Robbie Cheadle's Blog, page 48

Treasuring Poetry – Welcome poet and author, Patty Fletcher and a review #poetry #bookreview #poetrycommunity

My Treasuring Poetry guest this month is Patty L. Fletcher who has written a lovely post packed with favourite poems of both her own and other poets. I have also shared my review of Patty’s book, Pathways to Freedom – Broken and Healed: Book One – How a Seeing Eye Dog Retrieved My Life. Thank you to Kaye Lynne Booth for hosting.

Writing to be Read

Today, I am delighted to feature poet, author, and blogger, Patty Fletcher and share her thoughts about poetry and her favourite poems. I really enjoyed the poems included in this post, those written by Patty herself, and those included in A Poetic Apostrophe. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

What is your favourite poem?

Hello, Robbie. Before I begin, I’d like to thank you for including me in Treasuring Poetry.

Honestly, poetry isn’t my forte. I do, however dabble some and in fact this poem, Ever Lost in the Moment was eventually published in an issue of The Avocet Nature Magazine.

It is a favorite because writing it allowed me to put words to a fantasy which played out in my head.

What inspired you to write this particular poem?

In the poem, Ever Lost to the Moment you see two lovers who have longed for…

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Robbie’s Inspiration – Recipes from around the world: Fish pie

Last week I didn’t post a recipe. I was away at a game reserve with my family and our access to Wi-Fi and cell phone signal was unreliable so I took a break from blogging.

On Saturday, I made fish pie which is a favourite dish of my mom’s (although dad doesn’t care for it – he got a serving of the lamb stout stew I made for Sunday night). Do you have a family with different tastes in food?

Ingredients

1.2 kilograms potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters

100 grams + 125 grams butter

pinch nutmeg

salt and pepper to taste

500 grams haddock

400 grams white fish, I used hake

500 grams peeled prawns

1 medium onion peeled and chopped

1 litre milk + 150 ml

4 eggs

125 ml plain flour

150 grams grated cheese

Method

place the fish and prawns in a pan and cover with the milk. Add the onion. Bring to the boil and simmer for 8 minutes.

In a large saucepan, boil the potatoes in salted water until soft and slightly flaky. Boil the eggs in a small saucepan for 8 minutes and then place in a dish of cold water to cool.

Remove the fish and onion from the milk and retain the milk.

mash the potatoes and add the 100 grams butter, 150 ml milk and salt, pepper and the nutmeg.

In a saucepan, melt the 125 grams butter. Add the flour and make a paste, cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly add the milk and stir constantly while it comes to the boil. The heat should be medium and not to hot so the milk heats more slowly. By the time bubbles form, the sauce should be thick.

Flake the fish and line the bottom of a dish with the fish and prawns. Peel the eggs, cut into quarters, and place on top of fish. Pour over the white sauce. Layer the mashed potatoes over the sauce and fish. Cover with a thin layer of cheese.

Heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Bake the pie for 45 minutes until the cheese is melted and slightly browned.

Growing bookworms – Interactive books for children Part 1

I am over at Writing to be Read with this month’s Growing Bookworms article about interactive books for children. This post covers non-digital interactive books. Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.

Writing to be Read

Interactive books for children are those books that allow for active participation from, and interaction by, the child as part of the reading process. There are two categories of interactive books for children: those that incorporate modern technology and provide for digital participation by children, and those that are not digital.

Today, I’m going to chat about the non-digital interactive books for children. There are a myriad of non-digital interactive books for children, aimed at a variety of different age groups.

Touch and feel books are aimed at very young children. They are wonderful for helping children to associate their sense of touch with a word or words. For example, a picture of a duck could include soft, fluffy feathers and a picture of a tree could have rough bark. Most touch and feel books are very simple and only teach one word at a time. I had a few…

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Robbie’s Inspiration – Poems about Waiting

Fellow blogger and poet, Smitha Vishwanath, wrote a lovely poem about waiting. At the time of writing, she was waiting for the results of medical tests which have subsequently come back and alleviated her anxiety. You can read Smitha’s post here: https://smithavpennings.com/2022/07/27/waiting-the-antonym-for-living/

Smitha’s words reminded me of my own times of waiting for answers in hospitals subsequent to various tests and procedures my two sons have undergone over the years.

I wrote a poem called Waiting for an Answer about Son # 1’s numerous medical procedures and interventions.

I decided to recite both poems and share them with you to consider.

What are your thoughts about waiting for test results and post operative feedback? Or are you one of the fortunate few who have never been in this position?

Waiting – the antonym for living by Smitha Vishwanath

You can learn more about Smitha Vishwanath here: https://writingtoberead.com/2022/02/16/treasuring-poetry-meet-poet-and-artist-smitha-vishwanath/

Waiting for an answer by Robbie Cheadle

Another circumstance which involves a lot of anxious waiting is during war. This poem is by an unknown poet and relates to the shelling of Ladysmith during the Second Anglo Boer War in South Africa.

The Borough of Ladysmith was Shelled on November 2, 1899. (Anonymous)

All within the leagured Bobs,

Calm and peaceful as of yore,

Sat the people silently waiting

The dread cannon’s awful roar.

***

Overhead the sun was shining,

All serene the landscape lay.

Waiting for the great disturbance

All expected on that day.

***

Then broke forth a voice of thunder –

With the shock the air was rent –

Overhead there came a something –

Instantly every head was bent.

***

Part a whistle – part a howling –

Part a scream. And part a yell –

Then a shock – a noise of bursting.

’Twas the “murmur of the shell”.

Robbie’s Inspiration – Recipes from Around the World: spinach and cheese stuffed chicken breasts with oats crumbing

My mother wanted chicken this weekend so I decided to try two chicken recipes. The first is this spinach and cheese stuffed chicken breast dish with came out delightfully tender and moist. Baking chicken can dry it out so I crumbed the breasts with an egg and oats mixture and then baked them for 30 minutes in a dish covered with silver foil. I then removed the foil and browned the breasts for 15 minutes. This recipe can be reduced by dividing in exact quantities.

Ingredients

12 skinned chicken breasts, sliced to leave a flap

150 grams baby spinach leaves, chopped smallish

250 grams smooth low fat cottage cheese

3 Tbspns thick plain yoghurt

3/4 cup grated mozzarella cheese

3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon salt

1 Tbspn garlic flakes

3 cups rolled oats

4 teaspoons paprika

Salt and pepper to taste

2 eggs beaten

Method

In a mixing bowl, mix the chopped baby spinach, cottage cheese, mozzarella and parmesan cheese, garlic flakes, and yoghurt until well blended.

Mix the oats, paprika, salt and pepper.

Pour the beaten egg into a plate and 1 cup of the oats into another plate.

Place the open chicken breast in the egg mixture. Stuff it with 1/12 of the filling. Close it over and ensure the breast is coated in egg. Roll the breast in the oats mixture and lay in a prepared baking tin. Do this for all 12 breasts.

Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Cover the baking pan/s with silver foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the silver foil and bake for a further 15 minutes until the breasts are golden brown.

Serve with mashed potatoes.

Robbie’s Inspiration – Two delightful children’s picture books by Sue Wickstead

Thank you to the lovely Sally Cronin from Smorgasbord Magazine blog for letting me know about these adorable children’s picture books by Sue Wickstead. You can read Sally’s post, which is about a different book, here: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2022/07/22/smorgasbord-bookshelf-summer-book-fair-2022-poetry-bette-a-stevens-childrens-binmen-sue-wickstead/

I have been very cheeky and borrowed Sue’s contact and other links from Sally’s post:

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – More reviews: Goodreads – Website/Blog: Sue Wickstead – Facebook: Stories Sue – Facebook: Teacher Page – Twitter: @JayJayBus – LinkedIn: Sue Wickstead

Barty Barton The bear that was loved too muchWhat Amazon says

What happens when you outgrow your teddy bear? Will you let it go?
Barty was a special teddy bear. He was soft, cuddly, and always made everyone smile. All the loving cuddles had flattened him over time, and his nose bent to one side and his paws needed repairing. But he was too full of memories to be thrown away.

Thomas always loved Barty, but he grew up and was going to be a daddy himself. Would he want Barty for his new baby?

My review

I adored this delightful book about a collection of toys whose owner, Thomas, has grown up and moved away. All the toys were loved, but Barty the Bear, was Thomas’ particular favourite and is a little worse for wear as a result. Barty has lived the past few years in Thomas’ old bedroom while the other toys were stored in the attic.

One day, Thomas visits his mother and tells her he is going to become a daddy. She offers him Barty, but Thomas doesn’t want him because he is old and worn.

After Thomas leaves, his mother gets down all the toys and carefully washes them in her washing machine, including Barty. The other toys wash up well, but Barty comes out lumpy. Thomas’ mother persists and manages to get him completely dry. She mends him and restuffs him so that he is as good as new.

When Barty finally meets Thomas’ son, Alexander, the baby adores him. Barty and the other toys have a new child to love.

A delightful story with beautiful illustrations in bright colours.

Purchase Barty Barton The bear that was loved too much

Amazon US

Sparky the Dragon BusWhat Amazon says

Sparky isn’t your typical double-decker bus. Behind the dragon and magical paintings, she’s exciting and full of fun and adventures for all children.
Jump aboard to find out what makes Sparky so special.

My review

Sparky the Dragon Bus is a delightful book for children about an ordinary bus that is converted into a play bus for children. At first, Sparky is unsure about her new position as a play bus and especially all the colourful pictures that have been painted onto her body work, as this artwork make her different from all the other buses.

When the day arrives for Sparky to meet all the children who will make use of her new facilities, she is pleased by their delight. There is one little girl in a wheelchair who is particularly thrilled by Sparky’s body artwork and some of the modern interventions that allow her to participate in activities with her friends that she never could before due to her physical disability. Sparky comes to realise the different is wonderful and allows her to make a different in the lives of the children.

This book is beautifully illustrated with colourful and eye catching drawings.

Purchase Sparky the Dragon Bus

Amazon US

Robbie’s Inspiration – Recipes from Around the World: Beef stout stew

Yesterday, we celebrated Christmas in July. It was also a farewell for Sister #2 who is moving to Cape Town. Sure, its in South Africa, but Cape Town is a 14 hour drive from Johannesburg and the flights are so expensive now, it’s cheaper to fly internationally than locally. It is rather sad as my dad won’t travel, he health isn’t very good, so I don’t think my parents will see much of them. My family will only see them once a year, if that. Anyhow, that is life and it is full of partings.

Anyhow, moves aside, the lunch was a great success. I spent a lot of time on Saturday preparing food for the lunch. Terence was working and went to the office so I had to do everything myself. It’s a jolly good thing I enjoy cooking.

The menu

Beef and Stout stew

Savoury rice

American baked beans

Ratatouile

Roasted potatoes

Greek roast lamb made by Justin

Dessert

Apple pie

Vanilla ice cream (store bought)

New York cheese cake

My recipe for beef stout stew for 15 adults (there was also the roast lamb, of course, so this would feed about 10 adults as a stand alone).

Ingredients

3 kilograms good quality beef

2 packets of bacon, chopped into big chunks (250 grams each)

6 large carrots (peeled and chopped)

6 stalks of celery

2 medium onions

4 extra large potatoes, cut into large chunks

1 60 gram tin of tomato paste

1 bottle of stout

1 cup of plain flour

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon of thyme

1 tablespoon garlic

4 bay leaves (curry leaves)

Olive oil

8 cups chicken stock

Method

Cut the beef into large chunks. Place in a mixing bowl and sprinkle with the flour, pepper and salt. Toss to ensure each piece is coated in the flour. Heat the olive oil (cover the bottom of a heavy based pot) and brown the meat. Remove the meat from the pot and set aside. Pour a little of the stout into the pot and loosen any browned flour, add to the meat. Add a little more olive oil and sauté the onion and the chopped bacon. Add the carrots and celery and cook for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme and tomato paste and cook for a further 2 minutes. Add the rest of the stout and 8 cups of chicken stock. Add back the meat and add the chopped potatoes. Bring to the boil then turn down to a simmer and cook for 1 hour. Serve with rice.

A few months ago, I used this recipe to make a beef and stout pie.

These are some of the other dishes that were served:

Tables set up by my momNew York cheesecake – I forgot to take a pictureRatatouille AppleAmerican baked beans

The American baked bean recipe came out of this cookbook by author Charles F. French

Click the cover for the purchase linkMy review

I have read all three books in The Investigative Paranormal Society series and the cookbook is an added bonus. Each recipe is contributed by a specific character from the series and is introduced with an overview of that character’s contribution to a specific book and the series as a whole.

I enjoyed reading a little more about my favourite characters in the more relaxed and culinary setting provided by this cookbook.

The cookbook offers a wide range of recipes, all of which are reasonably simple to make and covers the full spectrum of appetizers, main course and side dishes, desserts, and even drinks. The drinks was rather a fun addition for me and I was pleased to find some great recipes for cocktails including Helen’s Bethberg Iced Tea and Jeremy’s Mint Julep Mocktail (non alcoholic).

From the appetizers, Helen’s Grape and Walnut Side Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing grabbed my attention. I love walnuts and anything involving blue cheese. This salad is certainly a bit different and slightly sophisticated, and would certainly add to any dinner party.

The main course and side dishes range from the fun Roosevelt’s Cheeseburgers and Panfried Vegetables to the more unusual Sam’s Chicken Paprikash to Roosevelt’s Baked Beans. I am pleased to have this last recipe as homemade Baked Beans often come up in American literature and I’ve never tasted them. Now I will be able to try this dish.

The desserts all sound delicious and I am keen to try Roosevelt’s Bread Pudding and Whiskey Sauce and Sarah’s Irish Stout Brownies.

Overall, this book is a great introduction to the memorable characters in this terrific series and is also a useful recipe book with some delicious sounding recipes.

You can read Charles’ latest post here: https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/2022/07/24/thank-you-to-writers-2/

Treasuring Poetry – Meet teacher and performance poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

My July Treasuring Poetry guest is Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, a talented teacher and performance poet. Today, Rosemerry is discussing her favourite poems and thoughts about poetry and I have shared my review of her intriguing poetry book, Naked for Tea: Poems which I highly recommend. Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.

Writing to be Read

Today, I am delighted to introduce teacher and performance poet, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, as my July Treasuring Poetry guest. Welcome Rosemerry!

Which of your own poems is your favourite?

Watching My Friend Pretend Her Heart Isn’t Breaking

—Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

On Earth, just a teaspoon of neutron star

would weigh six billion tons. Six billion tons

equals the collective weight of every animal

on earth. Including the insects. Times three.

Six billion tons sounds impossible

until I consider how it is to swallow grief—

just a teaspoon and one might as well have consumed

a neutron star. How dense it is,

how it carries inside it the memory of collapse.

How difficult it is to move then.

How impossible to believe that anything

could lift that weight.

There are many reasons to treat each other

with great tenderness. One is

the sheer miracle that we are here together

on a…

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Robbie’s Inspiration – Recipes from Around the World: Chicken a la king with white wine

Chicken a la king is a popular dish in my house. it is, in fact, Gregory’s favourite meal.

Gregory passed his driving license test on Friday which was an achievement seeing as there was load shedding and none of the traffic lights were working. Not the most fun way to take any sort of test, but Gen Z kids are durable and cope well with change.

on Saturday, we had an early dinner in celebration of his achievement.

Ingredients

1 kilogram skinned chicken breasts, cut into four pieces;

1 cup (250 ml) white wine;

120 grams butter;

125 ml cake/plain flour;

2 cups chicken stock;

600 ml low fat milk;

Salt and pepper to taste;

1 red pepper, chopped;

1 onion peeled and diced;

250 grams button mushrooms, sliced;

Method

In a pot, cook the chicken pieces, do not overcook, about 15 minutes.

In a frying pan, fry the onion, mushrooms and red peppers for about 5 to 10 minutes until soft.

In a saucepan, melt the butter and then add the flour, making a paste. Cook for a few minutes. slowly add the wine and whisk until there are no lumps. add the chicken stock, milk, salt and pepper and whisk. Bring the mixture to the boil whisking continuously, the sauce will thicken. Add the mushrooms, onions, and red peppers and then the chicken. The chicken a la king is now ready to serve over rice or pasta

Here is a peak at the cooked dish on YouTube:

Robbie’s Inspiration – Book review: Golden Healer by M.J. Mallon

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What Amazon says

I didn’t think my life could get any weirder, until the dreaded rollercoaster…

Amelina Scott’s destiny is to be a Krystallos: a magician of light, chosen to learn the ways of crystal magic on her 16th birthday. Located on a river pathway in a mysterious part of Cambridge, the Crystal Cottage is guarded by mythical beings.

Unfortunately, there are those who seek to harm this haven of light. Learning of Ryder – a Shadow Sorcerer with hypnotic powers – Amelina discovers that her own magic is now threatened, and that the Curse of Time might be unleashed again.

As secrets abound and the creatures of the Chronophage come alive, can Amelina become the true magician she needs to be?

A unique, imaginative mystery full of magic-wielding and dark elements, Golden Healer is a riveting adventure for anyone interested in fantasy, mythology or the world of the paranormal. NOTE: this book contains mention of self-harm, mental health issues and alludes to the potential dangers of sexual attraction, which may trigger younger/sensitive readers.

My review

I reviewed this book in my capacity as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team. If you would like your book reviewed, you can contact Rosie Amber here: http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/.

Golden Healer is the second book in The Curse of Time series and continues this unique fantasy story with its unusual and intriguing storyline. Book one ended with a happy environment after Amelina’s father was finally restored to his family at the correct age and Esme disappeared from the mirror, presumably to a better place. Book two starts with small but obvious indications that all is not as it seems and the issues involving both Amelina’s father and Esme are not adequately resolved.

The beginning is a bit slower moving as the author skillfully unwinds the reader’s beliefs that all is well and hammers cracks into the happy environment. The stage is set beautifully with fascinating and intricate scenes and dreams spun like a spiderweb from the author’s pen. Amelina’s first dream travel in this book has catastrophic results as while she is away from her body her bloodstone is stolen and this accelerates the cracks in her home environment.

This book is not an easy read and you have to concentrate as you read in the same way you would while reading a classic novel. It is worth the effort as the descriptions and concepts are outstanding and beautifully depicted.

There are a few stand out scenes for me in this book, as follows: the grasshopper in the meadow, the clowns in the café, and Aunt Karissa’s chocolates. For me, these were unbelievably imaginative and full of mystery.

Aunt Karissa features plays a small role in this book, introducing some welcome lightness and humour as Ryder’s darkness and power continue to grow. The reader learns a bit more about Ryder and his origins and homeland.

Another memorable feature of this book is that each chapter or puzzle piece starts with a tanka poem that hints at what is to follow in the chapter. The author is also an excellent poet and the poems were a lovely addition.

A few memorable quotes from this book:

“The grasshopper monster propelled time forward in a steady, slow, rocking motion, as if he was devouring our lives in seconds, minutes and hours as we gazed upon him.”

“Hello my beautiful reflection. You came! You always come when I need you the most. I have been so anxious listening to the troubles of this family which has become my family. What have you been doing? I see sweet flowers covering the red cuts on your left wrist.”

“”She opened the wrapper with trembling fingers. Inside, there was a small, round milk chocolate. It grew in her palm. the chocolate split into two halves, one half dark, and the other half white. In the centre, a dividing line moved form side to side as if whipping up the chocolate angrily.”

In conclusion, I would like to add that when I was a girl of 10 years old, I discovered the books written by Eva Ibottson. Every book of hers I read was a complete delight to me with its amazing fantasy creatures and gorgeous depictions of the lives of hags in dribbles and wizards in towers surrounded by mist. Throughout my adult life, I have search for an adult author who can invoke the same magical worlds and belief in magical creatures that I discovered in Miss Ibottson’s stories, and in this series by M.J. Mallon, I do believe I finally found an adult equivalent.

Purchase Golden Healer by M.J Mallon

Amazon UK

Amazon US