Friday, April 1, 2011

TEDDY BEAR TABLE DECORATION

Things required:
Oranges ..... 3
Cloves ......... 2
Black olive... 1 (here I have used a date)
Toothpicks
Any salad of your choice.
Method:

1. Cut the tip of the two oranges as shown in the picture. Save the pieces for ears.

2. Take one orange and carve the eyes and nose and make two slits on the top to fix the ears.
3. With the help of the toothpicks fix the two oranges one on top of the other.

4. Fix the ears and the cloves for the eyes. Cut the black olive into half and fix it for the mouth.(I have shaped the date and used it instead)

5. From the third orange carve out the hands and fix them with tooth picks.Also cut a base to make the Teddy stand and fix with tooth picks.

6. Make any salad of your choice and place the Orange Teddy in the center.
It is just a simple carving but makes the table decorative.


Sending this to the event: Create 'N' Carve
Hosted by - Simply.Food

I'm back

I've been away for a while, keeping myself very busy the past week. This week has been much like the last. My husband has been gone this week for work so I decided to take the liberty of making over the master bedroom. I'll be saving that for the next post though. We had a great weekend last week with probably more sun than we needed. While Nathan was away I took to the beach to charge my body's solar panels.


Sunday morning our neighbors across the street were taking their boat out and invited us to join them.


There's an island where all the boats bank and party. It's very social around here, I love it. We had some good laughs and some tasty beers.








It was a great day spent with people we love!

Loves!
Kat

AWARD - 13



This beautiful award has been given by Priya Mahadevan of - NOW SERVING
So sweet of her to share this award with all her blogger friends.
Thank you Priya.

Priya has a lovely event going on for the month of April - 2011

"Only" Fusion Recipes.

Do visit and participate in this .

Forbidden Fruit


Bananas are a thing of the past around here. Poor Henry used to consume one every morning along with his cereal and morning coffee (unlike me, he will not eat leftovers for breakfast) until I did a little research and discovered that bananas are extremely high in both sugars (28 g) and carbs (51 g). Now granted, they are a good source of fiber, vitamin C and potassium, so I don’t want to give them a bad rap but they no longer grace our breakfast table. Sigh.

Ah, but when we find ourselves on vacation, all bets are off.  Remember that trip we took recently?

http://nevertrustaskinnycook1.blogspot.com/2011/02/gone-fishin.html

We needed a quick get-a-way, so we headed for the Turks and Caicos. We had never been there, but it was a pretty straight shot from Atlanta (less than 2 hours on a plane, unless you travel in the midst of severe thunderstorms, which happened on the way back), we found a lovely, quiet place to stay (no big, all-inclusive resorts for us) and it looked like a good place for a five-day sojourn.


Indeed, it was. While Provo isn’t a hotbed of activity, it was lovely and easy to navigate. We spent time on the beach, kayaked, explored an iguana-inhabited island, relaxed and enjoyed some lovely dinners at local restaurants. As these islands are under British rule, this last one was a surprise!

Nonetheless, we found good food on the island. Our favorite restaurant was Coyaba which is helmed by Chef Paul Newman (I’m not making that up). We were lucky enough to meet him and he shared some insights as to the difficulties involved in running a successful restaurant on the island. Unfortunately he did not share his recipe for Banana Caramel Eton Mess, but I am determined to re-create it. Stay tuned.

The other memorable dessert we encountered was Magnolia’s Banoffee Pie. I stumbled across the recipe while perusing one of the local dining magazines and figured it was reason enough to have dinner there. Well, why not? We had to make up for our banana deficiency somehow, right?


BANOFFEE PIE  (adapted from Chef Matt Gaynor, Magnolia Restaurant, Providenciales)

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
4 oz. (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 ½ cups dulce de leche (or salted caramel, which is what I used)
2 bananas, sliced
2 cups heavy cream, chilled
¼ cup confectioner’s sugar
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder

Preheat oven to 350-degrees.

Place graham cracker crumbs in a large mixing bowl. Add melted butter and stir until combined. Press into a 9 or 10-inch tart pan, or 6 individual tart pans with removable bottoms. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until just set; remove from oven and set aside to cool.

When crust is cool, pour the dulce de leche over and smooth top. Place in the refrigerator to set up and cool completely.

Just before serving, layer banana slices over the caramel layer. Whip the cream to soft peaks with the confectioner’s sugar and espresso powder. Spread evenly over the bananas. Cut and serve immediately.

Serves 6 – 8










• I will admit that I am a snob when it comes to graham cracker crusts. I normally eschew them in favor of some other type of cookie, as you know from my prior cheesecake posts. But, since this is a traditional British recipe, I elected to just go with it and you know what? I liked it!

• I had some leftover salted caramel from making one of those Sweet and Salty Cakes so I subbed it for the dulce de leche. This was a good decision; so much so that if I make this again, I would venture so far as to make some salted caramel specifically for this dessert. Make your own choice: here are the links for both:

http://nevertrustaskinnycook1.blogspot.com/2010/12/baked.html

http://nevertrustaskinnycook1.blogspot.com/2010/05/dulce-de-leche-vs-dulce-de-leche.html

• F.Y.I., when I made this (for that potluck recently where I took the mac and cheese), I used an 11 x 7 ½ -inch rectangular tart pan with a removable bottom. Use whatever you have.

• Yeah, we had both mac and cheese and banoffee pie that night. What was I thinking????????

Things That Make Me Smile

I love derelict barns, houses and boats. Especially boats. I don't know why, but there's just something romantic and mysterious about a derelict structure.

It'sTime To Send In The Cops

... because the Libya thing doesn't look to be going so well.

Our allies call for a cease fire.
April 1 (Bloomberg) -- Libya’s opposition called for a cease-fire after the U.S. said it’s withdrawing aircraft used to attack Muammar Qaddafi’s forces following adverse weather that prevented strikes allowing Libyan loyalists to push back rebels.
Organization is practically non-existent.
Rebel forces lack any central command or organizational structure. They operate in small units, usually composed of groups of friends, neighbors or tribesmen who have armed themselves and deployed to the front on their own and make their own fighting decisions with little coordination with other groups ...

It is also hard for rebel commanders to control their youthful and inexperienced troops.

"I can't really give orders because they don't listen; instead, I give advice," said Mr. Khairy, the commander outside Darnah.
Chanting and slogans seem to be having their usual potent impact.
Another battlefield problem for the rebels is the scores of teenagers who have flocked to the front. They seem drawn by the idea of fighting and the spirit of revolution, but they carry no weapons ...

In Ajdabiya, eight teens from east of Benghazi said they had followed the rebels into battle for the last 17 days after hitching rides to the front. They sat gorging on food handouts, singing and mocking Kadafi with chants of "Forward to the front! No return!" — favorite phrases of the Libyan leader.
No worries, though. One of the most experienced and thoughtful leaders on the President's side has a brilliant idea to put an end to this whole mess. Arrest the dude.

Back in Business with Sticky Citrus Sponge Cake!

served with fresh strawberries and cream

 Is this too good to be true? Is this post actually going to materialize complete with photos? Here is the recipe that I have been trying to put up all week! You will love it and the family will love you for it.
What a cake this is! It can be a pudding too. If it was served warm, it would remind me of treacle stodge as we used to call it at school. Needless to say, it was our favourite pud. Make it now with the last of the season’s oranges: it makes a good-sized cake, moist, sticky on top, very flavoursome indeed and not at all stodgy.


Last week I enjoyed it not once but twice! The first time I made it for a ladies’ lunch and the second time my dear friend Leyla offered it as a dinner party dessert. We had both been seduced by the cover picture of the latest BBC Good Food magazine and quite separately decided to make it for our guests. Here it is:
Ingredients for  Sticky Citrus Sponge Cake
Cuts into 10
4 medium oranges*
6tbsp golden syrup, plus extra to serve, optional
200g/7oz butter, at room temperature plus extra for greasing
200g/7oz soft brown sugar
200g/7ozself-raising flour**
1 tsp baking powder
100g/4oz ground almonds
4 large eggs
Method
·         Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Finely grate the zest from 2 oranges into a large bowl. Cut the peel and pith from all the oranges with a serrated knife, and slice quite thickly.




·         Drizzle the golden syrup evenly over the base of a greased 23cm round cake tin. There is no need to line the tin and it shouldn’t have a loose bottom otherwise the syrup will bubble through. Arrange the best orange slices on top of the syrup and finely chop any that don’t fit.
·         Put all the remaining ingredients in the bowl with the zest and chopped orange. Beat with an electric hand mixer until smooth. Spoon on top of the oranges, spread lightly and make a deep hollow in the centre of the mix with the back of a spoon – this will ensure that the cake rises evenly.




·         Bake for 45-50 mins until firm when pressed. Allow to settle for 5 mins before turning out. Drizzle with golden syrup if you like (I didn’t) and serve with custard or ice cream. I served with strawberries and cream.


Tips
1.       *I used only 2 oranges here – they were obviously not using Turkish oranges in the original recipe!
2.       **I make my  own self-raising flour here by adding ½ tsp BP to 2oz/50g plain flour and sifting together. Works perfectly!
3.       I have the greatest joy in announcing that Golden Syrup so beloved by us Brits is actually available at certain supermarkets here in Istanbul. A bit pricey perhaps as I saw on my recent trip to London that it costs £1 there which seems given away in comparison. But at least we can get it.
4.       And finally re ground almonds which I have mentioned before as being hard to find at least on a consistent basis, a friend has just told me that they are available at Metro. The only trouble is the amount as it comes in industrial quantities. But that is not an insurmountable obstacle ...
and here it is: sticky citrus sponge cake
 Afiyet olsun!

Yellow On White

Dig this awesome photo from our Missionary to the Frozen, Northern Wastelands.

Autism Awareness Day

Photo Credit: lightitupblue.org 

April 2 is the worldwide Autism Awareness Day. Autism affects 1 in 110 children, 1 in 70 boys. Please go to lightitupblue.org to sign the pledge to light it up blue this weekend to bring awareness to Autism. 

I work with at least 3 to 4 children at my school who have Autism. They are sweet sweet kids who have so many daily struggles. Autism effects not only them but their families, churches, schools, and communities. 

Thanks for your support and bringing awareness to Autism this weekend!




Sarah Palin Is A Dum-Dum Head

... and we have proof.

someone told me i should take cautions. i did.




Shoe bag

shoe bag by good mood factory
shoe bag, a photo by good mood factory on Flickr.

Shoe bag featuring my illustration "Vintage airplane"

Friday with an illustration.

A ilustração da semana.

A Little More On Illinois Vs. Portugal

Bloomberg is reporting that Portugal had to pay 5.793% on average in their latest round of bond sales. Illinois bonds look to be yielding around 5.5%. To give a frame of reference, Portugese bonds are typically compared to 1-year German bonds which are now yielding 1.5%. Illinois bonds might be compared to US Treasury bonds which are yielding 0.3% for 1-year bonds. That means Portugal is paying a 4.3% premium over Germany and Illinois is paying a 5.2% premium over the Federal government.

Next time you want to sneer at the Euros and their ridiculous, bankrupt nanny states, consider our friends in the Land of Lincoln.

Update: A commenter pointed out that those were longer maturity Illinois bonds, so the comparison isn't quite fair.

CHEESY POTATO SLICES


Ingredients:
Potato ....... 1 (large )
Tomatoes .. 2 small
Garlic paste... 1 tsp.
Tomato puree ... 2 tbsps.
Tomato ketchup... 1 tbsp.
Grated cheese ..... 3-4 tbsps.
Oregano ............ 1 tbsp.
Red chilli powder ... 1/2 tsp.
Salt ................... to taste
Oil.

For garnishing:
Palak (spinach) ..... 1/2 bunch.
Method:
1. Blanch the tomatoes.Make pizza sauce adding salt, red chilli powder, garlic, tomato puree and ketchup. Season with oregano.
2. Peel the potato and cut thin slices. Leave them in the salted water for 10 minutes. Fry them till half done. Drain and set aside.
3. Chop the palak leaves and sprinkle salt over them. Heat the oil well and deep fry them (using a big strainer) until crisp.
4. In a baking tray place the potato slices, spread the pizza sauce and top it with grated cheese.

5. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 8-10 minutes, until the cheese melts.
6. Serve them on a bed of crispy, crunchy spinach.

15 in 15 - Week 4


A little disappointed this week. I started Jillian Michael's 30 day shred on Sunday. I was able to do it 4 of the days, whew talk about being sore! And I haven't even gotten weights yet to do with it.

I also think the scale cheated me this morning. When I first got on it said I had lost -0.4 lbs and then went to -0.2 lbs. I should just average it and say -0.3lbs. Oh well... hopefully better luck next week. I need to get weights and also try to do the dvd 5-6 days.