Prickly Pears (Cactus Fruit) Jam

If you've never eaten cactus fruit (prickly pear)before, you must have a try.  I must admit, it is an acquired taste but not unpleasant.  In my opinion, it is a mix of melon and pineapple.  The fruit is as big as a duck egg with thick coarse skin with tiny prickly spines which can be very irritating when stuck in bare hands.  The fruit flesh ranges in colour from yellow to orange, or dark burgundy which makes it good for cocktails.
What is even better is to make jam !  
    

Feast fit for monks

Thai Buddhism people want to invite monks to their home
for blessing and luck.


A thai friend had the honour of having 2 monks coming to her home.  
It was her big day.

The usual ceremony of giving food to the monks on arrival and then proceeding into the house,  holding a sacred cord tied at one end to the Buddha image or idol of the house-hold. They chanted , blessing all around them.  One monk then went around the house blessing trees, flowers, pets (chicken and rabbits) including my car :-)
There was also a bowl of water into which the monk dripped candle wax and from the figures formed, we were suppose to read or imagine our lucky numbers.
After the monks had their meal (before 12 noon), there were presentation of gifts and more blessings. Some seek solace, some seek health.  Astrologies and  palm reading were done - how correct were the predictions ??

Playing with Food - Food Carving

Over the weekend (5-6 September) there was the European Food Carving competition in Leipzig. 
Sigh! Wish I was there to watch the Meisters at work. Wonder what they would say on the following pieces of thai carving.   

Pretty maids all in a row

Typical Swabian Dish

This is a typical swabian  meal ... Pork roast with potato salad ( german Schweinebraten mit kartoffelsalat).
In Schwäbisch (dialect) -Schwoibrade mid kardoffl salad )