And so say all of us... Hope you have a great New Year's Eve

Flag of the week – India

The colours on India's flag are symbolic – the saffron represents courage and sacrifice, the white represents truth and peace and the green represents faith and chivalry.  There is a blue wheel in the middle of the flag.

31 December - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Court plaster in shop at chateau (5)
Solution – patch

If you look closely you can see the solution "patch" within the words "shop at chateau".  And in historical times (even as late as the Regency) a patch was something you put on your face as decoration – like a beauty spot – this is "patch" as in Georgette Heyer's Powder and Patch.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Stabbed, king by fiend abroad (6)
Source of clue – NZ Herald

Hint – an abbreviation for king is involved in the solution

Snapper on bed of buttered leeks with roasted veg

In an ideal world this dish would have used snapper caught by the better half…. Sigh.  But we had to get it from a fish shop.

Snapper is a very popular white fish in New Zealand – and relatively expensive too.  It is a type of Porgie fish – I had to look that up in Wikipedia.  In other countries snapper is used as a name for a different fish species altogether.  All very confusing.  This is an image showing what the snapper looks like whole.

The fish had been skinned and filleted.  First, I cooked a finely sliced leek in butter, wine, grated ginger and a finely chopped clove of garlic.  I cooked it in the oven with a lid on the dish.

I did an assortment of roasted vegetables.

Then 5 minutes before serving, I gently pan-fried the snapper fillets in a large fry pan in butter (with a few drops of oil in it to stop the butter burning).  I did the first side for 3 minutes and the other for 2.  I like to undercook fish and let it finish itself off when it is waiting to be served.

I guess some of you will be horrified by the use of butter – but it was delicious.  And butter is a natural product.

A bus sighting in Adelaide - how about that safety message!

30 December - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

One new flavour available (2,6)
Solution – in season

Ok, maybe yesterday's hint was a bit cryptic!  If food is "available" it is often said to be "in season"

And you get the same result from taking i for One and n for new and adding "season" meaning "flavour".

The first person to solve this one was Analisa from Books, Bills and Grocery Bags.  Way to go!

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Court plaster in shop at chateau (5)
Source of clue – NZ Herald

Hint – this is a hidden word clue.

Mary Wesley: It's never too late!

Mary Wesley is a bit of a hero of mine. She didn't start writing books until she was in her 70's – which proves you are never too old to start something new! And her books were very popular. She had 10 best sellers - every one of her novels written for adults was popular.

All the novels are set in Britain. They include:

Jumping the Queue  

The Camomile Lawn

Harnessing Peacocks

The Vacillations of Poppy Carew

Not That Sort of Girl

A Sensible Life

She wrote with a sharp eye and skewers many of the assumptions made by society about older people. Her family did not approve of her books – but I don't think she worried too much about that.

Mary died on 30 December 2002, exactly 10 years ago.

Just feeling French today...

29 December - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Unorthodox place for nuns in harmony by a lake (14)
Solution – unconventional

Unorthodox = unconventional

Place for nuns = convent

Harmony = union

A lake = a + L

The nuns are "in" harmony so you find "convent" in the middle of "union" and then add "al" for "a lake" and there you have it – un + convent +ion + al = unconventional

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

One new flavour available (2,6)
Source of clue – NZ Herald

Hint – foodies will find this clue easier than other people

Adelaide food – Part II

Apologies if you are over hearing about Adelaide!  I promise this is the last post on the topic.  Today I want to tell you about some more of the restaurants we went to.

Parlamento was a buzzy and busy Italian restaurant just across from the casino.  The food was very good.  I enjoyed my Scallopine alla Pescatore (pan-fried veal escalopes, brandy-flamed prawns, in tomato cream salsa – served on Italian style rosemary fried potatoes with string green beans).  And, as you can see, the restaurant décor had a political theme – that gentleman in the togs (sometimes also called "budgie smugglers") is an Australian politician! He was a former South Australian Premier no less!

We stumbled upon Eros Ouzeri, a  Greek restaurant on one of the several times we tried to get into Amalfi's but they were full. (More about them later).  It was also a busy restaurant but we managed to get a table in a little corridor by the kitchen.  The food was modern – including a tapas-style menu ie tasting plates. We had pita bread with a range of yummy dips - Melitzanosalata , Tzatziki, Skordalia and Taramosalata. The service was good although they did take altogether too long to return my credit card to me.  These days it makes me a bit nervous if it is out of my sight for too long.

Bath in Norwood was a nice suburban restaurant.  We went there on a Monday night so it wasn't that busy but still had a nice atmosphere.  It is in an old pub that has been very well renovated.  We shared a salt and pepper squid dish for a starter.  I have only recently been brave enough to eat squid.  This was delicious.  It was lightly dusted with Szechuan pepper and lemon herb flour.

It was a case of third time lucky with Amalfi's.  It is an extremely popular Italian restaurant which didn't seem to take bookings.  As soon as people left another lot would take the table.  But the service was great despite them being so busy and we didn't feel at all rushed.  And the pizza!  Out of this world. I had the Amalfi special (with no anchovies though).  The smaller one was still much too big and my better half had to help me out.

I love heat but those ones at the top are too much for me!

28 December - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

Wrecking boats at sea over long period of time (8)
Solution – sabotage

A bit of a tricky one today.  There are 2 words in the clue that hint at an anagram – wrecking and at sea.

Wrecking = sabotage

Boats at sea = an anagram of "boats" ie sabot

Over long period of time means that "sabot" is put over "age" which can mean a long period of time.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Unorthodox place for nuns in harmony by a lake (14)
Source of clue – NZ Herald

Hint – the solution ends in L

Food on Friday: Rice and grains

ON

The theme for this Food on Friday is Rice and other grains. 

Rice goes well with:

Asian greens	Beef	Cardamom
Chicken	Chilli sauce	Coconut milk
Fish sauce	Garlic	Ginger
Lemongrass	Milk	Pork
Pulses	Rice Vinegar	Saffron
Seafood	Seaweed	Shrimp paste
Soy sauce	Stock	Turmeric

Just link in your posts using Mr Linky below.  Do put the name of the dish into the first box as well as your name.  And then after linking, why not hop around a few links for some good recipe ideas.  You may find new blogs to follow.

27 December - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

King's jester in charge in royal house (6)
Solution – Yorick

One for the Shakespeare fans today.  Yorick was the King's jester in Hamlet.
  
A royal house in the UK was the Yorks – if you put "ic" standing for "in charge" into York you get Yorick.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

Wrecking boats at sea over long period of time (8)
Source of clue – NZ Herald

Hint – the first letter is s

Newport Cottages

The Breakers

If ever anything was misnamed it is "Newport Cottages".  They are actually large stately homes that were built by the wealthy in Newport, Rhode Island as summer houses (palaces really!)

Kingscote

A bit like Las Vegas, you have to see it to believe it!  Here are some more examples of these little summer houses!

The Vanderbilt's cottage

Rosecliff Ballroom

These huge houses were set up for entertaining on a grand scale but unlike English country houses, they didn't have many guest bedrooms since everyone who would be invited was expected to have a "cottage" of their own.

Miramar

Hope this is you on this Boxing Day! Relax if you can.

26 December - Solution for the last clue and the next cryptic crossword clue

As a member of the clergy, I must be found in cathedral (8)
Solution – minister

A minister is a name for a member of the clergy

Another name for a cathedral is minster (as in Westminster)

And if you put "I" into "minster" (ie I is "found in" that word) you get minister.

Today’s cryptic crossword clue – solution tomorrow

King's jester in charge in royal house (6)
Source of clue – NZ Herald

Hint – Hamlet, the play by Shakespeare, is relevant to the solution.

Need some inspiration? Try Asian Food – Part II

I hope you enjoyed last week's showcases from Food on Friday: Asian Food.  Here is the second part.  Enjoy.

Sweet Sesame Chicken Chop

 This Sweet Sesame Chicken Chop looks moist and succulent.  Great work by Emylogues

Slow Cooker Braised Asian Short Ribs over Brown Rice

If only I could get my new slow cooker to turn out dishes like this Slow Cooker Braised Asian Short Ribs over Brown Rice!  Way to go, Simply Vicky

Rice Noodle Salad

And how about this lovely Malaysian dish by Just as Delish - a Rice Noodle Salad.  Those prawns look yum!

Barbecued Thai Chicken

Another good one by Carol at There's Always Thyme to Cook, Barbecued Thai Chicken.

Oriental Pork Chop

Eggwan's Food Odyssey's Oriental Pork Chop is beautifully presented.

Take on Sichuan Chicken

And lastly, a bit of a skite, my own Take on Sichuan Chicken

To check out all the links from Food on Friday, click here for the post and here for the Pinboard.

Next week's Need Some Inspiration will showcase links from Food on Friday:Berries and Currants. It is not too late to put in links for consideration.