QUEEN VICTORIA'S GARLIC ROASTED CHICKEN

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

I like eating delish meat!

Cooking food at home is my magic wand and they all appreciate everything about it; from the preparation of ingredients to eating together. This is one great reason why I don't buy processed food or indulge myself in buying instant products at the supermarket. It doesn't mean I dislike them!

I have eaten Roasted Chicken that was cooked and bought from the supermarket, in particular, Garlic Roasted Chicken. The taste was really finger licking good; scrumptious!

When I was at the supermarket last time, I bought a whole chicken and challenged myself to cook my own recipe version of Garlic Roasted Chicken.

Sauce Ingredients: 

• 5 cloves of garlic, crashed 
• 2 slices of onion, chopped 
• 3 tbsps. of Wine Vinegar 
•  ½ tsp. Ground pepper 
• 2 tsps. of honey 
• a pinch of mixed herbs 
• 3 stalks of lemon grass, cut each into 2 (ginger is an option) 
• salt to taste

Sauce Preparation:

1. Mix the garlic, onion, vinegar and honey in a saucepan. Stir well.
2. Add the pepper and mixed herbs. Stir well again. 
3. Add and soak the lemon grass in the mixture. 
4. Once all mixed, bring it to the boil for 3 minutes on a moderate heat. 
5. Let it cool for 5 minutes before adding it to your chicken.

Main Ingredient:

• A whole chicken (free range, if possible as the extra flavour is worth the money)

Marinating Procedure:

1. Wash and rinse the chicken. 
2. Prepare a container and lay the meat in it. 
3. Use a spoon to pour the sauce mixture over the meat. Turn-over and do the same. 
4. Cover the container and leave it for a night (marinating process). 
5. After marinating the chicken, don't throw the sauce mixture. Bring it to the boil and use it as a greasing ingredient when roasting the chicken.

Roasting Procedure:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180ºC. 
2. Prepare a roasting tray with rack on it and lay the marinated chicken. As we are using an oven, the tray will hold the excess oil while roasting. 
3. Roast it for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown. 
4. Check it every 25-30 minutes and turning it occasionally. Brush the chicken with the boiled sauce mixture.

This is a flavoursome way of roasting a whole chicken and an addtional recipe to be served on the table for your loving family and closests friends this Christmas season as well as the New Year!

MICRO- PIG: CUDDLY OR NOT?

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

Family pets are ideal animals who live-in with their loving owners. They treat these pets with proper care and attention that is like pampering a baby.

They are good companions in the house and obedient as well. They bring happiness to one's life as their natural behaviour can relieve sadness or even a cure!

Do you know that pigs are now family pets?

In the United Kingdom, there is a special breed of pig called micro pig. The height is smaller than the average cat we have at home or is the size of a tea cup. Though it is tiny and cute but the price-tag starts at £700, quite pricey!

This micro-pig is also called Pennywell pig that lives for 14 years. The fully grown weighs up to 30 kg. at around 14 inches tall.

I am looking forward to own one in the near future!

IKEA'S IMPRESSIVE PRODUCTS

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

It's not just their very filling breakfast that attracts me to go there during the week. Their easy to assemble and transport items called flat pack are of good value too.

IKEA is a home products retailer and supplies many items we need for our home at affordable prices. For example, cottony toys and colourful stuff for children's rooms; quality made furniture for the living room, kitchen and master's bedroom are available with lots of choices.

In my humble opinion, IKEA's products are designed and offered to provide us with the things we desire in improving the ambiance of our humble abode. Every time I visit IKEA, I never fail to find items to buy and bring to the house. The last time I was there and after enjoying their very affordable family breakfast, I purchased two of their offers.

One is a laundry product called LajBan Drying Rack that can hold up to 25 items of clothing. It's easy to assemble and has two fold-out wings that are detachable. Most of all, we only paid £6.99 for this easy to set-up drying rack. Isn't it really an amazing offer?

The second one is called Brada Laptop Support which fits all laptops measuring up to 17 inches. It has a flat surface for ventilation and a retaining edge to keep the laptop in place all the time. There is also a rubber strip which prevents the laptop support from sliding on your lap or working desk. Moreover, it gives good health benefits as it improves sitting posture when surfing on the web and its easier to type messages as well. 

Honestly speaking, I was very reluctant about their usefulness on the day I purchased them and even compared at the back of my mind to the products I knew already.

I thought helix structure towel rack is better than LajBan drying rack. Why? I assumed that it provides more space and dries clothes even faster. But at the end, both function the same. Aside from the drying racks, I also thought that cooling pad is better than our green laptop support because of its functionality in reducing the laptop's operating temperature when in use. Again, Brada Laptop Support proves to be better and cheaper too!

Each item has its own uniqueness but both have proven to be money well spent and are made from finest materials. I am grateful that I bought these items even though it wasn’t in my plans!