Junk Boat Travels

Friday Finds - Books

2012-02-17T01:30:00.002-05:00

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

Synopsis here.

Synopsis here.

Synopsis here.

Synopsis here.

Synopsis here.

Synopsis here.

Friday Favorite Finds - Recipes To Try

2012-02-17T01:30:00.001-05:00

Please link up to a post containing your list of recipes to try -- do not link up individual recipes please, save those for other linkys. Be sure to leave a link back here to Finding Joy in my Kitchen.

Bacon cheeseburger meatloaf sliders from The Life and Loves of Grumpy's Honeybunch.

This is just so tasty sounding!

Beet and citrus salad with pinenut vinaigrette from Serious Eats.

Dark chocolate Raspberry goat cheese brownies from The Kitchn.

Chocolate carrot cake from Steak N Potaotes Kinda Gurl.

Skywatch Friday

2012-02-17T01:30:00.000-05:00

I'm linking up over here today.

The Custom House in Dublin is set on the northern bank of the River Liffey near the city centre. It is one of Dublin's finest buildings. Built to plans by famed architect James Gandon (1743-1823) it dominated the city view. The central dome is topped by a 16 foot- statue of Commerce. There are 14 keystones over the doors and windows, known as the Riverine Heads in respect of the Atlantic Ocean and the 13 principal rivers of Ireland. The exterior of the building is beautifully adorned with sculptures, coats of arms and a series of sculpted keystones symbolizing the rivers of Ireland.

Wordless Wednesday - Death Valley California

2012-02-15T13:09:00.000-05:00

I'm linking up over here.

Stonehenge

2012-02-15T12:46:00.004-05:00

When we visited Stonehenge a couple of years ago our guide Steve mentioned a town that Wikipedia describes as:
Imber is an uninhabited village in part of the British Army's training grounds on the Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England. It is situated in an isolated area of the Plain, about 2.5 miles (4 km) west of the A360 road between Tilshead and West Lavington. The entire civilian population was evacuated in 1943 to provide an exercise area for American troops preparing for the invasion of Europe during the Second World War. After the war villagers were not allowed to return to their homes. The village, which is still classed as an urban entity, remains under the control of the Ministry of Defence despite several attempts by former residents to return. Non-military access is limited to several open days a year.

On 1 November 1943, with preparations for the Allied invasion of mainland Europe underway, the people of Imber were called to a meeting in the village schoolroom and given 47 days' notice to leave their homes. Imber was to be used by US forces to practise street fighting. Richard Madigan's evidence to the Defence Lands Committee (DLC) stated that street fighting practice never took place and that his, and others', duties were to keep the village in good repair for the villagers' eventual return. The reason for evacuation was the village's proximity to shell impact areas. Although upset about being forced to leave, most villagers put up no resistance, even leaving canned provisions in their kitchens and taking the view that it was their duty to contribute to the war effort in this way — making sacrifices on the Home Front for the greater good. Compensation for the move was limited, and the occupants of one farm had to be forcibly evacuated by the Army. Albert Nash, who had been the village's blacksmith for over forty years, is said to have been found sobbing over his anvil and later became the first resident to die and be brought back to Imber for burial.

After the war the village was used extensively for training, particularly preparing soldiers for their duties in the urban environments of Northern Ireland. Several empty house-like buildings were constructed during the 1970s to aid training, and it is these, along with the church and Imber Court, that are Imber's most striking buildings today. Although training continues at Imber, a purpose-built urban warfare complex for close quarters battle at Copehill Down (approx 3 miles SE) has recently been the focus of this type of training, as that site is easier to adapt to reflect the areas in which troops are likely to be deployed.

When we got home this town intrigued me but I couldn't remember its name to read further about it.

Then this week I started reading a book called The Stonehenge Legacy which takes place around the area.

The town of Imber is featured in this book. I have to say I did not like this book when I first started it as I thought it was set in medieval times, not a period I really enjoy reading. However as I read further and realized it was set in today's times I got really interested in the story. Also since I had visited the area I could picture the majesty of Stonehenge and understand the draw it has for many people.
This is the author's first book and he has certainly done his research and captivated me with the history.

From the book jacket:
Eight days before the summer solstice, a man is butchered in a blood-freezing sacrifice on the ancient site of Stonehenge before a congregation of robed worshippers. Within hours, one of the world's foremost treasure hunters has shot himself in his country mansion. And to his estranged son, young archaeologist Gideon Chase, he leaves a cryptic letter. Teaming up with an intrepid policewoman, Gideon soon exposes a secret society-an ancient international legion devoted for thousands of years to Stonehenge.With a charismatic and ruthless new leader at the helm, the cult is now performing ritual human sacrifices in a terrifying bid to unlock the secret of the stones. Packed with codes, symbology, relentless suspense, and fascinating detail about the history of one of the world's most mysterious places, The Stonehenge Legacy is a blockbuster to rival the very best of Dan Brown.

Warminster is also mentioned in this book.

All photography on Junk Boat Travels are under copyright. If you would like to use any of my photographs please contact me first.

Wondrous Words Wednesday

2012-02-15T01:30:00.000-05:00

Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading and is hosted by Bermuda Onion.

sedilia - "Triple sedilia and leaf capitals lined the towering walls." Plural noun - a group of seats for clergy in the south chancel wall of a church, usually three in number and often canopied and decorated.
bailey - "Across the bailey, on the upper story of the far rectangular keep, through a set of windows apparently opened to the evening, he saw a woman." Noun - the outer wall of a castle.
papped - "Jake is the only son and heir of Lord Joseph Timberland and he's been papped with some of society's hottest models." Verb - take a photograph of (a celebrity) without permission.

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T10:37:00.002-05:00

Ruby Tuesday

2012-02-14T01:30:00.000-05:00

I'm posting over here today.

Taken at the Pushkin Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Our Travel Map

2012-02-13T13:00:00.001-05:00

Source

This is a cute way to track your travels. My only problem with it was that it is by country so it looks like you've visited all the states in the US but doesn't show Hawaii as a selection.

Next on the list:
February - Cancun mexico
March - Hilton Head SC
May - European river cruise

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2012-02-13T10:32:00.000-05:00

It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. For this meme, bloggers post what they finished last week, what they're currently reading, and what they plan to start this week.
It's been a slow reading week, with other stuff getting in the way.
Also I seem to be stuck on suspense stories mainly because I have a backlog of them on my reader and want to finish them before buying new books.

Finished this week:

Synopsis here.
I like most of Berry's books, easy to read, interesting back story, intriguing characters, and he does a lot of research on his topics. I especially liked this story as it involved the Terra Cotta Warriors in China which we had visited a couple of years ago.
However, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the previous Cotton Malone's sagas. I have never been fond of the character Cassiopeia Witt who returns in Berry’s sixth book as she intertwines her tale to rescue a boy (weak storyline) and get involved in a political intrigue in China.
Still a good read but not very memorable.

Started this week:

From the book jacket:
Eight days before the summer solstice, a man is butchered in a blood-freezing sacrifice on the ancient site of Stonehenge before a congregation of robed worshippers. Within hours, one of the world's foremost treasure hunters has shot himself in his country mansion. And to his estranged son, young archaeologist Gideon Chase, he leaves a cryptic letter. Teaming up with an intrepid policewoman, Gideon soon exposes a secret society-an ancient international legion devoted for thousands of years to Stonehenge.With a charismatic and ruthless new leader at the helm, the cult is now performing ritual human sacrifices in a terrifying bid to unlock the secret of the stones. Packed with codes, symbology, relentless suspense, and fascinating detail about the history of one of the world's most mysterious places, The Stonehenge Legacy is a blockbuster to rival the very best of Dan Brown.

I didn't like this book at the start but then it started to grow on me. We had visited Stonehenge a couple of years ago.

Started a couple of weeks ago and still in my reading pile (it's not in my regular reading pile):

Synopsis here.

2012 books read:
The Coast Road - John Brady
Still Midnight - Denise Mina
The Bulgari Connection - Fay Weldon
Good Bait - John Harvey
The Heretic's Treasure - Scott Mariani
Dead I Well May Be - Adrian McKinty
The Devil's Elixir - Raymond Khoury
A Darker Domain - Val McDermid
The Impossible Dead - Ian Rankin
GB84 - David Peace
The Emperor's Tomb - Steve Berry

Blue Monday

2012-02-13T09:12:00.000-05:00

I'm linking up over at Blue Monday today.

Billboard for a casino on the Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto.

Mellow Yellow Monday

2012-02-13T01:30:00.001-05:00

I'm posting over here today and these are the ruls:
I chose yellow for this photo meme because it's my favourite colour and I think the world is always better with a splash of yellow ... whether it's in your home or in nature.

The rules are pretty simple:
1. Every Monday post a photo with a little or a lot of yellow.
2. Please only post photos you have authority to use.
3. Include a Mellow Yellow Badge or a link to this blog in your post.
4. Leave the link to your Mellow Yellow post below on Mr. Linky.
5. Visit other blogs listed ... comment & enjoy!

When to Post:
Mister Linky will be available every Sunday at 10:00 pm EST and will remain open until Wednesday.

Taken in Birmingham England. This distinctive, gold-colored statue is of Birmingham's three great industrialists and entrepreneurs (Matthew Boulton, James Watt and William Murdoch) who contributed to the city's prosperity during the 18th century.

Macro Monday

2012-02-13T01:30:00.000-05:00

Macro Monday is hosted by Lisa at Lisa's Chaos.
Macro Monday is easy to play, snap a macro (or any close-up) photo, post it on your blog and come back here and sign MckLinky.
Shoes worn by the National Guards forthe Sunday Changing of The Guards parade in Athens, Greece.

Scenic Sunday

2012-02-12T01:30:00.000-05:00

Scenic Sunday is hosting this meme.

Central Park NYC as seen from Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center.

All photography on Junk Boat Travels are under copyright. If you would like to use any of my photographs please contact me first.

Foto Finish

2012-02-11T01:30:00.002-05:00

I'm posting over at Cat Patches where this week's optional theme is Doors.

Taken outside San Antonio, Texas.
Founded in 1720 by Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús, Mission San José became the largest Texas Mission. After early setbacks, 300 inhabitants were sustained by the vast fields and herds of livestock. A visitor in 1777 referred to the structure as the "Queen of the Missions." The church's carvings are among its most notable features and the famous "Rose Window" is considered one of the finest pieces of Spanish Colonial ornamentation in the country. Other features are the convento area and the stairway to the belfry and choir loft - each of the 25 risers was hand-hewn from a single live-oak log and constructed without nails or pegs. Also featured is a granary with flying buttresses, a gristmill, restored defensive walls and quarters.

Pink Saturday

2012-02-11T01:30:00.001-05:00

I'm linking up over here today.

Today Pink Saturday is hosting a Valentine Pink Saturday. This was taken at the Dollar Store in Toronto.

Pink Saturday has a weekly challenge for you to visit the blog of at least one participant that you have never visited. Then next Saturday include that blog and a link in your post.

So last week I dropped in on Anne at The Phamily Blog who was celebrating Red Saturday with a post on heart disease. I thought that appropriate as we are celebrating Valentine's Day.

Saturday Snapshot

2012-02-11T01:30:00.000-05:00

Saturday Snapshots is hoted by Alyce at At Home With Books.
To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky below. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Today's photos were taken on Canyon Road in Santa Fe New Mexico. The town attracts many artists as the natural lighting is just amazing. I don't wear contacts but my husband does and he said he could see easily without sunglasses which I gather is rare when you have contacts in...
According to the Canyon Road Arts web site:
Santa Fe is the second largest art market in the nation, and has more art galleries than any other city of its size. Santa Fe galleries offer a wide range including Native American art, early 20th century art by members of New Mexico's famous art colonies, traditional representational art, and contemporary and abstract art.

Friday Favorite Finds - Recipes To Try

2012-02-10T01:30:00.001-05:00

Photo and recipe from a blogger friend, Katy. Oatmeal Scotchies in a pan.

Red velvet cream cheesecake from Fake Ginger. Photo source.

Creamy chicken and spinach pasta - recipe and photo from CBC's TV show Best Recipes.

Beef Pho - recipe and photo from CBC's TV show Best Recipes.

White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies - from Hot Polka Dot

Cookies and cream cheesecake shooters Poor Girl Eats Well.

Cabbage and sausage stew from Miz Helen's Country Kitchen.

Skywatch Friday

2012-02-10T01:30:00.000-05:00

I'm linking up over here today.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona.
In 1932 Marguerite Brunswig Staude, an Oak Creek resident, artist and rancher had a reoccurring vision of a cross on the newly completed Empire State Building in New York. The cross became a recurring theme in her life during the next 25 years. She felt inspired to get the assistance of architect Frank Lloyd Wright and to build a skyscraper cathedral in Europe. When World War II Broke out, they cancelled their plans. Finally in 1955, her dream was realized with the building of the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona. As you drive up Chapel Road you will see this unique structure on your left. Construction was not an easy task in this location. The Chapel is 250 feet high and emerges from a 1,000-foot wall. It seems to be suspended into the blue sky and clouds. The red rock cross can be seen from miles around Sedona. The Chapel was the first contemporary structure built as a Catholic Church. (Source).

Wondrous Words Wednesday

2012-02-08T01:30:00.001-05:00

Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading and is hosted by Bermuda Onion.

tocsin - "The tocsin rang out, warning us of the approaching tornado." Noun - an alarm bell.
eidetic - "He searched his eidetic brain for what they needed." Adjective - commonly referred to as photographic memory.

Wordless Wednesday - Liverpool

2012-02-08T01:30:00.000-05:00

I'm linking up this week at Wordless Wednesday's blog.

Ruby Tuesday

2012-02-07T01:30:00.000-05:00

I'm posting over here today.

Whirling dervish - taken on a Nile cruise, Egypt.

Annoying Commercials

2012-02-06T08:41:00.003-05:00

Am I the only one who would cheerfully strangle this kid??

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2012-02-06T01:30:00.004-05:00

It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. For this meme, bloggers post what they finished last week, what they're currently reading, and what they plan to start this week.

Finished this week:

Synopsis here.
WOW is all I can say. I first heard of this book while reading a Darker Domain and immediately downloaded it. It is a long read but so definitely worth it.
Each chapter alternates between the heart-breaking diaries of two miners, Martin and Peter, and the politics of the strike.
This is not for the feint of heart, it is disturbing, violent and dark.
Peace covers the strike from most angles - the miners, the police, the government, the union, the secret services. Nobody but the miners come out of this looking good but at what cost to them and their families? Peace highlights how the government was prepared to stop at nothing in order to win, and how the media (including the BBC and press) assisted with this travesty.

Started last week and still in my reading pile:

Synopsis here.

Also started this week:

From the book jacket:
The tomb of China’s First Emperor, guarded by an underground army of terra-cotta warriors, has remained sealed for more than 2,000 years. Though it’s regarded as one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world, the Chinese government won’t allow anyone to open it. Why?

That question is at the heart of a dilemma faced by former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone, whose life is shattered when he receives an anonymous note carrying an unfamiliar Web address. Logging on, he sees Cassiopeia Vitt, a woman who’s saved his life more than once, being tortured at the hands of a mysterious man who has a single demand: Bring me the artifact she’s asked you to keep safe. The only problem is, Malone doesn’t have a clue what the man is talking about, since Cassiopeia has left nothing with him. So begins Malone’s most harrowing adventure to date—one that offers up astounding historical revelations, pits him against a ruthless ancient brotherhood, and sends him from Denmark to Belgium to Vietnam then on to China, a vast and mysterious land where danger lurks at every turn.

2012 books read:
The Coast Road - John Brady
Still Midnight - Denise Mina
The Bulgari Connection - Fay Weldon
Good Bait - John Harvey
The Heretic's Treasure - Scott Mariani
Dead I Well May Be - Adrian McKinty
The Devil's Elixir - Raymond Khoury
A Darker Domain - Val McDermid
The Impossible Dead - Ian Rankin
GB84 - David Peace

Macro Monday

2012-02-06T01:30:00.003-05:00

Macro Monday is hosted by Lisa at Lisa's Chaos.
Macro Monday is easy to play, snap a macro (or any close-up) photo, post it on your blog and come back to Lisa's blog and sign MckLinky.

My thirsty cat!

Blue Monday

2012-02-06T01:30:00.002-05:00

I'm linking up over at Blue Monday today.

Taken in Dingle Ireland.

Mellow Yellow Monday

2012-02-06T01:30:00.001-05:00

I'm posting over at Mellow Yellow Monday and here are her rules:
I chose yellow for this photo meme because it's my favourite colour and I think the world is always better with a splash of yellow ... whether it's in your home or in nature.

The rules are pretty simple:
1. Every Monday post a photo with a little or a lot of yellow.
2. Please only post photos you have authority to use.
3. Include a Mellow Yellow Badge or a link to this blog in your post.
4. Leave the link to your Mellow Yellow post below on Mr. Linky.
5. Visit other blogs listed ... comment & enjoy!

When to Post:
Mister Linky will be available every Sunday at 10:00 pm EST and will remain open until Wednesday.

Taken in Catarina, Nicaragua.

Scenic Sunday

2012-02-05T08:53:00.000-05:00

Scenic Sunday is hosting this meme.

Mackinac Island.

According to this site Mackinac Island of Michigan has been ranked among the top 10 islands in the world by Conde Nast Traveler. As an island without any cars, it can be a peaceful and relaxing way to take in some natural beauty. Whether on foot, bike, or horseback, visitors can enjoy this unique land filled with historic landmarks, golf courses, and beautiful parks. The island is also called "Makinaw" island which coincides with how Mackinac is pronounced.

All photography on Junk Boat Travels are under copyright. If you would like to use any of my photographs please contact me first.

London - Southbank Walk

2012-02-04T16:15:00.004-05:00

Southbank walk, Waterloo

Area Highlights

London at its best. Tip: If ever you have a friend coming to London who wants to see the sights, take them on this route. Start off at the London Eye and walk east along the river bank to Oxo Tower – quick drink and a view, on to Tate Modern, then Globe Theatre. Head over the Millennium Bridge to St Paul’s or, if your legs are in good shape by the time you arrive, keep going past HMS Belfast onto Tower Bridge.

Pink Saturday

2012-02-04T01:30:00.003-05:00

I'm linking up over here today.

Very pink doors - taken on a recent trip to Granada, Nicaragua.

Saturday Snapshot

2012-02-04T01:30:00.002-05:00

Saturday Snapshots is hoted by Alyce at At Home With Books.
To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky below. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on last week's post about Egypt.

This week's photos are from my favourite country in the world, Ireland.
If you love visiting castles as I do, then Trim in County Meath is just the place to visit. It is only a half hour drive from Dublin. It has an ol-fashioned town centre and many medieval ruins. The huge Trim Castle is the largest and most famous.

Our hotel

Town of Trim

Soon after proclaiming Christianity in Ireland, St. Patrick built a church here on land granted to him by the son of the High King.

After the Anglo-Norman invasion, towards the end of the 12th century, Henry II granted the whole of Meath to Hugh de Lacy. De Lacy decided to make Trim his headquarters and built a magnificent castle on the outskirts of the town.

The Yellow Steeple is the most prominent of the many ruins in Trim. It overlooks the town from a ridge directly opposite Trim Castle. Originally part of the 13th century St. Mary's Augustinian Abbey, the steeple dates from 1368. Geoffrey de Geneville, Lord of Meath, founded the black Friary of the Dominicans in 1263.

Thank you all so

Foto Finish - Through The Window

2012-02-04T01:30:00.001-05:00

Foto Finish is hosted by Cat Patches.Foto Finish is hosted by Cat Patches.

For this week's Foto Finish optional theme, she's going with: Through the Window. As always, you can interpret the theme any way you wish.

Taken at Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island Michigan. A great place to visit and stay for a few days.

Skywatch Friday

2012-02-03T01:30:00.001-05:00

I'm hopping over here today to link up.

Beliche Fortress in Lagos Portugal
The Beliche Fort, consecrated to Saint Anthony, was built before the year 1587 (the construction dates are unknown, but by this year there are already some records referring to the presence of this fortification).

Friday Finds - Recipes To Try

2012-02-03T01:30:00.000-05:00

Shrimp dumplings from Appetite For China

Creamy cauliflower soup from simply Cooked.

Mexican skillet cornbread for my DH as he loves it so I found a recipe at One Perfect Bite.

Easy pan fried pork with mustard sauce from Kalyn's Kitchen.

Smoky Manhattan style clam chowder from Food and Thrift. I am always promising myself to make clam chowder.

Lamb curry from The English Kitchen. I love lamb, I love curry and when in England I especially love curry!!

My Recipe Box - Apple Cheddar Quick Bread

2012-02-01T15:24:00.001-05:00

I had bookmarked this recipe to try a while ago. I made it last week and served it with a pot roast and it was delicious so it is definitely going into my recipe box!!

Recipe and photo source.

apple & cheddar quick bread
1 3/4 c all-purpose flour
2 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
3/4 c milk + 2 T
1/3 c canola oil
1 egg
2 T brown sugar
1 c finely diced apples
1 c strong cheddar cheese, grated

3 T cheddar cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 400F. Prep your 8×4 loaf pan* by lightly greasing it with butter and then use a mixture of cornmeal and flour to dust the insides with – about a spoonful of each should do. Shake out any excess and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt and whisk everything together. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together the milk, oil, egg and brown sugar until well blended. Pour in the diced apples and stir in the flour mixture. Add in the cheese in 3 handfuls – stirring between each addition. Dump the batter into your prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over top of the bread and cook for 10 minutes longer until the cheese melts and the bread is cooked all the way through – use a wooden skewer in the middle of the loaf to test doneness.

*if your loaf pan is larger, reduce the baking time by 10-15 minutes.

Wordless Wednesday - Bath England

2012-02-01T01:30:00.001-05:00

I'm linking up this week at Wordless Wednesday's blog.

Wondrous Words Wednesday

2012-02-01T01:30:00.000-05:00

Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading and is hosted by Bermuda Onion.

glaikit - "I'm not completely glaikit." An adjective (Scottish and N. English) that means stupid, foolish or thoughtless.
caitiff - "Cads. Caitiffs. Chickens. Cowards. Craven -" Noun archaic - a contemptible or cowardly person.

My Recipe Box - Sour Cream Maple Banana Cake

2012-01-31T13:56:00.000-05:00

Recipe Source

Prep Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Serves: approx. 8

Ingredients:

100g butter + extra for form, softened
10 tablespoons maple syrup
4 ripe bananas
200g muscovado sugar
4 eggs
2 vanilla pods, seeds scrapped
200g all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
100g almonds, ground
1 teaspoon baking soda
200g sour cream

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 160 degrees C and butter a square (20cm x 20cm) form and line the base with baking paper.

Pour 5 tablespoons maple syrup and swirl the form to coat the bottom. Cut 3 bananas in half lengthways and lay them, cut-side down, in the form.

In a mixing bowl beat together the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla seeds, and the last banana with an electric whisk. Fold in the flour, baking powder, ground almonds and bicarbonate soda with a spatula, then stir in the sour cream.

Carefully spoon into the form without displacing the bananas. Bake for approx. 45 – 60 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Take cake out and poke the top all over with a skewer, about halfway into the cake. Pour the remaining maple syrup over the top and allow to soak for a few minutes.

Carefully turn out of the form upside-down, drizzling the banana-studded top with more syrup. Slice cake and serve warm.

Ruby Tuesday

2012-01-31T01:30:00.000-05:00

I'm posting today over at Ruby Tuesday 2.

Our server at our first lunch in Beijing, China.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2012-01-30T09:25:00.000-05:00

It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. For this meme, bloggers post what they finished last week, what they're currently reading, and what they plan to start this week.

Finished this week:

Synopsis here.
I really enjoyed this book. I have read Val McDermid before and have always found him to be a good read.
I especially enjoyed the sub-plot about the Miners' Strike in Great Britain in 1984. So much so that I bought a book mentioned in there which I'll mention later.

From the book jacket:
The Complaints: that's the name given to the Internal Affairs department who seek out dirty and compromised cops, the ones who've made deals with the devil. And sometimes The Complaints must travel.

A major inquiry into a neighboring police force sees Malcolm Fox and his colleagues cast adrift, unsure of territory, protocol, or who they can trust. An entire station-house looks to have been compromised, but as Fox digs deeper he finds the trail leads him back in time to the suicide of a prominent politician and activist. There are secrets buried in the past, and reputations on the line.

I enjoyed the second book in Rankin's new series much better than the first one. I still miss Inspector Rebus whom Rankin retired a while ago. Malcolm Fox is just not as compelling a character as Rebus was. Perhaps his character will develop in future books.
Ian Rankin usually lays a foundation of current and past events in his novels. In The Impossible Dead, he creates a tale reaching back a quarter of a century, when agitation and violence marked efforts for a separate Scotland.

Started this week:

From the book jacket:
GB84, David Peace's fifth novel, is a gripping, tautly plotted dramatisation of the miners' strike in which real events (Orgreave, the Brighton bomb) and real people (Arthur Scargill, Margaret Thatcher, Ian MacGregor) mingle imperceptibly with his creations. "This novel", he notes in the acknowledgements, "is a fiction, based on fact" and those who recall The Comic Strip Present's Hollywood skit Strike will be happy, to discover that Peace does not take liberties with the strike's trajectory. Key events are faithfully chronicled here but his 1984 is, arguably, as sinisterly dystopian as anything Orwell could have envisioned.
Full synopsis can be read here.

As mentioned under A Darker Domain above I became very curious about the Miners' Strike and Val McDermid states within his book that this is an excellent book to read more about the strike. I am really enjoying it.

Also started this week:

From the book jacket:
Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is forever haunted by the unexplained disappearance of his wife, Sandy, nearly ten years ago. Ever since she went missing, he’s been consumed with finding out what happened to her. Finally, he may be moving on. He has fallen in love and is going to marry his girlfriend, Cleo, who is pregnant with their child.

But his life is put on hold when, after a wild New Year’s Eve ball, a woman is brutally raped as she returns to her hotel room. A week later, another woman is attacked. Both victims’ shoes are taken by their attacker. Grace soon realizes that these new cases bear remarkable similarities to an unsolved series of crimes in the city back in 1997. The perpetrator had been dubbed “Shoe Man” and was believed to have raped four women before murdering his fifth victim and vanishing. Could this be a copycat, or has Shoe Man resurfaced?

2012 books read:
The Coast Road - John Brady
Still Midnight - Denise Mina
The Bulgari Connection - Fay Weldon
Good Bait - John Harvey
The Heretic's Treasure - Scott Mariani
Dead I Well May Be - Adrian McKinty
The Devil's Elixir - Raymond Khoury
A Darker Domain - Val McDermid
The Impossible Dead - Ian Rankin

Blue Monday

2012-01-30T01:30:00.002-05:00

I'm linking up over here today.
Taken in Dingle Ireland.

Mellow Yellow Monday

2012-01-30T01:30:00.001-05:00

I'm linking up at Mellow Yellow Monday. Here are her instructions.
I chose yellow for this photo meme because it's my favourite colour and I think the world is always better with a splash of yellow ... whether it's in your home or in nature.

The rules are pretty simple:
1. Every Monday post a photo with a little or a lot of yellow.
2. Please only post photos you have authority to use.
3. Include a Mellow Yellow Badge or a link to this blog in your post.
4. Leave the link to your Mellow Yellow post below on Mr. Linky.
5. Visit other blogs listed ... comment & enjoy!

When to Post:
Mister Linky will be available every Sunday at 10:00 pm EST and will remain open until Wednesday.

Taken at Waikiki, Honolulu.

Macro Monday

2012-01-30T01:30:00.000-05:00

Macro Monday is hosted by Lisa at Lisa's Chaos.
Macro Monday is easy to play, snap a macro (or any close-up) photo, post it on your blog and come back here and sign MckLinky.

Yuck a bug on the door at our rented house in Nicaragua!

Scenic Sunday

2012-01-29T10:58:00.000-05:00

Scenic Sunday is hosting this meme.

Monkey walking the rail by the pool in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.

New Recipes To Try

2012-01-29T02:00:00.000-05:00

Roasting the pig at the luau

Chicken fettucine alfredo

Toblerone cheesecake bars

Pumpkin goat cheese ravioli

Garlic stewed spareribs

New England harvest turnover sounds intriguing with its combination of apples, bacon and cheddar cheese.

Cinnamon swirl raisin bread

BBQ cola meatballs in slow cooker

Crispy oven fried chicken

Cornish pastries

Fish and chips

Royal Kona Resort Luau Kona Hawaii

2012-01-29T01:30:00.000-05:00

I've never posted any pictures of the luau we attended in Hawaii. These dancers were amazing and the show is very entertaining.

Foto Finish - White

2012-01-28T01:30:00.001-05:00

Cat patches hosts this weekly meme. Her theme this week is white but not necessarily snow.
I had to rack my brain for an idea.
This is a photo of the Nicaraguan coat of arms. It appears on most of their coins.

The coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom.

It has the shape of an equal triangle
The triangle stands for EQUALITY
The rainbow signifies PEACE.
The phrygian cap symbolizes FREEDOM
The five volcanoes represent the UNION and the FRATERNITY between the five Central American countries.

This photo was taken in Central Park in Granada.

Saturday Snapshot

2012-01-28T01:30:00.000-05:00

Saturday Snapshots is hoted by Alyce at At Home With Books.
To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky below. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Some photos from our trip to Egypt. These are taken in Giza, just outside Cairo. Who would believe there is a KFC directly across the street???

The Pyramids of Giza are over 4500 years old. They were built as the burial places for Khufu, Khfare, and Menkaure, three Pharaohs during the Old Kingdom.
Despite the efforts of many people to dismantle and plunder them, they have survived to this day. They are visible proof of the superb mathematical, construction and organisational skills of the ancient Egyptians. This was serious project planning!!!
They are the only remaining original Seven Wonders of the World.

I did a Photoshop of this photo and pasted my husband's face riding the camel!

Boat Pits

Here is an excellent article if you wish to read more about Giza.

Source

Friday Finds - Books

2012-01-27T01:30:00.000-05:00

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

Lots of finds this week!!!

Found over at Reading On A Rainy Day.

Synopsis here.

Synopsis here.

While reading A Darker Domain this week I came across a reference to this book and immediately bought it.

Synopsis here.

I was looking at the Costa shortlists for 2011 and found these that need to be added to my TBR list.
Costa cafes are my favourite place to hang out in when I am in the UK. Much nicer than Starbucks!!

Synopsis here.

Synopsis here.

Synopsis here.

How could I pass up a book with this author's name? Synopsis here.

Synopsis here.

Granada Nicaragua Faces

2012-01-26T11:48:00.000-05:00

Nicaragua Driving Tips

2012-01-25T15:17:00.001-05:00

Nicaragua's top cop, who once wanted to be a nun, fends off drug gangs source.

I first wrote about Nicaragua's police when we first arrived in Managua. I forgot to mention in that post that he had had at least eight driver licenses in his grubby paws that we could see, from various US states.
We learned a lot more about them in the following days of our trip.
Firstly they are known affectionately as Courtesy Police. They only make about a $100 a month so our "bribe" of $80 was a windfall for them.
Some tips we were later given by expats:
Have a photocopy of your driver's license with you. You can get a copy in most hotels for about 25cents. That way you can just had him that.
Drive in the far lane if there are two lanes. No cop is going to step out into a lane to pull you over.
Drive with your visor down so they can't see that you are a tourist.
Keep you money in separate places so you can show him you have only so much money in your wallet.
Ask for their badge numbers, they won't give it to you but ask anyway.
Ask for a ticket if they tell you that you have performed an infraction, again he won't give it to you but ask.

Here's a post about driving in Nicaragua.

Wordless Wednesday - London Eye - The Millenium Wheel

2012-01-25T14:39:00.000-05:00

I'm linking up this week at Wordless Wednesday's blog.

My Recipe Box - Indian Koftas

2012-01-25T02:00:00.000-05:00

These are great appetizers. Click on the image to enlarge as it is really small here!!
I thought I had lost my recipe so I had found one here.

Granada Nicaragua Cemetery

2012-01-24T14:36:00.001-05:00

The day that we had planned to go to Mombacho and instead found Catarina we drove past this cemetery and I suggested maybe we could visit it, not something my DH is very fond of.

Snapped as we drove by

We stopped on our way back and went to visit it. It was REALLY hot otherwise we would have spent more time, but the heat was just bouncing off the white cement. Whole families are buried here.
There is a monument for the ex-presidents of the country, all buried together, I wonder how they all get along?

On our way back into town we had to pull over as a funeral procession was taking place. Well, actually we pulled over but nobody else did so this was the best shot I could get of the coach carrying the coffin to the church as the people walked behind it.

My Recipe Box - Crema di Latte

2012-01-24T02:00:00.000-05:00

I took a cooking class at the LCBO (their website has amazing recipes). This recipe was the dessert and I have made it often in the summer when berries are in season.

Granada Nicaragua Market

2012-01-24T01:30:00.001-05:00

Our GPS took us right through the market when we were trying to find our way to our Bed and Breakfast.

Cars are not supposed to drive through here but everyone was very generous and moved out of the way.
I took these photos from the car while we were stuck in a traffic jam exiting the market.

One day we walked to the market to look around. First I stopped and got my hair cut for $2!!!!!

Pretty dresses

Good Nicaraguan beer

Thirsty Tuesday - Rivas Nicaragua

2012-01-24T01:30:00.000-05:00

Beer and pizza a couple of weeks ago in Rivas.

Artist's rendition of the pizza place - Pizza Hot

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2012-01-23T13:37:00.001-05:00

It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. For this meme, bloggers post what they finished last week, what they're currently reading, and what they plan to start this week.

Finished this week:

Synopsis over here.
I had found this author on another blog, the writer is from Belfast.
I can't say I loved the start of this book but it did grow on me. The main character didn't really endear himself to me, but then again he's not supposed to. I do think I will read more in this series featuring Michael Forsythe .

I was very disappointed in this as I had recently read The Templar Salvation which I loved. However, I will continue to read him.

Started this week:

From the book jacket:
1984. The National miners' strike is dividing the country, and in a struggling coal-mining town, the miners and their families are living at the edge of their resources. They have no money, and there is no food or heating. On the 14th of December, five miners break ranks to travel to Nottingham and work. For those who stay behind, this is an unforgivable betrayal, and the men are branded as scabs. 23 years later, a young woman is asking the police to trace her missing father: miner Mick Prentice vanished, never to be seen again, although money has been sent to his family; he was widely considered to be one of the scabs. Soon, D I Karen Pirie and DS Phil Parharta find themselves investigating a forgotten disappearance.
In fact, Karen Pirie, when taking on this new assignment, is already involved in a case of kidnapping that took place 22 years earlier (in which a woman was killed during a bungled handover of money). Journalist Bel Richmond makes a startling discovery concerning the MacLennan kidnapping while on holiday in Tuscany, and as the three protagonists dig deeper into ever-more labyrinthine mysteries, they are to make some remarkable discoveries -- discoveries which throw light not just on the crimes involved, but on the whole of British society.

So far so good!

Plan to start:
Not sure but I think it won't be another suspense/police procedural. I have been on a kick of these since I joined the 2012 Mystery and Suspense Reading meme.

2012 books read:
The Coast Road - John Brady
Still Midnight - Denise Mina
The Bulgari Connection - Fay Weldon
Good Bait - John Harvey
The Heretic's Treasure - Scott Mariani
Dead I Well May Be - Adrian McKinty
The Devil's Elixir - Raymond Khoury

My Recipe Box - Greek Meat Pie

2012-01-23T02:00:00.001-05:00

I make this all the time. It MUST be served with tzatziki from Sun Valley! - the best ever!
If you like this you will also like this recipe.

GREEK MEAT PIE

1 lb. ground beef chuck, lean
1 lb. ground lamb, lean
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon oregano, crushed
1 cup tomato sauce
pinch of cinnamon
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup butter, melted
12 sheets Phyllo pastry

In a skillet, saute ground meat in olive oil with onions until browned. Season with salt, oregano and pepper. Add tomato sauce, cinnamon.

In a small bowl, beat eggs and stir in cheese. When ground meat has cooled, fold in the eggs and cheese mixture.

Butter a 9x13 inch baking pan. Arrange six sheets of Phyllo pastry on bottom of pan, buttering each sheet. Spread a layer of cooled meat mixture evenly on Phyllo. Cover with remaining six sheets, brushing each with melted butter.

Trim edges of Phyllo to fit pan with a sharp knife. Slice through top of pastry to form diamond shapes.

Bake in a preheated 350°F oven until pastry is golden crisp.

May be served hot or cold.

Macro Monday

2012-01-23T02:00:00.000-05:00

Macro Monday is hosted by Lisa at Lisa's Chaos.
Macro Monday is easy to play, snap a macro (or any close-up) photo, post it on your blog and come back here and sign MckLinky.

Taken November 2011 on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Monumental Monday - Karnak Egypt

2012-01-23T01:30:00.000-05:00

The following is taken from this website.

Karnak describes a vast conglomerate of ruined temples, chapels and other buildings of various dates. The name Karnak comes from the nearby village of el-Karnak. Whereas Luxor to the south was Ipet-rsyt, Karnak was ancient Ipet-isut, perhaps the most select of Places. Theban kings and the god Amun came to prominence at the beginning of the Middle Kingdom. From that time, the temples of Karnak were built, enlarged, torn down, added to, and restored for more than 2000 years.

The ancient Egyptians considered Ipet-Isut as the place of the majestic rising of the first time, where Amun-Ra made the first mound of earth rise from Nun. At Karnak, the high priests recognized a king as the beloved son of Amun, king of all the gods. The coronation and jubilees were also held here. Staffed by more than 80,000 people under Ramesses III, the temple was also the administrative center of enormous holdings of agricultural land.

The largest and most important group in the site is the central enclosure, the Great Temple of Amun proper. The layout of the Great Temple consists of a series of pylons of various dates. The earliest are Pylons IV and V, built by Tuthmosis I, and from then on the temple was enlarged by building in a westerly and southerly direction. Courts or halls run between the pylons, leading to the main sanctuary.

The temple is built along two axes, with a number of smaller temples and chapels and a sacred lake. The northern enclosure belongs to Montu, the original god of the Theban area, while the enclosure of Mut lies to the south and is connected with Amun’s precinct by an alley of ram-headed sphinxes. An avenue bordered by sphinxes linked Karnak with the Luxor temple, and canals connected the temples of Amun and Montu with the Nile.

Near the northwest corner of the temple’s sacred lake is a colossal statue of the sacred scarab beetle on a tall plinth, dating to Amenhotep III.

To circle this statue of a scarab is said to bring good luck

The sacred lake on the west side may have been dug by Amenhotep III and restored by Montuemhat, who has a biographical inscription in theMut temple. A "high temple" was erected by Nectanebo II as a storehouse for the offerings.

My Recipe Box - Brown Sugar-Glazed Carrots

2012-01-22T16:52:00.001-05:00

Another favourite from my trusty Betty Crocker cookbook. I live to add some ginger as well as noted below as well as some sauteed onions.

Brown Sugar-Glazed Carrots

Golden carrot “coins” taste even better when coated with this buttery brown-sugar glaze.

Prep Time
10Minutes

Total Time
30Minutes

Makes

8servings

pounds carrots, cut into 1/4-inch slices (12 to 14 medium)

1/2

teaspoon salt, if desired

2/3

cup packed brown sugar

1/4

cup butter or margarine

teaspoon grated orange peel

1/2

teaspoon salt

Heat 1 inch water to boiling in 3-quart saucepan. Add carrots and, if desired, 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer covered 12 to 15 minutes or until carrots are tender.
While carrots are cooking, heat brown sugar, butter, orange peel and 1/2 teaspoon salt in 10- or 12-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved and mixture is bubbly. Be careful not to overcook or the mixture will taste scorched. Remove from heat.
Drain carrots. Stir carrots into brown sugar mixture. Cook over low heat about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and gently, until carrots are glazed and hot.

Makes 8 servings

Make the Most of This Recipe With Tips From The Betty Crocker^® Kitchens

Special Touch

Want this dish to look really special? Cut the carrots into diagonal slices or julienne strips. Be sure to decrease the cooking time because the carrots will have more surface area and cook more quickly.

Variation

Add another flavor dimension to this veggie side dish by stirring in 1 teaspoon finely chopped gingerroot with the orange peel.

2012 Decluttering

2012-01-22T10:51:00.001-05:00

I have been busy decluttering as my niece is moving into an apartment to go to university and needs stuff.

In my year-end recap I mentioned some of the stuff I have put aside for her.

Another set of bath towels (how many did I think I needed???) and she did say she needed towels.
Two hand towels
One bath mat
Three red mixing bowls
Two small casserole dishes
Two larger casserole dishes
Four small bowls
Two placemats
Travel tea mug
Four dishtowels
Towel brush holder
Two side plates
Blender

I went shopping in my basement pantry for my niece:
Eight tins of spaghetti sauce
Toothpaste
Two boxes crackers
Box of tea
Salad dressing
Crushed tomatoes

Other decluttering
Garbage/Recycling

Two toothbrushes - garbage
User manuals - recycling
Decorative bottle used for dish soap - I went back to my old one which was sitting in the basement. It is easier to hold - recycling

To friends
A couple of humidors
A pair of mittens
Sweater

Granada Nicaragua Churches

2012-01-22T02:00:00.001-05:00

This beautiful city has quite a few beautiful churches all within walking distance of the Central Park.

There are 6 main churches : the Cathedral, La Merced, Guadalupe, Xalteva, San Francisco and María Auxiliadora.

The Cathedral - The original cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1856. It was rebuilt in 1880 and renovated in 1905.

La Merced - This church was used by Mercedes people. Construction of this church began in 1871 and was finished in January 1783. Its structure is colonial and its doorways are baroque. I am trying to get more information on who the Mercedes people refer to.

The church has a tower which you can climb to have a great viewpoint of Granada.

Guadalupe - Founded in 1624-1626 by Benito de Baltodano monk.The church is situated in the Calzada street (Calle la Calzada) near Nicargua Lake and steps away from our B&B we stayed in.

Xalteva - this church takes its name from the indigenous settlement where it was built. It was one of the first churches that the Spanish built upon arriving in Central America and the subsequent city was founded around it. The church was reconstructed in 1890, but its exterior today is from 1895.

San Francisco Convent and church - is attached to the church and both structures were first erected in 1525, along with the rest of the city of Granada. It is the oldest church in Central America.

María Auxiliadora - I only got a couple of photos of this church as we stopped outside it while on a buggy tour.

My Recipe Box - Imperial Shrimps

2012-01-22T02:00:00.000-05:00

Laguna de Apoyo Nicaragua

2012-01-22T01:30:00.000-05:00

Laguna de Apoyo is a clean, blue, and thermally vented 48-square kilomenter body of water contained inside the crater of the Apoyo Volcano (think big warm clean lake!).
We drove there with the owners of the B&B where we stayed in Granada.

Floating beer cart

Our charming server

The cook

Some locals stopping to help a very old man who was carrying this wood - they dropped him at his home

Foto Finish - Where I Live

2012-01-21T10:31:00.000-05:00

Cat Patches is hosting Foto Finish with a theme this week of Where I Live.
This is my mailbox last January. We haven't had much snow this year.

Catarina, Nicaragua

2012-01-21T10:18:00.000-05:00

We started out planning on driving to Mombacho Volcano - 1345 meters

On the shores of Lake Nicaragua, Volcan Mombacho looms above the colonial gem of Granada. The 365 isletas found in Lake Nicaragua are a result of an eruption many years ago. Now Mombacho is home to coffee farms, a zip line and a few nice hiking trails. The steep sides of the volcano are under cloud cover most of the time and the cloud forest makes for great hiking. Mombacho is about 20 minutes from Granada. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3780275.

We drove up there but they only had excursions at 8:30 and 10:30 AM. It was 10:45 when we arrived. The guy at the zip line company offered us a 4 wheel drive at $60 dollars per person. We passed on that. We took a walk for a while and then decided we'd drive somewhere else for the day.

We decided to head to Catarina which is touted as the garden city. There are many roundabouts in Nicaragua.

Many small family nurseries produce flowers and ornamental plants for Central Nicaragua - Granada, Masaya and the capital Managua.
This beautiful town is situated on the mountain hills of a collapsed volcano - Laguna de Apoyo.

We parked in front of this church and then went exploring the town.

Lots and lots of garden nurseries.

Then we began to see some souvenir shops, and as we have not come across very many of these, we decided to pick up what we needed.

The local way to get around town.

Since we had come here on a whim we hadn't read anything about the town except that it was full of garden centres. As we walked further up the hills in town, DH suggested a restaurant we could stop at later as it appeared to be the only one.
Imagine our surprise when we came to a "tourist area" where you pay to enter (there is one in Granada as well). This was much nicer than Granada's, full of souvenir stands and restaurants. But the major surprise was the view. This is Laguna de Apoyo (a large environmentally protected lake) and the volcano Mombacho to the right.

There are musicians, horses to rent and families out for the day.

We chose a lake side restaurant for lunch and had a delightful server who couldn't do enough for us even though she didn't speak a word of English.

We were serenaded as well.

Some more shots of this beautiful town

My Recipe Box - Dirt Pie

2012-01-21T02:00:00.000-05:00

This is always a hit with little kids.

Junk Boat Travels

Friday Finds - Books

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

Friday Favorite Finds - Recipes To Try

Skywatch Friday

Wordless Wednesday - Death Valley California

Stonehenge

Wondrous Words Wednesday

Happy Valentine's Day

Ruby Tuesday

Our Travel Map

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Blue Monday

Mellow Yellow Monday

Macro Monday

Scenic Sunday

Foto Finish

Pink Saturday

Saturday Snapshot

Friday Favorite Finds - Recipes To Try

Creamy chicken and spinach pasta - recipe and photo from CBC's TV show Best Recipes.

Skywatch Friday

Wondrous Words Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday - Liverpool

Ruby Tuesday

Annoying Commercials

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Macro Monday

Blue Monday

Mellow Yellow Monday

Scenic Sunday

London - Southbank Walk

Area Highlights

Pink Saturday

Saturday Snapshot

Foto Finish - Through The Window

Skywatch Friday

Friday Finds - Recipes To Try

My Recipe Box - Apple Cheddar Quick Bread

Wordless Wednesday - Bath England

Wondrous Words Wednesday

My Recipe Box - Sour Cream Maple Banana Cake

Ruby Tuesday

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Blue Monday

Mellow Yellow Monday

Macro Monday

Scenic Sunday

New Recipes To Try

Royal Kona Resort Luau Kona Hawaii

Foto Finish - White

Saturday Snapshot

Friday Finds - Books

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

Granada Nicaragua Faces

Nicaragua Driving Tips

Nicaragua's top cop, who once wanted to be a nun, fends off drug gangs source.

Wordless Wednesday - London Eye - The Millenium Wheel

My Recipe Box - Indian Koftas

Granada Nicaragua Cemetery

My Recipe Box - Crema di Latte

Granada Nicaragua Market

Thirsty Tuesday - Rivas Nicaragua

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

My Recipe Box - Greek Meat Pie

Macro Monday

Monumental Monday - Karnak Egypt

My Recipe Box - Brown Sugar-Glazed Carrots

Another favourite from my trusty Betty Crocker cookbook. I live to add some ginger as well as noted below as well as some sauteed onions.

Brown Sugar-Glazed Carrots

Make the Most of This Recipe With Tips From The Betty Crocker® Kitchens

2012 Decluttering

Granada Nicaragua Churches

My Recipe Box - Imperial Shrimps

Laguna de Apoyo Nicaragua

Foto Finish - Where I Live

Catarina, Nicaragua

My Recipe Box - Dirt Pie

Make the Most of This Recipe With Tips From The Betty Crocker^® Kitchens