Sad Week

Roly has been a great companion for the last 18 years and very sadly he died this week after a shosrt illness. My son always wanted a dog we compromised and got a cat instead - they can go out by themselves and do not need long walks. Of course when we went to get the cat there were two brothers and I could not leave one behind and so ended up with two 6 month old cats. My son grew up and moved away and I was lft with the two cats. I loved them from the start and so this week has been very sad as now they are both gone. The basket in the corner of the kitchen will have to be moved along with the feeding dishes. I still find myself looking down at the door waiting to hear the scratch to say 'I am home'.

Welsh Sausages

I have been busy in the kitchen today and decided to make an old recipe that I found in one of my cook books. It is great either hot or cold. I have made quite a few for the freezer and will use them in packed lunches over the next few weeks.

Welsh Sausages – Vegetarian
Ingredients
100g wholemeal breadcrumbs
100g grated cheddar cheese
Pinch mustard
1 teaspoon mixed herbs
Black pepper
1 egg
Coating
1 beaten egg
Plain flour
6 cream crackers
Oil for frying

Method
1. Make the breadcrumbs and grate the cheese
2. Place in a mixing bowl
3. Add egg, herbs and seasoning
4. Mix well and shape into small sausages
5. Process cream crackers to crumbs
6. Dip sausage shapes in flour, egg and cracker crumbs
7. Fry in oil for a few mins until golden brown
8. Drain on kitchen paper

Cool for the freezer or serve hot with a salad of vegetables.
Enjoy

Chicken and Tomatoes

I came across the recipe and just had to give it a try. So simple and yet so tasty. Try it for your self and enjoy.

Chicken and Tomatoes
Ingredients
4 chicken breasts
1 onion - chopped
1 clove garlic - finely chopped
2 x 400g tin tomatoes
8 cherry tomatoes
3 tabsp. mascapone
handful basil leaves - roughly torn
2 tabsp olive oil

Method
1. Pre-heat the oven to Gas 5/190C
2. Heat a glug of olive oil in a small pan and add the chopped onion and garlic
3. Cook on a low heat until soft but not brown.
4. Add the tins of tomatoes and chopped cherry tomatoes
5. Continue to cook for 10 -15 mins until well cooked
6. Remove from the heat and beat in the mascapone and basil leaves
7. Heat the oil in a fry pan and fry the chicken breasts until brown.
8. Place the chicken breasts into a baking dish - cover with the tomato sauce
9. Bake for 30 mins

Serve with a green vegetables or a mixed salad and crust bread.

Sorry there are no photographs but it was eaten too quickly.

Easter Cards

There is nothing like home-made easter cards, but I came across this website a few years ago and use it to supplement my home-made versions and send to family and friends all over the world. There is a small annual fee, but such beauitiful cards and as an animal lover I can't resist the cat and dog ones. Have a look for yourself
http://www.jacquielawson.com"

Easter Treat

I usually make some kind of cake over the Easter weekend and I found this recipe amongst my collection and have adapted an old favourite.

Cherry Simnel
140g butter
175g muscovado sugar
250ml orange juice
200g ready to eat apricots - cut into snips
200g glace cherries
100g raisins
300g plain flour
2tsp baking powder
2tsp mixed spice
2 eggs lightly beaten
175g marzipan

Method
Preheat oven to Gas 3/160C
1. Butter and line a loaf tin (1.5 litre) with nonstick paper
2 Put the butter, sugar, orange juice, cherries, apricots and raisins into a pan
3. Bring to the boil slowly, then simmer for 10 mins
4. Cool for 15 mins
5. Place flour, spices, baking poder into a large bowl
6. Add the melted mixture, eggs and mix well
7. Pour half the mixture into the loaf tin
8. Cover with balls of marzipan
9. Pour over rest of cake mixture
10 Bake for one and half hours
11. Check mixture is cooked by inserting a knife - clean knife - cooked
12. Leave to cool in tin before turning out onto wire rack

You can cover the top with glace icing and glace cherries - I didn't his time.
This cake improves with time and is very moist.
If your household is like mine the cake. won't last long


Happy Easter.