'Big brother is watching you'---is that all bad?

The NZ Herald published an article today about the fact that there are several thousand CCTV cameras around the city and suburbs and that there is a link between them and the police, giving the capacity to observe huge areas of territory. The Civil Liberties organization is uncomfortable about this and I suspect many NZers in general have some discomfort, however the question needs to be asked---is this necessary and would it not constitute, during ‘normal times’ an erosion of our freedom to go about our daily (Lawful) business, without the spectre of being observed 24/7? Therein lies the dilemma---‘normal times.’ What if at some future date a situation arises where people decide that they do not like the direction of the Government of the day; to the extent that actions are taken that transgress our laws? One only needs to look back the chaos of the Springbok Tour of the 1980s to see how close we came to a dangerous situation re citizens challenging the Government of the day on a daily basis. If the technology that exists now had been available then, I suspect that it would have been used to curtail the actions of the many protestors. Thankfully that time has passed, but we can never assume that such conditions would revisit us.

A balance needs to be observed and that brings up the question---who decides where that sits? Ask someone noisily protesting about one of ‘todays’ issues and I am sure they would hardly put their trust in the Government or police to keep that balance.

Then there is the question of the safety of our streets, particularly at night and especially in Central Auckland. Many Aucklanders above a certain age avoid the crazy night-time behaviours that are often alcohol and drug driven. Without a doubt, having the cameras available to monitor those abhorrent behaviours, is a plus in most peoples’ books. Similarly, the ability of these cameras, with their clear pictures and ‘face recognition’ capabilities, there is a strong possibility to solve crime and indeed to prevent it before such criminal actions actually happen. Protecting people and property is a paramount reason for favouring the CCTV presence, New Zealand wide.

I support ‘feeling safe,’ but I am slightly uncomfortable re the possibilities for this technology, if it is used  to limit our freedoms, but then again, one has to ask---which is more important? I leave that to you to decide and your answer will be informed by your personal feelings and experiences

Cook your own nuts---much cheaper!

Every time you go to the corner shop and buy salted peanuts to have with your favourite drink or just to satisfy a craving, you are paying at least twice much as you would if you do what I do. This is a case of 'do what I say, as it is what I also do!' Make sense?  ---Go and try this!
Purchase some raw peanuts from a bulk bin at the supermarket or better still, try one of those Indian spice shops---they can be even cheaper. I got about a kilo.
Stick some oil in the wok or big pot and throw in the nuts. Keep stirring them and after a minute or so, put as much salt as you like, 'to taste' and in my case I added chilli flakes, a teaspoon of sugar and some paprika. Keep stirring until they become a gentle brown. Remove the wok or pot from the heat and set them aside to cool. Add more salt if they are not to your liking. When totally cool, stick them into an air tight jar and----bring them out impress, or hide them away for those 'special moments.' Yes, Perdy, my Jack Russell, somehow manages to eat them!

Just a little browner, maybe!

Danger lurks in a deepest dark forest, somehwere where you live---beware of more than the trolls!

Well maybe it will just be in the park down the road, but when you take your pooch for a walk (mine was at the park in Blockhouse Bay) just stay clear of the trolls under the bridge and other Middle Earth characters and when you enter the darkest regions of the forest, watchout for the enticingly coloured fungi, because the are capable of sending you to realms unimagined. Even the fairies avoid such 'trophies,' preferring the more mundane but still slightly exotic faire. It was the witches and sorcerers who claimed the golden prize that Perdy warned me of, using them for concoctions for the creation of pure evil. Thankyou Perdy, but I did know about those orange  'perils,' and I shall pick up some harmless little delights from the supermarket and make us a nice omelette for lunch. Your reward?----why another walk this afternoon of course.

Stay away from these!

Walking the dog chicken pasta bake------part 2

I am back from my walk with you know who (Perdy, of course). The chicken cooked previously is beautifully succulent and easy to shred. That done and the leftovers well and truly dealt to by Perdy, it is time to assemble the chicken pasta bake.
Firstly though I need to cook the pasta spirals. I used Quinoa gluten-free ones, but any pasta would suffice. I used the wonderful; stock from the first phase of the project (see previous blog). To that I added some NZ Spinach to add yet more vitamins. The quinoa pasta is superb in that it is high protein. Go and Google Quinoa and you will know what I mean.
Easy as process: Stick the chicken in a large baking dish, along with some capers, a cup of grated cheese, a tin of cherry tomatoes, a little salt and pepper and some rosemary or any other herb you have. I layered some sliced mushrooms on the top and added some more parmesan cheese. The mixture appeared to be quite 'wet' because I had added a cup of extra chicken stock from the pot. I assumed that the pasta would absorb most of this----it did, during the 30 minute baking time on about 170C.
While the meal was cooking I put some flat mushrooms with peanuts in the cup and a grating of parmesan cheese and a little olive oil, into the small bench-top oven. The result for the two dishes---bloody wonderful; and cheap. If you want to make it even cheaper, just use ordinary pasta and cheaper cheddar cheese.
ENJOY!

Chicken doggie walk pasta bake with mushrooms stuffed with peanuts. Absolute Freedom baking.

Walking the dog, chicken pasta bake..(part one)---to be continued.

'Is this recipe one if your Freedom Cooking, examples?' you ask. Of course it is. It can be varied in a myriad of ways and in this case it is gluten-free, but I shall let you know how to do the non-gluten-free version.
'But In don't want to eat the walking the dog, one,' you say as you think of your pooch and all the love he gives you.  That's OK, just use your cat then. Here's how it works.
Go and buy a whole chicken you choose, but make sure it can fir in our slow cooker. You could of course just poach it gently for about an hour but remember it is a walking the dog recipe. Whish ever way you decide, put the chicken on the pot, chuck in some carrot, roughly chopped, and inion cut in quarters, leaving the skin on, a clove or two of garlic, unpeeled but smashed a bit, any left over goodies like a chopped capsicum, some dried herbs of your choice, a teaspoon of sugar, a little salt (leave it out if you wish to express your freedom) and this things that take your fancy.
Now, cover it all with boiling water from the kettle and turn the slow cooker on low, put the lid on and take your dig for a very long walk. I went to Orewa for about three hours. Have fun, like a 'big breakfast' that naturally you will share with your dog.
On arriving back home, feeling like you have contributed to your health by indulging in physical activity, turn the chicken over in the pot and turn it off. Leave it to cool a bit, before taking out. Next, pour the 'stock' into a big pot and boil to reduce by about one third. You now have the best chicken stock you have ever made. Once it's cooled completely, you could lift some of the fat, if you decide to make an even healthier version. I left it in.
Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, get your hands in and shred it into bite sized pieces, reserving the bits (not the bones!) for your pooch. You will have enough to make a massive 'chicken pasta bake,' and some left over to chuck in an omelette to any other recipe that can benefit from this juicy succulent and very tasty chicken.
Right, I have a client coming and after I have completed that appointment, it's ---yes you guessed it---I shall take Perdy down to the Bay, whereby she can create mischief (hopefully the sort that DOES NOT INVOLVE PUKEKOS!) with her hairy mates. I shall continue the walking the dog pasta bake, when I return. Such is the definition of Freedom Cooking; Do what you want, when you want with whatever you want! Lubricate with a good NZ wine. In my 'post-bariatric state, that means about one standard drink to make me chuckle.
TO BE CONTINUED-------------

Cell phones and driiving don't mix. Arrogant business owner or ignorant driver! Take your pick.

The New Zealand Herald   (Saturday version) published a picture of a young man driving, texting and smoking; all at the same time. He was one of many 'captured' in just an hour. NZ has a small fine for such endeavours, but it also has a significant number of injuries and deaths resulting form such practices.
The scene described is bad enough but the attitude of the young man's employer is deplorable. He was reported as saying that he too would do the same, because the fine was small, he didn't want to lose business and that 'hands-free' appliances echo, therefore of little use. He puts money ahead of safety. What right does he have to promulgate disobeying the law; one designed to protect the rest of us from people like him and his driver? How can he say that such practices are safe? His selfishness and those of his ilk are beyond belief but the sad fact is that such attitudes are common. It is time for the police to come down hard on these people, for the sake of us all. It is tantamount to driving drunk, because the result is so often tragically the same. Mr business owner---you need a brain transplant; preferably one with a conscience. Your attitude is not so very differently from those who used to sell so-called 'legal highs.' Will it take a massive public campaign to alter your thoughts and the government's response?
www.authorneilcoleman.com
 

Healthy fruit bars and then quince and apple crumble---all gluten-free!

There is no need to be too fussy with these two ideas---just play, but then again, some of you are hooked on being 'exact! I feel for you.
Healthy fruit bars:
Go find your favourite big bowl. Found it yet? Just kidding you, cause who the hell cares what bowl you use!
Put between a half cup and a cup (The more you use, the more 'product' you will have, so consider how much space you have on your baking trays before you get too generous.) of the following ingredients into the 'bowl:'
Desiccated coconut
Chopped dried apricots
Chopped nuts and seeds of your choice---go choose about three different varieties---OK --you want me to spell it out!===yeesh! Sunflower seeds, sesame, cashews, almonds--get the picture?---it's over to you and what you have in your cupboards and items from the bulk bins. Use whatever combinations you like. Reserve about half to one cup of the whole seeds and nuts for sticking on top later. This is a freedom recipe.
Now, in your food processor (or bash the hell out of them between the clean folds of a dish towel) process about a cup and half of some of the above 'dry' ingredients, not the 'wetter' but strangely described dried fruits like raisin, craisins, blueberries and the like. Mix them with the other ingredients and then use your hands to work in three ripe bananas. Have much fun and pretend its your boss. Note---there is no added sugar as there is plenty of 'sweetness' in the dried fruits and bananas and of course your wonderful sweet self! If you feel adventurous, add as much ground ginger or allspice or even cinnamon but if you have still not hooked on to freedom baking, then stick to my confusing instructions. If you think the squishy mix that is no doubt coating your fingers (yes I licked mine!) looks too dry, don't worry--it's OK---but who says you can't slosh in some booze---like a favourite liqueur.
Now line a tray or trays with baking paper, depending on how big your mixture has grown, and spread the mixture evenly onto the said tray(s). Press the reserved seed sand nuts on top and gently press.
Bake at about 160-170C for about 20-30 minutes. Check to make sure it doesn't burn. If it does, ice it and give it to someone who's peeved you off.
Let it cool and then cut it into bite sized pieces and place in a tin and hide it. It's way to good to share.

Quince and apple crumble:
If you didn't read my post on FB, that's OK. You can use any fruit in this yet another example of freedom baking. If you can find quinces, peel about three and cook them with a few apples (I used Ballarats, but who's checking what you stick in?) in a slow cooker---yip leave them cooking all day on low if you wish. I added a clove or three and only about three tablespoons of sugar.
Remember the lovely healthy fruit bars above? Grab a big handful or two from the hiding place, crumble them up and add about cup of 'any' gluten-free baking mix of rice flour and a little sugar to taste (if you must, because there is sweetness in the bars) plus a generous two teaspoons of ginger or as much cinnamon as you love and then work some chilled butter ( I used about a tablespoon) into the mix. Spread it gently on the top of the fruity mix in the baking dish that your mum gave you. Bake at about 160C for as long as it takes for the crumble to go a lovely brown.
You can serve it hot or cold, with or without your favourite ice cream or yogurt.
Did I write this blog with the help of one of New Zealand's best wines?---go figure! Now my sister knows what's for 'pudding' tomorrow night. Damn, now I can't eat it tonight!