The Colour of Friendship

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favorite.

Green said:
"Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."

Blue interrupted:
"You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."

Yellow chuckled:
"You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."

Orange started next to blow her trumpet:
"I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."

Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:
"I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."

Purple rose up to his full height:
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."

Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination:
"Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."

And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak:
"You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."

Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.

The rain continued:
"From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."

And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.

--- Author Unknown

Dry Noodles

Was feeling famished whilst doing housework when I realised I had not had breakfast and had a sudden yearning for dried noodles Singaporean version.

Proportions depending on your choice and preference.

My version:

Sauce

1. Chinkiang Vinegar
2. Tomato sauce
3. Chili Sauce
4. Oyster/light sauce or both
5. Pork lard preferably* or onion oil

Before adding cooked noodles into sauce, ensure you have added at least three tablespoons of hot stock or hot water to the sauce, mix well before adding noodles of your choice.
This will ensure there is enough gravy for the noodles to absorb the full flavour of the sauce.

Serve with ingredients of your choice.

Warm Potatoes with Gravlax

Ingredients:
1. Half an onion cut into rings
2. Gravlax or smoked salmon
3. Creamy horse radish sauce
4. Canned or bottled New Potatoes, Jersey Royal New Potato
5. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
6. Fresh ground pepper
7. Good quality sea salt
8. Fresh coriander and/or spring onions, roughly sliced
9. Juice from half a lemon and a wedge for serving separately (optional)

Method:
1. Slice fresh onions into rings. In a bowl, mix with sea salt, fresh lemon juice, freshly ground pepper, coriander, and spring onions (if using), mix well and set aside at room temperature.
2. Bring water to a boil, just enough to cover potatoes, add a pinch of salt. Boil potatoes for about seven minutes and drain on colander.
3. Add to dressing, mix well and adjust seasoning.
4. Serve with gravlax, creamy horse radish sauce and wedge of lemon on the side.
Note:
Would have liked to add capers but didn't have any.

Boiled Egg

Simple way to enjoy a boiled egg; a quick fix for hunger pangs ....
1. Place egg at room temperature with just enough water to cover egg.
2, Bring water to a boil and simmer for about nine minutes, or longer, depending on how you like your egg cooked.
3. In the meantime, mix some light soya with white pepper in a saucer.
4. When egg is cooked, shell and dip into the sauce.
5. Enjoy whilst egg is warm.

Vegetable and Ham Soup

Was clearing the fridge of food as we will be away for two weeks in UK. Simultaneously, I am trying to eat as much home grown herbs as possible as they will rot during our absence.
Ingredients
What ever winter vegetables you have stock. Vegetables in this recipe were one turnip, 4 carrots, half an onion, spring onions and two cucumbers.
Chicken or vegetable stock
Herbs of your choice (I used fresh thyme, basil, coriander and a dried bay leave)
Dried oregano - a pinch
Half an onion and one clove of garlic roughly sliced
Chicken stock
Ham
Method
Cut vegetables approximately the same size so that they cook at the same time.
For vegetables that take a shorter time to cook, introduce them in the pot at a later stage.
In a pot, medium heat, sweat vegetable, add herbs, ham and garlic till it's aromatic. Approximately less than twenty minutes. To get the most flavourful soup pay care and attention in sweating the vegetables properly. Half way through, add vegetables that take a shorter time to cook.
Add just enough stock to cover the vegetables. Bring to the boil; simmer till desired softness of vegetables.
Note:
The additional fresh basil in the serving bowl added another dimension to this simple and delicious soup.
Omit the ham if you do not have any or are vegetarian.

Friendship

Quote:
"A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small silly presents every so often just to save it from drying out completely." Pam Brown

Unquote:
Dear Karen and Cousin Katherine, thank you for being pillars of strength and always there for me unconditionally. I am, forever, in both your debts. Both of you are best of the best, and I am so blessed to have friends like both of you.

Peppered Steak

Steak of your choice.
1. Press the coarse pepper firmly onto both sides of steak.
2. Heat pan on high heat, place steak and lower to medium heat. Cook for two minutes on each side or depending on thickness and taste.
3. Sprinkle salt on steak before turning over once. Season other side once you have flipped it over.
4. Do not try poking or prodding the steak as searing in the favour is important during the cooking process.
5. Use tongs and sear steak on all sides/edges.
6. Rest steak for up to five minutes depending on thickness before serving.
7. Serve with vegetables of your choice.