Easy listening music and chat, Friday 18th March 2022, Music & Dance Party!
Got something to share? Whether it's writing or art, you'll fit right in. Come on, join us. This is like our own personal club to inspire, give feedback on your manuscript or work of art. Creativity is a process.
Friday, March 18, 2022
Words & Brush Weekender: Easy listening music and chat, Friday 18th March 2022, Music & Dance Party!
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Words & Brush Recipe Corner: Beef stew with potatoes and cinnamon
Pascale’s Kitchen: Beef stew with potatoes and cinnamon
By PASCALE PEREZ-RUBIN, Jerusalem Post, FEBRUARY 24, 2022
When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing better than coming home to a warm pot of stew whose aroma has spread throughout the house.
I love preparing stews for a number of reasons. Firstly, they are easy to make and don’t require many steps or complicated techniques. Secondly, to make a stew, you just add all the ingredients to one big pot, combining your protein together with grains, legumes and vegetables. And lastly, I love that you can swap out meat for chicken, use any type of grain or beans, and add whichever vegetables you happen to have on hand.
The main rule of thumb to follow when making a stew is that it needs to be cooked over a low flame for a few hours. This is the only way you’ll get the deep flavor and soft texture of a good stew. In general, stews should cook for at least an hour and a half. If you have the time, two-and-a-half hours is even better.
Beef stew with potatoes and cinnamon (credit: PASCALE PEREZ-RUBIN)
BEEF STEW WITH POTATOES & CINNAMON
Makes 6-8 servings.
- 4 Tbsp. canola oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 600 gr. beef shoulder, cut into medium-sized cubes
- 2 carrots or pumpkin, cut into small pieces
- 1 large tomato, cut into pieces
- 5-6 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 5 garlic cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 Tbsp. sweet paprika
- ½ tsp. spicy paprika
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 Tbsp. chicken soup powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup dry chickpeas, soaked in water overnight and then drained
- 6 medium (or 8 small) potatoes, cut into pieces
- Parsley, for decoration
Heat the oil in a large pan and sautรฉ onion until it turns translucent. Add the meat and sautรฉ, stirring continuously until it turns gray.
Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, cinnamon, spices and water. Mix well, cover and cook for another 25 minutes.
Add the chickpeas and cook for another 30 minutes. Add the potatoes and carrots or pumpkin, and cook over a low flame for 30 minutes until the meat and vegetables have softened and the sauce has thickened.
Taste and adjust seasoning.
Decorate with parsley and serve hot.
Level of difficulty: Medium. Time: 90 minutes. Status: Meat.
Enjoy! |
Monday, March 14, 2022
St. Patrick's Week Open thread
Try an Irish Coffee to celebrate as we come upon St. Patrick's Day! Many are Irish or pretend they are like me. My kids and husband have Irish/ Welsh decent. We definitely roast corned beef for the occasion and wear green too.
We are all uniquely made and it's a magical thing!
Spring is near as more clover covers the yards, forest floors and meadows. Remember how much fun it is to find them? How many in an hour or did you enjoy the search?
Maybe under the rainbow maybe you'll find something besides a pot O'gold!
As there is always a creative splurdge from the Irish. Enya, U2 and authors such as
William Butler Yeats, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, Joseph O'Conner to painters and the richness in history kept to heart as the romance and the mythologies that are sung or spoken of. I have a special place for the Irish, just maybe we all have a wee bit of Irish
Off the beaten path and try a Shephard's Pie.
Some music to set the theme as the new week starts.
Have a great week and may there be rainbows after the rains and the grass and fields grow full and green.
Friday, March 11, 2022
Words & Brush Weekender: Easy listening music and chat, Friday 11th March 2022, Free Choice - post any music you like!
Easy listening music and chat, Friday 11th March 2022, Free Choice - post any music you like!
Andrรฉ Rieu - Tales from the Vienna Woods
Olivia Newton-John - Hopelessly Devoted to You
Abba - Chiquitita
Gene Pitney - (The Man Who Shot) Liiberty Valance
Frankie Lane - Do not forsake me, My Darling. (High Noon)
Doris Day - Whatever Will Be Will Be Que Sera Sera
Helen Shapiro - Walkin' Back to Happiness
Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love
Roy Orbison "Oh, Pretty Woman"
The Seekers - I'll Never Find Another You
Freddie & The Dreamers "I'm Telling You Now
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Words & Brush Recipe Corner: Meatballs in tomato sauce with broad beans
Pascale’s Kitchen: Meatballs in tomato sauce with broad beans
By PASCALE PEREZ-RUBIN, Jerusalem Post, FEBRUARY 24, 2022
When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing better than coming home to a warm pot of stew whose aroma has spread throughout the house.
I love preparing stews for a number of reasons. Firstly, they are easy to make and don’t require many steps or complicated techniques. Secondly, to make a stew, you just add all the ingredients to one big pot, combining your protein together with grains, legumes and vegetables. And lastly, I love that you can swap out meat for chicken, use any type of grain or beans, and add whichever vegetables you happen to have on hand.
The main rule of thumb to follow when making a stew is that it needs to be cooked over a low flame for a few hours. This is the only way you’ll get the deep flavor and soft texture of a good stew. In general, stews should cook for at least an hour and a half. If you have the time, two-and-a-half hours is even better.
Meatballs in tomato sauce with broad beans (credit: PASCALE PEREZ-RUBIN)
MEATBALLS IN TOMATO SAUCE WITH BROAD BEANS
Makes 6-8 servings.
Meatballs:
- 500 gr. ground beef (or beef/chicken mixture)
- 1 potato, peeled and grated
- 2 onions, grated and drained of liquid
- 15 parsley sprigs, chopped
- 8 cilantro sprigs, chopped
- 4 oregano or basil sprigs, chopped
- 2 eggs
- ½ tsp. pepper
- ½ tsp. chili pepper
- 1 Tbsp. silan
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. baharat
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
Sauce:
- 4 Tbsp. canola oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 large tomato, cut into pieces
- 5-6 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 5 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 Tbsp. sweet paprika
- ½ tsp. spicy paprika
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 Tbsp. chicken soup powder
- ½ tsp. pilpelchuma or chili pepper
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4-5 cups water
- 150 gr. pumpkin, cut into small pieces
- 3 cups small broad beans, frozen
Topping:
- ½ cup parsley, chopped
To prepare the meatballs, place all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Form balls from the mixture that are 3-4 cm. in diameter, place them on a large tray and put them in the fridge to set.
To prepare the sauce, heat the oil in a large pot and fry the onion until it turns translucent. Add the chopped tomato, tomato paste and garlic. Mix and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the cinnamon stick, spices and water. Mix, cover and bring to a boil. Add the meatballs and bring back to a boil. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
Add the pumpkin and beans. Stir gently. If needed, add another ½ to ¾ cup water. Bring to a boil, then taste and adjust seasoning. Cook over a low flame for another hour.
Serve with white rice, couscous, pasta or mashed potatoes. Decorate with sprigs of parsley.
Level of difficulty: Medium., Time: 2 hours., Status: Meat.
Friday, March 4, 2022
Words & Brush Weekender: Easy listening music and chat, Friday 4th March 2022, Happy Music & Songs of Childhood
Easy listening music and chat, Friday 4th March 2022, Happy Music & Songs of Childhood!