Smokin' Hwot!

I boldly went where no Fran has gone before on Monday. The East London line! And Surrey Quays. But the latter didn't feel fresh. That felt more like Coventry. Even looked for my car in the cineworld car park post film! The reason we went there was because Bob had free cinema tickets for cinemas in London no else would want to go to, and I'll go anywhere for free. We partially enjoyed the film and very much enjoyed our snack of mega bag of chocolate raisins. Quite healthy too! Just like when Alex put me on the fruit diet in year 13 and I kept eating nothing but blueberry muffins.

Instead of going to Frankie And Bennie's for dins we whizzed down the line to Croyden to Bobbeh's.

She had got a treat in store! Her mum's man pal had knocked her up a smoker and she smoked herself silly. Probably fished the mackerel and salmon herself she's so nifty but I was obvs drinking the wine in the comfort of the sitting room so I missed such preperation. We had this with potatoes which were boiled then fried a little with fresh rosemary and oil etc to make them sticky and a side of carrot and green stuff salade. She's not just a pretty face!

xxxxxxx

And i'll be as strong as a BARGE!!

I heard a rumour from Gaston that if you eat 4 dozen eggs everyday you get really strong so I thought I'd give it a good go with a hearty start of eggy pancakes topped with poached egg, oh and interspersed with bacon, sausage and maple syrup.

We had a dream team of chefs with me frying, bob poaching and roast manning the grill.
MM doesn't that look a perfect brunch. It all assembled with perfect timing.

Needed the extra strength for a day on the town with little Coppernob. More of which is coming next, WYD fans.

Bye for now pumpkins xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

What kind of boat never sinks? A friendSHIP

Bob and I took a leaf out of classic films such as The World Is Not Enough and Spice Girls: The Movie on Saturday and sped down the Thames on the Clipper.

Before a wave carries me too far on with the story though let me tell you about our picnic in Borough Market first.

We had cheese and parma ham baguette, mulled apple juice and a coffee cake which we accidentally ate before we boarded. The sea air makes me so hungry!

We hopped on the boat and proclaimed "Take us anywhere!" The boat people didn't seem to like us because they kept asking to see our 'All day River Roamer' passes and asking when we were getting off. Sorry Captain, our ticket says till 10pm. We're with you for the long haul!

We seemed to go round in a circle a bit but then the boat zipped off to the Millenium Dome where we got out and went for a rest after our high paced activities.

There was this bubble room in there with padded floor areas to lie down and 'Chill' so we snuggled under Bob's fur and trying to ignore the teens clutching at each other and swaying their arms to 'Hallelujah' had a good 50minute rest. Then we exited and tried to pop it but failed. This is Bob punching the bubble room.

We had such a good day. I think that demonstrates that as the Spicie's say, 'Friendship never ends' even though the day did and I had to release Bob back into David Haddrell's custody.

Cheerio my hearties xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Surprise!

Had a wonderful surprise party for bob last night at the estate. Had pink and white balloons, (1) party popper, and a whole secret balcony of guests lying in wait. Bob arrived and thought i'd just had too much cava bien merci I was fizzing over with excitement so much but then I let the lid of the guest pot and she was genuinely surprised.

We ate tiger prawn and chilli spaghetti:

1kg spaghetti

Tiger prawns

cherry tomatoes pan roasted

2 med chillis chopped

1 lemon zested and juiced

flat leaf parsley chopped

Cook spaghetti according to packet, add prawns for last few mins, drain well and add rest of stuff, return to heat for at least 3 mins and mix carefully.

Here's a tip for you. Never try to cook spaghetti for ten people at once. We'll be finding it worming around the house for days.

For birthday cake we had Chocolate Steamed Sponge Pudding:

I had a practise run the other day with Pink Granny and we made a cranberry one. Very nice and fresh. Perfect for our lunch. As people who remember the name of my SimsPets dog will attest to, I do love a good pudding. Tip: Put the extra sauce in a jug like granny did rather than tip it all over the pudding so it's like a floating chocolate island. As unfortunately, people laugh at you for that.

Recipe:

Grease 2 pint pudding basin. Spoon in 1/4 of chocolate sauce (melted 150g choc, then simmered with 150g icing sugar, 150g butter until all melted, remove from heat and stir in 2 tbls milk). Then mix together 225g self raising flr, 85g caster sugar, 115g softened butter, then add 1 large egg, 8 tbls milk, and mix well. Put into the pudding basin and firmly cover top with foil making a bit of a handle as well to pull it out after. Stand basin in a pan with water half way up basin sides. Bring to boil then simmer for 2 hours, topping up boiling water if necessary as can't boil dry or go off boil. Pull out after 2 hrs, tip onto dish, and spoon chocolate sauce over or put in jug if there's too much.

Back to the present and after dinner we played a riotous game of the cereal box game, gave bob her gifts and wiggled around to beyonce and ricky marts. Easeh Easeh.

The night crept off to sleep with Dashy singing and guitar playing Bob and I a lullaby in bed. It was ever so soothing we drifted right off but not before Bob had commented that Dashy should make an album of bedtime lullabies for cool parents to pop on for their children. A sort of David Gray for the under eights.

Ooh the postman just came whilst I was writing this and I had got so fired up about birthdays that I forgot it wasn't mine and that the parcels weren't for me. What a shame.

oh p.s we had birthday breakfast in bed this morn with toast jenga and softly softly boiled eggs a la delia. Got to test out my new swan eggcup. It looks like it's enjoying nibbling the toast here.

Bye for now my eggy breads xxxxxxx

Fish delish

Now, I've received a number of complaints about my reference last week to cod. Apparently I shouldn't condone eating it. Stocks declining et al. With that in mind Chazzy and I went round for dinner at Bob's house because we know they can't afford cod in Croydon. Bob whipped us up a speedy, exciting and very tasty meal via Ken Hom. Well as she loves to remind us, she did go to Aayjah. It was salmon, sliced into chunky chunks, and cooked in a pan with some sort of ginger and garlic mixture. It was then served on uncooked spinach and cooked green beans. Absolutely delish.Oh it was with white rice as well. I thought it was lovely and also was amazed at how simple it was. Definitely recommend it.

Have to go as I'm making white chocolate cheesecake and I'm on a really tricky bit.

Bye for now snowgeese xxxxxxxx

Even London sometimes closes

When I went to Liverpool recently I was really suprised to find that they have don't have colour print in the metro newspaper, or a uniqlo. However, although London does have everything even it has some disappointments up its sleeve. One Monday not so long ago, Bob, Dave and I decided to set out to explore some culture in the East. We planned to go to the Geoffrey museum to see their Christmas display. However, as we arrived and pressed our cold pink noses against the wrought iron gates we were astonished to find that it was closed on a Monday. We're not in Paris. What is this?? We had already had our first two plans felled by Monday madness (Hackney city farm and Spitalfields city farm) so we were quite dismayed. Luckily, we remembered the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal green so dragged ourselves on and soon were settled happily on their modern block stone benches enjoying our pack lunch.

A good pack lunch is pasta with tuna, broccoli and cheese. Cook pasta then when nearly done add broccoli to the pan to cook. Drain and return them to pan. Gently stir in grated cheddar cheese so it melts into the pasta. Carefully mix in the chunks of tuna, trying not to break them up to much. Very tasty.

The Museum of Childhood didn't take too long but we were already worn out from all our disappointment so that didn't matter. We really liked the doll houses and the rocking horses.

Bob had loads of fun!

I'm off today on another adventure with Bob to Crystal Palace. Who knows what will happen!

Woke up this morning in a right pile with Alex and Dave. Very nice to have the company. Big Ted isn't much of a chatter normally.

Better go. Much love dolls xxxxxxxxx

Oh Hi Pie

I made a chicken and mushroom pie the other day which was delicious. With the last of the pastry I also made cherry plum jam tarts with jam my pink granny had made. My housemate Jim said he felt like he was at home (home home) after polishing his share off. It was a lovely evening. Mark, Jim and I watched Life whilst we were eating it which is always a nice food accompaniment, and a notable marker of how late we always end up cooking on a Monday night.

Recipe for the pie I made

I'm afraid I cheated and used ready made pastry

Cut up left over chicken from the roast the night before

2 Leeks, finely sliced

Mushrooms left in the fridge, finely sliced.

1 tbs butter, 1 tbsp flour

hot chicken stock

1 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley

1/2 tsp thyme

1 beaten egg for glazing

Cook leeks and mushrooms for 3 mins in pan until softened. Remove them, set aside, melt butter in the pan, add flour and stir well in. Using a hand whisk add stock and stir to make a gravy. Cook for 3 mins, add chicken, veg, herbs. Cook for 2 more mins then leave to cool. Line dish with pastry, put mixture in and roll out lid for the top. Brush the egg over the pastry. Crimp edges to seal. Cut hole in lid so steam can escape and bake for 40 mins.

Another nice pie is one my darling friend Bob made for me.

It's a really long recipe so you can look at it yourself.

http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/272958/Hairy-Bakers---Chicken-and-wild-mushroom-pie

I tried to make it for Alastair's birthday last year but I ruined it because it's really hard so he had to go out and get new pastry and finish it. I was probably inside crying about it.

I've got to go for now as I'm attempting to cycle to E8 to meet my friend Lizzy for lunch. I hope I make it...