Moderation?

Why is it that just about everything we enjoy or take pleasure in is bad for us? They say; "Everything in moderation". But who decides exactly how much "moderation" is?

The obvious cases of divine things being bad for us are food and alcohol. Too much fat and you will have a heartattack; too much sugar and your teeth will drop out; too much alcohol and you run the risks of liver problems, cancer and more; too much red meat = clogged arteries; too little red meat = anaemia. Life is one big minefield! Even sleep and excercise have associated problems. Too little or too much sleep is not good for you; you should do a certain amount of excercise each week BUT not too much or your joints etc will suffer.

A perfect Sunday for me:- wake up late after a night out with friends eating deliciously rich food and drinking a luscious wine (probably in a smoky atmosphere). Nice big bacon sandwich or even a fry up breakfast (if someone else is making it). Next a brisk walk to clear the head and then pub lunch- roast beef and all the trimmings. Then it is less brisk walk back home to slob on the sofa until bed time. According to the rule of moderation- I should be dead by the end of the day!

I know doctors and other brainy people have investigated the harm we do our bodies by over indulging (or enjoying life) but isn´t life too short for us to be so preoccupied about alcohol units, grams of fat etc. etc.? You could be speed walking your way to the health shop to stock up on mung beans and soya milk and get hit by a bus!

Since someone told me that if you eat too many cornflakes you get cancer, I have decided to let my body tell me when I am going overboard on enjoying life. Trousers too tight- cut back on fatty /sugary foods. Short of breath when running for the bus- time to do a bit more excercise. Stonking hangover- promise myself never, ever, ever drink again (ha,ha,ha).

Carpe Diem- but make sure you can Carpe Diem every day!

Easy to open.

Easy to open packs make me angry- they are NOT easy to open! For who are they easy to open? Engineers? Scientists? Once I have got over my anger, I start to feel inadequate. If they were invented for the general public. If Mr. of Ms. Normal can open one of these packs without breaking out in a sweat or pulling a muscle. If they can end up with the pack still in one piece and not hacked to death by teeth, forks and other such implements...what is wrong with me?! Do I have a below average I.Q? Am I physically challenged in any way that prevents me from mastering this skill. Worrying!

And, don´t even get me started on those food packs that also say "re-sealable"- only true if you have super glue handy!

Question?

Why do they call it a funny bone? There is nothing remotely funny about it!

Grrrrrrrrr!

Just a quick gripe! All these anti wrinkle/ age defying creams that cost a fortune-what a load of cods wallop! They claim that they are "absorbed" into our skin. If our skin absorbs everything, how come after a shower, or being caught in the rain, we don´t fill up with water and end up looking like Mr Blobby?

Now even tastier!

Recipes for Life has now been published and so far readers seem pleased with it (phew!) So time to get this blog going again (I really am a lazy trollop). New book, new look. The new book you can order from Amazon.co.uk or.com or from Author House. The new look....I am not referring to the fact I have gone blonde....I have played about with my blog set up (but any advice is gratefully recieved by this computer stupid writer) and my plan is to add something everyday- a comment, a recipe, a "get it off my small, but perfectly formed, chest" type rant.....
I say my "plan" is a to add something everyday- but I also planned to do sit ups everyday, stop eating crisps, stop drinking wine and watch the news daily....so far none of the afore mentioned have been put into action.
Keep checking out my blog and I will keep checking out yours.
Buy my book and I will buy yours!

Welcome to, or welcome back to, Recipes for Life !

Coming soon! Recipes for Life.

Sometime in 2011 my first (but not my last) book will be published!!!! About blooming time! Just hope someone reads it!

Just a few quotes from Recipes for Life- a wee taster for you!

"There are two things in life that won´t let you down; good food and good friends-in that order.

"I fell in love with a dream, but reality came and stomped on it"

"I blame their friends; I blame society; I blame their father!"

"They need to suck on the fat; chew on the bones; gag on the gristle and rip that turkey apart Henry the Eighth style"

"The dating game is just so tricky…not only must you look like a model  and behave like a wild cat in bed, but you must also transform yourself into a Stepford Wife"

"You must wear WOW underwear…no big knickers or greying, comfortable bras"

"What is this obsession men have with stockings and suspenders'"

"This is a code red situation. Sean wants to meet my parents, but even worse- he wants me to meet his!"

"Next step, move in together- do you really want your Crabtree and Evelyn soap messed  up, your leather sofa covered in toe nail clippings or the toilet seat permanently up?"

"Congratulations if you survived your Big White Meringue Day, and a huge pat on the back if you actually enjoyed it!"

"Swingers party. Lots of alcohol and a bag of crisps or two will suffice!"

"So, get home, get your trousers off and no playing with yourself until I get  back"

"Caring for Twins is Easy….which male twit wrote this?"

"Is he the Strong Black Coffee type or the Chocolate Teapot type?"

"The way to a man´s heart is through his stomach..I think it has more to do with what is between his legs"

"Separation and Divorce seem to be "a la mode"

"Internet dating-Tales from The dark Side"

"Mr Big Mac- I positively drooled at the thought of biting into this 100% meat taste bud extravaganza"

Endings.

It is always sad when something good, something you enjoy comes to an end. Could be a relationship, a holiday, a film, a "can´t put it down" book, a T.V series (I was devestated when they showed the last ever episode of Knots Landing), a gourmet meal, a divine bottle of wine or even a chocolate bar. Whatever, the effect of "it" coming to an end leaves one feeling empty and wishing one could turn back time.
No- one can turn back time and even if they could nothing is as good second time over. What we have to do is look forward- there will be other, hopefully more successful, relationships; cheap air travel means the world is our oyster; every month there are new releases at the cinema;  with more T.V channels we have more choice of T.V series (I am addicted to desperate Housewives at the minute- probably because I am one!) ; there are thousands of gourmet meals waiting to be devoured; there are wine cellers of wine to be uncorked and those clever folk at cadburys etc are always coming up with new choccie treats.
So, why look wistfully back, when there is so much to look forward to!

I know this doesn´t really last forever 8and we would probably be very sick and have dreadful teeth if it did but still a yummy treat!

Everlasting Toffee

Ingredients

450 g butter

450 g white sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

450 g semisweet chocolate chips

225 g finely chopped almonds

Directions

1.In a large heavy bottomed saucepan, combine the butter, sugar and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the butter is melted. Allow to come to a boil, and cook until the mixture becomes a dark amber color, and the temperature has reached 285 degrees F (137 degrees C). Stir occasionally.

2.While the toffee is cooking, cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

3.As soon as the toffee reaches the proper temperature, pour it out onto the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the chocolate over the top, and let it set for a minute or two to soften. Spread the chocolate into a thin even layer once it is melted. Sprinkle the nuts over the chocolate, and press in slightly. Putting a plastic bag over your hand will minimize the mess.

4.Place the toffee in the refrigerator to chill until set. Break into pieces, and store in an airtight container