I try to remember this when I get discouraged

30 April - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Strength of beast of burden carrying spades about (6)

Solution – muscle

Strength = muscle

Beast of burden = mule

Mule is carrying ie contains s for spades and c for about.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Quits flat (4)

Hint – this is a double definition clue

Pumpkin and Rhubarb Pie – savoury style

The next Food on Friday is about parsnips and pumpkin.  I thought I would start you thinking by showing you this Pumpkin and Rhubarb Pie. This is not a dessert.  It is a savoury pie.  In fact we don't eat pumpkin in any sweet form here in my part of the world.

The reason I made this pie was simple – I had leftover rhubarb, pumpkin and pastry in the freezer – all needed using up.

First I lined my dish with the store bought pastry – it was a sweet pastry as it happens – I didn't butter the dish because there is so much in the pastry itself.

I forked it in quite a lot of places on the bottom and then put some baking paper in it and topped it with some dried beans I use for blind baking.  I baked it in a moderate oven for about 12 minutes and then took the beans out and gave it another 5 minutes.

While the pastry was in the oven, I boiled up the kettle and poured boiling water over my rhubarb (which was cut into about one inch lengths).  Just leave it sitting in the water for about 4 minutes and then drain any excess liquid out nd add 1 tablespoon of sugar (I actually added ¼ tsp of stevia powder instead).

I peeled and cubed my pumpkin and then microwaved it with a sprinkle of water for 3 minutes (more if you have a larger quantity).

I mixed the rhubarb and pumpkin together and added nutmeg, ginger, ground chili powder, pepper and a splash of good balsamic vinegar.

Then into the pie shell.  I had some pastry left over so I cut it into strips and made a bit of a lattice on top of the pie.  I brushed the top pastry with some egg wash (just one whisked up egg).

Then bake for 30 to 35 minutes in a moderate oven.  As you can see from the pic, I didn't have enough filling for the size of the dish – but it tasted good.

William and Kate's 2nd Anniversary - Congratulations

Beijing is the Capital of Where?

More than 20 million people live in Beijing (and, according to Katie Melua, 9 million bicycles) but although being a capital city it is not the largest city in the country.

A food speciality of the city is Peking Duck.

Beijing's architecture is a mix of old and new. 

So where is it?

Beijing is the capital city of China!

29 April - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Wily yachtsman’s beginning to get vessel ahead (6)

Solution – crafty

Wily = crafty (not as in artistic)

Yachtsman's beginning – the beginning, ie first letter in "yachtsman"

Vessel = craft

Craft is ahead of y = crafty

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Strength of beast of burden carrying spades about (6)

Hint – this is a container clue

The Tracks of My Tears – the Miracles

People say I'm the life of the party
Cause I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I'm blue
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears.

The Tracks of My Tears by The Miracles is one of those songs I feel like I have always known.  In fact it dates from 1965 and was written by the group – which was reasonably uncommon back in those days where singers mostly sang songs written by others.   It has been covered by many other artists including Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton.

Guess this means there has to be some dark through which to see beauty?

28 April - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Discovered calf in grass (8)

Solution – revealed

Calf = veal

Grass = reed

Put the calf into the grass, you get revealed – which matches discovered.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Wily yachtsman’s beginning to get vessel ahead (6)

Hint – the second letter is r

Meatloaf in Capsicum Containers

For some reason I thought it would be fun to do meatloaf by cooking it inside capsicums (you might know them as bell peppers).  And it actually worked out quite well.

The meatloaf filling was made with equal quantities of lamb mince, chicken mince and pork sausage meat.  To that meat I added some softened onion, garlic and chilli.  For other seasoning I added a splash of Lea & Perrins sauce, and, of course salt and pepper.

I had some leftover paneer cheese which I cut up into cubes and included in the mixture.  After all these has cooked up a bit I let it cool and then mixed through some chopped spring onion (scallion) and then spooned it into the capsicum, put a bit of grated cheese on top and then cooked it in a moderate oven for about 45 minutes.

Happy Freedom Day to all my South African friends

27 April - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Anteater chained, maltreated (7)

Solution – echidna

Echidna is a type of anteater found in Australia

Echidna

You can also get to the word "echidna" by maltreating, or scrambling, the letters in "chained".

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Discovered calf in grass (8)

Hint – this is a container clue

Port Douglas and the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the major wonders of the world.  

When I stayed in Port Douglas it was only a day trip on a catamaran to go out to the reef and visit a pontoon which enabled you to snorkel and go down in a glass submarine – a bit freaky.  And do remember to make sure you get back on board at the end of the day – you might remember that someone was left behind by accident some years ago and was never found.

The easiest way to get to Port Douglas is to fly to Cairns and then transfer by road – it is only an hour or so's drive north of there.  You are in a semi-tropical zone so you need to check carefully what the best time of year is to visit – it would be too hot in mid-summer and there is also a box stinger season – they are deadly jellyfish so you want to avoid that at all costs.  They do have stinger and shark nets on some beaches but to be honest I didn't feel comfortable relying on them.

Australia is a fantastic place to visit but it does have some natural hazards – like stingers, sharks, venomous snakes and spiders – not to mention crocodiles.  Of course if you stick to the cities you are most unlikely to encounter any of those – but then you are missing out on the elemental Australia.

Heck yes!

26 April - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Willpower about to crack (7)

Solution – resolve

Resolve = willpower

About = re

To crack = solve

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Anteater chained, maltreated (7)

Hint – look for the anagram

Food on Friday: Rhubarb

ON

When I was a child the things we had growing in the garden included silverbeet, rhubarb, feijoas and guavas.  So we ate today's ingredient for Food on Friday - Rhubarb – quite often.

Rhubarb goes with:

Almonds	Apples	Blueberries
Butter	Cinnamon	Ginger
Hazelnuts	Honey	Pastry
Plums	Pork	Raspberries
Rosewater	Salmon	Soft white cheeses
Strawberries	Sugar	Trout
Vanilla	Yoghurt

I am looking forward to seeing how you use rhubarb in your dishes.  Please just link them up via Mr Linky below.  The best thing is to put your name plus the name of the dish in the first box and copy the url for your post into the second. 

Have fun!

Anzac Day - a special day

25 April - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Therefore gets expert to study something from the baker (4,5)

Solution – soda bread

Therefore = so

Expert = dab, as in he was a dab hand at cooking

To study = read

Put them together you have soda bread which is "something from the baker".

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Willpower about to crack (7)

Hint – think of an abbreviation for "about"

Shakespeare

There are so many people much more qualified than me to talk about the Bard – Shakespeare!  So rather than try, I am just going to give you a few of my favourite lines!  Are these your favourites, too?

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Hamlet