tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67893936754593256062024-03-05T06:13:39.438+00:00Faith and CheesecakesPonderings on two of my greatest passions.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-23383554172400816342013-06-07T15:59:00.000+01:002013-06-07T15:59:03.241+01:00A good day for bacon and syrup<span class="userContent">Today is a good day for sweet bacon-based products that put my fomer attempt at a bacon & maple syrup cheesecake to shame. </span><br />
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<span class="userContent">First, Hummingbird Bakery launches it's American Brunch Cupcake of "'Maple syrup-soaked sponge studded with bacon pieces, a caramel centre and maple syrup frosting topped with crispy bacon." </span><br />
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<span class="userContent">And now Time magazine tells me of Dunkin Donuts new doughnut bacon sandwich!</span></div>
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<a href="http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/06/03/dunkin-donuts-doughnut-bacon-sandwich-isnt-as-bad-as-you-think/" target="_blank">http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/06/03/dunkin-donuts-doughnut-bacon-sandwich-isnt-as-bad-as-you-think/</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-55517208385598326942012-11-01T19:28:00.004+00:002012-11-01T19:33:07.272+00:00Faith stories now online!Over the last 12 months I've spoken with hundreds of people about their beliefs, identities, spiritual journeys and encounters with people of different religions.<br />
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The "Faith Stories" I wrote following these inspiring interview are now available <a href="http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/faith-stories" target="_blank">here</a>. You can search for stories by location (I managed to get round more than 30 countries), religious, topic and keyword. </div>
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So if you want to hear from a Californian Jew who has converted to Hinduism; what it's like to run a Buddhist monastery in Taiwan; why 21st century Indian Hindus still need gurus; the story of Canadian Muslim who almost became a terrorist; or from a Seventh Day Adventist who bonded with Muslims over basketball in Mozambique; check out <a href="http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/faith-stories" target="_blank">Faith Stories.</a> </div>
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I've spoke with everyone from from Rabbi David Rosen in London, to the Venerable Dharma Master Hsin Tao in Taiwan; and ordinary people from Syria to Tajikistan, and Norway to Ethiopia. It's been an amazing privilege to lead this project, so I hope you enjoy it, too. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-32287805756188971752012-10-30T22:47:00.000+00:002012-10-30T22:47:28.521+00:00Eating and drinking my way around London - the final instalment (for now)<br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">Gordon Ramsay at Claridges, for lunch</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">. Not that I'm a big Gordon fan, he just happens to open restaurants near my current and former places of work. Not as expensive as you’d think for a 2 or 3 course set lunch, and I'm told the food is just as good, just a slightly shorter menu. Ramsay's Boxwood Café and it’s mouthwatering Roast Suckling Pig is still sadly missed after shutting down a couple of years ago (sad face.)</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">Somewhere that sells fish tacos. </b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">I have happy memories of chomping down on some in a bar in Chicago, all alone on a work trip. Can't tell you what kind of fish it was though, so I'm open to offers.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">The Breakfast Club – Hoxto Square or Soho</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;"> – in my never-ending hunt <b>for good American pancakes</b> with crispy bacon and maple syrup. And bananas. The Hoxton branch is just round the corner from my new office so hoping to get there soon.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">The shisha lounge </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">I passed recently at the end of <b>Brick Lane</b> that reminded me of happy holidays in Damascus in 2009.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">More cocktail bars. </b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">No, I don't want to book two weeks in advance. No, I don't want to pay more than £15 for ONE DRINK. No, I don't want 2 Woo-hoo's for the price of 1 at Weatherspoons. Happy medium, anyone?</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">The tiny wine and meat bar </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt;">on a side street off Soho's Wardor Street. A merry Friday eve was spent with friends - indeed, merry enough that I can't recall it's name. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-20008502200097259962012-10-29T21:38:00.001+00:002012-10-29T21:40:20.333+00:00Eating and drinking my way around London - Part 3<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">This third instalment is all about my home turf of South West London.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-style: normal;"><u>Rick’s Cafe, Tooting</u></span></b></em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333;"> - </span></em><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.ricks-restaurant.co.uk/">http://www.ricks-restaurant.co.uk/</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> Much loved by Tooting
locals, Rick’s <b>confit duck </b>is fab and he has supplied us with haggis,
neaps and tatties for the last two Burn’s Nights. Come with removable layers
though – near the door is drafty and near the kitchen is boiling, but with up
to 30 people essentially squeezed into Rick’s front room it’s hardly
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><u>Sappho Meze Bar, Clapham North</u></span></b><span lang="EN-US"> - </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.london-eating.co.uk/28769.htm">http://www.london-eating.co.uk/28769.htm</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> £9.50 (cash only) for <b>a menu-free dining experience of about 20 small home-madeGgreek dishes</b>, lovingly prepared and served by the father and daughter duo at this family-run favourite. Don’t think they’re open Mondays or lunchtime, so worth a call first. Great dining experience with hungry friends.</span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><u>Gastro, Clapham Commo</u>n - </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/107641868137526698042/about?gl=uk&hl=en">https://plus.google.com/107641868137526698042/about?gl=uk&hl=en</a></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Best for </span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">bouillabaisse
(fish soup) with all the extras including </span>home-made<span style="font-family: inherit;"> garlic mousse, </span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">and brutally good coffee. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><b><u>Harvester, Windmill Road, Mitcham</u> - </b></span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.harvester.co.uk/">www.harvester.co.uk</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> A classic for when you’re
very, very hungry at 4pm on a Sunday. Half a spitroast chicken with corn, fries,
red devil sauce and a salad cart, please. If you're too snobby to come with me then you're missing out!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><u>Numero Uno, Tooting Bec</u></span></b><span lang="EN-US"> – </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.numero-uno-restaurant.co.uk/">www.numero-uno-restaurant.co.uk</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> <b>Best
for pizza</b> – The Four Seasons and their Numero Uno Special with rocket,
prosciutto and (gasp!)white truffle, all for only £7.95 each to take away. If
eating in then the monster size <b>king prawns wrapped in parma ham and fried
in garlic butter </b>are the way to go. But don’t have more than a small glass
of house red with it or you’ll need an entire box of Rennie. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><u>Tram and Social, Tooting Broadwa</u>y</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.antic-ltd.com/tooting/">http://www.antic-ltd.com/tooting/</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> – <b>shabby chic interiors,
ales, wines, well priced prosecco, hit-and-miss but occasionally brilliant DJs,
</b>slouching and dancing, dress up or dress down, sausage rolls behind the bar
if you’re quick, art students and ethnically diverse locals. Jumble sales and
burlesque on weekend daytimes. Open very late. All in a big old shed for trams.
All hail Antic, the saviours of South London and now the proud owner of at
least half of Tooting! </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.antic-ltd.com/index.htm">http://www.antic-ltd.com/index.htm</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><u><b>The Selkirk, Tooting Broadway</b></u> - </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.theselkirk.co.uk/">http://www.theselkirk.co.uk/</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> Go on a Monday for their
2 4 1 burger deal and check out the food and drink deals for the rest of the
week. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><b><u>Costas Café, Tooting Bec</u></b> - </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://plus.google.com/107123377364678869449/about?gl=uk&hl=en">https://plus.google.com/107123377364678869449/about?gl=uk&hl=en</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> Nothing to do with the coffee chain. I love Costas. They feed me <b>toast, baked beans, black pudding and peppermint tea </b>when I’ve had too many lemonades the night before, and charge me anywhere between £2.10 and £4.40 depending on how the Turkish economy is fairing that week.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tomorrow: My 'Still To Try' list. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-88759132723676088802012-10-28T12:35:00.002+00:002012-10-28T12:38:32.774+00:00Eating and drinking my way around London - Part 2<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US">Gordon's Wine Bar, Embankment</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US"> - </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.gordonswinebar.com/default.php">http://www.gordonswinebar.com/default.php</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> Tiny underground
bar-come-sherry-cellar. Best at 4pm on a Friday for <b>conspiratorial
conversations over a glass of red</b> at the end of a hard week, but tiny and
heaving so book a table if you're planning on going at anything like
normal drinking hours. Also does a hearty ploughmans of a lunchtime but make
sure you get there bang on 12noon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US">Muffinski’s, Covent Garden</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US"> - </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.muffinskis.co.uk/">http://www.muffinskis.co.uk/</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> Fresh muffins, not too
big, every flavour and every dietary neurosis catered for (low fat, no added
sugar etc). Very dense and not unlike scones – in a good way - so ask for
some butter to go with them. Or get a hot chocolate for dunking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US">Navajo Joe’s basement bar, Covent
Garden</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US">
- </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.navajojoe.co.uk/navajo-joe.htm">http://www.navajojoe.co.uk/navajo-joe.htm</a></span><span lang="EN-US">. Restaurant is handy
and food is fine but overpriced, but the bar below does a mean <b>gin martini </b>(£10)
and it doesn’t tend to be packed even at
8pm on a Friday. One of those and you’re basically done for the night so
it’s a good investment of a tenner. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US">The Churchill Arms,
South Kensington</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US"> - </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://churchillarmskensington.co.uk/">http://churchillarmskensington.co.uk/</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> I never got the whole <b>English
pub serving Thai Food </b>thing until I came here for the first time last
month. While I still hunt for a regular Thai haunt this will do nicely. It’s so
popular there’s a 1 or 2 hour timeslot per table, but the <b>green curry and
pad thai</b> was so good we ate ours in about 15 minutes so it wasn’t a
problem. Famous for its hanging baskets outside and vast plethora of random
knick-knacks hanging low from the ceiling, it’s a slightly convoluted wander
from South Kensington so needs to be google mapped first.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US">Le Pain Quotidian, London Bridge</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.lepainquotidien.co.uk/">http://www.lepainquotidien.co.uk/</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> This place just makes
me so happy!! Order a coffee and <b>a bread basket to share and they’ll arrive
accompanied by a selection of giant jars of toppings,</b> from exquisitely rich
hazelnut spread and heavenly white, milk and dark chocolate spreads, to fig and
apricot conserves. Last time I was there 3 big full sized pots of toppings
arrived with the bread and I asked if we could have all the other toppings as
well, and the lovely waitress was more than happy to oblige. The fruit and nut
bread lathered in both hazelnut and dark cholocate spread had me in raptures. <b>Best
alternative afternoon tea ever</b>. They <b>salads </b>are excellent also, as
is most of the rest of the fresh, varied and reasonably priced menu. All tucked
between Borough Market and Vinopolis. Very snug, lovely for both day time and
evening, and a great lists. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US">Giraffe – South Bank,</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US"> but also Marylebone,
Spittlefields etc. - </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.giraffe.net/">http://www.giraffe.net/</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> Globe trotting menu
means something for everyone and they do a <b>v.good breakfast deal for a fiver</b>.
My favourite for breakfast meetings is a sausage, bacon and egg sandwich of
extra thick brown bread and a hot chocolate. How every working day should begin.
Also recommend the brunch menu and enchiladas. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US">AMT, Euston / Marylebone</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US"> and some other
national rail stations -</span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.amtcoffee.co.uk/">http://www.amtcoffee.co.uk/</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> <b>Best for Chai
Lattes.</b> And sometimes free giant gold chocolate coins at Christmas.
they offer to put ice cubes in their herbal teas which no other café ever seems
to do (hello burnt tongue.)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Two vegan-friendly hippy raw-food and fibre filled
favourites for when your body needs a deep cleanse: <b><u>InSpiral Lounge, Camden</u></b>
- </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.inspiralled.net/">http://www.inspiralled.net/</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> and <u><b>My Village
Café, Camden</b> </u> - </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/my-village-caf%C3%A9-london-2">http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/my-village-caf%C3%A9-london-2</a>. Raw chocolate brownies, multicoloured salads, stews and quiches: the quickest way to a week's worth of 5-a-day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><b>Still to come: The mighty South West</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-79689538783174802642012-10-27T10:34:00.002+01:002012-10-27T10:41:42.363+01:00Eating and drinking my way around London<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I keep reading and hearing about new
eateries and bars to try out around London. Sometimes I even get round to
going to them. But with having the memory of a goldfish I tend to forget them
almost immediately, even if they were bloody marvellous. I keep meaning
to write them down, but I forget to do that, too.</span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So I’ve decided to do a brain-dump
here, more for my benefit that yours (sorry dear readers), so I no longer have
to spend an hour deliberating where to meet friends at 4pm on a rainy Saturday,
or keep texting my friends asking for the name of 'that place near the thing
where we had that great falafel about 2 years ago.'<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today: West End, Mayfair and East.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><em><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal;">Apostrophe,
Grosvenor Street / St Christopher’s place</span></u></b></em><em><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal;"> </span></b></em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal;">- </span></em><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.apostropheuk.com/about/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.apostropheuk.com/about/</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> <b>The
Best Hot Chocolate I Have Ever had, </b>and I’ve had a lot. (Apart from the
Choco Café in Prague, maybe.) So thick you need to eat it with a spoon. Order
it ‘small and thick’ and feel all your troubles melting away. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-xyiHFeFhGzvF4HgUy-4mj-xX_NJYT91oughOTbYYoqbKJJO55xRB3IXLYRbYtMJvmkJknpDzqSO0Of_ikcwCnAAELzRr3GsKy_bvZALsTpG4prmsWdaLS_sPs95prbVKuQvjxdw5SWm/s1600/apostrophe+hot+choc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-xyiHFeFhGzvF4HgUy-4mj-xX_NJYT91oughOTbYYoqbKJJO55xRB3IXLYRbYtMJvmkJknpDzqSO0Of_ikcwCnAAELzRr3GsKy_bvZALsTpG4prmsWdaLS_sPs95prbVKuQvjxdw5SWm/s1600/apostrophe+hot+choc.png" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Maze, Grosvenor
Square</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">
- </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.gordonramsay.com/maze/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.gordonramsay.com/maze/</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> Very
swanky and not inexpensive Mayfair establishment, but surprisingly welcoming and happy for you to
perch in the bar with <b>one large glass of wine,</b> when you’ve just left
your office over the road and deposited your gym kit and bag of Sainsbury’s
shopping with their immaculate cloakroom staff. They give you lovely
nibbles, too. It took 4 visits and as many C-list ‘sleb’ spots before I realized
it was <i>the</i> Maze. Shows what a long day at work can do to you - and
that high-end venues needn’t be twattish. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Vita Organic,
Wardour Street</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> - </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.vitao.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.vitao.co.uk</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> – no
meat, no wheat, no dairy, no sugar, no additives, nothing cooking above a low
heat so all technically raw. But still manages to be delicious. </span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">The Samuel Smiths pub on the way to
Marylebone, which I’m told is actually called<u> <b>Angel In The Field</b></u> and is
on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Thayer Street</u></b> - </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://fancyapint.com/Pub/london/angel-in-the-fields/20"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="color: blue;">http://fancyapint.com/Pub/london/angel-in-the-fields/20</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">. One of
the few places near the West End for <b>a seat and a reasonably priced drink in
a well lit pub, even on a Friday evening</b>. I am getting old!</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Follow this with <b>pitta and hummus</b>
a couple of doors down Thayer Street at <b><u>Diwan </u></b></span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://diwanrestaurant.co.uk/main.htm"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="color: blue;">http://diwanrestaurant.co.uk/main.htm</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> before
you get on the tube.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">A great, kitch and but doubtless
deeply inauthentic Lebanese is just behind St Christopher’s place - <b><u>Le
Comptoir Libanais</u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>, Wigmore Street</u> </b>-
</span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.lecomptoir.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.lecomptoir.co.uk/</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> A real
failsafe for lunch or dinner. Lovely, lovely food. If there’s two of you get <b>a
big mezze platter and a meaty wrap to share</b>, then extra mezze if you’ve got
room. </span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><u>Little Georgia,
Hackney</u></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> - </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.littlegeorgia.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.littlegeorgia.co.uk/</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> In between
Hackney City Farm and Broadway market, it provides amazing winder warmers like <b>pungent,
tomato paprika-y mushroom and aubergine stew topped with wondrous gooey cheese</b>.
And great big colourful carrot and beetroot salads. I’ve not tried their
traditional <b>cheese bread</b> yet (the one I sampled at <b>The Georgian</b>
opposite Clapham South tube was like a big hug for my tummy), but as it’s now
made it into one of Nigella’s cookbook’s it’s got to be on my to-eat list for
next time. Their website doesn’t seem to be working yet and they appear to have
opened another branch, so it’s the one at 87 Goldsmith’s Road.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Still to come – Central, North,
South West and Places I Still Need to Go.<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></em></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-64240256847382534472012-10-25T22:01:00.002+01:002012-10-27T10:42:59.341+01:00Christians versus everyone else?"I am the way , the truth and the life. No-one comes to the father except through me." John 14 v 6<br />
<br />
When I first became a Christian this verse was used to explain, excuse and insist that Christians had it right and everyone else had it wrong. That only we in the church were in the lifeboat and would be 'saved' from drowning in eternal damnation. That we could and should be bloody-minded: we had the answers to the meaning of life, death and the cosmos.<br />
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<br />
I still believe Jesus is both the bees knees and the cat's pyjamas. I still believe his words and in this verse. But as my understanding of God has deepened, my faith has grown and I appreciate more and more the value of mystery, I simple can no longer with any authenticity hold the view that I'm right and everyone else is screwed.<br />
<br />
I've read many translations, interpretations and exegesis that try to unpack this thorny little verse that innumerable Christian friends have relied upon as a trump card in our theological debates. I have pondered, prayed and meditated on it. More and more I am convinced it is utterly true, but that using it to exclude non-Christians from God's 'shalom' wholeness (or salvation, if you'd prefer) is to have got the wrong end of the stick.<br />
<br />
Today on the Northern Line, somewhere around Kennington I think, I read a beautifully succinct perspective on this by my dear friend, teacher and occasional guru Noel Moules in his astonishing new book <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fingerprints-Fire-Footprints-Peace-Perspective/dp/1846946123">Fingerprints of Fire, Footprints of Peace</a><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>In these words Jesus declares that he is the road to God. What he is saying is that only a person who follows him can know God with the intimacy of Abba (meaning 'daddy') and the quality of personal spiritual experience this enables. But he is not claiming there is no truth or life without him, or that God cannot be known apart from him.</i><br />
<br />
'Coming out' as a Christian who believes God is not restricted to Christian's understanding of him was a painful experience, but every time I read a reflection like this my soul breathes a sigh of gratitude as I'm reminded just how big God is.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-36334814526929057532012-10-08T09:50:00.000+01:002012-10-08T09:52:01.761+01:00Why bacon does not belong in cheesecakes "No Rachel, you were not supposed to put beef in the trifle. It did not taste good."<br />
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<div>
Such were the wise words of Judy Geller, aka Ross and Rachels 'mom' in friends, which came to mind around about my fourth spoonful of bacon and maple syrup cheesecake.</div>
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The first couple of bites actually tasted okay. Syrup-drizzled crispy smoked bacon and cream cheese laced with maple syrup? Good. Syruppy cream cheese with regular cheesecake base? Good. </div>
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<div>
All three mixed together? Not good! </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The whole thing was just too salty, and as it began to churn in my stomach I had to wash it down with a spoonful of Nutella to get rid of the taste.</div>
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At least it looked pretty...</div>
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Given that it was The Husband who asked for this horror to be constructed, it was somewhat ironic that that the same day I made this he came down with a post-festival stomach bug so couldn't eat any. He might have liked it, but the ship has sailed.</div>
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<div>
Big thanks to the reader who posted an alternative and apparently delicious recipe below, but it's going to be a while before I brave another meaty pudding. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-662690035622867712012-08-20T10:32:00.001+01:002012-08-20T14:08:21.193+01:00Bacon and maple syrup cheesecake? Oh dear....With my main client closing for a week over the August Bank Holiday, I'm hoping to have a spare evening in the next week or so to whip up a new creation. The Husband has been asking for a savoury cheesecake for a while, and inspired by an amazing gelato I has in Sorrento, Italy about 8 years ago I was thinking about ricotta and basil. Delicate flavours, and basil is often served with desserts and strawberry-based edibles, so worth a try.<br />
<br />
But my husband really likes bacon. Really likes it.<br />
<br />
As do I, and our favourite breakfast is a stack of American-style buttermilk pancakes with crispy rashers and a pot of maple syrup for drizzling (me) or drowning (him). But I have boundaries, and he does not. And the only way I can prove to him the idea is a daft one is to actually make him a bacon and maple syrup cheesecake and them watch him try to eat it.<br />
<br />
I've only found 2 recipes for a bacon cheesecake on t'internet;. One of them includes 3 pounds (!!) of lardons and the other uses bacon dripping instead of butter for the base. So clearly I'm going to have to make up my own.<br />
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So come the weekend I may have in the fridge on my first truly revolting and inedible cheesecake.<br />
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The things you do for love.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-80949453232576778792012-08-06T16:21:00.000+01:002012-08-06T16:22:37.004+01:00Prayer for Sikhs in Wisconsin and beyond<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tragic new this weekend as six Sikh worshippers were shot dead in their gurdwara (temple) in Wisconsin, US</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">. Too soon to really reflect on and </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">dissect</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> the tragedy, but my thoughts and prayers are with the community there, and Sikhs friends around the world, who are affected by this tragic and </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">necessary</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> attack. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-51632073035253099442012-07-31T15:01:00.000+01:002012-07-31T20:02:04.174+01:00Happy National Cheesecake Day!I've been kindly informed by my fair readers and friends that today is National Cheesecake Day! Well, it is in the US and it's one American import I'm happy to try and get us hooked on here in the UK.<br />
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Having only found about about this auspicious occasion an hour ago it's a bit late in the day to launch any proper celebrations this evening, but I've got July 30th 2013 in my diary already and you're all invited to my house for a slice.<br />
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So for today, check out www.allrecipes.co.uk for a myriad of recipes and get cooking. Or if that seems like too much effort, and the ready made versions in Tesco or Sainsburys look a bit droopy, remember I make them to order. So if you're hungry, email me at <b>email_hannah@hotmail.com.</b><br />
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Or if you live nearer to a branch of The Cheesecake Factory than SW17, I guess you could go there.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-12941686250928319132012-07-30T11:03:00.001+01:002012-07-30T11:03:15.393+01:00Post-breakfast dessertYesterday I made my mum's Victoria Sponge, though with my super hot oven and lack of sponge-experience mine never come out as neat and even as hers. Tasted pretty good though, even without doubling the quality of butter-cream icing as I usually would. I used Stork margarine instead of butter in the sponge which made it much fluffier and lighter. <div>
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So having got up and had an early breakfast, brisk walk and an hour's work this morning, 9am felt like a good time to have my post-breakfast dessert. Or early Elevensies. </div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-23444751677773982572012-07-28T17:53:00.000+01:002012-07-28T17:53:26.158+01:00I could totally take on Borough MarketToday I wandered through Borough Market and came across two stalls selling cheesecakes of the New York, Blueberry, Tiramisu and Baileys & Chocolate varieties. They looked edible, but I must confess I thought they didn't look as sexy or as tasty as mine. They were baked, so the bases looked soggy and they looked a touch tired even though they probably only came out of the oven last night.<br />
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So there is, in fact, a gap in the Borough Market market!<br />
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A distant dream for now, but I reckon if I ever decided to take my 'business' seriously I could get something good going...
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Here's my top shelf this morning....<br />
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....and the post dinner view, albeit a bit blurry<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-24156059220071588992012-07-18T12:38:00.000+01:002012-07-18T12:54:54.819+01:00Peach & Raspberry CheesecakeThis weekend I'm making a mango cheesecake for a cafe and<span style="background-color: white;"> a blueberry one for my friend Jules' party, and so figured I </span><span style="background-color: white;">should</span><span style="background-color: white;"> try something new for the friends who are coming for dinner on Saturday night. Most of my friends aren't fussy and are happy with anything large, round and </span><span style="background-color: white;">containing</span><span style="background-color: white;"> butter, cream and sugar, but my friend's boyfriend is a Real Life Chef. He's not a food snob (I don't think), but I still want to make something that </span><span style="background-color: white;">doesn't</span><span style="background-color: white;"> come a side order of "I just made it up, so if it's horrible tell me and I'll get you some </span><span style="background-color: white;">Haagen</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Daz instead." </span><br />
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Thus, when Good Food magazine caught my eye on the shelf of WHSmiths in a service station on the edge of Blackburn this weekend - I only hang out in where the cool kids go, clearly - I realised I'd found a new recipe.<br />
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So: Peach Melba Cheesecake it will be. But I'm calling mine a Peach and Raspberry cheesecake because I don't know what a 'Melba' is. Not convinced mine will look this glorious, but I'll post some photos once it's done.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-77039264647542046952012-07-11T09:29:00.000+01:002012-07-16T20:00:22.788+01:00Funniest Family Guy moment for a whileIt's taken me about 7 years to get into Family Guy but I've finally succeeded. I've learnt to appreciate it's rampant lack of political correctness and every so often am rewarded with an episode that manages to touch on a tricky issue with some (only some, mind) sensitivity.<br />
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The episode I watched last night was all about freedom of religion and belief. Until now I thought the Life of Brian's 'Blessed are the cheese makers' and 'Give me your shoe!<span style="background-color: white;">' scenes were the most insightful comedy moments about the </span><span style="background-color: white;">astonishing</span><span style="background-color: white;"> capacity of Christians to judge and condemn each other's </span><span style="background-color: white;">interpretations</span><span style="background-color: white;"> of faith, but now, 30 years </span><span style="background-color: white;">later</span><span style="background-color: white;">, there's a new favourite to add to the </span><span style="background-color: white;">list</span><span style="background-color: white;">. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Judging by some of the YouTube comments about this clip, the word irony seems to </span><span style="background-color: white;">have</span><span style="background-color: white;"> sadly passed by a good number of viewers, but nevertheless this was my </span><span style="background-color: white;">absolutely</span><span style="background-color: white;"> favourite moment.</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-79309332205284301882012-06-29T16:08:00.000+01:002012-06-29T16:08:17.963+01:00Goldilocks and the Three CheesecakesAccording to the fairy tale, upon creeping into the Three Bears' house Goldilocks was traumatised by porridge that was first too hot, then too cold, before she chanced upon one that was just right. Now I know how the poor girl felt.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Just recently my previously foolproof Blueberry & White </span><span style="background-color: white;">Chocolate</span><span style="background-color: white;"> cheesecake has either been turning out too grainy - due to over whipping the cream and/or not letting the chocolate cool enough; or too runny - the result of under-whipping the cream for fear of it going grainy. </span><br />
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I awoke this morning to find last night's creation was just too gooey and clearly never going to set enough to be sliced neatly, so it went in the freezer for when my mum comes next week. I made another after breakfast (toast, not cheesecake), wondering whether adding a touch of gelatin would help. It didn't. Flavour was fine but it had the texture of sick and went straight in the bin:<br />
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I've just finished giving my third and final attempt my full attention, making sure I used an electric whisk for exactly one minute (more reliable) and letting the chocolate cool for 20 whole minutes in the bathroom (my kitchen is sweltering). Et voila! Perfect consistency accompanied by the fattest blueberries I've ever seen.<br />
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The knack? Concentration: don't make multiple cheesecakes at the same time. Phew. Another delivery ready for Ahmed in the morning.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-52038342636040450012012-06-27T17:10:00.000+01:002012-06-27T17:28:22.584+01:00What have I let myself in for?Last night I created two quite beautiful cheesecakes to trial at Bertie & Boo's coffee shop in Balham. When I got on the bus this morning with my big white cake box, the lady I sat down next to asked me what I had in there. When I showed her, she let out an 'Oooooohh...' and asked if she could take my card because a friend of her's owns a cafe on Clapham High Street. I gave her a spare copy of my menu that I happened to have with me and she wished me well and got off at the next stop. Bless her!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Sadly when I rocked up at Bertie & Boo I was told they couldn't stock them after all, because they don't </span><span style="background-color: white;">have</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">refrigerated</span><span style="background-color: white;"> cabinets on the shop floor. Clearly the staff I spoke to there last week were telling me porky pies. Grr. So I headed instead to the Fat Delicatessen, who were also interested last week, only to be cordially turned away by the owner who told me they made everything in house. Grr again. </span><br />
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So on I plodded to a little coffee shop (whose name escapes me) next to Balham tube station which I hadn't approached before. I asked the lass behind the counter if she'd like a blueberry & white chocolate cheesecake. She clearly thought I was a bit mad but upon realising I wasn't, she looked at me as though I'd just handed over a free Mulberry handbag. I do like to make people's mornings..... and if she raves to her boss about it as she promised, I could (could) have another stockist.</div>
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One cheesecake still to dispense of, I took the Mango cheesecake to meet Ahmed who owns the Nightingale Cafe on Balham High Road. Ahmed told me last week he doesn't sell many cheesecakes - it's more a cafe-restaurant than a coffee shop - but said vaguely that he might be okay with me dropping in a sample. </div>
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After seeing the goods this morning, he said: 'I like the look of that and I like you. You have good energy. Can you bring me in three more on Friday?'</div>
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Yes I can, Ahmed.</div>
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'I'd like a discount for those three,' he said, 'but if it goes well I'll pay you full price after that and feature you on my website as our cheesecake lady. I did that for another small cake-making business once and now they turn over £50k a year.'</div>
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So there you go! Nothing might come of it; and there really are only so many cheesecakes I can make before I risk starting to resent them. But I had a fun morning.</div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-1887312009373672262012-06-22T16:13:00.002+01:002012-06-22T16:24:49.492+01:00The wisdom of a dead squirrel<span style="background-color: white;">I saw a dead squirrel on my way to the tube on Monday. It has not looked any healthier as the week has progressed, and after walking home in the rain yesterday the Husband noted, 'That squirrel's pretty much just mush now.'</span><br />
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People today, especially in the West, and particularly city dwellers like me, don't really do death. Occasional road-kill is the closest we get on an everyday basis. Any imminent death of elderly or terminally ill relatives or friends is sanitised, wired up, dehumanised, put out of sight and dealt with by medical professionals.<br />
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We're no better at coping with the idea of our own deaths. Even people who profess faith in something beyond this life worship youth, fear death, and find talk of it morbid at best. Which is odd, because death is life's only certainty.<br />
<br />
I spent Wednesday morning at Trinity Hospice in Clapham, talking with the Michael Savage who leads Trinity's Spiritual Care work. He's a really lovely, wise and grounded man. I've had in the back on my mind for many years that I'd like to volunteer or work within the hospice movement in some capacity, to offer love and care for those going through the dying process, irrespective of their religious beliefs. To listen to folk, to pray with them if they'd like to, but Not to try and 'save' them on their death beds. Frankly I'm not sure if I'm made of strong enough stuff emotionally, but I want to give it a shot at some point in the next few years.<br />
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Why have I only done something about this niggle now? Partly because this summer I've had the time, but partly for the purely selfish reason of my own spiritual development.<br />
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I had a very inspiring conversation with a Buddhist teacher recently, who has pioneered a lot of contemplative end of life care within the US prison system. Many of his stories moved me but he said one thing that really struck me:<br />
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"We should all live with an ever present awareness of our own death."<br />
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So that's what I'm trying to do a bit more of, while being deeply thankful for the life I have right now. <span style="background-color: white;">Some people hear reminders and </span><span style="background-color: white;">encouragements</span><span style="background-color: white;"> from God on their spiritual journeys in dreams or visions as they go through life; but I'll take divine wisdom wherever I find it. Even in a squirrel.</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-72158523816265982332012-06-19T14:14:00.001+01:002012-06-20T15:03:36.332+01:00A not-quite-kosher-enough cheesecake - and a Rocky Road delight<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What a successful weekend - the highly
experimental Rhubarb Cheesecake & Rocky Road Cheesecake worked
out pretty darn amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I realised the husband,
an ardent anti-rhubarb activist, had turned a corner on the fruit
front when I noticed the crumbs on his chin and the empty plate on his lap. A
fine endorsement. It wasn't too stringy as I had feared, though I will try
blitzing the baked rhubarb for even longer next time to try and make it super
smooth. The downside is it's not the prettiest cheesecake, so will
have to think about glamming it up before it's commercially viable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I also nearly fed a slice to my
Jewish friend Danny last night, then had to whisk it out from under him when he
asked if it was gelatine free (sorry again fella!). He did inform me that Jews
who keep Kosher can actually eat food that is less than
one sixtieth non-kosher, but I wasn't confident my dessert quite fit
the criteria. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've just checked this out and
he wasn't winding me up - there's actually a principle
called batel b'shishim, which means if a 'forbidden' ingredient is present
in such tiny quantities it's barely there, then it's null and void and fine to
eat. How wonderfully sensible. So can Jews eat smoky bacon crisps?
Don't imagine there's much meat in them. <em><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal;">Will have to ask Danny.</span></em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Danny and my other non-Kosher
friends did also kindly help me to eat my first <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Rocky Road</st1:address></st1:street> cheesecake last
night. OH MY GOODNESS! Other than the base being a touch on the fat side,
it was delicious. Just need to play around with
the drizzled milkybar-almond-Oreo cookie-marshmallow topping to make
it easier to cut and we're ready to rock & roll.</span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Yes, the time for a Rhubarb and Ginger cheesecake has arrived! Given the retching noises made by the Husband when I revealed this weekend's flavour I assume I'm going to have to consume most of this experiment alone. Both my next door neighbours are away this weekend, which I know because I've been asked to water plants on one side and feed Cassandra the goldfish on the other. So there are less folk than normal to distribute slices too, and something tells me Cassandra's appetite isn't going to be up to the job.</div>
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The rhubarb was baked yesterday with some light, soft brown sugar and ground ginger but it's still got some kick, which is just how I like it. It might end up a stringy curdled mess, but attempting to make it will be more fun than 90 minutes of football.</div>
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Slice of cheesecake, Roy?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-86956829037599685362012-06-12T12:08:00.000+01:002012-06-12T20:12:49.284+01:00Patience, Bus Stops and Dharma<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How often do you have those 'What should I be doing with my life?' moments? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can't say I'm terribly prone to them but I've had a fair few over the last year as Husband and I have been pondering new cities, countries and jobs. Big life decisions don't, oddly enough, tend to stress me out all that much. I'm a glass-half full person and I trust that the doors that are meant to open or shut will do just that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I just get really fidgety when I have to wait for life to unfold - or for multinational corporations and estate agents to pull their fingers out. If the little scrolling screen at the bus stop tells me it's 3 minutes until the Number 319 arrives, I'll speed walk to the next stop because I can't hack waiting around. I like to get on with things. Now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So patience is not a virtue I possess in abundance, but the last year has been a great lesson in it. I've tried to transform being narked about situations that are out off my control into a spiritual discipline of trying to realise two things more deeply: That the universe does not revolve around me - or rather it doesn't whizz by at the speed I'd like it to; and that invariably God has a perfectly excellent plan for me, I just need to wait and get on board as and when things unfold.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Buddhists and Hindus I've been chatting to recently have spoken about their Buddha-Dharma and Santana-Dharma in a similar way. I've found that some Buddhists and Hindus - and a fair few Sikhs - use the term dharma to describe both a person's own life path and the harmonious movement of the universe. Life is about understanding your particular dharma in the context of the bigger picture and getting on with it. I like the idea of my life getting caught up in the bigger picture of creation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cosmology aside, I'll finish with a wonderfully pragmatic verse that has been scribbled on a Post-It note on my computer screen since roughly this time last year:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Jas-4-13" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px;"><b>"</b></span><span class="text Jas-4-13" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Now listen, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30351Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></sup>you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” </span><span class="text Jas-4-14" id="en-NIV-30352" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (James 4 v 13-14)</span></span></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-54520157354669988632012-06-06T10:59:00.000+01:002012-06-06T23:24:56.443+01:00Rocky Road Cheesecake: A Step Too Far?Right. The classic flavours are getting close to being nailed, and I just need to tweak the texture of the vanilla. So on last night's long drive back from our Jubilee weekend in Shropshire I had a brainstorm of the next batch of flavours to try.<br />
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How do we feel about a Rocky Road Cheesecake?<br />
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A good Rocky Road served with a steaming cuppa can perk me up on the crappiest of days, but a bad one makes me want to smack the person who served it to me (Starbucks "baristas" watch out). So I only want to bother with a cheesecake version if it's going to be gurt lush. And if you don't know what gurt lush means then you need to spend more time drinking cider in Bristol.<br />
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The first step before I get to the Rocky Road is to see if I can make my own marshmallows to dwell on, and possibly in, it's crunchy chocolatey body. Mmm mmm mmm.<br />
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I have therefore purchased for this noble endeavour a sugar thermometer and dug out a recipe book for old fashioned sweets. Given I'd just as happily eat a bag of marshmallows as a big slab of cheesecake, I might be at risk of getting side tracked into a new sugary sideline (marshmallows are the new macaroons: you heard it here first).<br />
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Am hoping they will look like this:<br />
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Not like this:<br />
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But even if they do I'll end up spreading them on chocolate hobnobs and eating them for breakfast, so I guess I can't lose. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-68077593960913594452012-06-03T11:16:00.000+01:002012-06-03T11:18:10.496+01:00The Lord's PrayerI've spend this morning planning for this week's service at The Sanctuary (<a href="http://www.sanctuary-westminster.org/">www.sanctuary-westminster.org</a>), the first in our series on the Lord's Prayer.
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In the pretty informal church services I've attended since I became a Christian, I've always valued the freedom and encouragement to 'just talk' to God without the need for fancy words or eloquence; and the reassurance that sometimes silence or tears are prayer enough when you just don't have any words at all. <br />
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But Lord's Prayer is the anomaly. At times of trouble, trauma and thankfulness, it often runs through my mind and out of my mouth like a reflex action. I'm not at all sure where or when I learnt it, but given that even today I have a half-remembered tune in my head when I recite it, I have feeling I may have first sung it in assembly at my primary school. (Not a Christian school I might add; I distinctly remember also singing 'Are you going to Scarborough Fair?' and something to do with a Big Rock Candy Mountain.)<br />
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I've been pondering on the first line for the last couple of hours: "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." How often does God come first in my prayers? Do I use prayer as way of understanding God's nature more, or as an opportunity to download a wish list of stuff I want God to do for me? Do I take as much time, let along more, to sit and consider God as I do thinking about my needs and wants? Probably not. I wonder how thing would change if I did.<br />
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Oh - and the mango cheesecake was triumph - making a double size one tomorrow for my in-law's jubilee street party.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14805774367437317018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789393675459325606.post-29534780071294170532012-05-31T16:42:00.000+01:002012-05-31T16:43:21.579+01:00Mango cheesecake: Thank you PakistanThe skies may have clouded over today, but summer must be nearly here as every food vendor on Tooting High Street is choc-full of boxes of exquisite Alfonso mangoes. If you've never had one, get down to Toot RIGHT NOW and buy a box. They're the sweetest, softest and most fragrant mangoes imaginable and have flown to us all the way from sunny Pakistan. How nice of them.<br />
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To celebrate I've just created my first mango cheesecake. I think it's going to be a bit too juicy to set but as I'd almost run out of gelatin I had to make do. Here she is (surely a mango cheesecake has to be female?), just before settling in for a nice long chill in the fridge:<br />
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