lørdag 7. mars 2015

Chicken curry

There is a lot of spices in my curry! 
Together with a lot of onions, and time, it turns into paste.

Freshly made pappadums

And home made naan.

And after a few hours, dig in! (And remember to take a photo before it's all gone! I almost didn't make it! See we were halfway down the pan) 
You've got to love a curry, and wipe your runny nose, the chile and the curry will clean it out! 

torsdag 5. mars 2015

Sodabread and sunshine


If you need bread, quickly
Why not try sodabread! I served it together with a spinach lasagne which was so tasty 
It was gone before I could tale a photo!

This early morning, while eating my breakfast before going to work
Suddenly the sunlight flowed into my living room. It's March, and spring is coming closer! 

søndag 15. februar 2015

Fastelaven

Yes I know I've written about this before, but who cares. Follow the link if you want to see another bun.
http://krakilette.blogspot.no/2009/02/fish-and-fastelaven.html

Anyway, this time my good helper helped me out a lot!  




All ready, waiting for the whipped cream. 

It's time to put the kettle on and have a Fastelaven bun! 

lørdag 14. februar 2015

By the water


All my life, I've lived by the Oslo fjord, except a few years when I was a student, then I lived in another town. By a river. 
I love walking along the water, all year around. It smells of salt and sea, seaweed, lovely sounds of water against rocks and sand, the waves, the wind. It's really soothing and good to my soul. 
When I grew up, as soon as we learned how to swim, we were allowed to go to the beach by ourselves, with our friends. We grabbed our bikes and went down to swim several times a day, or stayed there all day. 
I never realized how lucky we were to have so many places within such closeness, to go swimming! Thats how it is when you are young. 
As I said I still live in the same town, and now I know how lucky I am. 

This spot is very close to my supermarket. I can leave the car there after grocery shopping, and take a walk if I need a bit of fresh air. In the summer, we often take a swim before doing the shopping. 

Sometimes the tide is extra high in the canal

Horten canal 

Its winter, not much swimming here, in the summer, stairs are put out, so it's easier to get in to the water. 

A little fishing boat

A little bridge for walking and bicycling. 

torsdag 12. februar 2015

Close up beauty

If you are looking for beauty, look around yourself! 
If you look closely you are surrounded by beauty in all shapes, forms and colours: 
This is what I found in my house yesterday: 
Freshly baked sweet buns

Firewood for the fireplace

Water from the tap

An unfinished drawing

A latch on a very old little box

An orchid

So many beautyful things in my home. Beauty doesn't always have to be grand, you just look a little closer! 

lørdag 7. februar 2015

The young ones

Since I first startet this blog, my kids has grown an developed from young kids to young grown ups. My lovely Pink Princesse was 14 years old and my handsome Little Chef was 11 when I started. 
My blog was never mainly about them, but they was part of it, and will still be. 

Now, Pink Princesse is 21 years old, she is currently working in a kindergarden. Her goal is to be a qualifyed teacher for young children, she has found her path, and loving it. The respect and warmth in her voice when se talks about these little people with all their life ahead of them is wonderful! 
She is planning to move in together with her boyfriend, they are so happy and ecxited, all the little tihings one needs when starting your own home for the first time, I still remember some of the stuff I had the first time I moved away from my parents. (When I think of it, I still use a few of them) And then there is all the other practical stuff, what about bills, how much to spend on food, (she: mum, how do I change a lightbulb, I suddenly realize I've never done it! Me: hello, you're moving in with an electrician!!) oh how exciting times, she is so ready, and even though it will be strange for us not to have her around all the time, it's our job to blow wind in her sails! 

Little Chef is far from little anymore! (194 cm tall) He is 18 years old, has got his drivinglicence half a year ago, and got a car about five minutes after the test was passed. He drives all the time, all over the place, and feels free as a bird! He is a very social person, loves to be with his friends! 
He is working in a old peoples institution, with elderly people with dementia. He loves his job, he has a big heart for geriatric health care, this is his path. The first time he told me about what he wanted to do, I was so surprized, but delighted and proud! He is training to be a qualifyed health carer, and hopefully one day a nurse. 

Yorkshire Lad is still my English husband (you never know about these things these days) we enjoy life and pat eachothers shoulders when we see how well our kids are doing, and how lovely people they are! We have much more time on our hands now, no more homework to cry over, no big worries about teenagetrouble. Little Chef complained the other day about how slow and inactive we were, sitting in the sofa one day, watching a film, and I told him, I deserve to relax now, and to find out what I want to do with my time, after having used all my time for the past 20 years to take care of my family. I'll ask him how he feels after bringing up his kids, in another 25 years or so. (If I still can remember) They still need their mommy, thank heavens, and I will always be there for them. 

Krakilette was and is "my place" with all my random things and thoughts, food, family, and other stuff, and so it still will be. 
And because I do not like to post without a photo, and I haven't asked the others permition to post a photo of them, here's one of me: 


This is me, on my third birthday!

fredag 30. januar 2015

Getting a grip


It's winter




I'm getting a grip, because the roads are slippery and my good workmate broke her arm the other day, falling on the ice  just outside her house! 

I have no time for that. I bought these to keep me on my feet. 


But I think it's unfair.  These 3 inches of snow came down in a hurry this afternoon, but my boss never told us to go home, the roads were full of people, cars and busses! The kids stayed in school, shops were open and everything went on as normal! Whats up with that! When 3 inches of snow came down in NY the other day, everything stopped! 

søndag 25. januar 2015

A good helper


This is my good helper in the kitchen. One of the reasons there has been less (or none) cooking and blogging about it is that over the last two years, a stupid tennis elbow has made both cooking and typing more difficult. (Oh, she's a tennis player you may wonder.. But no, sorry there is not much of a sportswoman in me! )
Long story short, I have had to find new ways to enjoy my hobby and passion for cooking, after I've realized that my right elbow will stay as it is. 
One of my new helpers is this wonderful red creature! Together with him, I redevelop my old ways of baking, in to new ways. And my spirit is raising! 

fredag 23. januar 2015

Lost friend

It's been such a long time. Allthough I never stop cooking, blogging about it has had a long break. 
In the blogging world you start following other blogs and people start to follow your blog. Some of these people becomes your friend. 

Look at these knives, I won them a few years back or it was meant to be just one, but then I got all three. My friend Christo arranged a competition and I won. 

I have used the knives everyday since , especially the middle one, that's my favourite. 

Today I learned that Christo had passed away. On his facebook page I can see how many people he has inspired, with his ultimate love for cooking, like he inspired me. I'm so sorry, it's a great loss! My thoughts goes to his family tonight. 

lørdag 2. november 2013

Autumn joy

In September my sister and I went on a fabulous trip to Venice. We stayed there for four days and there was no sign of autumn anywhere! It was the most wonderful holiday I've ever had (since the one in Greece where I met my dear Yorkshire lad in 1989)!
What a wonderful place, no cars, no bicycles, just walking people, boats, hundreds of bridges, and no stress. Lots of  people go on a daytrip to Venice, travelling past it, going on a cruise etc. but I will recommend to stay there for a few days, then you will get to know it a bit better, you will have time to willingly get lost, and discover wonderful quiet charming places, away from all the tourists. 
Put Venice on your Bucket List! 




Back in Norway autumn has definitely arrived, it's raining, and clear crisp days, bright colors and dark evenings. 
It's time for comfort food:


Our lovely neighbour came by, bringing an applecake, (not on the photo, because it was irresistable and disappeared scaringly fast) and 4 pairs of socks with a typical Norwegian pattern that she had knitted herself! One pair each, lucky us! 




torsdag 15. august 2013

A new leaf on our tree

My little sister became a mother for the first time a few days ago!
She is a year younger than me, and they've had such a long way to go to become parents!
All I can say is that technology and science sometimes can make dreams and miracles come true, and now there is one more beautiful child in our family, who might do great things and make a difference!
He is so beautiful and sweet, and I am so grateful that I've become an aunt one last time!

onsdag 31. juli 2013

Shandie

What?
Can you stop talking?

I'm knackered...

Leave me alone!

tirsdag 30. juli 2013

Holiday and lazy days


I'm enjoying my holiday!
I'm not travelling anywhere, besides every now and then up to the cabin. 
We have had such lovely weather so far. Since we are living in a little town by the sea, there are several places to go if you want to swim in the sea, or just sit in your beach chair, eating the lunch you brought, reading your book, or just talk to the people around. 

This is also an option: 

With summer comes good food. Mostly food that will take care of it selv, slow cooked in many ways. 

Our car port turns to our garden living room in the summer
The car knows it's place and stays patiently in the drive way, while we enjoy all our meals
In the open carport. 
When you live in Norway, summer can be all sorts of weather, and we still want to be outside.
At night we light candles, and sit there talking, having a laugh, or just listen to the grass hoppers.



My flowers are visited by chubby bumble bees, and they smell lovely!
And still I'm not half way through my Holiday!

onsdag 10. juli 2013

Summer grub, when days are warm

I needed a big container to take our salad out for a picnic.
The baking bowl won the competition!
Mackerel for dinner, with sunshine on the side
Something sweet, blueberry and strawberry dessert, with cream
Thats what I call summer grub!