What's been happening
Book Group
I met up with my friends in book group today. This month we read The Singapore Grip by J.G. Farrell, who died very young. It's a huge book and I just couldn't get into it until about half way through. I enjoyed the second half much more. We had a great discussion about it, and J.G.Farrell's other works too.
We now meet in local brunch cafe, The Pink Cabbage, and enjoy lovely coffee and cake along with our lively discussions!
A classic novel by a Booker Prize-winning author.
Singapore just before the Japanese invasion in the Second World War: the Blackett family's prosperous world of tennis parties, cocktails and deferential servants seems unchanging. But it is poised on the edge of the abyss. This is the eve of the fall of Singapore and, as we know, of much else besides.
Not only are the Blacketts caught up in the events - their friends, enemies and many individuals are, too. Singapore at this historical watershed has never been so faithfully and passionately re-created.
Cookalong
Recently, I met up with friends for our Cookalong group. This months theme was under-appreciated ingredients. As per usual, there was a delicious mix of interpretations of this, including the tomato soup cake I was talking about last time! Not one of us guessed what the ingredient was, and I can confirm it is absolutely delicious!
Colonoscopy Prep
On Saturday and Sunday I will be having a low residue diet, and then on Monday, the delightful prep for a colonoscopy. It's something I have to do every 5 years as colon cancer is rife in my family. It's unpleasant, but necessary, and if you have been asked to do one, please do take up the offer. It may even save your life!
Mindfulness
If we have known each other for a while, you will know that I have been experiencing extreme levels of stress for the last 4+ years. I have signed up for an online mindfulness course in the hope of relieving it a bit as I'm really feeling the strain lately - wish. me luck!
Recipes for February
Chocolate, Coconut, Raisin and Chopped Nut Muffins
Muffins are one of those things that are very easy to knock up quickly (although they do need to be eaten up or stored in the freezer as they stale fast)
These ones are made with lots of good things, cocoa, coconut cream, vanilla and a little sprinkle of nuts - yum!
Little individual pies
These are really nice, the coconut flavour coming through and the veg still with some bite to them. The protein hit from the green lentils in them makes it a filling and sustaining meal. By using oil pastry, the pastry is short and delicious, and just as good cold as it is hot and fresh from the oven.
Butter bean pate
A simple lunch form the simplest of ingredients - butter beans, a bit of lemon juice and that's about it!
That's it for now, have a great week and I'll see you soon!
Do come and say hello on the Fantastically Frugal Food Facebook group, or the Sensational Slimming Sustenance group. I'd love to see you. Lots of useful tips, recipes and ideas. The nearly 19,000 membership are brilliant, brimming with talent.
And don't forget Thrifty Lesley, where there are 800+ recipes of fantastically frugal food and many weekly meal plans. And Cheap Family Recipes where you can find all kinds of delicious things that don't cost much, with two family monthly meal plans.
With all best wishes, until next time
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