Happy Easter...Priecigas Lieldienas

This pic was taken last Easter...eggs coloured using onion skins...

Latvians tend to colour eggs every year...
one method my Mother/Mamin and Grandmother/Vecmamin used was to wrap an egg with coloured cloth...(old clothes and rags were perfect) with thread and then boil...
When cold 'grease' with bacon fat...

I have found a blog written by an American Latvian living in France and Liene describes a bit about colouring the eggs with onion skin...

On Easter Sunday morning we would have 'egg fights'...
choose a partner...position your egg in your hand and then each 'taps' one end of their egg until someones shatters...then turn over and to the other side...the one with unbroken sides wins!!!

Mr Armchair's was different......his family would have turns in tapping the other one's eggs...we weren't that polite ha ha!!!

Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time.
~Martin Luther~

and I couldn't resist this one...

All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!
~Lucy Van Pelt in Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz~


Wishing all my blogging friends and  families a very Happy and Safe Easter...


Dzintra xoxo

OPAM...(One Project A Month)...the cover that didn't fit!!!

Now I'm really running waaaay overtime here...

OPAM for March complete but I just haven't had time to post it....

I hope I'm still in the running Peg and Kris...

thank you to these 2 wonderful ladies for running OPAM!!!

Stitchery received from my dear Friend Michelle (no blog) and completed in 2011...

I thought I would make it up into a journal cover...little realizing that somehow I got the measurements wrong and the cover didn't quite fit!!!

Cover all complete...

literally sewn on!!!

And the inside....

These are the books that Mr Armchair bought hoping one of them would fit the cover...

this is the one I bought...

This is the book I wanted to cover...

I started it last Christmas...

it will hold the meals we have had...

recipes.......Christmas Card list......addressess...

and anything Christmasey...

now I'll have to transfer last year's over to the happy pink journal!!!

I hope I have made it for March Peg and Kris!!!

Sonoma Rose...a new book and pin!!!

Very excited over here...

a little while ago I saw on Facebook that Jennifer Chiaverini was giving away an Elm Creek Pin to the first 100 people who responded...

I thought, why not give it a go!!!

Jennifer responded to me and I ordered her latest book Sonoma Rose and blow-me-down...I received a pin all the way from The Next Chapter Book Shop in America...

Sonoma Rose...As the nation grapples with the strictures of Prohibition, Rosa Barclay lives on a Southern California rye farm with her volatile husband, John, who has lately found another source of income far outside the federal purview. Mother to eight children, Rosa mourns the loss of four who succumbed to the mysterious wasting disease that is now afflicting young Ana and Miguel...

~from book jacket~

Now I have my very own first edition of Sonoma Rose complete with Jennifer's signature...

How awesome is that...I'm really going to enjoy reading this book!!!

I really enjoy reading all of Jennifer's books...but must admit I am a bit partial to Anna in her kitchen (The Quilter's Kitchen) at Elm Creek!!!  Gotta love that she made patchwork biscuits to take for an interview to become a tutor and ended up being a Cook in the kitchen...how I would love to work alongside her!!!

Happy Reading...Dzintra 

A few very very special days...

We had the most beautiful February...

Roger Waters concert courtesy of our son...

Harry Potter exhibition...

a celebratory birthday dinner at a local restaurant, Monet's Cafe Restaurant...

Why so special?

Our son very generously gave of his time (along with his partner) to have JoJo for 3 nights so we could go out for dinner to celebrate Mr Armchair's birthday...

plus as a special birthday gift for us he gave us a weekend away at Rick Stein's at Bannister's (next post)...

We rarely get to go out as a couple...we are more a threesome whilst caring for JoJo so dinner out for us is rare...and if we do go out it involves organizing respite care...knowing when to be back...plus nothing is spontaneous for us as I imagine it would be in 'the real world' when you can 'just do it'...

especially as 'retirment' is on the horizon...

Retirement for us means we will still be caring...

still doing bedtime.........bathtime.........caring....

whilst other retirees will be sitting back and choosing what life they lead...

Back to the moment......outside the restaurant on the boardwalk...

Mr Armchair had Tempura Prawns......fresh Prawns in a fine crispy batter with a spicy Thai Cucumber and Peanut Dipping Sauce...

My choice......Bay Scallops.....pan seared then served on Caramelized Leek with a chilled Lime Dressing...

Mr A's Pepper Steak......prime Sirloin Steak topped with a creamy Greenpeppercorn and Brandy Sauce served on a bed of chips...

with a Side Salad...

My choice......Eden Kingfish......panfried with Coconut Cream......Pomegranate Molasses and Chilli Jam served on Thai style salad and Coconut Rice... 

Fig Affogato......warm Cinnamon Tea with Vanilla Ice Cream and fresh Mint...

Monet's Mocha Tart......shortcrust pastry filled with a rich dark Swiss Chocolate Cream and topped with Milk Chocolate and served with orange and Star Anise and Creme Anglaise...

At the entrance and exit...

the food was absolutely delicious...

and we loved it that we could book in to suit us and come home when we were ready!!!

Thank you Monet's for the special Birthday Offer of buy 1 meal......get 1 free plus a small bottle of bubbly......it came just at the right time for us......

and we are sure we will be back another day!!!

Cook Up With Donna Hay No 14...Pork Belly with Garlic, Caramelized Onion and Quince Sauce...

Another delicious Cook Up with Vicki  has happened here from Donna Hay magazine Issue 60 Dec/Jan 2012...

Menu tonight is:

Spiced Carrot Dip

Pork Belly with Garlic, Caramelized Onion and Quince Sauce

Roasted Baby Vegetable Salad

Mini Strawberry Tarte Tatins

Cumin and coriander seeds roasting for dip...

Add carrots, cayenne pepper, honey and chicken stock...

and the most delicious dip is ready after a little while...yummy...

The recipe called for malt vinegar (not gluten free) so after some research for a substitute I bought Red Wine Vinegar...

Pork Belly ready for oven...with our thyme on it...

And out of the oven...

Roasted vegies...beetroot, parsnip, carrot and kipfler potatoes...

There was even a heart shaped potato!!!

This meal was full of flavour...we thoroughly enjoyed it!!!

Patchwork placemats and table runner bought at my local Needlework Group...

These were made by a lady who cannot sew anymore...

Butter, sugar, water and vanilla bean for dessert...

Strawberry Tarte Tatin out of the oven...

recipe for these over here...

looks a bit of a jumble but this sure packed a punch...so very very tasty!!!

Now I'm looking forward to the next Cook Up...

Bon Appetit......Dzintra