Fiction, Food, Faith and everything in-between

I haven't blogged since September because life took over. I travelled to Egypt for a holiday, took services and worked hard at my job.  My job is actually quite challenging, although I don't always recognise that because I just get on with things. I notice the impact of my job when I fall behind on my reading and my baking.  This year I have decided to look after my wellbeing at work and at home and that means allowing myself time.  So I had an extra holiday in Oman which was absolutely brilliant and gave me time to reflect on life and my work. I question whether I should stay there. I generalky like what I do. I am a problem solver and good at it, but it is pure administration which doesn't involve social justice, and I don't like the privilege that people swim in. Of course I also swim in that privilege. Baking reminds me about the beauty of life and the simplicity of enjoying simple activities like baking. I made this Cinnamon star bread. It was a bit fir...

Life is hectic and the Summer is almost over. I haven't baked much over the past couple of months but today I insisted, ignored all the reports I need to read and baked a loaf. I am going to eat it as well. Sometimes I find myself baking and then I end up not eating the bread because I am away from home.  I am eating this loaf. Half for now and half for the freezer!  I can bake, work, read reports and eat the bread I made. 

I made Focaccia for the very first time. I am still exploring recipies from my Paul Hollywood cookbooks and this is one of them. It is a surprisingly easy bread to make and I was really please with the way it turned out. This is not too salty and it is soft. The oregano gives it a lovely flavour. Next time I make this I shall add olives. I ate this with a seafood boil kit which was delicious. I ordered the kit from  Decatur Seafood Boil.  https://decaturlondon.com/products/shrimp-boil  It was very easy to cook this. The shrimps were large and fresh and the sausage was perfectly spicy. It is a great kit and matched the Focaccia perfectly. Over the past few weeks I was able to make some bread for friends. I made Cholla  These were browner than I would have liked but they tasted great. I gave three away and ate one. They were enjoyed by all. I wish I had more time to bake bread for friends. It is just a great way of blessing people an...

The last time I wrote it was April and now it is July. Time is hurtling by and at this rate it will soon be Christmas. Work, travel, and life have consumed so much of my time the last few months. I have cooked and baked without taking photos but as long as the food tastes good then it is all good. I have settled down into my new job. I am still sorting things out and trying my best to instill better working practices for staff but I am also learning how to make new foods like Gizdodo.  This is a delicious mix of chicken gizzard and plantain with herbs and spices. It takes ages to get the gizzard soft but with a meaty chewiness. The herbs give the dish a savoury taste and the plantain provides a contrasting sweetness. This goes well with rice or anything else or indeed everything else. I combined my Gizzdodo with Beef Stew.  This has a rich, spicy flavour which I felt needed yam so I made some pounded yam to go with it.   It was sub...

It is a new year! Ok it is a new financial year but it is still new. I have another cookbook from the Jamie Oliver Cookbook Club. I tried my best but I simply couldn't resist this one. It is a lovely book and I am only just beginning my adventures with this book. I started off easily with Vanilla Chai Shortbread and Vanilla Chai. Then I made Berbere Meatballs. These were nice but a bit spicy. Less spice next time. I also made Spice Island Fish Curry. This is delicious and I am so pleased that I now have a good recipe for fish.  I made Coconut Squid and I knew that was good when my son started eating them. Joshua is not a great fan of squid but these were great. One morning I woke up and remembered that I had put an overripe banana in the food recycling. It was still in its skin so I made banana loaf. Instead of dates I used double the amount of nuts and it turn out nicely, albeit a bit overbaked. I think the lock down really revitalis...

Christmas is long gone and we are now one month into the new year. The new year always starts so slowly and then suddenly it is April, August and December! I have much to look forward to this year. I am really enjoying my new job and I bought the first recommended book at the Jamie Oliver Cookbook Club.  In January, the book was the Italian Pantry by Theo Randall. I wasn't going to buy it but then people started posting pictures of the things they had made and I was convinced! I have made a few things such as Spinach and Ricotta Arancini  Yes they were delicious and I shall be making them again.  I made Asparagus and Parmesan Frittata. I am not a great egg person but this was ok. My son ate some which is always a good sign and I made slow cooked chicken thighs with porcine mushrooms and marsala. It was nice but next time I will double the porcini and forget about the leeks. And I made Kanellangd.  ...

The cold weather is upon us and I have the flu. I felt a bit odd on Saturday morning but I decided to cook lentils and Chinese Chicken and Broccoli. I also made a Chocolate Babka with some lovely Godiva chocolate which was given to me as a thank you present. By evening I felt very unwell and then the snow came and I went to bed. I think flu does something to your brain. I managed to sleep very deeply and then I woke up at 3.30am and decided it was a great time to make mulled wine. I didn't even taste it. I just put everything in the pot, heated it, heated water for my hot water bottles and returned to bed.  My head still feels like cotton wool and I really need to rest instead of answering emails. Maybe drink some of the mulled wine. In the midst if the flu and snow, I was struck by how comforting the food is. The Lentils just slid down my sore throat and made me nice and sleepy. I haven't had the flu for the past 3 ye...