HM Book Review: Savage Nature by Christine Feehan

I just completed reading Savage Nature by Christine Feehan. I truly indulged myself in this romantic paranormal novel, because, it had two of my favourite things, intense romance and the paranormal.  

 

 

 

 

HM Review: Honeymoon by James Patterson

James Patterson is one of my favourite authors. His books have always been page turners. I took less than three days to complete Honeymoon. However, I cannot say I loved this book. He has written better.

Quick Meals: Chick Peas And Tofu Curry

This is one of our favourite vegetarian meals during the week. It is simple, tasty and nutritious. I usually serve it with multi grain chapatis as it goes really well with it. Here is the recipe:

 

2 cans chick peas - drained

2 tofu squares - cut into small cubes

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 medium red shallots - finely diced

3 cloves garlic - finely sliced

3 medium dried chillies - soaked in warm water and roughly sliced (optional)

2 tbs curry powder

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tbs chilli powder (optional)

1 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup low fat milk

1 tsp chicken seasoning powder

salt to taste

2 - 3 tbs extra virgin olive oil

 

Fry the cubed tofu pieces in oil until golden brown and set aside. Then add the rest of the oil and fry the shallots until tender. Then add the garlic, mustard seeds and dried chillies and fry until fragrant. Stir in the drained chick peas until evenly mixed and add the water. Add in the curry powder, chilli powder and turmeric powder and mix well. Bring to boil and cook until chick peas are tender. Add milk and cook further for 5 minutes. Stir in the fried tofu and add the chicken seasoning powder and salt. Remove from heat at desired consistency. 

 

Note: The fried tofu is added towards the end of the cooking process to prevent it from getting 

          smashed during cooking.

          Instead of water and chicken seasoning powder, chicken stock can be used instead.



 

 

HM Book Review: The Scarlatti Inheritance by Robert Ludlum

Just completed reading this fascinating book by Robert Ludlum, the first in his Standalone Novel series. The only thing I am asking myself now is why I took so long to get started on this book. My favourite character was the fiercely strong and courageous matriarch of the Scarlatti clan, Madame Elizabeth Scarlatti.

HM Book Review: Dry Ice by Stephen White

Just completed reading Dry Ice by Stephen White.

HM Book Review: Blood Relative by David Thomas

"How well do you know the one you love?" With a statement like that on the cover, how could I not want to read further. When I select a book to read, the anticipation of how the story unfolds is a thrilling pleasure. This book never failed to deliver the twists, turns and anxiety I so love to endure with a good book. I finished it in record time albeit a busy schedule as I just had to know the answer to that sinister question.

HM Book Review: Out Of The Darkness by Tina Nash

I struggled to read this true life story of what this writer endured in the hands of her ex-boyfriend. Not only because of the horrible physical and mental abuse she suffered, but also largely by the disgust and dissapointment I felt towards her and her family for allowing things to get that far. I know I cannot fully understand her situation at that time nor do I have the right to judge, but my heart bleeds when I think of the two other helpless victims who were unnecessarily forced to experience the horrors of everyone's actions (or inaction). Her two beautiful sons. I hope women in abusive relationships read her account and take a moment to reflect. We deserve better.

HM Book Review: The Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver

I tried so hard to make this book last as long as it did. But with a book like this, reading is effortless and you find yourself turning the pages quickly. What a wonderful and thought provoking read with my favourite character, Lincoln Rhyme.

Parquet, My Shiny Parquet

Parquet floors are lovely to have in a home. It adds to the ambiance and gives a warm cosy feeling to even a bare room. I have two rooms in my home with parquet floors.

One is my study cum library. It has withstood more than ten years of having furniture and fittings being placed on it and all the wear and tear of its basic purpose. Needless to say, I am the room's primary occupant. The parquet floors are still beautiful.

The second room is my son's. He has really put the room to good use over the last eight years and the numerous scratches and scraps on the surface bares testimony to it. There are not many things he didn't do in that room. From playing with his building blocks to train sets, wrestling with his WWF figures and other action hero's and villans alike, making forts and obstacles to defend his territory from make believe foes, to launching all kinds of sharp edged and heavy toys as artillery against these phantom foes. Over the last couple of years, he has added cricket and football to his list of games that my cupboards are falling off its hinges. Well, that's another story.

What I am trying to say is that, my beautiful parquet floor was disfigured by his enthusiasm to create a great play time. Last week, I managed to find someone to grind and polish the parquet in his room. For a small fortune, they took half a day to restore it back to this shinny luster. This is the first of many other repairs and purchases I have in mind to give him a 'new' room that he can be proud off. Let's see how he manages.

Quick Meals: Chicken & Mushroom Fajitas

I have put this recipe on the Quick Meals category as it is one of my go to recipes when I want to make a hearty, healthy and nutritious meal, fast. It is not only easy to make, but there is also hardly any cleaning up to do afterwards. It is truly a one dish wonder.

This time, however, I made a couple of changes to the recipe with my son in mind. Firstly, I diced the chicken breast into cubes. This was because, when I left it in strips before, they kept slipping out of the wraps while my son was eating them. The smaller pieces would nicely mix with the other ingredients and be easier to handle.

Secondly, I sliced the onions and capsicums into quarters before slicing them into strips so that he wouldn't spend the entire meal opening up the wraps and pulling out all the "long" vegetables.

The final twist is the adding of the Dark Soy Sauce. As the dish was cooked in only olive oil and the natural juices of the other ingredients, the end result looks a little pale (but still tasty). The Dark Soy Sauce gives it a lovely color without altering the taste in any way.

The recipe:

500 g Chicken breasts - cubed
200g Shitake mushrooms - finely sliced
1 large white onion - quartered and sliced
2 medium red and green capsicums - quartered and sliced
4 cloves garlic - minced (add as much as you like)
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 - 3 tbsp Light Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 tbsp Dark Soy Sauce (to add colour - optional)
8 pcs Whole Wheat Wraps