Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Honey & Pesto Gammon Recipe

Ingredients: 2-4kg/4lb 8oz-9lb unsmoked boneless gammon joint, tied
1. Place the gammon joint in a large bowl, cover it with cold water and soak it overnight or, if time is short, for a minimum of 3-4 hours.

2.  After soaking, wash the joint well in cold water and place it in a saucepan with enough cold water to cover the joint. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat, cover the pan and simmer gently for 80 minutes (20 minutes per pound plus 20 minutes). 


Recipe for the glaze:
  • 4 Tbs honey
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 Tbs soy sauce
  • 4 Tbs Green Pesto
  • 2 Tbs brown sugar
Mix all of the above in a small pot and heat until it comes together in a thick glaze.


Pre-heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6 .


  1. . Roast in the centre of the oven for ten minutes, then take the joint out and brush the top and remaining side with the rest of the glaze. Return the gammon to the oven for a further 10-15 minutes, rotating the roasting tin so that the opposite side of the gammon faces the back of the oven.
  2. The gammon is ready when the fat on top is glossy and golden brown. Cover loosely with foil if the top begins to look too brown. Remove the gammon from the oven and set aside to rest for 15 minutes before carving.
  3. Pour any juices that have collected in the aluminium foil into a small pan, and warm through gently.
  4. Carve the gammon, serve on a large platter and spoon over the warmed juices .


Honey & Pesto Gammon.
Sliced Honey & Pesto Gammon.

Sunday, 23 September 2012

Operation "Moo Milk" #EpicStraws




Epic Straws originate from the makers of Cravendale milk and come in three different packs. All containing a variety of straws and connectors so you can invent your own way to drink milk. You know the people the ones who feature the evil thumb cat Bertrum ...

I hasten to add that I don't see my evil thumb cat during the day so either he is Bertrum or he has an evil twin.
Is it "Rollie" or is it "Bertrum " the thumb cat ?

Rollie "thumbcat' not giving the Cravendale up for anyone!

We did eventually manage to wrestle the Cravendale off Rollie though Mr T is sporting a very nice plaster now. You can't blame Rollie now can you would you want to give up your Cravendale?.

And as Mr T is an engineer by trade he wanted to inflict  show his knowledge of capillary action to myself and J as it would be a useful and informative lesson in both engineering and science.


A Cow says "Moo" An Epic Straw creation!
Milking the moment !!

"Moo"



 These new Cravendale #EpicStraws are brilliant family fun, to use when drinking milk. It teaches us that cows say "Moo" and also teaches usmilk comes from cows ( did you know that ? "
Ready for action .. ?

Operation "Moo Milk" is a go go go!


And J's reward for helping with Mr T's science lesson a nice cold glass of Cravendale milk.
You can get more info on these Epic Straws here from 24th September: Epic Straws


(Disclosure I received some vouchers and the straws I wasn't told what to write and all ideas and words are my own)

Silent Sunday 23/09/2012


Saturday, 22 September 2012

Splishy Splashy things kids say !

You know what its like when it rains there is puddles, oodles of puddles and children are drawn to them they compel them to jump into them. This situation is fine during class time when they can go to the welly shed in small numbers and put on their wellies,

It however is not so practical at lunchtime with 120 four & five year olds ....

One small girl was splishy splashing in a puddle ideal  if you are wearing wellies and not the latest Mary Jane style shoes with white socks.... So I approached the little girl..


"Hello can you not splash  in the puddles please" I said kindly.

"Wh...............y?" shrilled the little one.

"Its So much fun " She piped splishy splashing away.

" Because you'll shrink !" I said with a cunning smile.

The girl with this information twirling through her mind...



"Really ?" she enquired...

"Really" I said most honestly.

"And you are quite small already so I wouldn't want you to disappear " I added.


"Oooo Ooooh Ok " she stuttered and skipped off avoiding the puddles but slyly eyeing up someone who was small to gently push into a puddle to see if they would shrink.


Awwh C'est la vie!

Playing in the puddles.






(Disclosure this is a copyright free image form Clare Bloomfield)


Caption Saturday 22/09/2012