Robbie Cheadle's Blog, page 50

Robbie’s Inspiration – Recipes from around the world: Greek cherry tomato and black olive chicken stew

My family like red meat best especially in stews. They claim that chicken stews are insipid which is true in comparison to red meat stews. I looked for a base recipe that would have a stronger flavour and found this recipe on Panning the Globe site: https://www.panningtheglobe.com/greek-chicken-and-potatoes/

I used the basic concepts from this recipe and created my own Green cherry tomato and black olive chicken stew as follows:

Ingredients

8 drumsticks and 8 chicken thighs with skin

5 Tbspns olive oil

2 small onions, peeled and chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

1 Tbspn garlic flakes

1/2 cup semi-sweet white wine

2 tins whole cherry tomatoes

60 ml (1 tin) tomato paste

1 tspn cinnamon

2 tspns dried oregano

2 tspns dried parsley

3 cups chicken stock

700 grams baby potatoes, cut in half

3 Tbspns cornflour to thicken

2 x 200 gram packets olives, drained and pitted

Method

Heat 3 Tbspns of olive oil in a large pot. Add half the chicken to the pot and sprinkle with 10 ml peppercorns and 5 ml salt. Brown the chicken and set aside. Repeat for the second batch of chicken.

Add 2 Tbspns of olive oil and fry the onion and garlic flakes until the onion is translucent. Pour in the white wine – it will bubble and hiss. Add the whole cherry tomatoes, tomato paste, cinnamon, parsley, and oregano. Add back the chicken. Stir in the chicken stock and potatoes. Bring to the boil and then turn down to a simmer for 25 minutes.

Mix 3 Tbspns of cornflour with 6 Tbspns of the chicken sauce and add to the pot. Add the olives and simmer for a further 35 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through.

I served with rice, but if you don’t have boys that are always hungry, the potatoes should be enough carbs.

Treasuring Poetry: Meet poet and author Abbie Taylor

My March Treasuring Poetry guest is poet and author, Abbie Taylor, who is sharing her thoughts on poems and poetry. I have also included my reviews of her novel, The Red Dress, and her poetry book, How to Build a Better Mousetrap: Recollections and Reflections of a Family Caregiver. Thank you for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.

Writing to be Read

Today, I am delighted to introduce poet and author, Abbie Taylor, to discuss her favourite poems and poetry in general.

Which of your own poems is your favourite?

“The Bedroom” is one of those red herring poems that makes you think it’s about one thing, then turns out to be about another. It illustrates how much my late husband Bill depended on me after suffering two strokes that paralyzed his left side. It’s my favorite because even today, almost ten years after his passing, I’m amazed that I was able to meet his needs for six years after his strokes, despite my limited vision. Here’s the poem:

The Bedroom

At three in the morning,

I’m mildly aroused

by the gentle touch of his hand.

He only has one good arm and leg

but still knows how to please me.

As he strokes me,

and I breathe the scent of his…

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Robbie’s Inspiration – Recipes from around the world: Cape Malay chicken Biryani

This is my favourite chicken curry recipe and I have made it messed around with it three times. I do like chicken recipes that use thighs and drumsticks rather than chicken breast pieces. It is more difficult to get the timing right for chicken breast pieces and if you overcook them, they are tough and chewy.

This recipe is adapted from a recipe from Taste Magazine which you will find here: https://taste.co.za/recipes/cape-malay-chicken-biryani-casserole/

Ingredients

3 Tbspns olive oil for frying

2 medium onions, chopped

7.5 ml chili flakes

1 tspn cayenne pepper

1 tspn fennel seeds

1 tspn ground cumin

1/2 tspn ground turmeric

a sprinkling of black peppercorns

7.5 ml salt

1 tspn ground cardamom

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons garam masala

2 x cans diced Italian tomatoes

1 Tbspn garlic flakes

2 teaspoons sugar

1 Tbspn lemon juice

6 cups chicken stock

2 Tbspns Maizena or cornflour for thickening

Chicken 8 drumsticks and 8 thighs

1 kilogram baby potatoes with skins, cut in half

2 cans lentils – drained

Rice cooked separately in accordance with the instructions

Method

Heat 2 Tbspns olive oil in a large pot. Brown the chicken pieces in batches of 8 pieces for approximately 5 – 10 minutes. Set aside.

Add another Tbspn of olive oil and fry the onions until transparent. Add the spices and garlic and fry lightly. Do not burn. Add the diced tomatoes, chicken pieces and the stock. Bring to the boil. Turn down to a simmer and add the potatoes. Everything should be nicely covered. Simmer for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Add lentils 10 minutes before service.

Enjoy with rice.

Welcome to Day 5 of the #RRBC March “SPOTLIGHT” Author Blog Tour! #JoyMLilley @JoyGerken @RRBC_Org #FigsVinesRoses #RRBC #RRBCSA

Today, I am delighted to welcome author, Joy M. Lilley to Robbie’s Inspiration with a post about her book: Figs, Vines and Roses: — A Family Saga.

About Joy M. Lilley

My pen name is Joy M. Lilley (aka Joy Gerken).  I am a writer and have been writing seriously since 2011 with seven books published to date. My previous career was as a trained nurse [R.G.N.] which I loved but it offered little time for me to write until my retirement.

I joined Rave Reviews Book Club (RRBC) almost 6 years ago and have been amazed by the friendship and support offered by all.

FIGS, VINES & ROSES was the first novel produced by me. I paid a considerable sum to have it edited at the time. This proved not to be adequate for a number of reasons.  Several folks in RRBC commented about the need for further editing, and when that number reached three people, I felt it necessary to do something about it.

It was recently re-edited by 4WillsPublishing.  Nonnie kindly offered to help me with the extra work at zero cost.  It’s been re-released on Amazon in Kindle and paperback formats. If you took a stab at the first version, I would appreciate it if you would reach out to Amazon for the updated version and give it another go.  

I promote my work via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. I also pay for promotion. I am ever grateful for the amazing support given by the members of RRBC.

I enjoy audio recording short stories on my advanced home equipment, and I now offer voice-over work through Fiverr.

You can find Joy M. Lilley on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/joygerken

About Figs, Vines and Roses: — A Family Saga

The year is 1888, and eight-year-old Isabella (Issy) Merryweather lives a comfortable life in Cobnut Hall, Derby. Even at this tender age, her thoughts are focused on those less fortunate than herself, and she dreams of one day growing up to serve that population of people.

Sharing carefree summers with her brother, Clarence, her beloved dog, Molly, and cherished Grandma Ella, she enjoys the freedom of childhood innocence. But, as she comes of age, a move to Kent changes her life forever
.
When Isabella meets Terence, a captivating boy from a poor background, an inseparable bond is formed in secret. But, after a heartbreaking turn of events, Isabella wonders how long secrets can stay secret before they reveal themselves?

This moving tale of love, loss, resilience, and redemption at the turn of the nineteenth century, is one that will linger in the minds of those who choose to ignore the hands of time and remain young at heart… always.

An excerpt

Chapter 8 Snippet:

The winter had been wet and cold and seemed to last forever, but everyone in the family was excited about spring being just around the corner. The world was good and there was no hint of what was about to happen.

Ella had developed a sudden and persistent cough that did not improve after several weeks, but by the spring, warmer weather had rolled in, and she was once again walking in her beloved garden, handing down instructions to the head gardener as to what she wanted done. She was more absent-minded than usual, but her aide was never far away, taking great care of her charge as she had always done. It was during one of these visits to the garden that Ella collapsed. Before help arrived and before they were able to bring her into the house, she died. They summoned the local doctor.

        “Well, she was a good age and quite healthy until the end. Many do not enjoy the flexibility of body that this old lady had, and what a good life she lived with her loving family around her,” he said.

Clarence and Isabella were called home from school. The sudden death of their grandmother came as a great shock to the family, for she appeared to be indestructible. She was seventy-five years old, in rude health and always ready to tackle her garden. Clarence seemed to take her death in stride, but for Isabella, it wouldn’t be that easy. She had always held a very soft spot in her heart for her grandmother, and the magnitude of her grief overwhelmed her.

 She reminisced with Sarah and her father about the times she had spent with her grandmother. Those memories she would never forget, for Ella had impacted her life greatly.

 For many months after, Isabella thought about her grandmother constantly, remembering her love for the finer things in life, and for the music she loved to play and listen to. She would miss the Christmas concerts and their family gatherings, but the thought of her grandmother never being able to tend her garden again, saddened Isabella greatly. Watching her grandmother nurture her garden always brought a smile to her face. To be able to plant and watch the fruits of your labours develop and grow, was to Ella, the most wondrous thing. The love of gardens was now deeply instilled in Isabella and would become one of the strongest motivators throughout her life.

 It was her grandmother who had taught her about the language of flowers:  snapdragon for presumption, honeysuckle for devotion, periwinkles for reconciliation, red roses for true love, and lilac for commitment, all of which had appealed to the young girl’s impressionable mind.

Purchase Figs, Vines and Roses – A Family Saga

FIGS, VINES & ROSES on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Figs-Vines-Roses-Family-Saga-ebook/dp/B09SWR3D7Z

In conclusion

Thank you for your support of this author.  To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the RRBC “SPOTLIGHT” Author page on the RRBC site!

Growing bookworms – Audio books that teach children about music

Today’s Growing Bookworms post discusses audio books that teach children about music. Thank you to Kaye Lynne Booth for hosting me.

Writing to be Read

Peter and the Wolf

Picture credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_and_the_Wolf

When I was a little girl in the pre-preparatory school, one of my favourite music lessons was when our teacher played the audio book of Peter and the Wolf. I loved the story about Peter who needed to protect his pets from a hungry wolf. Most of all, I loved the sounds of the musical instruments that accompanied the story. Each character in the story has its own musical instrument and each sound is perfectly suited to the character. Our teacher used this story to teach us about the different musical instruments, which family of instrument it belonged to, and the sound it made.

Peter is played by the violin (string instrument family), the bird is played by the flute (woodwind family), the duck is played by the oboe (woodwind family), the cat is played by the clarinet (woodwind family), the grandfather is…

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I love Robbie’s Sir Chocolate series

Jacqui Murray has shared a lovely post and review for Chocolate Fudge saves the Sugar Dog. Jacqui has the most incredible historical fiction book about ancient mankind so do have a look while you are there. Jacqui also shares excellent posts about writing, genres, and other interesting topics.

I know–I’m late! I have many ‘blah blah’ reasons, but consider this my ‘after the show show’ review.

I’ve read several of Robbie’s Sir Chocolate series books (and many of her adult books). Besides being fun stories kids will be drawn to, Robbie has unique characteristics I rarely see in other books.

First, she writes them with her son, a teenager who shares her love of reading. Second, she makes each story not just a picture book but a kinesthetic experience. As child and parent read the story, they can bake select recipes together. As a teacher, I often hear stories from parents of children who hated reading until they found a particular series that they couldn’t put down. For some it’s Harry Potter, others Star Trek, and for others, I’m sure, it is this series.

My Review

I’ve read a lot of Robbie’s books (here’s a review…

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Robbie’s Inspiration – Recipes from around the world: salmon and hake fishcakes

I have to confess that I am not a fan of fish other than hake and sole. I also like prawns, but that is as far as I go with regards to ocean supplied delicacies. Yes, yes, I am boring when it comes to all things fish and yes, yes, I know fishy things are good for you. My son, Greg, won’t eat anything from the sea at all so I am one up on him. Mind you, it may be my aversion that has cause his. Sigh!

My mother is a big fish fan and she particularly likes salmon. I am very fond of my mother and I like to make her happy so I looked for a recipe containing fish that I thought I could stomach. I didn’t find one, so I took a recipe containing cod and Robbified it. This is post is the result and it was very good.

Salmon and hake fishcakesSauce

150 ml mayonnaise

1 teaspoon chopped capers

1 rounded teaspoon horseradish

1 rounded teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 shallot, chopped

1 teaspoon dried parsely

Mix all ingredients together to form a tasty sauce.

Salmon and hake fishcakes

In a large covered pan, poach 450 grams of salmon pieces and 400 grams of hake in approximately 250 ml of milk with two bay leaves. The fish should be covered. Bring the milk to the boil and then turn down to a simmer for approximately 5 minutes. Switch off and leave in the pan for a further 10 minutes.

Peel 1 kg of mashing potatoes and boil in a pot of water until soft. Add plenty of salt (about 1 tablespoon). Drain the potatoes.

Using a fish lifter, remove the fish from the pan. If necessary, remove skin with a fork. Sprinkle with black pepper and flake into large pieces.

Crush the potatoes. Add two heaped teaspoons of the sauce, 1 teaspoon of chopped capers, and 1 tablespoon of dried parsley. Mash well. Add about 200 ml of the milk from the poached fish. Mash until you have lovely creamy mashed potatoes.

Add the fish to the potatoes and combine gently so as not to break the fish pieces. Allow the mixture to cool.

On a piece of wax paper covered with flour, shape the potato mixture into 12 fat fishcakes. Place in fridge to harden.

Beat 2 eggs with 100 ml of milk and pour into a plate. On another plate place a good pile of breadcrumbs.

Take the hardened fishcakes and dip them in the egg mixture. Then transfer to the breadcrumbs plate and coat the fishcakes well.

Heat a frying pan to medium hot temperature and fry the fishcakes for approximately 10 minutes on each side.

I served with chips cooked in the air fryer and a fresh green salad.

#WordCrafters Book Blog Tour for Chocolate Fudge saves the Sugar Dog + My review by @victoriazigler

Thank you to prolific children’s book author and poet, Victoria Zigler, for this lovely post about Chocolate Fudge saves the Sugar Dog and her review. This post includes instructions on how to make a meringue cake with fresh cream and fruit.

#WordCrafters Book Blog Tour for Chocolate Fudge saves the Sugar Dog + My review by @victoriazigler

Welcome to my stop on the Chocolate Fudge saves the Sugar Dog Book Tour.  I have a review of the book for you, but first let’s check in with the author, Robbie Cheadle, who has a recipe to share with you.  Then we can find out about the book, and check out my review.

How to make a meringue cake with fresh cream and fruit

How to make meringue

Preheat oven to 150 degrees Celsius.

Beat 4 egg whites in a mixer with ¼ teaspoon salt for 4 minutes on a medium speed. Gradually add 125 ml granulated white sugar. Increase speed to high and gradually add 190 ml icing sugar until stiff glossy peaks form.

Cover the baking tray with a layer of wax paper.

Insert the meringue into a piping bag (or a small plastic bag with one corner snipped off) and pipe into a circular shape.

Bake in the oven for 3 hours until the top is a light golden grown and the meringue is hard. Switch off oven and leave overnight.

The above recipe makes the third layer (second from the top) of the meringue cake pictured below.

continue reading here: https://ziglernews.blogspot.com/2022/03/wordcrafters-book-blog-tour-for.html

Day 4 of the WordCrafter “Chocolate Fudge saves the Sugar Dog” Book Blog Tour – Review by D.L. Mullen

Kaye Lynne Booth is hosting day 4 of my Chocolate Fudge saves the Sugar Dog book tour and has included a wonderful review by D.L. Mullen. Do come over and find out how Lord Humbug got his name. While you are there, have a look around. Kaye has a wonderful blog and offers a variety of editing and other services for authors.

Writing to be Read

Chocolate Fudge saves the Sugar Dog Book Blog Tour

Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet,
Have a son, Chocolate Fudge,
A mild mannered and kindly lad,
He’d never bear a grudge.

From Book 8: Chocolate Fudge saves the Sugar Dog

We’ve had a great tour so far with a post from Robbie and a review by Miriam Hurdle on The Showers of Blessings blogsite on Day 1; an interview with Michael Cheadle and my review, here on Writing to be Read for Day 2; James Cudney interviews Robbie Cheadle on This is My Truth Now for Day 3.

For Day 4 of the WordCrafter Chocolate Fudge saves the Sugar Dog Book Blog Tour finds a guest post from Robbie on the villian of her story here, on Writing to be Read and D. L. Mullen’s review of her delightful children’s book over at the Undawnted blog site. Because Undawnted does…

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Blog Tour: Chocolate Fudge Saves the Sugar Dog by Robbie Cheadle (w/ Review & Interview)

Thank you to prolific family drama and cozy mystery author, James J. Cudney, for this wonderful review of Chocolate Fudge saves the Sugar Dog. James has also included an author interview about Michael and my writing process for this series. Thank you, James.

Blog Tour: Chocolate Fudge Saves the Sugar Dog by Robbie Cheadle (w/ Review & Interview)

Today we’re sharing a special blog tour post and spotlight. You’ll get to learn about the book and author, see great content from different bloggers, and maybe even have some fun. Come on inside to learn more about this wonderful author and book…

I’m excited to join WordCrafter’s tour, partially because of the specific author being highlighted but also because the blog tour coordinator is a wonderful blogger and author herself. In today’s post, you’ll find background information about the promoted book and Robbie Cheadle (author extraordinaire), plus an exclusive interview with her and my review of her latest Sir Chocolate book. Below you can also check out all my past reviews of Robbie’s work, including the entire Sir Chocolate series and her stand-alone novels.

https://thisismytruthnow.com/cheadle-robbie/embed/#?secret=p01RqYJpsz#?secret=2feCDACqCWAbout the Book(s)

Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet’s son, Chocolate Fudge, sees one of Lord Humbug’s dogs struggling to stay afloat in the hot chocolate pond. Can Chocolate Fudge save the sugar dog from drowning?

Includes lovely new recipes.

My Book Review

Another wonderful installment in the Sir Chocolate series by Robbie and Michael Cheadle. In this latest one, Chocolate Fudge, the son of Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet, spends his time walking his dog around the chocolate ponds. But what happens when the swimming ducks entice another set of dogs so much that trouble brews? Chocolate Fudge must act fast and figure out how to be the hero.

Continue reading here:

Continue reading here: https://thisismytruthnow.com/2022/03/02/blog-tour-chocolate-fudge-saves-the-sugar-dog-by-robbie-cheadle-w-review-interview/