Tuesday, April 06, 2010

THROUGH ROSE-COLOURED GLASSES....








































Who wants a pink world, anyway? I, for one, don’t!

The other day a wild thought rattled the door to my mind. Out of curiousity I reacted to the summons, of course! What would happen, thought I, if I put my glasses on upside down? Would all around me be inverted? Naturally, I tried! Hey! Presto! Regretfully, I report everything remains the same! Well, it was worth trying – you never know until you try! Nothing else requiring my attention was on my schedule at the time!

One must never assume that all is what it appears to be. One should never be so presumptuous! Think about it - until my experiment and revelation you might never have known! It could have been otherwise, and you would have missed out in a lot of fun if it had been other than what it is! Stop scoffing! You could’ve been marvelling instead, if my experiment had proven successful!
You should be commending my convoluted musterings; a laborious labyrinth that works in intricate, mysterious ways; and that I dare to dip my toes in where others fear to tread!

I proffer no shame or embarrassment when revealing the methods by which I keep myself amused while whiling away my days! In contrast, my evanescent musings would vanish in a vacuum; my non-resident truant thoughts hidden in a void, eclipsed by an obscure veil of slothful inertia! An uninhabited mind depleted of thoughts is like a freighter with non-existent cargo or a deserted island with an absentee Robinson Crusoe; vacated by Friday, as well!

Friday Tuna Quickie: Preheat oven 190C. Roll and shape 1sheet puff pastry to fit quiche dish. Defrost and drain 1 packet frozen spinach. Place 2-3 eggs, 1/2c cream and 1/2c milk in bowl; mix well; add 425g well-drained, canned tuna, 100g grated cheese, salt and pepper. Pour into pastry; bake 35-45mins.

Friday Night Spaghetti: Process 2 garlic cloves and 2tbls Italian parsley with salt in processor. Cook 500g spaghetti. Heat 2tbls olive oil in pan; stir in garlic-parsley mix and 2tbls diced onion; cook about 3mins; don’t brown; blend in a little chicken stock; reduce to nil; stir in 2 drained, rinsed canned anchovies and 1tbl tomato paste together with 1/3c chicken stock; stir over heat 1min. Blend in 1 can drained tuna in oil; season. If it needs more stock, add a little to moisten bottom of pan. Toss in drained pasta, 2 more tablespoons diced onion, 1/3c coarsely chopped black olives, and 1tbl drained capers. Toss over medium heat a few minutes to thoroughly coat the spaghetti with sauce.

Mini Meatloaves: Preheat oven to 190ºC. Lightly spray a 12 capacity muffin tin with oil. Line each muffin hole with bacon slices so bacon hangs over the sides. Place 500g mince, 1 minced garlic clove, 2tsps chopped ginger, 1tbl Worcestershire sauce, 1tbl rosemary, salt and pepper, 1c breadcrumbs, 1c frozen peas, 1c chopped parsley and 2 lightly beaten eggs in a bowl; mix well. Press on top of bacon then fold bacon over to enclose. Place in oven; bake 25-30 minutes. Refrigerate until needed, if serving cold with salad.

Chicken a La Friday: Heat oil in pan; cook 2 chicken breasts, cut into chunks with 1 chopped garlic clove and 1 chopped onion until chicken is cooked through. Season with 2tsp ground ginger, chilli, 1/2tsp each cinnamon, turmeric, cumin and white pepper; set heat to medium. Mix in 250g canned, chopped tomatoes and 4tbls chicken stock; simmer; stir in 2tbl slivered almonds. Stir in 4tbls each cream and yoghurt; cook gently 2 to 4mins; serve on rice.

TGIF Egg Pita Pizzas: Preheat the oven to 180C. Place pitas onto 2 oven trays. Spread with bottled pasta sauce; arrange shaved ham, drained pineapple pieces and grated tasty cheese onto pitas; leave an 8cm round space in centre. Break an egg into centre of each pizza; bake15mins, until eggs have set and base is crispy.

TGIF Cocktail: Blend 1/2oz each Frangelico, Baileys and white Crème de Cacao with 2oz cranberry or strawberry sauce, 2 scoops vanilla ice cream and 1/2c crushed ice; blend until smooth: pour into tall glasses; garnish with aerosol whip and finely chopped pecans.

18 comments:

  1. Probably just as well that experiment failed Lee, just imagine all the guys walking down the street with a huge smile on their faces... can you imagine fashions on the field on Cup day or the like?

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  2. If it had worked would all of the dresses...oh never mind.
    The drink recipe sounds evil and therefore something my wife might enjoy.

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  3. Haahahahahaha...Peter! Joy to the world! ;)

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  4. It would appear that you, Cliff and Peter are of like mind! ;)

    Yes...that drink does sound wicked...I might have to try it myself. I love Frangelico, so that's a start!

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  5. Um, can I come eat at your house? These meals sound divine! And the meatloaf sounds good! I've actually been craving meatloaf lately (I think it's because I haven't seen my mom in a long time). Unfortunately my partner doesn't eat bacon but more for me, right? :) I think that drink is permanently going to my recipe box! Can't wait to make it!!

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  6. Hi Kortney...you can leave off the bacon (or replace it with proscuitto or pancetta...just leave it off Jeremy's)! I love meatloaf and have been thinking of making one this weekend. That drink does sound nice, doesn't it...I'm leaning towards it myself! ;)

    Thanks for dropping by, Kortney.

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  7. I'm going to try that glasses experiment. Might give me a whole new perspective. LOL. The food looks absolutely scrumptious!:)

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  8. Anything is worth a try, Serena! lol

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  9. I cooked tuna noodle last Friday (tuna casserole is one of the few dishes that my wife believes I can prepare with her assistance).

    Hope you had a nice Easter. Speaking of deserted islands, I'm reading On The Beach right now. That takes place in a depopulating Australia right after a nuclear war. Scary stuff. Produced a bad dream for me last night.

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  10. Yes..that is a scary story, Big Dave...even these days, but more so even, I think, when it first was published and then the movie was made. I was still in school then, but I was terrified to see the movie and didn't until years after its release. Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Anthony Perkins and Fred Astaire all came Down Under to make the film.

    Neville Shute was a good writer of good stories. He died a year after the movie was made.


    See if you can grab hold of his "A Town Like Alice"...that's a good story, too. The subsequent movie starred Peter Finch and Virginia McKenna of "Born Free" fame. And then in the early Eighties it was made into a TV mini-series here as well starring Bryan Brown.

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  11. Hi Lee ~~ I loved the recipes in your post and have copied some to keep. I am glad you had a restful Easter, and mine just got better
    when my daughter and 4 kids arrived for a few days. Kids aged 11 to 22.
    Take care, my friend. Love, Merle.

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  12. After reading that post, Lee...I worry about you. And the reason why I worry, is that you think of peculiar things the same as I do...and that worries me about myself!

    Having got that of my chest (so to speak), I adore Frangelico and intend to try that rather wicked sounding drink...then I may have something to really worry about. At least I'd enjoy it...

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  13. I hope you cook up a storm with those recipes, Merle! Take good care. :)

    Robyn! Robyn! Robyn! Kindred spirits we are, and I didn't even have any spirits when I thought this one up and before it was nipped in the bud! ;)

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  14. I had to LOL at the musing of your mind. The recipes sound good except you lost me at the anchovies. I have not acquired a taste for the beggers . Hope you had a great weekend. Peace

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  15. Just how many of the TGIF cocktails did you have before turning your glasses upside down? I may try a few.
    V.

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  16. My mind is a mysterious place that keeps me amused and occupied for hours, Lady Di! ;)

    Voyager...I've not yet tried that drink, but I think from everyone's reaction to it, I might just have to do so very soon! :)

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  17. G'Day Lee ~~ I am pleased to say my leg pain has eased quite a lot with the new tablets so that sure is a relief. I am going along very stead-
    ily and trying to rest it up.
    Thank you Lee for your good wishes.
    Take care my friend, Love, Merle.

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  18. Hi Merle...I'm so glad to hear that. I hope the tablets keep up their good work...take it easy and look after yourself.

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