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Catherine's Kitchen

Catherine Manning

CATS, DOGS AND BIRDS AND TURTLES!

I'M FOREVER FIGHTING WITH THEM, all in the name of nature. The dogs want to chase the cats and the cats go for the birds and I feed and look after all of them. Not forgetting the turtles (tortoises) who just meander where they want to, when they want to and I have to make sure they don't turn over on their backs. If they do turn on their back and can't get back on their stomach, they will die of suffocation. It's usually the males that end up on their backs though!

Turtles are such cumbersome 'animals' and some think they are slow, but they are not, they are quite capable of getting on their legs and moving quite fast. Think there are about 60 of them now of all ages and sizes and just found two babies about an inch and a half in diameter. The biggest is about 35 years old and about 2' from the front of the shell to the tail. One of my dogs though blind, has a knack of sniffing out the eggs, which does keep the population down. She has it down to a T now, as she knows when they are laying and sits by them and as the eggs drop she gets it. Better that I suppose, than digging up and eating a baby turtle.

MUCH LATER and one of these days I'll miss the boat! I start the column at least two weeks before it's due and then get busy and don't finish it. I have been very busy though, which is good but it means I'm going 24/7, also I've been off e-mail for a few days as I downloaded a website to stop all the Spam and porn which I've been getting and it's given me a little trouble getting it set up, not being an expert, but thanks to the expert in the UK, I have been led through it and all seems well! My son-in-law would not have been happy with me! I just have to install my allowable addresses and hopefully that will be it, but it certainly seems to work well and dumped 20 non-acceptable without them even getting to my inbox.

This is going to be a short column as I really need to get it off, so my apologies.

Neysha's wedding went well, she looked lovely as usual. The wedding was held at Daphne's restaurant which is supposed to be very good, up market and expensive. It actually is where the Bamboo Beach Bar was, which was one of our favourite watering holes and we spent many a Sunday with the children having lunch there as it has a beautiful beach and sea. Daphne's took over, renovated and made it look a bit less like a beach bar and the prices skyrocketed!

For the wedding a massive deck was built on the beach almost to the water with a very pretty arch covered with flowers and the ceremony was held at sunset, which was beautiful. The deck had to be removed next day as it encroached on the beach which is against the law, but town planning allowed it for the occasion.

About 250 of us convened promptly by 5.30 pm and beverages were flowing, champagne, Bucks Fizz and anything else requested, but I was careful as I deliberately didn't eat anything during the day since I was looking forward to Daphne's food. By eight o'clock I was really hungry and since I had a long drive home, decided to slip away.

Following is a recipe for Pumpkin and Ginger Soup which someone asked me for some time ago.
 

PUMPKIN AND GINGER SOUP 4 cups pumpkin 1 cup carrots 1/2 cup celery 1/4 cup fresh ginger 1 cup onions 8 cups chicken stock 1 bunch marjoram salt and pepper 11/2 cups cream Garlic croutons Place all ingredients, except cream, in pot. Bring to boil, lower heat and simmer for about 25 minutes, cool and blend. Reheat, season and add cream just before serving. Garnish with croutons and a sprinkle of chopped parsley. STILTON AND PORT   10 oz roasted pecans chopped 1lb of Stilton cheese 3 fl. ozs. of good quality Port Crumble the cheese in a glass bowl, add Port and mix together. Wrap the cheese in cling wrap and form a log, squeeze tightly. Place nuts on a sheet of grease proof paper and roll the log in them to cover. Tightly wrap again and refrigerate till needed. Slice and serve on French bread, biscuits or melba toast.

Bon Appetit
Cath