Monthly Archives: March 2007

Having a (cheesy) ball at Carluccio’s

Cheesy balls. Or hot and salty cheesy balls to be more accurate! At the risk of this blog sounding like a South Park sketch I can honestly say I’ve had my fill of cheesy balls.
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Macaroni with mushrooms and purple broccoli

macaronistart.jpgI made this recipe out of what I had in the fridge but am so pleased with it I’ll share it here. The earthiness of the dried mushroom complements the fresh purple broccoli perfectly. What an undervalued vegetable that is and reminds me of my happy allotment days! This recipe is quick and easy too – it took less time to make than to drink a cup of tea.
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Welcome home fish pie

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What could be more welcoming and comforting than a home-made fish pie? In need of something reassuring to cook on my return home from abroad I sought out a good fish pie recipe on the internet.
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The end of the road

view.jpgBack in Britain. I may have arrived without my luggage (that only got as far as London) but I have had an experience which will stay with me for life. And while I may have not had a sudden revelation on my road to Damascus, there are some valuable lessons in life that travel always seems to impart.
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Home of the stretchy ice-cream

Ice-cream with elasticity. There’s another first. Wandering through the crowded markets of Old Damascus I was led into a cafe where room upon room of people sat enjoying a unique type of ice-cream. Although ices are commonplace across Arab countries, … Continue reading

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Aaahhhh tea

Syria is another great tea drinking nation. Tea for breakfast, to help digestion after an evening meal, for a break with friends and oiling the wheels of commerce during business meetings. The tea is strong, more often served black and … Continue reading

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Lunch? We really must go for a sheep’s head

lambbrains.jpg Another first under my belt. A sheep’s head for lunch. I think I may have been a little rash to accept the kind invitation to a traditional lunch. For some reason I thought it would end up being a type of lamb stew – a sort of comforting hot pot in a foreign land. There’s no way I could have imagined the enourmity of what I’d agreed to.
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Day one: A day of firsts

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What a day. I’ve sampled my first hubble bubble(shisha) pipe, been a passenger in a car with nine people crammed inside for the first (and probably last) time and taken in my first views of Damascus at night from the Syrian mountains.
Seems the surprises just keep on coming.
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Knickers singing all the way

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On my travels again, this time to one of the countries named as part of the so-called “axis of evil” – Syria. Leaving behind the relative safety of Manchester for a week in Damascus is certainly a first for me.
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Where to eat for 24 hours in New York

Here’s the long-awaited 24 hour guide to eating in New York. (The pictures are still irretrievable). For breakfast; Pershing Square. This is near the fantastic foodie must visit Grand Central Station. It’s exactly what you want from a true NY … Continue reading

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