Sunday 29 August 2010

TODAYS FLOWERS 108

CAMILLIAS.

We are lucky  to have several camellia bushes in our garden which are magnificent in early Spring.I have no idea of the names of the different varieties but I hope you enjoy the photos.

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This bush has suddenly produced some almost white flowers – I wonder why as it is a very old bush.

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This one is a beautiful shade of pink and very symmetrical.

 

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Nestled in the glossy leaves they look so pretty.

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This one is rather delicate and often has frost damage.

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How about this for wonderful symmetry ?

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And finally, a stripy one.

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A composite photo of these beautiful flowers.

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Finally, given the Photoshop treatment.

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And more fab flowers are here -
Click on this link to see more of natures beauty.
http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/


TODAY'S FLOWERS TEAM
LUIZ SANTILLI JR. - DENISE IN VIRGINIA - LAERTE PUPO - VALKYRIE

Monday 23 August 2010

Roast Beef and all the trimmings

Thought I would tell you what beef I like to cook as few people have heard of it.
I always buy a cut of beef called ‘Aitch Bone’ or locally known as Tag End. An old fashioned cut from the top end of the rump. Originally supplied with the bone in but now available boned and rolled. It is full of flavour and very, very tender if cooked slowly as it is really lean.
However, if you like your beef pink or bloody this cut is not for you. Sirloin or Ribs would suit you better.

It has a grainy appearance and tends to go to a point at one  end – hence ( I assume) ‘Tag End’. the above photo shows the meat as quite red whereas I would look for a darker piece which had been hung for a longer time.
I normally just put it in a roasting tin with an onion cut in half , a parsnip for flavour and a little water to create some steam. Another old fashioned tip. Add a little oil or dripping to keep it moist.I season it with salt and pepper and a little dry mustard.
It is put in the oven with the lid on for 25 minutes per pound and 25 minutes over. Oven temperature is difficult to advise on I as usually cook on an AGA and have no idea what the temperature is! I would say a moderate oven.Half an hour before finishing remove the lid and baste the joint.
Remove from the oven and keep warm. Pour the juices from the pan into a a fat separator, if you have one ( great little gadget) -


Because the spout is at the bottom of the jug and the fat floats to the top, you can pour out all the juices without pouring out anymore fat than you want. You do need some for flavour and consistency. Alternatively you can skim off the fat from the top with a spoon.
Sprinkle flour over the base of the pan and cook gently for a few minutes and then add the remaining juices and stir. I sometimes add red wine, or beer or plain water to make the required amount of gravy. . Season and, if lacking in flavour add a stock cube.
Serve with roast potatoes, root vegetables and a green veg and, of course Yorkshire puddings.

Recipe for Yorkshire pudding –
Ingredients
3 oz (75 g) plain flour
1 egg
3 fl oz (75 ml) milk
2 fl oz (55 ml) water
2 tablespoons  dripping
seasoning

Method

Sift the flour into a bowl and make a well in the centre. Break the egg into it and beat, gradually incorporating the flour, and then beat in the milk, 2 fl oz (50 ml) water and seasoning . Leave to rest in the fridge if you have time. About 15 minutes before the beef is due to come out of the oven, increase the heat to gas mark 7, 425°F (220°C), add the dripping to a tin and put in the oven.Remove the meat, then place the tin over direct heat while you pour the batter into the sizzling hot fat. Return the tin to the oven on the highest shelf available. The pudding will take 25-30 minutes to rise and become crisp and golden. Serve as soon as possible.
If it does not rise – buy some from your local supermarket!



Some people like English mustard as an accompaniment or horseradish. Whatever your preference – ENJOY.
Another delicious cut of beef is Skirt. I will tell you about that next time
JJ

Sunday 22 August 2010

TODAY’S FLOWERS 107

Thanks to Denise, I went out last weekend and photographed my Hydrangeas.
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They have been magnificent this year due to the rain.
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There are blue ones.
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Pinky Purple ones.
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Blue, pink and yellowy ones.
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And my favourite, the young flowers just emerging in all their brightness
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Grown so vigorously that they are blocking the path and kissing the bush on the other side.

And more fab flowers are here -

Click on this link to see more of natures beauty.


http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/



TODAY'S FLOWERS TEAM



LUIZ SANTILLI JR. - DENISE IN VIRGINIA - LAERTE PUPO - VALKYRIE

Wednesday 11 August 2010

ON THE MOVE – AGAIN?

Since we were married on 2nd October 1965 we have had several different homes.
We started in a furnished flat in Torquay, a three story terraced house built probably around the turn of the century.
Our flat was on the top floor and we had to share the bathroom and toilet facilities with the landlord and his wife. Friday night was bath night!
Difficult to believe now that it was quite common in those days  as some people did not have bathrooms and the toilet was outside!
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The kitchen was very old fashioned but we bought a fridge and an electric cooker and, my pride and joy was -
A larder unit just like this one
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A marvellous design with the pull down Formica work surface. Loved it.
In 1967 we bought our first home, a modern almost new terraced house.

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The very modest start on the property ladder. The porch was added after we left.
This was home for 6 years and where Emma was born. Before Emma was born we adopted a cat from the RSPCA – still have the certificate somewhere.
A black and white moggie who had his own kennel in the back yard.

In 1973 we moved to a new 3 bedroomed semi detached Wimpey house.
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This is it now. Has not changed much and our extension on the back is still there.
This is where we were living when my Mum died and, having secured sheltered housing for my Dad', we were able to move a little further away from their home.
Next in 1978, was a detached 2 bedroomed bungalow with fabulous views over the bay.
A new top story extension has been added recently and we would love it back now. Looks fab.
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Next, 1980, was a 4 bedroomed semi in Torquay. Lovely modern house backing onto woodland.
Brandy, our golden retriever just loved the swimming pool 3 doors down!
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In 1984 a large house came on the market in Paignton. A house I had admired as a kid walking past on my way to visit friends.
Built in the 1920’s it was full of character and, although it stretched our finances to the limit, I just had to have it.
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The room in the roof is a new addition. We stayed here until 1994 – a record.
Then came our Holiday Apartments.
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Now sadly neglected – see the crumbled gate pillars.
A wonderful house to live in, full of Victorian splendour set in about an acre of grounds. Olli would drive his battery car up and down the grass slopes and Sam and Sophie, our golden retrievers, just loved meeting all our guests.
!998 was not a good year, I had a serious breakdown and it was obvious we would have to sell the business.
In May 1999 we moved back to Paignton to a 4 bedroomed modern detached property.
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Probably the best house we had for design but, it was so overlooked at the back, that I felt we lived in a goldfish bowl.
So, 2001 saw our move to our current home.
Very old fashioned we ( yes, the Royal we!) have done lots of alterations including, a utility room,
utiliy palm trees

a large sun deck,
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a carport,
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house 3
and inserting dormers into the roof to create 2 double bedrooms and a bathroom.
Fishponds
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A wonderful home, absolutely perfect. Lazy summer days spent on the deck , eating al fresco with friends and family,
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Where next ????????????????
Somewhere with a smaller garden or no garden – an apartment.
Downsizing is now looking attractive for many reasons, not least that we really do not need all this room and , as we are getting older, we want less work and more holidays.
I SHOULD ADD THAT MOST OF THESE PHOTOS CAME OFF THE INTERNET VIA GOOGLE STREET VIEW. CLEVER STUFF EH?

Sunday 8 August 2010

TODAYS FLOWERS 105

What to show this week?

One flower I really adore but which we cannot grow in the UK is  -  HIBISCUS

 

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You walk past a bush and marvel at the brilliant colours of the flowers against the dark green foliage but, you rarely look up close.

If you do you see -

 

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Close up and ( very) personal!

Bee Heaven.

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Nature is F A N T AS T I C

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National symbol

Hibiscus syriacus is the national flower of South Korea.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia

 

And more fab flowers are here -

Click on this link to see more of natures beauty.
http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

TODAY'S FLOWERS TEAM
LUIZ SANTILLI JR. - DENISE IN VIRGINIA - LAERTE PUPO - VALKYRIE