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Tuesday, 31 January 2012

tired brand, paul smith

Mens Gingham Check Green ShirtMens Zebra Grey Marl Hooded Sweat Topi was looking at their new collection and its soooooo boring but with incredibly high prices, avoid in m y opinion.

Sunday, 29 January 2012

pancakes


Delia's Pancakes with lemon and sugar

''This pancake recipe has always been hugely popular over the years. If you’ve never made pancakes before don’t worry if the first couple are not perfect, you’ll soon get the hang of it''.Delia




Makes:
 10 in a frying pan with a base measurement of 20cm

Ingredients

110g plain flour
Pinch of salt
2 large or medium eggs
200ml milk mixed with 75ml water
50g butter


To serve:
Caster sugar, lemon juice and lemon wedges

You will need a good, solid frying pan with a base measurement of 20cm, some kitchen paper, a palette knife or a flexible plan slice and a ladle (50ml would be perfect).

Method

First of all sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl with the sieve held high above the bowl so the flour gets an airing. Now make a well in the centre of the flour and break the eggs into it. Then begin whisking the eggs – any sort of whisk or even a fork will do – incorporating any bits of flour from around the edge of the bowl as you do so.
Next, gradually add small quantities of the milk and water mixture, still whisking (don’t worry about any lumps as they will eventually disappear as you whisk). When all the liquid has been added, use a rubber spatula to scrape any elusive bits of flour from around the edge into the centre, then whisk once more until the batter is smooth, with the consistency of thin cream. Now melt the butter in the pan. Spoon 2 tablespoons of it into the batter and whisk it in, then pour the rest into a bowl and use it when needed to lubricate the pan, using a wodge of kitchen paper to smear it round before you make each pancake.
Now get the pan really hot, then turn the heat down to medium and, to start with, do a test pancake to see if you’re using the correct amount of batter. I find 2 ½ tablespoons about right for a 20cm pan. It’s also helpful if you spoon the batter into a ladle so it can be poured into the hot pan in one go. As soon as the batter hits the hot pan, tip it around from side to side to get the base evenly coated with batter. It should take only a minute to cook; you can lift the edge with a palette knife to see if it’s tinged gold as it should be. Flip the pancake over with a pan slice or palette knife – the other side will need a few seconds only – then simply slide it out of the pan on to a plate.
Stack the pancakes as you make them between sheets of baking parchment on a plate fitted over simmering water, to keep them warm while you make the rest. To serve, sprinkle each pancake with freshly squeezed lemon juice and caster sugar, fold in half, then in half again to form triangles, or else simply roll them up. Serve sprinkled with a little more sugar and lemon juice and extra wedges of lemon to squeeze over if needed.

Friday, 27 January 2012

oxtail stew

Glazed Oxtails

Oxtail Stew Recipe

We serve the oxtails with the bone-in, though if you want you can easily remove the bones from the meat before serving.

INGREDIENTS

oxtail-bones.jpg
  • 3 lbs oxtails with separated joints
  • Salt and pepper
  • Olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 celery rib, chopped
  • 1 large carrot, chopped
  • 2 cups stock (chicken or beef)*
  • 2 cups of red wine
  • 3 whole cloves garlic, peel still on
  • One bay leaf
  • Pinch of thyme
  • Parsley
  • 2 carrots, cut into 1-inch segments, large pieces also cut lengthwise
  • 2 parsnips, cut into 1-inch segments, large pieces also cut lengthwise
  • 2 turnips, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Pat dry oxtails with paper towels. Sprinkle oxtails all over with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium to medium high heat in a 6-quart Dutch oven. Working in batches, and not crowding the pan, sear the oxtails in hot pan on all sides until golden brown. Use tongs to remove oxtails to a plate, setting aside.
    oxtail-stew-3.jpg oxtail-stew-4.jpg
    2 Add the chopped onion, carrot, and celery to the pan. Cook for a few minutes until onions are translucent. Add the oxtails back to the pan. Add the whole garlic cloves, the stock and wine. Add bay leaf, thyme, and half a teaspoon of salt. Bring to simmer. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 3 hours, until meat is fork tender.
    oxtail-stew-5.jpg
    3 One hour before the meat is done, heat oven on 350°F. Toss carrots, parsnips, and turnips in olive oil in a roasting pan. Sprinkle well with salt and pepper. Roast vegetables for 1 hour, or until lightly browned and cooked through.
    4 When meat is tender, remove oxtails from the cooking liquid. Either skim the fat off the top with a spoon, use a fat separator to remove the fat, or chill the cooking liquid for several hours so that the fat solidifies, making it easier to remove. If you are making ahead, at this point you can just put the stew in the refrigerator (let come to room temp first), with the oxtails still in it, and let it chill over night. The next day, scrape off the fat, reheat and then remove the meat from the dish.
    oxtail-stew-6.jpg oxtail-stew-7.jpg
    5 Pour the cooking liquid through a mesh strainer into a bowl, using a rubber spatula to press against the vegetable solids caught in the strainer. Discard the solids. Return the liquid to the pan and simmer until reduced by half. Then add back in the oxtails, and add the roasted vegetables to the pan. Heat on low heat for half an hour for the flavors to meld. Add some chopped parsley before serving.
    Serves 4-6.

Thursday, 26 January 2012

how to meet chicks

In my personal opinion going to gyms is just another way for meeting the opposite sex, like a dating service. As for meeting guys chicks  like meeting someone who has similar interests like sports, movies because if they like lets say foreign movies its a good reason to go out. Going to political rallies is another good way so that way you know for sure you see eye to eye on something that is very important to you.
 If have nothing in common it would get old and maybe you would find a way out of the relationship. Do something to make you stand out and the girls will flock to you. Its not always just a nice car, being good at something and showing off your talents works for some.i think the best way to meet a girl is to live it up for chance "if you look for it you will not find it "is what i always been told i think there is nothing sexier then looking across the room when you least expected and make that eye contact with a girl, she gives you a light little smile just to let you know is you she is looking at,go to her and say something beautiful. that i think is the perfect way to meet a girl.But a lot don't like guys to just come up to them with some corny line at the gym, club, store etc... At least be honest. Something like, Hi my name is.... you look great and I just wanted to meet you. Even if  the chick is not interested in him they have to at least tell him their name and be honest back... The best way to meet though is to be introduced by friends. Tell all your friends to introduce you to a chick they know. Thats the best way.

GERMANS

Der Spiegel ci attacca ancoraAt the moment the germans are condemning the whole of Italy as to being more or less like the captain of the Corcordia , a collective guilt, might be true but didn't the Krauts send 25 million people to gas chambers or starvation camps, these included Jews , russians, slavs and Gypsies. So Germany SHUT THE FUCK UP.

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

greaT CAFFS NUMBER 1 THE HOPE HOLLOWAY ROAD

I have visited here a few times now and I feel confident at giving Hope Workers Cafe a substantial 3 star.

This is a stock-standard greasy spoon type menu- with a few differences- "bubble" and black pudding, chips with breakfasts.. you get the drift.
Things I like! The woman who takes the money is a teeny bit snobby but maybe thats just my opinion but shes also really good.
1) Total retro tables, chairs and mirrors- this place is old school!  Love it!
2) Quick food: Egg bacon beans toast ready and served within record time! just a few minutes. Nice thick bacon. Yum.
3) staff really friendly, you really feel that you are supporting their business not some faceless conglomerate. Love the staff here.
4) Prices are super keen, have never spent more than a fiver here. Ticks the budget box! Veggie burger and chips, around the 3.50 mark. Bargain! full breakfast 3.50 with coffee
5) Apparently  home-made desserts (including Jam roll and custard!) on offer, I have always been too full to try. Home made savoury pies including vegetarian pies also on offer. Will try these in due course!
6) Canned drinks have always been proper cold. i know this is not hard to manage but so many places fail dismally on this count.
7) portion control is on the generous side in my opinon!

Negative: Wouldn't be over ran by the beef burger, looked very much processed.

I like the Hope workers cafe a lot.
This intriguingly named cafe is self-styled as a workers' lunchtime hotspot. The food is average for a greasy spoon, but very well-priced (£3.40 for an English breakfast and decent coffee) and reaches you quickly.

The interior is quite interesting with a large mirrored counter in front of the kitchen, retro framed adverts and a distinct lack of Formica - unusually for such an establishment all the furniture is wooden, with ornate-ish cast-iron table legs (unfortunately it's not exactly quaint, but I appreciated the effort).

It's clearly a family enterprise, and the staff are quite friendly & gracious, so all things considered I would probably go back - but not every day like many of their customers appear to. By the way there's a minimum charge of £1.50 between 12 and 2pm, but that's unlikely to be an issue.

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

mastersfish and chip waterloo


Rating: Food Rating10 Service Rating10 Ambience Rating8 = 9/10
We were just in London during Christmas week and had the best fish and chips I can remember eating. It was a hard-raining night and we hated slogging through the wind and rain, but I had read good things about this place. Once inside we were awfully glad we came. Complimentary plates of three steamed prawns came, to our surprise. Then a basket of sliced baguette and butter. There was a good variety of fish to choose from. We chose cod and plaice for our fish and chips. I think we all gasped when we saw how huge the servings were, heaped high on oval platters. Thick, hefty slabs of cod were wonderfully fresh and moist and perfectly fried in a golden-brown, hard-crunchy shell. Large but thinner slabs of the more delicate and tender plaice were coated in a deliciously light and crisp, almost tempura-like shell. The chips were hot and crisp, just perfect. Our waitress brought around dill pickles, pickled whole onions, tartar sauce, and ketchup. There were malt vinegar and lemon slices, of course. What a great dinner it was! Too bad they were to be closed for the rest of our visit for the coming new year, because we were threatening to return every evening for dinner. And we would have. They have a take-away window as well as an eat-in restaurant, the former offering fish and chips at about £2 less per order. If you seek great fish and chips in London, you've got to try this place.

Sunday, 22 January 2012

Islington green


Islington Green is a small triangle of open land at the convergence of Upper Street and Essex Road (once called Lower Street) in theLondon Borough of Islington. It roughly marks the northern boundary between the modern district of the Angel and Islington proper.(photo taken by myself 2012)
Historically it is not an old village green like others in London (for example, Shacklewell Green),File:Shacklewell green2.jpg but a surviving patch of common land likeNewington Green to the north, File:Newington green islington.jpgthat was carved out of old manorial wasteland where local farmers and tenants had free grazing rights. The original land was far more extensive, but was largely built over in the 19th century.

The green contains a memorial to the dead of both world wars as well as a statue of Sir Hugh Myddleton, 
File:SirHughMyddelton.jpgdesigner of the New River that was so important to London's water supply from the 17th century onwards. The statue incorporates a fountain, which is no longer functioning. The New River itself once terminated about a kilometre to the south in Finsbury, but the section that can be still walked in modern times, the New River Walk, ends just to the north of the green off Essex Road. The north side of the green also carries a plaque to the once-famous Collins's Music Hall, which burned down in 1958. A Waterstone's bookshop now occupies the site.