Whimsical Wednesday…with Carol…

Welcome to Whimsical Wednesday…before I start … I know many of you are self-isolating and may be worried about loved ones…I am starting with this video because it made me smile and I hope it makes you smile and I hope it makes you know that there will be a future and a bright one if this little chap is in it…so adorable…Enjoy! xxx

How beautiful was that and expressed in a way that only a child can…

I hope everyone enjoyed their Corned Beef and Cabbage yesterday on St Patricks Day…Seeing all those images made me really want some Corned Beef it is something I haven’t eaten for a very long time…Methinks I may have to see if I can replicate that here and brine my own corned beef…Corned Beef and Cabbage seems to be more of an Irish/American dish rather than Gaelic Ireland.

In Gaelic Ireland, cows were a symbol of wealth and a sacred animal. Because of their sacred association, they were only killed for their meat if the cows were too old to work or produce milk. So, beef was not even a part of the diet for the majority of the population. Only the wealthy few were able to eat the meat on a celebration or festival. During these early times, the beef was “salted” to be preserved. The first salted beef in Ireland was actually not made with salt but with sea ash, the product of burning seaweed.

It doesn’t, however, take away from the fact that it is a delicious plate of food whatever its origin…

March ….weatherwise over the centuries it is a mixed month, in history, it has been violent and gloomy over the years in view of what is happening and what the ethos of Whimsical Wednesdays is I am going to try my utmost to keep the mood light…

Nothing lighter than space and today 18th March 1965… Cosmonaut Alexey Leonov left his spacecraft Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes, he became the first person to walk in space.

How exciting would that be?

Of course, space is a popular topic especially when it comes to music and films…Apollo 13, E.T, Alien, The Martian, Space Odessy to many to mention…

Time for a tune…

I love a bit of Bowie…

Time for a recipe…

Coconut Biscuits

I don’t make biscuits very often..almost never but once a packet of food is opened here because of the humidity doesn’t last long it either goes off or the ants take residence. I was guided by the desiccated coconut and the golden syrup which was a gift from afar… aka visitors and the rolled oats which I mistakenly bought instead of the porridge oats.

These cookies are my basic recipe and every time I make them I add something else just because I can.. I am already planning what I can add to them…I can’t help myself…

Ingredients:

  • 150gm rolled oats
  • 100gm plain flour
  • 100gm light brown sugar( I used raw sugar)
  • 100gm dessicated coconut
  • 100gm butter
  • 2 tbsp golden syrup
  • 1/2 tsp of bicarbonate of soda
  • 2 tbsp of boiling water.

Let’s Cook!

Set oven to heat at 175C, gas mark 4.

Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Combine the sugar, flour, coconut and oats mix to combine well.

In a small pan add the butter and golden syrup and melt the butter. meanwhile, bring the kettle to the boil and add two tbsps of boiling water to the bicarbonate of soda in a small cup. Add this to the melted butter/syrup mix. It will foam a little.

Make a well in the centre of your dry mix and pour in the melted butter/syrup mix. Stir to thoroughly combine and it will form a slightly sticky dough.

Roll out balls and put on a baking tray leaving a space as they will spread on cooking ( the mix made 15 balls) Slightly flatten with your hand.

Put in the preheated oven and cook for 15-20 minutes, remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

smart

THE BISCUITS WILL BE SOFT TO THE TOUCH BUT WILL HARDEN ON COOLING.

Don’t make the mistake I made when I first made them and thought they weren’t cooked and gave them another 10 minutes. They were a tad harder than required when they cooled down…haha…I could build a wall with them…Opppps

Enjoy!

Did you know?

March 20 this year the sun shines on the equator for the Vernal Equinox, giving us a near 50-50 split of day and night. In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal equinox falls on 20th this year although it can be 19,20 or 21, as the Sun crosses the celestial equator going north…The first day of Spring…

March 21 2006… The day Twitter was founded. Founder Jack Dorsey inaugurated the social media site with its profound first tweet: “just setting up my twttr.”

twitter

I wonder if he knew then just how popular Twitter would become?

As a child, I loved the circus…the clowns but as I grew older clowns took on a more sinister meaning in my mind anyway…. and Barnums was hosted as the Greatest show on earth…That music was so exciting it added to the atmosphere of the circus…As the years went by people realised the cruelty behind the taming of the animals although my fascination was always the trapeze artists and the high wire…

How many of you as kiddies just wanted to run away and join the circus??

That’s all for today …Thank you for joining me on my whimsical ramblings I do hope you have enjoyed this post…xxx

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.

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 fabulous week and stay safe these are troubling times xx

37 thoughts on “Whimsical Wednesday…with Carol…”

  1. Jennie

    Another wonderful Wednesday, Carol. The space walk was fascinating. Our US landing on the moon was also scary and nearly abandoned at the last minute. Ah, the circus! The music is cemented in my mind, and fortunately hasn’t changed. Did you know that the first to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York were the circus elephants? That walk proved to people the bridge was safe, despite it’s radical design for the era.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      Yes I did I think I mentioned that in a previous post a while back….I hope you are safe and well Jennie…All this is damping down my normal cheerful demeanour somewhat…I am really having to talk to myself sternly ..sigh…xxx Stay safe dear Jennie xx

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Jennie

        Yes, I believe you did. My muddled mind is having difficulty recently in this topsy-turvy time. Spring and getting outdoors will help! Stay well, Carol! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  2. dgkaye

    Love your Wednesday posts, great topics as akways. And trying to stay light is key for all us. Loved the Ellen video. I believe that’s an old one because it looked oddly familiar lol. Stay safe my friend, ❤ xx

    Liked by 1 person

      1. dgkaye

        Absolutely Carol. I just meant, the video was a flashback for me. 🙂 Oldies are always goodies. Yes, please stay safe. The beast is on the move 😦 ❤ xx

        Liked by 1 person

      2. CarolCooks2 Post author

        I know you did, Debby…Its all kicking off here as a policeman was put on 14 day isolation and went to a cock fight at a boxing stadium and a wedding and has infected 100’s by all accounts the stupity of the masses never ceases to astound me this is how panademics start I am furious…Stay safe dear Debby xx

        Liked by 1 person

      3. dgkaye

        OMG Carol, I am hearing of so many unbelievably stupid and ignorant people in the world with no regard for others. This is an invisible plague! People who ‘don’t get this’, will kill themselves and take innocent others with them. The whole world should lockdown for 2 weeks simultaneously!!! You too Carol, stay safe my friend. ❤ xxx

        Liked by 1 person

      4. CarolCooks2 Post author

        I am, Debbie… Online shopping and what we have here or in the garden or masked up and only out for essentials… Or a solitary walk around where we live…. Thats it for the foreseeable… I get so angry when I see this mass stupidity like I saw in the U. K.. on the news yesterday…. hence my rant on FB.. I am furious with people…. I am sure you are doing all you can to keep you and hubby safe and well… Hugs dear friend xxx

        Liked by 1 person

      5. dgkaye

        I’m glad to hear Carol. We’re doing our best. Our online shopping sites are disasterous. I’m masking up and going back out tomorrow. More hugs your way! ❤ xx

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      6. CarolCooks2 Post author

        My online shopping my first here was ok… I paid cash on delivery.. I am done with giving my card and getting the money back weeks later that happened with H&M and took 6 weeks… Paypal just reverse a transaction which is immediate… I worked in a bank and it shouldn’t happen like that it works to their advantage.. Makes me cross… So I pay on delivery most people do here.. Much easier just have the right money ready… and delivery within 2 hours most of the time or at latedt next day… More hugs coming your way.. Stay safe. 😀 Xxx

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  7. Jim Borden

    loved the Ellen video and the circus music. I actually had considered going to “clown college” when I graduated high school; thankfully, my parents simply said that it was not an option!

    Like

  8. petespringerauthor

    I would love to meet Xander’s parents just to see what they’re like. I can’t imagine what it would be like to try and meet his educational needs.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      I just get the sense watching him that they are getting it right he is enthusiastic full of the joys of what he knows… But yes I am sure he keeps them on their toes.. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  10. koolkosherkitchen

    Nice recipe for cookies, dear Carol. When Leonov took those few steps in space, he had a cable that attached him to the spaceship. We used to say that you can’t escape the communist government even in space – you are still on the leash.
    P.S. Love your choice of music!

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    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      It is nice.. Bit crumbly to handle but when cooked and cooled down they are lovely.. Hehe that made me smile about the cable…. I love a bit of Bowie pleased you do also… Stay safe and well, dear Dolly 😊x

      Liked by 1 person

  13. marianbeaman

    You have assembled a rich array of upbeat topics: My favorite is the video with the brilliant 5-year-old! Thanks for all the other “whimsy” – stay safe and be healthy, Carol!

    Liked by 1 person

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