Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Asparagas Soup



Ingredients (serves 2)
·         2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
·         2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
·         1 small brown onion, finely chopped
·         1 small carrot, finely chopped
·         3 cups of vegetable stock
·         1 bunch of asparagus roughly chopped
·         handful of swiss brown mushrooms, roughly chopped
·         half a lemon worth of lemon juice

Process
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan, add the onions, garlic and carrot and saute for a few minutes until the onion is soft and the garlic is aromatic. It is important not to burn the garlic so keep the heat down.  Now add the mushrooms and cook for a further 4-5 minutes stirring frequently. Add the stock,  ample ground sea salt and simmer covered for 30-40 minutes, stirring infrequently. Add the lemon juice and blend.  Sprinkle with parsley roughly chopped

2 Of my paintings. I like them big and bold

Chicken and Asparagas Quiche


Recipe on my other blog      http://ceciliaallthingsbeautiful.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Apple Muffins




Apple and Bran Muffin Recipe on my other blog http://ceciliaallthingsbeautiful.blogspot.com

Best Chocolate cake ever.


I have tried various chocolate cake recipes, this recipe is a keeper. I love the expression on peoples face when I tell them that is has beetroot.

Chocolate Beetroot Cake 

250g plain chocolate, broken up
3 large eggs
200g muscovado sugar
100ml sunflower oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g self-raising flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp baking powde50g ground almonds
250g raw beetroot

For Icing


150g plain chocolate
50g sour cream

Preheat oven to 180ºC/fan160ºC/gas 4. Grease a 22cm round, loose bottomed cake tin with a lottle butter and line the base with baking paper.

Place the plain chocolate to melt in a bowl and set over a pan of gently simmering water. Allow the chocolate to melt slowly until smooth, then set aside to cool.

Place the eggs, sugar and sunflower oil in a large mixing bowl and whisk together, using an electric hand whisk, for about 3 minutes until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in vanilla extract, then sift over self-raisng flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and gently fold in, together with the ground almonds.

Peel and grate the beetroot, fold the beetroot into the mixture with the cooled chocolate, until thoroughly mixed.

Pour into prepared tin and bake for 50minutes to 1 hour.

For the icing melt the chocolate with the sour cream over a pan of simmerting water. Spread it over the top let it fall by the sides of the cooled cake and serve.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Wisdom



Wisdom is the sharing of wise experiences and knowledge, but a lot of it is common sense. The difference is how we apply this common sense - we all have the ability to keep going even when we face challenges in our lives - basically it comes down to your attitude.


We can have a positive attitude towards life, or a negative attitude. We can focus on the good or we can focus on the bad. 


Keeping a positive mental attitude is one of the keys to success. 

The choice is always up to you!




Body Painting











THE SERENITY PRAYER

GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY
TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE;
COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN;
AND WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

LIVING ONE DAY AT A TIME;
ENJOYING ONE MOMENT AT A TIME;
ACCEPTING HARDSHIPS AS THE PATHWAY TO PEACE;
TAKING, AS HE DID, THIS SINFUL WORLD
AS IT IS, NOT AS I WOULD HAVE IT;
TRUSTING THAT HE WILL MAKE ALL THINGS RIGHT
IF I SURRENDER TO HIS WILL;
THAT I MAY BE REASONABLY HAPPY IN THIS LIFE
AND SUPREMELY HAPPY WITH HIM
FOREVER IN THE NEXT.
AMEN.

--REINHOLD NIEBUHR