February Photos - Week 2.5

Hello Lovelies!

How has your February been treating you so far? 

This week's photos are a little later than anticipated, due to the enormous storm last Tuesday (Snow! Power cuts! Gale force winds! Rain!) and our house has been in somewhat of an uproar due to the hot water cylinder developing a leak and threatening to flood the house. It's quite amazing how quickly things get out of hand when your water supply has been cut off! 

But rather than photographing wet towels and the waterstains on the ceiling, I have decided to share: 

a) A Yellow Dinosaur ("He's screaming mummy!")

b) Pink Carnation (Not Valentines!)

c) Tulips (Valentines! But more because the supermarket over stocks on flowers and then we get them cheap!)

d) Puppy!

e) Glenville, Co.Cork (I think! We went to Glanmire via. the scenic route which I'm not familar with)

Hope you're all keeping warm.... is Spring here yet??

xx

Feburary Photos - Week 1

Hello! 

Here are some photographs from this week - I've been going through my old photo folders recently, and I realised that I haven't been taking as many photos these days. Couple that with my Daughter's 7th birthday, and the awful realisation that my kids are growing up and one day these photographs are going to be my best bet when it comes to remembering it all.... Well. Let's just say that the camera has been getting a bit of a workout. 

I also want to improve my photography skills, and take pictures of things in my life other than the kids (I asked if I could blog pictures of them - they said no.) 

So here is what we have this week: (from top left, clockwise - just like in the newspaper!)

1. Cloud, by Olly Moss 

2. Something Orange

3. Detail of a chapel at Ardmore, co. Waterford

4. Crows being total geezers

5. Best egg breakfast ever

6. Complete and utter vanity.

Hope you have a lovely weekend! 

x

Rainbows!

Hello! 

Things have been quiet on my blog for the past few months, but, as is always the case, this may be due to things getting busy, and me being too caught up in what's happening to even think of recording it. 

So! What's my excuse this time? Well, I got married.

Flowers by Wild, Cork (they Smelt AMAZING) 

Someone wished me much happiness, unicorns and rainbows for my wedding. Things have been sadly lacking in unicorns, but two out of three isn't bad.

Happy New Year Everybody! 

More posts soon, honest!

x

Recipe! Roast Butternut and Lentil Soup

Autumn is here, and so squash and pumpkins have been in the shops for less than an arm and a leg. I had me a fancy for some lovely pumpkin soup, so after messing about in the kitchen for awhile, came up with this recipe. 

It's a lovely warming butternut soup with cumin, onion and garlic, and thickened with red lentils - because I can never cook them without them tuning to mush anyway.

Roast Butternut and Lentil Soup
Makes 4-6 portions
Ingredients:
1 kg Butternut squash (or pumpkin, if you prefer.)
1 Medium onion
1 Clove of garlic
1 tsp vegetable oil
1/2 Tbs Cumin
1 Litre of Vegetable Stock
1 Cup of red lentils.

Method
1) Roast your squash - I just chop the bottom off the butternut, halve it, scrape out the seeds and throw it into the oven at 200 C for about 40 minutes or so until soft, but you could make smaller pieces so it roasts faster. Once roasted, put it aside to cool, and scrape the cooked flesh from the skin
2) Sweat the onions and garlic - Roughly chop your onions and garlic and add to a large pan with the vegetable oil and cumin. Cook at a low temperature until the onions are translucent and soft. (Don't cook them too fast! If they brown it changes the entire flavour of the soup)
3) Bring it all together - Once the onions and garlic are nice and soft, add the lentils, pumpkin, and warm stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the lentils are soft.
4) Blend it up! - Once the lentils are soft and disintegrating, blend it until smooth.

Eat it with croutons, thicken with cream, or just guzzle it as it is. 

xx