Fun Food

I have discovered a new fun food.

Fun foods, are those meals which you create from whatever is available in the fridge and store cupboards, so they are always a little different. It is also a good way to use up any small items of food that will only be chucked out otherwise.

My original fun food was pizza and many a killer one I made with my brother. We made up a base, spooned on some tomato puree, then anything else we found. Usually this consisted of onion, bacon, pepper, herbs, mushrooms, tomatoes, any pepperoni and loads of grated cheese. The result usually burnt the top of your mouth off.

Later, when I decided pizza was perhaps a little unhealthy, I switched to stir-frys. This uses some of the same ingredients as pizza as most vegetables can be chopped up small and fried. You can just eat it as vegetables, but we usually have some meat ready prepared for stir-fry in the freezer. It doesn't take long to heat up the wok, stir the ingredients for a while, then add the sauce. We often have two or three jars in the fridge, or you can have fun making your own. In the past, I have used various combinations of soy sauce, sherry, lemon juice, honey, peanut butter, with some chinese spices thrown in if I want more taste.

Last night though, I had some gravy in the fridge to use up. I have never made risotto, but have seen it on TV. Searching through the cupboards, I discovered some risotto rice that had been bought at some time in the past, and a rummage in the fridge brought up some spring onions, mushrooms and pepper. I defrosted some chicken and peas and diluted the gravy to make it more like stock.

All the recipes I had looked at said to fry the onion first, then add the rice. After that everything else went in and when the chicken looked cooked, I added the gravy. After twenty minutes, as the rice packet had said, the liquid had been absorbed. It was a substantial meal, but maybe a little lacking in taste. Next time I may add some herbs or spices to jazz it up a bit.

Well, I have started a blog.

I don't know how frequent I will be in posting, but I did keep a diary for quite a bit of my university years, and continued it during various holidays. Generally, my life is just so full of other fun things to do, that I don't have time to write them.

So, what will I write about here?

I run a Brownie pack, so I might share some of the activities that work with my girls. I have a good pack; I treat them not as children, but as individuals, and the respond well. I like to think I am helping them to develop into responsible people, without losing the fun.

I also act in amateur dramatics. I'm in a production of 'The Sorcerer', which is being staged in May. We have just had auditions, but I don't know if I have got a part yet. I am trying for Aline and Constance.

My other singing is in the church choir. I sometimes sing in cathedrals as well, so may talk about that. Don't know how many people will understand my lists of responses, canticles, anthems, psalms etc.

Then at the opposite end of the spectrum is my interest in science fiction. I am a massive fan of 'Babylon 5' and have written fan fiction stories based on the show. They can be found here. http://www.fanfiction.net/~hilaryweston

I watch most Sci-fi shows, although 'Andromeda' lost me during the first season. I have met five of the Doctors and knit Doctor Who scarves (these are to raise money for our church organ). I also knit Firefly Jayne hats (again for the organ). I said my tastes were eclectic.

I have a convention coming up this month, so when it is over, I shall probably write up a report, possibly with photos if I can get the add image button to work.

I may write about my ongoing attempt to become a published author. I have a book written and approached a number of publishers, but only got an offer from one who wanted me! to pay them £3000 for the privilege of publishing it. Suffice to say, I told them to get stuffed (with two Fs), and am now planning to find an agent. I've got lists of names, but haven't got round to contacting any yet. That is on my long 'to do' list.

I do have a book for sale.

Over the years, I have written a number of nativity scripts for my church, and decided to put them together. I heard about Cafepress, an internet based print on demand service, that will let you publish books with no up front fees. This last year, I got the scripts together, got them all set out the same, and wrote introductions. I got a friend to design me a front cover, and then I uploaded it all to Cafepress. The result can be purchased from the website. http://www.cafepress.com/suitcasepress

That's probably it for now. Roll on next week, and see what it brings.