Mary's Kitchen

June 27, 2017June 27, 2017

For The Love of My Dog

A Birthday Tribute to Our Hungarian Vizsla Toffee who is 13 Today

Pedigree Name at Birth – Stanegate Lupin Born – June 27, 2004

Where does the time go we often ask ourselves? Toffee, our much-loved Vizsla is 13 today and it’s hard to comprehend or compact all the walks and adventures we have had in one small blog – but I will try.

The bond was instant. Toffee chose us before we had a chance to even look at the litter of Vizslas running around our feet. Her fur was silky smooth and more blond than auburn – I confess I called her Blondie for the first few days before the name Toffee was chosen.

We already had another Vizsla named Fudge and the two became instant soul mates. Fudge being the boss of course, enjoyed playing with and rolling this tiny ball of fur at every opportunity. But the tiny fur ball soon grew and playtime became on equal ground. Toffee and Fudge were firmly glued at the hip. What one did, the other followed. In true Vizsla rules – what one has, the other must have to. What’s mine is mine and what’s yours is mine to.

One of my favourite moments with the two of them, we had a large trampoline in the garden and I was jumping on it one day when suddenly Toffee jumped up and started jumping up and down following me. While we had the trampoline, hardly a day went by the pair of them didn’t join me for some fun.

A very unhappy moment in her life was when we lost Fudge to a brain tumour

in 2010. Toffee was only 6 and had lost her best friend. I never knew this beforehand but dogs do genuinely grieve. She looked for her everyday for months and sat at the window expecting her return. She was so so sad, as we were to, so our solution to brighten up her spirits and ours was to find her a new friend. Exactly what we did, we introduced her to a new puppy called Honey. Their friendship was never on the same level as Toffee and Fudge, but it did alleviate the grief for all of us somewhat.

Toffee was never a ball chaser – her goals involved procuring food at any opportunity no one was looking and what better place to do that than a barbecue party. Toffee had no shut off valve when it came to food and promptly stole and gobbled about half a dozen hamburgers only to sick every one up a few minutes later. Her eyes were greedier than her belly so we were always on food thief patrol.

We keep a doggy file with all their pedigree papers, vet visits and records of vaccinations, worming and flea/tic treatments. That file has grown considerably over the years especially where Toffee is concerned. In January 2009 when she was only 5, we noticed she was carrying her right back leg and not putting any weight on it. It turned out she required a Tibial Plateau Levelling Operation (TPLO). The recovery time was 6 months and try keeping an active 5 year old Vizsla quiet for 6 months. The was a job and a half. Once she had recovered though she was back to her bouncy self.

We lived on a farm at the time and I was walking her in the field when I noticed her gleefully throwing something in the air, catching it and throwing it again. She then started to chew it. I quickly caught to her only to find to my shock and horror that she was snarling on a large block of rat poison. Straight to the emergency Vet where he induced vomiting and put her on warfarin for 7 days. Now please don’t think we keep rat poison on the premises – the farmer would put it in pipes around the farm but rats do drag it out from time to time and unfortunately dragged onto our grass. This happened on another occasion as well. Again it was an emergency Vet job.

Toffee has never been short of a few bumps and lumps. She had a large growth in her neck and we feared it might be cancerous. Another operation ensued and good fortune followed, it was just a lump of fatty tissue.

Just this year she got a terrible toothache and although she never complained her face was completely swollen. The only way to extract it was of course to put her to sleep which we were very concerned about due to her age, but in true form, she woke up from the aesthetic with an extracted back molar and love pearly white teeth. While she was under, there had been a protruding lump on her back and a decision was made to remove that while she was under. Again, good fortune prevailed and the lump in question was non malignant.

So here we are now with Toffee 13 years young and her two younger sisters, Honey and Cuki who love her to bits. She is definitely the Alpha dog in this house. No matter what life has thrown at her, she has remarkably bounced back from all her adversities and continues to go for short walks, sleeping a little more than usual and in general taking life easy as a senior girl should.

We know how blessed we are that she continues in good health, eats well and loves lots of cuddles and of course, treats. She is one special girl, never complaining and forever a faithful, loving and compassionate friend.

So today we celebrate in style with steaks all round, sausages and finish off with Mince Beef & Carrot cupcakes topped with cream cheese. We wish yo a very Happy Birthday Toffee and may we be blessed with many more.

I have included the recipe which was given to me by another Vizsla lover just in case anyone wants to treat their furbby to a special celebration. You can also watch the video on how to make it on You Tube – Mary PremierCru

Doggy Birthday Cake

500 g minced Beef, 6 eggs beaten, 1-1/2 cup wholemeal flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 3/4 cup oatmeal, 3/4 cup coconut oil, finely chopped parsley, 1-1/2 cup grated carrot. For Icing- use cream cheese plus top with doggy treats.

Mix/beat together beef with wet ingredients. Stir in dry ingredients. Put in cupcake cases. Cook at 200C degrees for about 30 minutes. Allow to cool. Decorate. Voila – Doggy Heaven. 100% Hungarian Vizsla Approved.

If you have enjoyed my blog, please subscribe by filling in your email under subscribe.

Thanks for joining me again.

June 9, 2017June 13, 2017

ALDI TAKES THE CLEAN EATING MARKET BY STORM

ALDI TAKES THE CLEAN EATING MARKET BY STORM

I want to share with you my recent find in procuring clean eating ingredients at a fraction of the health food store costs.

You may or may not have an Aldi Supermarket nearby you but if you do, may I suggest you take a visit and witness their amazing collection of clean eating ingredients.

I was recently in Florida and popped into the Aldi on 34th Street in St. Petersburg. We have Aldi’s in the UK as well so I was quite surprised to find they also had supermarkets all around the USA.

I have been following Danette May’s clean eating lifestyle and when buying some of the ingredients found that a lot of the items I needed to buy were only available in health food stores which as you probably know you end up running up quite a bill for a small bag of groceries.

Well I am here to share with you, a lot of the items that clean eaters want to have in their cupboards are available in Aldi.

I love making salsa but of course Tortilla Chips are high in fat and wheat

Homemade salsa, hummus and Greek Yogurt Dip with wholemeal Pitta Bread

content so you can imagine my excitement at finding Multigrain Gluten Free tortilla chips. You can taste the lightness in them and they go great with freshly made salsa, hummus and Greek yogurt dip.

When I started the clean eating program, I started making things like my own Almond Butter and Tahini Paste because I could never find it readily in the supermarket. Aldi sells not only Almond Butter but they also have Cashew and Hazelnut butter. I still make my own Almond Butter and Tahini Paste for the fun of it and if you would like to have a go, you can view my recipes on You Tube (Mary PremierCru) and watch me make these and many other clean eating recipes.

You will also find Almond Milk, Coconut Oil, Organic Kale and Spinach, Chia Seeds, flax seeds, Organic fresh fruits and coconut milk to name just a few. Oh, and I must forget the fresh herbs – everything from fresh mint, basil, rosemary, parsley, thyme and cilantro.

On a more recent visit here in the UK look what I found. I couldn’t believe it. Macca Powder, Green Superblend Powder, Wheatgrass Powder, Spirulina and Cacao powder, and again, and I repeat myself, a fraction of the cost you will pay at health food store.

Macca, Wheatgrass, Cacao, Green Superblend, Spirulina

I even bought a pineapple corer here – amazing. What a great little time saver that is.

I wanted to share this with you because anytime you can save a few pennies on your clean eating products, it pays to shop around.

If you have enjoyed this blog, please subscribe by adding your email to the right side where it says enter your email address.

If your technically challenged in the kitchen, you may also find my You Tube videos useful where you will see me whipping up some clean eating recipes. You Tube – Mary PremierCru

I hope this information is of some help to you as you follow the Clean Eating Path.

June 6, 2017June 6, 2017

48 Hours at a Polish Wedding in Cycow, Poland

48 HOURS AT A POLISH WEDDING IN CYCOW, POLAND

It’s been a long time since I have been to a wedding and to be invited by my dear friend Lukasz Arasimowicz to attend his cousin Klaudia’s wedding in Poland was not only an honour but a great privilege. To witness and be a part of another country’s traditions and ceremony is a wonderful learning experience.

I flew from Edinburgh to Cycow, Lublin on Friday evening and was greeted by Lukasz and his mother Anna who kindly came to the airport to pick me up. The wedding was the next day and the church was nearly next door to their home.

While Anna and Lukaz’s sister-in-law Ewelina were out getting the make-up and hair done, Lukasz had organised a lovely hairdresser to come to the house to do mine. Wedding hair, as a dub it, requires a time served hair stylist to do a good job and one who actually enjoys doing it. I was delighted at the result.

At 4.30pm the guests started to arrive at the church all blowing their car horns, decorated in balloons and of course, the bride’s limousine was exquisitely decorated in red roses. The service was held in a beautiful catholic church which can only described with pictures so I have included a few here.

After the hour-long service, the bride and groom left the church and all the well-wishers gathered outside. A huge bouquet of red and white balloons were released into the sky to celebrate Klaudia and Adrian’s wedding vows

completed. Each and every guest offers the new Bride and Groom their congratulations, so when a the church is full, (and it was), this part of the ceremony can take a bit of time when there are hundreds of guests. The relatives and friends bless the newlyweds with gifts of money and wine or chocolates. When I saw the boot of the wedding car it had enough wine in there to open a small wine shop. Everyone was so generous and candy was flying in the air instead of confetti as is the Polish custom. All the children hurried to the ground to pick up the fallen sweets.

The reception was at their Uncle Peter’s Inn which was just a 5 minute drive away. When I walked into the reception room, I could not believe just how beautiful everything was set up. Attention to every detail. In true Polish tradition the tables were heavily laden with food, flowers, vodka and wine. What really took my eye was not only how exceptionally elegant everything was set up but the numerous Polish Tree cakes that adorned many tables throughout the room. This traditional polish cake I came to

learn is made from over 120 eggs and is made on a rotisserie over a long period of time. They call it Sekacz, the PolishTree Cake. There were several stalls set up, one with hanging traditional polish sausage and homemade 70 proof vodka, and of course all the men were very keen on this stall. One table covered in more dessert than a bakery, another with fish and cheese. It was certainly a display set out for royalty.

It is tradition to sing throughout the meal at intervals a special song which has the bride and groom up and down kissing every ten minutes. Everyone stands up and claps and sings until they get to witness the desired kiss.

The food of course plays a very important role as well and it never stopped coming. When we sat at our appointed seats, the table was covered in salads, herring and vegetable dishes. The live band played music throughout the

endless courses and Klaudia and Adrian got up during the plentiful dishes

being served to have their first wedding dance together. Everyone rushed to the dance floor to watch the couple dance and this is all while eating and drinking which was great fun. The meal was spread over hours and the singing and dancing continued throughout the night. I jumped up and joined in a conga which intertwined the long tables moving throughout the room both inside and outside.

The band continued to play all night long when suddenly around midnight the room went dark and out were brought a full roast pig and roast boar including fireworks to serve for the midnight feast and until the wee hours of the morning, we ate, drank and danced.

There were games outside for the children in the garden, dressing up for photographs, more dancing and plenty more food followed by copious amounts of vodka which went on until 6am and never stopped for one dull moment. What a truly outstanding celebration. I was sure happy to see my bed because little did I know this was all going to happen again tomorrow.

And it did, the band played, the vodka flowed, the dancing continued and we ate, drank and ate some more. The word diet I don’t believe exists in the Polish language.

But most of all, it was such a beautifully elegant wedding and I personally want to thank the Bride, Klaudia and Groom, Adrian and the Bride’s parents for inviting me to be a part of their very special 48 hour celebration and all the Arasimowicz family, especially Anna, Ewelina, Lukasz, Miehal, Natalie and Szymon.

If you ever get an opportunity to attend a Polish wedding, be sure you go, you will have a fun filled experience with Polish tradition and style.

It was a great pleasure to be a part of this, I feel like one of the family.

If you have enjoyed this Blog – please fill in your email address and subscribe to future blogs. Thank you

May 17, 2017May 17, 2017

48 HOURS IN ST. PETERSBURG FLORIDA

48 HOURS IN ST. PETERSBURG BEACH, FLORIDA

I have been crossing the pond from the UK to Florida since the early 90’s. What drew me to St. Petersburg’s Beach was not only the sugary-soft white sand, warm sunny days and outstanding sunsets, but if you venture from the sun, sand and sea, you will find a city rich in history and culture.

I could write numerous articles on Florida but I would like this one to concentrate mainly on discovering the downtown cultural side of the city and the historical villages and communities.

In downtown St. Petes (as the locals like to dub it), you will find a number of quality museums. I am always amazed when talking with some of my Floridian friends how few of them have actually visited these wonderful attractions.

I had a friend visiting from the UK, Kareen Lee and knowing she appreciates a bit of cultural mixed in with a large amount of beach life, I thought it would be nice to experience to show her what the vibrant downtown had to offer. We kicked our first day off with a visit to the Chihuly Collection. Dale Chihuly is an American glass sculptor whose works are considered unique to the field of blown glass, moving his work into the realm of large-scale sculptures. To describe his pieces in words would never give them justice they deserve so I have supplied some photos of what you can be prepared to see. It is nothing short of truly magnificent, vibrant and colourful. Chihuly’s glass sculptures are in a league of their own.

Our next stop was a bite of lunch. On Beach Drive there are an array of restaurants to choose from but we decided on having a look at the Sundial Mall, which is an outdoor mall with interconnected shops. This has recently been completely renovated and harbours well-known named boutique type shops like Tommy Bahamas, White and Black, Chico’s to name but a few. We headed for an interesting eatery called Locale. Locale has eating areas outside and in. It is not only an eatery but also a high-end local gourmet market. This is by no means a waitress service

restaurant but what you will find is various chefs preparing different types of food a variety of food stations using the freshest local ingredients. You can also takeaway. We opted for the huge prawns with chilli sauce and a side of broccoli steam cooked in sesame and soya. We took our well presented containers to an outside table and lapped up the freshness of our lunch while catching some rays.

Our next stop was the world-class Salvador Dali Museum. This museum is dedicated to the works of Salvador Dali and it houses the largest collection of Dali’s work outside Europe. Dali is one of the most celebrated artists of our time. The museum is on several levels and you will be overwhelmed as you go from room to room and breath in Dali’s magnificent surrealist masterpieces. You could easily spend a day at the Dali.

But no day would be complete without a visit to the beach so we quickly jumped in the car and made our way to Gulf Blvd. The Grand Plaza Hotel which boasts being one of the best beach resort hotels on St. Petes Beach is where we head. Precisely behind the hotel to Bongos Beach Bar. The Grand Plaza has 4 different restaurants – Bongos which is super casual i.e. you can walk right off the beach in your swimsuit and enjoy a delicious bite to eat and wonderful cocktails made by Susie, Jason, Danielle and George. Total professionals in their trade – they make the movie cocktail look like nursery school. We opt for a frozen margarita and let our minds float back to Jimmy Buffets well-known song, Margaritaville. There is music here 7 days a week and this is where a lot of locals hang out and there is a great beach casual atmosphere. If you happen to be here on a Friday night, don’t miss Danto the Sweet Music Man.

I wanted to take Kareen up the outside lift of the Grand

Plaza Hotel to the top of the building to show her the fabulous views. Level 11 is a new top-level bar/restaurant/tapas bar. Views are 360 degrees and sunsets are phenomenal from the highest perch on the beach. Dress is summer casual, strictly no swimsuits or barefoot. This is an opulent venue with the greatest 360 degree views and sunsets on the beach strip.

Once we watched the fabulous Florida sunset, we headed back home to

Tierra Verde (an island just of St. Pete’s Beach) , made a quick change into our glad rags and headed across the street to Tierra Verde’s newest addition – The Island Grille & Raw Bar. Music every night, great food, outdoor and inside bar – but hey, it’s Florida, if it’s a wonderful night you will want a table outside. You may even decide to get up and shake your booty.

Well the night has come to a close – and before the Cinderellas turn into pumpkins, we head back to contemplate tomorrows adventures.

Up with the Pelicans, we decide to incorporate a bit of shopping along with having a look at a historical part of St. Petersburg.

John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk is about a 10 minute drive from Gulf Boulevard and here you will have the feeling of being transported in time. This quaint historic fishing village is one of St. Petersburg’s top attractions with its unique boutique shopping in the tin roofed village, variety of restaurants and plenty of dolphin watching. There are watersports, jet skiing and boat trips all available in John’s Pass. The village is on different levels of boardwalk and after a spot of serious shopping in Palm Palm, we head up to the top of the

boardwalk for an ice cream cone. Yes, everything is bigger and better in America, even the ice cream cones. While slurping our enormous cones, we take in the view and watch the dolphins. A great day out can be enjoyed here and there is also a beach very close by. Numerous boating trips are available, so if the water is calling you, there is plenty of choice. Also plenty of al fresco dining and even the famous Bubba Gumps and Hooters Restaurants are situated here.

On our way back from John’s Pass, we stop into Treasure Island to have lunch at Caddy’s on the Beach. This is an energised place where the beach is awash with blonde tanned fit surfer boys and bikini laden beach bunnies. A fun place

where the reggae music is beating and the sun soaked atmosphere is on fire. It seemed only appropriate to order some Spicy Hot Chicken Wings along with 1lb You Peel em Shrimp and people watch for an hour. We take note that we are definitely coming up here for a day on the beach, it was electric.

Lunch finished I decided then to take Kareen to a unique little community called Gulfport. This almost has the feel of Key West, where the people are interesting, there is an eclectic array of shops and some great dining al fresco experiences. After a walk around Gulfport’s many fascinating shops full of original art, unusual gifts and even a shop full to the brim of Hot Sauces, we head over to O’Maddy’s Bar and Grill to enjoy a cocktail and rest our weary feet. It’s easy to be mesmerised while sipping a cocktail or two by the many interesting inhabitants of this unique community.

As the cocktails are going down famously we decide to head homeward, have a quick change and order an Uber to take us down to Jimmy B’s which is located on Gulf Blvd just behind Players. Jimmy B’s is ranked number 1 beach bar for great bands and good food and the best time to go is when the sun is going down. Dancing is rarely an option here as there is always someone wanting to drag you to the dance floor. An amazing fun place to dance the night away and enjoy some casual dining.

Tomorrow is another day and I believe there is two sun loungers at Caddy’s with our names on them.

If you have enjoyed this blog on St. Petersburg, please subscribe by leaving your email just off to the right and you will then be informed of future blogs.

I enjoy writing about travel and cooking so if you learn something, that’s a good thing right!

Thank you for taking the time to read.

April 15, 2017April 28, 2022

48 HOURS IN EDINBURGH – 10 THINGS YOU MUST SEE

48 HOURS IN EDINBURGH

Too much to see and so little time! My childhood friends were visiting me from Canada for only 2 days before embarking on a cruise around the med. Their modus operandi was to have fun and see as much of Edinburgh in that short time and breath in as much of the city’s culture as possible. I needed to come up with a plan and fast.

Having lived in this historical capital city since 1980 and I’m ashamed to say

that I have rarely been a tourist in my own town, other than when I first arrived. So the other day, spurred on by a visit from my Canadian friends, I decided to do just that – become a tourist for 48 hours.

For those of you planning a trip to Edinburgh in the not too distant future – here is my awe inspiring list of what to aim at seeing to get the most out of your trip.

MY TEN MUST DO’S

Edinburgh Castle

Class of 74 – My two amigos
Holyrood Palace
Royal Yacht Britannia
National Museum of Scotland
Greyfriars Bobby & The Grassmarket
The Scottish Whisky Experience
Underground Ghost Tour
Historic Grassmarket
Camera Obscura and World Illusions
Mary King’s Close

Now I can hear you say, that is a pretty tall order for 48 hours but let me tell you how this is achievable and the best and most reasonable money saving way of doing this.

Get yourself to Waverley Bridge where you will find all the tourist buses and buy THE ROYAL EDINBURGH TICKET from the Edinburgh Bus Tour operator (Hop on and Hop off bus). The cost of this ticket is £51 and what is included is the most outstanding value. All inclusive is – Fast Track Admission into

Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, Royal Yacht Britannia, 2 for 1 entry into The Glasshouses at the Royal Botanics PLUS 48 hours travel on 3 different tour buses- Edinburgh Tour, City Sightseeing Tour and the Majestic Tour. The Hop On Hop Off buses cover different areas of Edinburgh. One covers the old town, the other the New Town and one is the City Sightseeing Tour. Also included in you ticket are a number of discounts into other major attractions.

The city sightseeing tour lasts for one hour. You can hop on – or hop off at any of the tour stops. Once you have finished visiting one of the many attractions along the tour just jump back on the bus again. You can do this for the duration of your ticket and I fully recommend that this is the best way to see the city in 48 hours.

Because I live in the city, I had forgotten just how magical Edinburgh is. A three dimensional city built on different levels and famous for it’s ghost tours, underground vaults and haunted graveyards.

Our first stop was Edinburgh Castle. Each day at the castle (except Sunday) the one o’clock gun is fired. Edinburgh Castle plays host each year in the month of August to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. If you are fortunate enough to visit during the Edinburgh Festival, be sure to get tickets for the Tattoo. A magnificent show of bag pipers from around the world.

The above pictures show the tiny chapel that is within the castle walls. Weddings are still officiated within St Margaret’s Chapel, but the chapel can only seat not more than 20 people. Perfect if your planning a small wedding!

Jumping back on the bus our next stop was Holyrood Palace. This is the official Royal residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth when she is in Scotland. This historic palace dates back to 16 century and is overlooked by Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano, that sits 251m above sea level and if you fancy a climb you will be awarded with some of the best views of the city.

Next stop – the Royal Yacht Britannia. This was The Queen’s floating Royal residence for over 40 years and we are very fortunate to have this magnificent yacht berthed in Edinburgh. This yacht has sailed over 1,000,000 miles around the world.

Whether you manage to fit this in on day one, you must visit, The National

Museum of Scotland on Chambers street. This museum has recently undergone massive renovation work and is a must visit for any tourist. You could literally spend hours exploring the diversity of this museum. From the age of dinosaurs through to the technology of the future, the galleries contain treasures from around the world.

While your at the museum, take an opportunity to visit Greyfriar’s Bobby. The

statue of Bobby sits on the corner of George IV Bridge and Candlemaker Row. Bobby is a famous Skye terrier who was born in 1855 and died in 1872 at the age of 16. When Bobby’s owner died, Bobby was said to have guarded his grave for 14 years. He is well known around the world and appears in numerous books and films.

Once you have given Bobby’s nose a pet, cross over the road and have a wander through the graveyard where Bobby and his master are laid to rest. From the graveyard, you will find a path that leads you into the Grassmarket.

Drop into Armstrongs, Edinburgh’s most famous vintage clothing store. In the

Grassmarket you will find many bars, restaurants and shops. If you are a lover of cashmere, it is here in the Grassmarket you will find The Tailor Retailored, a bespoke gents cashmere store carrying luxury hand crafted designs by Richard Olive, all made in Scotland. You will also find Hawick Cashmere who carry both men and woman’s designs. No visit to Scotland is complete without purchasing a piece of luxury cashmere.

While here in the Grassmarket, stop in for a refreshment to one of Edinburgh’s Oldest Inns, The White Hart Inn. An excellent pub with great grub. If you happen to be here in the evening, they have music every night at

9pm. You could pop in after you have been to one of the many ghost tours to choose from which you will find along the Royal Mile. The ghost tours take place as the dusk falls upon the city. You can book these online – try www.mercattours.com or www.cityofthedeadtours.com. Be prepared to be very afraid. Not for the faint of heart.

A well deserved rest and tomorrow is a new and exciting day.

Our first stop the next day was Camera Obscura and World Illusions – here you

will enjoy unrivalled views of Edinburgh’s skyline. This is rated one of Scotland’s top attractions where seeing is not believing . An Aladdin’s cave of illusions, tricks and puzzles. Can you find your way out of the magical mirror maze?

Now for one of our highlights on this tour – the Scottsh Whisky Experience. This is directly across the road from Camera Obscura. This attraction will take you through the history of Scotland’s national drink and one we are most famous for. There are several types of tickets you can buy but if you want to splash out, get yourself a Platinum Tour Ticket. You will take a whisky barrel ride through the production of Scotch whisky and get a guided nosing and tasting of various scotch whiskys. For some people this is a highlight of their visit. So if you enjoy a wee tipple of the amber libation, go Platinum(£36.50) and enjoy. There are many different types of tours running throughout the day – the Platinum Tour is early evenings and for 18+. You can also team this up with a scottish dining experience. www.scottishwhiskyexperience.com

Mary King’s Close is an old Edinburgh close under buildings in the Old Town. The close was partially demolished and buried under the Royal Exchange. The attraction gives tours of the ruins of several underground close remains – Mary King’s Close, Pearson’s, Stewart and Allen’s closes. See how people lived in Edinburgh in the 16th Century.

There are numerous of things to see in Edinburgh but that will take you much longer than 48 hours.

There are many attractions that are free entry and you could fill your day in Edinburgh without spending a penny. A trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens, a climb up Arthur’s Seat or a visit to one of Edinburgh’s many museums, most of which are free. I think that will fill another Blog on Edinburgh

I hope you have enjoyed this brief tour of Edinburgh. If you have, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to my blog by filling in your email and thank you.

March 30, 2017May 1, 2017

48 Hours in Pollensa- Majorca

Having rented a lovely bijou apartment just off the 365 Calvari steps on Carrer de Jesus in Pollensa – which I have dubbed – The Stairway to Heaven – this is a must do on your first day.

Your calves will be sore but worth the trek for the marvellous views. At the top of the 365 steps is the Ermita del Calvari. A beautiful house of worship. Enjoy the views and take lots of pictures. Breath in the ambience of Majorca and pat yourself on the back for your endurance.

On your way down the steps, be sure to pop in and see Olga in Morrinaswhereyou will find beautiful hand crafted Jewellery. I purchased some beautiful unusual pieces from her and will return on my next visit. www.morricomplementos.com

Ok – now a thirst and possibly an appetite has come on as you slowly make

your decline- why not stop at Cafe del Calvari and enjoy a cappuccino, fruit smoothie or an ice cold glass of white wine. You have deserved it. They have a wonderful snack menu here to – pizza margarita only 7.50 Euro. Simply divine sitting here watching all the cyclists riding into this square.

I enjoy walking, having three Hungarian Vizslas at home so my next feat is the climb to Puig de Maria. This is a small hill that is located on the edge of town that overlooks the whole of Pollensa, Puerto Pollensa and Alcudia. Once you have reached your 330 metre climb it will lead you to an impressive monastery dating back to the 1300’s. Again breath in the beauty of Majorca. It will take you about 1 hour to slowly saunter up this hill, but once at the top, enjoy the outstanding views and an ice cold lemonade. Just what is needed after a climb like this. There are a lot of walking and cycling trails in Pollensa making it a much sought after area for walkers and cyclists.

Lunch time calls- go to Placa Major and enjoy the most delightful lunch at 11 Onze Restaurant. Presentation is so awesome you will nearly eat your plate. You may need a siesta after this- and quite understandable.

There is delightful cocktail bar/ cafe just off the Calveri steps on Carrer de Jesus,

just opposite the Town Hall and fortunately for me – right next door to our apartment. U Gallet is a must find. Owned an operated by Neil Himmins and his partner Zoe Van Den Berg. Neil and Zoe have been operating this bar for the past 4 years. The bar is amazing inside and a quaint terrace outside where you can enjoy beer, wine, cocktails, coffee and snacks while absorbing every minute the sun is shining. Outstanding cocktail list. Unbelievable concoctions and additions. I must also add, Neil is fabulous craic and has the most infectious of laughter which will have you falling off your bar stool. This is a must go. Do not miss a great time with Neil and Zoe. May I also mention – No. 1 on Trip Advisor so the reviews can’t be wrong.

Next go eat in Cantonet. Run by Sardinians, you will be totally

spoiled for choice with homemade raviolis, meat and fish dishes. Awesome – and greeted with a glass of Cava.

Lets now explore the village of Pollensa with its intertwining medievil streets and wonderful unique shops with cobbled floors where you can purchase unusual pieces of jewellery and clothing.

Next stop- Puerto Pollensa. A 10 minute bus journey to the beach. Enjoy a stroll along the boardwalk and have a pit stop at one of the many cafes.

Back to Pollensa on the bus and dinner at Bar Nou. Here moma does the cooking and the Paella is divine. You may need to walk the steps again after your wonderful paella.

Another fantastic eatery you must not miss for lunch is Celler el Moli run by Franck and Margarita. They do a wonderful menu of the day (closed Thursdays) – 3 course including wine and water – 12 euro. Excellent food and great local place.

There is so much to do in Pollensa. The locals are very appreciative of your custom and show it by doing little extras. Why spoil all the surprises you will find in Pollensa. Next time I will need to spend more time – there is just so much to do.

If you are looking to rent an apartment or villa in Pollensa, contact Ben Atkin at www.pollentiarentals.com. Car hire is easy from the airport and for you keen cyclists – bike hire is in abundance.

48 hours in Pollensa- enjoy❤

March 20, 2017February 20, 2019

LET’S MAKE DOG BISCUITS

LET’S MAKE DOG BISCUITS – HEALTHY EATING FOR OUR BEST FRIENDS

Have you ever taken the time to read the ingredients in some dog treats and food? Shock horror will follow. The ingredients that you should try and avoid
are:

Meat and grain meals and by products

BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) – chemical compound – effective alternative is Vitamin E

BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) – another chemical compound

Ethoxyquin – a PESTICIDE that controls scald on pears after harvest. Used in dog foods as a preservative to prevent the rancidification of fats. Yikes!

Food dyes (dogs do not see colour the way we do – so why do manufacturers put food colourants in their food) – avoid all food colorants (blue 2, red 40, yellow 5 and 6, 4-MIE

Corn and wheat gluten

PG (propylene Glycol) – antifreeze – again Yikes!

Rendered fat

Some of these ingredients you can’t even pronounce and they are not necessary in dog food. Make sure you read the composition before you buy. There are a lot of really good dog foods out there, so if you want a healthy dog with good strong bones and teeth and a shiny coat, pay attention to what you feed your pet.

I have three Hungarian Vizslas who are hugely energetic so I like to have homemade clean healthy eating treats on hand for them.

Here is a great recipe that takes minutes to put together and your dogs will love you for putting in the effort.

SARDINE OAT BISCUITS

300 grams or 1- 1/3 cup of oatmeal

60 grams or 1/3 cup of wholemeal flour

2 tins of sardines in sunflower oil

Put the sardines with the oil into a bowl and mash up. Add the oats and wholemeal flour and mix through the sardines. Gradually add small amounts of water until the mixture forms a ball. Cover your work surface in a small amount of wholemeal flour and roll out your mixture to 1/2 inch thick (1-1/4cms).

I use a small heart or dog bone cookie cutter and this makes about 5 dozen.

Bake in a pre-heated oven 190C/375F for 20-25 mins. Store in a container – not necessarily airtight.

Stay tuned for more clean healthy eating recipes for your furbbies.

If you are enjoying my Blogs, please follow and put a ‘like’ on my Facebook Page – www.facebook.com/Marypremiercru – “Mary’s Kitchen”. Please subscribe after reading my blog by entering your email address in the subscription area at the end or side of this blog. You will then receive notification when I have posted again. You can also follow my instructional videos on You Tube – Mary PremierCru (again, please subscribe if you enjoy them).

Thank you for stopping by.

March 16, 2017

LET’S MAKE PESTO

LET’S MAKE HOMEMADE PESTO

There is nothing easier to make than pesto providing you get all your ingredients together before you start. I have made a short video on You Tube (Mary PremierCru) for you so you can see just how easy it is to prepare. There are a number of variations to my recipe which I will also share with you.

Pesto did not become popular in the North Americas until the 1980’s. It was traditionally made with a Pestal & Mortar – the Italian verb Pestare means to pound or crush. But nowadays, we have it easy in that we have all sorts of different styles of blenders to do the hard work for us. I prefer a hand blender to make my Pesto but you can use a large food processor as well.

LET’S GET STARTED

2 cups of of fresh Basil Leaves (you can use 1/2 basil and 1/2 spinach as well)

1/3 cup of Pine Nuts (or you can use walnuts)

1/2 cup Parmesan Reggiano (or you can use Pecorino or Romano) basically any hard Italian Cheese

3 garlic cloves

1/2 cup olive oil or more to get consistency correct

1 lemon (optional) Italians love using lemons and if you enjoy the taste of lemon – go on and give your pesto a squeeze.

METHOD

Tear the basil into pieces including stems and place in blender along with pine nuts. Give it a whirl to break up the basil and pine nuts. Scrape down the sides of blender then add garlic, parmesan and olive oil. If necessary add more olive oil until you get the right consistency to mix through your cooked pasta.

VARIATIONS

Use walnuts instead of pine nuts and also you can run some whole pine nuts or crushed walnuts through your pasta to give some extra nuttiness.

Use Parmesan Reggiano, Pecorino or Romano cheese

Instead of using all Basil – do 1/2 spinach and 1/2 basil.

There you have it. Your pesto will keep for one week in a sealed container in the fridge. Or you can freeze it in ice cube trays and once frozen put it into freezer bags and this will keep for six months.

TIPSTER

What a great hostess gift this would make. Put it in a lovely jar, decorate the lid with some fabric and ribbon and give the gift of love.

I hope you enjoy this true Italian flavour. If you would like to receive more clean and healthy eating recipes, please fill out your email address just to the right – subscribe to my blog.

Thank you and come back soon.

March 10, 2017January 7, 2018

I LOST 20LBS IN 30 DAYS WITH DANETTE MAY’S 30 DAY CHALLENGE.

MY VERY FIRST BLOG!
If I could tell you how I lost 20 lbs. in 30 days, you would be interested wouldn’t you?

At 61 years young, things start to go AWOL so you need to watch your health and fitness. I had been drinking what I would deem to be far too much for the past couple of years and at the start of 2017 I made a conscious decision to get back on track and get fit. My blood pressure was through the roof – BP 169/102 and my liver count was 111. The doctor said you need to make some lifestyle changes – you have warning signs going on here.

I was accustomed to going to the gym but to be honest it was making no difference to the 24 pounds I had gained over the last two years. So a different approach was needed. While scrolling through Facebook at the beginning of the year I came across a woman called Danette May and her 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge. I thought, oh yeah, here we go, more money paid out for nil result. However, as I read on I felt compelled to join this 30 Day Challenge and this is just where I get started.

This was not only the most successful way to lose excess weight and learn to eat properly but included daily meditations and exercise. Skeptical as I was I started the challenge on January 9, 2017. This involved 3 laborious days of detoxing. Cleaning your engines out, getting them ready to become a fat burning machine. Can I just tell you, 3 days detox might sound easy, it is very difficult – you get headaches, disoriented and wonder very quickly is it all worth while. During these 3 days, I drank the hot lemon water, Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar and a dash of Cayenne Pepper along with the other smoothies that were laid out in the challenge menu sheets. I did cheat once, I ate a banana which at the time was heavenly. I continued to follow the challenge, obviously refraining from NO alcohol during this period. I learned to Clean Eat excluding all trans fats and sticking to Coconut, Olive and Grapeseed oil to cook with. At the end of the day, you are what you eat and I soon realised this was the rut I was in. You think you are eating healthy, which of course I thought I was, but I soon found out that I was over indulging with incorrect food groups. During this challenge I did not eat any Bread (you can eat the occasional piece of Ezekiel Bread which is a gluten free) but I could not find this so did not eat it.

When I got into some of the recipes it started to become fun. I was learning about foods and super seeds I had never even heard. I was drinking smoothies made of kale, cucumber and kiwis topped off with Chia Seeds. Chia, Flax and Hemp seeds became my new best friends. I had them with everything and still do. I made my own Almond Butter and Tahini paste and began making videos to show others on the challenge who were not kitchen goddesses how easy it was to prepare these thing and put these on my first You Tube channel – Mary PremierCru. The first week my weight altered by a few pounds which encouraged me to carry on. The support group was amazing and I jumped in with both feet, videoing my transformation, the new food I was eating and just in general loving the support from a magnificent group of woman.

As the weeks went on and I still never even sniffed a drop of alcohol, I could really see the change in my body. At the end of the 30 days I had lost exactly 20lbs, which for those of you are reading this and understand menopause, weight loss becomes nigh impossible.

I am happy to say I have continued down this road of clean eating, oh yes, I have enjoyed the odd glass of wine which tasted like pure nectar on the first sip after 30 days. I can also report to an almost perfect blood pressure reading 122/80 and a liver count of 54. The liver count is still a little high but it’s all going in the right direction. I am pleased and my doctor was mightly impressed .

Having completed this challenge with what I believe to be an enormous success, I have joined another support group called Forever Fit which is the continuation of the 30 day challengers.

This opened my eyes to whole new and exciting way of eating. My skin became radiant, I fit into a long lost wardrobe of clothes that I had long since forgotten existed and I had a renewed confidence.

This new found confidence encouraged me along with the amazing support of the woman in the group to not only start YouTubing but to create my very own blog www.marypremiercru.com. Being technically challenged at the tender age of 61, this was some achievement and a true triumph.

It is a struggle to keep healthy at 50 plus, but I can tell you hand on heart, it is possible by making a few changes in your lifestyle.