbor’s cracker with their left. POP! The cracker will make a bit of a  bang with the contents spilling out which usually is a joke to be read at the dinner table, a small trinket and a paper crown. I Love the Cracker Jokes, LOL

4. Crown
Everyone is a king on Christmas! The paper crowns are made of tissue paper and unfold into an actual crown. Adults and children alike don the crown making it a colorful sight. The paper hat was added to the crackers in the early 1900s and the tradition has carried on. I believe in carrying on Christmas Traditions, it is very important for the children!
 
5. Mid-Day Dinner 
Christmas dinner is similar to that of the U.S. with a roast turkey, goose or chicken and trimmings. But, there are some specialty items that aren’t as common such as parsnips which are a root vegetable similar to a carrot. It’s a familiar taste but it’s fun to incorporate a new veggie to the table. Brits love their pudding, I make my own Christmas Puddings , lots of dried and fresh fruit with suet, steamed for a few hours , add a Brandy Sauce oh my goodness.. I make a traditional English trifle or at least the way my mom did, delicious.

Our Family tradition now is Having Christmas Dinner at Kate and Aarons, I used to do Christmas Dinner , once Kate and Aaron got Married they took over this tradition and now Aarons family and Kates Family all enjoy a fabulous Christmas Dinner at Kate and Aaron house..

6. Wassail
Wassa-what? Wassail literally means “good health” or to “be healthy” and in this case is a hot, mulled drink. There are different ways to serve it like a hot cider but it may also be made with a base of wine. It was originally topped with slices of toast as sops (piece of bread to soak up the liquid.) We did not do tis but had Egg nogg yummy

7. Royal Christmas Message
The tradition of sending out a Christmas Message to the public began in 1932 with George V. Current day the Queen gives a speech on Christmas Day at 3pm in England. We always watched the Queens Speech!!

8. Tea
Christmas tea usually rolls around 6pm and it is round two of a sit down with family and treats. Pretty much, any proper English event involves tea. Mince pies or sausage rolls, various Cheese and crackers like Jacobs, or Carrs Water Biscuits.. and Trifle..

9. Boxing Day
Boxing Day follows Christmas day and is a nationally recognized holiday in the UK, also called a bank holiday. It was originally the day for servants and tradesman to receive presents from their employers but it’s now basically a big shopping day for Brits. For Us this was anther family day, David and I usually have a high Boxingday Supper for Family and friends , Turkey

10. Next Year
Brits say you need to take your tree and decorations down within 12 days of Christmas or you’ll have bad luck for the next year. Don’t be that house on the street with blinking lights that go on through Valentine’s Day! Get that stuff down and get on with the New Year!

will be making my Christmas Cakes again this year , family and friend receive a small one, made with Dried fruit and lots of other goodie, I usually bake the one from The Marks and Spencer Cook Book.. I love Christmas and get so excited at the preparation, for this amazing day!!! Stay Safe Y’all

Eat, sleep, and be healthy

Today’s culinary delight !! good for our The gut microbiome A bean stew with White Kidney beans h haricot beans , some leafy greens Swiss Chard, Parsley and thyme, tomatoes green and red from my garden..

Yesterday I made a Texas Caviar made with Black eye peas, a home made tomatoe basil soup did use 2 cans of tomatoes but everything else was fresh, then made home made scotch Baps omg

Diet and gut health are very closely linked. Try to avoid processed foods, high-fat foods, and foods high in refined sugars this is very important in maintenance for a healthy microbiome, as these foods destroy good bacteria and promote growth of damaging bacteria. There are also a number of foods you can eat that actively promote the growth of good bacteria, contributing to your overall health. We started to change our Diet 2015, adding theses foods to our diet as I had a lot of gut problems.. After 2 surgeries I am watching my gut health more than ever.. Eat a High Fibre Diet, legumes, beans, peas, oats, bananas, berries, asparagus, and leeks have shown a positive impact on gut health, I love all of these. Garlic and Onions, may have some anti-cancer and immune system-enhancing properties . I cook with lots of these!! Another great food or foods are Fermented ones such as kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, tempeh, miso, and kefir are great dietary sources of probiotics, also are in many varying ways their benefits on the gut microbiome big fan of these foods..!! I am a fan of making my own broths, bone broth, or Salmon, fish stock may be beneficial to overall health and gut health !! Cooking from Scratch..

Another important benefit is to Eat, sleep, and be healthy!! The human gut is more complex than previously thought and has a huge impact on whole-body health. A healthy gut contributes to a strong immune system, heart health, brain health, improved mood, healthy sleep, and effective digestion, and it may help prevent some cancers and autoimmune diseases. There are a number of lifestyle changes you can make to positively affect your gut health and your overall health as a result. Whole foods, cooking from scratch, do a little research in to gut health and the way you eat, making small changes along the way .. We do eat out once in a while, order in once in a while for the most part we love cooking from scratch, its funny , once you start doing tis, your outlook on grocery shopping !! We do buy canned goods Tomatoes, some canned varieties of beans, we are loving eating this way!! it is truly amazing how your tastebuds change, Must admit I still love a burger or a sun sandwich once in a while..

When ever I am in the Kitchen cooking I always think of my Mom, she was an amazing lady, who taught me a lot about cooking , being a good person and always to help others.. We have taught all our kids all 3 of them, or at least shared recipes and traditions. I look forward to teaching my Grandkids, Today is the first Day of the rest of your Life.. A Random Act of Kindness is one of the most amazing things you can do

Salad Bouquet

There is something very satisfying about going in to your garden and picking supper or lunch with a varying in salads!! I pick a Salad Bouquet, I love using different herbs and leafy greens.. I am going to figure out if I can do anything with the ferns, I know we have to be careful as most are not edible..

The 3 pica above is a Stroganoff I made from scratch!! I had a small piece of pork left over from the roast, I sliced cooked with onions, Garlic, peppers a little Swiss Chard , and garnished with Parsley , mushrooms and noodles serves with a mixed salad!!

Our Garden is our sanctuary, def lot more this year, the year of Covid 19.. We play relaxing music, have a glass of wine and play board games mostly Scrabble and Backgammon. We laugh a lot!! This is helping us through these stressful times. Having our Grandkids and kids with significant others close by, really is a plus.. .

Board Games are a great way of receiving stress Here is some info I found on the web!! re Board Games

Here’s the top health benefits of board games https://howgameareyou.com/health-benefits-board-games/

  • Have fun and feel good. One of the effects of playing board games is laughter and it has be found out that this increases endorphins. This chemical in our body is known to elevate the feeling of happiness
  • Family time. Nowadays spending an uninterrupted time with your family may be quite impossible given the different schedules each family member has. Yet playing board games after a family dinner is one excellent way to get together and strengthen your family bond.
  • Memory formation and cognitive skills. The areas of the brain that are responsible for complex thought and memory formation are the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. These parts most benefits when playing board games.o get together and strengthen your family bond.
  • Reduces risks for mental diseases.Playing board games keeps your mind engaged by exercising it and building it stronger. It’s good to note that stronger brain has lower risks of cognitive decline.
  • Lowers blood pressure. As playing board games effects to laughing and endorphins. This things can help lower or maintain blood pressure.
  • Speed up your response. In a study at the University of Toronto, they found out that students who regularly played video games were far quicker in locating than those who don’t. Get yourself into board games and sometime soon, you’ll be able to find those hard-to-find car keys without searching the whole house.
  • Reduce stress. According to an online survey by RealNetworks, Inc., 64% of the respondents said they play games to unwind and relax. 53% play to relieve stress.
  • Grows your immune system. Research shows that negative thoughts and feelings can reduce the ability to fight disease whilst positive thoughts and feelings. The enjoyment and laughter you get from playing board games prevents effects with the chemicals being released by the body.
  • Child development. Playing board games help children develop their logic and reasoning skills, improve critical thinking and boost spatial reasoning. The ability to concentrate and focus for a longer period of time is also developed with just playing board games.
  • Therapy treatment. Most types of board games require players to use fine motor skills to pick up or move pieces which are actions that both involves coordination and dexterity. And have been found out that can really be helpful when added to occupational therapy treatments. Try not to be constantly watching the news, limit yourself to once a day other wise this will increase your stress… Live , Laugh and Love .. Eat a healthy diet and keep a healthy mind..
  • Virtually any form of exercise or movement can increase your fitness level while decreasing your stress. The most important thing is to pick an activity that you enjoy. walking, stair climbing, jogging, bicycling, yoga,  gardening, weightlifting and swimming, walking the dog.. Music also is a great way to relieve stress , put on a great playlist and sing, cook, what ever you love to do!! Stay Safe everyone

Nasturtium plant :-)

Nasturtium Plant is a Foodies delight , at least mine!! Our garden is like a jungle LOL We have been eating lots of Salads , With Nasturtium leaves, parsley, Swiss Chard, Chives, tomatoes and lettuce, when I want a salads I go our to our garden and pick it all fresh. The mix of leafy greens flavour is incredible.. Did you know Nasturtium leaves and capers  and petals of the Nasturtium plant are packed with nutrition, containing high levels of vitamin C. It has the ability to improve the immune system, tackling sore throats, coughs, and colds, as well as bacterial and fungal infections. Use to cook with All part of the plant are edible; in the world of edible annual flowers, Nasturtiums are truly one of the tastiest and easiest to grow.

This info I researched and found on line it is very interesting.. The Flowers have a mild peppery taste are great for adding character and colour to dishes. Freeze into ice cubes to create a pretty addition for summery drinks. added to raw apple cider vinegar to make a peppery nasturtium vinegar or chopped and mixed with softened butter to make nasturtium butter. The recipe on here is actually pretty tasty Stuffed Nasturtium Leaves with Rice and Veggies or meat A take off of the greek Stuffed Vine Leaves .. There are lots of edible Plants

The recipe is from attainable-sustainable.net

These rolls made from edible nasturtium leaves are great at room temperature, so can be excellent as a make-ahead dish for picnics or potlucks. I serve them at home as an appetizer or as part of the meal.

Ingredients

Filling

  • 3 cups cooked short grain rice, (may substitute grains or other types of rice, or any combination)
  • 1 T. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 cup chopped tomato, (fresh or canned/drained)
  • 1/2 pound lean ground beef or lamb, (optional)
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley or mint
  • 1/2 cup chopped nasturtium flowers
  • 1-1/2 T. capers
  • 1 T. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice

For preparation

  • 20-25 fresh nasturtium leaves – stem trimmed close to the leaf
  • 3/4 cup vegetable broth, or chicken broth

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
  2. Wash the nasturtium leaves gently and set them aside.

Making the filling

  1. Make the rice according to package directions and let it cool slightly before starting.
  2. Place the cooked rice in a large bowl – you’ll be adding the rest of the filling ingredients to the rice. 
  3. Sauté the onions and garlic in the olive oil until softened but not browned, then add the chopped tomato and cook on medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Add this mixture to the rice and combine. 
  4. Place the ground beef in the pan in which you cooked the onion/garlic/tomato mixture, and cook on medium heat, chopping as you go to get a fine crumbled burger. 
  5. Once the burger is completely cooked, add it to the rice mixture, and combine. 
  6. Now stir in the remaining ingredients – toasted pine nuts, chopped parsley, chopped nasturtium flowers, and capers. Taste, adjust with salt and pepper if needed.

Making the stuffed nasturtium leaves

  1. Place one of the nasturtium leaves on your work surface, stem side down.(I like to use a large plate for this.) Put a teaspoon or more of the mixture in the center of the leaf, then carefully fold the two sides partially over the rice and roll tightly towards the top of the leaf, ending with the edge tucked underneath. 
  2. Repeat with all the leaves and pack tightly in one layer with the seam of the leaf down (so they don’t unroll), into a glass or ceramic baking dish. 
  3. Pour chicken broth over the stuffed nasturtium leaves. 
  4. Cover the dish tightly and bake on the center rack of your oven for 45 minutes. Check to make sure the rolls are not drying out about halfway through cooking. If they are, spoon some hot broth over them. (Don’t spoon cold broth into a hot glass or ceramic baking dish, as it can cause the pan to shatter!)
  5. Cool slightly and serve warm, or wait longer and serve at room temperature. 
  6. Before serving, drizzle with one tablespoon or so of olive oil, and a teaspoon or so of lemon juice. Refrigerate any remaining rolls.

Notes

This is a very flexible recipe. Use your imagination and what you have on hand to create a delicious filling! This recipe makes enough filling for 20-25 nasturtium leaves. Extra filling can be frozen or used for something else.

Instead of capers, you could use these pickled nasturtium seeds, too.

I did a little research in to the Nasturtium plant go this off The Microgardener.com great info

20 reasons to grow nasturtiums

Nasturtium Pesto

This is from Yummly.com some great forcipes on this site I love to cook from scratch Once my tomatoes are all red going to be making some Pasta sauce ..

US|METRICSERVINGS: nasturtium (flowers 1/2 – 1 cup, 25g)leaves (Nasturtium, with stems 1/2- 1 cup, 25g)3/4 cup olive oilParmesan cheese (just under 1/3 cup, 25g)pine nuts (just under 1/4 cup, 25g)1 pinch rock salt (ground in a pestle and mortar)

Fresh Food Fresh Start

Hello fellow Foodies, Family & Friends

This blog is a little different, I am starting this off with a Thank You To the AHS, All Nurses , Home Care Nurses, Dr Aniki (my family Dr). Dr Buni ( Internist) & Dr Indar, who did my 2 surgeries!! One Nov last year & One May this year.. Thank you so much!! I HAVE MY LIFE BACK. !!

I have always loved to cook and always watched what I eaten for many years now have lean towards somewhat vegetarian for or at least Plant Based.. Could be something to do with the years I spent working in KGH Dietary!! Fun times great people!!

It seemed what ever I ate it hurt, I hurt all over……

2015 We watched a few Documentaries about food and processed foods.

one was Plant Pure and the other , tohttps://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr47Kb3uhVfUBcA54ZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEya2Jva3AwBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQzAxNjRfMQRzZWMDc3I-/RV=2/RE=1595288440/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.plantpurenation.com%2f/RK=2/RS=n42C6OMT0bSpJ3KTTX227mpW39M- Knives over Forks, Cooked was an amazing Documentary Michael Pollan’s new Netflix series explores the history of cooking!!! This really made us think about what we eat , how we cook it, fast foods, processed foods! yes they are quick, by all means once in a while is OK .

I was getting symptoms that scared me, I was beginning to think that this could be a cancer!! My yearly checkup with Dr Aniki early 2016, I knew wasn’t going to go well as this past year had been a tough one, results came back I was scheduled for a scope May 3rd 2016!! But as it happened I had to re schedule as that day I had an apt in Edmonton (Sinus Dr!! another amazing Dr ) and could not go, re scheduled for Sept

May 3rd 2016, there was a forrest fire, we woke up early set off to go to Edmonton wit and over night bag, it was 28 degrees hot .. Kate and Aaron were looking after George. We set off at 7 am bright sunny clear skies the Forrest fire seemed to be under control!! Within 2 hours being on highway 63, we wee getting txts from Katie, Ian and Victoria, the winds had changed the fire was heading for Fort McMurray, first it was , this was not good. At First voluntary Evacuations then came the big one Mandatory Evacuations for the city of Fort McMurray!! My heart was in my mouth, my kids, grandkids and dogs were in Mac!!..

Wikipedia

On May 1, 2016, a wildfire began southwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. On May 3, it swept through the community, forcing the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta’s history, with upwards of 88,000 people forced from their homes.[12] Firefighters were assisted by personnel from both the Canadian Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as well as other Canadian provincial agencies, to fight the wildfire. Aid for evacuees was provided by various governments and via donations through the Canadian Red Cross and other local and national charitable organizations.

Sweeping through Fort McMurray, the wildfire destroyed approximately 2,400 homes and buildings. Another 2,000 residents in three communities were displaced after their homes were declared unsafe for reoccupation due to contamination. The fire continued to spread across northern Alberta and into Saskatchewan,[14] consuming forested areas and impacting Athabasca oil sands operations. With an estimated damage cost of C$9.9 billion, it was the costliest disaster in Canadian history.

The fire spread across approximately 590,000 hectares (1,500,000 acres) before it was declared to be under control on July 5, 2016. It continued to smoulder, and was fully extinguished on August 2, 2017. It is suspected to have been caused by humans in a remote area 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Fort McMurray, but no official cause has been determined to date.

We spent the next 4 weeks on a friends Pig Farm in Camrose. Irvings Farm Fresh. They have amazing pork products.. Allan and Nicola Irving good friends of ours.. David worked on the farm, I was doing some of the cooking, putting to use what we had learned watching the documentaries. That was a tough month for me as I was not feeling well.. George our Springer Loved the farm, we had a lot of laughs. One when David fell off the pig barn after a torrential down pour and landed in the Piggggggg mud ( POOP)

We eat out once in a while, and try little to no processed foods, but for the Most part now we cook everything from scratch, I bake my own bread and buns weekly, Meat we use as an ingredient not the main part of the meal!! Gut health has become a huge part of out life, we eat a lot of beans, Legumes , Eating this way cuts down on your garbage , we put the bins out maybe every 3 weeks..

Gut Health is important!! Eat Lots of Vegetables, Legumes, Beans and Fruit , fiber can be digested by certain bacteria in your gut, which stimulates their growth. Beans and legumes also contain very high amounts of fiber. Some high-fiber foods that are good for your gut bacteria!! Your system gets used to the gassy food believe me .. This change in the way we eat was part of getting me well and getting David off the Gout Medication, Cholesterol meds and blood pressure meds! Working out became a regular this, our busy lives made exercising and eating right kinds difficult.. We made changes slowly!! , shopping became different , no pre packaged meals, buying a lot more fresh produce, none or little fast food, this would be a treat.. For me this was the start of me getting well. Cook fresh , from scratch!!

Photos below were this weeks Culinary treats, Home made Scotch Baps they are amazing, a fresh fruit salad I made to have at breakfast , a Soup made with Carrots, Onions, Cabbage Garlic and potatoes with a veg stock them I puree it .. Then a pic of my boy George..

Fast forward to Sept 2016, I went to see Dr Indar and he sent me for a scope, I had a problem with my colon, not to sure what it is as yet possible Diverticular, disease.. Then I saw Dr Buni, More scopes at one point was on Steroids for a few months!! Then after a couple more visits, I was referred to Dr Indar and 2 Surgeries later !! Life is good, fingers crossed Bricks4Kidz can start back up once school starts!!

I feel amazing get up early walk George do house work , of-course have an amazing play list on, starting to work out . I truly can’t remember last time I felt this well.

We will continue our journey with food and eating from scratch!! This time of the year, we have a few different types of leafy greens and herbs growing in our garden potatoes and tomatoes!! Lots of fresh tomato sauce and pasta sauces to freeze!! Eating this way cuts down on our household garbage, Less packaging, less pre packaged foods and less processed foods Your tastebuds change!!! For the better

Eat to Live don’t Live to Eat!!..

Me being told when this was first Diagnosed to find a hobby relax do yoga!!!! Hmmmmm I also started to crochet #Hugs4Cops Blankets for Cops & All First Responders , For Cops with PTSd or just need a hug ( #Hugs4CopsBlanket) We actually play a lot of Backgammon and a scrabble game I got when i was about 8 yrs old!!

Every stitch a hug, making a difference a stitch at ta time … MY Journey continues during this 2020 Covid 19 and World unrest!! Think Positive, be the best person you can be, always be up for a random act of kindness!! Live Laugh and Love, you never know what tomorrow brings..

Photos of David and I, Our kids and grand kids!! My life.. dogs Meg and Molly MY Mommy and Daughter Springers) and Penny my daughter and son in laws dog over the rainbow Bridge, Paw prints forever on our hearts. Now George and his sister Gracie , she is Aaron, Katie and Asher Dog and Coal Matthew, Bailey and Colins rescue dog.

These last 3 Pics are my challenge coins, I am truly honoured and humbled to have these !! Love y’all

Brr its cold outside

By oh boy is this Canadian Simmer like a British summer where I come from in the UK!! Cumbria. Such a beautiful place and such a lot of history.

Cumbria is best known for containing the Lake District National Park, an area some 30 miles across, containing England’s highest mountains (four over 3000 ft), and some of Englands biggest lakes. Also within Cumbria is a small part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Beatrix potter, In all, Potter wrote thirty books; the best known being her twenty-three children’s tales. With the proceeds from the books and a legacy from an aunt, in 1905 Potter bought Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey, a village in the Lake District which at that time was in Lancashire. I love Beatrix Potter always have and one of my fave movies is Miss Potter staring Rene Zelwegger. Beatrix Potter and the National trust. here is a link you will find interesting “Hill Top Farm ” Make me want to go visit again..

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/beatrix-potter-gallery-and-hawkshead/features/beatrix-potter-the-lake-district-and-the-national-trust

William Wordsworth , Info on poet. here is a pic, not mine but found on net. Google Beatrix she is amazing.

Beatrix Potter's Hill Top Farm - YouTube

Early LifePoet William Wordsworth was born on April 7, 1770, in Cockermouth, Cumberland, At the end of the 18th century, poet William Wordsworth helped found the Romantic movement in English literature. He also wrote “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.” Hmm I have often Said this!! I think I may read some of his works..

Yesterday I coked a roast, potatoes , and veg in the Crock Pot, I then picked some Swiss chard from the Garden and made my version of Collard Greens, boy it was good .. I diced 1 medium onion, garlic 1 tsp minced garlic, 1 small Jalapeño sautéed. then added a huge bunch of Swiss chard from our garden and sliced added to the onion mix, I then added some of the stock from the roast and cooked on. a low heat, I added salt and fresh ground pepper. Yummy.

Here is a little History on Collard greens. Not my info I found this on line and it goes along with todays Blog

Collards are also known as tree cabbage or non-heading cabbage. Though greens did not originate in Africa but originated in the eastern Mediterranean, it wasn’t until the first Africans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in the early 1600s that America got its first taste of the dark green, leafy vegetable. Collard greens have been eaten for at least 2000 years, with evidence showing that the ancient Greeks cultivated several types of collard, as well as kale. Collard greens are close relatives of kale. Like Swiss chard and rapini, collards are harvested for their edible and slightly bitter leaves. But unlike Swiss chard and rapini, collard greens‘ thick stalks are not commonly consumed. you can eat the stalks of Swiss chard.. Now the remember last Blog I mentions eating lots of Leafy Greens. OMG your will love this!! I guess I love all my green veggies, since my surgery I can enjoy them .. These are in the Super Foods. so I guess Super greens. Enjoy them and be creative with them they are good for you. remember Eat to Live not Live to eat. you can add a lot of these to your recipes and hide them if your children don’t like veggies so much!! Puree in to the recipe.. LOL.

Provide Detox SupportJust like the health benefits of kale, their cruciferous ( Brussel Sprouts to. Yummy) cousin, one of the top health benefits of collard greens is that they’re a natural detoxifier. They not only help remove toxins, but they eliminate them from the body. Cruciferous vegetables are vegetables of the family Brassicaceae with many genera, species, and cultivars being raised for food production such as cauliflower, cabbage, kale, garden cress, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and similar green leaf vegetables.Wikipedia. This is from Wikipedia. man I love that site.

Image result for Collard Greens history

Well, now to take George for a walk. Oh Did you know Beatrix Potter also had a Springier Spaniel again not my pic. But OMG love it.

Image result for beatrix Potter And a springer spaniel
Image result for beatrix Potter And a springer spaniel

My Boy George. !!! Love Y’all Stay Safe. Wash your hands regularly!!

Food and Health

Eating during COVID-19: Improve your mood and lower stress!!

So David was craving deep-fried chicken , I looked up recipes and found a Mock M Browns , oh boy was it food and not greasy at all !! Flavourful, I added a little more spices!! Not my recipe it was on line and is amazing , not something I would eat regularly bur def a great treat..

I added a little savoury spice and some paprika to colour the flour.. I made scalloped potatoes and green beans with this.. LOL not a word was uttered at the supper table.. Today Im making home made bread and going to give some to my neighbour, Tonight a coast salad made with home grown romaine lettuce and my home made dressing!!

Tomorrow I am making Collard Greens but Substituting the Collard Greens with Swiss Chard !

Low-Cal ChardDelicate in taste, chard can be used as a substitute for collards as it can withstand long cooking times, even though this vegetable cooks much more quickly than collards do. … Like spinach, a 1-cup serving of chard contains 7 calories.

Dark Leafy Greens

Leaf vegetables, also called leafy greens, salad greens, pot herbs, vegetable greens, or simply greens, are plant leaves eaten as a vegetable, I make wraps out of the leafy greens ,

Which Green Vegetables Should You Eat?

There are many leafy greens you can eat. Here is a list of the healthiest greens commonly available:

  • Kale: It contains almost all the goodness leafy greens can offer. Kale is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, calcium, folate, potassium, and fiber. It protects the heart and can prevent or slow down cancer.
  • Collards: Collards contain nutritional value very similar to Kale.
  • Green leaf, red leaf, and Romaine lettuce: These are full of vitamin A and folate. The darker leaves are more nutritious than lighter varieties.
  • Turnip greens: The tops of turnips are low in calories, and are loaded with vitamins
  • Swiss Chard: These vegetables have a beet-like taste and a soft texture. They contain a healthy amount of vitamins A and C.
  • Broccoli: It is rich in vitamins C and A, potassium, folate, fiber, protein, and iron. Broccoli also contain cancer-fighting sulforaphane.
  • Spinach: Spinach contains folate, vitamins A and C. Cooked spinach is more nutritious than raw.
  • Mustard greens: These greens have a similar nutrition profile to turnip and collards.
  • Cabbage: This vegetable is an excellent source of vitamin C and cancer-fighting compounds.
  • Small leafy greens, like cilantro, parsley, mint, spearmint, sage, thyme, and fenugreek: Never heard of this !! These greens are potent in nutrients similar to the large leafy greens noted above.
  • Herbs and many more
    • Scratch Cooking, for us is the way to go, we limit the amount of processed food, and this time of year we grew a few veggies in our garden , The Swiss Chard and Herbs can be frozen to be used at a later date, the tomatoes I make a tomato sauce and freeze
    • All in all a healthy diet and exercise ( we love to take George for daily walks) We play Scrabble and Backgammon and have lots of laughs.. We aren’t perfect by any means and everyone handles stress in a different way , for us scratch whole food cooking and eating is helping us..Our family and grand kids to Love y’all Stay Safe ,

Birthdays EH!!

Birthday Weekend, Canada EH!! Then Asher turned 1 year and then bailey turned 10 years !! We got to spend the best part of the weekend with Family.. For Canada Day David made a Huge Burger with Ground Chicken, Lean Ground Beef and then Ground Pork from Irvings Farm Fresh! The burgers were Huge a Gigantic Burger .. David also Smoked a Brisket that to was amazing.. I tried a new brand of Flour, it wasn’t to bad except the Power went out part way through cooking so I had to finish it on the BBQ!! For Snacks and Lunches I made 2 bean dishes One was Texas Caviar and the other a greek Salad made with Chick Pea that is amazing !!

Then for the weekend, I made a Veggie Stir Fry with a little of the Brisket Beef , the flavours in the stir fry WOW.. Today is a veggie day !! A Bean Stew made with Black Beans, Lentils and Butter beans to give the stew meatiness.. Lots of other Veggies!!

Canada Day and What to Know on Canada's 150th Birthday | Time

Canada Day

As Canada Day Fast approaches, what are you all doing for this?? Were staying home just having a BBQ for us! There was a new Covid 19 Out break a couple of weeks ago and as from Yesterday we were at

There is one new COVID-19 case in Fort McMurray and three new recoveries. This brings the total number of active cases in the city to 13, with 29 recoveries.

The number of cases in Wood Buffalo’s rural hamlets remains unchanged, with 11 active cases and three recoveries!! With name being a little over a month Post Op, I don’t want to do anything to harm this.. I am feeling great, eating a healthy diet really helps.. Our Youngest Grand son and his mom Came from Lunch then we took lunch to them, and of course David ( Grandad) Got Asher very dirty so he bathed him, we also got to see Colin and Bailey for a short visit, Miss B is turning 10 in July and Asher will be 1 year.. In Sept Colin is turning 14, oh my where does the time go.. lol Its nice to talk and visit now with Close family as Anxiety can get pretty wild… So Staying Healthy both mentally and physically is important and always remember there is always someone who will listen, my door is open if you need to talk, Believe me I’ve been there !! So this week we have had a lot of greens from the Garden salads and Swiss chard, we have 8 potato plants through and the garden is really coming along ! I did make Kedgeree, this week a Jamie Oliver recipe.. It wasn’t bad..

I have 2 chapters to read in the amazing Autobiography book 30 years of Frontline Policing in the UK..

Firearms and Fatals: An Autobiography of 30 Years Front line Policing Exposed

Tangye, Sgt Harry

What a great book, at times I felt as though I was on those calls with Sgt Tangye ! I have also another great Book by a Dog Handler and his dog Finn Fabulous Finn and his K9 Partner https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwipo8LzqaXqAhVvHzQIHXw9B4UQFjAAegQIAhAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.ca%2FFabulous-Finn-Brave-Police-Brink%2Fdp%2F1786489090&usg=AOvVaw2QABDZOvau2kFMjrjeuz0H I bought both of these on Amazon.. Great Gifts or just a great read for yourself…

David cooked a roast of beef on the BBQ earlier this week and I boiled potatoes with the skin on they are just like baked potatoes only a wee bit juicier.

For Canada Day David wants to make his own burgers with lean ground beef and Ground Pork from Irvings farm fresh amazing pork products We had a laugh about the burgers and David wants to do a Hulk Size Burger , I will cook portobello mushrooms and make big buns lol … Please all stay safe and stay healthy .. These are tough times we are going through.. I on a daily basis do deep breathing exercises and stretching, as yet I have to be careful, once I am all healed its back in the Gym and Yoga.. David and I laugh a lot and , play board games, recently we have been playing scrabble I got this when I was 7 or 8 yrs old .. We also play Backgammon these games help us .. Well guys Up and onward Live Laugh and Love

Fathers-day Weekend

45 yrs of marriage to tis man and I love him more today than ever, Best Friend, Husband, Grandad, Dad , Springer Dad a great cook, amazing person who would do anything to help a fellow person!! Wishing all the Dads all over the world, past and present We love you all.. To all First Responders and front line workers who are working today… Today David wants to cook so were having Chicken, new potatoes and Asparagus.. I haven’t cooked much tis week, as we have had a few BBQ’s and then David made his spaghetti sauce, I have had quite a few Salads from the garden.. Oh I did make a batch of Texas Caviar for David and I as that is amazing for your gut Health..

Tomorrow I go see my Dr to see how I am Healing, I feel better than i have ever felt and I am so pleased that I had the Surgery in Nov, them the one the end of may to reverse the stoma.. Now let me get on with my life..

Jamie Olivers Cooking , Man I love this man, and his cooking. I would love to cook with him.. David Smoked some Haddock yesterday and has frozen ti for later this week, I am going to make Jamie’s Kedgeree!! What is Kedgeree, it is a popular British Breakfast dish ( were having it for supper one day) it consists of curried rice, smoked Haddock or any fish you desitre. , boiled eggs, parsley and lemon juice. Not the usual British breakfast. Though, it is the origins of the dish which gives meaning to it as it is steeped in British and Indian history.  There is a wee bit of history to go along with this Dish.. Kedgeree may be considered a traditional British breakfast dish but its roots are well bedded in Indian cooking having started its life as khichari, a humble dish of rice and lentils. Originally there was no fish in this dish so the Britts. added this for protein and turned into something more familiar to those serving in India, and it returned to these shores with them.​​ I guess just like the English Kippers for Breakfast they to are a smoked fish yummy but way to many bones for me, My mom loved Kippers.. A little info from wikipedia on kippers

Why are kippers called kippers?The exact origin of kippers is unknown, although fish have been slit, gutted and smoked for centuries. … As a verb, to kipper means to preserve by rubbing with salt or other spices before drying in the open air or in smoke. So beef or other meat preserved in the same fashion can logically be called “kippered.” When Cooking cooking just  kippers, you could boil water and add the Kippers once water is boiled.. In about 10 mins the  Kippers are ready to serve.. delicious served with scrambled eggs, or with poached eggs that have been cooked in the kipper water. Boiled Eggs My mom loved some Brown Bread and Butter with them . Fish is a super food Why is eating fish healthy? Fish is a high-protein, low-fat food that provides a range of health benefits. White-fleshed fish, in particular, is lower in fat than any other source of animal protein, and oily fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, I love fish , I have a few fish recipes I should share with you.. I remember the fish van coming around once a week, thats when my mon would buy amazing smoked haddock cook it in milk and make a fish Pie, or buy kippers OMG the stump the house out but are so good.. Funny the things that bring back memories ..

Ingredients

  • 2 large free-range eggs 
  • 680 g undyed smoked haddock fillets , from sustainable sources, ask your fishmonger, pin-boned 
  • 2 fresh bay leaves 
  • 170 g long grain or basmati rice 
  • sea salt 
  • 1 tablespoon pure butterghee 
  • 1 thumb-sized piece fresh ginger , peeled and grated 
  • 1 medium onion , or 1 bunch of spring onions, finely chopped 
  • 1 clove garlic , peeled and finely chopped 
  • 2 heaped tablespoons curry powder 
  • 1 tablespoon mustard seeds 
  • 2 tomatoes , deseeded and chopped 
  • 2 lemons , juice of 
  • 2 good handfuls fresh coriander , leaves picked and chopped 
  • 1 fresh red chilli , finely chopped 
  • 250g fat-free natural yoghurt

Method

  1. Boil the eggs for 10 minutes, then hold under cold running water. Put the fish and bay leaves in a shallow pan with enough water to cover. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for about 5 minutes, until cooked through. Remove from pan and leave to cool. Remove the skin from fish, flake into chunks and set aside.
  2. Cook the rice in salted water for about 10 minutes and drain. Refresh in cold water, drain again, and leave in the fridge until needed. Melt the butterghee in a pan over a low heat. Add the ginger, onion and garlic. Soften for about 5 minutes, then add the curry powder and mustard seeds. Cook for a further few minutes, then add the chopped tomatoes and lemon juice.
  3. Quarter the eggs. Add the fish and rice to a pan and gently heat through. Add the eggs, most of the coriander and the chilli and stir gently. Place in a warm serving dish. Mix the rest of the coriander into the yoghurt and serve with the kedgeree.

Make, bake cook, grow what you eat!

Happy Hump day ( Wednesday) Day 13 post op and feeling the best I have ever felt.. Eating a balanced diet it important to me more than ever.. We don’t have a huge garden, but love to plant the things we like, tomatoes, Lettuce, SwissChard, potatoes, Chives, Spring Onions various Herbs.. Cooking from scratch, i find to be so satisfying !! I know not everyone can do this, but if you start small.. Maybe just by making your own bread, or growing a few veggies or fruit, and start small..

Smoking foods, David smoked some Cheese this week, oh my gosh.. David smokes most meats and makes amazing Smoked Salmon , I love to make a Salmon Moose with the salmon..

Our Change in Diet has been over Id say the past 5 years, as David had a few small health problems on being gout! , since we started the plant based diet, in Spring 2015 David took his last pill.. Since then our diet and small changes in processed foods he has not taken a gout pill.. Once in a while we have a Steak, but for the most part Meat is an ingredient not the main part of out meals..

One of the reasons we decided to change one was , I have always had IBS not diagnosed, ut this was getting worse, Christmas 2015 , I procrastinated going to drs, the pain was getting worse plus blood!! March I went for a Yearly Physical, was sent for blood work and poop test, I knew that this would come back with questions, The phone rang my dr wanted to see me, he had concerns , Me to so I sent over my request for a scope the the hospital, mean while We had a Sinus apt for me at the U of A in Edmonton for May 3rd 20 16, go figure my scope was the same day, I re booked for a later date. Mean While The Fort McMurray Fire Hit, We had left town that morning to clear skies, we only had an over night bag with us and were planning to be back on May 4th. We left George and Kate was coming to pick him up later that day!! This is History, we spent the next 4 weeks on Irvings Farm in Camrose, @Irvingsfarmfresh!! Where George made friends with Spike and Dozer the 2 farm Dogs, I did most of the cooking with our new way of eating cooking from Scratch, not yet plant based.. I had pain and it was getting worse . Some days it felt like a flu bug, I was nauseous, low fever, aching all over. Fast forward my Scope was in Sept 2016 with Dr .. Diagnosis Diverticulitis!! Diverticu WHAT!!

This info is from Healthline.com Not me, I thought this may be of interest to Y’all!!

Everything You Need to Know About Diverticulitis

What is it?

Although it was rare before the 20th century, diverticular disease is now one of the most common health problems in the Western world. It’s a group of conditions that can affect your digestive tract. 

The most serious type of diverticular disease is diverticulitis. It can cause uncomfortable symptoms and, in some cases, serious complications. If left untreated, these complications can cause long-term health problems.

Read on to learn more about diverticulitis, including its causes, symptoms, treatment options, and how your diet might affect your risk of developing it.

Symptoms of diverticulitis

Diverticulitis can cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe. These symptoms can appear suddenly or they can develop gradually over several days.

Potential symptoms of diverticular disease include:

If you develop diverticulitis, you might experience:

Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of diverticulitis. It will mostly likely occur in the lower left side of your abdomen. But it can also develop in the right side of your abdomen.

If you develop any of the above symptoms, such as vomiting or blood in your stool, it may be a sign of a serious complication from diverticulitis or another condition. Call your doctor right away.

Causes of diverticulitis

Diverticular disease develops when pouches form along your digestive tract, typically in your colon (large intestine). These pouches are known as diverticula. They form when weak spots in your intestinal wall balloon outward. 

Diverticulitis happens when diverticula become inflamed and in some cases infected. This can occur when feces or partially digested food blocks the opening of the diverticula. 

There’s no single known cause of diverticular disease. Instead, experts believe that multiple genetic and environmental factors likely contribute to its development.

Diagnosis of diverticulitis

To diagnose diverticulitis, your doctor will likely ask you about your symptoms, health history, and any medications that you take. They’ll likely perform a physical exam to check your abdomen for tenderness or, if they need more information, a digital rectal exam to check for rectal bleeding, pain, masses, or other problems.

Several other conditions can cause symptoms that are similar to diverticulitis. To rule out other conditions and check for signs of diverticulitis, your doctor might order one or more tests.

Tests can include:

If you have diverticulitis, these exams and tests can help your doctor learn if it’s uncomplicated or complicated.

More than 75 percent of diverticulitis cases are uncomplicated, leaving about 25 percent to develop complications.

These complications can include:

  • abscess, an infected pocket that’s filled with pus
  • phlegmon, an infected area that’s less well-confined than an abscess
  • fistula, an abnormal connection that can develop between two organs or between an organ and the skin
  • intestinal perforation, a tear or hole in the intestinal wall that can allow the contents of your colon to leak into your abdominal cavity, causing inflammation and infection
  • intestinal obstruction, a blockage in your intestine that can stop stool from passing

There are a few medical treatment, Nothing was really helping After many Visits to My Family Dr and the Internist, I was referred to the amazing Surgeon here in fort Mc and a Bowel resection with colostomy, was done in Nov and May got this reversed!!

In a bowel resection with colostomy, the surgeon removes infected sections of your colon and attaches the end of the healthy section to an opening in your abdomen, known as a stoma. 

Both procedures can be performed as open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. Learn more about the types of surgery that can be used to treat diverticulitis.

Diverticular disease usually affects adults. But in rare cases, babies are born with diverticula. When this happens, it’s known as Meckel’s diverticulum. If the diverticula become inflamed, it’s called Meckel’s diverticulitis.

If you suspect that your child might have diverticulitis, make an appointment with their doctor. Some people have this and it never really affects them, for me this has been very dramatic. But I am now feeling better than I have ever felt and I have been given a second chance.. Please eat a sensible diet and pooping daily is important.. LiveLaughLove rat a healthy diet.. Love y’all A Huge Thank you to all Front line Workers, Drs and nurses at out @NLRHS Thank you all Frontline Staff. We live and appreciate you.

70 yrs ago today D Day!!

Since Im from the UK I will do this segment about war time 1940 in the UK 70 yrs ago, was a lot different as there had been 2 Wars, with massive rations, that lasted years after the war, Here is Pic Rhubarb and Apple Jam, not mine was on a web site i cane across wile researching rationing and wartime foods .. I guess they had to try make heathy meals from the rations WW 2 rationing in the UK started Jan 8th 1940 with such foods as Bacon, butter and sugar, then a year to r so later other foods such as Meat, Milk, Cheese and Eggs also cooking fat which was a Lard. Could you imagine running a household, during these times.. My mom was am orpan during the first WW, bless her the stories he told, just break my heart. Sorry that was a side track!!

  • First World War 1914-1918 My mom was born the end of this war..
  •  Second World War 1939-1945
  • A ww1 from 1918 on 1940 experiment . Com Recipe for Garlic and Cheese Scones ( Biscuits) Im going to try this

Wild Garlic & Cheese Scones (based on WW1 Ration Scones from 1918 above)

  • 5 oz of white self-raising flour
  • 2 oz of butter or hard margarine
  • 1 egg and a little milk
  • 1 oz grated hard cheese (cheddar would be fine if you have no Parmesan)
  • Several wild garlic leaves chopped very finely
  • Large pinch of salt.

Method

  1. Sift flour and large pinch of salt into a bowl
  2. Dot in the butter and then rub into the flour
  3. Add the grated cheese
  4. Add the chopped wild garlic leaves
  5. Add the eggs and milk mixture leaving a spoonful to brush tops of scones before baking
  6. Form a dough that is not too sticky and can be handled.
  7. On a floured surface roll out to about 1/2 inch thick and use cutter or end of glass to create 6 scones (you may get more if you are lucky)
  8. Place on baking tray, brush with egg mixture and sprinkle a little more salt on the top of each scone
  9. Place in pre-heated (200 C) oven for about 20 minutes until a nice mid golden colour.
  10. Remove and place on wire rack.
  11. Enjoy while still slightly warm with butter. Would also be lovely served in a bowl with stew!

Makes 6 or 7

Preserving produce and I guess growing, having a little garden would have been beneficial. this info about the Victory gardens was on Wikipedia

Victory garden

victory gardens

Victory gardens, also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks encouraged people to transform their front and back gardens into vegetable plots. The goal was to replace imported food, thus freeing up shipping space for more valuable war materials, and to make up for food that was sunk in transit. By the end of 1940, 728,000 tons of food making its way to Britain had been lost, sunk by German submarine activity. hens had to be killed and sold off as food, as there was a shortage of stuff to feed them. This led to an egg shortage, and egg rationing of 1 egg per person a week. People could start to keep Chickens in their back yards, you would give up your egg ration and then you were entitled for a grain ration . Some Hotels kept Chickens . There was also a Pig Club, Communities set up neighbourhood Pig Clubs, to buy a pig, then feed it scraps from the households involved. (In many towns, the councils put food waste bins in the streets: Fed this to the pigs. Also Rabbit keeping became popular, rabbits breed all year round so this was a great source of meat! I couldn’t have eaten a rabbit but I guess these were desperate times..

These were the days before refrigeration and freezing was common in household kitchens, cannon and preserves were important.. The Ministry of Food educated people with leaflets, radio programmes and community demonstrations on the latest and greatest food preserving techniques, to ensure that no food went to waste. Also an interesting tip Eggs could be kept fresher for a bit longer by rubbing them with lard to seal the pores,

  • There was a Women’s Land Army, as all the young men, went to fight the war. Ladies Went to work, doing the work usually met did!!
  •  British women ( All over the world)  took on a variety of jobs during the Second World War. They also played a vital role on the home front, running households and fighting a daily battle of rationing, recycling, reusing, and cultivating food in allotments and gardens. Before ww2 , Britain imported most of its food. Then war broke out and this had to stop, now Britain had to grow most of its food.

Britain’s wartime women gained a new sense of power. There were women who could talk down aircrews, break codes, track battleships, drive 10-tonne trucks and save lives. No concession was made, however, for the fact that women had to go on running the home. After a 10-hour day in a factory making aircraft wings, a woman would still have to shop, clean, feed her family on rations and “make do and mend”. After the war, the home was where they were expected to return.

In 1945, a group of rightwing women formed the British Housewives’ League to protest against rationing; at their peak they had 100,000 members.

D-Day: What is it and why is it important? From BBC News

It has been 76 years since the D-Day landings, which took place on 6 June 1944 during World War Two.  Women had a vital Role in WW2, Women were conscripted in December 1941. They were given a choice of working in industry or joining one of the auxiliary services – the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) or the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS). I think it is very important to remember this day, even though I wasn’t born for a long tome after this.. I remember my Grandmas stories, and one I remember my dad telling many times, they were in Belgium , not sure where or why! Dad and a few friends were invited in to a Belgium, family house for supper.. Dad said the Supper was delicious, and the most amazing meat, he asked what it was and their reply was it was Tinned Monkey!! Needless to say my poor dad always had a very delicate tummy!! He Went and threw up!! Funny thing I found this article LOl

Feeding soldiers in prolonged combat is no easy feat. Besides the fact that conditions may well be adverse – snowy, mountainous, extremely arid and/or humid – troops may not have the time or the equipment for cooking. This is where “monkey meat” proved useful! This small tin of beef preserved in brine, with a close resemblance to cat food and an unappetizing odour, could be heated up or even eaten cold. It sustained soldiers throughout World War II and was the exemplary solution for the difficulty of providing healthy food to soldiers carrying out strenuous tasks in stressful situations. Such nourishment needs to be balanced, tasty and attractive, lightweight, compact and waterproof, as well as easy and fast to prepare!

Below ww2 ration book, these were issued to the public 5 days after war was declared, Sept 8th 1939 . They were not actually used until four months later, however. Bringing rationing into effect was postponed several times owing to a campaign in the press led by the Daily Express newspaper, which called rationing an unnecessary folly and government interference with civil liberties. The government finally overcame political resistance and rationing came into effect on 8 January 1940. Rationing meant that no matter how rich you were, the food available was equally shared at fair prices.Once the ration booklets were received for that year, you would take them and register them at the grocery stores you intended to use them at. I cant imagine these times..

What food did they eat during the war?Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and bread were hard to find.
…
These were solid, heavy, belly-filling meals such as:

  • Bean soup and bread, followed by treacle pudding.
  • Toad-in-the-hole and potatoes.
  • Mutton stew and suet pudding.
  • Fish and potato pie, then baked raisin pudding, nothing was wasted..

I could go on and on about the rationing in ww2, but I must cook super.. We can certainly learn a lot from these times, like not over buying, less waste.. Appreciate what we have.. Live Laugh and Love life is so short enjoy every moment .. Love y’all I received this today form the Fort McMurray RCMP I feel so humbled to have this,, I crochet #Hugs4Cops and all first responders to show my appreciation, respect for their work Thank you

Healthy Mind, Healthy Body!! Our Goal

Another cool rainy day! I have got my crochet out ! Every day I feel I am getting stronger, for supper last night David made a fabulous salad! The Lettuce was out of our garden and the eggs were Hutterite eggs! Salad and a slice of home made bread amazing, I added a kite Kimchi to my salad

What is kimchi?

  • Contains healthy bacteria and probiotics for the overall wellness of your body. … 

What is kimchi?

Indeed, this low-fat and high-fiber meal is so famous it’s widely available in Asian grocery stores and health food stores all over the country. But, what exactly is kimchi? Kimchi is a red, fermented cabbage dish (occasionally, with radish) made with a mix of salt, vinegar, garlic, chile peppers and other spices. These ingredients are fermented in a tightly closed jar and are subsequently served with rice, noodles or soups in every Korean’s household. We always have a jar of Kimchi in the house, def good on salads, to burgers.. Your Choice

Fermentation is an ancient technique of preserving food.

The process is still used today to produce foods like wine, cheese, sauerkraut, yogurt, and kombucha.

Fermented foods are rich in beneficial probiotics and have been associated with a range of health benefits — from better digestion to stronger immunity One reason I am adding it to my diet for a while is The probiotics produced during fermentation can help restore the balance of friendly bacteria in your gut and may alleviate some digestive problems !! Slowly adding again beans as they to are amazing for gut health!! We are all about this !! The pics of George here, the one at the bottom of the stairs, my health nurse came to see me and while she was here George guarded the stairs!! I will post the Texas caviar later..

Positive Thinking, & Eat Well

What a week, Surgery went well, thank you to all the Hospital Staff at our Northern Lights Hospital here in Fort McMurray,Dr Indar and Nursing Staff are amazing, loved my post ope meals thank you Dietary! Also all staff on the front lines! I started this journey a few years ago, with Diverticulitis, never confirmed when I was young, but we suspect, i may have had this most of my life .. But as you all know David and I changed our diets to 80% Plant based and also cooking from scratch!! I have to say, we do feel well eating this way! I went in to the Surgery with a Positive attitude and carried that all the way through and still am thinking positive in my recovery.. I got home Sunday, as I entered my house, it was so clean!! George was so happy to see me, and David had a chicken ready to put on to the Rotisserie , with a mashed potato, and chunks of sweet potato he ha d pa boiled and finished on the BBQ!! it was amazing, we then sat out on the back deck !! David surprised me with the patio lanterns, as it grew darker the magic of my back yard was amazing ..

We sat n the back Deck for a couple of hours, listening to Hippie music LOL David had also smoked some cheese while I was in hospital, we had to try this, oh my . yummy it was delicious.. Eating for a healthy recovery Monday Morning I had Avocado on flax seed toast,Supper David made Salmon, a creamy mash and carrots, it was amazing . Banana and bought for breakfast and avocado and flax seed sandwich and green tea for lunch tonight I think is leftovers yummy Chicken.. I have to really watch my diet after this surgery!! So far I am amazing, I feel as though I have been given a new lease on life, as before with the diverticular, was a challenge..

After surgery, your body needs enough calories and nutrients to fully recover from the Opp.  Eating the right foods/diet after surgery can decrease risk of infection, speed healing of the incision and increase strength and energy. The best post–surgery foods to eat are packed full of vitamins and mineral Avocado is an incredibly nutritious food with a high content of healthy fats and nutrients. Avocados are beneficial to your health because they boost your good HDL cholesterol. , Added to a salad or a slice of whole grain toast, or made it into a guacamole dip, avocados are a great way to get the benefits of this amazing Veg, the amazing Avocado! One of the best things you can do to improve your nutritional status when you are recovering from surgery is to focus on whole foods. That means to choose foods that are “whole” or unprocessed This is the way we cook and eat. it takes a little more thought in to your weekly menu, once you are in the swing of things and cooking what you eat and very little processed foods, your tastebuds change, you crave less fast food, and you feel way healthier So, aim to obtain most of your nutrition from these whole foods, which is actually a healthy way to eat every day, not just the weeks following surgery. This is my second surgery in 6 months, fingers crossed the last. David and I have plans, diet , working out and relaxation techniques! I love to do deep breathing and stretches I guess a little like yoga!! My way, lol seems to be the theme of most of what I do My Way!!

Remember today is the first day of the rest of your life, life is short!! As I am lol Live, Laugh and Love .. Love y’all

Hospital week ,

This has been a strange week, Lots of healthy earring, made one of our fave Snacks a Veggie Slaw, yummy!! I Ninja’d Colin and Bailey, they didn’t expect it, bless them.. I cant with to wrap my arms around them and tell them how much I love and Miss them.. We went to see Kate and Asher had a great Afternoon in the garden, I played with Asher and David and Katie planted the garden.. Came home and made the Most Amazing Chilli, with a lean ground beef, 3 types of beans, a hot pepper and Chilli Spices OMG the best ever, then yesterday ate light, as today Is surgery day.. With luck thus will be the last one !! Yesterday a book I ordered written by a friend in the UK, who has Been a Cop for 30 yrs, So far it is a great read, I also have another book to read, it is about The Fabulous Finn, aPolice Dog who was Stabbed and he made remarkable recovery!! I will post the links for both of these books after my Surgery.. Love Y’all Stay Safe !!

Friday!! WHAT where does the time go

Good Morning, another rainy day, lets just take a deep breath and stretch to start your day! I did, had my berries and yogurt , feeling great.. Today is leftover day, before I start to cook for the weekend, I am going to make a slaw, that is good for snacks also .. Im craving a Veggie Pizza , maybe tomorrow I will make a one.. We love a veggie pizza, they are so juicy .. I loved when Colin and Bailey would come over and we would make personalised Pizza !! I miss them so much, and love them to the moon and back !! Being a grandparent is the best, We do fun road trips, family fun nights, telling the kids stories of when we were little. Dreaming of things to com.. We don’t take over from the parent, we have been there done that, After your children grow up and leave home, life changes. many mums and dads, this is the period when ‘empty nest syndrome’ begins, Lets travel, we did this. Having the empty nest takes some getting used to..A new lifestyle. Soon your Kids are married and having children of their own, filling up the family tree with little babies. Now another transition. Now, you’re stepping forward into a new role. Your family is growing again, and you’re taking on a fresh title, Gram, Grand, Nanna, Grandad, Grams, Gramps!. Both as a parent and as a grandparent, Your Heart is bursting with pride and a never ending love for your offspring. But while parenting is a balance between care and guidance, grand parenting is a little-different.

As grandparents have all the luck. We get to enjoy the unconditional love of our grandchildren without having to shoulder the responsibilities parents have and these days this is a lot different . Of course, we’ve already paid those dues when we raised our own children! Daily life brings with it a to-do list. But not at grandma’s. At grandma’s, it’s all about having fun. Here there are no dentist appointments to attend, no chores to be done, and no to-do lists to check off. As a grandparent, you needn’t concern yourself with the day-to-day necessities of life with children. These are left to their parents, meaning your time spent with them can be focussed completely on having a great time.  When ever needed will jump in and help..

Being a grandparent is not just about your cute, grandkids, it’s about your own children too. There’s nothing that can compare to the magic of watching your children turn into loving, caring parents. Having that feeling of She’s like my mom, or my dad used to say that, oh my I taught her that when she was young and now she is teaching this to her kids, Witnessing the growth can feel miraculous and very emotional, For many grandparents, this period brings about , pride. You can feel secure in the knowledge that you did an amazing job raising your kids, as you see them doing the same with their own children. Being a parent is the most beautiful thing in the world, but being a grand parent os a 100 x that feeling, when you don’t get to see this grand kids, for what ever reason you miss the, “ Gram I love you Ohh my heart Fun times with Gram and Grand XOXOXOXOX

Oh my my eyes seem to have developed a leek.. If I could turn back time..

#CF Snow Birds

Condolences to this Pilots Family and Snow Birds Family, We watched them fly over Fort MCMurray ,on the Operation Inspiration tour.. I shed a tear , it was such a beautiful thing for them to do! Now we are mourning the lost life of Capt jenn Casey. RIP

 public affairs officer with the Snowbirds, died in the crash, the Canadian Armed Forces said in a statement. 

The pilot of the CT-114 Tutor aircraft, Capt. Richard MacDougall, sustained serious injuries in the crash, My Heart Aches and I think I will crochet a Hugs Blanket for the Snow Birds, in Memory of Capt Jenn Casey #Hugs

With the Covid 19 virus, flooding we had , Surgery for me on the 27th, and our Son in Hospital in Edmonton, a crazy time for us.. Up and Onward an we are looking forward to one day soon having friends and family over for a BBQ. I awoke this morning not feeling great, my heart was heavy, so I thought I have to shake this feeling, what better way that a healthy Breakfast.

Here are 11 good reasons to include berries in your diet.

  1. Loaded with antioxidants. … 
  2. May help improve blood sugar and insulin response. … 
  3. High in fiber. … 
  4. Provide many nutrients. … 
  5. Help fight inflammation. … 
  6. May help lower cholesterol levels. … 
  7. May be good for your skin. … 
  8. May help protect against cancer.

The Science Behind Breakfast

Why breakfast is the most important meal of the day

You might think that the recommendation not to skip breakfast is just plain good advice. After all you need enough fuel to make it through the morning, right?

But research has found even more reasons for making room for the “most important meal of the day.” 

Probably the most appealing benefit is that breakfast jumpstarts your metabolism and, thus, helps you burn more calories throughout the day. Even George my Springer Joins in our breakfast, he loves Yoghurt and a Salmon Oil Capsule, he really loves them , we like to shake up our wake up !!

Cognitive function

Breakfast also restores glucose levels, an essential carbohydrate that is needed for the brain to function. Breakfast can improve Memory, and concentration, and makes us happier, I know if i get hungry i get Hangry, lol

When did the word breakfast originate?15th centuryIt was not until the 15th century that “breakfast” came into use in written English to describe a morning meal, which literally means to break the fasting period of the prior night; in Old English the term was morgenmete meaning “morning meal.”

Right now I think it is time for a Cup Of tea ! #StaySafe out there #LiveLaugh and Love Love y’all

I then proceeded to make a Home Made Hand Sanitiser, for our personal use.. This afternoon I am finishing a #Hugs4Cops Blanket to send to an RCMP officer hurt in the line of Duty . I actually have 2 to send one here in Fort McMurray and one near Edmonton . Just my way of showing them we appreciate their work, Firefighters also !!

The 80’s called LOL

This morning we were up early, had our Berries , Yoghurt and coffee on the back deck, we chatted about what we wanted to achieve today! Lets start to Spring Cleaning, As we were finishing our breakfast the doorbell rand and It was the Flowers Studio with flowers for me with some chocolates, Thank you to my son Ian .. David started in the Ensuite in our bedroom and I started on the main floor. There was a great 80’s playlist on , this makes housecleaning great.. 2 hours later we decided to have lunch, I opened a bag salad I had bought, “Eat Smart, Kale, strawberries carrots, broccoli and lots more yummy veggies, I cooked a turkey patty and cracked 2 of the Hutterite eggs ( they are delicious ) put them on an english muffin with a little mustard and red pickles. What I call a “Granny McMuffin”. Back to housework, i them vacuumed and dusted the main floor and stripped Ians bed to wash the sheets. By this time it was almost 5 pm , I still have to get my lottos tickets for tonight.. I ran to Uncle Bills got them and back home, David walked George my faithful Spaniel and I made supper. like I said the 80’s called and wanted my Monte Cristo Sammich!! I made it my way! We try not to eat to much Deli Meats and would rather have with patties eat from scratch!!

with home made bread, sliced turkey, home made garlic mayo, Scottish Cheddar, Goats Cheese and some Avocado , dipped in and egg , garlic and fresh ground black pepper mix and put in to a skillet with a small drop of Olive Oil and cook slowly so the cheese and egg Cook, we had this with my home made Mushroom Soup oh my goodness, the meal was amazing, tasty and from Scratch!! except the salad!! 🙂 soon we will be able to pick our salad and strawberries from the garden!! Our plants seem to have weathered well even though 2 days ago we had 2″ inches of snow!! David looked after them put a tarp over and tied it down..

Since we are talking Sandwiches , most of you know am from the UK, Corby Hill 5 miles from Carlisle , Cumbria. Britts love their Sandwiches. Never let it be said that Brits aren’t serious about their sandwiches. Oh yes, we Brits (well, John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich) invented the sandwich 

Everything goes in a sandwich ! Even Potatoes Chips a good old Crisp sandwich!! Now one of my faves is an egg and cress sandwich here we call it an egg salad sandwich! How about a chip butty!! yummy French fries in a sandwich! Maybe a Cucumber sandwich, I hear Her Royal highness Queen Elizabeth likes these! I would make mine with Cucumber and Goat Cheese on a crusty WW bun!! My Way!! BLt same as Here but there is a sandwich you have to try Welsh Rarebit here is some info on this amazing Sandwich

How about a Bacon Butty and a cup of tea!! Mmmmm

To call this creamy, savory sandwich melted cheese on toast would be a sacrilege. Welsh rarebit is a traditional snack, ideally based on locally produced Cheddar or Caerphilly cheese, melted and mixed with butter and cream or ale, then poured over a piping hot, buttered toast.

The dish stems from the 14th century as a way of accentuating the greatness of wheat bread and Welsh Cheddar. The debate about rabbit versus rarebit went on until the late 19th century, when the word rarebit caught on. The rabbit version derives from the fact that the Welsh were extremely bad hunters, so their dinners resulted in cheese instead of rabbits.
Today, it is one of the most famous Welsh dishes and an ideal comfort food, with a few variations such as Irish rarebit, made with Irish Cheddar; Scottish rarebit, made with Dunlop cheese; and English rarebit, made with farmhouse Cheddar, seasoned with Worcestershire sauce, then poured over toast that has been soaked in wine.WALESEurope I have tried this as a brunch and it really is amazing.. TY WALES

Not a Sandwich but the amazing Cornish Pasty ! Here is d some info I found on the Cornish Pasty! A Minors Delight, Here is some history I found and thought it was interesting..

        When the Cornish came to the copper mines of the Upper Peninsula, they brought with them a lot of mining knowledge which the other ethnic groups did not have.  The other ethnic groups looked up to the Cornish and wanted to emulate their mining successes.  Many Cornish practices were then copied by the other ethnic groups, including the pasty as the standard lunch for miners.  The pasty became popular with these other ethnic groups because it was small, portable, was very filling, and could stay warm for 8-10 hours.  Pasty rivalry occurred between the Finns, Swedes, Irish, Poles, Germans, Scots, Italians and French with each group contributing something in the way of seasoning and other ingredients.  All groups agree that pasties must contain two things, potatoes and onions.  The portability of the pasty not only made it easy to carry, but if it should get cold it would be relatively easy to heat up.  This was done by putting the pasty on a shovel and holding it over a head-lamp candle.  Miners never ate a pasty with a fork, they ate it end to end, and held it upright to keep the juices in.  Since entire Cornish families worked in mines and each member of the family wanted different ingredients in the pasty, the Cornish wife would stamp the bottom corner of each pasty with an initial.  According to the Cornish Recipes Ancient and Modern, “The true Cornish way to eat a pasty is to hold it in the hand, and begin to bite it from the opposite end to the initial, so that, should any of it be uneaten, it may be consumed later by its rightful owner.  And woe betide anyone who take’s another person’s corner!”  There was a superstition among the Cornish miner’s that the initial corner should not be eaten, instead it was dropped on the ground for the mining gremlins to eat.  These “gremlins” caused mischief in mines, causing accidents and mine collapses, feeding them supposedly kept them out of trouble.  There is

some truth to this rumor, because the early Cornish tin mines had large amounts of arsenic, by not eating the corner which the miners held, they kept themselves from consuming large amounts of arsenic.  The pasty remains relatively unchanged today, a few places have put in healthier vegetable shortening instead of lard, and a couple of other minor changes like the cut of meat used.  It’s importance in this area can be seen at local fund raisers for local groups and charities.  Local food businesses make and sell anywhere from 50 to 100 pasties every day!

I like to make Pastys, I love the Cheese Potatoes and Onion Pasties, even veggies and potato with a little Nutritional Yeast that gives the pasty a cheesy taste.. below are minced turkey and Veggie pasties and Cheese Onion and Potato Pasties,

#StaySafe #EatHealthy

The Hutterite Chicken was amazing, we had a roast Chicken dinner, Chicken Salad ,a chicken pot pie, with lots of veggies, sandwiches and there was half a breast left and a leg, I diced it up and made Butter Chicken!!

Pics are below of Butter chicken and Spaghetti dinner!!! This week has been a lot of plant based meals, I made my Mushroom soup, OMG a must taste. That night we had a BBQ, a Portobello Mushroom Burger , I marinated 2 portobello Mushrooms and slices of red pepper Garlic oil , and black pepper oh my goodness it was amazing .

Yesterday I made a Bean veggie stew, wow, !! Black beans and butterbeans, with lots of veggies.. I love cooking from Scratch and I have been baking a lot of Scotch Baps, and giving a lot away!! We start our day with a healthy Fruit salad or berry salad with Yoghurt. Sunday Morning we had a treat some of Irvings Farm Fresh Black pudding, they have award winning pork products, if you get a chance the next time the Up-Root and Irvings farm Fresh deliver here , a def myst try..

David cooked supper on Mothers day , his amazing Spaghetti Sauce, it was amazing.. He is such an amazing Husband, father and grandad oh he is also my best friend..

Being Foodies and loving to cook is keeping us sane, during this pandemic.. This morning we watched the Snow Birds fly over Fort McMurray , I found this to be quite Emotional, and beautiful.. The last time I felt so emotional was when we drove back in to Fort McMurray after the Beast “Fire ravaged our city in 2016, Cops and Firefighters were standing on the Bridge welcoming us back in to Fort McMurray! The Close up photo was taken by my amazing son in-law Aaron Belanger. And now the floods we had. A huge thank toy to all those frontline workers #StaySafe #stayStrong #EatHealthy I got the Fire Pics off FaceBook

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