The winds of change . . .

Looking out into the garden today all seems a chaos of leaves and branches blown and scattered all over the place. It's always the same after a spell of windy Autumn weather . . . it's hard to know just where to start cleaning up!

You'll often find that a day or two later though, that the wind will change direction, a new wind will blow through . . . and all those scattered leaves will be whipped up into neat little piles . . . sorta . . . and be laying against a wall or hedge in the garden . . .



Life can be like that sometimes don't you think? Sudden change can whip into our lives, bring chaos and problems that seem forbidding and insurmountable at the time. But often . . . if we wait, life will settle down, order will return and things may even be better than before.

That's the way it has been for us this year . . . it began early iin the year with lots of upset and uncertainty but has settled down now into something quite comfortable and yes . . . things are better in many ways than they were before.



Change is often difficult and can be very painful when we are going through it all . . . and we may think we'll never see the light at the end of the tunnel, but there is always light, and the tide always turns. Faith and perseverence are always rewarded, and sometimes in the most unexpected ways!

We should always, as the American aviator and explorer Richard E Byrd said, "Give wind and tide a chance to change."




Do you know what this is? It's a Russell Hobbs original K1 Kettle!! Fascinating looking isn't it!
Russell Hobbs is celebrating it's 50th anniversary by launching a worldwide search for an original K1 kettle. They are using such media as facebook, twitter and Flikr. They hope the search will allow them to build a full collection of pictures of Russell Hobbs products across 50 years, including the K1 kettle. They are asking people to tweet their pics to @russellhobbsuk and put them on the Russell Hobbs UK facebook page, email them in to russellhobbs@lucre.co.uk , or upload them to the Russell_hobbs_uk flickr group. Every picture they receive will win a 10% discount off a Russell Hobbs purchase and Russell Hobbs promises the lucky owner (s) of a K1 the full Russell Hobbs unique Heritage Collection.

Jason Steer, European Marketing Director comments: "Despite all the nice stories we hear about the newer K2 product, we sadly haven't been able to track down a working version of it's older brother the K1, and this is why we have decided to launch this competetion to find a fully operational version. We would like people everywhere to check in their relatives' attics and basements - anywhere they think one could be hidden."

Sounds fascinating to me! I hope they are able to find one and boy oh boy the person (s) that do have one are in for a real treat! I am thinking to myself if anyone at all has one, it could very well be our Angie from Can You All Hear Me At The Back! Put that Keith to work checking out the Attic, cellar and shed Angie! It will give him something to do and you never know what he may find!!!

Speaking of antiquities, I just love Brussells Sprouts. I could eat them in any way shape or form. I think they're just lovely . . . boiled, steamed, stir fried and roasted as I have done them here today. I do hope you'll try this method. Roasting helps to bring out all the wonderful flavours and natural sweetness of this lovely vegetable! Delicious!!




*Roasted Brussels Sprouts*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe

I dare say these will be the best Brussels sprouts you will ever eat. Crunchy and nuttily flavourful on the outside and creamy and delicately sweet on the inside, these are truly to die for! You can multiply and divide this recipe according to however many people you are serving. It’s a very forgivable recipe!

1 ½ pounds Brussels sprouts
3 TBS olive oil
½ to ¾ tsp of sea salt
½ tsp lemon pepper seasoning or freshly ground black pepper

Pre-heat the oven to 200*C/400*F. Pour the olive oil ontoa large shallowbaking tray with sides and set aside.

Cut the ends off the Brussels sprouts and trim off any yellow or tatty leaves. Throw them onto the baking tray and sprinkle with the salt and lemon pepper. Give them a good shake to roll them around in the oil and distribute the seasonings.

Roast them in the pre-heated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until crisp outside and tender inside. Give the pan a good shake every 15 minutes or so to help them to brown evenly.

Remove from the oven and taste one to see if you need any more seasoning or not. Serve hot.

*Note - You may find that if you are doing fewer than 1 ½ pounds you will not need as long a cooking time. I only did about ¾ of a pound last night and they only needed about 25 minutes.



Over in The English Kitchen this morning, some delicious Fruit Fritters!