Long time no See

Ok its been a while, but Im back now still trying to break that cycle of serial blogging.....

Well I have been to Newcastle (my home town, affectionaly known as the Toon) to visit my family. It was my son Micheals 30th birthday on 5th Nov (Guy Fawkes that is, I will explain Guy Fawkes to anyone living in the colonies that doesnt know what that is. Just send a stamped addressed envelope to me with a tenner in it and you will get the answer you require. Course it may be all crap bit it will be my answer) I hadn't seen him since last Christmas so understanbly I was anxious to spend some time with him.

The night of his birthday we went to a quiet little place in Forest Hall in Newcastle, called a Amici. It was just my son Micheal my daughter Turi and me. Very cosy, the restaurant was very nice the food excellent! Typical Itialian with good cheap wine that went down a treat.

That weekend we went to a Japanese restuarant in Newcastle called Fujiyama. What a show they put on. The food was good and fresh and cooked in front of us on a hibachi grill. All done with a lot of theatrics.

There is a lot more to talk about, especially whe I was lucky enough yo get to meet Julie from Tulip Fairy's Kitchen, when she came up to see me while I was staying at my sister Anns at Whitely Bay. We had a ball, she and her hubby Paul are a wonderful couple I wish I lived closer. I will post more tomorrow.

ALL SHOOK UP

AN OFFER YOU CANT REFUSE!!!

I know I have been very neglectful here lately but its been hectic. What with one thing and another I feel as though there arent enough hours in the day. And have I told you how much I hate Insurance Companies in the States, they should all be wearing masks as they arae are all a bunch of bandits, I dont know how they sleep at night. Ok its safe to come out now my rant is over.

Due to the very busy nature of stuff around here lately, food has often been something just thrown together, but I did take the time to make my own pizza the other day. Probably because I got my flour delivery from King Arthur (the milling company in Vermont not the King Arthur of legends, I dont know him that well) and I get it in 25lbs bags. Yes a lot of flour I hear you say, but then I do bake a lot and the flour is so fresh it makes such a diffrence. If you get a chance give it a try. Well worth the little bit extra that you pay for it.

The recipe is a very simple one, and I have used it a bunch of times. I found that by storing the dough in the fridge (after its first rise) for a few days enhances the flavour,

NOW OR LATER PIZZA DOUGH BY KING ARTHUR TADAH !!!!

3 Cups All Purpose Flour

1 Teaspoon Yeast

1 1/2 Teaspoons Salt

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

11/4 to 11/2 Cups of Water

Toppings of your choice.

Mix and knead all the ingredients together, by hand or mixer, until a smooth soft dough is created. Do not over knead, it should hold together but look a rough on the surface.

Cover and allow to rise for 45 mins, then refridgerate for about 4 hours or up to two days. This step enhances the flavour.

Divide the dough in half and shape into a 9 to 12 inch round (thicker or thinner crust, your choice, we love the thin crispy one). Place on a parchment sheet cut to fit, cover the dough and allow to rest while you heat the oven (and baking stone if you have one) to 500f.

After about 30 minutes, using a giant spatula r peel, transfer teh pizza to the oven stone or palce parchemnt and ona pan and [alce in the middle of the oven.

Bake for 4 minutes, then remove from the oven.

You can now add your toppings of your choice and transfer hack to the oven and bake for another 8 minutes till the crust is golden and the toppings are bubbly.

If you want to have your pizza later you can cool the untopped pizza crusts, wrap them well in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for 5 days, or freeze for up to 4 weeks. When reheating the pizza, the oven needs to be 450f and bake for 8 minutes.

My hubby loves this pizza, especially with tons of garlic and a drizzle of Olive Oil. Yumm..

Not Much Cooking Here Today!

Today the very thought of food is not good for me. I am feeling definatley off colour, though I will spare you all the details, and I know you are grateful for that.

This week has been so busy as I am trying to get a lot of stuff done around the place before Turi ,my daughter arrives in a few weeks time. Obvioulsy I want the place to be looking its best for her coming, but apart from that this place seems to take all our time. I spent most of yesterday cleaning the mildew off the front porch ceiling and rails. Im sure I can still smell bleach, Yuk!! I did have plans to treat the front and back decks with water sealer today and mow the area around the barn, but Im afraid its going to have to wait. Right now I can see the back deck and the leaves are really piling up, you would think these trees would have some consideration for those of us who have to clear it up.

I will be feeling better tomorrow, I need to get this stuff done. If I do cook I promise I will photograph it. It may well look hideous.

Mille Crepe

I know I have been slipping, but I promise to do better. So here I am, well its been busy here in the stick, so much going on I dont know were to start. I think I may just start with Friday. It started out ok though I had spent Thursday afternoon cooking as our lovley Zumba instuctor Joni lost her Mother last week. As it is tradition here in the south people give food as gifts as a mark of love and respect, the women at our Zumba class being a great bunch all banded together and we all did something. Wether it was store bought, or home made it didnt matter, everyone contributed. Joni was so touched by all the efforts everyone had gone to she ended up in tears as did the rest of us. Its amazing when people pull together how that support can make you feel so cared for.




After I got home Kirstin (Bobs Daughter) called, she had had a car wreck. Luckily she was not hurt too badly more just pulled muscles and aches and pains. The car was not so lucky. The radiator is all crushed in. Oh well that can be repaired, Im just glad she didnt hurt herself too much.





Today I saw a TV cook show called Sugar Rush and they showed something called a Mille Crepe. Its crepes layered with a vanilla custardy filling. I couldnt help myself I had to try to make it. So here is a pic of it.

It was our fifth wedding anniversary on Friday, and though I spent some time cooking a meal for us it was not eaten in the manner intended. My beloved came home from work on Friday evening feeling very icky. Not good when you have spent hours preparing a meal. So he tried to put on brave face and said "if I have a short nap maybe I will feel more like eating". So off he went to bed for a "short nap" That was at 7pm and the meal was ready then so I kept it warm for a while. At midnight after I had partaken of my own weight in chocolate and one or three cosmopolitans, up he gets, and though he couldnt mange the whole meal he was definatley feeling better. I should have taken photos of the chicken rolls stuffed with roasted red peppers and feta cheese, but the only photo I took was of the cheese bread I made.

It is my basic just my usual bread recipe, so here it is, just tarted up with some very tasty cheese.


Basic Bread Dough

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp dried yeast

1 tsp salt

1 tsp butter melted

1 cup water

1 cup milk

1/8 white pepper

Combine water and milk and warm in the microwave for one minute till warm but not hot.

Put the yeast in a large bowl with the sugar and add some of the water milk mixture and combine. Allow the yeast to bloom for about 10 - 15 minutes.

When the yeast has become frothy, add the melted butter and pepper and salt, a little more of the water, then gradually add the flour. This can be done either by hand or with an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook.

Add the water and milk gradually, till a soft dough has formed, then allow the mixer to knead the dough till it starts to leave the sides of the bowl cleanly. Depending on the humidity of your kitchen, you may not need all of the liquid....

Remove from the bowl and knead by hand for till it forms a ball of dough that is smooth but not tacky.

Put it an oiled bowl and cover with cling flim, and allow to rise for about 1-1 1/2 hours, till doubled in size.

After the dough has risen, remove the dough from the bowl and knead by for about five minutes. Then shape the dough as you like, and allow the dough to rise for a second time, for about 30 minutes.

While the dough is rising, heat the oven to 425f and bake the bread for about 30-40 minutes. The bread is done when a hollow sound is heard when you knock on the bottom of the loaf.

To make the cheese bread, after the first rise, roll out the dough to make a rectangle shape as to about half an inch thick. You may have to allow it to rest a time or two as it will want to pull back. When you have done this, sprinkle two cups of your favourite grated cheese over the dough, leaving one egde to without the cheese. Brush the edge with beaten egg and roll up the rectangle as though making sausage rolls, then cut into two inch peices and place on a baking tray, cut side up, with the sides of the rolls touching. Cover with a tea towel and allow to rise for about 30 minutes. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds, then bake in a 425f prehated oven for about 25-30 minutes

The time of the Year

In the summer we get a lot of hummingbirds visit us, and lately we have had a bunch of them. So many in fact we filled the feeders twice in one week, I beleive we must be on their migratory path south. They are so pretty, I wish I was able to get a better picture of them. But they do move so fast.

I havent written about what I have been cooking lately, but thats because its either been eaten up so fast and I didnt get my camera fast enough, or it hasnt been pretty enough. I am not talented enough to get things to look pretty enough for the camera. More often it looks like a banger has gone off in my food, but what it lacks in looks it makes up for in flavour. Bit like me really.

I made this on Monday and I will list what went into it but Im afaid I didnt measure anything. I know its terrible, but this way you can tailor it to your tastes. I called it "spicy pork stir fry" I was able to get some really nice pork steaks at Walmart the other day, and I think pork goes so well with chinesey flavours.





SPICY PORK STIR FRY

Marinade
dark soy sauce
sesame oil
orange juice
tomatoe ketchup
4 garlic cloves
chopped fresh ginger
red pepper flakes

2 pork steaks
broccoli
carrots
onions
red and green peppers
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon corn flour

Make the marinde by combining all ingredients in a ziplock bag, squeezing the bag to combine everything. Add the pork steaks, and refrigerate over night.

Prepare all the vegetables by chopping into bite size peices.

Mix corn flour with a little water.

Remove the pork from the marinade, and set aside the marinade to use later. Grill the pork till almost done, then remove from the grill and allow to rest for ten minutes.

Slice the pork in to slices.

Put oil in the wok and when the oil shimmers its time to add the pork to the pan, let it cook for about 5 mins then add the vegetables, continue to cook till the pork is done and veggies are still crisp but cooked.

Add the marinade and combine, then thicken with the corn flour.

Sleepless in Stillwater

Well its one of those nights, you know the kind. You are lying in bed thinking about everything, and your mind is going in a hundred different directions all at once. Not condusive to sleep at all. Im not worried about anything though there are some major things happening right now. The main one Im unable to disclose right now, or else I would have to kill you.

The next biggest thing is my daughter Turi and her boyfriend Mark, coming to visit. Though its not for a few weeks yet, I am really excited. I have started to think about what I need to do before they arrive. Yet all I can think about is the first time I set eyes on her. I keep playing scenarios of greeting her for the first time, this only helps to build the excitement. Hence no sleep, I hope I get this out of my system, or Im going to one hell of a wreck by the time she gets here.

They are flying into Memphis and spending some time there, doing the Graceland and Beale Street thing, and Bob and I will be there a couple of days later to pick them up. Cant wait to see them.

This photo is one of Turi, she has a certain sense of style as you can see. She often would dress up in the strangest of getups. This day it was a warm summers day yet she felt it neccesary to get so wrapped up. Dont you think the dummy really sets it off. I know she will kill me if she sees this.

The other one is Turi again, obvouisly in monster mode, it was Halloween and her brother was getting dressed for a party as a vampire. Turi wanted to get in on the act. I thought she had a certain style to her. I am in such big trouble!! Bit tis worth it.

I thought Id show you all some more pictures of Colorado. The first one is taken at the cabin we stayed in. It has a river running by it, so lovley.

Then there is the new John Denver!!! He did a cowboy singalong in Estes Park, he was great.


This is another one taken by the cabin from the hot tub. It was so relaxing and the tempratures were cool, so much nicer than Oklahoma at this time of year.


I was talking to Sue (of "Back to the Table" blog) today and we talked about things on our blog. While talking to her I reminded of another occasion were a case of the giggles got me into trouble. Sue suggested I write about this on here for you all to have a giggle at. I hope you all do. I certainley did.



The story of Edward Cairns.

I was about nine years old and attending St Vincents RC School, I was in Mrs Hughes class and though a very nice person, her sense of humour left a lot to be desired. At least I thought so! The class was busy, we had all been given time to draw and colour pictures, obviously Mrs Hughes was in a good mood or just wanted a break for a class of thirty nine nine year olds. Everyone was chatting away and being really well behaved for a change, when all you could hear was Mrs Hughes voice screaming above the whole class, "YOU STUPID BOY, YOU STUPID BOY" . She had hold of Edward Cairns by the scruff of the neck, like a dog trying to kill a rabbit. Edward just hung there all red faced, with Crayola Crayons of various colours sticking out of his nose and ears!! Mrs Hughes was howling "children" She screeched "you should never do this with crayons!"!! That was it for me, I was useless, I laughed till I cried and of course I was the first one to see the funny side of it. Eventually the whole class erupted. Even now I have this picture in my head that has stayed with me for all these years, and now while I am typing this tears are running down my face. I just cant help myself. Poor Edward, if you ever read this I hope you forgive me for laughing, its an affliction Im stuck with.. Dont think there is a cure for this...

Grizzly Adams we are not!!!

We got back from our trip to Colorado at seven thirty pm on Saturday, I say Colorado but we detoured to Wyoming to visit Bobs brother Joe who lives in Laramie. It was only about an hour and a half away from where we were at Fort Collins, in Colorado. It would have been a sin not to go and see them even though we were so tired it was good to go and spend some time with Joe, Enid and Josh there son. Their other son Adam was gone, but it was good to see them anyway.

It was my first visit to the mountains and it didnt disapoint. It lived up to all I had heard about it, and though I have some photos here, they dont do it justice. The total majesty and vastness of it all is just so hard to put into words, I hope everyone gets to see this at some time in there life.

Quirky Things!!!!

Ok here are my six, Im keeping this brief, Im so tired after our trip.

1. My hair colour is very natural. (it says so on the box)

2. I love to sing but I sound like a nightingpig. When I have partaken of a bevvy or five, I beleive I can sing like a Aretha, so if you are ever at a Kareoke with me, never let me have the mic.

3. I dont eat fish.........Bleh............

4. Im a dog person, I like cats but dogs are my favourite pets.

5. My guardian Angel is called Greta.

6. I often find thngs funny that others dont, often at most embarrising times. Like seeing Ann Lackenbie sneeze during the Hail Mary and she didnt have a hanky. (I can still see that lace curtain) I know its gross but she was such a snob it couldnt have happened to a nicer person, it didnt go down well with the nuns. but Im sure I saw Sister Augustine having a chuckle too.

Well we are off to Colorado tomorrow, though it may be Saturday, depends on Bob and work. He always has tons of little details tha need tying up and they are the kind of things I cant help with. We will be gone for about 8 days so I wont be blogging for a while. I will take loads of photos and post them as soon as I get back.

My last post concentrated on my friend Eileen, I wish you all could meet her. She truly is one of those people that light up a room when she walks in. Her sense of humour is legendary with everyone that meets her. It has kept her going through some really tough times. Even when her husband (they were seperated at the time) was found dead she managed to make others smile, even the police that came to take us to the morgue to identifiy his body, were laughing by the time they took us home. Someone asked her if he was really dead?? She replied " I hope so we cremated him on Monday" She really is a gem. I miss my mates in England.

Its been a busy day, it started off ok but then one of the kids came down form the barn at about 9am, and said they had found one of our cats that had been missing for a while. "We have found Stinky" they said, "she is in our hay stall". I dont know why but it just slipped out I said "so she is really Stinky then" Dont think they got the joke. If Eileen was here she would have rolled on the floor laughing. The poor cat was old but Im not sure what had happened to her, though I suspect she may have been crushed by a bale of hay. She was as flat as a pancake, I hope it was quick for her. Dont think Im uncaring, I do care, but I do like to tell it how it is. I too use a bit of humour to cope in sad situations. You should see me at a funeral. I'm a real laugh.

The rest of the day has just been humdrum, getting stuff done before we leave. Cooking has been on the back burner (no pun intended) lately, so not a lot to write home about there. Wiil be back soon.

Does this make my bum look big?

I was reading another blog the other day, and it made me remember a shopping trip for clothes, I had with a very dear friend of mine Eileen. To cut a long story short, my friend has a bit of a sense of humour, we would go out and have an absolute ball with just a trip to Icleand (hmm reminds of the day I threw her in the freezer in Safeway). Anyway, she had been asked out to dinner by her very fit boss, he was drop dead gorgous (but he knew it), and she needed something to wear. We went to the Metro Centre in Gatsehead and trailed round all the shops till we went into BHS. The place was a mess, it was in the middle of renovations, the changing rooms were just bits of curtains strung up workmen everywere. Well she eventually gets her eye on a little black number, and I mean little. Eileen is by no way fat but she had lost some weight and decided this dress was her size. She then heads for the changing room and insists I come in with her so I can give her my opinion. She gets undressed, not easy as the changing rooms are a bit small and the two of us (neither of us small) are in there, she then attempts to try on the dress. She pulls it on gets it as far as across her boobs, it then gets stuck. She is standing there with the dress bunched up around her chest and neck and she looks at me and says "Its perfect!!! Ill take it" Can you imagine my reaction, I started to howl with laughter and she does too, the curtains were flapping all over the place as we are trying to get the dress off. It took some doing I can tell you, it had become part of her after a while. We laughed so hard I had no makeup left on by the time we came out. The staff came over to see what was going on, but I suppose you just had to be there.


What is it with all the stuff in your house breaking down all at once!!! I feel like this house is a black hole for electrical goods, but then I have always had this problem. I moved into a new house about 16 years ago, and on the day we moved in we had four TVs. Within a month three had died on me, one just up and died, another got dropped and another burst into flames while I am holding my month old nephew. Talk about panic!!!!! The room filled with smoke, all I could think of was "get the kids out" Luckily it didnt get out of hand.

Anyway, to the present day, my dishwasher only washes dishes when it feels like it. Somedays I open it up to empty and the dishes are worse than when I put them in. The ice maker on the fridge is being really difficult, it either will not produce ice or its like a glacial flow pouring out. I was sitting here earlier and wondered why I my thinking was getting louder. It was almost like I was shouting inisde my head. (Im not sure that that makes any sense but I hope it does) Turns out the tele has its decided to make my ears bleed by turning up the volume on its own. The sneaky thing is, it does it gradually, so at first you dont even realise it, till it get so loud you cant hear the phone ring. Seems like we may have to go shopping.

Morning Buggerlugs!!

Its a run of the mill day today. Nothing special happening just stuff. So the reason I am writing this is because its been almost a week since I wrote owt, so I'll let you know whats been happening lately.

Well last week my son Micheal, got a promotion at work!!!! Well done that man, I'm so proud of you!! He is a real smart cookie, and yes Im a bit biased but so what he is a wonderful son.

My daughter is planning on comming to visit us soon. Its so exciting that it keeps me awake at night thinking about her getting here. She is coming with her boyfriend Mark, and they are flying into Memphis and spending a few days there and then we are going to pick them up. We will spend a day or so in Memphis with them (no doubt most of it probably in Beale Street,) and then we will make our way back to Stillwater. Its so exciting for me I am like a little kid waiting for Christmas.

Well I thought I would have had more time to add a post or two this blog this week, especially with Bob gone, I thought I would be sitting around twiddling my thumbs. But no such luck. I have been a bit busy with all sorts of stuff. Most of it being taking care of acreage. The veggie garden is a lot of work too, but Im getting some great stuff out of it too. I made the first batch of my roasted tomatoe sauce, the first pic, is of it as it comes out of the oven. The next is the finished product ready to freeze. Here is the recipe,

Roasted Tomatoe Sauce

2lbs ripe tomatoes (I find if the tomatoe is ripe the skins are easier to remove)

3 table spoons olive oil

2 teaspoons mixed italian herbs

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

4 cloves garlic chopped

Preheat oven to 400f

In a roasting pan sprinkle evenly all the ingredients except the tomatoes in the bottom of the pan.

Slice the tomatoes and and place cut side down, on top of the oil and herb mixture.

Roast for about 30-40 mins or until the skins start to lift.

Allow to cool then remove the skins.

Use a blender or fork to break up the tomatoes.

Bob is on his way home now and I will be using some of the sauce for meatballs. He is getting picky these days about food, when I first met him he was glad of anything I made. I think I have him spoiled, he is even putting in requests. I have to say its nice, it means he must like my cooking.

A change of subject now, we went to see the new Batman film last week it was really good. We really enjoyed it. It seems that there are some good new films out at the minute we are hoping to go see the X Files on Friday. I cant wait, I love the X Files. And of course there is Mama Mia, another one I cant wait to see. So different to the other two I know, but I mean its ABBA. I know all the words to all the songs. We will be singing our little hearts out. There was talk of our Zumba class going to see it. That will be a hoot, Joni the instructor, says we should do a zumba routine to Abba music. I can see if we have a few bevvies there may be a few arrests or we will get barred from the cinema. I hope not theres only one in town.

Love and Cake

Well its the weekend again, bit of a quiet one as Bob left this morning for a meeting in New Orleans. I wish I was with him, but there was no real point of me going along, as he will be working and I would spend most of the time on my own. So weres the fun in that. I am better off here looking after the place.

I should really have been back in Newcastle this weekend, my neice Julie got married today and I wish I had been there. I called her an hour after the ceremony (not a good idea I probably spoilt her makeup) and we both had a few tears. Julie was the first child for my sister Ann, and the first Grandchild for my parents, and the first baby in the family since I was born. There are ten years between Julie and me. We have always been close, even when my sister moved to Scotland a few years later we still managed to stay to keep that connection strong. I really hope I can make it up to her for not being at the wedding, I do feel bad about not being there.

Even though its been a busy week I have had a little time for some baking. I made this cake for us and Bob loved it. Hope the thought of it will make him remember me while he is gone. He had better or he will be in big trouble.

Its funny how cake is such an expression of love!! We make cakes for birthdays, christmas christenings, and of course weddings. I bet Julie has a fabulous one.

BLUEBERRY AND ALMOND CAKE

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp slat

1 stick butter

1 tsp almond extract

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 tbls sour cream

1 cup blueberrys

1/3 cup almonds

2 tsps brown sugar

Preheat the oven to 325f.

Grease or spray a 1lb loaf pan.

In a small bowl sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar on medium speed till light in colour, and add almond extract.

Add the eggs one at a time, making sure each egg is well combined in the mix.

Add the dry ingredients and sour cream in two batches, scraping down the sides of the bowl.

Do not over beat.

Gently fold in fruit and half the nuts.

Pour the batter into the pan, and sprinkle the rest of the nuts and brown sugar over the top of the batter.

Bake for 45-55 minutes.

Allow to cool in the pan.

Enjoy

Not Mushroom in Here

Look what I found in the front garden this morning!!! Have you ever seen a mushroom that big, its massive. Im taking a stab in the dark, by saying that we have a bunch of mushrooms growing out here, due to all the rain we have had lately. They seem to grow so fast and in the dark, I know this how? Well because they arent there in the evening, and when I go out early morning there they are, all grown up. Im suprised I have got a family of gnomes living under this one. We have got more around the place but this was is huge, I just had to share it. Thats is my size 7 foot beside it, to give you some idea of the real size.

Kittens That Don't Need Mittens

It Hasnt been much of a cooking day here today, its all leftovers and the kind of leftovers where both Bob (Husband) and me just root around to see what we can find,

Apart from that here are some pics of our latest residents at the Barn...... The top two pics are of our new kittens, just two weeks old and curretnly living under a palatte under a hay storage. the next two are of Geordie (my constant companion and namesake) keeping an eye on things. And yet another kitty. The last two are of Mama kitty and the other little darling is another addition to barn that just showed up one day.

I know its supposed to be about food but today the kitty are so cute.

Not a Good Day for Cakes

Ok Im here again as promised!! I know am such a serial non starter, but I know that once I get started with this blog thing, I really enjoy it.

Yesterday was a super busy day for me. We had had a relatively laid back weekend, and of course that meant I really had to get my bum in gear. I should have shopped at the weekend, and of course I didnt, so that was something else I needed to get done apart from the all my stuff at the barn. Not to mention cook the brisket and make a birthday cake. Not a good day for that at all. I had got all my jobs done apart from finishing off the cake, (that including looking for a 21st birthday card, can you believe in Hallmark they only had two to choose from, I suppose it made things easier to pick one, so perhaps I should be greatful) I thought that would be the easy part, as I had planned to keep in simple due to time constraints I decided not to get to complicated. Im so glad I didnt. The weather here is very hot at the minute, it was probably about 96f yesterday afternoon and even with the AC running its little heart out, it was muggy in the house.

I had put the base frosting on (chocolate ganache) and it went on great so I let it set up, and came back to it a little later. Not realising the humidity was so high I started to pipe a border on the top of the cake, well it started to slide off. You can imagine my thoughts and exclamations at this point, certainley not for family viewing thats for sure. I did get it finished eventually but it spent so much time sitting in the fridge to cool off I didnt get to make it as fancy as I wanted. Oh well it tasted good.

Before dinner Bob had taken his daughter and her boyfriend fishing on the pond at the back of the house. They really enjoyed it as Devon (BF) had never fished before, he caught a very big catfish and Kirstin caught a bass. So not too bad a day all round.

BLOG ABUSE!!!!! IT MUST STOP!!!!!!!!

Im going to start with an admission of guilt!! I am a serial blogger non starter, I start them up and then leave them all alone to fret and worry and to die a sad lonley little blog death. I have started at least three maybe four and I hope with this one that I can break the cycle of blog abuse. I know its going to be hard, but Im sure that with some love and support (I promise I will join a support group, Bloggers Annoymous and follow the steps)

So fellow bloggers, Im not sure who will read this but it doesnt really matter, as this is just my minds ravings, I need to clear up some things. So first things first!! A Geordie is someone who was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and thats were I lived up until five years ago. Im now remarried and living in Stillwater Oklahoma. Its a long way to travel and it seems even longer on days I get homesick. Yes I am happy to be here but there are days when I miss my family and friends back in The Toon. (nickname for Newcastle)

Enough of that!! This weekend has been a bit of a lazy one for me, we did some gardening and barn work yeseterday, but then it got so hot and muggy we ended up coming in and just hanging about the house. I did bake a cake, it was orange and cranberry struesel cake, and there is a pic to prove it, just above. I did bake some wholemeal bread too but that didnt last long enough for me to get the camera. I have been intorduced to King Arthur Flour, so dangerous for me as I am a total breadaholic. I love the stuff, and now I messing around with whole meal flour on an exercise to get healthier. I have to say the results were great. Hats off to King Arthur. ( I wonder if his table was really round and were did he get his tablecloths from. Perhaps Guinivere ran them up for him, in between polishing Lancelots chain mail)

Im going to keep this short, seeing as I have had such a lazy weekend, and I have yet to make a brithday cake for a 21st for tomorrow, and prepare half a cow (brisket) for the oven for tonight. Im going to bake long and slow, all night long. I can feel a Billy Ocean song coming on. All night long, all night long.... all night long. Ok Im off now. I will take pics of the cake and the brisket too.