Slow cook Beef in Crock pot

Preparation time 15 mins

Cook Time : 5 hours low heat

3 hours medium heat

Ingredients

1 large Onion thinly slice

3 Garlic chopped finely

 1 cm fresh Ginger thinly slice

Carrots and Potato cut them into small pieces

Cut the meat into chunky pieces

2 fresh tomatoes chopped finely

One cube of Beef Fond 

Handful chopped Parsley

Thinly slice cucumber

Fried shallot

Thinly slice piri piri (only if you like extra hot)

In a crock pot add little oil and stir in onion, garlic and ginger.

Followed by chunky beef, turning them from time to time until the beef looks done on all side.

Put in the chopped tomatoes, beef fond and water filling up to cover the meat.

Let it cook on a slow heat for 5 hrs, turning them every 45 mins.

Add more water if the water reduce.

An hour before it is ready add in the carrots, potatoes and parsley.

Once the meat are tender. Serves them on a bowl with thinly slice cucumber, fried shallots and piri piri.

Recommended serving with nice warm garlic bread.

I did my garlic bread with spreading butter, Garlic powder, thyme and white pepper.
Into the oven for 10 to 15 mins at 140 deg Celsius. 

Bargedil

Bargedil (Minced Meat and Potato)

Ingredients

Onion (Finely chopped)

Garlic (Finely chopped)

Coriander leaves (Finely chopped)

Spring onion (Fine chopped)

Nutmeg

Mined meat

Potato

Egg

Instructions:
Slice potato and deep fry
Once it is done, start pounding them.
Then set aside

Add little oil in a frying pan and when it is hot,

Add in chopped onion and garlic and stir fry for few minute

Add in minced meat and mixed.

Add a 1/2 tps of nutmeg

Salt and pepper

Once they are ready pour over a strainer to remove access oil

Combined the mashed potato, chopped coriander leave and chopped Spring onion.

Mixed well the minced meat and potato.

Round them into a small flat ball.

Once they are all ready for frying

Prepare one egg and beat them with little salt

Dip the meat ball into egg and fry them quickly on both side till it turns brown.

Once it is done, they are ready for serve!

Getting around in Vietnam

Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City)

We traveled to Vietnam on the 21st December 2017. Since none of us have been there before, we decided to venture into the new country. Vietnam is a very fascinating country. I have the combination of  mixed love and hate about that place just like when I used to live in Egypt. Somehow people in Vietnam are very polite and welcoming. They have many beautiful amazing rooftop bars. 

This trip was not plan to be ending up in a big group which it does eventually. My daughter Ellie had booked the tickets with her boyfriend, Emil together with Emil's cousins and friend. So coincident when we said we have booked our tickets to Vietnam on this particular date and this flight. We end up laughing as not only had we travel on the same datebut we end up on the same flight to Vietnam. The next coincident thing was when I booked my hotel and told her, we end up laughing again as we booked the same hotel in Vietnam. So which mean we are going to be in a big group. Somehow it was fun. We spent hours by the pool after breakfast and went out together at night.

 We trying to take photo together but Emil is just appearing behind us.

 This is the rooftop terrace in the hotel that we staying in Sunland Vietnam. Amazing I felt more in Sweden than in Vietnam as most of the guests we met either by the pool, restaurants and elevators are speaking Swedish. 

 They are having the competition of who can go from one end to another fastest.

 We booked a tour guide who picked us up from the hotel to see the life back during the Vietnam war. It is so amazing just to see how they survive in the small tiny dark tunnel months after months.

 We are missing two guys in our group who end up sick that day.

 Every single one of us get the experience to shot with AK47. It was an experience and I totally enjoyed it.

below is my darling taking his shot.

Few days in Hanoi is enough for us since it is such a busy streets with thousands of cars, motorcycles and the honking of cars and bikes makes it more fascinating knowing and seeing how they can manage to go so smoothly on the road. There are no proper walking pavement which makes me feel so stress when walking out in the city.

We then moved on to Phu Quoc island in Vietnam. The flight was smooth and Phu Quoc was much quieter on the road and bearable to walk on the pavement.  There are so many tourist there and plenty of restaurants by the beach.

 Us enjoying our day walks sight seeing and nights together in different places.

 This is an amazing experience, we both had. We decided to booked a couple massage nearby the hotel and was recommended to this hotel which has a nice spa to use after. After our massage, we got the whole spa bath to our self. 

 Our next fun experience was to visit the pepper farm. We had a guide who does not speak so good English but he is really trying. We came to a place where he showed us just one small area where he pointed to us, there are all the red pepper, black pepper, green pepper and white pepper where it are grown. That about it about the pepper farm tour guide we got from our tour guide. It is a big joke :) 

 Coming back to Hanoi after our Phu Quoc we stayed at a very nice hotel with we got our own roof top private Jacuzzi. 

 We spent a night in this famour roof top bar one night. This place is happening and full of people.

Istanbul 2017

When I told people that we will be going to Istanbul, everyone told us to be careful especially after the terrorists attacks and bombing. I was a bit sceptical at first but I know if it is dangerous, I am sure the Swedish government will stop us from travelling there. So we decided to take that chances. Furthermore in Stockholm Sweden itself there have been attacked twice by terrorists. I am not sure where in the world is safe right now.

Anyway our trip to Istanbul turn out to be a very nice one. It was not as I expected. People are friendly and we have so much to see and do while we were there. The only thing which irritate us was the carpets dealers. They are everywhere and really bothering us. I can guarantee that with their approach on tourist into luring them into their shops will not help them in any sales. At least not from us. Tourist will just get irritated and will try to avoid them as far as possible.

My partner turns 55 this year in June and I have decided to give him a nice treats to Istanbul instead. Since we both have not been there before, we decided that Istanbul would be a great place to see.

We visited many popular and famous places there. Such as the mosque and the castles. Since we stayed in the European side of Istanbul and right in the center of the town, it is just walking distance to all different attractions. There are also plenty of good restaurants and bars around the area itself.

Travelling by tram is so convenient there. It is not expensive at all either. I strongly would recommend anyone visiting Istanbul to take the tram. It goes to the Asian side too. We met a very lady with her 2 children from the States there. I regretted not taking her contact number so we could keep in touch. She helped us one night when we were stranded after the train and tram are closed. Taxi tried to cheat us and she helped us to alternative shorter ways and send us back to the hotel that night. There was a guy who have lived there who negotiate the taxi fare for us. We are blessed to have met nice people along the way.

 A beautiful park where the popular Touristic Mosque on the European side of Istanbul.

 I would strongly recommended this hotel should you visit Istanbul. Sura Haga Sophia Hotel on the European side. The location is one of the best as it surrounded by plenty of restaurants, bars, park, and all the tourist attraction all in that area. 

My young darling turn 55 that day and we had a Turkish birthday dinner just next to our hotel. 

My new life begin when I move to this little city... after my separation.

After almost one year of completely away from blogging , I finally decided to come back again today. This time, I have a whole new set of life ahead of me. My marriage for 18 years has reached the point where we both finally decided to walk our separate ways. In the beginning, I was unsure, unsecured, scared, sad, angry and all of those mixed feelings that I could not somehow describe in words. Part of me would like to start afresh and move on as it is useless to continue what we had before since we have tried and it never seems to solves but the other part of me are telling me to keep trying again. I was very unhappy in this marriage and I have end up being quiet, staring quietly in the empty space most of the time and not expressing myself so much to him anymore. That was where I know I have drifted apart more and more. He still plays a very important part of my life at that time. He is still the father to our children and even the separation was sad but we know deep down inside we still care for each other. We never express exactly what we feel but we moved on. The pain goes on but I know it will go away someday.


Now that we shared the custody of our son, we remain friends which was easy. I never thought that being open and stay connected after a divorce was even possible but it has been so far. We talked whenever it's necessary and socially we still meet casually on a friendly terms.


After my separations in June 2015, I moved to a very small city in Örebro. The reason I moved here was to sort things out in my life and stay with my eldest daughter Ellie and her boyfriend for the time being until I know where to move to when I had my mind clear. My intention was never to stay in this small city for long. I started applying for jobs outside of this small city and also different jobs abroad. I was also offered an International Sales Manager job in Asia through a friend of mine who had recommended me to join their organisation. Part of me felt very excited as I will be independent again and be able to move on with my life abroad and start afresh. I started the process of doing my research and documentation of living abroad and I talked to my ex about our son. I wanted to bring him along as he is only 12 years old and I cannot leave him behind and not being  able to see him months after months. I felt at that time, I just wanted to leave Sweden and never come back again as there is no reason to be here anymore. I thought even if my son decided to stay here with his father, he could come and visit me wherever I am when by then when he is free form school.I know and was certain that his father will take very good care of him with or without me around.

Somehow in between the career searching and trying to sort my life in order again, I have met a man whom I cannot believe that I can be truly and deeply in love again. I was not looking to start any relationship at that time especially after my separation with the man I have been together with for 18 years have just ended. The first time when we met casually, I was not even least interested in him. I even thought of running away and pretending that I am not Ainy the girl that he was supposed to meet that day. On the day of our date, he walked towards me with a big smile on his face and was limping. The thoughts came rushing through my head with hundreds of questions and uncertainty.

Is he handicap?

Why is he limping?

What happened if he is mentally sick and psycho?

What an ugly t shirt he's wearing?

I even ask myself the question, "what was I thinking to even agree to meet this guy when he had this long hair with a very small tiny pony tail which looks like a hamster tail.


While questions were rushing in my head, he drew nearer and nearer. I decided to stay still and be polite instead. I convinced myself to stay calm and just go for a drink and if he is actually sick or psycho, I will politely excuse myself and leave.

We sat and talk and he is in fact a nice person whom have ended up in an accident and is still in his recovery process. I do felt sorry for him, and I can never judge a person by their look. Anyway at that time, I still wasn't attracted to him at all but that does not make him a bad person.


After that date, I thought it was over as I have never plan to meet him again. Somehow he keep asking me out day after day even when I gave so many reasons for not being able to see him. I think his persistent of inviting me out and not giving up the rejection each time, have made him a winner. He kept asking if I would like to see him again, and invited me out for short lunch instead since I always decline the dinner. I finally agreed to meet him again for a short lunch.. Then our second lunch date become a third lunch date and the third lunch date became fourth lunch date and so on....


My daughter suspected I have started seeing someone now but I kept telling her that I am only meeting a friend for lunch. It was actually a friend at that time. One day, while I was walking to town to meet up with this guy for a short coffee, I met my daughter and her be knew that I do not know anyone in this little town and the daily lunches that I go to made her smile. Then boyfriend who was just walking towards their car. She walked towards me and asking me what and where I was going. As usual, I told her that I am meeting a friend for coffee. I never wanted her to see this man anyway because at that time " Nothing about him that actually have attracted me" or neither have I wanted to introduce him to my children.Somehow they drove slowly and pass by exactly beside me just as I am approaching my date. I pretended not knowing my date and walk straight pass by him. It was a weird situation. I felt like "a child hiding my date from their parents". Somehow this was the other way round and I am mother hiding my date from my daughter.

One day my son decided to take the train to Stockholm and stay at his dad over the weekend. That was where he invited me over to his home so we could somehow probably cook together and have some nice home cook dinner and some drink together. I agreed upon that after seeing him and he had shown me his gentleman side. We went out to buy food together and head to his house straight. Everything went well until, he just left me sitting alone and went to sleep when he got tired that night. He had shown me the room on the upper floor which he had prepared for me to sleep in before that. I felt that this must be a weirdo guy as how can a person just go to sleep and left a guest sitting all alone. I was so pissed off at first. The next day, I got up, showered and left back home. He apologized for what happened. I never thought I ever want to meet this weird guy ever again. Again he never stop writing to me lunches for couples of weeks, I  started to have a very little feelings for him. He is such a nice guy after all. Wand insisted that we meet for lunch again and again. I decided to give him a second chance. After that few e both never even initiate to start kissing or sleep together all these while and with that, I respected him more and more. One day we decided to meet for a short coffee and he told me a little secret and that he thought I would have run away after hearing it but instead I stayed on and says it's fine and I understand as everyone has their past. That's probably how our feelings develop further for each other.



Again he arranged another week of sleep over and I agreed upon it since my son is away at his father. That night was beautiful. Everything went well. I liked him more and more and we kiss for the very first time. I never felt closer to him and could've been feeling that I would someday be falling in love again. We woke up in the morning and he prepared nice tasty BBQ ribs for our late brunch. We sat under the sun and we just hold hands and talk all afternoon. That night, we slept together and we know we are starting our relationship as a couple with the mutual feeling that we both had with each other finally.

 This is a small little things that he would do to surprise me every now and then. I woke up and head to the balcony for my first cigarette and saw a small note on it.

He also bought me bouquet of flowers every now and then. In fact it became too often that I have to asked him to stop. 

My summer 2015

My summer this year is to spend so much time I could with my children. That is my first top priority. There have been so many things going on but around this year but hopefully things will change for the better. 

My daughter and her boyfriend have prepared a fantastic 3-course lovely nice dinner for me and Anna, Emil's mom on mother's day. Anna and I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers from our children that day. Since I was at Elrener's during mother's day, my daughter Veldiner, gave me an advance presents before I left on Friday to her sister.

We had BBQ on one sunny day. BBQ seems to be a thing among Swedish  people to do during the summer. Each time when it is sunny we do plan for a nice sit out with BBQ.

Gabriel in love with this sporty BMW when we went to see one of our friends in the car dealer shop.

 Again another day spent with my son, Gabriel and 2nd daughter Veldiner and her boyfriend on Swedish National day at a park watching some concert.

 BBQ on a park opposite the home one Saturday evening when it was a lovely sunny day with nice Swedish summer.

Salon in Stockholm Hår 3000

Never been to a hair salon for the last few years. I remember when I was young in my early 20s, I went to a hair salon every 2 days to wash and blow dry and also once a month to trim or cut, doing hair treatment, perm or colouring. Then as I get older, with tonnes of white hair, I gave up going to a salon. I don't know why but I am so lazy to maintained my hair anymore. I just kept long, colour myself once every few months.

Then I came back to Stockholm for a visit this summer. This time my daughter booked me into her school for a haircut last week. Her teacher told me that they don't charge mothers. So I get a free haircut in her school. Then this week, she booked me again to her work salon for a hair colouring. I am so pampered. Usually for staff working there, they will be charging for the amount of hair colour that are used but this time her boss said he will not charge for her mother. So I get another free service in her work salon.

I have two different colour on my hair as my original hair have grown from the roots about 7 cm. So the first step, she did a hair colour for the outgrown hair from the roots to match the lower colour.

Then after 20 mins under the heat, she wash and blow dry. The second step was to do highlight with an aluminium folio. this took the longest time. As it is too detail work with a small strand of hair being pick up in every one cm. After whole head are done. Wash again and then she applied more hair lotion again which will help to maintained the colour and be seen clearly. Then my head was wrap in a plastic for another 20 mins before it is wash again and blow dry.

I love the end result, it was well worth sitting for 6 hours but I can never do it often as I am so fidgeting when I am asked to sit so long. My next step when she have learnt to cut short, I am ready for a really short hair called the Posh bob.