Yummy Tuna and Coriander Chilli

I just came up with this tonight, all by myself on my own...
And it's really really GOOOD!!! Give it a try and let me know how it goes :o)

Ingredients:
2-3 onions
2 cloves garlic
1 can chopped tomatoes
100g tomato puree
paprika
ginger
ground coriander
chilli powder
black treacle
Vegetable stock powder
2 cans tuna
1 can red kidney beans
pre-cooked greens
a good handful or 2 chopped fresh coriander

Using a thick bottomed casserole pan, gently brown 2-3 onions and a couple cloves garlic in some olive oil.
Add a tin of chopped tomatoes, and half a tube of tomato puree (=roughly 100g), together with a generous sprinkle of paprika, ginger, cumin, ground coriander and as much of chilli powder as you deem necessary to make it spicy but not overwhelmingly so (I put in about 1/4 tsp).
Season with 1 Tbsp black treacle and 1 tsp vegetable stock powder, as well as some salt and pepper and simmer this concoction for a good 30 mins on a v low heat.
Once this has reduced by about half, add 2 cans of tuna steak, one can of red kidney beans, some pre-cooked spinach or spring greens and a couple handfuls of chopped fresh coriander.
This can then be taken off the heat until needed. It might be necessary to lubricate with a little tomato puree diluted in water (half tomato/ half water) and a lug of olive oil when reheating.
This was delicious served with a baked potato (you can do this in the microwave: prick it all over and cook on full power for about 7 mins, then stand for 1 min) filled with cream cheese (eg Philadelphia) or soured cream.

Yum. Yum. YUMMMM...

Wordless Wednesday - glorious autumnal secrets

Maybe winter's not such a bad thing...?

The clocks have gone back on Sunday morning, heralding the start of winter-time... The reality is that from now on it's going to be getting colder and darker with every passing day. For us here in the UK, in a couple of weeks' time - or maybe less - it'll be night time by about 16.30. Just to give you an idea. That's hard going :o(

And so there is a kind of battle going on inside my head, around about this time every year. It goes something like this: "Man, I hate winter with a passion! It's so depressing! How on earth am I going to make it through another one?? I'll not be able to go out in the garden for the next 4 months!! I can't stand it being cold and dark!" Yet I know winter is necessary in order for rebirth to take place in spring - And thus I proceed to rebuke myself: "I'm so silly! I have to 'get through' it! I WILL get through it. It'll be fine! It's actually healthy and important and it'll do me good; I'm going to stay positive and not spend the next 4 months in hibernation, eating chocolate and mash potato and being miserable, making everyone miserable around me..."

Is that familiar to anyone out there?? Or is it just me??

And yet God had a plan all along when He invented winter. He came up with it so that His creation could have a break. Winter is good. It's tough but it's SO good. Why couldn't I see that more clearly? This is where I am so grateful that there are some others around me who can see what I cannot and whose wisdom contributes to shaping my understanding, with the Holy Spirit's help... My attitude has taken a bit of a battering after reading these amazing words full of wisdom, beauty and grace, written by Tonia over at 'study in brown':

"The barrenness of the maple tree in winter is not a cruel joke. It
is nature's way of protecting the tree from the killing frost; closing its doors
and windows to keep the heat inside and the tree alive.
We can trust Him that He knows what He is doing...even when it seems the winds are blowing every bit of beauty from our lives. Hold on. Keep trusting.
He knows what He is doing."

So maybe it's time for me to surrender to winter, and to let God clear out the rubbish, ready for the next season. And to allow Him to show me that there is purpose. In everything.

Thomas in hospital

We have had a bit of a traumatic time of it recently. This is Thomas's story - I don't have the energy or time to retell it again here, so a link to his blog will have to do!

In between this incident and Tom's little 'to-do', we had to make another 999 call last thursday afternoon (18th Oct): Ben woke from a nap seemingly a little limp and groggy and with a ginormous nose bleed... It was very scary to see him covered in blood but the paramedics were wonderfully reassuring and he was totally fine! Although thank God Mark went to him when he did, as it could have been a lot worse had Ben been left. But the horror of not even a month ago was relived for a few brief moments, and we had to do a lot of surrendering that night in order to be able to go to sleep at all.

"Lord my times are in your hands. My kids' days are numbered in your book of life and not one of these will be cut short until You have decided. We are yours. My kids are Your gift to me, and I wish to surrender them back to You, Sovereign Almighty God."

Quiet

I know I have been a little silent this last week, especially after being particularly prolific following the summer holidays!!

Life has caught up with me again, and what with three emergency calls (999/ 911), one stay in hospital, coughs and colds, family staying and altogether very small amounts of sleep, I'm really no longer sure whether I'm coming or going these days!!!

Silence is important sometimes. But how I wish that my silence in the blogosphere reflected silence in my inner being...! My brain is too busy right now; too noisy, but one thing I am learning to do: to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ". There is SUCH power in this simple little exercise, but it is a discipline and it is taking a lot of will power on my part to not let myself get swept away by negative and ungodly thoughts.

So here you have it. This is where I'm at, in a nutshell... There will be more when my kids are back at school after this autumn holiday.

PS: Cecily - not one day goes by when I don't visit :o)

Wordless Wednesday - Artful Playdough and Chubby Hands

Thank you dance

At last!!!
I have worked out how to transfer videos from one part of my computer onto another so that the cyberworld can be entertained by the antics of my lovely monsters.

Mad Wibbzes

Need I say anymore??? They're all crazy!! All the time!!!

(NB: I would like to reassure you that it IS honey Ben is experimenting with - and not paracetamol... - just in case you were wondering...)