SouthseaScene

One of the best recipes I've found for a dinner party is the Chocolate Souffle below. It's easy to make (my criteria!) and can be made ahead. Chocolate Souffle (for 6) 200 grams dark chocolate (70 per cent cocoa is best) 150 grams butter, cubed 6 eggs 175 grams caster sugar 125 grams plain flour Double cream or ice cream to serve Heat the oven at 180 degrees Celcius, if cooking right away. Butter 6 ramekins well. Melt the chocolate with the butter in a bowl over simmering water, or in a microwave. Beat the eggs with the sugar until very light and fluffy. Then fold in the flour. Fold in the chocolate mixture and divide among the ramekins. Put it in the fridge at this point, if you are making ahead or bake it for 8-12 minutes. The souffle should rise and form a firm crust, but still runny on the inside. Serve with some double cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

I've been looking at a lot of blogs lately and there are also many bloggers who are on Twitter. Some have lovely stories to tell and one of them is Shelly Bobbins. A few days ago Shelly Bobbins said she was off benefits. That was good news and I congratulated her. And then her success stories seems to have just blossomed. So I really want to pay tribute to her for her inspirational story and if you want to check out her business, follow her blog! http://www.shellybobbins.blogspot.com/ Perhaps as we are inching towards the new year, others would-be entrepreneurs would also make that brave new leap? If so, good luck to all of you.

This caused consternation in the events meeting today. All around the room we talked about how there are so many events programmed in the city and yet we do not have the reputation of a city of culture. Perhaps it is not the lack of events we should be worrying about, but the lack of quality events. Those events which are of quality, they do get national and even international following. So, something to ponder about.

It is clearly winter now, marked by several rainy days in a row. In Southsea, it's the wind that's the killer. You may as well forget about using an umbrella. The one I had is now broken after two weeks. That's pretty good going. So either buy a cheap one, or wear a Sou'wester! If you are living in Cornwall, investing in a boat is a good move. I'm wondering whether we will have to move uphill any time soon. Our coastal area is always threatened by flooding. One must wait and see. In the mean time, I'm searching for a longer raincoat to cope.

I'm really blessed where I live as it's near so many things. So when we had three children to entertain, we took them on a walk along Albert Road where there were many shop windows to peer into. We ended up in the Tenth Hole tea room and a lunch of cakes followed. There were so many cakes to choose from that it took some time to get sorted. The eating was slow and relaxing. Followed by a long walk along the seafront. First stop was the playground and Canoe Lake. Lots of running to begin with and then the attempts to push each other into the shallow water. After that we walked along the pebble beach where there were a few walkers with their dogs that entertained the children. People to watch on the promenade and the sea to watch with boats and ferries coming and going. We found the hills where the children decided to roll down as a form of entertainment. And outside Southsea Castle there was a rectangular pool which the children were peering into for a bit and then they decided ...

My friend is coming to visit for half-term along with her three children and I'm now raking my brain for things to do that will amuse all of them. Lots of things really to do in Southsea. The whole place is geared towards children. The seafront will please both children and parents for a nice walk. And if it is raining, there is plenty to see and do at the City Museum and Records Office or the Historic Dockyard. There is the Spinnaker Tower for children and the Gunwharf Quays shopping complex for the adults and lots of places to choose from to eat. So, nothing to worry then. Rain or shine, children are welcome!

I love Sunday cooking, as you have all the time in the world to read the menu and line up all the ingredients and no matter how many steps it takes to cook, it seems purely relaxing! This afternoon I thought if I were to spend the rest of my life cooking like this, it wouldn't be a bad thing. I would love it. I would love trying recipes after recipes. I'm making Beef Borguignonne for dinner tonight. It's a lovely recipe started last night with cutting the meat in chunks and marinating it in the vegetables and wine overnight. The meat came out a lovely shade of purple and gave a heady aroma when fried. The whole casserole dish is in the oven right now and needs 3 hours of cooking. In the mean time, I can get on with other chores in the kitchen and around the house. I love Sunday cooking!

I love having friends over for dinner. Tonight I have a couple of vegetarians and so I'm making them something I've found on a Gary Rhode's cookbook - nut burgers!

After weeks of being cold and rainy, this week we see the return of the sunshine. For how long? No one needs to ask. Just go out and enjoy it. I do. There are lots of things to do, clear out the garden, getting it ready for the autumn or take a walk. Researchers this week reported that walking 40 minutes a day, three times a week will improve your memory. Don't stay indoors, get out there into the sunshine!

This town on the South of England comes into its own in the summer months. When the temperature reaches the 20's like today, you start dreaming of summer the Southsea kind...walking in the sunshine, picnic in the park and barbecue on the common among others. As the day stays on longer I begin my summer evening ritual. First I abandon working shoes in favour of flip-flops to walk around the house. Then I pour myself a long drink. It might be Pimms or Sangria. Something fruity with ice cubes. Sangria is simply 1/3 glass of wine, topped up with fruit juice and a bit of tonic to jazz it up. It's time to enjoy the garden, either admiring the flowers, picking summer fruit or just sitting there with a book until it's dinner time. Summer meals should not be something complicated. Today's grilled lamb brochettes took minutes to cook and eaten with the equally speedy couscous mixed with caramelised onion. Maximise your time outdoors!

Suddenly all the politicians want is to get in touch with the public because there is an election coming. So candidates have jammed the post box with their flyers, containing photos of them smiling with happy residents. No doubt increasing the recycling statistics of this neighbourhood for a month! The other day I received a card from one of them to say 'sorry to miss you when I came calling'. Where are they for the rest of the year and any other year? I had a telephone call wanting to know my vote. I'm not telling! I think people will judge the candidates on their performance for the last few years in the seat of power. Speaking of which, I found our street is suddenly gleaming. Another attempt to win us over? Recently the council wrote to say that they have managed their finances so well that we don't need to increase taxes this year. The only conclusion being that the past few years they have mismanaged it very well!

Today the sun is shining gloriously and it's warm enough to walk around without a jacket. I like days like this in Southsea. The town just come alive and everyone seems to be happy. The kind of day that makes you want to sing and think of gardening or barbecuing with friends.

I finally decided that I should start blogging again. So welcome to my blog page SouthseaScene where I write about living in a fabulous town by the sea in the South of England.