Star Studded Sundays

I have been wanting to write something on another passion of mine, celebrities that are worth following and watching, celebs with real goddamn talent that will grow hairs on your chest, and make those same hears stand up and wave.

Two celebs I am a little potty about lately, first person is Owen Wilson, he is so huggable lately, yet this celeb is elusive and may not be found on the internet unlike his buddy Ben Stiller can be found on twitter and youtube, but even then does not update regularly. Celebs are steering away from myspace, the big important stars anyway, as since it now being the property of News Corp and Fox tycoon Rupert Murdoch, myspace is nothing but rearing x factor/American idol videos onto your profile, Kesha and anything bad about music and the reality celeb world.

This Owen Wilson on twitter may be a fake as with all celeb Hollywood profiles such as Owen will have had it authenticated.

The only thing about Owen you will find on myspace is the video interview he did some time after his suicide attempt and other Official videos that cannot be viewed outside the States. And that goes for anything on myspace now, such as some of the Fox shows Bones, you cannot see most of their features if you live outside the U.S. All us Brits get is X Factor and Big Brother numties and of course big movie adverts that keep interfering with your log in procedure.


Artist on Artist: Owen Wilson & Wes Anderson

Artist on Artist | MySpace Video

Check out the lovely fan video though


OWEN WILSON WITH TIM

TIM SILVERBIRD | MySpace Video

This myspace profile I also found but again reeks of being fake, as it is set to private. Two important thing I know about celeb profiles on social network sites are :1) Celebs are always public profiles, except for the exception of Leland B Chapman of DTBH fame, as this bounty hunter is struggling to keep up with the followers, and crazy stalkers. But that has not stopped the crazy stalkers. 2)Fakes hide behind private profiles (can you imagine celebs being so private, come on, as they have movies/projects to promote). If you question the celeb if he is real, he will get defensive and even use threatening behaviour. Savvy Celebs who want to stay private, do not have a social network profile anywhere.

On facebook, there are a couple of fan pages, where fans just rant to Owen how lovely he is, but I doubt he reads it. I have myself have a fan page created to update any Owen fans on his latest film projects.

Okay, my second little item is Chuck star Zachery Levi. Coolest name ever...
Currently he is touring Italy and Spain. if you want to know more about the man, check him out for yourself on FB if you have not already not done so.

Owen Wilson

all my thoughts and ramblings on this cowboy are on my fan page on facebook
including lots of pics all together in one place




Currently filming in Canada with Jack Black and Steve Martin for A Big Year. Jack and Owen go swinging by on their time off

And it looks promising for Zoolander 2, despite funding problems with certain studios.

How To Train Your Dragon Widget

Tasty Tuesdays - Credit Crunch

I just love left overs from the day before.
Last night's dinner was lamb coated in a creamy creme fraiche sauce - creme fraiche, a dollop of mustard, breadcrumbs, rosemary and mint leaves. Potatoes were cooked with some cabbage, rosemary, mushrooms and a dollop of cream and some cheshire cheese.

But as usual I made too much or everything as these days food comes in packs for two to four people, and i end up making too much.

Well, the potato gratin was added with some stock for today's lunch, and I was surprised how well it turned out. I have been doing this for the past few weeks, economising due to being skint and only just returned to work. Money is tight, and making these home made soups, from left overs, or just freezing excess food in the freezer helps. I just wish supermarkets would not sell their perishables in large packs. I could not find loose kiwis this week and the range of loose potatoes are jacket (baking potatoes, or those 'New' potatoes. every other type of potato is in large packs, and its such a waste for us single folk, who has a teenager that does not eat potatoes. Considering England is one of the countries with the largest waste in food. These new superdeals and multiple packs of perishables is the main culprit to all this wastage.

Monday Matinee

Oh I must see this - And Liam Neeson says it so well ...'I love it when a plan gets together'

Some say it is not film material, but I think the concept is. And I just love Liam Neeson's portrayal.
But he also reminds me of Cid Highwind from Final Fantasy VII

Speaking of which, here is a clip of when we first meet Cid. Memories. and don't you think Barrett in FFVII is a reincarnation of BA Baracus. You motherfu..ers, fool.

Music Mondays - How do you solve a problem like Maria

A little quiz

How many songs are there out there with your namesake in the title?

I did a little fun search for my namesake songs and I do know of two recent tunes with my namesake Maria.

Rage against the Machine http://www.last.fm/music/Rage+Against+the+Machine/_/Maria

Blondie - Maria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfK8uMzkIK4

All Time Low http://www.last.fm/music/All+Time+Low/_/Dear+Maria%2C+Count+Me+In

Santana - Maria Maria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ml3NUIDpFg

of course my favourite http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpdB6CN7jww&feature=fvw
apparently lovely John Barrowman (hot guy from Torchwood) does a cracking performance for all us Marias ooooh... sing it to me John, I've got goose pimples on top of goose pimples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy-PsIetn5s
He may have lost out to the title gay icon on this twitter contest, but he is far more talented than the winner.
of course Bach's - Ava Maria
of course Beyonce tried to kill it by doing her awful rendition. Beyonce, don't try to be something you are not, and you are not an opera singer. And beyonce could not sing this tune at all without damaging her voice. Try this instead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bosouX_d8Y&feature=related

Haha! She knows me too well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1HwVmY28Pk

As an artist myself I have to come up with an artist's name/band name that has not been taken. For some reason I cannot use my own name 'Maria' as a Japanese band has claimed that name already on Last.fm. Poopy

Sunday Matinee

Cute British actor

Fashion Fridays - Vintage

Vintage or retro has always been part of my look/wardrobe.

In England, dotted along our fair Isle are a little boutique chain where I have been purchasing their fine wares since mid 1990s.
http://www.bluerinseleeds.co.uk/

Since the council moved everyone out of the Corn exchange, Leeds, and made a right ole mess of things, the little boutiques had to find other premises. Pop -Boutique have opened up in a new location nearer Harvey Nichols. Its a larger store with loads more merchandise than they could have in their smaller boutique at the Corn Exchange
http://www.pop-boutique.com/

In my music video 'Softly Gently', you can see one of their fabric bags I purchased in their small stall at Afflecks Palace, Manchester. I also used to wear their flared cord jeans, but they have not been stocking them recently. I am sad to say, they do not do the fabric bags any more. On both websites they have a limited range but you can find more little goodies inside their stores. But I am liking their pinafore dresses. I may go for the pinafore look this Spring and Summer to match my manga hair style. lol. or I may end up looking a right prat!

I do have quite a few vintage clothes in my wardrobe that will no longer fit me. No way will I fit into a size small again. I may have to set up shop on amazon or ebay because they are still in good condition despite being well loved. And will be well missed.

Treat Yourself Thursday - That new Haircut

I don't know why, but I want to go Manga. My hair is growing back after shaving it off and it has that horrible growing back stage where I just cannot style it. But I have been thinking of heading to a salon, which I rarely do as each time it turns into a disappointment. My hair is just not long enough for some of the styles on here http://www.animehairstyle.com/
but they all wanna do the Super Sayan thing. Yeah, I want Goku's hair. lol. Love to roam the streets of Tokyo to see it to believe it. But Manga hair is part of the whole cosplay and anime/manga look all of us want to dabble in.

Watching one of the vids, I think my fringe needs to be a bit longer, and I can keep the back part without needing to go the salon. Done, purchased my Manga putty from Garnier Fructis, and I am Manga out of here. It's a great tom boy look for any emo, punk, manga junkie girlie out there.

For the girlie girl who likes to kick ass, do the Tifa (Final Fantasy VII) or the Rinoa, Yuffie, and the pretty Yuna (FFX and X-2)look. The Japanese girls love these female icons, and maybe what made the Final Fantasy franchise popular with the girls as well as the boys. Gaming in general was considered a male hobby, but due to the manga image in some of the games and other RPG, girls like to get out their playstations and xbox 360s out too.

My favourite has to be the Yuffie hair, even without the head band, it still works.



And all you need is a decent hair cut and your gel. I do know one salon in Leeds do this kind of look, and there may be other salons in a city near you.

tasty tuesdays - Chinese/Japanese

I seem to go through fads, and food is no different. Since losing a portion of my bowel due to cancer, I have lost some of my appetite, but going Chinese or Japanese seems to keep me going through the day. If done properly can be a tasty and healthier option to your average meal. There are plenty of resources online so it is pointless to give you the recipes, but I can show you some of my favourite condiments and ideas that you can purchase from your local store.

Chinese vegetables used in stir fries need to be cut evenly, and same shapes/sizes, so they cook evenly. And use this trick with your meats as well. Pictured is some onions, noodles spring beans gently fried in Oyster sauce.

This is the best Oyster Sauce around that I have tasted so far. Purchased in the Chinese supermarket in Leeds. Great for your salmon and noodles.

Try this website http://chinesefood.about.com/od/sauces/Sauce_and_Seasoning_Recipes.htm
for this and other ideas for Chinese cooking. Plenty of Thai and Szechuan ideas. One suggestion is Beef and broccoli with Oyster Sauce.
And supermarkets are filling their shelves up with Szechuan sauces. The key ingredients is chilli oil, tomatoes and black pepper, so you may as well try and make your own to spice up some white fish or chicken.


Served these vegetables with some breaded fish goujons bought from a local supermarket, using Plum Sauce for dipping.

Chinese cooking should be versatile and does not necessarily stick to a strict recipe format. Other key ingredients for Chinese especially for the more sweeter savoury dishes, is sugar in your sauces, or honey to coat and marinade your meats. Distilled soya beans is a must, but in your local China town or supermarket, they sell Soya pastes and Soya bean sauce. The rest is up to you and your imagination.
As for Japanese, this a little more specific, they have their own mustard tasting sauces and strange looking mushrooms that look as if they've been grown on an distant alien world. Supermarkets in the UK are stocking these delicacies though, and it adds authenticity to your Japanese themed night.

Music Mondays - My Personal Top Ten Albums

Not in any specific order

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon but this song below is from a later album. It is difficult to find one track that I liked online.


Curiosity Killed the Cat - Keep Your Distance
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Keep-Your-Distance-Curiosity-Killed/dp/B00000E5L1/ref=cm_cmu_pg__header

and I love this song. There is a good quality video someone uploaded to youtube.


Remember girls we all wanted those Doc Martins? Curiosity was one of many boy bands with the looks and they played great great music. I was in love with Julian the guitarist, and I even named my teddy bear after him...sigh...memories.

Wet Wet Wet - Popped In Souled Out.

All the tracks are brilliant, and well performed by the lads. What more can I say. Except, wanna see a classic 80s moment from Top of the Pops, my favourite TV show of the 1980s. Sigh, miss Top of the Pops




Madonna ' Ray of Light' but I was torn which Madonna album, as Like A Virgin is a classic Madonna album.
But my fave track from Ray of Light, or one of my faves is this and the video is brilliant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHydngA5C4E&channel=madonna

I don't care about what other people say about her, she cannot sing etc, but she can sing way better than any of the current crop of lame artists and plus, she performs well live. Always puts on a good show, and the likes of Britney copies everything Madonna did ten years previously.
I also like the look of Madonna in this video. One of her best looks so far.

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells

http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Oldfield/Tubular+Bells+II/The+Bell
but keep an eye for another good album of his 'The Songs of Distant Earth'



Jeff Wayne War of the Worlds
with a great narrative by Richard Burton. This has to be one of my favourite of all albums of all time. Why? Just listen. Its also due to my Dad playing it most Sundays along with Pink Floyd, Mike Oldfield, and Genesis. Yes, my Dad rocks. Music wise. He also converted us all to the Star Trekkie world. Go Dad Go. LOL.



TAKE THAT - GREATEST HITS. I cannot believe Mr Blobby knocked Babe off Number One spot.
Sigh, this had to be one of my biggest crushes ever.


TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY - Symphony or Damn
When first released, it was said to be all done by MIDI by the artist himself. This was just as good as his debut album

BJORK - DEBUT. great debut from Bjork


RADIOHEAD - BENDS

http://www.last.fm/music/Radiohead/The+Bends/High+And+Dry



I may post some more of my fave artists/albums in a later blog. But I cannot leave without saying 'Goldfinger'
Shirley Bassey's Greatest Hits
http://www.last.fm/music/Shirley+Bassey/Greatest+Hits

Fashion Fridays - Pumps

Yes, pumps/flats. I have some and I want more, but in some seasons if they are not mainstream 'fashionable' they are hard to find. Even when I go clubbing for the past five years, it is pumps. Pumps or flats are wonderful little things, some can be pretty, some can be total Goth or Emo. For some reason, my little ole legs just cannot handle heels anymore. And one place in Leeds, 'Cockpits' the best night ever, all the girls wore pumps or flats. It's where Goths, Punks, Emos, and the like, hang out, and if you come in heels, its a no-no.

For the more adventurous girlie, crocs! They are good for walking everywhere. They are sturdier than they look. Just mind the escalators. For some reason, they stick and can be hazardous so not recommended for train stations, airports and the London Underground.



The top picture, pumps from New Look, and the bag from Oxfam Shop, Leeds. Second Picture, Crocs from Hawaii $30. Third picture, pumps from Diesel.







Pumps left, cream with gold rim and bow Faith, right flower prints from Island. Fancy clutch bag from a Macmillan Fund-raiser event last year.









Pink glossy pumps/flats from Miss Selfridges






Wonder what I will be wearing tomorrow for my son's belated 18th. I may wear this top (from Jane Norman) with some skinny jeans (even though I do not look skinny when I wear them). I haven't been able to wear the top since gaining that extra steroid weight. But I tried it on the other day and I am good to go.

And maybe those pink flats.

Music Mondays - Origins of today's Dance

I checked wikipedia's history of house and various relevant articles on the origins of house music, and it seems, according to this article, it originated in Detroit. But... reading it leaves me a little confused. I was there dancing to House music in 1988, in Northern England, and in that year remembering reading an article in 'Smash Hits', the good ole bible of pop music back then, that it was a lot of young men in England that pioneered the sound. The old article also mentioned the Manchester nightclub Hacienda as the place to be. Where America wouldn't listen or even dance to this new genre, Europe did, and So did I. Yes, a certain Detroit act may have started certain elements of this genre of dance, but, he also was influenced by a lot of the New Modern Romance electronic music, including that of Human League (yet, another class act from Britain) and he was influenced by Kraftwerk.

It is also the British DJs that are a master of this genre. Name a famous DJ now, and yep, he is British. New York and Chicago danced to this music too alongside Northern Britain, but Detroit was slow to progress.

For me personally, my history of House is a combination of the everything and everyone. In the UK and in the USA, young talented techno musicians were busy as a bee doing their thing and the whole thing emerged. I don't think there is a true origin of the genre, and for me, that is the whole spirit of House, its a mixture of various influences and someone had to give it a name and gain credit for it. But in the UK, a lot of the British acts were champion at it and it hit our mainstream Top 40 Charts, and it was those acts us Brits were dancing to after the not so hardcore dancers went home, we stayed to dance to this new stuff. Detroit who? But its there for all wikipedia readers to read and yak, at least the Brits do get a mention, and most of the names in the article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Techno#Noted_artists and there it is, Hacienda but in 1985 it quotes
"In the UK, a club following for house music grew steadily from 1985, with interest sustained by scenes in London, Manchester, Nottingham, and later Sheffield and Leeds. The DJs thought to be responsible for house's early UK success include Mike Pickering, Mark Moore, Colin Faver, and Graeme Park."

1985 people!!!!! 1985!!!!!Some of the acts in 1987/1989 were influenced and had been listening to the Chicago club scene, so why is Detroit still gaining credit? again, the article confuses me. But it does make reference to Derrick Brown, the Detroit House music pioneer, suggesting one House musician had purchased one of his synths.

As for the Rave scene/parties, now that is a whole different kettle of fish. Did you know it even goes back to the psychedelic scene, including the Beatles, and is all British in origin.

Rave music was pioneered by the likes of Nebula 2, Acen, Altern-8, The Prodigy (Experience), Utah Saints and The Shamen (En-Tact), altern-8 influenced by the Detroit House sound. But in the Last.fm article they are given total credit for changing House music, making it unique, progressive, and British. http://www.last.fm/music/Altern%25208?ac=Altern-8

If you listen to their track Infiltrate 202, that is the sound us UK House junkies were dancing to.
(Video below)




One act I do remember was 808 State, yes, everything had numbers and dashes, maybe because the young men wanted their names to look like the names you give a NASA space rocket. No, wait, they named themselves after various synths. 808 State got their name from the Roland TR-808.

808 State's Pacific State was my first intro to trance/ambient/chill out. BBC's Radio One DJ Gary Davies (remember him people?) played this track every day for 3 months. Wikipedia finally gives credit where do.
"His promotion single-handedly helped propel the acid house group to the top of the UK charts and into the public consciousness"




There's probably more to the history and origin of today's dance scene, but for me, it was and still is the British DJs and acts that get it out there. And don't forget the Ibiza sound, a whole breathing sound of its own for serious clubbers who go to Ibiza from all over Europe.

And don't forget Prodigy, rave/house act or whatever you call them, were signed onto Madonna's label. Still using good old fashioned analogue synthesizers such as the Moog to incorporate their own sounds. They got their name from Liam's first analogue synth, the Moog Prodigy.

And don't forget this little gem
http://www.last.fm/music/A+Guy+Called+Gerald

It is hard to find the full length track on the internet but here is the video someone uploaded.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93R-KQ9THa8 I have my collection of old skool house on vinyl/cassette, and no way of getting it into digital format just yet.

And Drum and Bass roots are in the UK http://www.last.fm/tag/drum%20and%20bass
according to Last fm and Wikipedia. Here is one good example of D'n'B http://www.last.fm/music/Aphrodite/_/Karma+Sutra+%28Slinky+mix%29
but there are some acts tagged as Drum'n'bass and they are certainly not, listen to this one, and hear for yourself
http://www.last.fm/music/Pendulum/_/Propane+Nightmares

Did I miss something? it sounds nothing like D'n'B but they do call themselves it. The cheek. Ok, I was wrong, one track was nothing like D'n'B but this one is slightly D'n'b http://www.last.fm/music/Pendulum/_/Hold+Your+Colour but my ears tell me it sounds a lot like rave.


here is the real D'n'B
http://www.last.fm/listen/artist/Goldie/similarartists#pane=webRadioPlayer&station=%252Flisten%252Fartist%252FGoldie%252Fsimilarartists


My favourite of his work is Inner City life as featured in the Soundtrack of Trainspotting, starring a very young and handsome Ewan McGregor. The track featured alongside other house/psychedelic or whatever your want to call them artists Underworld and Leftfield.

Fuzzy Fashion Friday

Need to get back into my favourite dress this summer. Its a classic 40s style chic dress I purchased from Top Shop a few years ago, and it always seem to stay within vogue.
Since being on steroids, I haven't been able to wear my fave clothes, including my fave t-shirt



And Babydoll dresses are still here, thank goodness because I love them. I already have a few in my collection, but here is one lovely dress from New Look, my favourite shop at the moment. http://www.newlook.co.uk/1893045/189304507/ProductDetails.aspx

Top Shop has a nice collection too
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaticPageDisplay?catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&brdcrmb_trail=&identifier=ts1%20fashion%20forecast&intcmpid=FEATURE_HP_UK_WK20_FASHION_FORECAST_SHEER_DELIGHT


Babydoll dresses are perfect for any shape, height, size, etc. And for someone like me with still some of the steroid and cream cakes fat still on my legs and thighs, I am looking forward to wearing my own collection this spring/summer.


The dress below, I am saving it for a special occasion. Just waiting for that occasion to occur. Anyone want to take me out, or shall I wear it for any occasion. The dress next to it and the following dress, I cannot fit into them since cancer, but again, more to motivate me to get back into shape.



And to accessorise your hair, short or long, try these lovely gems again from New Look
http://www.newlook.co.uk/women/jewellery/hair_accessories/ProductList.aspx

Me thinks I need to do some shopping. Have to wait till pay day.:(

Treat Yourself on Thursday

Pamper Yourself.

How to stay healthy and young looking. To start with, healthy eating, duh?

One reason for this blog is to share some of my secrets and passions. Some have asked why I look so young, why no wrinkles, why I have the perfect body shape, etc. I think there is no secret or right way, but certain things is what helped me keep in shape so I thought I share. Since having to go through chemo and those surgical procedures to fight cancer, my face and body is not looking as it used to be, but if I go back to my old routine of skin care and healthy eating, I am hoping I can get back to my usual self again.
So,
1) eat protein enriches foods such as eggs, full or semi skimmed milk, noodles, plenty of greens, peppers, lean chicken, and treat myself to a bag of Fish and Chips every once in a while. I do not eat a lot of cream cakes but for some reason since working at my current job, cream cakes is what is keeping my energy going (slap my handies)
2) walk everywhere. I don't like to drive. I do not have a car, so I bus it or walk everywhere.
3) Apothecary. Your skin needs all the extra love and care, so I do go for the more luxurious, expensive products, organic butters, anything with essential oils, and for nearly ten years, dabbled in my own home making cosmetics.

Some of my secrets is due to healthy eating. Since moving out of my parents home I went down a more healthier route of cooking. I love stir fries, Japanese and Chinese cooking, and Italian dishes.

Other reasons for healthy looking skin is the cosmetics you use. So for Thursdays, its the day to treat yourself to a luxury pampering.

This week, you can find some fun stuff to pour into your bath courtesy of Morrison's Supermarket and other retailers. Only certain stores are stocking this new product, and like some other similar products, do disappear, get discontinued, etc, http://www.ilovecosmetics.eu/stores/
So, I am doing my bit to protect such a wonderful bath time experience.
You all probably think I have gone mad.
Well, I am.
I buy a product. I love the stuff. Cannot get enough of it. Go back to my beauty product retailer, ie Debenhams, Harvey Nichols, etc and find they no longer stock as it is being discontinued. Why? Was I the only person buying their stuff?
They worked on my sensitive skin where everything else failed. So you have to hunt around for other products. There are plenty out there.

Next time for Treat Yourself Thursday, I have recipes to make your own cosmetics. Yep., I make my own too. Its easy.

For now, before I go. here is what my skin is loving.


The Sephora Body Butter was purchased in Hawaii, I cannot get these products in the UK. So when this runs out, I am skuppered. I may have to order some from France if I am desperate. But it smells gorgeous and it does make your skin smooth.

Crabtree and Evelyn boutiques can be found both here in the UK and in the USA, and Australia.
http://www.crabtree-evelyn.com/eng/aboutUs/GlobalDirectory.cfm?&var=d&ckey=US
The scent is Summer Hill. This will compliment with any Rose or Jasmin perfumes/cosmetics. This past season or so, Rose and Jasmin are the fashionable scents to be wearing, and Summer Hill will compliment both. It has a gentle Rose scent with hint of something fresh and breezy. Remember not to mix different perfumes/scents on your body. I was told one scent can overpower another and you will end up with a weird scent altogether by mixing the wrong things, so its best to buy your perfume and buy the scented bath/shower gels, creams/body butters with similar scents or even better, buy the whole matching scent set.

For my face, I have been trying these products. They are new to us Brits, but I tried their Mango butter whilst in Hawaii and loved it to bits. They do a great range of stuff for your face too and can be found in all your organic or health food stores.



For my hair this month I have been using Avalon Organics Shampoo and Aussie Miracle Hairand for my lips Burt's Bees Lip 'Guava' Shade' Shimmer


To motivate myself to get back my old body and mind, I will post a picture of how I am looking this week. Not too good I know, but as I progress, I want to see if there is any improvement by regularly updating my blog.

Here goes....


See, argghh! My face still has the steroid fat I cannot shift, or is that old age? I do not know. If anyone out there has any tips please holla www.twitter.com/returnofthemaja

Gaming Wednesday

Just started playing Dragon Age Origins on the Xbox 360. I have been trying the online thing, where I can upload my character that I created and should be able to view it on this website http://social.bioware.com/903610/
But for some reason technology does not work as it should be. And my little Elf is not showing up on the website. Hopefully by next week i will have it up and running. He is a Magi Elf, and kinda cute, and I am quite eager to show him off. lol. But whatever achievements i do make during the game, and sent it to EAs server, i can then tweet then and FB them. So, hopefully, fingers crossed, I will make some progress.

For now, I want you to meet some of my friends

Tasty Tuesdays

I am not much of a chef, my mum didn't have time to teach us her 'culinary skills' and I always get too distracted which sometimes end up my kitchen being set on fire or my food drying up in the pan. But when I get down to it, I can make some gems in my kitchen.

But let's start with the essentials. Despite my inability to cook, I do love cooking. I always make sure I have a large selection of herbs and spices, and sometimes like to be adventurous and try some new spices/vegs. This week I purchased some Star Anise to compliment my Chinese dishes. Star Anise is one of the ingredients for the Chinese 5 Spice Seasoning. You can make your own but there is one ingredient that is not so readily available - Cassia, a Chinese bud of the Cinnamon variety. So if anyone knows where they sell it in the UK, Leeds area, please holla me @twitter www.twitter.com/returnofthemaja

Back to the essentials. These are some more items needed for your kitchen if you want to make some more of the gems

Beef stock
Miso stock (instead of vegetable stock, it has more flavour than most of your vegetable stocks)
Pasta
Mozzarella Balls (not the dried or blocks of Mozzarella, but the balls that are soaked in some liquid in a bag. Perfect for pizzas
Dill
Basil
Pesto

British supermarkets are now selling a lot of Japanese products, so I have recently invested in some Shoyu Soya Sauce. This is actually tasty on its own with a hint of ginger in any stir fry with some fine beans and other crispy veg. If you dont want anything fancy and just a quick lunch or dinner, do a quick stir fry with any veg lying around in your fridge or cupboard and splatter in some of that Shoyu Soya Sauce. And if you have time, marinade some fresh salmon steak in Teriyaki Marinade for 10 minutes, and grill. Serve with your Veg that you just stir fried. NICE!!!

Other essentials
A rounded frying pan, not the flat ones. Especially if you use that smaller hob on your cooker.

Mortar and Pestle. Some of your spices that you can buy come in seeds/pods as well as fine powder, and if that is all they had available that particular week when you are desperate for that all important ingredient, mortar and pestle will save the day, cause you can crush the little blighters.

Fresh Live Basil
Fresh Liv Dill
Fresh Live Chives
Fresh Live Herbs
Herbs are being sold in fresh living pots for you to water in your kitchen. Sometimes i ended up not using them though as they make a lovely smell in your kitchen, especially the basil and fresh mint.

Mascarpone
Greek Yoghurt
Creme Fraiche
Fromage Fraiche
Cayenne Pepper
Paprika
Ginger
Garlic
Mace
Red Wine
Sherry
Sundried tomatoes (small packs are sold in most supermarkets along in the section where you buy your colesaws
Jar of roasted peppers
Mayonaise
Sour Cream


Some of these ingredients I will explain further in later blogs. Yes, Sherry is perfect for most meals, and so is red wine. I am not an alcoholic! (do you know how hard that word was to type just then)



Freezer You purchased all these fine fresh foods and oops, nearly reaching their sell by dates, but your freezer will save you pennies/euros/cents. You can freeze almost anything, including that nice salmon steak you bought before the weekend.

This blog is in progress. I will add more essentil ingredients when I can.

But for now, here is something i created this week for Sunday's lunch.

Roasted Pepper Soup



I love my blue willow set. Anyway
Roasted peppers
Basil or pesto
Olive oil
Garlic
Passata
Tomato puree
Vine tomatoes
creme fraiche
sundried tomatoes (these were marinated in olive oil, basil and garlic before hand).
Veg stock

Most soups I tend to fry the vegs gently in butter, but for tomatoes and peppers i used a little olive oil and sunflower oil instead.
Add all your other ingredients into a pan and fry gently till the fresh vine tomtoes are softer. Add the stock.
Simmer for ten minutes or so, then add creme fraiche. Simmer for another minute or so, and voila.
Soup is ready.

Music Mondays

Music that influenced me musically, influenced my style, my habits, my lifestyle. Once a month, on Mondays, I will list some music and links that have shaped me as a person. But knowing what to start with is the hardest part.

Monday 18th Jan 2010 At work we have the radio on, and they played an old Eurythmics track. So i will start with that.
This is the first track I heard from Eurythmics even tho they had at the time been around for a while. But the video was pretty cool too. Love the trumpets and the eighties style electric guitars is what defined the Eighties in its own style. The Eighties was made up of great Electronic music which pioneered the dance movement in the late 80s. I cannot imbed the video but here is the link. Check out my youtube channel www.youtube.com/mj2fedup for the link as well, or you can search for it yourself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NxT9FrpPYQ