Half Caste - John Agard

Half Caste - John Agard

Excuse mestanding on one leg I’m half-caste.

Explain yuselfwha yu mean
when yu say half-caste
yu mean when Picasso
mix red an green
is a half-caste canvas?

explain yuself
wha yu mean
when yu say half-caste
yu mean when light an shadow
mix in de sky
is a half-caste weather?
well in dat case
england weather
nearly always half-caste
in fact some o dem cloud
half-caste till dem overcast
so spiteful dem don’t want de sun pass
ah rass?

explain yuself
wha yu mean
when yu say half-caste
yu mean tchaikovsky
sit down at dah piano
an mix a black key
wid a white key
is a half-caste symphony?

Explain yuself
wha yu mean
Ah listening to yu wid de keen
half of mih ear
Ah looking at yu wid de keen
half of mih eye
an when I’m introduced to yu
I’m sure you’ll understand
why I offer yu half-a-hand
an when I sleep at night
I close half-a-eye
consequently when I dream
I dream half-a-dream
an when moon begin to glow
I half-caste human being
cast half-a-shadow
but yu must come back tomorrow
wid de whole of yu eye
an de whole of yu ear
an de whole of yu mind.

an I will tell yu
de other halfof my story.

Is Love Ever Enough - Book of Elsa

Is Love Ever Enough

As humans we have been spoilt: with food, with shelter, with ease. That has made us entitled to want everything else. AAAAND WHY NOT???

The world owes us right? We need to have our lives perfected an art of Kung Fu. Our men need to love us to death and respect us and be macho manly but secure in their own skin too. Ah. 

They need to be everything all the time otherwise what's the point? We can have it all! Wrong.

Relationships do not work that way, I've come to realise... It's all a game of give and take. Pass the parcel with hearts, minds and feelings; everyone is a player. Like it or not we all have skin in the game. And it's never enough. We keep chasing THE NEXT BEST shoes, house, boyfriend and for what?!

Book of Elsa 

Book Wishlist - 2015

Books on my Wishlist 

Probably will not end up reading all the books on my wishlist this year. I can tell you there are many, however these five are the ones I'm really looking forwarding to reading once I track them down (half the fun if I'm being completely honest)

 Extraordinary books are coming out every day/week thus it's only fair I read as many as possible right? 

Also, please don't feel like you have to buy books! Public libraries do fantastic work with their stock, and it's FREE!!! So, without further ado....

Vanilla Millefeuille - Book of Elsa

Vanilla Millefeuille

Have you made a recipe calling for puff pastry but then been left with strands, squares of puff that you just had to throw away because you had no idea how to use it all up? Well no more waste! All this pastry needs is a couple of tablespoons of vanilla sugar sprinkled on top then in a hot (200 degrees) oven for ten minutes. Et Voila! 

Also, if you don't have vanilla sugar, it works just as well with cinnamon sugar or just plain granulated sugar. The possibilities are endless...

Happy Baking :)

XO

Instant Chocolate Mousse - Nigella Lawson

Instant Chocolate Mousse - Nigella Lawson

These tasted delicious! Also because of the mini marshmallows they do not need to set in the fridge. Just 20 minutes (if that) at room temperature and we're done.

PS: The actual recipe can be found here

Happy Cooking :)

xo

Leftovers - Book of Elsa

Leftovers - Book of Elsa 

leftovers aren't used in my recipes so much as that for me they are a way of life. Living without tubs, bowls and plates of cling covered delights ready to eat at a moments notice doesn't just make good financial sense it also makes perfect sense because even though I love food and adore cooking; some days even I can't face the hob and believe me there is nothing one despises more than cooking because one has to. Cooking out of pure greed is my idea of heaven, baking as a way to bond with family and friends even better but somehow when time and other commitments come into play (which is most days) I buckle. 

Hence leftovers...Below is a photograph of some tomato salad I had after a party that got spruced up with an avocado and eggs but honestly it is a case of whatever happens to be in the fridge goes, there are 365 days a year and we have to eat. Snobbery has no place here. 

XO