David L. Atkinson's Blog

Tuesday Food Blog - Sort of cottage pie

A phrase that came from an elderly relative who lived through the second World War - 'make do and mend'. Put simply everything had more than one use. 

Sort of cottage pie
Ingredients
For the toppingPotatoes, boiled and mashed1 dstsp English mustard1 tbsp milk1 oz butter
For the pie
400g beef mincel small tin garden peas1 small tin baked beans1 onion, chopped1 tsp garlic salt1 tbsp oregano2 tbsp tomato puree2 tbsp Henderson's Relish
Method
Boil the potatoes for 20 minutes while starting the filling.Pour 1 tbsp oil in the frying pan and cook the onion until soft. Add the mince and brown completely, then add the garlic, oregano, tomato puree and any other small chopped vegetables you have available. Drain the potatoes and mash with the other ingredients. Pour the filling into an oven proof dish and top with mash. Cook in a moderate oven for 20 - 30 minutes.


God Bless

Poetry Thursday 299 - Fitting in

It is the most common traumatic experience every child goes through.



A schoolboy


Fitting in
We all know what to dowhen we first walk in the school gate.Even the big crying boy with the heavy coat,knew his place when turns were rote.So why is it so hard to fit in?
Everything was so big and strange,
and no help was there for the change.The others seemed to know what to do,but what if you’re full of fear of the new?So why is it so hard to fit in?
Where was I when the word was given out,had I missed the organisational shout?Am I lost because there’s something wrong,or didn’t I listen to their talks, so long.So why is it so hard to fit in?
Shouldn’t everyone have the same chance?We’re all taking first steps in this dance.Yet I feel confused and left out,a process starts and I am without.So why is it so hard to fit in?©David L Atkinson March 2018




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Washing linens day
Today we have washing linens day. Yesterdaywe had church. And tomorrow morningwe shall have a shopping day. But todaywe have washing the clothes. Rainsweeps across the back yard in torrents.and today we have washing clothes day.
This is the burbling boiler. And underneathis the gas burner whose use is plain,when the boiler is filled. And this is the possernot in use these days. The posserholds the linens beneath the heaving bubbles.And then there is the steam.
No health and safety. A burbling boiler,the scullery filled with steam. The bare armswielding the posser, drowning the whites. The musclesflexing against the resistant whites. And the dooris closed against the rain sweeping the yard.
Today is a washing linens day. And it endsWith linens slowly squashed between rollers. The mangleturned to squeeze out every drop. Rainmakes it impossible to hang out. A fireguardlinens thrown over to dry. More steam.Today was a washing clothes day.
©David L Atkinson March 2018

A mangle


God Bless

Tuesday Food Blog - Mulligatawny risotto

What to have for lunch that is quick and easy to repair? That was the question that entered my mind as my tummy began to rumble at lunchtime. I stayed in this morning as it has snowed on and off and I am in a position whereby my car does need to be added to the confusion created by half a dozen snow flakes.

Mulligatawny risotto
I know that risotto is simple to make but it can be an opportunity to use up vegetables that are near the end of their useful existence and therefore is a method of getting your five-a-day. So here is what I did.
Ingredients
1 tin of Mulligatawny soup1 onion, chopped1 tsp garlic salt3 tbsp rice, rinsed2 rashers of bacon, chopped1 tbsp sweetcorn and red peppers, chopped
Method
Heat some olive oil in a frying pan.Fry the onion for 5 minutes then add the garlic salt and chopped bacon. Fry for a further 5 minutes. Add the vegetables and saute for a further 5 minutes.Pour in the soup and bring to the boil. Turn down to a simmer and add the rice. Cover and simmer for 10 - 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serve
This was really tasty and could have been further enhanced by the addition of other spices but the soup was quite spicy enough. This is an easy way of producing risotto and you can use any soup and combination of vegetables that you like.
God Bless

Writing - I'm an alien!

Ever had the strange thought that you're not of this world? Please read on.
An alien perhaps

Brad Steiger, a very well-known paranormal phenomena researcher, has noted something very interesting when it comes to the certain blood types of human beings. What is it, you ask? Well, those who have Rh-Negative blood are definitely a different type of person. When it comes to basic facts, as well as the laws of genetics, humans can only inherit properties that their ancestors possessed. Unless, of course, there happens to be a mutation.

What exactly does this mean? Well, if a monkey and a man did descend from just one ancestor, their blood should be 100% compatible with one another. However, every primate on Earth has Rh-Positive blood. The Spanish Basques have the highest percentage of carriers of Rh-Negative blood, coming in at around 30%. Their origin is a mystery still to researchers. Among those thirty percent are Samaritans, Israeli Jews of Eastern origin and Ethiopian black Jews. Among other people within the nations of the world, the number of Rh-Negative people reaches barely 1%. But did you know that specific people, such as healers, mediums, and those with unusual mental abilities, also have Rh-Negative blood?

We know that there are four blood groups. They all are different in composition. More specifically, they vary in the different proteins that the blood cells carry and use when they are trying to fight off bad bacteria in the body. Most people do have these proteins, and these men and women are Rh-Positive. So why do some humans fail to have these proteins? Honestly, it is still a huge mystery among scientists and researchers. Scientists have stated that they believe that the very first humans to have the negative Rh factor were born more than 35,000 years ago. What they don't know is how or why they were born with it. 
The theory that has been the most popular is this- those with this type of blood are of extraterrestrial origin; or, more precisely, have the DNA in their blood. 

Those who are Rh-Negative have the following similar characteristics: They usually have a higher IQ than those with Rh-Positive blood, are more mentally and emotionally stable, have a lower body temperature than others, have green, blue or light brown eyes, and are sensitive to both heat and cold. It is also impossible to clone anyone who has Rh-Negative blood. 
Another amazing fact of the Rh-Negative history lies with pregnant women. A pregnant woman who has Rh-Negative blood must take special medications while she carries her child, as her immune system will perceive the fetus as a foreign body and attack it. Why would your own body attack the baby you are growing inside of it? Why perceive the fetus as a threat? While there is no clear answer, it does lend credibility to the theory that these men and women have an alien origin.
I have some additional information. My mother was told in 1950 that she couldn't have any more children because I was A Rh -ve. The health authorities hadn't quite got to grips with the difficulties of having a child with Rh -ve blood.
God Bless

Poetry Thursday 298 - Donald's guns

Once again a number of children and teachers have been shot in a school in America and as always the president is prevaricating over gun laws!
This poem was inspired by the song made famous by Cher

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Donald’s guns
Bang, bang he shot us down,Bang, bang we hit the ground,Bang, bang that awful sound,Bang, bang our classmate shot us down.
We were in grade five or six,rode our bikes, played games with sticks,he came and teased us every day,in a strange and awkward way.
Bang, bang he shot us down,Bang, bang we hit the ground,Bang, bang that awful sound,Bang, bang our classmate shot us down.
Seasons came and changed the time,we all grew and passed grade ninehe was a loner every day,we ignored him in our daily play.
Bang, bang he shot us down,Bang, bang we hit the ground,Bang, bang that awful sound,Bang, bang our classmate shot us down.
Blood ran across the classroom floor,many of us would breathe no more.Music played and people sang,for all of us church bells rang.
Bang, bang he shot us down,Bang, bang we hit the ground,Bang, bang that awful sound,Bang, bang our classmate shot us down.
Time to change Amendment Two,to keep kids like me and you,safe from harm by misguided ones,with easy access to Donald’s guns.
Bang, bang he shot us down,Bang, bang we hit the ground,Bang, bang that awful sound,Bang, bang our Donald shot us down.©David L Atkinson February 2018

Reading - better than a spa

You've heard of yoga retreats and spa retreats, and you've probably heard of creative writing or painting retreats but could the next big thing in relaxation be a reading retreat? 



Cressida Downing apologises that dinner's five minutes late tonight but they had to wait, she explains, for Annie to finish her chapter. 
Co-founder Cressida, a freelance editor, said: "The idea came to me because I'd had a difficult year and my husband said, 'why don't you do a spa retreat?'. I thought, well, I could - but my books would get soggy. "What I really needed was a reading retreat. And I couldn't find one - and I thought it can't just be me who wants this!"So with her business partner, photographer Sara Noel, Cressida tentatively set up the Reading Retreat.All the retreats take place in cosy seaside or countryside cottages and there's only one rule - the reading room must be kept silent at all times.
Holidays devoted only to reading appear to be a growing trend in our time-starved world, with several operators offering varying levels of organisation and comfort. Some retreats use "alone" time for personal reflection as well as reading, some offer glamorous castle settings, while others - like Alain de Botton's Life House in Wales - are in remote locations and deliberately ape monastic life.But they all share one goal - to stop readers just snatching 20 minutes of reading time on the train home and instead to concentrate their minds on reading at length and for pleasure.
A 2014 government survey suggested that 41% of 25 to 39-year-olds said they were reading for pleasure less than they used to, and that almost a quarter of all adults in the UK hadn't read a single book for pleasure in the previous year. Leading British authors like Susan Hill and Howard Jacobson have warned recently that our digital addiction is ruining our concentration and our ability to read at length. At the Reading Retreat, phones and tablets aren't banned but Cressida and Sara do offer to confiscate them on arrival to encourage a digital detox. A fresh air break is also advised to avoid guests becoming cross-eyed. 

"Reading is not a passive thing," Cressida says. "Reading is about engaging and connecting. And reading - as scientists have discovered - does wonderful things for your brain and longevity and health so really, we're probably better for you than a spa."
God Bless

Poetry Thursday 297 - Completely suitable

We live in a complex month currently. February is a winter month, dark and chilly and yet the home of Valentine's Day, and this year, Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.



Unless we are savages

We should treat others with care,and of their plight be aware,Unless we are savages.
We should be prepared to be supportive,and in doing so be creative.Unless we are savages.
We should not horde wealth in small corners,or be tight wad performers.Unless we are savages.
We should be open-hearted,not closed and broken hearted.Unless we are savages.
We should be a rock for others,in caring for our brothers.Unless we are savages.©David L Atkinson February 2018

Winter
It is a chilly February,one of the months of winter,so what on earth do you expect?When suffering suitable weather.
Don’t expect warm, sunny days,or periods of no precipitation,in February, northern hemisphere,a suitably chilly location.
So accept your location’s chilly lot,don extra layers of clothing,there are benefits from the icy air,not to be despised with loathing.
Or else gather up your belongings,and find a suitably perfect land,allowing the rest of us to wax and wane,with weather of a more temperate brand.©David L Atkinson February 2018




Valentine
Roses are red,Violets are blue,Singletons dislike it,And couples can too! ©David L Atkinson February 2018

God Bless

Tuesday Food Blog - Cholent

A traditional Jewish dish usually cooked for hours overnight before the Sabbath. This version is very 'comfort food' oriented.
Cholent


Ingredients 
2 teaspoons vegetable oil1 large onion, chopped2 cloves garlic, chopped455g beef stewing steak, cubed5 large potatoes, cubed1 sweet potato, cubed450g baked beans1 tablespoon ketchup1 tablespoon barbecue sauce1 tablespoon prepared mustard2 teaspoons dried onion soup mix2 teaspoons seasoned salt1 teaspoon steak seasoning90g pearl barley

















MethodPrep:20min  ›  Cook:13hr40min  ›  Ready in:14hr Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium heat; cook and stir the onion and garlic until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the beef stew meat, and quickly brown the pieces on all sides. Stir in the potatoes, sweet potato, baked beans, ketchup, barbecue sauce, mustard, onion soup mix, seasoned salt and steak seasoning and pour in enough water to cover. Bring the mixture to the boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook on low heat until the beef is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.Stir in the pearl barley and transfer the stew to a slow cooker set on Low until the barley is tender, about 12 hours. (Not being a lover of pearl barley I just left it out.)


God Bless

Poetry Thursday 296 - Futures

Yesterday the hundredth anniversary of votes for some women past by. The punch line being that capitalism actually won the day. The women that were allowed to vote had to be over 30 years of age and property owners. I wonder how many of them were from working class backgrounds? I know it was a first important step that led to today's situation but we're still fighting capitalism so that women can be equally represented in all levels of work and in society.

There is one very important aspect of women's work that I believe is being neglected and that is motherhood. I am not referring to giving birth but the raising of children. This one is not saying that it has to be done by a woman but biologically this is still the case in the majority of families on this globe. It is an essential role from many aspects and, in my opinion, entirely suited to the female psyche.

Is it safe?
From the moment a child is conceived,lives are changed forever.The parents’ existence cannot be retrieved,irrespective of how hard the past is held.But different goals may be achieved.
Safety becomes the main talking flavour,from the moment of its first appearance.‘Don’t leave them outside shops’ is the answer,on the others’ trip abroad for the first time.In no time curfew instructions when they are older.
The parental prayer is ‘keep it safe Lord’,from the hazards of the current world.But you can’t live their life as age soared,or cushion their being from danger.Be a safety net when they fall overboard.
There will come a time when they leave the nest,anything else would be slightly sad.Then will your teachings stand the test,in keeping them safe and free from harm.But it is scant relief from the pain in your chest.©David L Atkinson February 2018

God Bless

Tuesday Food Blog - There's nothing new

I caught an advertisement for a TV programme in which a real family are put through the privations of living in various decades of the twentieth century. They should have just asked what life was like from some of us baby boomers.

Post war fry up
As I've mentioned many times before I was lucky to be brought up in a household where great care was taken over the weekly budget. Those were the days, five years after WWII had ended, where the vast majority worked but the wages were low and jobs were hard. Women were unashamedly the homemakers and my mother was, on reflection, a bit of an expert. People used to say that we were rich because we had the first black and white TV and the first car, but in fact my parents worked and saved to buy those things. Like many others in the village Dad was a mechanic in the local coal mine and mother stayed home to look after me until I was 11.  
A big difference in life was the fact that you couldn't borrow money from banks, in fact borrowing was frowned upon as if it was immoral if not dishonest! So managing your budget, which included planning for children, was a fiscal necessity. It shouldn't be assumed that mother was 'the little woman at home', in fact she was the driving force using a meagre budget to make great strides. Part of that job was planning meals and that led to a fairly regular menu. Usually there would be a 'fry up' on one day during the week and it would look something like what you would see in the photo above.
Nothing remarkable you may think but the protein representation was a little on the thin side. It has been possible to buy PEK chopped ham for over 60 years and occasionally, if there was a lack of meat in the house a couple of rounds of the canned processed meat would be fried and used as substitutes for bacon, spam or sausage.
Pie, peas and mash
Pie, peas and mash was sometimes a Saturday meal that was both nourishing and inexpensive. Mother was a pastry cook for the Freemason's (spare time job) and so her short crust pies were delicious.
If you add to the above information that Dad grew his own potatoes, peas and various other vegetables then these were positive actions supporting the budgeting that Mum did. Life in the fifties and early sixties was not a bed of roses but if you worked hard and stayed out of debt many things were possible.
God Bless