NInja Cat is famous

Rollie 'Ninja" cat has become immortalised in a poem over at The UnCheshire Wife

So do Rollie a favour please go read  .....

Silent Sunday

High tides and holidays

We've just got back from Norfolk and we now see life in a different light , I'll be the first to admit I hog multi media technologies . The first shocker was a lack of signal , followed by no wifi in the cottage which has the ability to leave many a child hyperventilating into their brown paper chip bag.

Confused and confuddled and resigned to the fact that the Internet highways were not an option , then       eyes are opened to the beauty that surrounds . The beauty of our surroundings in this case was Cromer in Norfolk.

Slowly but surely the lure of the lapping of the ocean , the sea spray in the air , skimming stones , searching for shells. Whenever I am at the sea side I have a favourite poem of mine skipping through my mind , the poem is : " Sea Fever " by John Mansfield 

Being by the seaside puts me and it certainly put my niece in her happy place below is a moment I would love to freeze frame forever.

Calling Out For a Home Improvement Hero

"Calling for a hero, I 'm holding out for a hero" sounds a bit like a song that .. scratches head any way I have a spot in my house that is one of those areas you just ignore well you try anyway.The area in my kitchen it has space for a little table and chairs but really with 2 cats and various other kitchen clobber that really isn't possible. so I wanted to inject some coffee bar style into my kitchen making my kitchen some where more than just some where where I just go to make a cup of tea in and a glass of white wine.

Preparation is always key in DIY I used to be one for just slapping on the paint  but as my husband has often pointed out this just doesn't work and you need to prepare the surface and protect the surrounding area you are going to work on and around. I know he's right but please don't tell him that , I have to admit I am one of those people after he's done the DIY  I point at what he's done and say the well worn phrase " You've missed a bit"

I thought of many ideas painting a cistern chapel mural on my kitchen ceiling wasn't going to be one of them. So that's when I had a brain wave and again without out consulting my husband I ordered a breakfast bar with the intention of dividing the labour I paint the kitchen wall and he constructs the breakfast bar.

This is a competition entry for Home Improvement Hero by MoneySupermaket

All the junk I cleared away from where I was going to put the breakfast bar !

Freshly painted surface.

The breakfast bar was £60 from eBay but I didn't mind putting £10 to it and I already had the paint in the garage as I am prone to  essential  whimsical purchases of paint ....

Disclosure ( I was given £50 for the purposes for this improvement by Money supermarket all thoughts, words and opinions are my own)

Italian Strawberry Tiramisu #Easyteam

Ingredients


165g/ 50z caster sugar
1 orange zest and juice
3tbsp orange-flavoured liquer  such as Grand Marnier)
30 Sponge fingers
6 free-range eggs separated
325ml/ 11 1/2 fl oz double cream
500g/ 1lb 2oz mascarpone cheese
2 tbsp vanilla extract
250 g/90z strawberries
3 tbsp icing sugar

Instructions

In a pan, gently heat 120g/40z of the sugar with the orange zest. Add the liquor and orange juice and continue to cook until the sugar has dissolved. Use tongs to quickly dip the orange fingers in the syrup ( take care not to burn yourself ) then lay them on the bottom of a square serving dish.

Place a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Add the egg yolks and the remaining caster sugar to the bowl and whisk to combine. when the the sugar has melted. remove the bowl from the heat and whisk the egg yolks until pale, doubled in volume and creamy. Pour into a cool bowl and set aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff.in a large bowl, beat the cream until thick. Fold the mascarpone into the cream, the fold in the egg yolks until combined. Fold in the egg whites and vanilla extract.

Spread a layer of mixture over the soaked sponge fingers then add a layer of strawberries. Continue layering the sponge fingers, creamy fixtures and strawberries, top if you wish with a layer of strawberries. Cover with cling film and place in the fridge to chill for two hours.

Discard the cling film and dust the top of the summer pudding with icing sugar. Serve immediately.