love gently lifting
giving me wings for flying
keeping me grounded
a light in darkness
beacon in the raging storm
always leading home
If you do have a minute to spare, please listen to the video, so very inspirational. oxo
♥♥♥ I’m Alive ♥♥♥
Posted in Dreams, Emotions, Musings, Personal, POETRY, Random, Reflections on October 1, 2010 by buttercup600Lamb Salad ~ Thai Style
Posted in Cooking, Family, Friends, Random, Recipe on October 1, 2010 by buttercup600
INGREDIENTS
2 lamb eye of shortloin/backstraps
100 g salad leaves
1 punnet cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cucumber, sliced
1 red salad onion, thinly sliced
2 fresh mangoes, sliced
1 tbsp sweet Thai chilli sauce
2 tsp fish sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp chopped coriander or mint
METHOD
1. Brush the lamb lightly with a little oil. Season each with salt and pepper. Preheat the char-grill pan or barbecue to hot before adding the meat.
2. Cook on one side until the first sign of moisture appears. Turn lamb once only. Rare is soft, medium feels springy and well done is very firm. Remove lamb from heat, loosely cover with foil and rest lamb for 2 minutes before serving.
3. While lamb is resting toss salad leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, onion and mango slices in a salad bowl. Combine all remaining ingredients in a screw top jar and shake well to make a dressing. Slice lamb thinly on the diagonal. Toss the sliced lamb in the dressing, then with salad. Serve immediately.
Tips: Replace the with lamb eye of shortloin/backstrap with lamb fillet/tenderloin or lamb round or topside steaks.
You can use a brush to lightly oil the meat. Or you can use a light spray of oil.
Always rest meat after cooking. This gives the juices in the meat a chance to redistribute, giving a moister and more tender result. Transfer the roast to a plate and loosely cover with foil, stand the meat to rest in a warm place.
ESQUIRE
Posted in Personal, Random, Reflections on September 30, 2010 by buttercup600♥ THIS IS A REPOST BUT TODAY IS SPECIAL ♥
People come into our lives……some leave way to soon!! Such a person was Hugo, the most intelligent, interesting person I have ever met! We met through mutual friends and on our very first date, he asked me to marry him! I laugh about it now because at the time, I thought it to be totally crazy but, needless to say, 3 months after that day, we tied the knot!
Hugo was a role model and a very strong influence in my life. He taught me about character, the tough lessons in life that some people learn too late or not at all. He taught me the value to stand up for yourself, to take the initiative to learn how to handle situations in life. His motto towards life was that there is a “right way” and “wrong way” to do everything, the value of hard work…perseverance and to maximize one’s talents. He was never afraid to state his opinion, even when it was not consistent with the current wisdom. I always admired his ability to think outside the box.
He “taught” me that if you don’t know what to order at a restaurant…order it ALL!!:) He taught me that dessert is just as important as the food you had. He taught me to see that there is beauty in everything, to appreciate classical music, a love for the theater. He taught me that if you can’t help others, you can’t help yourself, even if it’s just to hold the door for someone or some simple gesture. He taught me that life is a choice we make and it is how you handle all the pitfalls along the way. You can be better or bitter – it’s up to you!
There is an old slogan that says “ordinary people can do extraordinary things”…..Mr. H, there is not a day that go by without me not thinking about you. One day we will meet again, somewhere on a cloud! Until then.
Today would have been our Anniversary. I celebrate you Esquire oxo
Right here….waiting
Posted in Dreams, Emotions, Life, Musings, POETRY, Random, Reflections on September 29, 2010 by buttercup600
a secret lies within
infinite body of love
two souls entwined
immersing our spirit
of fulfilment and love
this rush of emotions
our labyrinth of ardor
froze in this moment
every beat of our heart
come fly with me darling
like there is no tomorrow
for dreams do come true
I LOVE YOU
©AvdL 2010
Chicken Breast with Pumpkin and Orange Butter
Posted in Cooking, Family, Friends, People, Random, Recipe on September 29, 2010 by buttercup600I once believed Pumpkins only came out on a Halloween night and with a glowing candle shimmering through the holes of its scary cut out face. Now I couldn’t imagine life without it, I love Pumpkin…..it is so easy to cook with, it cooks quickly, and has to be the most versatile vegetable of all!! This recipe’s easy to make, absolutely juicy and tender and goes perfect on a bed of pumpkin. Try it, you’ll love it!!
INGREDIENTS
Finely grated rind of 1 orange
1 bunch tarragon, finely chopped
30g unsalted butter, softened
1 chicken breast, skin on
2 tablespoons olive oil
400g butternut pumpkin, diced
30g tablespoons butter
1 onion, thinly sliced
Juice of 1 orange
2 tablespoons honey
100g green beans, steamed to serve
METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 220′C.
2 Combine orange rind, tarragon and butter in a small bowl until well combined. Gently pull skin away from the chicken breast and stuff with 2 tablespoons of orange butter, reserving the remaining mix. Place in a baking paper-lined roasting dish, drizzle with olive oil and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cooked to your liking. Remove chicken from pan and allow to rest. Reserve pan juices.
3. Cook pumpkin in a medium saucepan half filled with boiling water for 7-10 minutes or until tender. Drain well, return to saucepan and mash. Add butter, season with salt and pepper and mix to combine.
4. Heat a medium frying pan over a medium heat, add pan juices and onion and panfry until golden. Add orange juice and honey and reduce by a quarter. Add remaining orange butter and stir until butter has melted.
5. To serve, arrange a spoonful of pumpkin mash in the centre of a serving plate, top with chicken and drizzle with orange sauce. Serve with green beans on the side.
Ever After
Posted in Dreams, Emotions, Life, Musings, POETRY, Random, Reflections on September 28, 2010 by buttercup600
Oh Soul of Radiance
Friend of the stars
You fill the dark sky
Oh light of my life
Fight your wars with your head held high
May your renown spread upwards to the sky
I call to you
Please come to me
To hold me close
Your voice in a chant
Raise your sword to those cruel and vile
Slay the monsters, go employ your guile
I will sing this song
To your loving soul
For to lift your heart
And keep you from fear
Lift your bow and may the arrow release
Manoeuver your dagger with deft and ease
There is no danger
A lantern to steer
To show you the way
And let in the light
And while you are gone, I await your return
You defend your pride, as I sit here and burn
©Kavita & AvdL 2010
The beautiful and talented Kavita and I have entered into a dual poetry challenge that we wrote for Monday Potluck.
It is quite easy to identify who wrote what lines!! If you’re familiar with my style, you’ll know that I don’t write long lines.
It was so much fun writing this with you girlfriend…one of many more to follow!! Thanks so much ♥
We have written this for Monday Potluck at Jingle Poetry.
Please do visit these sites to read the other amazing creative offerings.
ANCIENT VOICES (Monday Potluck)
Posted in Dreams, Emotions, Life, Musings, POETRY, Random, Reflections on September 27, 2010 by buttercup600
the soft snow
falls without sound
as footprints are etched
upon ancient ground
where lovers once met
their vows here to make
and swear that love
never to forsake
listen
to myriad voices
of ages gone by
telling secrets of old
to those who come nigh
sweet whispers of love
soft moans of tragedy
fleeting moments of joy
of lovers in effigy
buried together
beneath scarlet snow
in eternal embrace
and death’s pale glow
©TLH and AvdL 2010
Tracy Lee Harris - Tracysays and I have entered into a duel poetry challenge and this is the resulting poem.
It has been a privilege working with such creative talent. Thanks Tracy ♥
We have written this for Monday Potluck at Jingle Poetry.
Please do visit these sites to read the other amazing creative offerings.
