Fresh Lobster and Salmon Ravioli
Fresh Lobster and Salmon Ravioli recipe. This recipe is extremely delicious and very special. They make these ravioli in Genoa, on the Ligurian coast in Northern Italy, where my parents were born. If you’re looking for something really impressive for a special occasion, then this is the perfect dish. The very special main ingredients, lobster and salmon, speak for themselves, and anyone who loves seafood will love these. If you...
Lentil Bean Soup
Lentil Bean Soup Lentil beans are so good for us. They, along with other beans and legumes, are usually in the top 10 for healthy eating. Good for the brain, good for the heart, an excellent source of protein, and just plain delicious. Turmeric and cumin have both recently been shown to be good for a healthy brain as well. It’s so easy to combine them both into this tasty soup. Always looking for the perfect Lentil Soup recipe, I...
The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher or The Murder at Road Hill House: Review
The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher or The Murder at Road Hill House: Review. I finished reading The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher or The Murder at Road Hill House last night, and feel absolutely compelled to recommend it. I found a copy that was destined for the recycle bin and was captivated by the blurb on the back. Here’s an example: ‘A beautiful piece, written with great lucidity and respect for the reader, and with immaculate restraint. A...
The Simplest Asparagus Recipes are Always the Best
I can’t resist asparagus and although there are many delicious asparagus recipes the one I’m going to show you here is my favorite. My father loved it too and he was a professional chef. Luckily it is very easy and quick to prepare and it can be served as a delicious lunch or evening meal. Asparagus is so delicate and nutritious that you really don’t need to do much more than boil, roast or grill it for a few minutes to have a...
Chunky Vegetarian Potato Soup
Chunky Vegetarian Potato Soup I love the flavor of the vegetarian potato soup. Before becoming a vegetarian, I used the older version of this recipe with chicken broth. Since then I’ve changed out the broth, and replaced and/or eliminated some of the other ingredients. For instance, I now add diced mushrooms to my potato soup for an extra savory flavor. My preferred mushrooms for this are the Baby Bella mushrooms, although I...
An Electric Kettle That will Impress all Your Neighbors!
When I was a child my mum didn’t have an electric kettle, instead she used a special round shaped kettle with a whistle at the end of the spout. She would put that on the stove, and when the water boiled the whistle sounded like an alarm. Many times it actually shot across the kitchen like a bullet! My dog used to chase after it, and it was always a battle to see who could retrieve it first him or us! Sadly, a more modern electric...
Why I Love Our Playmobil Pirate Ship
I bought a Playmobil Blackbeard’s Pirate Ship over 20 years ago for my sister’s son who was turning 6, and it was the best toy ever! He played with it for many years and later his little brother took over the helm! After he played with it for my sister passed it back to me when my own son was 4 years old. It had gone full cycle, and after a lot of use from 2 children and their friends, the Blackbeard’s ship was still looking...
Mini Trampoline: Keep Fit for Little Ones
Children need exercise during the winter months and a mini trampoline is a toy that they can bounce on all day, and the really nice thing about them is that they can be used indoors. They are suitable for an average sized living room or bedroom and they can be taken into the garden of course. Grandma bought our son mini trampoline on his 3rd birthday. It was a square very colorful, lightweight one, perfect for a rainy day – or...
WowWee Roboquad For Kids Who Love Robot Toys
When my son hit 13 his WowWee Robotics Roboquad came into its own. This is a fantastic toy for sophisticated teenagers not younger children. We bought it for him as a Christmas present when he was only 8, which was a mistake because he was too young. So, the worse thing happened, it sat in his bedroom for quite a while, motionless. He didn’t really know how to play with it and so he ignored it. I had made a big mistake in buying him a...
Mackerel Recipes: How to Make Delicious Smoked Mackerel Pate
Smoked mackerel has a strong flavor and therefore makes a delicious paté that my family really enjoys. In my house we try to eat as much oily fish as possible because it is very good for you and we think that paté is one of best mackerel recipes around! It is an oily fish and therefore is a very rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. Although fish is very good for your health, unfortunately it seems that much of it contains toxins, so...
Holiday Apartment in Liguria, Cinque Terre, Italy
Holiday Apartment in Liguria, Cinque Terre, Italy. If you’re looking for an authentic rural Italian holiday then this is it! You can rent a perfect holiday apartment in an ideal setting for nature lovers, walkers, or cycling. Italy has also has some wonderful rural areas which are perhaps its best kept secret. From the Alps in the north down to Mount Etna in Sicily, it is a country of mountains, hills, forests, wonderful...
Visible Learning and the Science of How we Learn. Hattie & Yates
A huge collection of research! In 2009 John Hattie published a book called Visible Learning, which is a huge collection of research about how to improve children’s learning. It talks about what really works in schools and has become a ‘bible’ for educationalists all over the world. Visible Learning and the Science of How We Learn is a follow on from this. Hattie got together with cognitive psychologist, Gregory Yates, and...
The Wind in the Willows: Wonderful Family Book
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham is one of the best-loved children books ever. It is loved so much by so many because it’s a tale for child and adult alike that deals with universal themes. My sister bought this edition for my son when he was only 5 years old, and we have loved it ever since, and it has become our family book. So my son has grown up with the Wind in the Willows. When he was very young we read him the...
Review: The Secret Life of the Dyslexic Child by Robert Frank PhD
Dyslexic himself, Dr Frank is a teacher and psychologist so there is very little he doesn’t know about dyslexia. He has written this fantastic book, The Secret Life of the Dyslexic Child, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever asked the question ‘what is dyslexia?’ If you know dyslexic children as a teacher, parent, relative, or neighbor, then you will learn so much from this book. My husband is not dyslexic, but is a...
Very Useful Guitar Stands: A Great Gift for Guitarists
Guitar stands are a perfect gift for guitarists, but this one is even more useful because it’s a stand for cellists and French horn players too. Made by K & M Heli, it is a quality item at a fantastic price. The video below will tell you more about the product. I can tell you that I love them! We are the proud owners of 7 guitars and a full sized cello, which is wonderful, apart from the fact that we live in a small...
Apple iPod Shuffle. Small But Big on Music
I was looking for a quality music product that would not break the bank – then I found the Apple iPod Shuffle, and my search was well and truly over. It is was Christmas gift for my son because he wants to listen to music everywhere he goes! I am a complete Apple freak, so I knew the product would be well made and just be awesome. But I was not expecting to find it quite so beautiful! It’s just so perfectly designed: It’s small,...
Hot Spinach Dip
Every spinach lover must have their favorite spinach dip. This is mine. The first rule for me is that it must be hot. Leftover it is very tasty cold, but it is cheesy delight served warm from the oven, with crackers, chips or sliced fresh vegetables. It’s easy to make, yet tastes like you went to a lot of trouble. Guests love it. So does family actually. I prefer to make it without artichoke hearts, but they are a popular...
Veggie Platter with Buffalo Ranch Dip
Fresh, Crisp Vegetables in a Spicy Dip Fresh vegetables are in abundance right now, fresh being the operative word. While it is a good idea to freeze, can, dry, etc., to preserve the variety for the rest of the year, there isn’t much better or more delicious than fresh, raw, cut up vegetables. Fresh from the garden or from a farmer’s market, they taste healthy and wonderful just as they are. So why mess with a good...
Custom Throw Pillows and Matching Fabric
Custom Throw Pillows and Matching Fabric Have you ever purchased throw pillows and wanted them to match your curtains or a quilt? Now you can. Zazzle is a print on demand company that has many designs to choose from. They also now make custom fabric. I am one of the artists on Zazzle, and have designed quite a few pillows already. I recently visited a furniture store and thought that it would be great for these designer pieces to...
Rock Bottom Brewery Asiago Cheese Dip
Rock Bottom Brewery Asiago Cheese Dip This recipe was supplied to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 1998 by the chef of the Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, Chip Fergert. Save Print Rock Bottom Brewery Asiago Cheese Dip Rating 5 from 1 reviews Ingredients 4 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, reconstituted in hot water 1 cup mayonnaise 1 cup sour cream ½ cup shredded Asiago plus extra for garnish ¼ cup green...