MARIE'S MUSES

Good morning. I’m up a bit later this morning. I had a bad night. That happens sometimes. I slept really well until about 2 am and then I woke up. The rest of the night was just one crazy dream after another. In one I was back in my hometown and I kept seeing a rope works that was huge and nobody else could see it. It was like it was invisible to everyone but me, and then I ran into an old school friend and her daughter, but she had the queerest eyes. They went right through you and I don’t remember her ever having eyes like that. It just dawned on me though they were the eyes of the lemur I saw on Richard and Judy yesterday. (I had the telly on up at the big house when I was polishing some copper) Funny how things you see and do during the daytime end up in your dreams at night!

This one is easy.

I love the movie “Witness” with Harrison Ford. It’s that Amish thing. I love anything Amish . . . Oh, and Harrison Ford doesn’t hurt either. I especially love the scene in the barn where he is fixing his car and that song comes on the radio and he swirls the Amish girl around in a romantic dance . . . Almost kissing at the end . . . Sigh . . .

Pretty Woman. Okay, I know it’s a film about a prostitute and one of her clients, and I shouldn’t like anything that glamorizes a lifestyle that is contrary to the way I live my own life, but I can’t help it. It’s a Cinderella story and I always loved the story of Cinderella.

Camelot. I love the music. I love the actors. I just love, love, love it. Todd does too, so he doesn’t mind if I watch it again and again.

The Ghost and Mrs Muir. I love old movies in particular and this one with Rex Harrison is one of my favourites. Imagine falling in love with a ghost, especially a cantankerous, miserable, grouchy one! Well, I suppose his looking like Rex Harrison doesn’t hurt!

I’ve lived in quite a few places so this one is easy too!

1. Baden Baden, Germany. My dad was in the Canadian air force and we lived there for four years when I was a toddler. I was lucky enough to go back for a visit several years back and I fell in love with it as an adult. I didn’t have too many memories of it from when I was a child.

2. Gimli, Manitoba. That’s where we moved to after we left Germany. It was a small town right on Lake Winnipeg, except we lived on the air base there and not in the town proper. It was a wonderful place to grow up. We lived there for seven years!

3. Nova Scotia. I’ve lived in Nova Scotia for the longest spaces in my entire life. We moved there when I was ten and I lived there until I turned 21. I then lived there again on two other occasions and that is where my mother now lives, where three of my children live and where I was living when I met my Todd.

4. Calgary, Alberta. I lived there for a few years when I was quite young. That’s where my oldest daughter was born. Yes, I’ve been to the Calgary Stampede. It was a lovely city and I adored the fact that I could walk out my back door and see the beautiful scenery of the Rocky mountains off in the distance.

1. Waterloo Road. I’ve been a fan of this television series since it began several years ago. I never got to go to school over here so it’s interesting to me from that perspective and I just love the characters in it and the story lines. I think it’s great!

2. Coronation Street. I’ve been watching this one since I was a girl, and that is a very long time. It has always been a very popular soap opera in Canada. I was so amazed when I first came over here to live in Chester and I saw row houses just like on the show, and cobbled streets and people who greeted you by saying “alright?” I always felt like Coronation street was a real street with real people living on it, people who were my friends and that I could go up to any of the doorways and be invited in for a cuppa!

3. Lark Rise to Candleford. I am really enjoying this new series on the BBC. I hope that it’s not a one off!!! I love period pieces and this is being done beautifully!

4. Reruns of old Brit Comedy sitcoms. I really love these and watch any of them going when I can. “Are you Being Served.” “Keeping Up Appearances.” “Vicar of Dibley.” “Only Fools and Horses.” “Last of the Summer Wine.” If it’s old, funny, and British I am tuned in!

Four Favourite things to eat. (Now you’re talking my language, but it will be hard to pick only four.)

1. Toast and peanut butter. This is often what I have for my supper when I get home from work. It is usually too late to eat a proper meal and if I did, I’d be up all night with acid reflux anyways, so I usually just snack on a piece of toast and peanut butter. I love the stuff.

2. Pie. Sweet, savoury, fruit, custard, meat, cheese and onion, salmon . . . You put it in a crust or between two crusts and I am there!!!

3. Potatoes. They are my favourite vegetable, which is why I don’t do “low carb” very well. It’s hard to cut out your absolute favourite thing to eat and cut it out successfully. I could eat potatoes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and every snack in-between and in any way shape or form!”

4. Chocolate. I do love chocolate, but not just any kind of chocolate. Only really good quality chocolate. Chocolate that is smooth and clean in your mouth with no powdery aftertaste or residue. It must melt on your tongue almost like ice cream. I love chocolate candy, chocolate cake, chocolate cookies and brownies, but the funny thing is I abhor chocolate milk and chocolate ice cream! (I always hated cocoa crispies when I was a kid because they turned the milk on them into chocolate milk!)

1. Living closer to my children, grandchildren and family. Not possible, but doesn’t keep me from dreaming about it sometimes.

Hmm… I can’t think of four, probably because, with the exception of living near my children, grandchildren and family, I am right where I want to be. J

1. The wedding up at the big house. What a wonderful experience that is going to be! I am sure it will be quite beautiful and what a privilege to be a part of it!

2. My youngest son coming over for a visit this summer. I can’t wait to see him! I miss him so very much. It’s really hard to be apart from him, and I will truly cherish every minute we have together.

3. Our holiday in Cumbria. We went there, to the same place, a few years back and I really loved it there. I could very easily live there, and I can’t wait to go back. Mind youit never rained the whole time we were there so maybe I wouldn’t like it so much if it rained every day . . . nah . . . I think I’d still love it.

4. Finishing that cookbook I am writing. It’s almost done now and I can’t wait to see it in print!

Here’s a lovely meal that is quick to do and quite tasty. If you have eggs and some courgettes in the fridge, you’ve got supper!

Serves 4

I love frittatas. They’re quick to make and very versatile. You can make a tasty one with just about anything. This particular version happens to be one of my favourites. Great for lunch or a light supper, frittatas are even good cold.

350g small courgettes (zucchini) washed, trimmed and cut in half lengthwise

4 TBS olive oil

Seasalt and freshly ground black pepper

6 medium eggs

50g freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

5 or 6 sun dried tomato halves, slivered

A large handful of fresh basil leaves, torn in half

25g finely sliced Parmesan Cheese to finish

Heat a large grill pan over medium heat. Place the courgettes in a large bowl and drizzle over 2 TBS of the olive oil. Season to taste with some salt and pepper and toss to coat. Cook them on the hot grill pan for several minutes, turning over as they colour, to cook on the other side. Transfer to a plate when browned on both sides and set aside.

Whisk the eggs, grated parmesan cheese, sun dried tomatoes and basil together in a large bowl. Fold in the cooked courgettes and then season to taste with some salt and pepper.

Heat the grill in your oven to high. (the broiler)

Put a 10 inch skillet with an oven proof handle over medium heat and 1 TBS of the olive oil. When it is hot, tip in the egg mixture, spreading out the courgettes. Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes or just until it is beginning to set. Scatter the sliced Parmesan cheese over top and then pop the whole pan under the heated grill. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes or until it is golden and puffy. Eat cut into slices, hot or cold, with a nice salad on the side and some chips if you are having it for your supper.

PS- Would Deborah (daesong5313 ) please e-mail me thanks!  I have tried to e-mail you but it won't go through.