Tag Archives: expat

Thoughts and Tips of the Week.

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Hi you know when little things crop up or little things niggle at you and in the end you just either ignore it or them or do something…well..those who know me know that I don’t ignore much…. if anything and generally I will do or say something.

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So are you ready for the ride……don’t worry ..it’s just little titbits of info really but some of which do bug me!

Firstly my recipe blog included a recipe for Brownies without chocolate. I had lots of good comments but one was a lovely comment but got me thinking …oh hell I hear you say…..well if you don’t or can’t use eggs..that can make some recipes a tad tricky but never fear Brownies are quite a versatile little piece of heaven and can be made very successfully “without ” eggs and why should anyone be denied the deliciousness that is a Brownie.

Substitute for Eggs:

1/4 cup natural yoghurt = 1 Egg.

1/3 cup of Apple Sauce = 1 Egg.

1/2 small mashed banana.= 1 Egg

1/3 cup pumpkin puree = 1 Egg.

I hope this helps those of you who don’t or can’t eat eggs.

Saang Chai our little ” Soi Dog ‘ puppy told you all about his exploits yesterday on his blog this is my thoughts……. we went to a lovely park with a lake. Walking around the circumference of the lake we came across a row of at least 15 gym machines, various ones all in a line facing the lake.

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Not Hi Tec machines  they looked to be older models but fully functional…I tested one…and no there is no pic for proof…but what a lovely way to  exercise….. looking out over the lake…..amazing view ..it was a calm, warm day ..what a lovely idea…never seen anything it before….so cool..

Now for my pet peeve..if you don’t want people to view your blog that fine but if you do then please make sure your Gravatar directs viewers to you..it’s so frustrating when you really want to view a blog and you can’t find it…… so folks here is an idiots guide…I followed this and it works and I am not the best at a lot of things that are PC related and don’t get me started on Twitter…I am trying…

How to correct this..if you want to :

1. Click on your profile image located next to your WordPress notification bell.
2. Click on Account Settings
3. Scroll down to Web Address and replace the address there with Your WordPress address e.g https:// blondieaka.wordpress.com

Ta da ….. !!!  Done!!

Finally I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has liked, followed or commented on my blog….. I have met some wonderful people and read some amazing blogs  and picked up some brilliant tips ….there are some really clever bloggers out there…me I just chat..chuck in a few recipes now and again…hopefully answer all my comments..if I have missed YOURS then give me a shout…not intentional and don’t winge much..Do 1? Am madly trying to get to gripsTwitter…found a Scorpion in my bathroom last night …I have just dropped this in to see who reads to the end if you do just let me know…..I always read blog posts..frequently comment if I have something to say or am clever enough to participate in the comments …some are a bit deep……So everyone have a brilliant week …….and laugh a lot……and pray for those who need your prayers. Love you all until next time…Oh and if you substitute anything for eggs please let me know what it turned out like .xxxxxxx

I won’t be impressed with technology until I can download FOOD!

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Wow…. what a thought that is…just imagine trawling through your food blogs and coming upon this recipe that jumps out at you and ” You want it now” …….that just screams….  Eat Me !

You look in the cupboards and you have everything bar one item to make that dish, it’s chucking it down with rain, rush hour or the gas man is coming…..awwww damm and blast!

Just imagine if you could press a button and voila…it’s there ..right in front of you…

Come on ladies and gents it ain’t happening yet but I can tickle your taste buds with these delicious recipes. A lovely Thai Green Curry and Chocolate brownies although as I couldn’t get proper chocolate here..cos I don’t know if you are aware but to stop chocolate melting they add something and it’s nasty..yuk

So what I have done is made brownies normally…. no coconut flour and will try to get proper chocolate and make a batch for my next food blog….. we can then compare…good idea or what ..a double lot of brownies to sample…..mmmmmmm can’t be bad in my book….

Chocolate Brownies:

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Ingredients:

1/2 cup oil…I used Coconut Oil but can use vegetable or other oil of your choice.

1 cup sugar.

1/2 Cup flour.

1/3 cup cocoa ( unsweetened)

1/4  tsp baking powder.

1/4 tsp salt.

1 tsp vanilla extract.

2 Eggs.

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Method:

Put all ingredients except for eggs in food processor and blitz.

Beat eggs together and add to mixture, combine well.

Stir in walnuts if using.

Pour batter into 9 x 9 greased and floured pan.

Put in pre heated oven on 350( 175) and cook for 20/30 mins until shrinks away from sides of pan.

Remove from oven, cool and cut in squares. I sieved icing sugar on the top of mine.

Taste test: These are the first Brownies I have made for ages… the sponge is quite light but was more brownie like the following day. I prefer a more gooey, chewy brownie but they were ok.

Thai Green Curry:

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts cut into cubes.
6 Thai egg plant. cut into quarters……They are the larger ones in the pictures.
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sm bunch small egg-plant ( optional) Pea like size in Picture.
5/6 stems of Thai sweet basil (pick of leaves)
Large can or two sm cartons of coconut milk.
10 straw mushrooms quartered or use button mushroom.
Method:
2/3 tbsp curry paste( maybe start with 11/2) I don’t know how hot you eat curry.
Cook with tiny amount of oil to release flavour, add tbsp fish sauce cook for 2 mins slowly add coconut milk and simmer gently.
Add chicken, cook on simmer for 20 mins then add vegetables and Thai basil cook for further 20 mins serve with Steamed or boiled rice.
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If you are making veggie curry just omit chicken and add carrots and broccoli or veg of your choice.
When we had our restaurant, chef always put extra veg in mine as she knew I liked veg so can add to chicken curry as well if you like although that is not the norm just how she did mine.
You can use beef or pork instead of chicken if you like but will req longer cooking.
Garnish with sprig Thai basil and extra sliced  chilli… if req.

Some days you just have to create your own sunshine!

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Well so far all’s well on the sunshine front but another severe weather warning has been posted!

No small boats to go out..means no fresh squid for salad but hey ho I can live with that, we have had enough drownings this season because people don’t heed the warnings  or the Red Flags…… does a red flag not mean the same in any language on a beach?  or they presumably think they are strong enough swimmers…some will never learn will they? So I can forgo my squid as long as everyone is safe.

Saang Chai is settling in well he is finding plenty to chew but I will let him relay that in his own blog on Monday folks. If you haven’t read his very first blog( I am told ) it’s very funny then drop by you won’t want to miss an episode.

OHHHH I can see some big clouds looming which means rain soon and more ants, I am over run with them got 3 big ant nestsSAM_7032 in my garden I think they like it here, 2 termite ones, this weather is certainly making them want to nest build and make the grass grow…. Methinks it’s time to call a man who can!

Wow sunshine again…….SAM_7041Here I am sitting in my office looking out , one minute it’s sunny and the next we have rain. So methinks best get to market before the heavens open because I’m sure they will..it’s Thai Green Curry  tonight if you would like the recipe let me know…I will be posting it on my next recipe blog along side Brownies made with Coconut Flour they look yummy ( in the picture) will they be yummy ? Will let you know for sure.

Bye for now have a lovely weekend , have fun, stay safe if you are swimming and you see a red flag…Love you all….   🙂

 

Age and glasses of wine should never be counted!

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It’s been a busy week this week we have been Baking Pies and Apple Crumble. We being me and my little helpers. One egg washed the top of the pies while the little  one made biscuits for daddy. She…little Lily always loves the left over pastry and it keeps her amused for a while. Cutting and rolling, cutting and rolling.

Aston does more grown up jobs like egg washing the pies and blitzing the crumble topping in the food processor.

Lilyaston11698512_10207250580479774_2245769583564409988_nNow it’s Nan’s turn to cook.

Lemon Chicken.

Ingredients:

4 Chicken Breasts( skinless)

2/3 cloves garlic.

1 tbsp capers ( rinsed)

2 tbsp chopped parsley.

Half lemon sliced.

1/4 cup lemon juice.

1/2 pint chicken stock.

5 tbsp Olive Oil.

2 tbsp Butter.

Parley for garnish.

Method:

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.

In a large skillet over medium high heat,  with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When  start to sizzle, add  2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When oil starts to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.

Into the pan add the lemon juice, stock, capers and garlic. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning and add lemon slices and parsley. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5/10 minutes depending on size of breasts. Remove chicken to platter. Add 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.

Lemon ChickenServe with Boiled Rice or Potatoes and Vegetables.

Enjoy! If you like Lemon and Capers then this dish is for you .

Have  a lovely weekend everyone until next time love you all x

Live, Laugh, Love. And don’t forget to breathe!

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I just knew there was something I had forgotten to do..good job I didn’t leave it too late.

“Breathe”

Phew what a week, I have been making a concentrated effort to increase traffic to my blog and it’s working so a massive thank you to all those lovely people who have visited my posts and a massive thank from me as I have found some wonderful blogs, well not just that, amazing blogs actually.

” And Breathe”

What I will say though ( as it was pointed out to me) by a kind, caring, fellow blogger…..you know who you are…..Blelinda Crane…. is that when I go to look at some blogs the Gravatar is not showing your blog address so stopping traffic to your blog.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Click on your profile image located next to your WordPress notification bell.
2. Click on Account Settings
3. Scroll down to Web Address and replace the address there with Your WordPress address https:// etc

. Ta da ….. !!!  Done!!

Now for a recipe as we haven’t had one lately have we???

Lemon grass Chicken Skewers.

Ingredients:

1 kg minced chicken

4 – 5 garlic cloves , grated ( adjust to taste )

4 tsp white pepper powder

2 1/2 tsp salt ( to taste )

2 egg yolks

5 tbsp pounded lemongrass , white part only

10 pieces of coriander roots , pounded

2 tbsp coriander leaves , finely chopped

1 carrot , regular size , grated

10 stalks of lemongrass ( maybe more ) , cut the green bit into 10 cm long pieces to make skewers .

Directions :

Mix well all the ingredients above , you may not need all the egg yolk so just add it bit by bit . If the mixture is too sticky you may add a little bit of bread crumb.

Take one dessert spoon of the mixture and shape it on the lemongrass stalk.

Arrange the chicken skewers on a baking tray lined with aluminium foil

Lemon grass skewersThis recipe is from my friend Mamik on https://dapurnyasibohay.wordpress.com/

Bake it in preheated oven at 180 degree C , for 20 – 30 minutes . The baking time may vary . My oven tends to be very hot and it takes only 20 minutes , then I switched the oven off , left the chicken there for while to get the slight brown colour .

And enjoy!

Until next time you all have a lovely weekend, Love you all xxx

 

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” by Oscar Wilde.

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Yesterday was our monthly Phuket Writers meeting it was also the 1st anniversary of the coup in Thailand and;

The Dragon Boat Festival, also often known as the Tuen Ng or Duanwu Festival, is a traditional and statutory holiday originating in China.

The festival now occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month of the traditional lunar calendar, the source of its alternative name, the Double Fifth Festival. The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, so the date varies from year to year on the Gregorian Calendar.  The focus of most celebrations involves eating Zongzi (sticky rice treats with chopped dates wrapped in bamboo leaves) and Dim Sum both made by one of our newest members Lian who is from China and married to the illustrious Paul who is one of us writers. Both dishes were amazing and Lian explained to us the background to the festival which was lovely and is one of the lovely parts of living here among such a diverse community because we get to share and learn and partake in some culinary gems so  to celebrate we also had a pot luck, the rest of the dishes were from around the world and pretty damn good! So a good time and feast were had by us all.

The “Suure Mocke” is marinating well, so I will post a pic after Tuesday when it will be cooked.( And of course) eaten!

My very first attempt at caramel for the Creme Caramel turned out ok…..my grandson was on the stop clock as this requires NO stirring just a little swirl of the pan every 30 seconds for 5 mins. It worked folks! Didn’t burn it, just a lovely golden colour..yehhh we are a good team.

I would like also to wish all the daddies out there a great ” Fathers Day ” and to everyone like me who Dad’s are no longer with us a little verse.

Dad… I won’t immortalize you in the stars, because they fade away. I won’t remember you with a poem, for it will be forgotten one day. I will just keep you safe in my heart so that you are with me in every way. I miss you.

I miss my dad, he was a strict and unaffectionate dad when we were growing up but as he got older and I got older we rediscovered each other and I loved my dad and miss him.

So all of you who maybe don’t see eye to eye with your dad’s just remember we only get one dad and life is too short so maybe say sorry..someone has to…and start again you may be surprised like I was.

That’s it for today…I am still full to the brim from Sunday Lunch…also had a few vino’s so I am going to retire with my book…

Until next time love you all xxx