Sunday, January 29, 2006

Greg's Lasagne


Greg cooked lasagne for tea...he used a recipe from a book called "Complete Italian Cooking" page 92. ISBN 0-600-60189-7. Very tasty.

posted by Fortune's fool @ 1:27 PM 0 comments

Portofino's


Yesterday was our Wedding Anniversary...went to Portofino's had a perfect evening. Fabulous food. The highlight was the second course "Gamberoni" which is Tiger prawns cooked with garlic white wine and lemon, served with salad. Have been there many times before but the Gamberoni made this special.

posted by Fortune's fool @ 1:21 PM 0 comments

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Parma Ham and Basil Risotto



Cooked this Risotto yesterday which turned out very tasty. It is based on several recipes that I have used in the past.

The ingredients to serve 2 are:

1 large onion. Chopped finely.
Olive oil large spoonful
Butter 25g
Garlic - 3 cloves crushed
Basil about 10 leaves chopped roughly
Tomatoes - about 10 of the realy small ones..blanch and remove skins
Parma Ham
Carnaroli Rice
Bouillon Stock Cube with 600Ml boiling water

Heat the oil and half the butter in a deep frying pan on a medium heat. Fry the Onion for about 3 minutes add the garlic and tomatoes cook for another minute.

Add the rice and stir constantly for another 2 minutes.

Turn the heat to low and add the stock a laddleful at a time waiting for it to be absorbed before adding more stock.

After 20mins the stock should be gone and the rice should be creamy in consistency.

Add the Basil and Parma Ham. Cook for a further minute.

Don't think this needs seasoning at all. So be careful with the salt as the Parma ham has a lot in it.

Serve immediately with a a large glass of white wine.

posted by Fortune's fool @ 10:04 AM 0 comments

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Which one of you thieving b.... pinched my credit card details ?

After last weeks Christmas cheer this week has been much more of a hassle; perhaps I should not be surprised with the passing of Friday the 13th. The week started well; Stayed at the international hotel in Telford on Monday evening and had my credit card authorised for payment the night before checkout. In the morning approached checkout with my mind already firmly focussed on the day ahead. Angela, the pleasant check out girl, scanned my Visa card. “Oh this sometimes happens please can put your card in the machine again”. On the third attempt she had to phone a Visa operator. They would not tell us what the problem was but just asked lots of security questions which finally resolved the problem. By this time there was a queue of interested bystanders one of whom was a work colleague, Peter, who kindly offered me a fiver. I think this more as a humorous gesture rather than a serious offer though I felt that he would have done more if I was penniless. Anyway I left for work seriously wound up....

Later in the morning I called my Visa company for an explanation. I was quickly put though to the fraud group who asked whether I had used my card for online betting. Gulp. NO. Next they asked whether I had transferred a sum of money to the US. Shucks. NO.

Anyway....I am now without a Visa until I can get a replacement card. I am not sure whether to feel happy that Visa spotted these unusual transactions on my card or annoyed that they did not call my mobile to let me know that my next Visa transaction was going to be refused.

The rest of the week wasn't so perfect either hit half a house brick that someone had kindly left on the M6. Managed to avoid an accident and car has no real damage just a small chip on the underside of the car.

So if anyone knows who has nicked my identify and is trying to bump me off let me know and I will reward you with an endless supply of beer!

posted by Fortune's fool @ 4:48 AM 0 comments

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Christmas Cheer...


The magnificent Macclesfield Town have had a wonderful Christmas spell. Winning against Stockport, Chester and Wycombe (the last a feast of nine goals). Only the postponed match against Shrewsbury stops them having a perfect record.


Helen joined her first gymkhana and received a first place rosette. Aren't gushing parent embarrasing.


Stopped overnight at the Telford Golf and Country Club this week. Very nice place with Golf Course overlooking the Ironbridge (not that I could tell it was too dark) and well equiped Gym. Hope to stay there again but they have put the prices up so will have to find somewhere else to stay this week. <http://www.swallow-hotels.com/hotels/swallow-golf-leisure-hotel-telford>

posted by Fortune's fool @ 10:57 AM 0 comments