Images And Words~~~ Pot Luck - Reflection

Winter Woodland - Early Morning Light

Natural Sepia - A snowy day at the Lake

Mom and I went for a walk at the Lake yesterday the light was unusual I took quite a few shots they had a "Natural Sepia" quality to them here are some of the best shots I hope you enjoy them;)

Images And Words Week 194 - 2013 Calendar - January

A visit to Salisbury Cathedral

One of the first places I took Marci when she arrived was on  asurprise visit to Salisbury Cathedral, it was a cold overcast day and windy. We took Mom with us an had to hold here arms as she was almost blown over, none the less we had a great day;)

Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, and is considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture. The main body was completed in only 38 years, from 1220 to 1258.
The cathedral has the tallest church spire in the United Kingdom (123m/404 ft). Visitors can take the "Tower Tour" where the interior of the hollow spire, with its ancient wood scaffolding, can be viewed. The cathedral also has the largest cloister and the largest cathedral close in Britain (80 acres (320,000 m2)). The cathedral contains the world's oldest working clock (from AD 1386) and has the best surviving of the four original copies of the Magna Carta (all four original copies are in England). Although commonly known as Salisbury Cathedral, the official name is the Cathedral of Saint Mary. In 2008, the cathedral celebrated the 750th anniversary of its consecration in 1258.

Here are a few images from the day I hope you enjoy them, Happy Sunday;)

Snow Day

Hi all I hope the weather is better with you than it is  here right now. Its looking beautiful but has been snowing hard for 6 hours now and the wind is coming up! Have a great day;)

Marci's Visit December 2012

Marci and I had almost a 3 week visit this time it made up for the time we could not be together due to unfortunate events during 2012. On of the first things we did was revisit Bournmouth where Marci competed in the Triathlon on her very first visit and then as it was so cold we escaped inside and explored the Oceanarium. More Pics to Follow;)

Creative Challenge 234 - Sway

Images And Words Week 193 ~ Old Buildings

“I took to the Bodleian library as to a lover and ... would sit

long hours in Bodley's arms to emerge, blinking and dazed 

with the smell and feel of all those books.” 
                                                                       Laurie R. King

Entrance to the Original Bodleian Library ( No photography allowed in the Library itself unfortunately)

Hi All!

Hi all after a wonderful almost 3 week visit Marci is back home and resting today before going back to work tomorrow, we had a wonderful time and should be getting back together again in the spring all being well.

We visited many fantastic places and took lots of shots, I will be posting some over the next few weeks. This was one Shot of Marci at Stonehenge which she had always wanted to visit it was amazing as I had not been there in the last 30 years!

Have a wonderful day;)

Happy New Year From Baz and Marci

Hi all we saw in the New Year at my Cousins house Marci's first "English" New Year Celebration we had a wonderful Time.


A Very Happy New year to you all from Both of us xxxxx

Just a few more days!

Its been a long wait but it will be so worth it Marci arrives at Heathrow on the 27th December we will have 3 wonderful weeks;)

Images And Words Week 190 " A Special Gift."

Masala-marinated chicken with minted yoghurt sauce and Cumin-crusted vegetables

Hi all sorry not to be around much these days life is just so darn busy. We have been preping for a really festive Christmas and I got the  last of the food shopping early this morning before the rush, the Turkey is in the freezer at moms house as my freezer is full I will get it out tomorrow to thaw for a couple of days.

Last thing I have to do tomorrow is go to the Butcher and collect the two Pheasants I ordered for Christmas Eve Lunch and we will be ready to go, food always plays a key roll at Christmas in my house.

I have my relatives coming over after Christmas for lunch so I decided to do something different from a traditional roast. So Mom and I did a dry run on the meal below it was absolutely delicious and the whole house smelt of delicious aromatic herbs and spices, we willl be cooking it again when the realitives visit. Have a wonderful weekend;)

Masala-marinated chicken with minted yoghurt sauce and Cumin-crusted vegetables

Dieting or not, this is one of my favourite recipes. It’s mouth-wateringly good – the spicy marinade makes the meat really tender and full of flavour, while the yoghurt sauce sets it off a treat.

• 
  

  
  

  
  Ingredients
  For the chicken
  
  6 cardamom pods
• 2 tbsp cumin seeds
• 2 tbsp coriander seeds
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 1 tsp ground fenugreek
• 2 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1-2 tsp hot chilli powder (the more you use, the spicier the dish)
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp flaked sea salt
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
• 40g/1½oz piece fresh root ginger, peeled and finely grated
• 100g/3½oz low-fat natural yoghurt

• 1.65kg/3lb 8oz chicken
• 1 lime, quartered
• freshly ground black pepper
  
  
  
• For the minted yoghurt sauce

• 
  200g/7oz low-fat natural yoghurt
• 1 tsp ready-made mint sauce
  
  Preparation method
  For the marinade

1. To make the marinade, split the cardamom pods and remove the seeds. Put the cardamom seeds in a dry non-stick frying pan and discard the husks. Add the cumin and coriander seeds, cloves and black peppercorns and place the pan over a medium heat. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring regularly until the spices are lightly toasted – you know they’re ready when you can smell the spicy aroma.
2. Tip the toasted spices into a pestle and mortar, or an electric spice grinder, and pound to a fine powder. Transfer to a mixing bowl and stir in the fenugreek, turmeric, paprika, chilli powder, cinnamon and salt. Add the garlic, ginger and yoghurt, then mix well and leave to stand while you prepare the chicken.
3. Place the chicken on its breast on a sturdy chopping board and cut carefully either side of the backbone with good scissors or poultry shears. Chuck out the bone and cut off the foot joints and wing tips.
4. Strip all the skin off the bird apart from the ends of the wings (which are easier to remove after cooking). You’ll find this simpler to do if you snip the membrane between the skin and the chicken flesh as you go. Cut off and discard any obvious fat – it will be a creamy white colour. Open out the chicken and place it on the board so the breast side is facing upwards.
5. Press down heavily with the palms of your hands to break the breastbone and flatten the chicken as evenly as possible. This will help it cook more quickly. Slash the meat with a knife through the thickest parts of the legs and breast. Place the chicken in a shallow non-metallic dish – a lasagne dish is ideal – and tuck in the legs and wings.
6. Spoon over the marinade and really massage it into the chicken on both sides, ensuring that every bit of bird is well coated – get your hands in there and really go for it. Cover the dish with cling film and put the chicken in the fridge to marinate for at least four hours or ideally overnight.
7. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Take the chicken out of the dish and place it on a rack inside a large baking tray, breast-side up. Squeeze over some juice from the lime and season with ground black pepper.
8. Roast for 1-1¼ hours until the chicken is lightly browned and cooked throughout, tossing the lime quarters on to the rack for the last 20 minutes to cook alongside the chicken. They’ll be good for squeezing over the meat later. The juices should run clear when the thickest part of one of the thighs is pierced with a skewer. Cover loosely with foil and leave to rest for 10 minutes before carving.
9. While the chicken is resting, make the sauce. Spoon the yoghurt into a serving bowl and stir in the mint sauce until thoroughly combined. Transfer the chicken to a plate or wooden board and carve into slices, discarding any skin. Serve with the sauce and some watercress or salad and enjoy!
   
   
   Cumin-crusted vegetables

1. This is a lovely spicy variation on your classic roasties, using a small amount of oil and lots of tantalising tastes. Goes beautifully with masala-marinated chicken, or with plain grilled meat.

   199 calories per portion (if serving 4)

   160 calories per portion (if serving 5)
   
   Ingredients
   
   
   • 600g/1lb 5oz potatoes, preferably Maris Piper
   • 1 tsp black mustard seeds
   • 1 tsp cumin seeds
   • 2 tbsp sunflower oil
   • 1 tsp garam masala
   • ½ tsp turmeric
   • 1 medium red onion, halved and cut into thin wedges
   • 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and cut into 4cm/1½in chunks
   
   
   • 1 red pepper, deseeded and cut into 4cm/1½in chunks
   • 1 orange pepper, deseeded and cut into 4cm/1½in chunks
   • 2 medium courgettes, cut into 1cm/½in slices
   • freshly ground black pepper
     
     Preparation method
   1. Preheat the oven to 190C/400F/Gas 6. Half-fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Peel the potatoes, cut them into quarters and lower them carefully into the water. Bring the water back to the boil and cook for five minutes – just enough to parboil them.
   2. While the potatoes are boiling, place a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and add the mustard and cumin seeds. Toast for about 30 seconds, then stir in the oil, garam masala and turmeric. Sizzle for a few seconds and add the onion.
   3. Fry the onion in the spices for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
   4. Drain the potatoes in a large colander and toss several times to roughen up the surface of each potato.
   5. Tip the potatoes into the pan with the onion and spices, season with a few twists of ground black pepper and toss together until the potatoes are lightly coated.
   6. Tip everything onto a large baking tray and roast for 30 minutes.
   7. Take the tray out of the oven and add the peppers and courgettes.
   8. Toss lightly together and return to the oven for another 25–30 minutes until the potatoes are crisp and golden-brown and the vegetables have softened.

Good Morning, have a great day;)

IL Divo - Over The Rainbow 

Seasons Greetings

Birds of a Feather

Futility!

I spent the weekend thinking about what happened in Connecticut on Friday, looking for reasons and excuses for forgiveness for  a person who could perpetrate such an atrocity; I found none.

Anybody no matter what personal Daemons they fight who perpetrates such a crime against humanity is beyond redemption and forgiveness. 

No man or woman should have to out live and suffer the loss of a child, loss at such a tender age is beyond imagining! 

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family's and friends of these  poor Children and to all Americans at another tragic loss. 

As a foreigner, but somebody with a love for and a vested interest in America, I look in from the outside and ask, regardless of your own Politics and your countries Constitution, is it not time to come together and protect your children, if nothing else?

Again Thoughts and Prayers for all those who endure such a grievous loss 

December - Morning Sunlight

Hi all we had a beautiful morning before the rain came back in so I got out for a few hours early to catch the morning light, it was a quite beautiful day. Have a great weekend;)

European Song Thrush