by Jackie Brooks | Sep 3, 2016 | Featured, GloKitchen
I know I am writing for Mama’s Kitchen at Glotime.tv, but this recipe is courtesy of my late great Grandma who has passed down the secret of Star Roasties for me to share with you today. Shhhhh I am hearing rumblings of disapproval from the secret grandma’s gang, but sometimes you have to just go with your gut and do it anyway.
Beginning with Roast Lamb, this recipe is sure to tempt the most resistant meat eaters, as it rouses the very basic responses of culinary gratification.
Select a good size Breast of Lamb depending on the amount of Dinner Guests you are expecting. I am reluctant to give to an idea of weight, as this varies with each family. But let me warn you, the bigger the piece the better as they will definitely go back for more, and will even demand it cold later on, or take some home in a bag.
ROAST LAMB
Smother the meat with a jar of Mango Chutney
Sprinkle fresh or dried Rosemary
Place into a roasting pan and pre-heated oven
Roast for 20 mins at a high heat of 220 degrees
After 20 mins turn down the heat to 200 degrees
Roast slowly for 2-3 hours depending on size of joint (25 mins per 500g)
For Roast Potatoes to take your breath away. It does help if you purchase a particular type of tatty like Maris Piper or King Edwards, which respond well to a quick bashing and a good roasting.
ROAST POTATOES
Peel potatoes and wash thoroughly
Place in saucepan and cover with cold water
Partly boil for five minutes
Strain all the water from pan
Jiggle potatoes around saucepan so sides are scuffed
Place in roasting dish
Sprinkle olive oil over each potato
Place in pre-headed oven at 200 degrees for 45 minutes
Carefully turn potatoes every 15 minutes
Increase heat 220 degrees to crisp
As long as you time it right, you will have the Roast to die for. Serve with vegetables and salad of your choice. You will feel you have died and gone to heaven.
by Olivia | Sep 1, 2016 | Featured, General
As we witness echoes of the Margaret Thatcher or the Iron Lady with the recent election of Teresa May – it seems the World has regressed to even tolerate the unbelievable ramblings of Donald Trump.
Eight years ago, we all celebrated the evolvement of the human race in electing a Black President in the United States, and even though our own leadership with Blair was under scrutiny – we slept easy in our beds and walked the streets without looking over our shoulder without the prospect of a Hitleresque regime with our staunch Ally.
I would go as far as to say that the US are in the grip of a hypnotic frenzy of panic seen throughout history in the most extreme cases of fascism.
With his recent visit and meeting with the Mexican President, he has now declared that there will be a wall high and long separating Mexico with the USA.
The Mexican President, Enrique Pena Nieto has retorted with the statement that he will not pay for a wall and that Trump Threatens his Nation and yet we can still hear the cheers of the Trump supporters as he makes his speech of falsehoods.
Is it because nations need to behave like sheep and elect a leader however schizophrenic, who they believe will make their country a safer place to live, with the exclusion of any sense of humanity. Are we that desperate that we will support a mad megalomaniac who is leading a hate campaign in his own back yard.
How long will it be before Trump goes the extra mile, and rounds up all the Citizens of mixed race or colour in his distorted mission to lessen the threat of terrorism and make the US a ‘pure’ country.
It was even more worrying that Trump had a visit of support from the dangerously racist Nigel Farage former leader of UKIP, representing a proportion of our own country in his quest to further his career in politics.
Does Trump not take into account that only a few hundred years ago, the White man invaded his very own sacred society, and killed off most of its inhabitants and certainly its cultural heritage in the Native Americans.
Trump was born into a privileged family, and has never had to suffer hardship, so what does he know about the common people? How far do we have to go to shake the Nation into some sort of reality, and let them know that they are signing their own death warrant.
Wake up America – you are in a downward spiral to Never Never Land.
by Jackie Brooks | Aug 26, 2016 | Fashion, Featured, GloBeauty, GloWellness
Choosing a wedding dress for yourself or a relative is a serious undertaking, in line with the big day itself.
I accompanied a close friend who was helping her daughter select a bridal gown and accessories this week, and approached it with great trepidation.
The young lady in question was a plus size 16 and had been fed with horror stories of all gowns being a size 6-10 with no support for ‘real women’ sizes and snooty shop assistants shaming you into crash diets and expensive designs.
Claire, the bride to be had booked an appointment with a local Wedding Shop, Love Me Do Brides in Park Street, Kingston.
I arrived early and as I had a long journey from my Buckinghamshire home, was dying to use the bathroom. I crept into the shop apprehensively, to be warmly greeted by two lovely ladies, who were ready to receive the bride to be and her companions. They pointed me to the restroom and then made sure I was comfortable on one of the squashy settees and offered me refreshments as it was a very hot day.
When the bride to be and her mum and auntie arrived – they were completely geared up to help in any way possible. They were also incredibly helpful in helping us to cuddle and feed Claire’s young four month old twins who were brought along to share the big occasion.
The bride to be was very quickly put at ease as she tried on the dresses, her size not even slightly an issue. In fact many of the dresses were too loose, and so her confidence was rapidly restored. They assured us that all sizes are catered for.
She tried on a total of ten dresses, and loved eight of them – but finally settled on a stunning lace featured gown, which enhanced her curves and accentuated her good waistline.
She explained to Jo, the personal dresser who had been designated to look after Claire for the hour’s slot, that she was on a Slimming World diet, and so was advised to have the final alterations done close to the Wedding Day as they had a seamstress on hand to turn it around in 24 hours. They even offered to do a last minute steam of the garment.
She rounded off the session by selecting a pair of lovely high heeled, cushioned satin shoes, for extra comfort, a tiara and a veil – the latter of which she hadn’t even considered.
As there was a sale in store, the total for the entire package was only £730. The dress had by chance been reduced from £1,200 to £599, the shoes were half price at £25 and the veil and tiara made up the rest.
Our young bride to be left the shop elated and full of confidence, a wonderfully successful outcome.
I had a chat to one of the partners, and she told me that although the outlet premises are neat, their stock is extensive and constantly updated. They have been going for eleven years – and I can see the reason for their success.
I am quite sure that many other bridal outlets provide an equally supportive service – but I would personally recommend this small Kingston upon Thames outlet – and it would even be worthwhile to make a special journey, however far away you are, as their unique approach and care would be hard to compare.
http://www.lovemedobrides.com/weddingdresses.aspx
