Much to Celebrate and a Taco Chicken Tip!

Yes, there is no denying it.
This month it is

50 years since President Kennedy was killed,

50 years since C.S. Lewis who wrote the Narnia books died (he died the same day as Kennedy - which is probably why nobody remembers) 

50 years since Dr Who was first aired and
 

50 years since I was born in a hospital in New Jersey!

 

It sounds very grown up - being 50... Hope it isn't compulsory...!

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I am truly blessed with all the celebrations in my honor with lots of attention from dear friends, visits from Norway, meals out and a fun party last weekend!

So far, turning 50 has been nothing but FUN!

Over to the Spicy Chicken Tip:

Due to my illness this summer, I am 'using up' holidays from the previous holiday year (our holiday year runs from 1 October - 30 September) by having every Friday off. It feels like a real luxery - I could get used to this!

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So, sitting this morning with a cup of coffee reading blogs, I came across Trine's Matblogg with a recipe for making your own taco spices. Taco is much loved in this house and by putting together the spices yourself it isn't just cheaper, but you are also in control of how much sugar and salt you consume!

 

Homemade taco spice:

 

3 tablespoons chili powder

2 1/2 teaspoons chiliflakes 

2 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 tablespoons cumin

2 tablespoons paprika powder (I use the hot smokey variety)

2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 1/2 tablespoons seasalt

1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

Be aware that spices can vary in strength, so start out carefully.

 

Despite liking taco, I got fed up with the usual taco recipes with minced meat, cheese, etc, etc. Instead, I often roast chicken with the spices.

Here is my simple Taco Chicken recipe:

take one raw chicken

place it in a roasting bag

add a couple of tablespoons of taco spices

close the bag

shake vigoursly to spread the spices

roast the chicken in the oven for the time suggested on the roasting bag pack

Voila!

One VERY succulent, juicy, spicy taco flavoured chicken!

Well, I'd better get a move on. First Sunday of Advent is coming up and Our Young Man is expecting an advent calendar - as usual! I have got 19 out of the 24 surprises ready.

Only 5 more to go... It is getting hard being inventive and keeping the price down!

Besides he said - no chocolate...!

 

Any suggestions...?

♥

Not so Much of a 'Comic'? Night Out...

Back in the spring I won a couple of ticket in a raffle to see the American comedian Reginald D. Hunter. Last Sunday Our Young Man accompanied me and we made a night of it and went out for a nice meal at Carluccio's first.

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We had seen Mr. Hunter on TV many times, but I was a little disappointed in his performance on Sunday. His humour can be rather crude and he sometimes addresses a lot of very controversial issues, but although there were the occasional giggle, I never really felt like there was much scope for a real hearty 'belly laugh'. Nah, to give him the benefit of the doubt - I just don't think he was 'on form' that night.

His warm up guy - Canadian born Pete Johansson - on the other hand was much funnier and his arguments for why we should re-introduce bears...(!) to the UK were simply funny!

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But having said this - it takes real guts (and talent) to get up and stand in front of an audience and try to make them laugh. Not something I would have wanted to do for a living!

Embarrassing Moment and Knitted iPhone Cover

I managed to make the same mistake as many others apparently have done - I dropped my phone in water... It all happened as as I was walking around the house looking for my iPhone and gave up as I needed to use the bathroom... Why did I not simply call the phone to hear it ringing...? Sigh...

Need I say more? The phone was in my back pocket...

Ok, so I found the phone, but chucking it in a bag of rice to revive didn't work so a new phone has been ordered and in the meantime I am using the simplest version possible of a mobile phone. For somebody who has become used to organising my life via the various apps on the phone, not to mention the calendar, this has been painful! No internet, no usable calendar, no emails... Actually, it is rather peaceful...!

But the new phone is on its way. I wanted to use up some left over yarn and knitted an iPhone cover (pattern taken from the book Knit Nordic). Quick and easy even if I managed to miss a round (yup, you can see it in the pattern if you look closely) but since I think it will be too small for the iPhone - it fits perfectly the current simple phone- I couldn't be bothered undoing it. But I will make a new one for the new phone. I realise the knitted texture makes it much easier to find the phone in my handbag!

Have you had any 'phone related' incidences...?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Knitted Tie

Scandinavian (and particularly Norwegian) patterns are all the rave these days. You find them in anything from clothes to kitchen ware! 

Our Young Man was on a quest rooting through my old sweaters and was very pleased when he discovered my Marius sweater and others I knitted for myself when I was 16 or 17. Still in pristine condition! But he was equally disappointed when he realised that he is of course much broader/taller/bigger than I was at 17... However, he struck lucky when he found a beautiful hand knitted sweater that had been made for his father by a very dear neighbour. Now he is just hoping for colder weather. Hand knitted woollen sweaters require a colder climate than we generally have...!

 

But he did ask if I could knit him a tie. Apparently, that is also all the rave - sporting knitted ties. Obviously, we have to show off our roots, so I found a pattern for a knitted tie based on a Setesdal pattern in the book by Eline Oftedal called "Knit Nordic" (I think "Marius, Setesdal, Fana, Voss, Norske Strikkemønstre på nye måter" is the Norwegian title of the same book). The bottom part carries the pattern and the rest is knitted in moss stitch (perlestrikk). I must admit it was a bit boring knitting the moss stitch, but it is simple to do in front of the telly.

Let's hope the Young Man likes it.
♥

Still Hanging in There!

 

Oh, yes, I am still here!

I have neither found the right time nor inspiration for the blog, but I hope that will return!

 

I have gone back to work, and after my summer ordeal that felt ok. Not great, but ok. I am still on a phased return but aiming to start full time again next week. I think that will be ok, too. Sometimes you have to push yourself to move forward. One good thing that has come out of my illness is that I  started working out. Since July I have been going to the gym every other day and I really LOVE it. Who would have thought.... It has become a habit and I feel so much better for it. I just hope I can keep it up when I start working full time...!

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Time flies and beautiful autumn days are here. The heating goes on regularly in the afternoons, the Cat refuses to step outside for days on end (he is getting lazier by the year) and The Professor reported frost on the ground up north in Durham where he is.

Last week was half term and Halloween and tonight is Bonfire Night. I wrote about Bonfire Night last year, so you can read about that here, if you want. Soon it will be Thanksgiving and then Christmas. It is just one form of celebration after the other!

Another thing to mention is that Our Boy has also sent off his University application for studying next year. So fingers (and toes and anything else!) crossed he is accepted to the course he wants at the University he wants! I am just finding it hard to understand that he is soon off to University... Seriously, where have the years gone???

These pictures are from Sunday when I managed to lure Our Boy (I guess I should start calling him Our Young Man ...) with me for a walk on Sunday with the promise of having lunch at a noodle bar. Their noodles in hot, steamy and  broth, like their Tom Kha Gai is just what you need on a blustery day. The soup was bursting with flavoursome broth enhanced with coconut milk, chicken, pork, seafood, mushrooms and various vegetables and vermicelli noodles. The portions are enormous so the leftovers were brought home and served as a starter for dinner.
No wonder this is a popular place with students!

So, time I had a 'wander' around Bloglandia and see what other bloggers are up to! Maybe time to start thinking of Christmas, too! That reminds me - I MUST get the amaryllis bulbs planted if I am to have any chance of it blooming for Christmas! Last year's didn't bloom until end of April...! I think I might be late already...

Have you got yours planted...?