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I left this quite late but I decided today to see if there are people who really visit my blog LOL. It helps to know you’re out there; I am guilty of silently lurking on blogs on occasion. If you’re out there, feel free to comment :)

Cuckoo aka Turned Cornmeal

One of my 09 resolutions is to become better at making certain foods which up until now I can only obtain at my Gran's or at a Caribbean takeway.

The dinner list: Cuckoo (aka Turned Cornmeal) and Roti: this list will be the first one I concentrate on doing.

The baking list: coconut tarts, homemade wholemeal bread: this list will take a great deal of time and energy to begin and perfect as baking is really not something I enjoy - yet!

Today I really had a taste for Cuckoo, which usually I have with fish and okra at my Gran’s or stew. As I have never made fish and okra, I decided turkey stew would be a safe-beat.

So I began my second attempt at Cuckoo. Boiling the salted water, taking the pot off the fire, adding dry cornmeal, stirring like nobody’s business then adding the pot back to the fire whilst trying to make the cornmeal thicken with no lumps by stirring it some more. This went well but I soon realised that the cornmeal wasn't thickening no matter how much I added. Instead of throwing it away, I decided to adapt - adding uncooked couscous to the pot in order to make the rounded balls firm. This turned out ok, but wasn't pure cornmeal so I felt like a cheated slightly, but I still really enjoyed the meal.

The downside was that I completely burnt the bottom of one of my favourite pot’s to the point where no amount of soaking and scrubbing would make it as it once was - clean! So naturally and regrettably it went in the bin.

Here are some pictures; I made about 5 in total. I will try again, in a new pot!

Do not be late for a coach - lesson learnt

Ok so coach travel sucks but hey its dead cheap - if your on time! Unfortunately I missed my coach and there was no where to really wait apart from inside the coach station. For the next hour I had to contend with cooing pigeons with war looking injuries, flapping around and generally making themselves at home on the seats that people sit on. Ok so you know I had to take a picture right, and incase you do not know I DO NOT LIKE PIGEONS! Lol

Roti day

Today I did a bonding session with my Mum and we attempted to make Roti from an age old receipe. We put split peas in it as thats how we like it! It turned out okay - it tasted better the next day and we know that next time more split peas will be needed!

Carnival Rotterdam

Here are a pics from the Rotterdam Carnival. It was so nice to go again. The people, the hugh breakfasts and fresh juice really did me wonders. I found they put so much effort into making the costumes as you'll see from these pics.

Proof that I am random most days even with food

Just a few pics to confirm that I do not mind what combination goes with what on certain days, including today where I ate 3 'weird' food combos: Cheesy omelette with cream crackers with jam, Asda Chicken noodles and hot tuna with salad lol.

Most wanted – a dog: still on my mind

I’ve always wanted a chocolate Labrador ever since seeing two puppies in a pet shop near my school. Unfortunately living in a flat and having a Mum who is scared as hell of dogs doesn’t help so I gave up on the begging. Now an independent adult, I may get one in the future once uni is over and I’m settled.

Most embarrassing moment – black out

Sometimes I really have to thing hard about something embarrassing that has happened to me. I don’t drink so this means embarrassing moments are pretty low. However there was one time where I was in Dixons rushing to get a really good deal on a portable CD Player after work. This was a few years back but I still remember it. The counter was really bright, with lights shining down on all the gadgets distracting me as the sales assistant explained all the features of this one particular player. I was sold, really wanted it but felt slightly out of it standing at the display counter as he was answering my question. The next thing I know I’m in a new location, sitting on a sofa in the far side of the store with a glass of water and someone asking if I am all right. I say yes, I’m fine and ask what happened. The sales assistant tells me that I just blacked out and luckily someone caught me, and if I feel well enough to leave or sit f or a few minutes. I say I’ll sit for a few minutes and drink the water, feeling really embarrassed. I get up eventually, buy my CD player and swiftly get the train home. I’ve never fainted before (and never since touchwood), and I really am convinced it was due to lack of food, and those bright spotlights bouncing off the glass cabinets!

I still got that CD Player though lol.

Camera - back with a new lens

Finally my camera lens has been replaced which means my pics should have a better quality again like they use to lol. Wooo

The PM /AM I attempted to make Split Pea soup

Today for so long I have wanted to pick up the courage to try for a second time to make split peas soup. My Gran makes the smoothest soup without a blender and within a relatively short space of time – no more than 2hrs. The last time I made this soup it turned out like the consistency of a crunchy peanut butter. So this time I soaked the yellow split peas overnight and began the process of boiling it down, adding water each time to make sure the peas didn’t dry down. I never really watch the fire so returned after 2 hours to find little progress – the peas hadn’t even split.

So after 4 hours I called my Gran for some much needed advice: throw in some baking powder to make them split quickly she says. So here I am at 5pm throwing in a little of the magic stuff hoping for a miracle. Unfortunately even after 8 hours the peas had not split. The odd thing is even though I was aware that the peas had lost all flavour I was just determined to see them crack, I mean it shouldn’t have been that hard considering I made split peas and rice once with the same packet. Anyways by 1am I started to drift into not really caring and just ignored my pot, hoping it would somehow miracley mash. So I smelt burning, went into the kitchen and saw a crunchy hot mess in front of my eyes, which swiftly went into the bin. Needless to say I was disappointed and am convinced if I had my Gran’s trusty cast iron dutch pot the outcome may have been better.

The following day I decided to use the dough I made for the dumplings to make a pizza base (first time and not really caring how it turned out). Here are some pics before and after – it turned out O.K. but needed more cheese: