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Aug. 4th, 2016
At the Radcliffe Camera
My friend's comment on her photo: (friend is a teacher/not a librarian)
This is the next level of quiet. Don't even tap on your keyboard, you inconsiderate monster, quiet.
My friend's comment on her photo: (friend is a teacher/not a librarian)
This is the next level of quiet. Don't even tap on your keyboard, you inconsiderate monster, quiet.
Courgette and lime loaf cake
Aug. 4th, 2016 06:03 pmCourgette and lime loaf cake
Adapted from How to be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson.
http://miri-thegreatcookeryadventure.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/courgette-and-lime-loaf-cake.html
"This is the sixth recipe that I have made from How to be a Domestic Goddess, which is good-going for me (I have a habit of buying cookbooks and not cooking from them at all). Other recipes I have made from the book include chocolate cherry cupcakes (see the recipe here), and burnt-butter cupcakes (which I will write up soon).
I made this cake because I had a lot of courgettes. Or rather, I had some courgettes, and one thing led to another, and they multiplied, considerably (next time I buy two courgettes I will have to separate them). So I have been eating courgettes for days. But I’m not sick of them, because they are brilliant, and as this cake proves, so versatile.
I love the simplicity of an un-iced loaf cake. It seems more acceptable to be eaten throughout the day. Nigella’s original recipe was for a filled and iced cake. When I first made this cake I did make the icing, but even though I reduced the sugar from the original (as I always do with Nigella icing) it was still tooth-achingly sweet, and the wrong consistency. So I decided just to go without, the cake is sweet enough on it’s own and doesn’t need it.
Due to the dampness of the courgettes and the use of oil instead of butter this is a very moist cake – squidgy and delicious. The cake will continue to get more squidgy and delicious each day after it is made."
Ingredients
250g courgettes – this will range from between 1-3 courgettes, depending on how big they are. Weigh before you grate.
60g raisins or sultanas
2 large eggs
125 ml vegetable oil (or other flavourless oil)
150g caster sugar
225g self-raising flour
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
Zest of 1 lime with about 1 tbsp lime juice
Method
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees (160 with fan).
Grate the courgettes unpeeled – not too finely, you want strands, not mush. Put the grated courgette bits into a sieve and leave it sit over the sink while you prep the rest of the ingredients, to allow the excess liquid to drip out.
Beat the eggs, oil and sugar together in a bowl until light and creamed together. Then add in the self-raising flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt. Mix well, and then add the raisins, lime zest and juice, and grated courgette.
Pour the cake mixture into a lined or greased loaf tin, and bake for 45 minutes, or until it is risen and golden.
Test to see if the cake is ready by inserting a cocktail stick or skewer into the centre of the cake – it should come out clean.
Adapted from How to be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson.
http://miri-thegreatcookeryadventure.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/courgette-and-lime-loaf-cake.html
"This is the sixth recipe that I have made from How to be a Domestic Goddess, which is good-going for me (I have a habit of buying cookbooks and not cooking from them at all). Other recipes I have made from the book include chocolate cherry cupcakes (see the recipe here), and burnt-butter cupcakes (which I will write up soon).
I made this cake because I had a lot of courgettes. Or rather, I had some courgettes, and one thing led to another, and they multiplied, considerably (next time I buy two courgettes I will have to separate them). So I have been eating courgettes for days. But I’m not sick of them, because they are brilliant, and as this cake proves, so versatile.
I love the simplicity of an un-iced loaf cake. It seems more acceptable to be eaten throughout the day. Nigella’s original recipe was for a filled and iced cake. When I first made this cake I did make the icing, but even though I reduced the sugar from the original (as I always do with Nigella icing) it was still tooth-achingly sweet, and the wrong consistency. So I decided just to go without, the cake is sweet enough on it’s own and doesn’t need it.
Due to the dampness of the courgettes and the use of oil instead of butter this is a very moist cake – squidgy and delicious. The cake will continue to get more squidgy and delicious each day after it is made."
Ingredients
250g courgettes – this will range from between 1-3 courgettes, depending on how big they are. Weigh before you grate.
60g raisins or sultanas
2 large eggs
125 ml vegetable oil (or other flavourless oil)
150g caster sugar
225g self-raising flour
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
Zest of 1 lime with about 1 tbsp lime juice
Method
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees (160 with fan).
Grate the courgettes unpeeled – not too finely, you want strands, not mush. Put the grated courgette bits into a sieve and leave it sit over the sink while you prep the rest of the ingredients, to allow the excess liquid to drip out.
Beat the eggs, oil and sugar together in a bowl until light and creamed together. Then add in the self-raising flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt. Mix well, and then add the raisins, lime zest and juice, and grated courgette.
Pour the cake mixture into a lined or greased loaf tin, and bake for 45 minutes, or until it is risen and golden.
Test to see if the cake is ready by inserting a cocktail stick or skewer into the centre of the cake – it should come out clean.
"Lemongrass is one of my favorite Thai flavors. I keep a zipper bag of leftover lemongrass in my freezer, so I decided to pull it out and make use of the stems that are too rough for mincing (like for this yummy Vietnamese recipe).
Alright, so in the picture above, you’ll see (from left to right): tough end pieces, tender root pieces, and trimmed “grocery-store-herb-section” lemongrass root.
I like to buy big bunches of lemongrass at my local Asian supermarket and keep it in the freezer. I use the tender root pieces for curries, and save the tough end stalks for making this tea!"
Addictive Fresh Lemongrass Tea
http://thewanderlustkitchen.com/addictive-fresh-lemongrass-tea/
Fresh lemongrass tea is easy to make and oh-so-addictive!
Author: The Wanderlust Kitchen
Serves: 8 servings
Ingredients
4 cups water
2 cups roughly chopped lemongrass stalks
¼ cup sugar
Lime wheels for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring the water to a boil over high heat in a medium saucepan.
2. Add the lemongrass and boil rapidly for 5 minutes.
3. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the tea for an additional 5 minutes.
4. Strain the stalks from the liquid. Stir in the sugar until dissolved.
5. Serve warm, or chill in the refrigerator and pour over ice
LEMONGRASS – HOW TO GROW IT AND USE IT
http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2014/11/lemongrass-grow-use.html
( text here )
Alright, so in the picture above, you’ll see (from left to right): tough end pieces, tender root pieces, and trimmed “grocery-store-herb-section” lemongrass root.
I like to buy big bunches of lemongrass at my local Asian supermarket and keep it in the freezer. I use the tender root pieces for curries, and save the tough end stalks for making this tea!"
Addictive Fresh Lemongrass Tea
http://thewanderlustkitchen.com/addictive-fresh-lemongrass-tea/
Fresh lemongrass tea is easy to make and oh-so-addictive!
Author: The Wanderlust Kitchen
Serves: 8 servings
Ingredients
4 cups water
2 cups roughly chopped lemongrass stalks
¼ cup sugar
Lime wheels for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring the water to a boil over high heat in a medium saucepan.
2. Add the lemongrass and boil rapidly for 5 minutes.
3. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the tea for an additional 5 minutes.
4. Strain the stalks from the liquid. Stir in the sugar until dissolved.
5. Serve warm, or chill in the refrigerator and pour over ice
LEMONGRASS – HOW TO GROW IT AND USE IT
http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2014/11/lemongrass-grow-use.html
( text here )
Expecting? Part 2
Aug. 4th, 2016 07:43 pmTitle: Expecting? Part 2
Expecting? Part 1
Andy & Simon drabbles
Author: charisstoma
Word count: 411
“There’s only one?” Simon sounded almost disappointed.
“Simon, you’re being an ass,” Jennifer scolded as if Andy wasn’t lying on the examining table, with only a sheet strategically placed, with ice cold gel spread over his belly and a bit lower. The ultrasound wand pressing into him wasn’t too uncomfortable if you didn’t mind someone testing to see if you were done yet and forgetting that they’d left the probe stuck in place even if it didn’t break skin.
“Simon,” Andy tried reasonably and quite frankly, though seeing a small curled up shape in the television monitor was interesting if surreal, he wanted back into this conversation. He coughed. “Let’s try one for now and see how it goes on and we can always try for another later. It’s not as if we’ve got a choice in the matter. The little guy is there all alone and seems healthy. He is healthy, isn’t he?!”
“Perfectly,” Jennifer answered still staring menacingly at Simon.
“I don’t want anything to happen to Andy. It’s not like males are meant to get pregnant.”
“That is not what you were telling me when we did the pregnancy test thingy, Simon. And yes, I know I’m not a sea horse but Jennifer says everything is good.”
Jennifer turned and thankfully to Andy’s mind removed the wand, wiping off the gel with a tissue. “First time fathers can be asses. Don’t pay him any mind. One is just right, the spell worked just fine, and you seem to be handling the pregnancy wonderfully. There is no reason to fear. Still, you’re human. So we’ll monitor you closely. Appointments every couple weeks, with blood tests. Nothing stressful unless you’re afraid of needles but then you’ve a snake familiar for a mate so I imagine that you’re used to ‘unnatural ‘ things being inserted quite often.” She was smirking as she said that last bit and Andy felt his lips drawing up into a smile that displayed teeth. Oh for sharp pointy fangs. It appeared that doctors, even female ones could be obnoxious asses too.
With a grin Jennifer patted his tummy, “There really isn’t any danger to you or the sprog, not even if the two of you want to continue with that,” she coughed, “insertion business. The little guy is well protected. He’s got a shell which he’ll slough out of before birthing. That’ll make things much easier for the both of you ... and maybe even Simon.”
Part 3 - Prior Planning
Expecting? Part 1
Andy & Simon drabbles
Author: charisstoma
Word count: 411
“There’s only one?” Simon sounded almost disappointed.
“Simon, you’re being an ass,” Jennifer scolded as if Andy wasn’t lying on the examining table, with only a sheet strategically placed, with ice cold gel spread over his belly and a bit lower. The ultrasound wand pressing into him wasn’t too uncomfortable if you didn’t mind someone testing to see if you were done yet and forgetting that they’d left the probe stuck in place even if it didn’t break skin.
“Simon,” Andy tried reasonably and quite frankly, though seeing a small curled up shape in the television monitor was interesting if surreal, he wanted back into this conversation. He coughed. “Let’s try one for now and see how it goes on and we can always try for another later. It’s not as if we’ve got a choice in the matter. The little guy is there all alone and seems healthy. He is healthy, isn’t he?!”
“Perfectly,” Jennifer answered still staring menacingly at Simon.
“I don’t want anything to happen to Andy. It’s not like males are meant to get pregnant.”
“That is not what you were telling me when we did the pregnancy test thingy, Simon. And yes, I know I’m not a sea horse but Jennifer says everything is good.”
Jennifer turned and thankfully to Andy’s mind removed the wand, wiping off the gel with a tissue. “First time fathers can be asses. Don’t pay him any mind. One is just right, the spell worked just fine, and you seem to be handling the pregnancy wonderfully. There is no reason to fear. Still, you’re human. So we’ll monitor you closely. Appointments every couple weeks, with blood tests. Nothing stressful unless you’re afraid of needles but then you’ve a snake familiar for a mate so I imagine that you’re used to ‘unnatural ‘ things being inserted quite often.” She was smirking as she said that last bit and Andy felt his lips drawing up into a smile that displayed teeth. Oh for sharp pointy fangs. It appeared that doctors, even female ones could be obnoxious asses too.
With a grin Jennifer patted his tummy, “There really isn’t any danger to you or the sprog, not even if the two of you want to continue with that,” she coughed, “insertion business. The little guy is well protected. He’s got a shell which he’ll slough out of before birthing. That’ll make things much easier for the both of you ... and maybe even Simon.”
Part 3 - Prior Planning