Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – William Price King’s Music Column – Bono and U2 up to date.

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the William Price King Music Column.. A weekly post about the background and music of the top artists across the different styles of music. The first artist of 2018 is Bono and the band U2.

Please visit the directory for the previous columns: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/william-price-king-music-column/

Bono and U2 up to date.

Just a quick reminder of just some of the awards that Bono and U2 have achieved in their long career.

Academy and Golden Globe awards for movie tracks “The Hands That Built America” – Gangs of New York and “Ordinary Love” from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
Billboard Music and Touring Awards for best rock song, rock artist and world tours.
Brit Awards for best International Group, Most Successful Live Act and Outstanding contribution to Music.
Twenty- two Grammy Awards, including induction into the Hall of Fame, as well as Ivor Novello, Juno, MTV, NME and UK Music Video Awards.

“Discothèque” is the lead single from U2’s 1997 album, “Pop.” It peaked at number one in many countries, including the UK. “Discothèque” debuted at #3 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart, and hit #1 the following week. It was certified Gold by the “RIAA” on 7 April 1997. The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at #10, but dropped off the charts after only four weeks in the Top 40. It was also the band’s sixth (and last) top ten single in the US. It debuted at #1 on the UK singles chart, remaining on top for one week and spending a total of eleven weeks in the chart.

In the accompanying music video, which was directed by the Frenchman Stéphane Sednaoui, the band performed in what seemed like the inside of a mirrorball. They alluded to several elements of the disco era, including disco-style dancing and the film “Saturday Night Fever.” U2 further and directly alluded to the “Village people,” a popular disco era band, by similarly adopting the guises of various professions: a motorcycle police officer (Bono), a gay-fetish biker (the Edge), an American sailor (Adam Clayton) and a cowboy (Larry Mullen, Jr.). “Stylus” magazine described the video as “sublimely bizarre.”
This was U2’s first experiment with Electronica. “Discothèque’ is a riddle about love,” Bono explained in the book U2 by U2. “Once you know that, it changes the way you hear the song. You can reach but you can’t grab it, you can’t hold it, control it, you can’t bag it.”

“Beautiful Day” is the first track from their 2000 album, “All That You Can’t Leave Behind,” and it was released as the album’s lead single. It was a commercial success, helping launch the album to multi-platinum status, and is one of U2’s biggest hits to date. “Beautiful Day” revisits the group’s past sound. Bono explained that the upbeat track is about losing everything but still finding joy in what one has. The song received positive reviews, and it became their fourth number one single in the United Kingdom and their first number one in the Netherlands. It also reached the top of the charts in Australia, Canada, Finland, their native Ireland, Italy, Norway and Spain.

The song peaked at number 21 in the United States, the band’s highest position since “Discothéque” in 1997. In 2001, the song won three Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Rock performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. In 2010, “Rolling Stone” updated its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” and placed “Beautiful Day” at number 345, making it one of eight U2 songs on the list.

According to Bono, “Beautiful Day” is about “a man who has lost everything, but finds joy in what he still has.” The song’s video showed the band walking around in Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, with scenes of the band playing on a runway interspliced with large jets taking off and landing overhead.

“The Saints are Coming” was originally recorded by the Scottish punk rock band Skids. The song became an international number 1 hit when it was covered in 2006 by U2, featuring “Green Day.” The song’s lyrics were written by Richard Jobson with music by Stuart Adamson. U2 and Green Day’s version peaked at #2 in the UK and #51 in the US. It also topped the Canadian chart. The song was recorded to support “Music Rising,” an organization that helps return music programs to New Orleans, and helps musicians replace the instruments they lost to Hurricane Katrina.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, U2 and Green Day recorded a new version of this song in 2006 to raise money for victims of the hurricane. The images of weather-related disaster made the song an appropriate choice, and The Saints are the name of the New Orleans professional football team. It was a big deal when The Saints played again in their home stadium, The Superdome, after it was used to shelter victims of the hurricane and nearly destroyed. On September 25, 2006, U2 and Green Day performed the song when The Saints played there for their season opener on Monday Night Football, which was a nationally televised event and symbolic of the resurgence of the city.

The video for this song (directed by Chris Milk) reminds the viewers about the devastation the hurricane caused, and shows a different version of events that followed the tragedy. In this video the troops are redeployed from Iraq to help victims of Katrina and thus play the role of “the saints”. While showing the musicians’ and director’s perception of how things should have been done, the video also criticizes the way the government acted on the events in reality, as well as the way the media covers tragic events such as Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent rescue operations.

U2 and Green Day recorded the song at Abbey Road Studios. The proceeds from its sale go to “Music Rising,” an organization founded by the Edge and producer Bob Ezrin to help New Orleans musicians who had lost their livelihoods due to the hurricane.

“Magnificent” is the second track on the band’s 2009 album “No Line on the Horizon” and was released as the album’s second single. It is played before the start of every New York Rangers home game at Madison Square Garden.

The single was released on 4 May 2009 and reached #42 on the UK Singles Chart. While well received by critics, it was the first domestically-released U2 single not to make the UK Top 40 since “A Celebration” in 1982. The song also made a one-week appearance on the Billboard Hot 100. However, “Magnificent” did much better in continental Europe, entering the Top 20 in several countries: #6 in the Netherlands, #11 in Italy, #15 in France, #16 in Sweden; the song also reached the Top 5 in Ireland. The music video was filmed in Fez, Morocco, directed by Alex Courtes.

Bono noted that the lyrics were influenced by both Cole Porter and Bach, and that the song is about “two lovers holding on to each other and trying to turn their life into worship.” Lanois described the song’s origins: “We wanted to have something euphoric and Bono came up with that little melody. And he loved that melody, and stuck with it. Almost like a fanfare. And then I was involved in the lyrical process on that, because we wanted to talk about sacrifice that one makes for one’s medium or one’s art. I thought it had for a setting New York in the 1950s; looking out a small bedroom window. Maybe a Charlie Parker kind of figure.”

“Ordinary Love” is the fourth track from U2’s 13th studio album “Songs of Innocence,” (based on Mandela’s love letters written to his wife while he was still imprisoned) and was written to honor Nelson Mandela. This song is included in the biography film “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.” The song was given a limited 10-inch vinyl release on “Record Store Day,” (November 29, 2013) less than a week before Mandela passed away.

“Ordinary Love” peaked at number one on the Top Digital Download chart in Italy, where it was certified platinum by the “Federation of the Italian Music Industry.” U2 won the 2014 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and in January 2014 the song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

U2 had been friends with Nelson Mandela for several years, having played concerts in South Africa. When the movie producer, Harvey Weinstein, invited the band to write a song for the soundtrack of the Mandela biography film “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” they responded with a quick yes. After seeing early cuts of the film, the group was inspired to write a song reflecting upon Mandela. “Rolling Stone” said, “Ordinary Love” is about the seeds of dreams, and U2 play it perfectly: down to earth, while looking up.”

“Song for Someone” is the fourth track from their thirteenth studio album,“Songs of Innonence,” and was released as its third single on 11 May 2015. It was produced by Danger Mouse and Ryan Tedder. Bono has described it as a love song dedicated to his wife,Ali. He told Rolling Stone, “Before I even knew what commitment was, I ended up as a young man in the arms of this young woman, in a world somewhat hostile to the concept of the childhood sweetheart and a first love.” “Rolling Stone” compared the track to the band’s Grammy Award-winning single, “Walk On,” stating that the song “begins with gentle acoustic guitars before gradually building up to a “Walk On” style crescendo.” The song has peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Top 40 chart, number 13 on theBillboard Adult Alternative Song chart, number 19 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and number 30 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs Chart.

You’re the best thing about me” is the first single from their fourteenth studio album, “Songs of Experience. Guitarist the Edge said that “You’re the Best Thing About Me” originated from an attempt to write a song in the spirit of Motown, combining rhythmic music with a joyful mood, although he said there was nothing “obviously Motown” about the end result.Bono referred to the song as “defiant joy”, something that he and the Edge said was more important than ever in the “difficult times” in which they were living.

According to the Edge, the song was one of several from the album for which Bono wrote lyrics to his friends and family after having a “major scare where he really wasn’t sure he would be around very much in the future”. Bono composed the lyrics after having a dream that he had destroyed something that’s most important to him, his relationship with his wife Ali.

On 7 September, the band performed the song on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon before debuting it live three days later at a concert in Indianapolis on the” Joshua Tree” Tour 2017. The song was the band’s 42nd track to enter the Alternative Songs chart in the US, further extending their record for the chart. It was also the group’s 27th entry on the Adult Alternative Songs chart, the second-most all time; the track eventually reached number one on Adult Alternative Songs, making it U2’s record-breaking 13th track to top the chart. The song’s official music video was directed by Jonas Åkerlund and premiered on 27 September 2017. It was filmed earlier that month while U2 were in New York City.

Buy the music of U2: https://www.amazon.com/U2/e/B000APTGBO

and Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/U2/e/B000APTGBO

Additional sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bono
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U2
U2 Website – News and Tours: http://www.u2.com/tour

A massive thank you to William for the work that has gone into the post.

About William Price King

William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.

His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.

While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.

His debut jazz album was entitled “Home,” and was a collection of contemporary compositions he composed, with lyrics written by his wife Jeanne King. His second album was a Duo (Voice and Guitar) with Eric Sempé on the guitar. This album included original songs as well as well known standards from contemporary jazz and pop artists. The “King-Sempé” duo toured France and thrilled audiences for more than three years before going their separate ways. King has formed a new duo called “Clear Cut,” and is now exploring new ideas, in a smooth jazz/soul/folk direction.

In addition to singing and composing, King has been collaborating with author Sally Cronin over the past few years on her blog “Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life,” with the series “A Man And His Music – Jazz, Contemporary, Classical, and Legends” and now, the “William Price King Music Column.” Working with author Sally Cronin has been an exhilarating experience in many ways and has brought a new dimension to King’s creative life. King has also created a micro blog, “Improvisation,” which features and introduces mostly jazz artists from across the jazz spectrum who have made considerable contributions in the world of jazz; and also artwork from painters who have made their mark in the world of art. This micro blog can be found on Tumblr.

His vocal mentors are two of the greatest giants in jazz, Nat King Cole and Mel Tormé. King has a distinctive wide-ranging voice which displays a remarkable technical facility and emotional depth.

William Price King on Tumblr – IMPROVISATION – https://williampriceking.tumblr.com

Connect with William

Website – http://www.williampriceking.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/WilliamPriceKing
Twitter – https://twitter.com/wpkofficial
Regular Venue – http://cave-wilson.com/
ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/william-price-king/id788678484

We hope that you will join us again next week for a very special interview . Thanks for dropping in and your feedback would be very welcome.

Smorgasbord Invitation Blog Magazine – Carol Taylor’s Food Column – The wonder tree…Jack Fruit!

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

The wonder tree…Jack Fruit! by Carol Taylor

Wow, doesn’t time just fly by? I can’t believe it has been a week and what a response I got to the soups so thank you for all your kind comments…I thought I would have a change this week and showcase a fruit of which Thailand is a major producer The jackfruit, they are often cut, prepared, and canned in a sugary syrup (or frozen in bags/boxes without syrup) and exported overseas, frequently to North America and Europe. Made into chips which are very moreish …They are also used in various dishes and curries around Asia…

Many people refer to the jackfruit tree as a wonder tree this is because every part of the tree has its own use. The fruits are eaten, the leaves are fed to livestock, and the wood is greatly valued for the manufacture of wood products because of its termite and fungus proof properties and the roots used in natural medicine to treat fevers, asthma and diarrhoea.

How to prepare the Jackfruit… If I am using green Jackfruit like the recipe below then I just take one from my tree, if I want the ripe arils I generally buy them ready prepared as those of you who have prepared your own Jackfruit know that it has a latex sap…

I have heard and quite recently…my lips are sealed…lol, some horror stories when one doesn’t know how to prepare this amazing fruit.

An old knife and cooking oil…lots of it…

Firstly, coat your gloved hands and a long, sharp knife with cooking oil. A spray cooking oil works well — to protect against that stubborn latex sap.

Cover the work surface with something disposable….lots of newspaper.

Cut the fruit in half lengthwise and then lengthwise again into quarters; the cut skin and core will release the sap. Re-grease the knife after each cut.

Cut out the solid white core and discard any fibrous filaments around the fruit pods.

If you do get ooze on your hands, don’t worry – just put some oil on your hands, and wash them in warm water, it will be gone in no time!

Easy when you know how…Here is a short video for you…I am a visual person and find it much easier when I watch the video…the pause button is a wonderful thing…

I also just prefer to oil my hands as when I use gloves they are guaranteed to stick to the latex…I probably don’t oil them enough…But I prefer oiled hands

In Asia, jackfruits ripen principally from March to June, April to September, or June to August, depending on the climatic region, with some off-season crops from September to December, you may also find a few fruits at other times of the year.

My tree in my garden has started to produce fruit and to stop the squirrels helping themselves I will be covering the fruits in plastic bags… But as you can see they are growing nicely and there are a lot of little babies as well.

The jackfruit’s flesh is very sweet and aromatic and tastes like a combination of banana, mango and papaya.

Because of certain similarities in appearance the oval shape and spiky exterior some people mistake the jackfruit for Durian which is another exotic fruit; however, they are very different fruits.

The ripe jackfruit is eaten as a fruit but unripe jackfruit is prepared as a vegetable. Young jackfruit is used in stews or curries, boiled, roasted; or fried and eaten as a snack. The seeds can also be eaten as a snack after being boiled and then roasted.

Jackfruit is also becoming a popular alternative to meat for vegans, vegetarians and anyone wanting to adopt a healthier lifestyle as when cooked the texture is similar to pulled pork.

Today I will be making a spicy jackfruit salad which in Thai is called Tam Khanun or Tam banun it is made by pounding boiled jackfruit with chilli paste and then stir frying.

First step over and that was cutting the Jackfruit…I can guarantee if you use an oiled knife and grease your hands the latex doesn’t stick…You do have to keep re-greasing the knife though but any which attached itself came off easily with the cooking oil..

My jackfruit slices are now simmering gently on the stove…

Once they are tender and cooled down enough for me to remove the outer skin I will be doing so…

Ingredients for Tam Kanun:

400 gm green, young Jackfruit
100 gm minced pork
5 kaffir lime leaves
1 tbsp chopped garlic
10 Cherry tomatoes cut in quarters.
3- 6 tsp Chilli paste ( depending on your taste)

To serve:

2 spring onions sliced
5 dried birds eye chillies fried
1 tbsp fried garlic.
1 tbsp coriander

Let’s Cook!

Once cooked drain the jackfruit well, pound in a pestle and mortar and set to one side. I had heard cooked this looks like pulled pork and it does…

Heat a little oil in a pan and fry the garlic until it is nicely browned add the chilli paste and stir fry for a minute.

Add the minced pork and stir fry until it is cooked 3-4 minutes stirring frequently. Add the tomatoes and the jackfruit stir fry to combine well add the kaffir lime leaves and remove from the heat.

Serve with sticky rice and the fried garlic, chillies, spring onions and coriander as garnish.
This is the first time I have made or eaten this dish… I was very pleasantly surprised if I hadn’t cooked it and it was put in front of me I would never have known it was

Jackfruit…Truly ☺ What do you think??

Tam Kanun Spicy Jackfruit Salad… we all loved it and I would definitely make it again.

The ripe Jackfruit arils (pictured) below are eaten here with sticky rice just pushed into the centre.

They also make a lovely ice cream which if you swop the whipping cream for soy milk is suitable for vegans.

Jackfruit Ice Cream.

Ingredients:

300 gm of the ripe arils (as above)
10gm sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
120 gm coconut milk
200 gm whipped cream.

Let’s Cook!

Chop the jackfruit and put in a pan with the sugar cook until the fruit turns to pulp about 30/40 mins depending on how ripe your fruit is. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Place the cooled mixture in the blender with the salt, vanilla extract and the coconut milk and blend until smooth… Chill overnight in the fridge.

Next day whip your cream and fold the jackfruit mix into the whipped cream and place in your ice cream maker following their instructions.

If you are not using an ice cream maker then put in the blender and pulse 3 times.

Put into an airtight container and freeze for 6 hours.

Enjoy!

That’s all for this week so until next week when I will be back to European food…Have fun, stay safe and laugh a lot.

And if you have children or grandchildren they might enjoy this video cartoon on the Jackfruit that they can sing along to.

And don’t forget any questions or recipes you want me to find for you please ask…
Carol x

You can find my previous columns in the directory: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/carol-taylors-food-column-2018/

About Carol Taylor

Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.

I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetables ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.

Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use have to improve our health and wellbeing.

Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!

Carol is a contributor to the Phuket Island Writers Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Phuket-Island-Writers-Anthology-Stories-ebook/dp/B00RU5IYNS

Connect to Carol

New additional Blog: http://myhealthyretirement.com/welcome-to-orienthailiving-my-first-post/

Blog: https://blondieaka.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRealCarolT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.taylor.1422

If you have missed previous posts in the Cook from Scratch series you can find them here: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/cook-from-scratch-with-sally-and-carol-recipes/

My thanks to Carol for showing us how to prepare this exotic if complex fruit… considering the nutrients it contains, well worth the effort. I know she would love your feedback. thanks Sally

Smorgasbord Health Column – Pre-#Diabetes – The epidemic that goes unreported

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

As of 2020 there were 88 million Americans who were pre-diabetic and are at very high risk of developing full blown diabetes and joining the over 34 million who already have the disease. CDS Diabetes

According to the World Health Authority it is estimated that there are 422 million people worldwide with diabetes. If the ratio of those with pre-diabetes to those with the disease in the US is common globally it would mean that there are over a billion men and women worldwide who are at risk of this very dangerous disease. Whilst Type 1 is genetic and is approximately 10% of cases, Type 2 is predominantly lifestyle and diet related and can usually be reversed.

Unfortunately it is the many millions who are undiagnosed that are at the greatest risk

You do not need to have full-blown diabetes to be suffering from some of the symptoms associated with the disease. There is a condition called pre-diabetes that can be managed with diet and exercise and does not have to lead to the development of type 2 diabetes in the future.

It is also called impaired glucose intolerance and in my experience very closely connected with lifestyle and diet and a possible overgrowth of Candida Albicans. Being overweight, not doing enough exercise and elevated LDL cholesterol levels are also part of the equation. LDL (low density lipoprotein) has smaller particles than the HDL (high density lipoprotein) and because of this it is easier for the LDL to clump and form plaque in the arteries which will narrow them causing a blockage.

Symptoms of Pre-Diabetes

There are a number of symptoms that you might experience either singularly or in combination with one or more of the others.

Feeling hungry all the time
Losing or gaining weight without much change to your diet
Feeling weak as if you might have the flu
Slow healing of cuts or bruises
Unexplained skin rashes
Bladder infections
Vision problems.

If pre-diabetes is tackled positively with food and exercise the symptoms can disappear in a few weeks and if the healthy approach is maintained there should not be any further reason for concern.

Unfortunately some people do not suffer any symptoms at all making this a silent disease and if this is the case it might not be detected until the person is suffering from full blown diabetes.

If you are at all concerned a simple blood test will identify if you are at risk and your Doctor of Pharmacy will talk you through the process.

Taking the first step to avoiding the development of diabetes.

The evidence is very strongly pointing toward lifestyle and diet changes as being the most effective way of dealing with the problem and it is very easy to incorporate the right foods in an appetising way as part of a healthy programme. Even a 10% change to weight can make a huge difference and adding a brisk walk a day, five days a week for 30 minutes at least is also very important.

What are some of the dietary changes necessary.

Apart from getting to a healthier weight there are some other dietary changes you can make to reduce your blood sugar levels. There are certain foods that will cause your blood sugar levels to rise and I cover that later in the post, where I look at the Glycemic value of foods and their effect on the body.

Fibre is important – Apart from the nutrients that wholegrains, fruit and vegetables supply they also contain great amounts of fibre necessary to clean the circulatory system of cholesterol plaque and toxins, keeping the blood clear of unnecessary additives.

Protein is essential and it should not be taken out of the diet. Protein does not have to come from animal sources but if you choose to be vegetarian then make sure you are including beans and fermented soya products for example.

It is our liver that is instrumental in determining our cholesterol levels in combination with certain foods. However, there are some myths surrounding certain foods such as avocados and eggs, which are very misleading.

Fat is absolutely necessary in our diets and there is no evidence to show that eating plant based fats, eggs and animal lean protein moderately causes high cholesterol. It is the hydrogenated fats found in processed protein such as hams, sausages and pastries and other processed prepared foods that are likely to cause a problem.

What about refined sugars and their role in our diet.

We live in a real world and as a Candida or pre-diabetes sufferer it would be pretty miserable without some sugar in your diet. However I do recommend that for the first six weeks you give up sugar completely except for a piece of low GI fruit each day.

The types of sweeteners used by food manufacturers are not natural and many are downright toxic. The one thing that I am definitely sure about is that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharine, sucralose and acesulfame-k have no place in our food chain.

Exercise

When you exercise your body uses insulin which controls your blood sugar levels. If you’re doing moderate exercise for a longer time, your muscles take up glucose at several times the normal rate. This is the type of exercise you should be aiming for.

Start slowly for 30 minutes walking slowly over a fixed distance and then increase you pace over the same distance until you are walking briskly, just slightly out of breath. Then increase your distance each week until you are walking a mile in 15 minutes.

Once you have reached that fitness level it is very effective to add in some high-intensity activity for just a minute every 10 minutes. That might be running for a minute, skipping with a rope, cycling at full speed (static bike) etc.

Carbohydrates

The other recent trend is to demonise all carbohydrates including grains as being the culprits behind most of our modern ills. As with all food advice, one size does not fit all and I am not an advocate for cutting out all food groups entirely based on what is the trend at the moment. We need varying amounts of the main food groups as we get older and complete the transition to adulthood. However, there comes a time in later life when our digestive system is not so effective, when we need to increase certain food groups to ensure we are getting sufficient nutrients.

Our bodies have evolved over several hundred thousands of years. We were and still are opportunistic feeders. Whatever we could get our hands on. The biggest problem occurred when we no longer had to travel miles a day to either hunt or gather our food. That would have included seasonal game, fish, wild grains, berries and fruit, roots, honey etc. It would have been eaten raw until the discovery of fire and we would have not bothered cutting off the fat or counting the calories.

However, today we just have to pop into the car, drive to the nearest supermarket and fill our trollies with foods from all over the world, all year around. That is where ‘moderation’ comes in. Now that most of us, certainly in the western world have so much food available it is down to us to be careful about how much we consume of this bounty.

The glycemic value of the foods that we eat has an impact on our blood glucose levels and I have found that my clients following a lower glycemic approach to carbohydrates and the other foods have found it effective in maintaining a healthy level.

THE GLYCEMIC INDEX.

Not all carbohydrate foods behave the same way when eaten. The Glycemic index or GI describes this difference by ranking carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose levels. Foods are ranked according to their effect in relation to pure sugar which would be 100.

So a food that is ranked at 50 has a much slower effect on blood glucose levels than sugar which causes a much faster reaction. The slower the reaction the less insulin is released into the bloodstream.

This results in less fat being stored, particularly around the hips and thighs.

A low Glycemic diet reduces the onset of dramatic fluctuations in blood sugar levels and therefore will regulate the feelings of hunger. In addition lower Glycemic foods are usually much higher in nutrients and fibre having an overall effect on health.

Low Glycemic Index foods are slowly digested, releasing sugar (glucose) into the bloodstream gradually, resulting in a slow and steady increase in blood sugar that helps keep your body functioning well for longer than high GI foods.

High Glycemic Index foods are quickly digested and metabolized, producing a rapid rise in blood sugar. It’s best to avoid these high GI foods that cause spikes in blood sugar that can result in your body “crashing” or feeling hungry again quite quickly after you eat.

LOW GLYCEMIC FOODS (under the value of 55) Can eat daily

Most Vegetables: asparagus, avocados, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, carrots (small portion) cauliflower, green beans, peas, celery, red cabbage, cucumber, lettuce particularly rocket, mushrooms, onions (very important as they contain chromium which naturally controls blood sugar levels), Garlic, peppers, spinach squash and yams.
Fruits: apples, apricots, grapes, blueberries, cherries, lemons raspberries, strawberries, grapefruit, oranges, peaches, pears, plums, prunes
Juices: apple, grapefruit, pineapple, tomato (unsweetened) small glass and add sparkling water to dilute.
Legumes: black, navy, pinto, and kidney beans; chickpeas; lentils; black-eyed peas
Starches: The key is to have a moderate portion and always have protein with it as this offsets the Glycemic affect. So for example:- porridge with milk (but not lots of sweeteners). Sandwich with chicken etc. Piece of toast with an egg. You must avoid white processed carbohydrates however and this includes biscuits, cakes and white bread as these are most likely to contain artificial sweeteners and trans-fats. I find that whole grain baguettes made in most large supermarket bakeries have few additives but check labels. Or make yourself
Milk products– cheese is wonderful but it is fattening – Milk in tea and on cereals is not a problem but if you are trying to lose weight then go easy when pouring. A piece of mature cheddar a couple of times a week if you are exercising and eating lots of vegetables and lean protein is not an issue – much better than eating a bar of chocolate. Fermented yoghurts may have some benefit on intestinal flora and help the digestive process – watch for sugar content – plain is quite boring but you can add nuts or a small amount of the low glycemic fruit to improve.
Sweeteners: I have used Stevia – I don’t particular advocate because I think it just feeds your sugar craving. I am suspicious of other artificial alternatives and if you can do without entirely. If not then like salt, use pinches of sugar to sprinkle on your cereal rather than a teaspoon, it will teach your taste buds to expect less!
Beverages –Start the day with hot water and fresh squeezed lemon. Not only does it hydrate, give your body a Vitamin C hit but it also gets the digestive process started, helps the liver and retrains your taste buds. You should find within a week that you no longer have a sugar craving. Tea is fine – green tea is excellent as it lowers blood sugar levels. Scientists are on the fence about coffee consumption – some research indicates that it might reduce blood sugar levels and others the opposite. My advice is if you enjoy a cup of coffee then get ground decaffeinated and have a cup every day and enjoy!
Protein. You need protein every day but not as much as people think. If you are eating yoghurts and drinking milk you will be obtaining protein but you can also eat 1 oz. cottage cheese – 1 egg – prawns – chicken – lamb, pork or fish per day. Avoid red meat as this can increase sugar cravings. Oily fish are good for you so try to eat three times a week this includes fresh sardines, salmon and tuna. I would suggest that you also use goat’s cheese and feta cheese as an alternative. Also in Spinach, broccoli and Brussel sprouts.
Salad dressings. Make your own with low fat yoghurt and lemon juice, or cider or balsamic vinegar and herbs.
Nuts and seeds. Walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and almonds. Made up into 2oz packets and used for snacks – the healthy fat will act as a brake on the insulin production and will help with hunger pangs. Buy from a good source and make the mix yourself – unsalted of course. Find the right size zip lock bags and they will keep for ages. Take one to work with you as one of your snacks.
Oils– Very important to include extra virgin olive oil for dressings as this is a fat that is good for you. Would suggest that you also use this on bread rather than butter and mix with seasonings to use on vegetables and salads. For cooking use ordinary olive oil and I find that rather than frying, it is a good idea to brush some oil onto your meat, fish or poultry and bake in the oven.

MEDIUM GYLCEMIC FOODS(56 -69) eat two or three times a week.

Vegetables: white and sweet potatoes
Fruits: bananas, tropical fruits (mango, cantaloupe, papaya, pineapple), kiwi fruit, raisins, figs, fruit cocktail
Juices: orange,
Starches: cous cous
Cereals: oats, homemade muesli (without dried sugar) Weetabix.
Sweeteners: honey (Manuka honey can be consumed more often)

HIGH GLYCEMIC FOODS(above 70) eat very occasionally.

Fruits: watermelon, dates
Processed foods– It is important over the initial period to avoid processed sauces, meats, meals or anything else that might have hidden sugars or too many carbohydrates. Prepare everything fresh – for example pasta sauce with fresh tomatoes, onions, mushrooms etc.
Snacks: popcorn, rice cakes, most crackers (soda, Stoned Wheat Thins, Water Crackers), cakes, doughnuts, croissants, muffins, waffles, white bread, baguette, bagels
Starches: millet
Most Cereals: Bran Flakes, Cheerio’s, Cornflakes, Rice Krispies, Shredded Wheat, Special K, Total or any cereal that is sugar coated.
Sweeteners/Sweets: table sugar, hard candy, soft drinks, sports drinks, fizzy diet drinks, chocolate except for 2 squares of dark (85%) chocolate once or twice a week.
Alcohol. It is a good idea to give up alcohol all together for six weeks if you want to stabilise your blood sugar levels.

Eating Patterns.

Personally I eat within an eight hour window every day which is a form of Intermittent Fasting that suits me best. This gives my body 16 hours each day to get on with what it needs to do in the way of processing the food I have eaten, extracting the nutrients and also allowing for some downtime for major organs such as the liver.

If you usually finish eating at 6.00pm then you can easily eat three balanced meals a day with a couple of snacks between if you need additional energy but they should be nuts, seeds and certain low GI fruits rather than chocolate bars.

This does not mean that if you enjoy chocolate that you cannot eat it. I have two squares of dark chocolate each day after my lunch. (Antioxidants).

©Sally Cronin Just Food for Health 1998 – 2021

I am a qualified nutritional therapist with twenty-three years experience working with clients in Ireland and the UK as well as being a health consultant on radio in Spain. Although I write a lot of fiction, I actually wrote my first two books on health, the first one, Size Matters, a weight loss programme 20 years ago, based on my own weight loss of 154lbs. My first clinic was in Ireland, the Cronin Diet Advisory Centre and my second book, Just Food for Health was written as my client’s workbook. Since then I have written a men’s health manual, and anti-aging programme, articles for magazines, radio programmes and posts here on Smorgasbord.

If you would like to browse my health books and fiction you can find them here: My books and reviews 2021

Smorgasbord Health Column – Nutrient in the News – Vitamin D and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Part of my work as a nutritional therapist involves keeping up to date with new research. Even though I am no longer working with clients on a one to one basis, I like to make sure that my posts and books are updated regularly.

Those of you who are regulars to my health posts will know that I am passionate about communicating the fact that those of us living in northern climates with limited sun exposure are at a risk of Vitamin D deficiency. This is more so for children who spend less time than ever outdoors playing in sunlight or even daylight.

This research was featured recently in Science News.

Vitamin D supplements could help to ease painful Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms, a new study from the University of Sheffield has found.

Scientists from the University’s Department of Oncology and Metabolism reviewed and integrated all available research on vitamin D and IBS — a condition which affects two in 10 people in the UK.

The study showed a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in IBS patients — regardless of their ethnicity.

The Sheffield team also assessed the possible benefits of vitamin D supplements on IBS symptoms. Whilst they believe more research still needs to be conducted, their findings suggested supplements may help to ease symptoms which can include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. Vitamin D was shown to have the most benefit on quality of life in IBS.

Read the rest of the article: Science Daily Vitamin D

Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

I high percentage of my clients over the years have been suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It is a health issue that affects millions of men, women and children worldwide. There is a massive amount of information out there on the condition and it can become confusing as to the why, how and what to do about it when it effects us personally.

Stop and Rewind.

I am afraid if there is a disease with a syndrome in the title it means that the professionals really do not know the why, how and what to do either! In diseases like this symptoms are lumped together and given them a collective name. As in Irritable Bowel Syndrome……..

In working with men, women and children who have these symptoms for the last 20 years I too cannot give you a definitive cause. However, I have found it useful to stop and rewind.

Infant years

It helps if you have a parent alive who can tell you if you were a colic prone baby, cried a great deal, demanded a bottle frequently but failed to put weight on and thrive and had several stomach upsets. This is probably due to lactose intolerance – milk sugar basically which is in human milk and then of course dairy which babies tend to be weaned onto.

Anti-biotics

If that was not the case then I would look at anti-biotic prescription from as early as the client could determine. If not then would track back to when the early stage symptoms of intestinal issues first presented. I could track mine to age 11 when I had six courses of anti-biotics before finally having my tonsils removed. I put on three stone in three months and developed an unhealthy addiction to sugar.

Hormonal imbalance, dieting, lifestyle

Then teenage years – hormonal fluctuations or prescription drugs such as those for acne that might have affected intestinal flora – also any eating disorders,anorexia in particular that not only starved the gut of food to produce bacteria but also caused nutritional deficiency.

Late teens early twenties – perhaps taking the contraceptive pill- start of drinking more alcohol – busy lives and very often symptoms being ignored. By this time many people have developed an overgrowth of Candida Albicans and of course diet plays a role, especially if high in sugars and processed foods.

Here are the posts for Candida and sugars that you should read if you have IBS symptoms.

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2017/04/07/smorgasbord-health-top-to-toe-the-digestive-system-candida-albicans-an-opportunistic-pathogen/

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2017/04/10/smorgasbord-health-2017-the-digestive-system-candida-albicans-feeding-the-body-starving-the-fungus-our-daily-bread/

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/smorgasbord-health-2017-digestive-system-candida-albicans-mushrooms-and-cheese/

Women will continue to experience hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy until their 60s when menopause is complete. Certainly taking HRT may effect the intestinal flora resulting in an imbalance for as long as that is taken.

Men are affected in a similar way during their lifetimes especially in relation to hormonal changes in the teen years and middle age, although IBS is more associated with women which leads weight to the hormone contributory factor.

Then from around 70 there is a decline in both activity and appetite. Less food is eaten and if dental health is not great, the variety of food is also decreased. To add to this lack of nutrient variety, you have to add in the natural decrease in digestive enzymes and acids which means that food is processed less efficiently.

Stress

Throughout a person’s lifetime suffering from this embarrassing, painful and life affecting health problem, you have to add the element of stress. The more we stress about the symptoms the more they will intensify. You become obsessed with finding bathrooms and what you eat. I have had clients come to me worn out, depressed and stressed out, trying to exist on a handful of foods that someone has told them they can eat – with a far longer list of prohibited foods – FOR LIFE. This leads to an increase in the problems and the far more dangerous risk of severe nutritional deficiency and even more severe health problems.

So – here is a brief look at the syndrome and then later in the week I am going to give you a simple but effective way to reduce the symptoms, increase the healthy bacteria in the gut and lessen the stress associated with the problem. It will also help you identify the particular cause of your particular symptoms. This is tried and tested – so many of my clients presented with these symptoms that we had plenty of opportunity to see the process evolve into a successful management of the condition.

IBS – Where is the problem?

The bowel is the term used for both the large and the small intestine.In the case of irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, it is usually the large intestine which is involved, as this is where our stool is stored and is likely to cause the most problems. When I was working with clients, I found over a number of years that there were strong links between those who were lactose intolerant (milk sugar) from birth, Candida Albicans from childhood antibiotics and as adults following gastric upsets and taking medication, and a lifelong consumption of refined sugars. These all result in a bacterial imbalance in the gut leading to the most common symptoms experienced by those diagnosed as suffering from IBS.

What sort of symptoms are involved?

These will vary from person to person. They will also vary in severity and timing. The most common symptoms are:

· Abdominal pain or cramping
· Bloated feeling after eating.
· Gas.
· Diarrhoea and or constipation
· Mucus in the stool
· Depression.
· Lower back pain
· Chronic fatigue
· Panic attacks and palpitations
· Heartburn
· Light-headedness after eating

What causes these symptoms?

The walls of the intestine are lined with layers of muscle that contract and relax as they move the food from your stomach, through the intestinal tract and the rectum. Normally, this is co-ordinated and rhythmic but if you suffer from IBS, the contractions are much stronger and last longer. This causes the food to be rushed through the system. It is not processed properly – because it is not digested – and it can cause diarrhoea in the first instance. This leads to dehydration – and that affects the balance of fluids and causes further undigested food to block the intestine and – leading to constipation and stomach bloating and cramps. It is a typical vicious circle. As the nutritional deficiency develops there will of course be an affect on the whole system and the organs, hence palpitations, dizziness and could lead to heart disease, diabetes and cancers.

Later this week – a six week plan to reduce symptoms, increase healthy bacteria and function to the intestines and to identify which foods or one food is causing your IBS.

I am happy to answer questions confidentially by email if you prefer at sally.cronin@moyhill.com. If your question is general and might help someone else then please include in the comments. I hope this has been helpful.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – William Price King’s Music Column – Bono and U2 Part Three

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Please visit the directory for the previous columns: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/william-price-king-music-column/

“With Or Without You” is the third track from their fifth studio album, “The Joshua Tree” (1987), and was released as the album’s lead single on 16 March 1987. The song was the group’s most successful single at the time, becoming their first number-one hit in both the United States and Canada by topping the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and the RPM national singles chart for one week, with a further three weeks at number two. The song originated from a demo recorded in late 1985 that the group continued to work on throughout “The Joshua Tree” sessions. Ostensibly a troubled love song, the track’s lyrics were inspired by Bono’s conflicting feelings about the lives he led as a musician and domestic man. Bono wrote the lyrics during his first night visiting La Côte d’Azur in 1986, while struggling to reconcile his responsibilities as both a married man and a musician.

His wanderlust in belonging to a musical act was often at odds with his domestic life. The lyrics ostensibly describe a troubled relationship between two lovers, although the lyrics have been interpreted in religious contexts. The “Washington Post” interpreted the song as both an acerbic love song and a tune lamenting the moral contradictions one faces with their religious faith.

Toby Creswell echoed these sentiments, saying it “can be read as a song about either marital romance or spiritual need.” Bono explained that the lyrics had romantic intentions, saying, “there’s nothing more revolutionary than two people loving each other. One, ’cause it’s so uncommon these days, and two, ’cause it’s so difficult to do.”

While writing the lyrics, he realized that neither facet of his life defined him, but rather the tension between the two did. He explained that the final lyric is about torment and how repressing desires only makes them stronger. “With or Without You” is U2’s second most frequently covered song. In 2010, “Rolling Stone” magazine placed the song at number 132 on their list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” “With or Without You” debuted at number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and on 16 May 1987, it topped the chart to become U2’s first number-one single in the US, proving Friday’s prediction true. The song spent three weeks atop the chart, and 18 weeks in total on the Hot 100. The song also topped Billboard’s Album Rock Tracks chart, Canada’s RPM Top 100, and the Irish Singles Chart.

According to Billboard, the song was the group’s breakthrough with American audiences. The single peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, spending 11 weeks in the top 75 of the chart. The single also peaked at number two on the Dutch MegaCharts Top 40. In 2009, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number 43 on the week ending 31 May, based on download sales due to Shaun Smith’s performance of the song in the semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent. In 2000, the song appeared at number eight on “Rolling Stone’s” list of “100 Greatest Pop Songs.” In 2010, “Rolling Stone” magazine placed the song at number 132 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

“I Still Haven’t Found What I”m Looking For” is the second track from their 1987 album “The Joshua Tree” and was released as the album’s second single in May 1987. The song was a hit, becoming the band’s second consecutive number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 while peaking at number six on the UK Singles Chart.

Like much of “The Joshua Tree,” the song was inspired by the group’s interest in American music. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” exhibits influences from gospel music and its lyrics describe spiritual yearning. Bono’s vocals are in high register and lead guitarist the Edge plays a chiming arpeggio*. Adding to the gospel qualities of the song are choir-like backing vocals provided by the Edge and producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” was critically acclaimed and received two nominations at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards in 1988, for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Many critics and publications have ranked “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” among the greatest tracks in music history including “Rolling Stone” which ranked the song at #93 of its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

The music video for the song was filmed in Las Vegas in April, 1987 following their “Joshua Tree” Tour concert in that city. In 2001, the song was ranked at number 120 on the RIAA’s list of 365 “Songs of the Century”—a project intended to “promote a better understanding of America’s musical and cultural heritage”—despite the group’s Irish origins. The staff of the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” selected “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” as one of “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.”

*arpeggio: a type of broken chord, in which the notes that compose a chord are played or sung in a rising or descending order.

“Desire” is the third track on U2’s 1988 album, “Rattle and Hum.” Released as the album’s lead single, “Desire” was the band’s first number-one single in the UK and Australia. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US., and topped both the Modern and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, the first song to reach the top of both of these charts simultaneously. It reached number two on the Dutch Top 40. In 1989, “Desire” won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

U2 cites the Stooges’ song “1969” as the primary influence on “Desire,” which is an interpolation of the “Bo Diddley beat.”* “Desire” has appeared on two U2 compilation albums, “The Best of 1980-1990 and U218 Singles.

*The Bo Didley beat is a syncopated musical rhythm that is widely used in rock and roll and pop music. The beat is named after rhythm and blues musician Bo Diddley, who introduced and popularized the beat with his self-title debut single.

“One” is the third track from their 1991 album “Achtung Baby,” and it was released as the record’s third single in February 1992. “One” was released as a “benefit single,” with proceeds going towards AIDS research. The song topped the Irish Singles Charts and US Billboard Album Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks charts, and it peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart and number ten on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was acclaimed by critics upon its release, and it has since been featured in polls of the greatest songs of all time.

In a live setting, “One” is often used by the group to promote human rights or social justice causes, and the song lends its namesake to Bono’s charitable organization, the ONE Campaign. In 2005, U2 re-recorded the song as part of a duet with R&B recording artist Mary J. Blige on her album “The Breakthrough.”

Bono described the song’s theme as such: “It is a song about coming together, but it’s not the old hippie idea of ‘Let’s all live together. It is, in fact, the opposite. It’s saying, We are one, but we’re not the same. It’s not saying we even want to get along, but that we have to get along together in this world if it is to survive. It’s a reminder that we have no choice.”

Critics praised “One.” In its review of the album, “Entertainment Weekly” called the song “biting and unprecedentedly emotional” and opined that its “extravagant stylings and wild emotings (…) put it among Bono’s most dramatic moments on record”. In its review of the album, “Rolling Stone” called the song a “radiant ballad”, noting that “Few bands can marshal such sublime power, but it’s just one of the many moments on “Achtung Baby” when we’re reminded why, before these guys were the butt of cynical jokes, they were rock & roll heroes—as they still are.

In December 2006, “One” was announced by BBC Radio 1 to be the thirty-fifth highest-selling single of 2006 in the UK. The collaboration was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals in December 2006. In 2010, “Rolling Stone” placed the song at number 36 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” making it the highest-ranked U2 song.

“The Wanderer” is the tenth and final track from U2’s’ 1993 studio album, “Zooropa.” It is one of the few U2 songs without Bono on lead vocals, instead featuring country singer Johnny Cash. The Edge provides harmonizing backing-vocals throughout the song, but the country style howl at the end is by Bono. Cash recorded the vocals for the song in Dublin in February 1993 during the “Zooropa” sessions. The song underwent several provisional titles, including “The Preacher” and “Wandering.” Producer Brian Eno tried to get Bono to sing the song, but Bono maintained it was Cash’s voice he imagined singing the song. Bono and Cash had previously worked on a song called “Ellis Island.”

The lyrics describe a man searching for God in a post-Apocalyptic world, expressing concern over society’s diminished view of Jesus Christ. According to music scholars William Richey and Kevin J.H. Dettmar, U2 “skillfully exploited the image of Johnny Cash in a… provocative way,” clarifying that “they seemingly imbue their vision of a post apocalyptic wasteland with a deeper sense of poignancy and sincerity because Cash’s storied voice is associated in the public mind with a man whose very public struggles with drugs, alcohol, and love prove that he has ‘walked the line’.”

Buy the music of U2: https://www.amazon.com/U2/e/B000APTGBO

and Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/U2/e/B000APTGBO

Additional sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bono
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U2
U2 Website – News and Tours: http://www.u2.com/tour

A massive thank you to William for the work that has gone into the post.

About William Price King

William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.

His vocal mentors are two of the greatest giants in jazz, Nat King Cole and Mel Tormé. King has a distinctive wide-ranging voice which displays a remarkable technical facility and emotional depth.

William Price King on Tumblr – IMPROVISATION – https://williampriceking.tumblr.com

Connect with William

We hope that you will join us again next week. Thanks for dropping in and your feedback would be very welcome.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Carol Taylor’s Food Column – Ajaico… A Colombian Chicken Soup.

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Ajaico… A Colombian Chicken Soup.

Thank you very much for your lovely responses to my first post on my food column..It has been much harder to think of what to write about this week but I have shelved the exotic fruits until your weather warms up somewhat and am bringing to you another soup this time from Columbia.

The recipe was given to me by a good friend when I was in Phuket and it is a lovely Chicken and Potato soup which originated many moons ago in Columbia and it is now a well-known national dish. When the gales are blowing and it is a snowy, blustery winters night when the wind chill goes right down to your toes and even your wee freezes then this is just what you need.

She told me that her grandmother used to keep a pot simmering on her stove ready for when any cold mortal came to her door…It sounds to me a little like she was a welcome port in the snow storm.

I can just picture her granny standing in her kitchen serving up these luscious bowls of hot soup.

Traditionally served with thinly slice avocados, sour cream, chopped coriander and capers…..I am now salivating as I type…

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs of chicken pieces, skin on and on the bone.
1 1/2 lbs of potatoes……mixed varieties maybe 3 different ones.
2-3 Corn cut crosswise into quarters or 1 1/2 cups of frozen corn.
1 large brown Onion chopped roughly.
5 cloves of garlic, roughly cut.
4 cups of good chicken stock…I cook up chicken carcases.
1 tsp of coarse salt…I use Himalayan.
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper.
2tbsp Olive Oil.
I bunch of coriander ..tied.
1 bunch of spring Onions( green onions) …tied.
2tbsp dried guascas.

NB: Also known as Quick weed or Galinsoga in the US and Gallant Soldiers in the UK……It is a very prolific edible weed.

Or…You can use dried Oregano as a substitute.

Let’s Cook!

Marinade your chicken pieces with the onion, garlic, salt and pepper in the fridge for 8-24 hrs.

When ready to cook heat olive Oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan . Add the chicken and all the marinade bits. Brown the chicken on both sides about 6 minutes.

Pour the stock into the pan and raise the heat to bring to the boil, turn down and cook at a rolling simmer for 30 minutes. Remove chicken from the pan and when it is cool enough to handle remove skin and bones. Cut or tear the chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Put the potatoes in the cooking liquid and cook for 5 minutes. Then add the corn, tied spring onions, coriander and quascas( oregano). Cover pan and simmer for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are cooked.

Remove coriander and onions and return chicken to the pot and warm through.
Serve soup in individual bowls with the prepared avocado, sour cream, coriander and capers as accompaniments.

Enjoy!

Last week’s comments and especially one from Norah and her unfortunate experiences with Jack Fruit leads me to saying if you are preparing any Jackfruit before I do a post on Jackfruit then to avoid the sticky gooey disaster follow this advice… and enjoy!

Until next week when it will be some recipes to make from the exotic Thai fruit aka The Jackfruit the biggest fruit to grow on a tree and has reached some 80lbs in weight…

Thank you for visiting this column and please let me know if you have anything at all that you want me to discuss or find the recipe for.

I also thought that I may have a question and answer week so if you have any questions then fire away…I look forward to hearing from you xx

You can find my previous column in the directory: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/carol-taylors-food-column-2018/

About Carol Taylor

Carol is a contributor to the Phuket Island Writers Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Phuket-Island-Writers-Anthology-Stories-ebook/dp/B00RU5IYNS

Connect to Carol

New additional Blog: http://myhealthyretirement.com/welcome-to-orienthailiving-my-first-post/

Blog: https://blondieaka.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRealCarolT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.taylor.1422

If you have missed previous posts in the Cook from Scratch series you can find them here: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/cook-from-scratch-with-sally-and-carol-recipes/

Thanks for dropping in and it would be great to hear from you.

William Price King Music Column – Bono and U2 – Meet the Band.

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the new series William Price King Music Column.. A slightly different format but the same great background and music of the top artists across the different styles of music. The first artist of 2018 is Bono and the band U2. In part one we are going to be introducing Bono and the other band members before picking up their early career next week.

via William Price King Music Column – Bono and U2 – Meet the Band.

Smorgasbord Health 2018 – The Dynamics of Change – Emotional Being.

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Today I am looking at some of the factors involved in our changing emotional responses through our lifetime that are hardwired and those that change with the influence of time and our experiences.

Involuntary Emotions

First a look at a couple of the hard-wired emotional responses that are activated by the chemical and hormonal balances in our brains and other organs.

Oxytocin is a neuromodulator in the brain that is stored in our master controller the Hypothalamus and then released by the posterior pituitary gland. In essence it is one of the most powerful triggers of emotions in humans and a primary trigger for some of our instinctive behaviour.

Whilst we may aim to be doctors, authors, space explorers or musicians, our bodies from before birth are programmed to do two things as well as possible. Survive as long into our possible lifespan as we can and to reproduce.

To this end at various times in our life cycle the brain will either increase or decrease levels of hormones that regulate both the development of certain cells and organs and also our fertility.

Oxytocin plays a large part in this process and in particular at that moment before birth as a baby prepares to enter the harsh environment that is life. The release of Oxytocin makes for a smoother birth for both mother and baby and it also facilitates that magical and so vital first moments of bonding. This includes encouraging milk production and a baby’s ability to suckle aided by the instinctive need by a new-born to obtain essential immune boosting and detoxing elements of his mother’s milk, Colostrum.

A baby’s entire system has to be kick started gently to avoid undue stress and another very important role of colostrum is to cleanse the new-born’s body of any toxic build-up within the first few hours and days. None of this would be possible if the oxytocin had not been released during the last stages of pregnancy, during delivery and bonding.

So that is the first time that our body will regulate our emotions with the release of a chemical enhancer. Oxytocin however has been shown to have an effect on our emotions as we grow and develop, as it is at certain times released into the parts of the brain that are responsible for our emotional, reasoning and social behaviour.

There is some research that indicates that in fact the release of oxytocin could also be responsible for anti-social behaviour in the form of instinctive rejection of outsiders and aggressive behaviour. This may however also be linked to a break in the natural chain of events at childbirth where perhaps a baby is removed before it has a chance to bond with its mother and then is brought up without the accepted form of nurturing.

A baby will act on instinctive behaviour that can seem to be a voluntary emotional response but is actually nature’s way of keeping it safe. For example we know how powerful and piercing a baby’s cry can be, and in fact it is at a pitch that makes every woman of child bearing years in the immediate vicinity leap into action! There are many parenting advice columns that are happy to tell you to pick up the baby, ignore it, roll over and let your partner deal with, feed or change its nappy. It can be tough for a new parent to understand the variations of yelling and screaming that a new-born baby can utter but each has its own distinct meaning.

Before being able to use language a baby will use verbal and non-verbal communication to make its feelings known. The terrible twos are an example where frustration and emotional intensity can become more voluntary as a baby begins to understand the power of manipulation to achieve an end result.. This is also a great time to bring in gentle but also persuasive strategies to encourage a more social element to a young child such as socialising with other children of a similar age where another form of bonding takes place and a better understanding of how to deal with your peers.

Children begin to identify objects with words and slowly language builds. Emotional responses die down accordingly and as a child goes to school, learns more and works within a group and has other adults to emulate, more voluntary emotional behaviour develops.

Social etiquette is one thing, but for many children this can also be a time when their natural personality can be repressed. Discipline is needed within a social environment so that we can exist side by side peacefully. Thankfully we have moved past the very strict discipline environment of schools 40 to 50 years ago but there are some who feel we have moved too far the other way.

Then we hit the teenage years when the sex hormones such as progesterone, oestrogen and testosterone begin to be released, maturing our reproductive organs and throwing both brain and body out of whack until our early 20s. To parents who have been through this phase with their offspring I probably do not have to say too much more.

After about 24 years old things settle down again except for women who have babies and are affected by the oxytocin during and after pregnancy. There might also be postpartum depression caused by the reduction in oestrogen and progesterone, physical and emotional changes following the birth, and in some cases the stresses resulting from being a parent of a new baby. Women until their 50s are also subject to monthly hormonal changes that can have a very powerful effect on emotions at certain times of the month.

Then comes a gap until we hit our mid-40s when there is again a change in our hormonal make up. Changes begin to take place in our bodies and it can lead to a period of time when emotions fluctuate. The good news is that after about 55 for both men and women the instinctive drive to reproduce subsides as the hormonal balance reaches its new level which will last the rest of our lives.

This is not to say that you cannot fall in love, enjoy a physical relationship or feel all the normal range of emotions. It does mean that there is room for more voluntary participation in the process.

Although our hormone levels decrease in middle age they are still produced in other tissues of the body such as the adrenal glands. This means that new lovers will still be affected by oxytocin, and in fact it is still as important in bonding between two adults, as it is between a mother and child.

Fear

Fear is an instinctive emotion that triggers the body to produce a chemical response. Adrenaline is a hormone that is released by the adrenal gland as a response to the recognition by your mind or your body that something is dangerous, stressful or exciting. It is the body’s natural way of giving you the strength to deal with an extraordinary event. Honed over many thousands of years it is usually referred to as the ‘fight or flight response’

Adrenaline acts fast, it dilates our airways and blood vessels to make sure that oxygen is available to either face the danger head on or run like hell.. In the early stages of our evolution this reaction was probably activated regularly as we tried to survive a hostile environment. However, our modern lifestyle may not have rampaging herds of mammoths or cave lions but we do have the equivalents.

Stress is not always bad as it makes life interesting but it becomes dangerous when it is so frequent your adrenal glands are pumping out adrenaline constantly. This leads to serious health and mental issues.

This requires the intervention of voluntary emotional responses that calm the body’s instinctive reactions. It might involve taking more exercise, changing diet, lifestyle choices and sometimes jobs and relationships. This takes us onto our voluntary emotional responses.

Voluntary Emotions.

As I mentioned earlier it is clear that we all learn from experience with regard to both the emotion that we offer others and also what we will accept.

There is also a driving force that confuses the issue. Our expectations based on what we have been told by others, have experienced or have read that tells you what you should be feeling. Romance novelists and fairy stories do create the illusion that everyone will meet the perfect person and go on to live happily ever after! Not always the case sadly, but if you have grown up expecting this outcome, it can be easy to feel excluded from others.

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2016/07/25/the-rs-of-life-chapter-six-romance-the-biggest-fairy-story-of-them-all/

We build walls, boundaries, create rules, push away, avoid and develop other strategies that we feel will protect us from past events and hurt. We learn behaviours that we reinforce time after time verbally. For example: ‘Nobody would find me attractive anyway’- ‘I am happy as I am alone’ – ‘I prefer to keep myself to myself’ Etc. I have also seen physical barriers created to prevent emotional involvement. Obesity can be a great way to distance yourself from relationships as can wearing drab clothes and a plain appearance.

It is a complicated business and I have experienced this type of emotional behaviour myself. The one thing that has become clearer as I have got older is that no one person reacts the same way to events or trauma and that at best you can only generalise. Pain in the form of loss of some kind is very hard to overcome and many times we feel that we cannot open ourselves up to that again.

Instinctively we want to belong to a family or group and that is hard wired. It is therefore our own voluntary actions which prevent that from happening.

So how can we make changes to our voluntary emotional responses?

If you find yourself saying that you are lonely, nobody calls you, you find it hard to make new friends, you are bored, then perhaps it is time to think about how you might be putting up barriers to prevent interactions with others. And even though online relationships may lack that face to face element, they are no less valid and certainly I have known people who have gone on to meet people they have met online and to enjoy great relationships both platonic and romantic.

Listening to our instinctive intuition and taking into account common sense regarding our own safety means that we can change our voluntary emotional responses and perhaps get a great deal more out of life.

Having worked with many men and women over the years and listening to them talk about their lives it is clear that apart from the odd and rare narcissist who only loves themselves, most people’s emotional responses are based on their experiences.

It does not take a human long to learn responses that avoid emotional pain as it is as devastating as the physical kind. In fact where most physical pain subsides either with pain killers or time, emotional pain can last a lifetime. Especially when reinforced repeatedly when it becomes hard wired into our personality. As I mentioned earlier part of this repetitive cycle of pain is in partly down to our expectations. After several failed relationships, instead of believing in happy endings, we assume that every relationship we are going to have is going to end badly.

The only way to interrupt this cycle of poor outcomes is to change not just expectations but the decisions we make.

Our happiness is not anyone elses responsibility. It is ours and if our decisions lead to our unhappiness we need to examine those decisions. Hard though it may be… without emotion.

This applies to our emotional investment in our work, family relationships, romantic relationships and the people we hang out with and who influence us.

Life is too short to be doing a job we hate, or to be around people who make us unhappy. And whilst I am not suggesting drastic action and an immediate walk out… I do suggest that you begin to look at solutions rather than the problems.

Do you need to sit down and have an honest talk with your boss, family members, lover or friend to work out how to make this relationship work for you both. Is it also time to look at what you are putting into the equation… none of us is perfect. If all else fails, what are your viable alternatives.. retrain, look for another job, give your family and friends a bit more space or end a relationship?

This requires honesty and it is not easy. There is also the likelihood of pain, not just for yourself but others. But, if you move forward to a much more positive emotional place for yourself, you will find that it will impact your physical and mental well-being and importantly your relationship with others.

If you need help with your mental or emotional health then I recommend that you find a qualified counsellor to help your through the process of regaining your joy of life. It is amazing how just talking to someone you trust can clarify issues, enabling you to make better decisions.

I hope that you have found this of interest.. would love to have your feedback.. thanks Sally

William Price King Music Column – Bono and U2 – Part Two – The Early Years.

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the new series William Price King Music Column.. A slightly different format but the same great background and music of the top artists across the different styles of music. The first artist of 2018 is Bono and the band U2. In part one we introduced Bono and the other band members before picking up their early career this week.

U2 has one of the most impressive catalogues of awards of any of the groups in the last forty years. Apart from 170 million + records sold world wide, the group has also won an impressive number of industry accolades. https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2018/01/10/william-price-king-music-column-bono-and-u2-meet-the-band/

Bono and U2 – Part Two – The Early Years.

Four years after forming the band they signed with Island Records which had been formed by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall and Leslie Kong in Jamaica in 1959. By the early 1970s the label had already become one of the influencers of the progressive music scene in the UK.

“I Will Follow” is the opening track from U2’s debut album, “Boy,” and was released as the album’s second single in October 1980. Bono wrote the lyrics to this song in tribute to his mother who died when he was 14 years old. “I Will Follow” is the only song that U2 has performed on every tour since they released their first album. This song was U2’s first music video, which was directed by Meiert Avis in Dublin, Ireland. In 2005, “Blender”* ranked the song at number 214 on its list “The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born”.

The magazine wrote, “The first song on U2’s first album introduced the guitar sound that would define their work.”

*Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as “the ultimate guide to music and more”. It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities.

“Fire” is the fifth track on the band’s 1981 album, “October,” and was released as the album’s first single. “Fire” was U2’s first song to chart in the UK, where it managed to break the top 40, peaking at No. 35 . “Fire” was also the song U2 played for their first appearance on “Top of the Pops.” The “October” album version of “Fire” was recorded at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas while U2 took a break from the “Boy Tour” in April 1981.

“Gloria” is the opening track and second single from the band’s 1981 album, “October.”
It features a chorus sung in Latin, from the liturgical “Gloria in Excelsis Deo,” and references Van Morrison’s 1964 love song “Gloria.” It was one of their lowest-charting singles on the UK singles chart, peaking at #55 but was more successful in Ireland and New Zealand, reaching the Top 20. “Gloria” has been played in concert more than 370 times.

“Allmusic” cited the song as an example of “when U2 marry the message, melody, and sound together… the results are thoroughly impressive,” while “Pitchfork” said the song “displays some musical dynamism, but its Latin-language chorus tempers its anthemic qualities.” “Gloria” highlights bassist Adam Clayton as it features three styles of playing in one song (using a pick for the most part, playing with fingers during the slide guitar by the Edge, then a “slap & pop” solo towards the end).

The chorus “Gloria in te Domine / Gloria exultate” translates to “Glory in You, Lord / Glory, exalt [Him]” with “exalt” in the imperative mood, a reference to Psalm 30:2 (in te Domine, speravi). The song also contains references to Colossians 2:9-10 (“Only in You I’m complete”) and James 5:7-9 (“The door is open / You’re standing there”). The “Gloria” video, written and directed by Meiert Avis, was filmed in October 1981 on a barge in Grand Canal Basin in Dublin near Windmill Lane. “Gloria” was the first U2 music video that received heavy airplay on MTV.

“New Year’s Day” is from U2’s 1983 album “War” and was released as the album’s lead single in January 1983. Written about the Polish Solidarity movement, “New Year’s Day” is driven by Adam Clayton’s distinctive bass line and the Edge’s piano and guitar playing. It was the band’s first UK hit single, peaking at no. 10, also becoming the band’s first international hit, reaching #9 in Norway, #11 on the Dutch Top 40, #17 in Sweden and charting on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States (just missing the Top 50) for the first time in their career. “New Year’s Day” is U2’s seventh most frequently performed live song.
In 2010, “Rolling Stone” magazine placed the single at #435 on their list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

The lyric had its origins in a love song from Bono to his wife, but was subsequently reshaped and inspired by the Polish Solidarity movement. The video was one of their first to see heavy rotation on MTV. It was filmed in Sälen, Sweden, in December 1982 and directed by Meiert Avis.

In 1983, Bono said of the song, “It would be stupid to start drawing up battle lines, but I think the fact that ‘New Year’s Day’ made the Top Ten indicated a disillusionment among record buyers. I don’t think ‘New Year’s Day’ was a pop single, certainly not in the way that Mickie Most might define a pop single as something that lasts three minutes and three weeks in the chart. I don’t think we could have written that kind of song.”

“Pride (In The Name Of Love)” is the second track on the band’s 1984 album, “The Unforgettable Fire.” It was released as the album’s lead single in September 1984. Written about Martin Luther King, Jr., the song received mixed critical reviews at the time, but it was a major commercial success for the band and has since become one of the band’s most popular songs. The song ranked number 388 on the “Rolling Stone” list of the “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” and is included in “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.” Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders sang backing vocals on the recording. “Pride” reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart and #8 on the Dutch Singles Chart. The song was the band’s first top 40 hit in the US where it peaked at #33. It reached #1 in New Zealand, the first time a U2 single topped a country’s singles chart. The 1984 Pazz & Jop poll of 240 music critics ranked “Pride” as the 12th best single of that year, a higher ranking than the overall album, which finished 29th.

The song had been intended to be based on Ronald Reagan’s pride in America’s military power, but Stephen B. Oates’ book “Let The Trumpet Sound: A Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.” and a biography of “Malcolm X” caused Bono to ponder the different sides of the civil rights campaigns, the violent and the non-violent. The song contains the erroneous reference to King’s shooting as “Early morning, April 4,” when it actually occurred after 6 p.m. Bono acknowledges the error and in live performances he occasionally changes the lyric to “Early evening..

Buy the music of U2: https://www.amazon.com/U2/e/B000APTGBO

and Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/U2/e/B000APTGBO

Additional sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bono
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U2
U2 Website – News and Tours: http://www.u2.com/tour

About William Price King

William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.

His vocal mentors are two of the greatest giants in jazz, Nat King Cole and Mel Tormé. King has a distinctive wide-ranging voice which displays a remarkable technical facility and emotional depth.

William Price King on Tumblr – IMPROVISATION – https://williampriceking.tumblr.com

Connect with William

We hope that you will join us again next week. Thanks for dropping in and your feedback would be very welcome.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Carol Taylor’s Food Column – Introduction and Egg Drop Soup.

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

I am so pleased that Carol Taylor has joined the blog in a new capacity as the food columnist. I will leave Carol to introduce the topics that she is going to be sharing each week and also a delicious recipe for a delicious soup.

Carol Taylor’s Food Column – Introduction and Egg Drop Soup.

Hello, I am beyond excited to be asked by Sally to host a cookery column in her new magazine…Thank you Sally x

Many of you know me by now but for this first post on the cookery column I thought I would set up my stall and tell you a little more about myself.

My passion for cooking and writing is all consuming, I love to cook, find new recipes, unusual foods and living here in Thailand I am discovering foods I haven’t seen before, tasted or even heard of.

The world of blogging has also opened up doors for me I am discovering people and foods from all 4 corners of our wonderful world and so many different cuisines…

Everything I make is made from scratch, I use fresh local ingredients in season, dishes which are easy to make, healthy and with no preservatives…I don’t use packets or mixes just food I can cook at home on my cooker.

My recipe portfolio is growing fast as I am meeting people who are happy to share their recipes and many which have been passed down through generations of their families and some have many variations depending on regions and the availability of ingredients.

As this column grows my aim is to bring to you family favourites, but also recipes from Thailand, which I have learnt to cook and have grown to love and also some more unusual dishes made with fruits and vegetables from here…where possible I will give you substitutes if I know it may not be available where you live although many fruits and vegetables are now available around the world…

All foods I use I will have tried and tested and I try most things and some I have been pleasantly surprised that they actually taste nice…taste okay.

Durian Fruit is a great example of this as I have read some horror stories…it is banned from airplanes, hotels, many places have a ban on Durian…Knowing Durian as I do now I think it is mainly because it has an all invading and cloying smell.

The taste however is quite creamy and mild and nothing at all like my expectations of the fruit. It is lovely made into ice-cream and crisps. It is also said to cool the blood.

What I have tried and really don’t like is Phla…which is a fermented fish which looks like a pot of muddy sludge and is banned from our house as the smell of that is awful…Saying that when it is added to food it doesn’t taste like it smells but is still a taste that I don’t like too much…

The smell of that to me is far worse than Durian Fruit and is eaten by many Thais even my young grandson likes it in his Som Tam (Papaya salad)…I don’t!

I hope that you will as cooks will approach some of my recipes with an open mind and you may find that like me they will become firm favourites in your house.

Today I am sharing just one recipe which is for a lovely soup as I know many of you who live in colder climes need something to warm your insides.
This is a soup I discovered when we were on a trip to Nong Khai and has become a firm favourite with us.

As always those of you who know me know I just cannot write a recipe it generally comes with a story…. I hope you enjoy!

EGG DROP SOUP…..

On a recent visit to Nong Khai which sits on the banks of the Mekong River in Northern Thailand…my quest was to find the sculpture park…..I had heard of its magnificent statues and how it was a must see but first of all some sustenance aka Food!

We spied a lovely floating seafood restaurant down some steep steps and over a rickety wooden bridge (planks) we sat down, ordered and waited, and waited, the restaurant was becoming very busy and we waited.

Finally …Food!

Well all except mine…by this time I was even hungrier and also didn’t want to eat on my own …so when everyone had finished ….We just checked our bill and left.

My grandson and my friend wanted to partake in a marvellous looking desert called Bingsu which they had spied on route to the restaurant. It is a mixture of fruit, sauce and dried ice cream.

Me…I didn’t want a dessert; well… firstly I wanted my lunch…. The restaurant was a Vietnamese one and I am not that familiar with the food and don’t really like too much sesame oil (a past) experience and not that good.

So I flicked and flipped through the menu and was getting quite antsy…Who me? Yes!

Everyone ordered their Bingsu and I think the waitress sensed my indecision and pointed to the menu.

The picture …A soup

Anyway…Sometimes when you not expecting a great deal….A little gem appears and what a bowl of lusciousness it was….Tomatoes, chilli, egg, mince , spring onions and Dill…. A virtual assault on my taste buds…

The recipe which I have adapted slightly.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tbsp oil ( I use coconut)
3 spring onions
3/4 lb ripe tomatoes ( chopped and cored)
1 tsp salt
1-2 tbsp Fish Sauce
1/3 lb finely minced pork
1-2 chillies diced diagonally
2 eggs beaten
2 sprigs of coriander or dill
5 1/2 cups water
Black Pepper to taste

Let’s Cook!

Heat the oil over a medium heat in a large pan. Add tomatoes and salt, cover and cook until soft about 4-6 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking or burning.

Add fish sauce and chillies….I would add I tbsp of fish sauce and taste and adjust seasoning before serving.

Add mince and move around to break up any big clumps.

Add water, bring to boil and skim of any scum that arises.

Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes add spring onions and simmer for another 10 minutes.

If you are not serving immediately then remove from heat and keep lid on.

To Serve:

Bring soup to simmer, Taste and adjust seasoning, fish sauce or salt.

Pour beaten egg into bowl in a wide circle; stir gently to break up in to strings.

Ladle soup into bowl, add a generous sprinkling of pepper and garnish with Coriander or Dill.

Enjoy!

Lastly, a request from me, if you have come across a dish, either at home or when you have been on holiday, or seen a tasty looking dish in a magazine or heard someone talk about it, I would like to hear from you. Also you may have seen an unknown fruit or vegetable on your travels.

Send me a picture or name of the dish or ingredient, and if I don’t recognise it or do not already have a recipe, I will research it for you…

That’s all for this week…I hope you enjoy the soup…let me know in the comments…I love to chat and hear other ideas

About Carol Taylor

Carol is a contributor to the Phuket Island Writers Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Phuket-Island-Writers-Anthology-Stories-ebook/dp/B00RU5IYNS

Connect to Carol

New additional Blog: http://myhealthyretirement.com/welcome-to-orienthailiving-my-first-post/

Blog: https://blondieaka.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRealCarolT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.taylor.1422

If you have missed previous posts in the Cook from Scratch series you can find them here: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/cook-from-scratch-with-sally-and-carol-recipes/

My thanks to Carol for this wonderful start to her new series and I hope you have enjoyed. Please help share the news by sharing. Thanks Sally

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Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Blog magazine for lovers of health, food, books, music, humour and life in general

Monthly Archives: January 2018

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – William Price King’s Music Column – Bono and U2 up to date.

Smorgasbord Invitation Blog Magazine – Carol Taylor’s Food Column – The wonder tree…Jack Fruit!

Smorgasbord Health Column – Pre-#Diabetes – The epidemic that goes unreported

Smorgasbord Health Column – Nutrient in the News – Vitamin D and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – William Price King’s Music Column – Bono and U2 Part Three

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Carol Taylor’s Food Column – Ajaico… A Colombian Chicken Soup.

William Price King Music Column – Bono and U2 – Meet the Band.

Smorgasbord Health 2018 – The Dynamics of Change – Emotional Being.

William Price King Music Column – Bono and U2 – Part Two – The Early Years.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Carol Taylor’s Food Column – Introduction and Egg Drop Soup.