Asian herb salad ideal for christmas lunches



With a wonderfully wild freshness due to the overuse of
delicate herbs, this is a definite Clara favourite.

Hi there lovers of Asian Salad
Asian herb salad got the tick with key players at the birthday party so I am going to repeat it for Christmas Day.  It went perfectly with the first course of BBQ chicken skewers served Asian style. See link below
The wonderfully wild freshness is achieved by massive overuse of delicate herbs along with an Asian dressing.
Clara

Ingredients
250g / 8 oz rocket (arugula) leaves - (trimmed of excess stems (substitute any peppery lettuce)
125g / 4oz each of mint, basil, cilentro leaves (leaves picked from stems, washed and spun dry)
30g / 1 oz chervil if available
2/3 cup canned bamboo shoots - (preferably already cut into matchstick)
Dressing
2 shallots, peeled, halved, and finely sliced
l tbsp rice vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
l tsp sugar
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 tbsp mirin
sea salt and pepper

For the dressing, mix the shallots, rice vinegar, and sugar together in
a small bowl and set aside.
Trim any excess stems from the arugula, and pick the herb leaves from
their stems. Rinse and spin dry the arugula and herbs. Cut the bamboo
shoots into matchsticks.
To make the dressing, whisk the olive oil, sesame oil, mirin, sea salt, and
pepper together in a large bowl. Stir in the shallot mixture, then taste
and adjust the flavors.
Very lightly toss the arugula, bamboo shoots, and herbs in the dressing,
and serve, with chopsticks.

Link for chicken skewers belowhttp://fitinyourjeanscuisine.blogspot.com/2010/10/skewers-capture-finger-food.html

Clara from Dubai

Hi from Dubai

Two fascinating days exploring on a stopover from Sydney to Rome.  A city of contrasts in every way, visually and culturally, epitomised by the architecture where the old meets new, the architects seemingly given free rein.  Buildings reach for the sky, jutting forward and upward with asymmetrical planes and angles to create the eclectic skyline.

Dubai Airport

The airport with shiny reflective surfaces and large marble tiles covering the spacious area, looked more like a modern upmarket hotel but this impression was soon balanced by a long walk in the wrong direction in 43 degree heat, in the middle of the day in the wrong shoes. 

A long walk in the wrong direction in 43 degree heat, in the middle of the day in the wrong shoes.

After imagining several oases which turned out to be mirages, we finally found the shopping mecca - Dubai Mall.

Dubai mall holds many mysteries
to be discovered

The odd skating rink

Swimming pool - Address Hotel

Gold Souk - not many places to wear these

 
 






Decided not to have a ride

Hmmmmmmm

Far too skinny - where is the muffin roll?

Dune Bashing  -

Clara - I am still alive!

Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au www.babyboomerconnections.com.au

Miracle mouse method for ironing jeans

   Hi R
I thought that you may have a comment re this important psychological research. 
'A Bigger and Better Mouse for Women.'
After years of research, scientists have discovered that women do not like the standard mouse supplied with PCs.  There is no physical reason for their aversion; it is more of a psychological problem.


Some women reported that their mouse 'just didn't feel right' in their hands. Based on the research, a new mouse has been designed especially for women. Various field tests have been carried out on the new design:

Chantelle from Roodepoort said:-

'It feels so much better. More comfortable, more like how it's supposed to be.'
Wendy from Discovery added:-
'I think mice were originally designed just for men, but this new type
is definitely made for women. It fits right in with my lifestyle.'




A bigger and better mouse for women

 Susan from Pretoria said:-

'I took to it like a duck to water, every woman should have one!'

Tanya from Lindhaven said:
"It feels so natural."









Clara -  ps - G sends out his ironing - would you believe to a guy - weell, we don't know who actually does the ironing but I don't.


pps - Clara's Smoothing Method - Clara does her ironing by hanging up the washing well in the first place, going 'Pat Pat and smoothing, doing up collar buttons etc" then, when it is dry, and ready to be 'ironed' ........the secret is to give it a quick hot spin in the dryer. 
Don't put too much in at a time or it won't work for two reasons.  Firstly, there needs to be a lot of hot air around to do the trick.  Secondly, you can't fold everything at once so you only heat up what you can actually fold. 


So -  what to do now that a few garments have had about:-

• 5 minutes on high  (works best with t shirts and jeans (but what else does anyone wear?)  
• Take out a few at a time - ie as many as you can fold in a minute or two - we need to have the heat going in order for this to work.  If you let the garment settle in a crumpled state this is how it will remain. The others can still be spinning around, in waiting. I am going to tell you how to do it one by one, but being experienced at this miracle I can place one garment on top of the other and 'iron' about 6 at a time. 
• T- shirt - tops etc - Spread out the hot shirt upsidedown - using your hand as an iron, smooth the hot fabric, which will do exactly what an iron will do. Pull and fold to present as you wish.  I prefer to place the garment on it's back and fold in the sleeves - then fold in half. 
• Take the next one - do the same and place it on top of the first and press down - the heat and pressure will do all the work for you.  
• So for jeans - much the same - take one pair at a time - place on a table, pat and smoooooth  really firmly.  Pretend your hands are a firm iron.  Fold in half and lay flat, one pair on top of the other, then give an extra firm pat.

Clara 
 

Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au www.babyboomerconnections.com.au

December Babies supported by family and friends

Hi there December Babies and those who valiantly support us through our tough times

I'm the December Babe in arms

And here was I thinking that I had an original thought in thinking up the name 'December Babies' for what has become an annual get together.  For some reason I Googled it, and lo and behold, there is a blog about it!  I tell you what - there ain't nuthin' that Mr Google hasn't addressed.

There was even a survey which I have included part there of - people around me haven't actually committed these offences but my empathetic self knows that it is an absolute pain to my family and friends that I had the misfortune to be born so close to Christmas.  I feel their pain as they attempt to stretch their already limited time and dollar to make me feel wanted and loved. 



The R&R factor - 3rd to the right

 I decided the best thing to do was to change the date which I did when my offspring were in their teens.  My daughter thought it was a good idea and dutifully went along with it - however my son said "It isn't your birthday, Mum."   I weakened to logic and reason and let it go. Damn! 

 However, I leave you with this thought - potential parents -  beware the 'Ides of March' re conception!  September Babies conceived during the holiday season  are ultimately better off.  However, I forgive my parents, since I was conceived during R and R leave - I won't tell you which war.  It had quite an impact on me when I realised the R & R factor - it  offered me a romanticised view - where my ordinary  mum and dad could have been part of a movie script, with my conception having the dramatic background of war.  I am here as a result of wider, more important need; that is, to replace those who died in the war, or at the very least,  conceived in a real moment of passion perhaps the result of long absence.  from www.babyboomerconnections.com.au/1940's1.htm

Thanks to my  friends and family for your support.
Clara


The blog I stumbled across which expresses the dilemma of DB

December Babies share many common experiences throughout their birth month; some are good but unfortunately many are bad. Help us compile the December Babies Criminal Code by letting us know what are the worst offenses you’ve seen or experienced around your birthday?



•The Party Lump: Birthday parties get “lumped” in with other family or friend get-togethers.
•The Lazy Card: Holiday cards read: “Oh yeah, Happy Birthday, too”
•The Wrap Job: Birthday gifts are wrapped in holiday-themed wrapping paper.
•The Fake Cake: A surplus holiday fruitcake with a few crooked candles jammed into it masquerades as a birthday cake.
•The Combo Gift: No, not the tasty snack! The dreaded “combo” combines birthday and holiday gift into one convenient unit.
•The Party Snub: Having a December birthday party that no one attends because of other commitments, workplace parties.......


Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au
 http://www.babyboomerconnections.com.au/

Welcome to GrannyCircle - we give you the gift of our experience

Dear Women of all ages
Welcome to our new blog, GrannyCircle, a magnificent opportunity for women to blend our ideas  and teach each other, wisdoms which span the generations.


R and I met up again (through Facebook) after 30 years, to find that we were still the same people with the similar interests and aspirations we formerly shared. We find that to be very gratifying and meaningful so we have been blogging ever since. Being creatives, we find it interesting to compare our lives, as Babyboomers, and we would like to involve you in our journey.
What evolved was a renewal of our friendship, and a fascination re where those years have taken us, and how our attitudes and aspirations have lined up, despite living in different countries and obviously having differing life experiences.


COG - became our word - 'Crazy ole Gals', derived from Blog, but the special aspect of COGGING came from Co-blogging, where I am a COG in R's wheel and she in mine.


We have come to the realisation that women of all ages share this aspect of supporting each other, and it is this aspect we are now exploring - how we bridge the gap, share 'Secret Women's Business' (SWB) with our beautiful daughters and their friends.  "We give you the gift of our experience", and perhaps pass on the secrets re still fitting into your jeans.  Clara