New Oven and Hob.

Blueberry muffins

I recently bought a new oven and hob and am still learning to use it. Today I backed some Blueberry Muffins and I can't decide whether I should dust them with icing sugar! What do you think?

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee

I don’t know about you, but I’ve got to admit to being an out and out Royalist. It might have something to do with the fact that on commissioning I swore my allegiance to the Queen, her heirs and successors and not some spurious government or President, that was elected for a four year term and whose policies and politics I have nothing to do with. She also personally signed my Commission!

On the 25^th Jubilee I was on parade in an Armoured Personnel Carrier in Sennelager as a Captain with the rest of the Army of the Rhine. As the Queen stepped on to the dais I popped a cork of Champagne through the cupola of my vehicle and shared it with my crew. I missed the 50^th Jubilee as I was at sea doing my best to complete my circumnavigation. I was determined, therefore, to do my bit for the Diamond Jubilee!

I dare say Hanna’s neighbours thought us mad to have decorated the house and garden with flags for the Queen across the water. We planned it all when the sun was shining and needless to say being a good Staff Officer we had Plan B should it rain.

On the board I wrote what the Queen had in 1953 and what we were to cook that day.

A suitably decorated classroom.

The weekend started with me running a Diamond Jubilee Cooking Course in an Adult Education Centre on the Saturday, from 1000hrs till 1400hrs. The attached photos say it all. The cooking course was a smashing success and I was fortunate to have some very nice people as my cooking students who all spoke good English. If anything we would have wanted more time to just sit and chat after our meal.

The menu of the day was:

Tomato Soup with Parmesan Croutons, garnished with Crème Fraîche and chives.

Salmon Filets with Green Asparagus and Hollandaise

Coronation Chicken

Spiced Pilau Rice

Roasted Vegetables with Cous-Cous Salad and Harissa style dressing

Eaton Mess

Coffee

The Garden Tea Party on the Sunday was a cold affair, but thankfully not a complete washout. The guests all rose to the occasion, we drank a toast to the health of Her Majesty and christened a new bear!

No one failed to find the venue for the party!

Doing my best to keep it British we served:

Best English Tea (from M&S)

Cucumber sandwiches

Tuna sandwiches

Egg and cress sandwiches

Ham and Cheddar sandwiches

The cake, needless to say was many Victoria sponges, or my version of one, all the above made by yours truly.

Anna even wore a Union Flag in her hair!

The tea was a welcome way to get warm!

Pimms was ready to serve to the guests when they arrived.

This bear, which I made was christened Dennis on the day!

The Union Flag proudly flew over the garden.

Even leaky tents did not stop us having fun.

Germans find standing at parties a bit odd and so were a bit self concious!

Members of the Phileas Fogg Club

Huddled together for warmth

The cold did not stop people having interesting conversations, which had to be in English if I was in ear shot. But I did notice who didn't play the game!! ;-)

This cake is scrummy!

Nothing could dampen their spirit's!

Thankfully Moni, the daughter who lives next door, allowed us to use her veranda!

Strangely the white bread sandwiches, particularly egg and cress and cucumber were best liked and the first to go, followed by the brown bread Tuna and lastly the cheddar and ham. I have now found a suitable new tent to buy to replace the older leaky ones, for future events and intend to have an annual garden party to coincide, perhaps with the Queen's Birthday. Next year though I think it should be a barbecue, then we can all stand round the fire and keep warm should it be cold and damp again.

Salt and Vinegar Crisps

I fancied some salt and vinegar crisps with which to watch the football on TV, so I made some. The crisps I seasoned with vanilla salt (home made), coarsely ground and the vinegar I foamed up. However as you can perhaps see from the photo, the vinegar air (as it's called) quickly looses its foam consistency which is a shame.  What did I do wrong? I used one leaf of gelatine to 100ml of water and 150ml of balsamic vinegar.  My gourmet whip is a litre version and so I charged it with three gas cartridges, since the first attempt with two was an even worse failure. Obviously one has to shake the whip vigorously, and really great foam comes out, it just doesn't stay that way long. Perhaps I had not left it in the fridge long enough for the gelatine to set properly? Or perhaps two sheets of gelatine would be better?

 Well the football starts on the TV in 10 mins so I can wait that long. The crisps will not last much beyond the ten minutes, though, as they are a complete success and melt in your mouth.

HAPPY EASTER

My "Maus" you may remember came from some good neighbours of mine. Well this is their front door and last night I got my "revenge" by decorating their plant with plastic Easter Eggs and by putting a lucky "Lady-Bird" on their door. 

It was quite amusing really, especially as last night I dropped one of the eggs in the dark and it rattle down the stairs!! I thought it was so loud it would wake up the whole block! Luckily it didn't and I got a big hug from my neighbour for my pains this morning.

It just leaves me to wish you all a very Happy Easter.

Another Maus!!

I arrived home this lunchtime, from having been in Kempen this morning where I run an English conversation class, to find another "maus"! And no I haven't spelt it wrong, I have deliberately spelt it the German way, though it is pronounced the same, to differentiate between the real type and the one I found decorating my front door jam!

I laughed quite a lot when I saw it. It is a sure sign that I have some really good neighbours and I will now have to think of something to do to them in return.

In case you were wondering, my real mice problem seems to have resolved itself. My landlord sent some builders to remove the marble window ledge under which the mice had a run and to fill in the two holes they had created in the outside walls. Since then I have flooded the window box and have not seen any mice again, nor did I drown any, least ways I do not think so.

These mice are the good kind and I shall leave him where he is. I think though he needs a name, all suggestions but not "Jerry" would be welcome.

Life is......................

Life is breakfast in the sun.

Life is................

Life is apple pie and cream on my loggia!