Whimsical Wednesday…with Carol…

Welcome once again to Whimsical Wednesdays where I unashamedly indulge myself…I do hope you enjoy my meanderings today….Come with me and let’s begin…These posts are never planned… if I come across anything which I love or which tugs at my heartstrings then I save it… the rest happens as I type…It is wherever my thoughts take me at that time…Mainly they are random and unplanned…Enjoy! xxx

Firstly most of you know Sally Cronin @Smorgasbord Magazine where I have a Food Column and contribute recipes to Sally’s health posts…Today Sally has posted a beautiful Thank you to me for which I am touched...Tissue Alert …

Thank you so much, Sally, the pleasure is also mine as I love working in collaboration with you…xxx

Team cook from scratch…xxx  

Time for a story…

This is a continuation of a short story started by author Steph Richmond with the offer to contribute which I took her up on so as you will see I write the occasional chapter…Will this be finished who knows.?.. The girl as yet doesn’t have a name just an unknown past…Enjoy!

Today’s Chapter is written by Steph...The story continues…

The Charade – Chapter 13

 by S C Richmond…

download-3the-charade

She had been looking forward so much to talking to George and finding out more about her Mother, she hoped he was well. She looked around, the shop looked grubby and unkempt in the bright light of day. The previous evening it had looked so magical, she picked up the bag that was left for her and decided to go and visit Mr. James, maybe he would know George, Mr. James seemed to know just about everyone in town.

   When she arrived at his house he was out too, she was beginning to feel that no one wanted to speak to her today, then she heard someone singing, a voice coming from the garden. She poked her head around the hedge and saw Kathy, she looked up from her gardening. “Come in girl.” She walked into the garden, her face must have given her mood away because Kathy asked. “Whatever’s the matter?”

   “I met George last night and now he’s gone.” She finally gave in to her emotions and began to cry.“ He said he knew my Mom.” She continued to weep and Kathy approached her and hugged her tight.

   “Now, now… dry your eyes and tell me about this George.”

   She told Kathy about the shop and the dress and what George had said to her. Kathy listened carefully, especially to the news that Carl Ward had been sniffing around her again. “You want to stay away from that Mr. Ward, he’s a bad ‘un, maybe he does like you but I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could spit.”

   She looked up, not really understanding what Carl could be up to, she had nothing to offer but she too had certainly been getting an uneasy feeling about him.

It was time to find out what he was up to. Next time she saw him she decided she would follow him and see where that led her. She felt better in herself now she had a plan but she was still worried about George, he could have helped her and told her more about her Mother.

Kathy fed her and cheered her up before sending her on her way, Kathy had promised to speak to Mr. James about George for her.

   She returned to her room and took her old dress out of the bag and hung it up, as she did a piece of paper fluttered to the ground. She picked it up assuming it was the receipt for the dress, but on it was written 23 Coal Street, nothing else just an address. It looked like it had been written in a hurry, the writing was uneven and rushed.

She placed it on her sideboard, maybe that was where George had gone today, whatever it was, it was none of her business. She would stop by his shop tomorrow and return it to him.

T.B.C

Time for some music ...

Of course, it is a Christmas tune…I was listening to Now Christmas most of the day yesterday…

This tune from author and musician Kevin Cooper gives you the feel-good factor it is happy and joyous so please take a listen and pop over to youtube as my one like is looking lonely let’s give Kev’s tune some love and likes…xxx

 

 

Enjoy!

Now for some trivia…Today the Day before Thanksgiving is National Tie One On Day…

When I first saw this I was puzzled what could that mean and then I had a light bulb moment…An Apron…

Aprons have been around forever it seems and I am sure many people receive a Birthday or Christmas gift of a funny apron or probably many of you remember Barbra Windsor in her little apron or the fancy dress parties where an apron was a cover-up for the front and not so for the back…haha…Get the picture?

amalfi-italy-holiday-apron-colorful-summer

Photo on VisualHunt

Aprons my grandmothers wore them and my mother ..me not so much…The apron has protected many a hand from hot dishes, who has had their tears wiped on an apron? Who has hidden behind an apron? Aprons make you feel more like a cook, they protect your clothes, used as a fan or to mop a brow in a hot kitchen, used to swat a fly or a hand which is trying to pinch a pie…I remember that one…haha…

Apron visual hunt

Photo credit: Internet Archive Book Images on VisualHunt.com / No known copyright restrictions

Picking some vegetables, holding the chickens feed, collecting eggs or picking up toys an apron has many purposes…

There has even been a book wrote about an Apron…Best-selling author, Ellyn Anne Geisel, created National Tie One on Day. She’s also the author of the book titled, The Apron Book.

Time for a recipe…Trifle… there are many variations of the trifle and everyone’s nan or mum makes the best trifle…Today Darlene is sharing her trifle recipe with us and it looks and sounds most delicious…Here is what Darlene said…

 

Here is the trifle recipe I had to marry my hubby in order to get the recipe. I have made a few changes to make it mine. My family just loves it.

I attached a couple of pictures if you wish to use them. Thank you, Darlene xx

Darlene´s English Trifle

darelen (2) Christmas Trifle
  • Amounts vary according to the size of the bowl
  • Swiss rolls or jelly roll (you can use sponge cake if you can´t find the rolls)
  • Sweet sherry
  • 1 can of fruit cocktail, drained
  • Fresh fruit of choice (I use mandarin orange segments, sliced bananas, blueberries/strawberries/raspberries whatever is available, diced kiwi is nice too)
  • I or 2 packages Raspberry or strawberry jello
  • Bird´s custard powder
  • Milk
  • Whipping cream
  • Chocolate sprinkles or chocolate chips.

Slice the swiss roll into 1-inch thick rounds, place at the bottom of a clear glass bowl and soak with 1 – 2 tablespoons of sherry (have a sip yourself)

Pour the drained fruit cocktail on top of the swiss rolls and add other fresh fruit if desired.

Prepare the jello according to the package directions. Let cool a few minutes then pour over the fruit and rolls.

Put into the fridge until jello sets (I often make it this far the night before and finish it in the morning)

Prepare custard with milk according to the package instructions. Let it cool to room temperature.

Take the trifle from the fridge and let it sit out for a bit before pouring the custard over everything making a nice layer

Chill in the fridge so the custard sets. Cover with a piece of wax paper or cling film so you don´t get a skin on top.

Darlenes Christmas Trifle

Top with whipped cream and decorate the top with chocolate flakes or chocolate chips.

Sometimes I decorate the top with extra fruit like mandarin sections or kiwi slices.

The layers look so pretty and every time I serve it, I get many oohs and awes.

Enjoy!
Thank you Darlene you are getting some Ooohs and awes from me and your recipe is my kind of recipe no amounts just using the eye and the hand especially where the cream, chocolate, and the booze are concerned…
I have a chocolate mousse cake to share with you courtesy of Meeks and bacon covered turkey from John, pictures of Xmas puds from Hugh, a lovely poem from Ellen Best all of which I will share over the next few days so make sure you don’t miss a post and please if you have anything recipes or crafts, Christmas jumpers please share and I will credit you back…You can email me on carolcookstwo@gmail.com  
Did you know?
Today way back in 2013 Frozen the highest-grossing animated film of all time was released and the merchandise is still going strong and now we have Frozen 2 released last week…Not so good as Frozen 1 for me but Lily and her friend loved it…
Also way back in 1952, the young Richard Attenborough starred in the lead of The Mousetrap which has smashed all theatrical records…A murder mystery The Mousetrap was written by Agatha Christie the show has run continuously since then…
Time for some more music…Christmas No1’s

 

1966 GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME TOM JONES
1967 HELLO, GOODBYE THE BEATLES
1968 LILY THE PINK THE SCAFFOLD
1969 TWO LITTLE BOYS ROLF HARRIS
1970 I HEAR YOU KNOCKING DAVE EDMUNDS
1971 ERNIE (THE FASTEST MILKMAN IN THE WEST) BENNY HILL
1972 LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL JIMMY OSMOND

This little lot brings back a few memories my dad was always singing along to Benny Hill and Ernie it drove us mad…It makes me smile now…Long-haired Lover from Liverpool…I was never an Osmonds fan…A Tom Jones fan I am although I like Green, Green grass but don’t love it…Lily The Pink A nice catchy tune…My two favourites from this little lot are Hello, Goodbye and I hear you knocking…Which for me …I like lively tunes so without any ado…I give you…Dave Edmunds…

 

Finally, I would like to wish all my American and Canadian friends and family a Happy Thanksgiving…

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That’s all from me today on Whimsical Wednesday… I hope you have enjoyed reading this post…xx

About Carol Taylor

Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.

I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.

Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing.

The environment is also something I am passionate about and there are now regular columns on my blog this year. It is important that we are mindful of the world we live in…

Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a creative week ahead xx

25 thoughts on “Whimsical Wednesday…with Carol…”

  1. Pingback: CarolCooks2…Weekly roundup… week ending 1st Dec 2019… | Retired? No one told me!

  2. Darlene

    Thanks so much for featuring the trifle recipe that I acquired by marrying my English hubby. The things one does to get a family recipe. But 43 years later, it was still a good decision on my part. Love the music videos. I still wear aprons as I am a messy baker/cook.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. petespringerauthor

    I chuckled when I saw that today was “National Tie One On Day.” That expression in America usually refers to someone having too much to drink. If someone says, “I tied one on” last night, it is understood that the person overindulged.

    I looked it up because I was curious, and your guess was on the money. Here was an additional note that I found: “Tie One On Day encourages people to wrap a baked good in an apron, attach a note, and then deliver their offering to a neighbor, friend, or organization in their community.” Kind of a cool idea—one I was unfamiliar with.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      I am pleased I got you chuckling, Pete and explore a little and yes that is a custom which I withheld…haha…But a great idea to pay it forward and show a kindness… I did also read it was an expression for getting pickled as we say…haha I always look forward to your comments thank you, Pete 🙂 xx

      Liked by 1 person

  7. kevin cooper

    Good to see, Sally mentioned in your post, Carol… She’s a gem to the blogosphere. Thank you ever so much for promoting my Christmas song! And, Darlene… That trifle! Good thing I’m not there! 😀

    Liked by 2 people

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      Sally is definitely a gem… You are welcole Kevin I hope you get a few thumbs up on utube… Trifle is always good isn’t it? I have more lovely recipes to come from blogging friends. thank goodness you can’t put on the pounds by reading the recipes… Haha…

      Liked by 1 person

  10. tidalscribe

    Hello Goodbye for me. I can’t cook without putting my apron on. Some of mine came from craft stalls. I also used to make aprons when I did sewing for a craft lady – literally earning pin money when the children were young. We always have Trifle for Xmas made by Cyberspouse. I make a wholemeal Victoria sandwich type sponge for him to break up and soak in sherry.

    Liked by 2 people

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