Growing Amidst the Rubbish

I went out this morning to throw my day's compost in the trench.

Because of a miscommunication between my gardener and I

he dug the trenches between where the vegetables are growing.

 

I am challenged and have to be ingenious and limber to reach in to

pluck some of the ripe tomatoes off the plants!

I  noticed this morning that the bushes don't mind that there is a trench

right there with and fruit flies and miggies

enjoying the ever-degrading plant material.

 

The tomatoes just go on growing and ripening!

They know who they are, they know what to do...

 

Time For Change

This was Saturday last week:

The last part of the painting of the inside of the house...

 

I REALLY don't like bare walls!

Les (visiting) helped me put some of the pictures up again as soon as possible.

 

The kitchen part was done a couple of days later.

And the last of the window frames done today.

 

Thank you Douglas for having workers I can put to use

 when you have some down time.

Welcome Back Dom and Cindy!

Saturday 10th January 2015

 

Dom and Cindy have been visiting her parents and family

in Cape Town for the holidays.

Doug and Nadia organised a Welcome Home Bring and Braai last Saturday.

Les is also here on business, so he joined us too.

He stayed with Dom and Cindy the night and then went off to Tshepise

(seven hour drive North from here) on business for a week.

He will be back this next weekend.

 

The ever delighted swimmers!

 

And a few steps away in Doug and Nadia's back yard -

The other family members braai-ing and chatting...

 

Jarom (14 now, and off to High School on Wednesday) had been away

for  a week at FSY (For the Strength of Youth) Camp.

Dom's sister Sarah (21) had also been there as a facilitator.

(Sarah leaves for her mission in the Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission in March.)

Very lively discussion dominated by the two of them telling

and showing us all about the wonderful time they had

with about 550 other youth in our area.

 

I loved hearing all about it!

Good reason to get together again...

Thanks Dom and Cindy for coming back!

"Macaroni Cheese" Recipe

This was in the oven too long.

Dinner was delayed.

Usually the dish is moister and the top less crisp and brown.

It was delicious - as always - nevertheless!

 

Macaroni Cheese as my Mother made it (Philippa Powrie)

Get out your baking dish
Pour in raw macaroni until half full
Pour raw macaroni into salted boiling water in a pot on the stove
Boil macaroni until soft enough.

In the meantime:

Butter the baking dish.
Sprinkle with salt – I use Ina Parma Green onion salt.

Chop an onion

Sauté.

Chop a tomato.

When the macaroni is soft, drain and

add the sautéed onions
add the raw chopped tomato
fold together and pour into your greased baking dish
sprinkle with salt.

Mix together

1 ½ cups milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs (optional)

Pour the liquid over the macaroni

Cover with grated cheddar cheese
Cover to stop the top from getting too crisp whilst the milk mixture is setting

Remove cover baking dish near the end and let the cheese grill slightly

Bake 200c for about 30 minutes until milk mixture is set.

Serve with brightly coloured vegetables as well as fresh salad.

Enjoy!

Tangles

The hairdresser I go to calls her salon "Tangles"

She made this for outside her door.

 

Remember...

When I was browsing the internet for something else I found this.

I like it.

I put it in my kitchen to remind me of my motive.

"Nando's Chicken Strips" Recipe

I learnt this when visiting Angela.

Thank you Angela!

 

This does not take long, so have everything else ready for the meal.

 

Drizzle Nando's sauce over the bottom of the pan.

The more you put in, the more peri-peri the chicken will be.

Put in the chicken strips.

 

Sometimes I will do this and leave it for a while

until I am ready to cook and serve.

 

Turn on a medium-highish heat.

 

Move the strips around periodically to cook through. 

The chicken will make a juice, then reduce down.

As the strips gets dryer, keep moving the strips periodically,

turn down the heat somewhat and

watch as they caramelize so that the chicken does not burn.

 

Here is our Nando's chicken ready to serve.

This is two chicken breasts.

 

I use the Nando's mild peri-peri sauce.

Serve with fresh salads.

 

Delicious, easy and quick meal.

 

Remember the messages on the mugs:

 

You're so special

Especially to me

 (on the other side of that mug)

 

This mug given to me by my Dad.

 

And

 

I love you...

 

This singing mug lent? given? to me by Douglas.

 

Thank you Dad.

Thank you Douglas.

 

These mugs are right next to my stove - I see them every day.

I soak in their messages.