Victoria Clayton is a UK author who has been on my list for years. She started off writing for children and swapped to adult stories in 1997. I find that few people know about her and yet she writes wonderful, heartwarming stories of young women who usually end up in some fabulous decaying grand house somewhere in the British Isles. While she falls in love with one of the quirky inhabitants or neighbours, she often helps the decaying aspect of the house with varying degrees of success. She doesn't write that fast so time passes in between each of her books but every now and then I find another one has been published and that has just happened. I have now downloaded Stormy Weather. … [Read more...] about Favourite Author No. 4 – Victoria Clayton
This Means War – pretty but uncomfortable
The cinema was empty at the morning session except for two girls who decided, out of the whole cinema, to sit behind me and giggle the whole way through the movie. Murphy's Law in full force. Options: Tell them to shut the hell up or grin and bear it. I am pleased to say I took the high road and left them in peace. After all laughter is good for the soul. I have been known to ask people to be quiet before but usually I just move though that can be tricky once ensconced in a chair with all my paraphenalia - icecream and drink plus a jacket because this particular cinema rivals a cold European winter even in summer. Anyway to the movie. Yes, well.... Chris Pine, Tom Hardy and Reese Witherspoon are pretty to watch and there was the prerequisite love and fight scenes, the cliche moves, violence, sex and cardboard characters. One of those made from cardboard was the villain, played by Til Schweiger. Now he is pretty and more my kind of a man than the other two. He's very successful in his … [Read more...] about This Means War – pretty but uncomfortable
Favourite Place in the World No. 8 – Disneyland
I’ve been there three times - this place brings out the child in me and I can’t get enough. When I was growing up, I lived on a farm and the Auckland Easter Show was the only fair I ever went to and that was only once a year. Perhaps it was some sense of deprivation that makes me such a baby about theme parks still today. I don’t do rollercoasters but I ride the Space Mountain one at Disneyland because it’s mostly in the dark and I don’t realize I am flying through the air. I do feel a little sick by the end though and need some recovery time. A trip in the nearby submarine is the perfect antidote. Calming and serene. The same can be said for the Jungle Ride but I wish the animals were real – that would be really cool. There’s hardly a part I don’t like – I even go on the kiddie’s roller coaster. Actually that’s about my measure of a rollercoaster. I feel a day is about right for this park – you can do most everything at least once and I love that sense of completion. … [Read more...] about Favourite Place in the World No. 8 – Disneyland
Caesar Salad – a one-dish meal with carbs, proteins and greens
As I have mentioned I love food that can be mixed all together in a bowl as long as it has all the main food groups. It's my job to make sure my family eats healthily and I think about the balance with every meal. Adriano is off tomorrow for another big race in Nelson so it's carbs before and as always protein after to rebuild the muscles. I take care of the before and he gets big steaks for dinner afterwards. Anyway, here's my more or less healthy version of a Caesar salad. This is not a low Fodmap recipe. Salad leaves or lettuce Croutons - cut ciabatta bread into slices and rub with a cut garlic clove, then cut into cubes and grill in the oven on both sides. Watch they don't burn. Chicken breasts - brush with oil and rub with garlic as well and cook on a grill, then slice up Parmesan cheese - use a potato peeler to thinly shave Put everything into a bowl and toss with a Caesar dressing. Yes, you could make your own but if you are a working woman then buy the best brand … [Read more...] about Caesar Salad – a one-dish meal with carbs, proteins and greens
Hamburgers with a twist
Every now and then Adriano asks for hamburgers to fill him up, especially after a couple of hard mountain bike races in a row. I make what could be considered a healthy version. This recipe is not low Fodmap. Hamburgers with a twist Print Author: Suzanne Perazzini Ingredients Mince rolled and flattened into patties Sliced avocado Sliced tomatoes Salad leaves Chilli sauce mixed with yoghurt Hummus Hamburger buns Method I toast the bottom of the buns and spread hummus on them while the patties are cooking in a pan. I then add the avocado and tomatoes. When the meat is ready, I toast the top of the buns and assemble the rest of the hamburgers. First the patties then the sauce and lastly the salad leaves and the toasted bun tops to finish off. 3.2.2807 I had left over filling from yesterday's quesadillas so I added a couple of spoonfuls of that to each burger tonight as well. That accounts for how high they are in the photo. Tricky to eat when they are that … [Read more...] about Hamburgers with a twist
Spinach and Cheese Quesadillas – almost no cooking involved
Occasionally we eat vegetarian and this dish makes the lack of meat more than worth your while. Tasty is an understatement. Be sure to make plenty as they will disappear quickly. This is NOT a low Fodmap recipe. Get out your food processor and whiz together 130g cottage cheese and 100g spinach leaves to a paste. Mix together all the following ingredients in a bowl: 1 chopped avocado 200g canned Mexican-style beans 125g can corn kernels drained 2 tomatoes chopped finely 2 zucchini grated coarsely Lay out 4 torillas, spread the spinach mixture on top leaving a free border - be generous and use all the mixture. Then add the tomato/bean mixture next piled on top. Place another torilla on top, cover with grated mozarella cheese and place under the grill until melted. It won't take long. Slice in four and serve. Watch them get gobbled up. Source of recipe: The Australian Women's Weekly Great Casual Food Cookbook … [Read more...] about Spinach and Cheese Quesadillas – almost no cooking involved
