Category Archives: The Culinary Alphabet

The Culinary Alphabet…The letter N…Nutmeg, Nettles and Noodles…

Nage

In French, “a la nage” means “in the swim”. The classic definition of nage is a stock typically used to poach seafood, especially fish. Traditionally, nage is a broth flavoured with vegetables, white wine as well as herbs. However, nage is also the cooking technique of simmering something gently in a flavourful broth. This broth can be served as a light sauce at the same time to accompany the main dish.

This was also one of the cooking terms that I didn’t know in fact I don’t recall hearing it before so a learning curve for me…

Nicoise Salad

A descriptive term for dishes served with particular foods used by the chefs of the City of Nice, France. This garnish usually includes garlic, tomatoes, anchovies, black olive, capers, and lemon juice. Salad Nicoise is the most famous of all these dishes, consisting of potatoes, olives, green beans, and vinaigrette dressing.

To read the remainder of the post and discover what else I have found beginning with N you will need to head over to Esme’s Salon…her site has had a makeover and it looks very nice now..Look forward to seeing you there…

https://esmesalon.com/the-culinary-alphabet-the-letter-n/

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 that I cook with have 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!

Carol is a contributor to the Phuket Island Writers Anthology

Connect with Carol
Blog: https://blondieaka.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRealCarolT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.taylor.1422
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/caroltaylor56/pins/

CarolCooks2…Weekly Roundup…The sourdough saga continues…

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Welcome to my weekly roundup of posts I hope you have all had a productive week with lots of creative thoughts, no kitchen disasters and if you have please tell…haha

My week started with sourdough starter Take 3…I also found new Green Tea and some beautiful wild rice as I am making adjustments to my eating habits …Day 12 and no sundowners( daily tipple aka booze…Go ME!…being more vigilant on the added sugars and getting really excited as my big boy (son) Numero 1 is visiting next weekend…Yes, I will shed a tear as it has been nearly 3 years although Lily told me I was too old to cry…haha…

Weekly roundup…Let’s begin!

You know the routine by now…Settle down in your favourite chair, grab a drink and enjoy!

great reads a weekly roundup lady with electronic reader

Let’s Begin…

Valentines Day Roses, hearts and flowers and maybe a cuddly toy… I hope you all had a lovely Valentines day with your sweethearts…The cuddly toys and flowers were lining every street and corner here…Outside the schools…Isn’t young love grand???

My darling grandson came home with a bunch of flowers for me…Bless him… I am guessing bought from his lunch money which made them all the more special.

lilac and white flowers wrapped in brown paper

https://carolcooks2.com/2019/02/12/be-my-valentine-13th-february/

The subject of fibre in our diets was the subject of my Healthy Eating post and how most of us fall short of the daily recommended guidelines. Processed foods lack fibre having generally been stripped of all their goodness…white rice, pasta and bread all are low on fibre…Fibre keeps us fuller for longer…so we are less likely to snack…I know it is hard to introduce brown rice, wholemeal pasta and better bread to ourselves and our families…Many kids and adults are resistant to change…Introduce it slowly as the saying goes…Slowly, Slowly catchee monkey…I wrote a post on the subject and the origins of the phrase…Truly…haha

https://carolcooks2.com/2019/02/12/healthy-eating-no-more-diets-fibre-are-you-getting-enough/

Still, on the Valentines theme, my weekly food column over at Sally’s was a valentines menu …Sally picked some of my recipes and collated them and very nice choices she made…Thank you, Sally x

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/02/13/smorgasbord-blog-magazine-food-and-cookery-column-with-carol-taylor-st-valentines-day-thai-three-course-dinner/

Time for my weekly Waste Not! Want Not! The subject was plastic and cigarette butts…

Did you know? For 32 consecutive years, cigarette butts have been the single most collected item on the world’s beaches, with a total of more than 60 million collected over that time. That amounts to about one-third of all collected items and more than plastic wrappers, containers, bottle caps, eating utensils and bottles, combined.

https://carolcooks2.com/2019/02/14/waste-not-want-not-week-11/

It was then over to Esme’s for my monthly column on the Culinary Alphabet…Please head over and check it out the letter this month is M … Mango, Miso, Mirepoix and more…

mango sticky coconut rice Thai dessert

How many culinary terms /food items can you think of beginning with M? I challenge you!

https://esmesalon.com/the-culinary-alphabet-the-letter-m/

Next, I take you through my week in my kitchen ..triumphs and disasters…Oh Yes! I have them…haha

I am trying to show you that my recipes are all cooked from scratch contain healthy ingredients which have proven health benefits…I am trying to break the mould or the myths that healthy food is bland and/or boring…There seems to be a barrier to me… we just need to know our food and what the benefits to our health is and cook accordingly.

I don’t spend hours in the kitchen and I don’t think that I buy special foods or expensive foods and I certainly don’t feel deprived in any way at all…It is also foods which we all eat ..grandkids included although we limit the heat for little Lily or take her portion out before we add all the chilli.

This week I also tried something I never thought I would…I read about it over @ John Reiber’s blog and made my comment and forgot about it…That is until one’s grandson came in and asked for some money as 7/11 had this new wonderful drink I didn’t take much notice and he then came home with a Tea and cheese drink… Yep, all in the same cup…To read all about it…Head over to my Friday’s post…

matcha tea with cheese

https://carolcooks2.com/2019/02/15/week-7-in-my-kitchen-my-sourdough-is-alive-and-kicking/

Finally to end the week it was over to Sally’ for Size Matters…The sequel…

Sally’s posts on Health Matters are easy to read, factual and you don’t need to buy special foods it is just knowing what part the foods we eat play in our overall health…Balances and healthy…Also about our feelings and why sometimes we cannot shift that weight …This week it is looking at Candida Albicans a very informative post and it included much I didn’t know or was aware of…Sally knows her stuff xx

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2019/02/16/smorgasbord-health-column-size-matters-the-sequel-candida-albicans-sally-cronin/

Spoiler Alerts!

whats next post it note

Chinese New Year…Part 2 The Lantern Festival…Great new incentives to cut our carbon footprints and reduce packaging…six pack ( no ) not those…haha…although I could oblige with a pic, ladies??? Seriously six-pack rings which are food for turtles instead of killing them…

No more spoilers…You will have to wait and see…xxx

Enjoy your Sunday and thank you for reading …xx

If you liked what you read please let me know in comments I love to hear all your comments xxx

About Carol Taylor:

The environment is also something I am passionate about and there will be more on this on my blog this year

Carol is a contributor to the Phuket Island Writers Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Phuket-Island-Writers-Anthology-Stories-ebook/dp/B00RU5IYNS

Connect to Carol

Blog: https://carolcooks2.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRealCarolT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.taylor.1422

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/caroltaylor56/pins/

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

The Culinary Alphabet: The letter M

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carolcooks 2 culinary alphabet M

Welcome to this month’s The Culinary Alphabet my monthly guest post over @ Esme’s Salon this month it is the letter M which means I am exactly halfway through the alphabet.

Starting with Mayonnaise which is so much better made from scratch and it is also easy to do…

Mayonnaise

There is nothing like homemade mayo once you have made it you will never buy a shop made one ever again.

Ingredients:

2 egg yolks
1 tsp of mustard
240 ml of good olive oil
1 tsp cider vinegar
1 tbsp of lemon or lime juice.

Put the egg whites in a bowl with the Cider vinegar and blend gently until they are well mixed. With the blender still going slowly start to add the olive oil starting with just a drop and increasing to a steady stream as the mayo starts to thicken. Blend well until the mayo is your desired thickness and season to your taste.

How easy is that?

Mascarpone

A silky and slightly sweet Italian cheese which is made using only two ingredients whole cream and citrus which is why it is easy to make at home. Because of its high butter content, it spoils quickly so once opened it should be used quickly. It is made using no rennet so is suitable for vegetarians. It is used to make that traditional Italian dessert of Tirasamu, to thicken soups, it can be added to mac and cheeses for a creamier sauce and makes a lovely dip when herbs are added.

Now you have had a little taster…something to tickle those taste buds you will have to pop over to Esme’s to see what else begins with the letter M…x

https://esmesalon.com/the-culinary-alphabet-the-letter-m/

About Carol Taylor:

The environment is also something I am passionate about and there will be more on this on my blog this year.

Carol is a contributor to the Phuket Island Writers Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Phuket-Island-Writers-Anthology-Stories-ebook/dp/B00RU5IYNS

Connect to Carol

Blog: https://carolcooks2.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRealCarolT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.taylor.1422

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/caroltaylor56/pins/

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a great Valentines Day xx

The Culinary Alphabet…The Letter L

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Welcome to this month’s The Culinary Alphabet beginning with the letter L, bought to you by moi @ CarolCooks2.

I hope you all had a brilliant Christmas and the New Year brings you Good Health and much happiness. I would also like to wish Esmé a Happy New Year filled with love and good health and thank her for letting me loose once again.

Starting with Lamb which is one of my favourite meats although not so easily available here. We enjoy Lamb when it is available to buy…

Egyptian Lamb Flatbreads

Ehyptian-lamb-flatbreads

Cold lamb is not very nice so we decided to make some flatbreads..a first for me I was really pleased with how they came out..very quick and easy to make and a great use for the leftover lamb they made a change to shepherds pie.

To read the rest of the post and to get the recipe then head over to Esme’s Salon…

https://esmesalon.com/the-culinary-alphabet-beginning-with-the-letter-l/

About Carol Taylor

I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits, and vegetable ones 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.

I am also very much into waste and pollution both on land and the sea.

Carol is a contributor to the Phuket Island Writers Anthology

Connect with Carol

Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a great week

Goodbye 2018…Hello 2019

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new-year-3830890_640

I would like to wish all my readers a joyous New Year… One filled with love, good health, kindness and lots of creative thoughts…xxx

2018 has now gone and as years go it had its ups and downs…

Christmas has been lovely never quite the same here you don’t get the build-up and the ambience but living where it is sunny and warm was a choice we made and that is life…Full of choices…

My son has been back from the UK for Christmas which has been lovely so I opted not to do any blog posts and took an unscheduled break.

But I haven’t been idle the thoughts have been many and my little pile of notes has grown as to the direction my blog will be taking this year…

I am sitting here typing surrounded by my new diary, notebooks and pens all presents I love to receive and sipping my green tea from the lovely set my grandson bought me… Also, now I have learnt the correct way to brew Green Tea it is a lovely drink..No bitterness just lovely…my favourite drink… How to brew Green Tea

New year resolutions???

I have made many over the years …Have I kept them ??? Very few… We then beat ourselves up and feel guilty…Don’t we??? So this year I have made no resolutions that I know I can’t keep …Just ideas and if I am lax then tomorrow is another day…But kindness, no to hate, tolerance are some of the things on mine…

resolutions kindness tolerance

Social media is one I will be cutting down on… It eats into the time I need to read and write, walk and just live…

I know it is a necessary evil and one we need but moderation and my timer will be brought into play…I am going to be strict with myself… 3 only!

Reading and reviews I have many books in my TBR folder and I am going to not set a target but revive an old passion take time out and away from my laptop …No distractions…

great reads a weekly roundup

My Cookbook and Novel I have changed direction in so much as Just Fish was a struggle with my conscience. The fishing industry is beset with many problems much caused by the environment, pollution and such which means the fish we eat may not be good for us…While I am wrestling with this that one is on hold as much needs to be done to solve the problems of fish farming etc…

We grow our own fish or know a man who does so much of the fish I eat and cook with is not farmed and in the case of mine I just go out into the garden and catch one…The same with our meat we know where it comes from how it is raised and killed…They lead happy lives, graze where they will so are not stressed…

I have made a good start on Take 2 the intro is done and the recipes well on their way …My plan is by the end of April for publication.

My Novel is a WIP and by the end of the year should be good to go…

Timeout from the laptop is my main challenge and how I hope to achieve this year’s plans…

timeout-3373329_640

Where is my blog going… Waste is high on my agenda as I think we live in a beautiful world and cannot rely on governments and politicians to address this problem we need to be proactive…Not Fanatic but proactive and if we start in our own home as many have it will spread as others aka family and friends see how you save money as well as saving the environment because you do save money…And who doesn’t like the sound of that???

Healthy eating…We need to keep an open mind and what works for one may not work for another ..Due to many factors like lifestyle, availability, DNA, body shape, metabolism or any underlying condition we may have …So many factors come into play…

Our best chance of staying well is I believe by eating a healthy diet which is well balanced and varied and yes you can eat MODERATE amounts of the bad stuff as well as taking regular exercise…

Fad diets and food fashions come and go…I, of course, will be researching some of these…You just knew I would didn’t you?

My Cookery Column over at Smorgasbord Magazine starts again on the 9th Jan …My monthly column or guest post over at Esme’s Salon also starts again on 17th January it will be the Letter L in my journey through the Culinary Alphabet so please come over and join me for those…

Additionally, Friday’s will bring you an insight into my week in my kitchen…Lots of recipes and tips so please join me for My week in my kitchen.

Saturdays will, of course, be a weekly roundup which many have found useful as I know many of you work and it is finding the time to keep up isn’t it? I love weekly roundup posts myself x

That’s all for my first post of the New Year…Thank you for reading it and thank you to all my loyal followers…You rock!

I think this sums up 2019 perfectly…

Boarding for Flight 2019 has been Announced.
Your Luggage Should Contain Only the Best Souvenirs from 2018.
The Bad & the Sad Moments Should be Left in the bin.
The Duration of the Flight will be 12 Months.
So, Please Tighten Your Seat Belts!!!! The Next Stop Over will be of Health, Love, Joy, Harmony, Well-being & Peace.
The following Menu will be Served In the Flight…
A Cocktail of Friendship
A Supreme of Health
A Gratin of Prosperity
A Bowl of Excellent News
A Salad of Success
A Cake of Happiness.
All Accompanied by a Burst of Laughter😀😀
Wishing You & Your Family an Enjoyable Trip on Board Flight 2019.
Before 2018 Ends, Let me Thank All the People Like You, Who Made 2018 Beautiful for Me.
Have a Great last Day of the Year.
Wishing you a Very Happy New Year, love and kisses, Carol xxx🥳😘😘

Thank you for your comments…The best part of blogging for me … Go forward into the New Year with renewed hope for a better year, be mindful and kind and spread a smile xxx

About Carol Taylor:

The environment is also something I am passionate about and there will be more on this on my blog this year

Carol is a contributor to the Phuket Island Writers Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Phuket-Island-Writers-Anthology-Stories-ebook/dp/B00RU5IYNS

Connect to Carol

Blog: https://carolcooks2.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRealCarolT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.taylor.1422

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/caroltaylor56/pins/

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

The Culinary Alphabet…The letter K…

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Khao Soi Kaffir Limes Noodles

This month In my walk through the Culinary Alphabet over @ Esme’s Salon…I am exploring the letter K…

As we are in the final weeks before Christmas I was hoping I could find some dishes with a festive feel…

K seems to lend itself to much which is Asian unless I revert to the German Language where our C is often replaced with a K…However not in many culinary dishes so I drew a bit of a blank there…

Kippers…I remember that smell very well as a child my dad loved Kippers…So what is a Kipper?

A kipper is a whole herring, a small, oily fish, that has been split from tail to head along the dorsal ridge, gutted, salted or pickled, and cold-smoked over smouldering woodchips (typically oak).

kippers-2304448_640

In the British Isles and a few North American regions, they are often eaten for breakfast. In Great Britain, kippers, along with other preserved smoked or salted fish such as the bloater were also once commonly enjoyed as a high tea or supper treat, most popularly with inland and urban working-class populations before World War II.

My abiding memory is the bones and you can imagine a fussy child picking all those little bones out…lol

To read the original post pop over to Esme’s…

https://esmesalon.com/the-culinary-alphabet-the-letter-k/

About Carol Taylor:

Carol is a contributor to the Phuket Island Writers Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Phuket-Island-Writers-Anthology-Stories-ebook/dp/B00RU5IYNS

Connect to Carol

Blog: https://blondieaka.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRealCarolT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.taylor.1422

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/caroltaylor56/pins/

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a great weekend xx

I do hope you have enjoyed this walk through the letter K until next time when it will be after the Christmas festivities …Have fun, enjoy and stay safe xxx

The Culinary Alphabet…The Letter J…

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The culinary althabet 29TH Oct

Good morning from sunny Thailand it is that time of the month when I write my monthly post for the lovely Esme over @ Esmesalon and this month it is the Letter J of the culinary Alphabet…

Starting with one of my favourite little sweeties the Jelly Bean.

Jelly Beans

Jelly Beans are primarily made of sugar with a jelly inside a candy shell…There are some awesome flavours…Tabasco Flavour, Chilli Mango, Marguerita and some beautiful fruity flavours…Cringe-worthy flavours like Earthworm, Earwax and vomit are for me a No No! But I suppose for Halloween revellers they will be on someone’s list…

Jalapeno Peppers… Those who know this lady knows that she loves her hot peppers and these are no exception to this…Jalapeno Peppers on a Pizza or in a chilli …Pickled with carrots was a new one on me until about 18 months ago when someone I met who came from Texas gave me this recipe …I am addicted to them as are the men in this household lovely as a little spicy nibble as one passes the fridge or with some cheese and biscuits as a little snack with a beer…

Jalapenos and carrots

Jamaican Jerk Seasoning… I was given this recipe many years ago when we visited Jamaica for our daughter’s wedding… Think Steel Drums on a beach…Beautiful and our guide whose was a huge man going by the name of Wolf… Gave us the best tours of the island and some recipes from the lovely food his wife cooked for us one night a holiday to remember …

Jerk Seasoning:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon onion flakes.
2 teaspoons ground thyme.
1 teaspoon dried parsley.
1 teaspoon ground allspice.
¹⁄₄ teaspoon ground cinnamon.
1 teaspoon ground black pepper.
¹⁄₂ teaspoon cayenne pepper.
1 teaspoon paprika.

Mix together and store in an airtight container.

Jasmine Pearls… Beautifully handcrafted green tea leaves…An exquisite tea…

Since living here I have learnt how to brew green tea properly and these pearls are a treat a beautiful tea…

Juniper Berries…The primary flavour in gin and they also make a lovely rich sauce and pair very well with venison.

gin tonic juniper berries

https://blondieaka.com/2018/05/04/fruity-fridays-the-juniper-berry/

Jasmine Rice… Thai jasmine rice is the long grain rice which is well known for its fragrance and taste all around the world. Thai jasmine rice is one of the main export products of the central and northeastern of Thailand. Because of the most suitable geographic location, Thailand can grow the best quality and unique jasmine rice.

Thai Jasmine rice is also known as Thai Hom Mali rice, Thai Jasmine Rice and Thai Fragrant Rice…
Jambalaya… Is a one-pot recipe of chicken, sausage, shrimp and rice which has its roots in the Creole community.

The first is Creole jambalaya (also called “red jambalaya“). First, meat is added to the trinity of celery, peppers, and onions; the meat is usually chicken and sausage such as andouille or smoked sausage. Next vegetables and tomatoes are added to cook, followed by seafood.

Many variations exist of this recipe often passed down through the family. and often Jambalaya and gumbo get mixed up but they are two different dishes and there has been many a battle to determine which takes the crown… A beautiful warming dish on a cold night and one which tastes even better the next day when the flavours have been allowed to develop.

Julienne…

A technique of cutting vegetables, fruit or citrus rinds into matchstick-sized strips.

Jus…

French for juice, in restaurant terms jus usually refers to the pan juices from a piece of meat used to sauce it on the plate.

Jaffa Cakes… Almost iconic ..Chocolate covered orange biscuits, bite-sized genoise cakes first introduce to the UK in 1927 by McVities…In 2012 they were ranked the best selling cake in the UK…

jaffa cakes

Jack Fruit… Often mistaken for Durian…Jackfruit is now hailed by Vegans as the best alternative to pulled Pork and indeed when the young Jackfruit is cooked it does resemble cooked meat…I was absolutely astounded the first time I cooked a young jackfruit as to how much it changed the texture and taste…

Jack Fruit

https://blondieaka.com/2018/06/22/fruity-friday-the-unusual-jack-fruit/

I hope that you have enjoyed the Letter J next time it is the letter K…I wonder what that will bring??? I myself am discovering much that I never knew I knew and much that I didn’t on my trawl through the culinary alphabet.

About Carol Taylor:

Carol is a contributor to the Phuket Island Writers Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Phuket-Island-Writers-Anthology-Stories-ebook/dp/B00RU5IYNS

Connect to Carol

Blog: https://blondieaka.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRealCarolT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.taylor.1422

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/caroltaylor56/pins/

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a great weekend xx

Retired? No one told me!

Tonight I Dream. Tomorrow I Do!

Category Archives: The Culinary Alphabet

The Culinary Alphabet…The letter N…Nutmeg, Nettles and Noodles…

Nage

About Carol Taylor:

CarolCooks2…Weekly Roundup…The sourdough saga continues…

The Culinary Alphabet: The letter M

Mayonnaise