Time - Book of Elsa

Now is the time to believe in magic 

Now is the time to believe in people

Their goodness, openess and ability for kindness

Now is the time to put trust in our neighbours 

Believing that they mean us no harm.

They want the same things we all do.  

When our world is shutting down, everywhere we look nothing but bad news. Fake news.

There's time to spread something else too. 

If not you then who? not now?! I hear you... 

But when and whom?

They say change is slow.

I disagree. Change is people.

It is you and it's me

Now is the time to be the change you wish to see. 

Start small: have a conversation...

How about right now?

Book of Elsa

How To Eat | Book Review

I Wrote a book | Book of Elsa

Eves' Secrets is a short novel that I have written: it's only available on amazon kindle here for the bargain price of £0.99 or free if you have kindle unlimited!
Have a fantastic weekend!

BOE

Book Review | Victim Without a Face - Stefan Ahnhem

Book Review | The Ten (Food) Commandments - Jay Rayner

First things first: this is not a recipe book. It contains recipes sure and good ones at that, but they are not the raison d'être of this book. They are, like snacks to nibble on whilst you ingest the true message of the written word. That word is worship. At the altar of PIG and other foodstuff... 

If like me you love food, then this is definitely a read for you. Funny, smart and current Rayner does something with words I had only previously experienced with Nigella Lawson: he makes me want to eat. To eat very well indeed.

Thank you

Book of Elsa

PS: it's available here

Holiday Essentials | Book of Elsa

First and foremost, a book. If like me you believe in entertaining yourself then a great read (or two) is the way to go; Magazines are acceptable too... If you must.

   

Sun cream and insect repellent are vital = your older self will be full of thanks and the mosquitoes won't take you for an all you can eat buffet. On the same note don't forget to apply the latter at night especially if you're going somewhere tropical.

  

Tablet/Phone: Be sure to download a few games that don't require internet to play.

OBVIOUSLY.

DUH....

Food for Thought - Book of Elsa

Food is much more than just fuel; we use it to celebrate all major life events. Sharing a table laden with delicious things is our way of showing how much we care about the people in our lives. Be it by baking cupcakes for a boyfriend or making your sisters' engagement party cake. Not only that but we also use food as a way of caring for those less able than ourselves such as the elderly and infants.

Therefore, with this in mind when I'm told to stop talking/writing about food all the time I know that I can never stop. It is much too important to all of us. Indeed much depends on dinner; in my opinion food and the preparation of food either alone or in a group is the most basic way of showing we care.

Happy Eating :)

Book Of Elsa

xo

Crave | Book of Elsa

Crave

I crave a love so deep the ocean would be jealous

I crave to miss his touch during our embrace 

My heart longs to feel every little thing books narrate about

I crave a love so far reaching that it scares me 

All consuming like a blazing fire in the pit of my belly 

Not enough to stop

His eyes hungry for my lips and all else I possess

My body aches for love like I've never known 

Book of Elsa

Gabriellas' Pavlova Book of Elsa

I've had a love affair with pavlova on/off for the last 10 years. Adjusting recipes in order to achieve crispy sides and bottom with marshmallowy insides has not been easy. My first attempt can only be described as a crispy egg white and sugar biscuit with over whipped cream and limp defrosted berries. 

Now please don't let the description above stop you from trying this. I mention it only so that YOU dear reader know that if for whatever reason the following recipe doesn't work the first time. PLEASE try again. 

The recipe below comes from How To Eat by Nigella Lawson (1998) p. 373 

Some words of wisdom before we begin:

1. Do wipe your mixing bowl and whisk with a segmented lemon or lime before you begin. The eggs just won't grow in volume if there's any grease.
2.  Any fruit/berries on top will do. I'm using strawberries here as they are my sister Gabriella favourite. Indeed this is her favourite dessert. But please no frozen defrosted ones. You'll just end up disappointed. Take it from me: it's not worth it.

The Mourning Bride - Zara

The Mourning Bride (excerpt) by William Congreve

by russellboyle.com

Zara from Act iii Scene viii

Ha!
Who waits there?
As you’ll answer it, take heed
This Slave commit no Violence upon
Himself. I’ve been deceiv’d. The Publick Safety
Requires he should be more confin’d; and none,
No not the Princes self, permitted to
Confer with him. I’ll quit you to the King.
Vile and ingrate! too late thou shalt repent
The base Injustice thou hast done my Love:
Yes, thou shalt know, spite of thy past Distress,
And all those Ills which thou so long hast mourn’d;
Heav’n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn’d,
Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn’d.

William Congreve
1670-1729

Love Scares Most Of All - Book Of Elsa

Love scares most of all

Thoughts of losing members of my family bring me out in hives and breathlessness

Thoughts of adding to my loves terrifies me

Exposing pockets of my soul to the world than is safe 

More to hurt, more to bleed, love cuts way too deep

But then, what would be the point in existing? 

If we had no one to share it with

There are billions of us in this world.

Maybe, just maybe the point of it all is to have witnesses of our existence

People to not only say she was here. 

She was loved and she lived.

Someone to acknowledge all that was done and did by the departed.

So in a way love scares most of all because in the end, it is all we have left.

It's our legacy.

BOE

What I've Been Up To?! - Book of Elsa

Plane Essentials - Book of Elsa

Plane Essentials

Travelling is one of my fave thing to do however, it can get quite stressful so here I suggest what things I take on planes, hopefully it will help you guys.

Also, if you're not travelling alone it might be more economical to share hold luggage between you because honestly being free of bags on a journey is worth the money! 

THE LIST includes but is not limited to:

Magazines

Books

Playing Cards

Ipod/Phone

Headphones

Chargers/Adaptors

Passports

Snacks

Blanket

Sunglasses

My Black Is Beautiful - ZINHLE MLOTSHWA

My Black Is Beautiful - ZINHLE MLOTSHWA 

Yes, I'm black, darker than most, 

But in my blackness I boast.

Boasting of my own? No! 

But boasting of the quality

Which He: my God gave me! 

From the curvature of my hips

To the thickness of my thighs, 

Yes; even down to my big brown eyes? 

He made my black beautiful! 

And for the first time in a long

Time, I'm loving me and mine.

Come to the truth, should have

Known it from my youth, 

But now that I know my

Black is beautiful, 

You cannot use me, mistreat

Or abuse me.

It is no longer a allusion but

I have come to the conclusion

Even if it means me loving

Me, cause you see

I have the power to love

Myself hour after hour.

I am God's creation. Yes, 

A master plan even the

Absence of a man.

I still stand tall yell, 

Refusing to fall, screaming

Loud and very proud, 

MY BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL! 

It is more worth than gold, 

Cause my black runs deep

Into my only soul.

Not just for external for

Staring and glaring, 

But it is the inner me

That God would have you see.

And it causes me to

Shout beyond the shadow

Of a doubt, MY BLACK

IS BEAUTIFUL! So if

You are a woman

And you are real and you

Feel what I feel.

Do not be ashamed to

Proclaim what he said

And what you read.

Fearfully and wonderfully

Made god very good

With what I wish you

Would tell somebody, 

Anybody, your body, 

MY BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL! 

Red Prawn & Mango Curry - Book of Elsa

Red Prawn & Mango Curry

As I write, it occurs to me just how simple this recipe is but also how delicious it tastes. This serves 4 depending on appetites and which carbohydrate you are serving it with. I prefer rice but noodles of any kind would work too or even served soupily out of bowls with naan or other types of bread. There are no limits!! Also bear in mind the vegetables I used were ones I had in fridge at the time of cooking so please feel free to add (or leave out) ones you want. 

happy cooking!

Elsa

Rhubarb & Muscat Jelly - Book of Elsa

Rhubarb & Muscat Jelly - Book of Elsa

Bank holiday weekends are the best! Days out, barbecues, long walks in a park. Unless you live in the NORTH where it basically just rains, all the time.... 

This is my way of coping and I promise you it's worth it!! The reason I'm making such a statement first thing is because this is a long recipe. It will require patience and time, but it is oh so worth it. You can thank me for changing your lives in the comment box.

Enjoy,

XO

Ingredients:

800g Rhubarb trimmed and cut into 2cm lengths

335g Caster Sugar

1 Orange, zested and juiced

270ml Water

8 Leaves of gelatin

180ml Muscat wine

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C.

Put the rhubarb into a large ovenproof dish. Sprinkle over the sugar, add the orange juice and zest, and the water, and cover, either with lid or with foil. Bake for 1 hour. 

Take out of oven, remove lid, and let cool.

Strain carefully into a large measuring cup or bowl. I find this gives about 700ml. Put the pulp aside (you can freeze it for later use in a fool or trifle). 

Add the Muscat wine to the juice. Taste; you may want some more sugar or a squeeze more orange or, indeed, more Muscat.

Lightly oil a  jelly mold by dabbing a paper towel in some suitably flavourless oil and then rubbing it over the interior of the mold. 

Soak gelatin leaves in a dish of cold water until softened. Put 2 ladles of rhubarb and Muscat syrup in a saucepan and bring to a boil. 

Squeeze out the gelatin leaves and whisk into the syrup off the heat. When they've dissolved, pour the contents of the pan back into the measuring cup. 

Pour into the jelly mold and place in the refrigerator to chill and set, about 6 hours or overnight.

Apple & Almond Cake - Book of Elsa

Apple & Almond Cake - Book of Elsa

Gluten Free and contains absolutely no FAT - Basically healthy (sugar doesn't count, right?)

Enjoy!

xo

Week In Pictures - 9th April '15

Her name is Smudge and she is the best Guinea Pig in the world.

First draft of a poem.

Nothing better than a chicken and two (types of) potato dinner.

Cinnamon toast recipe from The Pioneer Woman find it here.

Art in silver frames new pieces from my fave Charmaine Olivia - Find her here.

White Rabbit - Book of Elsa

White Rabbit 

Running because I'm a scared White Rabbit

In a hurry. Paranoid

The smile mere thoughts of you brought to my lips remains a distant memory

I want you to want me like you used to

Eyes hungry for no one else but me

Only you have me running, paranoid

Questioning my sanity and dare I say it

My ability to Love

Book of Elsa

To The Moon - Boof Of Elsa

Like I love you to the moon

Like there's a lifetime guarantee

No exchange or warranty 

The tide came in during the storm 

I was lost forever screaming and crying inside 

I looked upon your tiny face and it smiled 

Sometimes love doesn't hurt

I hear it's actually quite common

Like I love you to the moon 

We'll play dinosaurs and draw until the end

You saved my miserable human life 

Made it magic with moon like

I love you to the moon and quite possibly 

Beyond the stars  

Book Of Elsa