Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Remembrance, Maleficent

poppies_apRemembrance Day today. I already lost one poppy. Although this began in order to remember those killed in World War I to me it is very much more pertinent to World War II which I lived through even if I was too young to know what was happening. My father took part so I was somewhat involved as he was so rarely at home during those years. He spent three years in Rhodesia (as it then was) training pilots to fly. Here is a very interesting article 888,000 Poppiesabout Flanders Fields which stirred the imagination of all who saw the wild poppies growing there. The article also quotes the poem by Canadian Soldier Lieutenant-Colonel John Alexander McCrae. Also a photo of tourists looking at the 880,00 ceramic poppies on display at the Tower of London in England about which Hilary Melton-Butcher wrote recently. I am not sure what is going to happen to those poppies once they remove them. I know I would love to get hold of one. The article talks about the actual Flanders Fields and how they were virtually destroyed by the war but that the poppies were still finding ways to grow.

MaleficentI rented Maleficent from iTunes. At first I had trouble playing it but eventually it worked although not as well as it should. I think that is the fault of my Laptop rather than the fault of the movie. However, I loved it, I thought the story was great. It’s a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story and magnificently done in my opinion. Not that I am anything of a film reviewer, but I am now toying with buying it. I think rather than buy it from iTunes I might buy the actual DVD. My laptop is getting a tad old and doesn’t play stuff as well as it did although it still plays DVDs file. If you like fairy tales, I highly recommend this one. It has everything in it from fairies to dragons. Love and wickedness.

Woo hoo, I have just heard I am the winner of the randomly drawn prize for the first day at Realms Faire. Most unexpected. Lots of stuff to pick up but will have to leave it til tomorrow as I'm just about off to bed now.

I love white bean soups and this one from Cooking Light which came to me from My Recipes sounds like a good one.

White Bean Soup with Gremolata


Pancetta adds bold flavour to this smooth, savoury soup. Pair with toast or a small green salad for a light and filling weeknight meal.

Worthy of a special occasion


4 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups soup and about 1 1/2 teaspoons gremolata)


Ingredients
Soup:
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped pancetta
1 cup prechopped onion
1/2 cup prechopped celery
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 (19-ounce) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 bay leaf
Gremolata:
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
1 teaspoon minced garlic

Preparation

1. To prepare soup, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add pancetta; sauté 2 minutes. Stir in onion, celery, and 2 teaspoons garlic; sauté 3 minutes or until almost tender. Stir in broth and next 4 ingredients (through bay leaf). Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. To prepare gremolata, combine parsley, rind, and 1 teaspoon garlic. Sprinkle over soup.

Have a great day
Jo_thumb[2]

26 comments:

  1. Hi Jo - thanks for mentioning my post and today I've put a more fitting one up for Remembrance Day explaining the installation at the Tower of London. John Mcrae's poem is so evocative ... and many other poems have been brought to the fore ...

    I really like the sound of your White Bean soup .. and it's almost time for a large plate of it .. i.e. cold with a log fire - sadly the log fire is lacking!!

    Cheers Hilary

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    1. I'll check it out later.

      Yup getting to be that kind of weather here too.

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  2. I haven't heard the name 'Rhodesia' in years. I had to look it up to see what the country is called now. Here in the states we observe Veterans Day and it seems to me that the poppy is less symbolic here for that day although there seems to be a growing use of it since the internet. I remember old men, veterans, selling paper poppies when I was a kid but it didn't seem to be on or near Veterans Day.

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    1. Funny that, I don't know what it is today either,

      Odd that, the UK and Canada are both very strong on Poppies.

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  3. At last someone who has seen 'Maleficent.' I watched it on the flight to Russia in September and I loved it. I, too, have thought of buying the DVD, something I rarely do nowadays.

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    1. Isn't it a great movie? I am pretty sure I am going to buy it.

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  4. I never wanted to watch Maleficent as I thought it looked rather bad. Now you got me at least interested.

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    1. On the contrary, it's rather good. Tells a totally different side to Sleeping Beauty.

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  5. We loved Maleficent. Maybe this will be the new wave of movies, retelling classic stories in a different way.

    I stopped by Hilary's post earlier. What a great way to remember those fallen souls from a generation gone by.

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    1. There is already an author doing it, Mercedes Lackey in her Elemental Masters Series.

      Isn't it wonderful, today's post really adds to what she wrote.

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  6. Yes, you are a winner!
    I'll have to watch Maleficent then. Didn't make it to the theater for that one.

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    1. I have three new audio books now.

      I really enjoyed it as I said.

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  7. I still have a large painting my Grandfather did of poppies - too young to go to war, but he lost five of seven brothers overseas.
    I haven't seen Maleficent - sounds good. So does the soup!
    Congratulations on Realms Faire!

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    1. Nice to have such a painting. Sorry he lost so many family.

      It is good, hoping to do the soup later this week.

      Thanks.

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  8. The display of poppies is humbling. I wish my country did more to remember veterans. And that soup sounds fantastic.

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    1. Thanks Mary, it is. We listened to the radio (at the foot nurse's funnily enough) and the 11 minute of silence was very moving with The Last Post being played. As we left there was a fly over also in honour of the day

      Planning it for later in the week.

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  9. The ceramic poppies are so beautiful, it must be breathtaking to see them in person. And of course somber as well. It's too bad that they have to be removed.

    I had forgotten about Maleficent, I had wanted to see it so I'm glad you reminded me! Angelina Jolie looks like a perfect evil witch. I'm glad to hear that you liked it.

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    1. Lucky Hilary did see them.

      It really was a good movie.

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  10. I loved Maleficent. It gave me a completely different view of Angelina Jolie. She was great in it and so was Elle Fanning. It took me back to my childhood. Glad you liked it too Jo.

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    1. Me too Pinky. Loved the little bumbling fairies.

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  11. I believe that most of the poppies will be sold at £25 each or thereabouts. Some will apparently go 'on tour', whatever that means, and sections of the display will be housed in the Imperial war museum as a memorial. Tina and I haven't actually visited the display but we have seen it as we passed by. It is very impressive. Mel and Kev made a trip up to see them though.

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    1. Lucky Mel and Kev. How could you not go look at them Mike? I would love to see it in person. £25 is quite expensive translated into Canadian money. I don't know why I want one really, don't know what I would do with it if I had one LOL. Love to everybody.

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  12. Maleficent was an amazing movie, and I thought Angelina Jolie did an amazing job. This was a really nice post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks Gina. It seems everyone enjoyed Maleficent.

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  13. I loved the movie Maleficent. Especially the twist to loves first kiss.

    Thanks for sharing this rememberance day info.

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    1. I had kind of forgotten that. I thought it was going to be the crow.

      You're welcome.

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