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..

Lets add a little Muscle to this !!

Staying Well! Look after your health and eat a healthy diet helps your mental health and for now and in the long term of things, you will reap the benefits.. The first oic is one of our fave lunches, Grilled Cheese in WW bread, not proceed slices, but cut from a block of cheese, Aged White Cheddar and a Scottish Cheddar, and my pickled red onions, I made a home made Tomato Soup, this is one of our comfort foods!!

Muscles in a Tomato Wht wine sauce. This has been on my want to cook list for a while, I looked over a few recipes and , decided this was the one I wanted to try! I made the tomato sauce the day before, with 2 small cams tomato, garlic, onions, a little basil, salt and fresh ground black pepper.. This sauce is light and flavourful, with out to many spices.. I diced a hot red pepper, 2 tsp minced garlic cooked in a little Olive Oi; them added the muscles , once they started to change colour I added the tomato sauce I made previously , once it came to a bubble, I added 1/2 cup of Dry White Wine your Choice, while this was simmering I made Spaghetti, once th Spaghetti was done I drained and put back in the pot and added Garlic Olive pol A PC brand and amazing, I then portend the spaghetti and added the Muscle and tomato sauce, We also like to add fresh ground black pepper to his once served .. Well David had 2 helpings of this, I will def make this one again.. My next Feat is to make a Sea Food Paella .. It is a crazy week, our son has been in Hospital in Edmonton, but is now back in YMM Hospital, the next week I go into hospital.. Up and onward another adventure.. I think I will do a little relaxation and yoga tonight ..

Been doing a little research on relaxation and yoga, along with your diet. These are not my words but some info I thought you may find interesting Practising this daily can provide an inner peace and relaxation, it just takes a few Mins daily We all face stressful situations throughout our lives, ranging from minor annoyances like traffic jams to more serious worries, such as a loved one’s grave illness. No matter what the cause, stress floods your body with hormones. Your heart pounds, your breathing speeds up, and your muscles tense. this is a stress response . Challenging situations in daily life can set off the stress response. We can’t avoid all sources of stress in our lives, nor would we want to. But we can develop healthier ways of responding to them. I love this one and do daily!!

This is just one way to de stress

Breath focus. In this simple, powerful technique, you take long, slow, deep breaths (also known as abdominal or belly breathing). As you breathe, you gently disengage your mind from distracting thoughts and sensations. Breath focus can be especially helpful for people with eating disorders to help them focus on their bodies in a more positive way. However, this technique may not be appropriate for those with health problems that make breathing difficult, such as respiratory ailments or heart failure. I have been doing this since the Birth of my first Daughter Victoria 30 + yrs ago.. These are stressful times , lets all take a few mins a day to breath and relax, play some music, not head bopping, but a relaxing tune.. As of late I have been doing a morning stretch, once this last surgery is over, I do walk daily with George and David, but I need to get in to shape.. Up and Onward, #Stay Safe and Stay Healthy!!

#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.

Loaded with antioxidants. …
May help improve blood sugar and insulin response. …
High in fiber. …
Provide many nutrients. …
Help fight inflammation. …
May help lower cholesterol levels. …
May be good for your skin. …
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.WALES Europe 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

IsoSimpleLife

Happy Canadian Mothers-day Weekend, This is the strangest Mothers day ( Holiday Weekend I’ve ever had) David and I love to cook and have friends and family over for Holiday Meals and get-togethers .. If we come in contact with someone who is here alone we send an open invite to them.. They become family!! This mothers day is a tough one, but we always have Facetime, tweets, Phone calls to our moms and grandparents and also some friends we have adopted , or taken under our wing..

I don’t know what your feeling is on the Isolation, in sense life is a lot simpler, lots of board games, get up shower no make up unless we have to go out..Fill my sink with a Bleach solution and wipe down all services in my kitchen, plus wipe all shelves in the fridge and handles. Mop the floor at least twice away as George tracks in a lot of mud, polish once daily!!I used to bleach clean fridge and counter tops weekly, they thought the week use Vinegar and water this is great for all surfaces and windows, as I have an allergy to Windex and a few other cleaners..!! David and I play, lots of backgammon, cooking and laughing.. We are trying to eat a pretty healthy diet with lots of veggies, and meat is an ingredient , I lone we seem to cook a lot of meat but, we make it last by adding lots of veggies .. We have 3 adults in the house and I always make extras to leave as a porch Parcel.. I call my sister in the UK , as she is in Isolation all alone, she has an amazing family who call her and send her groceries..
George is enjoying David and I both being home, lots of pets and walks.. This benefits us all.. I am running out of wool and will have to find a reliable source to get some from , for my baby blankets and #Hugs4Cops Blankets.. On Thursday David put on the Rotisserie a Hudderite Chicken which was about 6 1bs and was all meat..

Thursday we had a chicken dinner, Yesterday we had a chicken and veggie fried rice , lots of veggies, today making a Chicken pot pie, With Brussels and a few potatoes.. Then I am so wanting to make butter chicken with the rest. I don’t have a recipe, but it always turns out amazing.. So really quite Budget friendly… Tomorrow David is doing the cooking and i will most likely be spoiled!! I am sending you all a virtual hug I love and miss you all here is a little info I found on line re Mothers day and whey in the UK and here in Canada the dates are different !!

On Mother’s Day morning some children follow the tradition of serving their mothers breakfast in bed. Other children will give their mothers gifts which they have made themselves or bought in stores. Adults often give their mothers red carnations, the official Mother’s Day flower. As long as I hear Mom I love you this is all I need..

Mother’s Day is a time to thank Mothers and maternal figuresCredit: Getty – Contributor

When is Mother’s Day 2020?

Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, March 22 this year.

Known by its religious name, Mothering Sunday, it has become more commercialised over the years.

Why does the date of Mother’s Day change each year?

Mothering Sunday in the US is an annual holiday held on the second Sunday in May, so the date slightly varies each year.

In the UK, the date is linked to Easter, which is different each year as it is determined by the lunar calendar.

The UK’s Mother’s Day always falls on the fourth Sunday during the period of Lent, when people typically give up things like certain foods or bad habits for the days leading up to Easter.

What is Mothering Sunday?

Mothering Sunday is a celebration held to honour mothers and maternal figures.

The day has evolved into an occasion for children to honour and give presentsto their hardworking mums.

In the UK, it was originally linked to religion but has since lost a lot of its connections to the church and is mainly a family day.

Happy Mothers Day to all you amazing Moms far and near .. You are all amazing.. Love y’all

#StayHealthy

During this Covid 19 Isolation time, it is important to stay Healthy Mentally and Physically! It’s easy for your anxiety to spike.. you’re taking in new information all the time. And there’s a lot of mis-information out there when it comes to COVID-19. To combat this, only collect information from credible sources to get a clear, accurate sense of your personal health risk. Don’t watch the news a couple of Dozens time a day!! Your mental health will be better if only check win on the news once or twice daily!! David checks the world news when he first gets up and then at Supper we both watch the CTV Edmonton News.. Self Isolation and Social distancing are a tough one to follow, I am a Hugger !! It is tough not seeing my grand kids, we saw Asher yesterday briefly, it was so amazing

We haven’t seen Colin and Bailey for a couple of weeks now, this is tough. I had a dream last night that they came to visit, we were out back playing board games and having fun, I woke up early with tears streaming down my face.. I guess I am anxious and Scared.. In difficult scenarios, we tend to think about the worst possible outcomes. Mental health experts call this “catastrophizing” and it’s so common that it appears on every list of unhealthy thinking styles out there. At the same time, we underestimate our own abilities to overcome the situation. We will Survive.. We take advantage of this down time, we play lots of Backgammon and Dominos, I some times sketch., david loves to play cards on the computer and watching Documentaryies.. I also Crochet a lot especially #Hugs4CopsBlankets.. We love to cook, also , put on a great playlist and sing along to this.. We have been trying to go to bed at a decent time so we can get up and enjoy the day .. Physical activities are important when in Isolation, Jog, bike ride, treadmill, work out to that old DVD of Richard Simmons, oh my I loved the and Jane Fonda work out tapes back in the 80’s.. If you are feeling overwhelmed there is on line help, or call a friend , Face time, is great

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwik0IGPpqLpAhURpZ4KHXSyCP4QwqsBMAB6BAgKEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dna9ZZ4ZjVa8&usg=AOvVaw2rD0khyIeUKgPMv6zjUCnr #StayHome #StaySafe #StayHealthy

Richard Simmons of ‘Sweatin’ to the Oldies’ is posting fitness videos ‘as a comfort’ during the coronavirus pandemic You can do it and get a giggle Found this link on line and this great pic of Richard Simmons . Oh I didn’t tell y’all I got a date for my Surgery May 27th, after the Surgery , I think I will do a little Sweatin to the Oldies

ISOCOOKING

David and I both love to cook, this roast was a $33 it did 12 meals, we had a roast Dinner, Hot roast beef rolls with the dip, then I made a curry. the Curry alone had done 6 meals, lots of veggies .. I marinated the roast for 2 days , in Dijon Mustard, lots of Garlic and fresh ground black pepper. It was amazing, then David puttee roast on toe rotisserie.. I made a Cesar salad, with home made Croutons and a hime made dressing.. it is amazing.. During this Covid 19 Crisis, we have been keeping busy!! David has been planting the garden, I love my garden, I cook and bake lots of Bread and a newly found love of making Scotch Baps, they are delicious.. We play lots of Backgammon , the weather has beans nice!! I also gave David a hair cut it is not to bad..

Chinese food, all home made, Lots of veggies, a Wor Wonton soup / with Shrimp, then a Chinese type noodles and a Veggie Stir Fry, with Veggie Spring Rolls, We still try to keep to a health diet..

What is Wor Wonton Soup?

“Wor” is the Chinese word for “everything” meaning this amazing Wonton soup is loaded up with flavor! I’ve added in some of my favourite veggies like bok choy, carrots and broccoli! Mushrooms, a hot pepper You can add extra veggies or change it up to add in your favourites!

Saves money Eating homemade foods is usually much cheaper than eating at a restaurant or buying processed foods from the stores … zPlus we have a loy of time on our hands right now, Everybody knows that a home-cooked meal is the best kind of meal. It’s pure and simple fact that something made from scratch at home is going to taste so much better than something you’ve bought ready-made..

The average person eats 121 different ingredients every day! Cooking from scratch cuts all the rubbish out.

Potato and meat patty!!

This is a way back to when I was living in Carlisle England , I didn’t or don’t have the recipe I just out together the way I remembered the Pierie’s Patty , there was a Fish and Chip Shop in Carlisle that sold these patties , oh my goodness they were amazing !! It tasted the way I remembered them. A little taste of home, I used ground pork for the filling, onion, a small carrot, garlic, black pepper and tomato paste.. Mashed potato. I am going to try these with different fillings, like Cheese and Onion, Chilli, Curry!! I love cooking and as We like to call kit #ISoCooking , when we cook a batch of food we usually put one or two Porch Packages together for Friends and family..

One batch was my Scotch Baps and Tomato Basil Soup!! The Second batch of Baps was the best! Here is a pic of some young ladies enjoying my soup and scotch baps !!

Yesterday David cooked , a batch of Spaghetti Sauce and we froze the for a future meal, and a #PorchPkg

Supper David made his amazing Chicken and Leek dish Oh my goodness this was amazing , He has been making this since we came to Canada, I cant remember where he got the recipe, everyone loves this. The we cook , we have a great playlist on and sing along as we cook!!

Today, my phone rang, and it was Katie to say she was going to take Asher for a Drive so she popped bye for the garden toys , we have had the slide since Katie and Victoria were small, the toy Police car was Colin and Baileys , so was the little tykes Bike or as Cling called it his “Crappy Bike” I am so please that they are going to get used again. We kept a #SocialDistance Here are a few new and old pics of my Grandkids enjoying these toys, I do apologise, I am having a minor melt down as I see these pics. I love y grand kids so much and miss them ..

We Will Survive !!

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

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

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

Antojitos

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

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

Black eyed beans my way

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

What are y’all doing to#staysane

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blueberry Breakfast Salad

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

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

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

Ingredients

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

Eat Salads to Cut Calories and Increase Satisfaction

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

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

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

#STAYHOME #COOK #SAFE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reduce anxiety and boost immunity by choosing:

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

The bottom line:

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

Easter in self Isolation

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

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

Mushroom Soup

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

Good O’l English fish n Chips

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

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

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

INGREDIENTS this recipe is from Epicurious and is very good

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

PREPARATION

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the egg and egg yolks, followed by the milk and 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil. Continue whisking until there are no lumps. In a separate small saucepan, melt the butter until it is golden brown, and whisk it into the pancake mix. Leave the batter to rest for about 15 minutes.
1. Heat an 8-inch frying pan until hot, and add the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, tilting the pan to spread the oil across the bottom. When the oil starts to smoke, pour the excess into a small bowl for later use. Return the pan to the heat. You now have a sheer coating of oil remaining on the pan.
1. Pour 2 tablespoons of the batter into the pancake pan, tilting the pan to coat the bottom evenly. Cook until the underside of the pancake is golden brown, and then, using a spatula turn it over and cook the other side. Turn the pancake out onto an upturned dinner plate. Repeat until there is no more batter, using a bit of the reserved oil if the pan appears to be dry, or if the pancakes begin to stick. Continue to stack pancakes on top of each other on your dinner plate.
1. When finished, served the pancakes straightaway with the sugar for sprinkling and the lemon and orange wedges on the side for squeezing on the pancakes.
5. If you want to make the pancakes in advance, lightly butter an ovenproof tray, and sprinkle each pancake with sugar after you finish cooking it. Fold the pancakes in half and then half again, arranging them all neatly on the tray. Cover the tray with foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. Serve with the lemon and orange wedges.

English pancakes We have these on Shrove Tuesday, are different from American pancakes. They are much thinner and contain no leavening. They are closer to a French Crepe, only slightly thicker. Traditionally they are served on Shrove Tuesday, but are enjoyed year-around. They are best served straight from the pan. In my house the race is to try and make them faster than my children can eat them.Easter egg hunts. First of all, an easter egg is a hollow, egg-shaped chocolate treat. …
Egg painting. Eggs, as you may by now have guessed, are a big part of Easter in Britain. …
Hot Cross Buns. …
Maypole Dancing. …
Nutters dance. …
Morris Dancing. On Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day we would have pancake races..
I always got a new Easter outfit with hat gloves and new shoes When I was young as i got older in to my teens it was just a new dress and shoes..
During Easter in the UK, some people buy very colourful flowers to decorate their home. These flowers are considered ‘Easter flowers’. Also, lots of Churches around the UK hold flower festivals where they displays lots of Spring flowers. So buy some colourful flowers and celebrate Easter as well.

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

Go for an Egg hunt!

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

#StaySafe #StayHealthy

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

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

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

Have a Very Happy Easter #StayHome and #Stay Safe

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

Family Traditions

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

Pace eggs………………….

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

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

Comfort Food, Stewed Links

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

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

Butter bean, mushroom & bacon pot pie

3 tbsp rapeseed oil
2 red onions, thinly sliced
500g mushrooms , thickly sliced
70g smoked streaky bacon , sliced into thin strips
2 tbsp plain flour
500ml low-salt vegetable stock
250g kale , roughly sliced
3 tsp wholegrain mustard
2 tbsp reduced-fat crème fraîche
1 tbsp finely chopped tarragon
1 lemon , zested and juiced
2 x 400g cans butter beans, drained and rinsed

Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a saucepan or large flameproof casserole dish. Fry the onions for 10 mins until soft, then add the mushrooms and bacon and fry for another 5 mins until golden. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 mins more. Gradually pour in the stock, then bring to the boil and bubble for 2 mins. Add the kale and cook for another 5 mins, then stir in the mustard, crème fraîche, half the tarragon and the lemon juice. Spoon the mushroom mixture into four small baking dishes.
Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the butter beans in a food processor with the remaining oil and tarragon and the lemon zest. Blitz until chunky, adding 2-3 tbsp water to loosen if needed.
Spoon the butter bean mixture over the filling, smoothing with the back of a spoon. Bake for 20-25 mins until golden. Leave to cool slightly, then serve.

Pork and apple stew with parsley & thyme dumplings

Pork & apple stew with parsley & thyme dumplings

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

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

500g skinless boneless chicken thighs

For the marinade

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

For the curry

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

To serve (optional)

cooked basmati rice
naan bread
mango chutney or lime pickle
fresh coriander
lime wedges

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

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

Portuguese Octopus Stew

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

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