Something to tantalise you...

I want to thank everyone who has been praying for me.  The results from the cystoscopy showed a healthy bladder.  I will keep you posted as the other tests are completed and the results in—But enough on that topic!

For clarity’s sake, I must explain that I am called “Nana Reed” by the grandchildren; My Midnight Man’s ex-wife is referred to as “Granny Reed” by the youngsters.  Here in England mid-term break from school for our grandchildren was the week of 21^st February.  Two of our grandchildren came up from the south coast with their “Granny Reed” to visit some of her family and friends for a week.  This provided cousins KJD1999 and TLR2000a great opportunity to spend a day with “Nana and Granddad Reed”. 

KJD1999 & TLR2000

The grandchildren in England have come to know that spending time with me is “kitchen time.”  I’ve never forced this activity on them.  They always anticipate these days with excitement.  KJD1999 is especially fond of food and cooking.  He often says:  “I want to be the next Jamie Oliver.” 

We had a limited time with them, as their Aunt was coming to pick them up about 4:30 p.m.  The project of the day was suggested by their Granny.  Apparently My Midnight Man used to make Meringues with his own children years ago.  So perhaps Granddad would do the same with the grandchildren.  Granddad had made commitments to other people—so he wasn’t even going to be home!  But meringues were the order of the day, and so out came The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook copy write 1980. 

Since I had learned to make Pavlovas whilst I was in Scotland and just conquered royal icing in December, I figured that meringues wouldn’t be a problem.  Thankfully, they were easy and fun.  KJD1999 loves my Kitchen Aid Mixer.  But then, so do I as it does the hard work. 

The recipe calls for three egg whites.  This worked out well because it meant I could show KJD and TLR how to separate the whites from the yolks.  TLR2000 got it right on her first try.  KJD1999’s first attempt was heavy-handed and that egg ended up with the egg yolks.  His second try was better, but still unsuccessful. 

       “Maybe you should do it, Nana” he said, a bit discouraged.

“It’s okay—I’ve got plenty of eggs.  YOU can do this.  Just slow down, concentrate and you’ll get it.”  I reassured him.  I wasn’t about to let him give up.  “If you want to be the next Jamie Oliver, you have to know how to separate an egg.”  Third time success! 

                       They took turns turning the Kitchen Aid on and off, and also adding the icing sugar.  Then we let the mixer run for 15 minutes while I had them clearing and washing up.

                       Instead of putting the meringues onto a greased cookie sheet, I stuck grease-proof paper on the baking tray.  To keep it from slipping I used a little of the meringue mixture under the corners of the paper. 

Since we had some time, and I thought the cousins would enjoy it, I folded grease-proof paper into piping bags to place the meringues onto the paper.  I also pulled some cake decorating tips out of a drawer to use in the end of the piping bags.  White, sticky mixture got on our hands, our faces and enough on the paper to make the meringue nests!

                       KJD1999 and TLR2000 took theirs with them to their Aunts, as well as one for her.  My Midnight Man and I ate ours that evening with bananas and hot fudge sauce. 

I’ll have to make them again soon, because they are temptingly tantalising as well as tasty.

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith-Lady Helene 

3 egg Whites at room temperature

1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

¾ cup sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1)      Preheat oven to 275°F/140°C/Gas mark 1

2)      In small bowl with mixer at high speed, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form.

3)      Gradually sprinkle in sugar, 2 Tablespoons at a time, beating after each addition for about two minutes or until sugar is completely dissolved, about 15 minutes.  To test, rub meringue between fingers; if grainy, continue beating.  Add vanilla, beating at high speed until mixture stands in stiff, glossy peaks.

4)      Onto large greased cookie sheet, spoon mixture into 6 mounds.  Spread each mound into a four-inch circle, heaping mixture to form a next shape.

5)      Bake 45 minutes until meringues are crisp and very lightly browned.  Turn off oven; let meringues stand in oven 45 minutes longer to dry.  Cool completely on cookie sheet.

6)      Store loosely wrapped in waxed paper; keep at room temperature.

 

Laugh? Cry? Both?

Life has many ironic moments.  Last Friday evening presented one for me.  Just that day I had finished reading:  Don’t Try This at Home edited by Kimberly Witherspoon and Andrew Friedman.  Each of the thirty-three chapters is written by one of world’s various and finest chefs about the times with things did NOT go according to plan.  Many of these chapters had me laughing out loud. 

                        Friday afternoon I spent a bit of time baking a cake with royal icing as a present for a couple who had just celebrated thirty-three years of marriage.   I’d found a recipe for White Velvet Cake and it seemed like a great cake to use for a wedding anniversary.  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/White-Velvet-Cake-I/Detail.aspx  I substituted royal icing for the coconut icing.  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Royal-Icing-III/Detail.aspx  I didn’t have a box, so the cake was put into my cake carrier. 

                        Now the cake carrier had lost two of it clips—which left two clips to hold the top onto the base.  Although the carrier has handles on the top, I never trust the carrier to hold together, always picking the carrier up by the base to take it with me. 

                        Through out the afternoon I kept thinking about the food catastrophes written about in the book.  Thankfully, the cake turned out very well, so I was relieved and pleased. 

                        Midnight Man and I were going out to attend our Hillsong Connect group.  The cake was for the couple giving us a lift to the meeting.  Our contribution to the meal was a loaf of bread. 

                        “Which do you want to carry—the cake or the bread?”  I ask My Midnight Man as I was putting on my coat. 

                        “How about you just lock the door?”  MMM says as he comes into the hall. 

                        Plop!  I looked down.  The white cake laid bottom up, white royal icing with cocoa nut sprinkles spattered on the black carpet. 

                        Tiredness and disappointed burst out from me in the form of crying—but I had no tears.  My gift was ruined.  It was only a cake.  But my surprise for my friends had been made defunct.  I knew I would eventually be able to laugh about it...but not at that particular moment. 

                        “I’m so sorry, My Darling.”  My Midnight Man says, shell-shocked by the sweet offering resting without dignity on the floor.  “I’m so sorry.  I really am.”  This became his ten-minute litany. 

        “I know you didn’t do it on purpose.”  I say.  “Let me clean it up.”  I went to the kitchen for two spatulas.  The cake had held its shape, in part because of the royal icing.  Using both turners, I lifted the cake from the carpet, placed it back on its plate and took it to the kitchen.  The icing on the top had come off, so at least MMM and I could eat the cake.  I vacuumed up the shredded cocoa nut and MMM cleaned the carpet with clear water.  That’s all we had time to do.

        The plan is to make a second cake for our friends.  My Midnight Man and I have enjoyed the cake—so it wasn’t wasted. 

        I am not a superstitious person.  But I just couldn’t get past the irony that the very day I had finished reading a book about kitchen catastrophes was the same day that anniversary cake ended up on the floor!   

My Current Health Status

Hello!

Since 2008 I have struggled with fatigue, mood swings, times of cloudy thinking, muscle weakness and even depression.  I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid levels) and given appropriate medication.  Even with the medication I have continue to be tired, weary, and lethargic.

I have also suffered from essential tremors.  My doctor has been very concerned about me and although I have thought I might be suffering from adrenal fatigue, he hasn’t been convinced.  Blood tests showed that my hormone levels are at acceptable levels.   

However, in an attempt to find out what has been ailing me, Dr. Asaad sent me to a rheumatologist in January.  The rheumatologist ordered a urine screening and also more blood tests.  The results came back:  I am suffering from a Vitamin D deficiency.  There was also blood and protein in my urine, but no sign of infection. 

On 10^th February I went back to my GP, taking a urine sample with me.  Once again it showed blood and protein in the urine—significant levels.  

Dr. Asaad referred me to an urologist, whom I went to see on 24^th February.  From my medical records he could see that I had reported blood in my urine in 2008, as I was referred for a cystoscopy (2008).  A cystoscopy is a procedure that uses a small, flexible camera to do examine the inside of the bladder.  The Urology doctor has referred me for another cystoscopy and an ultra sound for my urinary tract.  If these current tests come back clear, then I will need to be referred to a nephrologist (a doctor who specialises in kidney function.)  The cystoscopy is scheduled for Monday, 14^th March and the Ultrasound is on Friday, 25^th March. 

I did some research and found that Vitamin D deficiency can cause depression, mood swings, and fatigue.  I also found out that it is the job of the kidneys to convert Vitamin D into an active form. 

One contributing factor to a vitamin D deficiency is being overweight.  However, with my severe fatigue I haven’t been able to exercise.  Whilst we do have a shortage of sustained sunshine here, my diet has lots of calcium and vitamin D rich foods—egg yolks, cheese, oily fish, and whole grains. 

In the back of my mind I can’t help but think that there is some sort of connection between the problematic finding of protein and blood in my urine and the vitamin D deficiency.  

My prayer partner and I have been praying about health problems.  I do believe that the real cause of my fatigue and other associated symptoms is coming to light.  I have started taking Vitamin D supplements.  I do seem to be improving.  However, I want to be totally whole and healed.  I need to have my life back and have a routine.  Establishing a daily routine is difficult when I have no energy for one or more days in a row and then have one or two good days. 

I have a peace that we are finally on the right track and that an answer is on the way.  I covet your continued prayers regarding these issues.  I will keep you all apprised of any news and progress.

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith

Do You Smell It?

Do you smell it?  NO?  Let me help you...coffee... chocolate... chicken and lemon with garlic...now do you smell those scents wafting from my kitchen? 

Okay, I confess.  Yesterday I baked a batch of mocha brownies simply to have a reason to turn on the oven.  It was cold and damp in the flat.  This IS England, so of course grey skies and rain are normal.  To help remove some of the condensation that collects on the windows, we open the windows.  Hence, the cold in our flat that led to a desire for a hot oven. 

Recently I’ve been sharing my kitchen with some very special people.  This sharing and teaching is a joy to me.  Relationships are built in the kitchen—relationships between mothers and children, sister-to-sister, two best friends.  There is something about creating good food together that creates a bond. Sharing my cooking skills with others eager to learn excites and motivates me. 

Miss JD & Miss VL

                        Miss JD always enjoyed my butternut squash and sweet potato soup.  Although I had e-mailed the recipe to her, it didn’t prove to be a successful result for her.  She asked for a tutoring session in my kitchen.  As we discussed setting a date, Miss VL mentioned that it sounded like fun.  The three of us agreed on a date that worked for all three of us—a Tuesday evening.  We chatted and bantered while I gave instructions and they peeled, chopped, stirred and then blitzed the lovely orange soup, seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg.  Well, we enjoyed it—cooking and talking—so much that we decided to do another session.

The next lesson was for making American buttermilk biscuits.  I’d made a batch and took them to our Hillsong Connect group.  Both JD and VL were keen to learn how to make them.  Little did they know the mild trepidation that rippled through my brain.  The tall, light and fluffy biscuits I took to group had been the best batch I’d made to that day.  I could only hope that when we did it together we’d get a good result. 

Hot and ready for you!

On the night, I pulled out my copy of The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook  We read the recipe and I told them to shift the flour, baking powders, and baking soda together twice.  And the results were marvellous!  What a great smell!  What joy!  published by Hearst Books, Copyright 1980.

The other thing that happened was that we had a meaningful conversation about singleness.  As a woman who had not married until age 44, I believe I have a solid platform to discuss the struggles and conveniences of singleness.  The warmth of the kitchen, the informal setting, and trust establish through friendship created on opportunity for openness and sharing.  All that is motherly in my heart was allowed to flow.  We’ve scheduled another session—and I’m looking forward to our evening of cooking and sharing together.  

In the meantime, the smell of coffee is wafting into my office from the kitchen.  It is time for a cup of java, and of course a brownie to go with it.