Say Cheese…. Sauce my way!

I love to cook , I have to say my cheese sauce is amazing,

  • 4 tabl spoons flour
  • 1/2 stick butter
  • Salt and fresh ground black pepper
  • tsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbl spn Hot English Mustard
  • 2 cups of buttermilk !!
  • 1 cup Cheese your choice I chops afesd and a gouda
  • Make a ru with the melted butter, garlic and flour
  • add salt, and pepper,
  • take pot off heat add scheme and Buttermilk stir and then return to the stove

Now you have a tangy gooey amazing cheese sauce.. for veggies, pasta!!

My kids have grown up loving my cheese sauce, the mustard adds a zing to this and just this weekend I decided to use Buttermilk! Wow what a difference , it is amazing you have to try this

Family Sunday Dinner I love to cook Sunday Dinner

Well I am happy to say that . is the first time since surgery I actually have the energy to bake bread, make Fairy Cakes for Desert, Make soup from the stock I boiled the ham in !! Sunday Dinner also with Cauliflower n Cheese sauce, I make David a White sauce .. Oh Yorkshire puddings to with a green peppercorn gravy!! I also made cabbage slaw for snacks the next few days as Bricks 4 Kidz has in School Classes at Walter and Gladys Hill School here in Fort McMurray “Simple Machines”

Katie and Asher will be over today, with Ian, David and I will be a full table..

  • The Soup I made with the ham stock , is a hearty winter soup, I put 6 whole cloves in the ham covered it in english mustard and placed it in the boiling water, I cooked on a simmer it for 2 hours
  • boiled the Ham
  • ham oil 4 cups water,
  • 2 Packets onion soup mix,
  • 1 Large leek
  • 1 small onion,
  • 12 small carrots diced
  • 3 stalks celery diced
  • 3 large tomatoes diced
  • i large can of peas
  • 1 small purple turnip
  • 1/4 cup dry haricot beans
  • 1 cup dry pot barley
  • 1 tbl spoon minced garlic
  • 3 tbl spoons Worcestershire Sauce ( Lea & Perrin’s)
    • S and P to taste

Simmer for a couple of hours, we will have the soup as a starter with fresh baked bread. Main Ham, Roast Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Yorkshire Puddings, Cauliflower n Cheese green peppercorn grave and Butterfly / Fairy Cake cakes as a desert

Why is a fairy cake called a fairy cake?Of course, the petite fairy cakes are named as such because of their size — small enough to be served to the tiny mythical creatures. The word “fairy” (or “fairie”) appeared around 1300, referring to “enchantment” and “magic.”

A little info I found on line about this Super grain

Barley is considered an ‘ancient grain’, originating in Ethiopia and southeast Asia, where it has been cultivated for more than 10,000 years. The grain has a chewy, satisfying texture and , making it a perfect way to bulk up meals.

You will often find barley in bread, beer and soups, but this grain can be used in anything, from porridge and healthy muffins, to granola and pancakes. It’s truly a super grain, but doesn’t come with a ‘superfood’ price tag, like quinoa, for example.

When ever I make a Sunday Dinner I always think of my Mom and her amazing Sunday Dinners, I miss her ..

Chicken Fried Rice Who said leftovers are boring Then a little Garlic Mac and Cheese

After making my delicious Teriyaki Chicken I had 3 Drum sticks left and some rice .. I chopped up some red and green peppers some onion and some spring onion I also added a Jalapeño pepper , I took out the seeds ..

In a skillet ad a table spoon Olive Oil , minced garlic to taste. Add all your diced veggies.. Take the meat of the chicken drum sticks dice then add to the veg. Cook over low heat for about 5 mins then add your cooked rice , I cooked this for about 15 mins on a low heat then added the left over teriyaki sauce from the chicken and added a little sesame oil, salt and lots of fresh ground black pepper .. We had this with a green salad and it did the 3 of us 2 meals ,, Very inexpensive but good to.. Today is very exciting as Colin and Bailey my 2 older Grand Kids are coming to visit and I am making them a Garlic Mac and Cheese, this is amazing and also very budget friendly.. I will serve with lots of raw veggies Yummy cant wait . These pics are from earlier this year .. All home made and amazing …. More pics to come

Acorn Squash and Carrot soup

This soup is a great and warm you to the core in these cold winters evening, it takes about 20 mins to make, I added Cayenne, Turmeric and Cumin to deepen the flavours. Have this with a toasted ham and cheese will dip great with this .. We love Soup and a sandwich ..

Teriyaki Chicken and Breakfast with Jamie Clinch

We had a great Visit this past weekend From Janie Clinch unfortunately it was for a Dinner For Ten Jager , a very dear friend who loved fine wines and food… Jamie arrived Thursday Evening! When I get guests I like to prepare a few things for the fridge, So I made a pot of Spaghetti Sauce, and Teriyaki Chicken Drum Sticks. Great snack

  • 1/2 cupSoya sauce
  • 1/2 cup tomatoe Ketchup
  • 2 Tbl spn Worsershire sauce
  • 3 tbl spns brown sugar
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • some times I add Jalepano or franks red hot sauce

Marinate Chicken over night , pre heat oven 250 f, bake chicken in oven approx 1 hour , serve as a snack or with rice and a salad .. I remember when my Mom and Dad came out to Canada for the Birth Of Katie she is now 31!!! My Dad loved the Teriyaki Chicken so much…

Friday Morning we made a full english Breakfast for Jamie Clinch it was amazing.. Kate and Asher joined us and we had some great conversation …

A Cumbrian Christmas

Cumbrian Christmas bread

Cumbrian Christmas Bread Im def going to make this .. Sounds amazing

Ingredients

  • 30g currants
  • 30g sultanas
  • 55g raisins
  • 20g mixed peel
  • 3 tbsp rum or brandy

For the ferment

  • 6g active dried yeast or 7g fast action yeast
  • 10g caster sugar
  • 75g white bread flour
  • 150ml warm water
  • 100ml milk

For the dough

  • 400g strong white bread flour
  • 75g caster sugar
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp mixed spice
  • 1 medium egg
  • 1 tbsp black treacle
  • 40g unsalted butter, melted and cooled a little
  • Vegetable oil for greasing

Method

  1. In a bowl soak the fruit and peel in the rum or brandy for at least 2 hours.
  2. For the ferment, sift the yeast (if dry) sugar and flour into a bowl, then whisk in the water and milk until you have a smooth batter. Cover with a lid or cling film and leave to ferment for 30-45 minutes or until risen and puffy.
  3. For the dough, sift all the dry ingredients together into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and pour in the egg, treacle, melted butter and the ferment. Mix well with a wooden spoon until a rough dough is formed (if the dough still seems a little dry after mixing, add a 2 tbsp of water and continue). Knead for 8-10 minutes until the dough is smooth and silky (by hand or machine). Drain the fruit of any excess liquid and gradually work it into the dough at the very end of the kneading time.
  4. Put the dough in a large well-oiled bowl, cover with cling film and leave to rise for 2 hours. The dough should be nicely risen and feel airy, but will not quite double in size.
  5. Preheat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Remove the dough from the bowl and form into a smooth round loaf. Put on a baking tray lined with baking paper, cover with a clean tea towel and leave to prove for about 30-45 minutes. Check the dough is ready to go into the oven by pressing it lightly with a finger. If the impression left by your finger remains, the dough is ready. If it springs back, continue to prove for another 5-10 minutes and check again.
  6. Bake the loaf for 35-45 minutes, covering with foil if it looks like it is getting too brown. Check if it is done by tapping on its bottom and listening for a hollow sound. Cool on a rack before. Serve warm spread with lots of butter.

Cumberland Sausage my brother was a butcher and he made the best , we would have this for Christmas Breakfast with Black pudding and fresh farm eggs The Cumberland sausage is the long round one David had a try making some sausage to

If there’s one thing the Brits know, it’s sausage. They’re a favourite dish for many in the U.K. and that has led to a wide variety of delicious flavours. As you have probably already guessed, Cumberland sausage heralds from Cumberland in England. They’ve been making them since the 1500’s – plenty of time to perfect the taste!

Makes 2 lb sausage. Prep time: 30 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 2 lb pork shoulder
  • 5 oz bread crumbs
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 5 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp marjoram
  • 1 tsp sage
  • ¼ tsp mace
  • pinch cayenne pepper
  • sausage casings

Cow Pie or Steak n Kidney pie as I know it

Well, New Years Dinner was Just the 2 of us David and I.. I made a huge pie, but froze some and David loved it in his lunches!! Now back to a little more plant based eating.. My surgery recovery was slow, but I on on the mend for now then in a couple of months have to fo in foe the reversal opp . Let u seat healthy! David grew up with a Cow pie every New years me It was Ham.. But I do love steak and Kidney pie.. t

Creamy Red Pepper Alfredo Pasta

I do apologise I haven’t done an awful lot on my food blog , but promise will catch up , Surgery went well, now just lets recover 100% This is An incredibly creamy, rich Alfredo sauce made with roasted red peppers and crab meat, it takes just 20 min to make from start to finish! I made this for the freezer a month before my surgery !! It is amazing

I love Red Peppers so I decided to make this amazing Red Pepper Alfredo Sauce with Crab, you can add what ever protein you like !

  • 6 large red bell peppers Seeds taken out and diced
  • 4 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 4cups half-and-half (Light)
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • I small tub cream cheese
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 2 cans crab meat or fresh your choice
  • Add all ingredients to list
  • I put up 2 dishes for Davids lunch, he came back from work raving about this pasta sauce!! Now I just have to make this for the grand kids I think Colin and Bailey will love this ..
  1. In a skillet, cook and stir the garlic, basil, add diced red peppers red peppers Add 3 tablespoons olive oil low heat, Cook for 10 minutes, so that the flavours can meld in to one…
  2. Cool for 10 mins then Place mixture in blender
  3. Puree , Return puree to skillet, and reheat to a boil. Stir in the half-and-half and the Parmesan and cream cheese; cook and stir until the cheese melts.Add 2 cans crab meat Add the butter, and stir until melted. Season add S and P to taste. I divided in to 3 portions and place each in a large zip lock , flatten the zip lock and they take up less room in your freezer, I saw Jamie Oliver do this once great Idea Jamie..

A little Gut micro biome action

3 bean chilli 🌶 I used 3 rashes of Smokey bacon. 2 large onions. Chilli peppers 1 large can tomatoes. There you have an amazing chilli.

Turkey Soup

As soon as dinner was done we boiled the turkey carcase. The next day I took the meat off the boiled turkey Carcase added 2 pmts onion soup mix added lots of veg and simmered for a couple of hours.
All meat if the turkey bones

Early Christmas Dinner. Hubby did it all.

We had our Christmas Dinner on the 18 th as David had to work over Christmas. Dinner was amazing.

Seafood Chowder a true gift from the sea once again my way

Each day I am getting g

I am able to do a little more, each day,17 days post op…. TodayI made a Seafood Chowder full of goodness,, 4 rashers bacon diced, I large Clams and Clam juice, 1 large can of diced tomatoes , 1 can of tuna in water and 1 can of canned salmon, large bag of frozen shrimp 1 pkg Knrr Veg Soup mix, 2 celery stalks, 1 large Onion, 2 large Carrots and 6 Medium potatoes diced , 1 tbl spoon minced garlic, sprinkle of dill fresh ground black pepper 2 cups water, olive oil . In a large soup pt I put in Olive oil and diced bacon to cook once cooked add all the chopped veg, one these are cooked I add he tomatoes, can of Clams, tuna drained and salmon drained place in pot, add shrimp . bring to boil them simmer for about 1 hour now your delicious Sea Food Chowder is ready, with fresh bread I made and a salad, amazing for these Minus Temps here in Fort McMurray I am going to freeze some for future meals and lunches

The benefits of clams are many. Whether steamed, fried or grilled, clams are a delicious and nutritious seafood, adding variety to your diet. Clams join sea snails, octopus, squid and scallops as popular ocean-sourced shellfish called mollusks.

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A little Chinese Medicine.

13 days post surgery. I have to watch my diet. I had A pretty big surgery. So let’s get my recovery in a fast track tonight I made a chowmein A veg stir fry and veg spring rolls. It took longer than usual but I did it.

Just another day. Hmm

This morning jello juice and black coffee. But oh boy was it amazing. The staff here in the hospital are amazing. then a little reading I will be getting up to walk soon. I have a lot going on lots of tubes n things. This is positive thinking which is important in healing and being well. Chat later. Stay safe y’all

Refrigerator Pickles

Busy Sunday , I finally got to make the Refrigerator Red Pickled Onions, great Christmas Gifts, I usually make Christmas Pickles along with The Red Pickled Onions , and some baked goods and put a few pkgs together for friends.. Asher and Kate are coming over for Supper today , I also baked bread and Banana Bread for Desert.. Were not having a traditional Sunday Dinner today as the weather is so nice we are BBQing some Pork Steaks, I will make my warm Potato Salad

We also put up the Christmas Decorations this weekend, as I go for my op this next week .. Thinking positive .. Wearing my Christmas Leggings !! This little man and his mom are coming over for Supper ..

I always have a jar of Red Onion Pickles in my fridge as they are great onPizza, Tacos, salads Burgers, Sandwiches fave is red pickled onions on a grilled cheese .. I only use red onions for my picked onions, but yellow or white onions can be used as well. Of course you won’t get that lovely bright-pink color,

Ingredients

  • 4 cups sliced red onion
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 3 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1.5 Tbsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp peppercorns
  • 1/2 tsp Mustard Seed
  • 3 cup red vinigar
  • 1 cup Apple Cider Vinigar
  • 2 springs of rosemary

Put the Vinigar and Sugar in a pot bring to the boil them simmer for about 10 mins, in a dish place sliced red onions, spices, garlic and rosemary , pour hot liquid over the onions and let cool, once cool place in jars and keep in the fridge

Christmas Pickles for these I used a white Vinigar , white sugar cucumbers sliced, dill , garlic and jalapenos , these have a little kick with them ..

Moussaka My Way

  • Today I made an amazing Moussaka.
  • 1 lb ground chicken browned and add rosemary, black pepper and garlic with 1 bay leaf and a pinch of all spice
  • 1 lg onion diced
  • 1 green pepper diced
  • 2 large tomatoes diced
  • 1 tbl spoon garlic
  • rosemary pinch to taste
  • parsley pinch to taste
  • a little basil to taste
  • 1 cup of red wine
  • a little allspice cook all veg and add spices and red wine
  • 4 large potatoes boiled whole then sliced
  • 1 large egg plant sliced thin sprinkle with salt and olive oil them bake for 20 mins oven 350 f
  • Sauce
  • 1 cup of flour 1/2 cup butter make a roux, add 3 cups whole milk, garlic salt and pepper , add cheeseI added garlic herb cheese 1/2 cup and 1/2 cup crumbled feta, make sauce
  • in and oven proof dish place a layer of sliced potatoes them plate ground chicken mix on top.. layer egg plant and place the sauce on top with a sprinkle of feta cheese salty good ness bake in a 350 /365 oven for 35 mins then take out and let cool a wee while then ready to serve this is amazing

I watched Jamie Oliver make this dish once again I improvised and made a few wee changes def a family fave when you make it take a pic and let me see your creation .. Now what tomorrow Im not sure have a great Thursday evening .. Now Shower and Hot tub

Chicken soup quick and YUMMY

Chicken veg soup Yummy

With the Chicken stock from the Harissa Chicken, and 2 extra Chicken Breasts I made delicious, healthy Chicken soup. I cooked the chicken breast in butter, and fresh ground black pepper… In soup pot, I placed 1 onion diced, 1 large leek diced, 2 large carrots diced 3 large parsnips dices and cooked in olive oil until soft then I aded the chicken stock , 1 pkg of onion soup mix, garlic. 2 cups of egg noodles, salt and pepper ,Bring it to the boil them simmer for 30 mins , the Soup pot is 3/4 full so I have a lot of soup, I divide the soup in to containers for the freezer, this is a great lunch or supper for these cold winters nights.. My mom was amazing at making soups, I think i j=have inherited this from her…

Budget Friendly

For around the same price as a single can of soup that feeds one, you can cook up a big batch of tasty soup to feed the whole family for days! Soup is ideal for using Veg you have in your fridge I call this refrigerator soup carrots, cauliflower, squash, zucchini and leafy greens. A great way to re freeze for future meals Some times I just go to the store grab the veg for a specific soup

Add in dried beans, lentils or chickpeas that have soaked overnight and soon you will have a hearty, healthy homemade soup high in fibre, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Just be sure to cook the legumes or pulses for the right amount of time. Seasonal Veg One of the best things about making soup at home is that you can pick your own ingredients! Local, seasonal, fresh foods

There’s nothing more nourishing than a bowl of homemade chicken soup from a loved one when you’re in bed with a cold or recovering from a high-stress event such as giving birth, the passing of a loved one or even positive life events such as a wedding or milestone event. When you’re the caretaker and making that delicious healing soup for a friend or family member, it feels so good to be useful in this way, knowing that all your love and affection for this person is going into this soup to help them get better. 

The tradition of preparing healing soup for the recovery of a sick patient goes back centuries. In his 12th century treatise, Egyptian Jewish physician and philosopher, Maimonides, writes about using chicken soup for upper respiratory tract symptoms.

There’s nothing more nourishing than a bowl of homemade chicken soup

I love saving different brother from a good old Ham bone brother Chicken broth or a fish stock it is always a great base for the soups and stews I always have Veg Bullion on hand

Bone Broth

Ingredients:

1 small chicken, beef, lamb, pork
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 tbl spoon crushed garlic
3 sprigs of thyme or dry
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, great for water retention
1 bunch parsley, chopped
Filter water, enough to cover chicken and vegetables, what ever meat bones you have use them

Nutritious  broth.

  • Bone broth soup is rich in nutrients. … 
  • It may help to protect the joints. … 
  • It may help fight osteoarthritis. … 
  • It may help reduce inflammation and heal the gut. … 
  • It may aid sleep. … 
  • Helpful in recovery after surgery this is whey I have some Soups and Bone Broth in my freezer.. It will help to heal my gut.. ! week to go before surgery thinking positive and eating right, and walking George 2 times a day LiveLaugh and Love life is to short

Christmas Cake and Cheese.. food for thought !!

I grew up with this tradition and never gave it a thought until we emigrated to Canada 39 yrs ago yesterday ,, I thought everyone ate Christmas Cake and Cheese ..

Northerners explain why Christmas cake must be served with cheese. As the festive season approaches, one custom that is set to entice the taste buds of the nation is fruit cake and a strong cheese – an increasingly popular Christmas pairing, which sits proudly amongst the long-standing traditions 

  • The tradition dates back to Victorian times
  • The cheese offsets the sweetness of the fruit, according to fans
  • In Yorkshire, Wensleydale is the most popular accompaniment

“On Christmas Eve one Yule cake is given to each member of the family, along with a piece of Christmas cheese. As a rule, part of it is left for Christmas morning, and eaten at the breakfast.””The cake to cheese ratio is all important. You need a surprisingly large slice of cheese to balance out the sweetness of the cake

Why do we have Christmas cake?Christmas cake is an English tradition that began as plum porridge. People ate the porridge on Christmas Eve, using it to line their stomachs after a day of fasting. … For Christmas, they made a similar cake using seasonal dried fruit and spices. The spices represented the exotic eastern spices brought by the Wise Men.

Cumbrian Cheeses This is where i grew up in beautiful Cumbria , I found this info on the net and fund it fascinating and it fits in with my Christmas Cake and cheese..

It might surprise you to learn that Cumbria, better known for its stocks of Herdwick sheep, has a thriving cheese industry. In fact, we love cheese here in the Lake District, which is why we have a good number of producers creating delicious cheeses of varying strengths and textures. No Christmas dinner is complete without a cheese board, and we think that Lake District cheeses should play a starring role. Best of all, rather than trudge through the supermarket, here you can make cheese buying fun.

At Cartmel Cheeses, you can browse and sample the cheeses and learn about their origins from the very knowledgeable staff. The shop stocks both local and international cheeses, and is adjacent to an artisan bakery and a brewery, so plenty of opportunity here to indulge. Over in Keswick, the Cheese Deli stocks one of the largest selections of local cheeses, along with plenty of cheese accompaniments. Of course, you could take your cheese obsession one step further and book yourself onto a Cheese Making Day at Thornby Moor Dairy in West Cumbria. The shop here stocks mouth-watering cheeses that are all made on site.

Introduction to Cumbria

Cumbria is the most north-western county in England, bordering onto Scotland. The county of Cumbria consists of six districts (Allerdale, Barrow-in-Furness, Carlisle, Copeland, Eden and South Lakeland), and in 2008 had a population of just under half a million. Cumbria is one of the most sparsely populated counties in the United Kingdom.
 
Its largest settlement and county town is Carlisle and the only other major urban area is Barrow-in-Furness on the south-western tip of the county.
 

Where is Cumbria

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