GIANT COUSCOUS SALAD WITH SOYA BEANS, BROAD BEANS AND PEAS

Good Afternoon to you,

On Sunday, Natasha asked George and I, to name our favourite top five black and white movies.

..... and that got us thinking.

My absolute favourite is 'Top Hat' with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.... I never tire of watching the film.... I love the song 'It's a Lovely Day'.

'Let the rain pitter patter

But it really doesn't matter

If the skies are grey

Long as I can be with you

It's a lovely day.'

Irving Berlin

It's a Lovely Day

..... and there are many more films I love, but remembering the titles of the films, well that's another story. You would have laughed, if you had been a fly on the wall, listening to the conversation I had with George.

The conversation went like this,

Me.  "George, can you remember the title of the film, which is about a man who has lost his wife and she comes back to haunt him?"

George.  "That's not like you to watch a horror film, you hate horror films".

Me.  "No it isn't a horror film".

George.  "But it sounds like a horror film if it is about a wife dying and she comes back to haunt her husband".

Me.   "No, honestly it isn't a horror film, it's a comedy.  It has that marvellous English actress who we both love watching. Remember she played Miss Marples in a few Agatha Christie films.

George.  "Oh you mean Joan Hickson".

Me.    "No, Joan Hickson was a fabulous Miss Marple, but the lady I am thinking of, used to pull the most funny faces".

George.  "Sorry you've lost me.  Why don't you stop thinking about it and it will come to you".

Me.   "Ok, I'll do that".

...... but of course I didn't. Could I get it from my mind, no I couldn't, I was like a dog with a bone, the thought was going round and round in my mind.  By bed time, I still could not remember the actresses name or the title of the film and I fell asleep with it still on my mind.  Now you will not believe this, but apparently, in the middle of the night, I awoke George when I shouted Blithe Spirit with Margaret Rutherford and went back to sleep.

In the morning George smiled and said he knew the film I was talking about, it was 'Blithe Spirit' and the actresses name was Margaret Rutherford.  "Well I never, said I, how on earth did you remember that?"

..... he burst out laughing and told me about the previous night's events.  Well, I have been known to talk in my sleep when I am worried about something, but I have never shouted before.... that's a first.

So yes, one of my favourite black and white films is the comedy Blithe Spirit, with Margaret Rutherford playing the eccentric medium, Madame Arcati.

..... and then it has to be, 

'Some Like It Hot' with Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.

I love it when, Osgood says to Daphne (Jack Lemmon), 

"I am Osgood Fielding the third"

Daphne replies,

"I am Cinderella the second"

Then it has to be 'His Girl Friday' with Cary Grant

Closely followed by, 'Brief Encounter' with Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard.

There are so many others I could have added, such as Casablanca, 'Barefoot Contessa' and '42nd Street', but I wonder what are your favourite black and white films? I feel sure once you tell me, I am going to be thinking "Oh yes, I love that film as well".

There's even a touch of black and white in today's salad. To be honest, maybe I am stretching it a little.

The white being the giant couscous and the black, well I used a few dark plum tomatoes, which have a touch of black, but they seem to be buried amongst the salad..... I did say I was stretching the colour theme.

Now in terms of music, I think I really should be playing 'Isn't It A Lovely Day', or Dancing Cheek to Cheek' from the film 'Top Hat', but instead I have chosen something completely different.

Grover Washington, Jnr and the album 'Winelight'. I play this album when I want to listen to a mellow sound.  I do love,

'Just The Two Of Us'

and

'In the Name Of Love'

So it's on with the pinnie and with 'Make Me A Memory' playing, it is time to organise my ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

YOU WILL 

NEED

TO MAKE

GIANT COUSCOUS SALAD

125g giant couscous

chicken stock

1 small red onion

125g tinned brown lentils

125g tinned chickpeas

125g soya beans, broad beans and peas (frozen)

6 small tomatoes

2 handfuls of spinach

DRESSING

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

sea salt and pepper to taste

HOW TO 

MAKE

GIANT COUSCOUS SALAD

Cook the giant couscous

as directed on the packet,

but instead of using water

try using chicken stock.

Cook the frozen beans and peas

and

drain.

Set aside for the moment.

Make the dressing.

Place the 

olive oil,

lemon juice

and

white wine vinegar 

in a small bowl

and

whisk the ingredients together.

Season

with sea salt and black pepper.

When the giant couscous is cooked,

drain any surplus liquid

and place in a large bowl,

along with,

the beans and peas

and

add the 

dressing.

Toss everything together.

You will find the olive oil will prevent

the giant couscous sticking together as it cools.

Chop the red onion

into small pieces

and

add to the bowl.

Rinse the brown lentils

in cold water, drain

and

add to the bowl.

Rinse the chickpeas in

cold water,

drain

and 

add to the bowl.

Chop the tomatoes

into small 

pieces

and 

add to the bowl.

Wash the spinach in 

cold water

and

add to the bowl.

Toss everything 

together

until it is thoroughly

coated with the

dressing.

Taste

and

if needs be,

add a little more lemon juice

or 

sea salt and black pepper.

Then all there is left to do

is spoon a portion

into a bowl

and you have a very

enjoyable lunch.

Sometimes I will serve this giant couscous salad with poached chicken, or sometimes with salmon.  I find Feta cheese works well with the salad as it gives an extra tang.  Whichever way you eat it I know you will enjoy the flavours.

As a rule, I tend to use dried chickpeas and dried lentils, but when I see tinned chickpeas and lentils which are a good price, I do buy them and store them in my cupboard,  because as much as I do love cooking, sometimes, just sometimes, I need to make a quick lunch and tinned chickpeas and lentils make that possible.

Now before I leave you, Natasha asked both George and I to name our favourite films.  I have shared my favourites so I thought you would like to hear about George's favourites.

He loves,

'Angels with Dirty Faces' with James Cagney

'Arsenic and Old Lace' with Alec Guinness

'Stage Coach' with John Wayne

'White Heat' with James Cagney

and

'African Queen' with Humphrey Bogart

Funnily enough, when Natasha asked George what his number one black and white film was, it was exactly the same as Natasha's. 'Angel's with Dirty Faces'.

Now you might be wondering why I did not put myself out of my misery by finding out the name of the film via the internet.  Yes, I could have done so very quickly, but I wanted to use my brain and remember the name myself. I knew at some point it would come to me..... but I have to be honest, I had not expected it to be the middle of the night.

Take care of yourself and I will see you next Thursday.

PANCAKES WITH BLUEBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES

Good Afternoon to you,

A couple of weeks ago, George and I were watching our local evening news programme, when the presenter, started talking about a pensioner by the name of Alan Barnes.  When the presenter had finished talking I had tears in my eyes, and George was shocked that something so awful could happen to a frail, elderly man.

Alan, lives in Gateshead and he is a 67 year old pensioner. He is visually impaired, is 4ft 6 inches in height and weighs under 6 stone. One evening in January, he was putting his dustbin outside his home, ready for collection, when someone walked up to him and demanded money. Alan said he did not have any money, so what did this coward do, he attacked this frail, elderly man. Alan fell to the ground and broke his collarbone. We just could not believe that someone could be so cruel to such a frail and vulnerable man. Alan said after he had been treated for his injuries,  he was too frightened to return home and had decided to stay with his sister.

Like us, a young mother, Katie Cutler was listening to the same news programme and like us, was struck by the callousness of this attack.  Katie decided to  act, she started an on-line fund raising campaign for Alan. Katie hoped to raise £500 for Alan, to help him, not that this money would wipe away the pain of the attack, but maybe the money would help him in some way.

The fund raising reached the target of £500 and surpassed it. You see, the story had become a world wide story and so many kind and generous people on hearing about Alan's plight, donated money.  The amount grew each day, until it reached the figure of £330,135.00.

When Alan was told how much had been raised, he said, he could not believe it and was amazed that so many people, who did not know him, had been so kind and generous.

When asked what he would do with the money, Alan said he was not sure as everything had been such a whirl wind. Also, he had never had this amount of money in his life, but one thing was sure, he certainly would not be wasting the money.

So from one cruel act, almost 25,000 kind people came forward to help Alan.

We hear such terrible news these days, that it was so lovely to think that 25,000 people were moved by Alan's plight and wanted to help.  I know this money will not eradicate the memory of the attack, but hopefully it will ease the pain and allow Alan to buy a home of his own, where he can feel safe and secure once again.

..... and to Katie, I would like to say, you are a lovely, kind and thoughtful young lady.

..... and talking of ladies, I know my daughters will love what I am making today,

scrummy pancakes.  Now these are not the very thin pancakes which we traditionally associate with Shrove Tuesday,  these pancakes are a little more robust, but so gorgeous.

So it's on with the pinnie and the music I am listening to is,

Simon Webbe's album, Grace.  I do love this album, his voice is fabulous. Simon was a competitor on Strictly Come Dancing and I was surprised to see what a shy, under confident man he was.  Having said that, as the series progressed, you could see his confidence soar, so much so, that he reached the finals of Strictly.

Trust me, you will want to dance around your kitchen to,

'Coming Around Again'

enjoy,

'Seventeen'

'Sunshine'

'Go to Sleep'

and

'Take Your Time'

As part of my 10,000 steps a day regime, I am dancing to 'Coming Around Again' while I organise my ingredients.... every little bit helps.

INGREDIENTS

TO 

MAKE

PANCAKES

150g plain flour

1 1/2  tablespoons caster sugar

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1/4 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda

3 rounded tablespoons of Greek yoghurt

150 ml semi-skimmed milk

1 large egg

50g melted butter

1/2 teaspoon of salt

500g of blueberries

500g of raspberries

Preheat the oven to 100C

HOW

TO

MAKE

PANCAKES

Slowly melt the butter

allow to cool

and set aside for the moment.

Sift the flour

with the

bicarbonate of soda,

baking powder

and

salt

into a medium sized bowl.

Add the sugar

and

mix the ingredients

together.

Using a separate bowl,

add the

yoghurt,

whisk the egg

and

add

to the yoghurt.

Add the

milk

and mix together.

Then,

add the melted butter

and

stir together.

Add the wet ingredients

to the

dry ingredients

and

mix together.

This is quite a stiff batter

so do not worry, if it appears thick.

Heat a dry griddle pan

or a dry non stick frying pan

and 

scoop half a tablespoon of batter

onto a spoon.

Place the batter into the griddle pan

and 

using the back of the spoon,

gently coax the batter

into a circular shape.

I griddle two pancakes at a time, as

I find it easier to keep an eye on two pancakes

as they cook quite quickly.

When one side is cooked, you will notice that

little bubbles appear on the surface of the

pancake.

Flip the pancake and cook the other side.

They will not be perfectly round as

you will see from mine, but

that does not worry me.

Life is too short to make perfectly

round pancakes.

As one batch is cooked

place them in a very low

oven, covered with foil

to keep them warm.

All there is left to do is,

Place a pancake on a plate,

add blueberries,

(some I crushed)

raspberries

and 

a 

dollop of yoghurt

with a sprinkle

of 

icing sugar

and

enjoy!

Now I don't know if you have noticed, but in the photograph of the pancakes on the blue platter, there is a rogue raspberry.  You might think that I had missed that little raspberry, when I sprinkled the icing sugar, but the answer is no, there has been a 'cheeky so and so' playing a game on me.

I had arranged my pancakes with the blueberries and raspberries ready to take the photographs.  I had left the kitchen to find the tablecloth I needed, when a certain person, who shall remain nameless (George, haha, as if you couldn't guess) ate one of the raspberries with the icing sugar and replaced it with a plain raspberry. It was not until I loaded the photographs on my computer, that I noticed the rogue raspberry and of course by this time, many of the pancakes had been eaten so I could not take another photograph.  I mentioned it to George and he looked a little sheepish, he said he had eaten the raspberry. He thought once I had noticed the rogue raspberry, I would sprinkle it with icing sugar. 

Mmmm, shall I let him off... yes I think I will, as he is so very patient waiting for the photographs to be taken, but I will keep a keen eye on my finished dishes in the future.

Just before I leave you, I thought you would like to see a photograph of Alan and Katie.

source

Take care of yourself and I will see you next Thursday.

GIFTS FROM FRANCE

Good Afternoon to you,

I do love the pictures I have hung on the walls around my home. They make me happy and they certainly make me smile. Do you know, I can remember where I bought each and every picture.

I do not have a specific genre, I tend to be open to anything, it just needs  to catch my eye, and I am smitten. 

When a new picture appears, George always asks the question "and where will we hang this picture, we have no more space" to which I reply "we can shimmy the pictures around and have a change about". To which he normally raises his eyes and goes to the garage to find his hammer.

The pictures around my home tend to be an eclectic mix. Whenever we visit a new country, I love to find a print which will remind me of our time in that country.

..... but,

I have never owned an original..... that is until now.  Let me explain.

Just before Christmas, a package arrived through my letterbox and when I opened the package it contained,

the most lovely, Autumnal water colour.  I was so thrilled to receive it.  The artist, is  the lovely Barbara who writes the blog Barbara Lilian in France.   I love it so much that I have not placed it on the wall, it sits on a table, across from where I sit, so that when I  enjoy my morning cup of coffee, I can see the picture at a glance, and it never fails to put a smile on my face.

Doesn't it sit well, alongside some of my other treasures which I love.... and of course a vase of roses never goes amiss. I think maybe the roses should have had autumnal tones, but I do love pink roses.

Now you would think, that this beautiful watercolour, would be sufficient, but no, look what else I received,

not one,

no,

not two,

but

three 

of these beautiful lavender posies,

braided with such pretty ribbons.

They are so lovely.

I adore them.

The third posy,

Barbara had kindly sent for Phyllis,

because she remembered that I had mentioned

that Phyllis loved lavender.

Wasn't that a kind thing to do.

Barbara had shared how to make a posy, 

on one of her blog posts.

I had always meant to make some posies

with the lavender stems from my garden,

but you know how it is, we don't always manage

 to get around to doing the list of things

 we would like to do.

So it was a wonderful surprise to receive

these pretty posies which Barbara had made.

The posies were wrapped very carefully

and were inside this gorgeous bag.

Isn't it cute.

A note had been popped inside

the bag

and the note was written on beautiful paper.

I have to tell you, I just adore

lovely note paper.

.... and if you thought that was the end of

my treasure trove, you would be wrong,

because

Barbara had written me a lovely note on the back of this

'Four Seasons in Limousin' postcard.

...... and what could be nicer, on a cold, winter's day,

than a field of sunflowers.

A nice reminder on this very cold day,

of warmer days to come.

I am overwhelmed by Barbara's kindness, I love, love, love my watercolour and lavender posies.  At the moment the watercolour does look lovely in the frame I placed it in, but I have decided to re-frame it, using a larger gold frame.  I think the larger frame will set the picture off nicely and then I will hang it on the wall.

The lavender posies are also placed where I can enjoy them each day.  Sometimes I place them in a little cut glass vase and other times I lay them on my coffee table.

It was so very kind of Barbara to be so thoughtful as each gift took so much time to create.

Thank you again Barbara, for your kindness, you have made me a very happy lady.

Oh and Barbara, I can honestly tell you, that when I told George that I was going to buy a larger frame and hang the watercolour on the wall, George did not raise his eyes at all, as he loves your watercolour as much as I do.

Just before I go, I wanted to say, I feel sure you will have noticed that I have not been answering your comments, as I usually do.  I am so sorry, I really have not had the time to visit you or leave comments, but I am going to do my best  to visit you this week, as I know I have missed so much that has been going on in your lives. It is just that life has been so very busy here for George and I.  I know you will understand, as we all experience times like this at one point or another in our lives.

So take care and I will see you next Thursday.