Tis (almost) the season to be jolly…ho ho OOOOOOOOOOOO.
Anyway, you know i like to cook?
You do know that by now don’t you?
Well I have got in to preserving (and persevering!) in a BIG way in the last couple of months.
I’m going to post about my most recent culinary endeavour first as it is highly seasonal and the couple of weeks till Christmas will really help the flavours of this recipe to develop as it matures in a sealed jar, ready to be served on Christmas Day along with the turkey and trimmings…or whatever traditional type foods you choose to eat. Alternatively this can be served with cold meat, cheese and fresh bread.
So, have you guessed yet what I’ve been cooking today?
Yes?
That’s right, it’s…..
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- The juice of 4 small oranges
- The rind of one of those oranges
- 500 grams fresh cranberries (they are £1.50 for 250 grams at Morrisons at the moment)
- 1/4 – 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 – 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 350 grams granulated sugar
- 1 red onion finely chopped
- a pinch of nutmeg
makes one and a half pounds/two pounds of cranberry sauce.
Method
- Sterilise a couple of 1 lb jars and their lids.
- Bung all the ingredients in a saucepan, warm it through and then when the sugar dissolves bring the mixture to the boil. When mixture is boiling, turn the heat down low, cover the pan and cook for 45 minutes or thereabouts, stirring every now and then to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan and to make sure that the ingredients are distributed evenly.
- Allow to cool slightly and to thicken on its own for ten minutes.
- Pour into jars.
- Place a waxed disc on top of the sauce.
- Screw on a screw-top lid.
- Label.
- Leave alone for a couple of weeks if you can, but alternatively it may be eaten once cooked.
Yum.
Rightio ho ho. I’m off to have another taste of the sauce i just made…
p.s. I’ve been making Christmas chutney and also apricot jam so i’ll be posting those recipes soon – they make ideal home made Christmas gifts and they work out pretty economical/frugal too!
…i doubt it.
Having returned once more to blogging this very day, I have discovered that during my cyber absence, some people chose to bump me off their blogrolls/google readers etc.
Had i not such thick skin (actually i’m pretty thick everywhere but we won’t go into that!) I may have been hurt, but I have more weighty matters to grapple with in my life than whether I bored, offfended or annoyed this or that person who visits the blog.
So, sorry if this seems a tad reactionary but…TOUGH CRAP if you don’t like that i didn’t blog for a couple of weeks. Boo bloody hoo.
Disclaimer>>>I don’t say this to regular, long time readers who actually give a damn about me and mine!!!
Sometimes life is hard to be lived and can only be existed or ‘got through’….these past few months and especially recent weeks have been confusing and distressing and I haven’t wanted to blog morose posts but nor have i been in the mood for chatty, lighthearted posts either, so i felt it best to stay away.
To those who continued to leave comments, both here and on my private page, and to those who emailed me or contacted me via Facebook to leave messages of support and concern, may God reward your kindness to me.
I’m going to make the herculean effort to post more regularly henceforth(and not because my readers are dwindling – the site stats remain the same – it’s just time for me to blog again, that’s all). I have things to blog, I’ve just not wanted to blog again, until now. Hope all is well in your world. Thank you for your prayers.
As mentioned in the previous post, Wondergirl turned 18 years old yesterday. To celebrate, Mum and Dad paid for us to go to London for a day trip on the Saturday before her birthday. We got up really early on Saturday morning, caught the train to London and spent the whole day there, not getting home till about 11pm that night. We crammed loads in as we didn’t want to waste the opportunity….when we first got to Euston we went to get the tube to Waterloo so we could go on the London Eye. It was a really enjoyable experience going on the Eye…before we went on it we had to go through a 4D experience, hence the picture in one of the videos, featuring Mum and Wondergirl wearing massive black 4D specs!
It was a drizzly day and quite foggy so the views were not the greatest, but we still got to see quite a lot as we ‘flew’ in one of the pods on the London Eye. After that i think we made our way to Knightsbridge as we wanted to visit Harrods. Mum bought us lunch in Harrods and also bought a gift for all three of us from Harrods too. Let me tell you luvvies, you all know i’m a bit of a foodie right? Well, Harrods food halls are incredible, packed full with gastronomic delights.
Talk about a pleasurable shopping experience….as we rode up the escalator a lady with the most beautiful operatic voice sang to us from a balcony.
On one of the floors there was a memorial to Princess Di and Dodi Al Fayed….may they rest in peace… (his Father is the owner of Harrods) to raise funds for charity, i took some pictures which you should be able to see in one of the vids below. I took a really naff camera with me as i didn’t want to carry my Nikon around the tube and on trains and we didn’t go to take photos anyway, though they are a happy byproduct of our visit. So they aren’t that good but i think they give an idea of the kind of day we had.
After we had been to Harrods i think we then made our way to the tube again (we went on so many i lost count!) to go to South Kensington to visit a shop we had heard about that Mum had wanted to visit for quite some time, then afterwards we got a bit lost while we tried to make our way on foot to the Natural History Museum. LOL! We found it eventually though.
There were so many museums in the area that we would have liked to visit, galleries too….but there just wasn’t time because the last train home was quite early on in the evening. After the museum we went back to the tube to make our way to St. James Park…we had a right long walk to Buckingham Palace, trying to get there before it was dark…and would you believe the cheek of it….Her Majesty didn’t invite us in for a cuppa when we got there!
Afterwards we asked a policewoman for directions to Westminster Cathedral as it was dark and we didn’t want to get lost….we also wanted to get there for the 6pm Mass…well she directed us to St. Paul’s Cathedral instead so we did indeed get lost and ended up in a street where there were some dodgy goings on….
However, eventually, and with only minutes to spare, we did find Westminster Cathedral and were able to make it in time for the Saturday Vigil Mass (for Sunday). So pleased we made it, though if i am honest, i was not as overwhelmed by the appearance of the Cathedral as i had thought i might be.
Afterwards we had no time to waste as we had to get another couple of tubes back to the train station…then after rushing to get there in time to catch the last train, there was a delay leaving due to someone having a fight on the train. Fortunately it wasn’t in our carriage and we didn’t witness any trouble ourselves…though we did encounter quite a few ‘travellers’ and homeless people in London, in Westminster particulalry. God Bless them, please pray for the homeless.
The day after London, I drove Wondergirl and her friend to Alton Towers for a Halloween Fright Night….then on Monday (Wondergirl’s 18th) Mum and Dad took us all out for a meal, so it has been quite an elongated 18th Birthday for Wondergirl…still, you’re only 18 once eh?
And she is so worth it!!! Thanks for your Birthday wishes for my daughter, your kindness is appreciated!
Hope you enjoy the videos below.
Video of Westminster- taken from the London Eye
Video of Squirrels Playing in St. James’ Park
Wondergirl’s Tube Station Footage
Video made up of our London Day Trip Photos
I am now the proud mother of an adult daughter…because Wondergirl turned 18 (Monday) today!
To celebrate, my parents paid for us to travel to London for a day trip – in the next post i will include the pictures from our London trip and try to upload a couple of short videos we took while there ..but for now, here is a pic of my daughter raising her glass as we toast her coming of age!
Happy Birthday my darling girl!
p.s. just where does she put all that dinner! LOL!!!
I’ve been experiencing the extreme version of life’s big dipper ride of late…it seems that I get stuck on the ‘lows’ rather too frequently for comfort and the highs are far too fleeting for me to grasp on to for any length of time.
In other words…. life has sucked big time lately.
I can’t seem to move on from this horrible feeling of being oppressed by circumstances that are utterly beyond my control to do anything about, and because these feelings relate to matters that are deeply personal, they hurt more than can be imagined.
Try as i might to get on with life, life can not be got on with when ones family has been so abruptly torn apart, when rejection has been so absolute, when love is not reciprocated.
So i do the menial stuff of life, not that the ’stuff’ is menial in itself, but because of the imposing nature of my sorrow, the stuff of life seems but small and insignificant to be getting on with…and yet in their own way, the necessary tasks and responsibilities of life to be gotten on with, are getting me through each day.
Spiritually, i feel as though i am at my lowest ebb.
I do believe. God knows i believe…. but I see and hear no responses to my prayers and at times i find it frustrating and it angers me that my prayers seem to fall on deaf ears.
The garden of my faith, long sewn and grown, though now perhaps not tended so well – the fault, my own – still has me believing that there is a God, a God who cares, who weeps with me…..a God who tells me that free will is given to all and that this thing may not be resolved, not because God doesn’t will it, but because as individuals, we must choose to love.
And that love can not be forced but freely given.
For me, in my anguish, this is not good enough. Airy fairy ‘let it be’ is not an option.
And so it goes…out of the depths I cry unto the Lord…
Pray and do not be apprehensive about anything;
do not be afraid of trouble or misfortune,
for prayer will protect you and sustain you
in all circumstances~ St. John Chrysostom, 4th century
For this cooking extravaganza i’m using my mum’s pizza scone base recipe.
The name could sound a bit off-putting but it doesn’t taste at all like scones, the omission being the eggs and sugar and dried fruits which are replaced in the recipe by grated/shredded cheese and dried herbs. I recommend this as a quick and filling meal or snack. It’s super easy to make and bake…. and eat too! LOL!
Since Wondergirl is a vegetarian i left the chorizo off a third of the pizza (as you can see in the pic below).
Ingredients
- 12 oz self raising flour
- 4 0z margarine
- salt and pepper to season, as preferred
- Dried herbs
- 200 grams of grated/shredded cheese
- 1-tbsp olive oil
- 6 tbsps of tomato puree
- milk to mix to a firm dough (not much is needed)
optional: chilli powder/pepperoni/onions/tomatoes or whatever other pizza topping you want to use.
Method
- Pre-heat oven to 220 degrees.
- In a bowl, rub the margarine into the flour.
- Add 75 grams of the grated cheese along with the seasoning and mixed herbs.
- Bind together into a firm-ish pastry dough using as little milk as possible.
- Grease your baking tray.
- Put the dough on to the tray.
- Roll out the pastry with a rolling pin, while its on the tray….or do as i do….take the olive oil and rub it gently over the dough to flatten the dough with your hands until it is equally spread out over the whole of the baking tray (I usually then sprinkle about 1/2 a tsp of chilli powder on to the base and rub that in with the oil to give the pizza a little ‘kick’, but you do what you prefer)
- Spread the tomato puree all over the base. I use a pallette knife as it makes this easier.
- Place on top of the pizza, sliced toms, veggies, pepperoni etc as your preferred pizza topping.
- Sprinkle over the remaining cheese and a generous smattering of herbs.
- Drizzle lightly with olive oil.
- Place in the middle of a preheated oven for approx 25 minutes. (keep an eye on it though so it doesn’t get cremated)
Enjoy!!!
- The other day i went to the kitchen to make myself a mug of tea. I unscrewed the lid from the teabag canister, got my mug ready….boiled the water in the kettle….and poured the water in…..to…. the…. teabag…. canister….now i like a cup of reasonably strong tea as much as the next person…but even i don’t need 20 tea bags in my cuppa. DOH!
- Went shopping for groceries the other day. On the return journey home we were waiting stationary at the traffic lights…you know how it is…you look in your rear view mirror and check the cars behind you? Well, i took a look in my mirror and noticed the driver of the car behind me looking everywhere but the road ahead and i just knew that she wasn’t going to notice me and slow down her car as she approached the traffic lights….there was a car in front of me so i had nowhere to go and well, BUMP! The car bumped into the back of mine. Thankfully there was no damage to either car or to any persons. We both got out and checked for damage and found none. (Thank you Guardian Angel!) I got the drivers name and phone number in case of any future problems as a result of the bump and then I got back in the car and my daughter said ‘you dealt with that in a very civilised manner, mum’.
- The dog has been doing far too many ‘dead-dog’ impressions lately. She is far too frequently discovered, laying down somewhere, with staring eyes and completely rigid in body….and then she scares the heebyjeebys out of me by choosing not to respond to her name being called…..’Bella?’….’BBBBBBBeeellllaaaaaaaaa?” ’BBBBBBBBBBBBEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Darn dog. I thought her hearing might be becoming impaired but she can hear words like ‘Walkies!’ and ‘nice’ (she associates the latter word with having treats because i always say ‘do you want something nice?’ and then she gets all excited!)
What with having a helluva migraine most of this week and with visiting another prospective university this weekend, for Wondergirl to attend next September, i have been remiss in posting the following combox prayer requests and also in responding to comments on the blog. I rectify the former error now.
Please join me in praying for the following intentions;
Vita writes….
Prayer petition for all people suffering from progressive muscular dystrophy. Holy Mary, Mother of Mercy, Healer of the Sick, Comforter of the Afflicted, Our Dearest and Loving Heavenly Mother, with the greatest hope and full confidence in your maternal intercession we are begging you from the depth of our hearts and souls to look with mercy on all Your children suffering from progressive muscular dystrophy. Bless them, their relatives, friends and all those who care and try to help with the Gentlest and Wisest Motherly Love that flows straight from Your Immaculate Kind and Tender Motherly Heart. The Gentlest Mother of Mercy, have mercy on them. Touch them with Your Holy Healing Hands. Fill their spirits and bodies with Your Holy Healing Motherly Love. The Wisest Mother, we are begging you to bless all scientists, researchers and doctors who are working with this disease. Give them spiritual and mental health and strength, enlighten their souls and minds with Your Holy Wisdom, empower them to find a cure for progressive muscular dystrophy as quickly as possible. So many people around the world are waiting for this mercy, for this miracle. And this miracle is in Your Holy Merciful Motherly Hands. The Kindest Heavenly Mother, hear our sincere prayers. Come to our rescue with Your Holy Love and Mercy. O clement, O loving, O sweet Mary, have mercy on all Your children suffering from progressive muscular dystrophy. Heal them with Your Infinite Holy Motherly Love. And they will praise You, the Gentlest Heavenly Mother, and our Lord Jesus Christ, with their every step, with every movement, with every look, with every breath through all their lives and ever after. Honor, glory, and love to our Divine Lord Jesus, and to the Holy and Immaculate Mother of God. Amen.
Joy writes…..
Please pray for my son, Patrick to pass his entrance test this afternoon of Oct. 18,2009 at La Salle. Please also pray for him on his next exams at UST on Oct. 25, 2009, 8:00am.Thank you. God bless.
O Great St. Joseph of Cupertino who while on earth did obtain from God the grace to be asked at your examination only the questions you knew, obtain for Patrick a like favour in the examination for which he is preparing and taking at UST on Oct. 25, 2009, 8:00am. Lord, please let him pass his examinations and be successful in his studies. In return, I promised to make you known and cause to be invoked. Through Christ our Lord, St. Joseph of Cupertino, all the angels and saints, pray for Patrick.
Albert writes…..
I’m from the Philippines..I’m having problems financially. Please pray for me that I could be able to have money soon for my expenses like rent, food, attorney’s fee etc. Please pray for me that I could be able to surpass or solve the case filed against me..I hope God will soften their hearts..Please pray for me that someone will help me financially. Please pray for me that someone will understand me and help me financially this month,……Please pray for me for my continued strength and for my wisdom to fluorish…please please …I hope someone will help me financially with open hearts…it’s difficult to think how will i survive…someone, please help me….i need financial assistance until i find a job…i hope i can eat for the next few days,,…thank you so much for the prayers.
Pauline writes…..
Please pray for me that I find a good job near my house soon with a good boss,collegues and environment. Thanks
Roseleen writes….
Please ask St Martha to intercede for me that God will seperate william from gil,the other woman and bring him back to me. I have begun a novena to her today Please pray as I am more hurt over the way he treated me I am 65 yers old and have lost all to this other woman I am still working in a care home to make ends meet Please pray God will bring him to his senses and right the wrong done to me All the years we were together I paid everything
thank you and god bless you.
Kay writes….
Hello. I am starting the 9 week novena to St Martha regarding a relationship. But I would like to ask for prayer regarding getting a job from the many places I have applied. Hopefully the job GOD wants for me. I have not received one response for an interview. I pray for a miracle “break”. An opportunity to try and succeed. Thank you.
Carol writes…..
Please can you pray to St. Jude as a special intention for my daughter who is suffering from teenage depression and is trying hard to find work but nothing seems to be happening. Also, my mother has Pancreatic cancer. I would be so grateful for all your prayers and blessings for something good to come out of all the adversity. Than kyou.
I know you probably don’t want to be thinking about Advent yet but i am thinking that far ahead and i’ll tell you the reason why.
We’ve never had a proper advent-wreath-candle-holder-thingy before…. usually i’ve made my own with bits of metal wire and tinsel and by scooping up an assortment of candles and bits of candles that have been gathering dust around the house throughout the year…..but THIS year I am determined to have a proper Advent Candle Wreath that doesn’t fall apart and that even has all the right coloured candles, just for a change.
So with this in mind i did an online search, found the cheapest pillar candle Advent Wreath holder – my OCD nature won’t allow me to trust tapered candles not to wobble over and set fire to the table cloth in our kitchen, where the wreath shall be placed and remain throughout Advent and Christmas – and so I ordered one Advent Candle Holder Frame.
I didn’t want to purchase the candles for it from the same place as i wanted to get a lower price on them, so i ordered the frame only.
Just the frame.
And it came within 48 hours.
Yippee!
But it came buried under a stack of green foam lumps…which disconcerted me somewhat since i am trying to do my bit to recycle and cut down the contents of my wheelie bin (which is now only emptied once a fortnight).
I dare say if i was super frugal, i could keep the green lumps and re-use them for packaging items or for stringing together an ingenious Christmas tree garland….but i didn’t ask for them and i don’t want them! Some businesses use inflated plastic bags as packaging filler, these can be deflated easily and take up very little space in the bin, but green lumps?
Of course, I want my purchases to arrive safely and intact, but is it really necessary to use so much packaging for one item…For the first 10 seconds after opening the parcel i couldn’t even FIND the item i had ordered as it was buried under 4 inches of foam (with an equal quantity below it).
So off to the bin the green lumps go….i am endeavouring to de-clutter my home and I don’t want any more junk accumulating in the house!
Thankfully the box can go in the gardening refuse wheelie bin or else be used for storing items.
The Pillars of the Church
The two main sacraments, baptism and the Eucharist, are the spiritual pillars of the Church. They are not simply instruments by which the Church exercises its ministry. They are not just means by which we become and remain members of the Church but belong to the essence of the Church. Without these sacraments there is no Church. The Church is the body of Christ fashioned by baptism and the Eucharist. When people are baptised in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and when they gather around the table of Christ and receive his Body and Blood, they become the people of God, called the Church. ~ Henri Nouwen
Dear God!
This woman is quite clearly an extremely disturbed individual. The photo (click the link below) of her smiling face surely belies a very warped, sinister and tormented soul. May God forgive her, and may her aborted babies pray for her!
“How you spend your time is more important than how
you spend your money. Money mistakes can be
corrected, but time is gone forever.”David B. Norris
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