Inverary CastleFront Entrance Hallway to Inverary Castle
A Visit to Inverary Castle
Inverary Castle is located in Argyll, Scotland. It is the home of the 13th Duke of Argyll, Sir Torquhil Ian Campbell, his wife Eleanor and their family. The castle has played a major part in Scottish and British history. The displays inside the castle show how the family lived over many generations.
Welcome to Inverary Castle
The Front Entranceway
Hallway with Rifle Display
The most fascinating part of the entrance hallway, besides being so tall, is that there is a circular rifle display on the wall which is stunning.
Inside the Castle
Amazing Room Displays
Imagine living in a castle! Better yet, having to maintain all the furniture and the building itself.
The Dining Room and the China Display were fascinating. The china has been used at the castle over the generations of the Campbell Clan.
China CabinetThe magnificent Dining RoomInside the Kitchen
The Castle Gardens
The Castle In May
Visitors can walk around the gardens which are beautiful and well cared for.
Gardens on my visit
Inverary Castle is well worth a visit in Scotland. Further information is at:
It does seem like everyone drinks a large amount of coffee. However, tea is still popular too. My British parents drank tea with milk daily. Coffee wasn’t in our house as tea was the way to go! I always remember my mother, who lived through WW2, saying that she had to give up sugar in her tea, then milk and also get used to plain tea. She was so thankful when she could finally have milk back in her tea. One thing she never had was cream in her tea!
Cornish Cream Tea
What is a Cream Tea?
If you visit Victoria, you will have the chance for afternoon tea in various restaurants from the Oak Bay Tearoom, Butchart Gardens and even the Empress Hotel. Afternoon tea was introduced to England, in the year 1840, by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford. She would become hungry around four o’clock in the afternoon. The evening meal was served fashionably late at eight o’clock, which left a long period of time between lunch and dinner, so the afternoon tea was born. Others liked the idea and, before she knew it, the afternoon tea had become all the rage which included tea, dainty sandwiches and scones with cream and jam. Cream tea became part of the afternoon tea as well.
Cornish Cream Tea with Scones, Jam and Clotted Cream
Devon or Cornish – Which Is The Best Way?
Tea with scones and jam in Cornwall
What is the Difference?
Definitions:
The traditional cream tea, also referred to as Devonshire cream tea, is a specialty of Cornwall and Devon in England where a pot of tea is served with scones, clotted cream and jam. The scone is a single-serving unsweetened cake, with typical ingredients of flour, butter and milk. Clotted cream is a smooth, thick cream traditionally made in Devon and Cornwall. Unpasteurized cow’s milk is heated and left in a shallow pan for many hours which causes the cream to rise to the surface and “clot”.
Devon Cream Teas
The cream is like the butter. You wouldn’t put butter on jam.
Jam was expensive so you only needed a small amount on top.
You can get more cream if you place it on the scone first!
Devon Cream Tea
Cornish Cream Teas
It’s easier to spread with the cream on top and jam on the bottom of the scone.
You can taste the cream better on top!
You wouldn’t put cream on the bottom of a fruit salad.
Cornish Cream Tea
It Doesn’t Matter!
The main thing is to enjoy the cream tea or afternoon tea and use the cream and jam whichever way you like!
Afternoon Tea at Butchart Gardens in Victoria
I will be including a recipe for scones in my upcoming cookbook.
As an avid reader, I am fascinated how great writers can keep you spellbound and conjure up such amazing characters that you are caught up in the story and can’t put the book down! On my author’s website, I write about various topics in my blog relating to the books and articles I publish. Human beings are fascinating. What makes people tick, why they do the things they do and the differences between good and evil are all part of stories and plots that keep us interested.
How does an idea begin? As with my first book, it could be something that happened personally to the author. It could also be a newspaper headline, a documentary on TV, a photo, the weather, or something that causes the writer to want to take the idea and add more to it. My first children’s book is The Fairy Hollow Chronicles. It is the story of four tiny fairies who live in Fairy Hollow and are to attend their Coming of Age Ceremony the next day. They must first complete their Fairy Quest. I got this idea from my daughter when she was small. She loved fairy stories. I decided to write a story which would incorporate challenges, goal-setting, positive thinking and a a happy ending! Though this book is mainly a Children’s Early Reader, adults reading to children will enjoy it.
From my background as a public health inspector and previous food safety blog writer, my upcoming memoir is about my experiences as the first female public health inspector at the health units where I was employed. Memoirs can be written many different ways. They are interesting to the reader because the author usually lived the experiences so a firsthand account is better than imagining an event happening. I encountered sexism in the workplace, the glass ceiling and lack of professional recognition for my contributions in the field. However, I did make many friends along the way and have some fabulous experiences such as being an international conference speaker in countries from Great Britain to Lithuania. That will be a timely topic for the another blog!
What is the inspiration for a character when writing a book? Inspiration can take many forms and ends up providing the author with characters that can be used in the book being written.
Inspiration Helps Authors with Book Titles
What Inspires the Name of a Character?
When I first started thinking of ideas for my children’s book The Fairy Hollow Chronicles, I took inspiration from my own children to create the characters. My daughter loved fairies when she was very young so that provided me with the idea for four fairies. Adventures are always fun when you are a child so the idea that the fairies had to go on an adventure was born. Then, the names came easily as I chose names of her friends from elementary school. Now there are three books in the series. The names in Book 3 – The Fairy Hollow Gold Treasure Adventure came from a few relatives including a great niece and nephew! With pirates names such as Captain Bootlace Bill, Lightning Lance and Notorious Nigel, who can resist finding out where the gold treasure is with their help?
Characters from Book 3 The Fairy Hollow Gold Treasure Adventure
What Should Characters Wear?
Authors need to describe their characters. In The Fairy Hollow Chronicles, the four fairies are tiny so it was easy to have them dressed in ballerina tutus with their hair in buns. Ballerinas always wear buns. Young girls who take ballet enjoy wearing the tutus and having their hair in buns. The mayor in the book needed to be in a suit as he means business. The idea for the toad came from various stories I read as a child and also the toad character fits the mayor character perfectly.
The four fairies in tutus from Book 1 – The Fairy Hollow ChroniclesCharacter of Mayor Dayle from The Fairy Hollow Chronicles
For my future book on my Mother’s work with Canadian soldiers during WW2, I can draw inspiration from the photo below which shows her dining out with friends in Vancouver. Three women drinking coffee or tea and eating pastries while smiling with their hats on! The hats are quite fascinating and also all appear to be wearing dresses. All these clues help an author when writing a story to place the characters at a specific period in time. This photo was taken on my Mother’s arrival in Vancouver after the war ended and she had volunteered at the Beaver Club in London. This photo will help me decide on the ending of the book!
My mother having tea with two friends.
Photographs
Ideas for other books that I am writing came from photographs. Sometimes a photograph can inspire an author to write a story based on what might be happening in that photo. The photos from WW2 in England are an inspiration and ask me to write about what the young men and women in the photos are laughing about, worried about, thinking about and how the war affected them. As the daughter of parents who went through WW2, I am intrigued to include in my book these points to round out my characters.
My mother and her friend in 1935 – A photograph for inspiration – What is going on in this photo?
Inspiration is the Summary of Many Ideas
The inspiration for characters in a book comes from everything including family, friends, photos, artwork, current fashion, and the author’s imagination. By using all these ideas, the characters come to life which makes enjoyable reading for all of us.
Easter is a wonderful time of year when we gather and share a meal or hunt for Easter eggs! As it is raining this weekend, many Easter egg hunts will be inside!
Safe Preparation
Egg Safety
I remember dying eggs as a child and watching the changing colors. Another fun thing to do was an Easter Egg roll where hard-boiled eggs were painted and rolled down the kitchen floor. Not very food safe for sure!
When working with eggs for a meal or for decorating, do not let them sit out at room temperature for more than two hours.
Remember to keep hard-cooked eggs in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
All cooked egg dishes should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 74 C as measured by a food thermometer.
If you plan to eat the Easter eggs you decorate, then be sure to use only food-grade dye. One suggestion is to make two sets of eggs. Children can decorate and hide one set and the other can be saved for eating. You can also use plastic eggs for your Easter egg hunt.
Main Meals
Traditional Foods
If you are serving ham or poultry this Easter, here are some important tips for safe preparation.
Easter Hams
Ham is a popular meat for the Easter table. Different types of ham require different preparation methods. Ham is either ready-to-eat or requires cooking before eating. Be sure to read the package instructions carefully.
Fresh, uncooked hams must be cooked to reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 74C.
Ready-to-eat hams are cooked at the plant and can be safely eaten right out of the package and can be served cold or heated to serve warm.
Chicken & Turkey
Properly defrost the poultry in the refrigerator or in a sink with cold water.
Prepare the poultry for cooking. Either place the stuffing inside the bird before placing in the oven OR cook the stuffing separately. The stuffing acts as a sponge and can hold in bacteria such as Salmonella if not cooked properly.
Cool the poultry after serving and cut into smaller pieces and place in the refrigerator.
Do not use the same plate for raw poultry and cooked poultry. Keep raw and cooked utensils separate.
EasterDisplay
Happy Easter!
Have a wonderful Easter safe meal whichever foods you choose to serve!
We are all feeling the inflation rise with higher prices for fruits and vegetables.
What Can You Do?
Fresh Strawberries
Here are some tips to help you make wise decisions when buying these items and also help you keep produce safe.
Choose Quality
It’s best to choose produce that is not damaged or bruised.
When buying pre-cut, bagged or packaged produce, such as salad greens or half a cantaloupe, check that the produce is refrigerated or surrounded by ice.
Bagged Kale Slaw
Store Safely
Most of us know to always store fresh fruits and vegetables separately from raw meats, poultry and seafood when taking groceries home from the store. There was a case of raw blood from a torn hamburger meat package dripping onto raw salad greens which caused an outbreak of E. Coli! This was preventable if the vegetables and raw meat had been packed separately at the grocery store.
Separate For Safety
Use separate cutting boards for produce, raw meat, poultry & seafood
It’s very important to keep raw fruits and vegetables separate from raw meats and seafood, and also to use separate kitchen utensils for these items. When finished with food preparation, always wash the knives and cutting boards in hot soapy water or the dishwasher.
Saving Money
Raw Carrots
Tips To Follow
You can save money on produce with these helpful tips:
*Buy produce which is cold and refrigerate immediately when home.
*Use clean and sanitary utensils for food preparation.
*Cut away damaged or bruised areas on fresh fruits and vegetables before preparing or eating.
*Do not wash fruits and vegetables with soap, detergent or a commercial produce wash as these steps are not effective.
*Even if you do not plan to eat the skin of fruits and vegetables, wash with water first to prevent dirt and bacteria transferring from the surface when peeling or cutting.
*Use a clean produce brush to scrub firm produce with water such as melons and cucumbers which will also remove surface contaminants.
Salad with a meal
By following these tips, you will reduce produce wastage and reduce your food costs!
In my former career, I was a public health inspector/environmental health officer and ran my own business called Enviro-Food Consulting. I trained a large number of restaurant and foodservice workers on food safety techniques. One upcoming project is a book based on my last blog called Food Safety Makes Sense.
Most people do not take food safety seriously. If you have a family member with allergies, or you have purchased a food product that has been recalled or you have travelled or dined out and developed food poisoning, you know how necessary it is for food to be prepared safely. It makes sense for us to remember that food safety is important to all of us.
The Attitude of Foodservice Workers
I have taught many groups of workers from teens to seniors. Working in a restaurant is thought of as just another job. Management is not always supportive. If workers notice that management doesn’t take an interest in them, they are not concerned about food safety. That means sanitizing isn’t done carefully, hands are wiped not washed and dirty cloths are not replaced. As the pandemic has shown us, sanitizing is taken more seriously but foodborne disease outbreaks are still occurring.
Cappucino
Food Prepared & Purchased In A Typical Day
If you think about your typical day, many of us consume food made at home or may enjoy a takeout item including drinks such as coffee. We all forget how much we depend on the food supply chain to provide us with safe food to eat which won’t make us ill. Many cases of foodborne illness are not reported as they mimic the flu.
Breakfast Meals For Take-Out
Breakfast Egg Sandwich
Consider The Following Points:
For example, if you had an egg sandwich for breakfast in a restaurant, do you consider:
How old is the egg that was used in the ingredients?
Did the food handler preparing the sandwich wash his/her hands before preparing the sandwich?
Food Handler Washing Hands
Was the handwashing done properly and not just using a shot of hand sanitizer? Hand sanitizers are wonderful when sinks with hot water and soap are not available. However, in a restaurant kitchen, there is a designated handwashing sink to use. Handwashing with hot or warm water and liquid soap sanitizes hands most effectively.
Was the work area sanitized? This should be done with an approved sanitizer in a spray bottle and clean cloth. If the cloth is dirty, contaminants will be spread around the surfaces.
Was the sandwich cooked to the proper temperature?
Is the purchased sandwich hot, lukewarm or even cold? Uneven temperatures mean the food is in the Danger Zone where various food poisoning organisms can grow.
Do You Still Want To Eat the Egg Sandwich?
After thinking about all these points, do you still want to eat the egg sandwich?
What characteristics does the writer consider when deciding the characters in a plot? I am working on a future book based on my mother’s experiences in England during World War 2. I know there are a lot of books written about women and the war. However, my mother did something unique. She volunteered in London at the Beaver Club. This was a place where Canadian soldiers could come to get sandwiches, coffee, new socks and maps to get around London while on leave. Of course, I won’t be calling the book The Beaver Club for obvious reasons. The working title is The Maple Leaf Club. The Club had various women volunteering there mainly with the food preparation and serving. Many of the women have long since passed away and perhaps their sons and daughters didn’t know much about it. The book I plan to write includes a murder in the Club and the life of Olive, the main character, who works as a secretary for a British firm and really wants to start a new life in Canada.
Research is required for this book. The photos I have of my Mother are helpful and the reunion photo is amazing. Many ladies fit into one large photo but all in black and white. I once asked my mother if she had dated anyone at the club. She replied, “Oh no, not me. I was too shy!”
What stands out in this story is the selflessness of the women who volunteered their time to work in the Beaver Club in London in the middle of the war. Life in wartime London was tough enough but these ladies volunteered their time to help Canadians. I’m looking forward to researching this book and learning what my mother experienced during the war.
Sally with her second book Foxglove Squirrel Saves The Day! Illustrated by Barbara Warwick
Looking Ahead in 2022
A new year brings ideas for new stories! Every author hopes this is true. As we begin 2022 with high cases of Covid, I am following up on my goals to complete the Fairy Hollow Chronicles series.
This Spring, the third book in the series will be published called The Fairy Hollow Gold Treasure Adventure. Another adventure story for all the characters in Fairy Hollow introducing some new ones as well. How would you feel if you found an old treasure map? Would you try to find the treasure on your own or get help? Have you ever spoken to a real life pirate before? Can pirates be kind or are they all mean and interested only in treasure? Is Foxglove Squirrel about to uncover the truth? These are some questions that will be answered in the book.
Book 1 Fairy Hollow Chronicles by Sally de la Rue Browne Illustrated by Barbara Warwick
New Ideas
Three lovely ladies in England before WW2. My Mother is the lady on the left.
Many books have been written about WW2 and some are quite popular right now such as the Rose Code and Code Name Helene. These are all fabulous stories. My idea for the next book is about my mother’s experiences working for a club in London for Canadian soldiers. It was called The Beaver Club but will be The Maple Leaf Club for my story. Few people know that the Canadians were looked after in this club with food, help with travel around London using the underground and buses, reading newspapers, and getting health and lodging advice. It will be a fascinating story especially with a murder and a visit from Royalty! It’s hard to imagine a club without cell phones, computers and big screen TVs as we have today. The club was unique in London because soldiers could get pancakes with real maple syrup which became their Canadian experience away from home.
A Canadian soldier getting advice at the club.Reading newspapers at the club.
Writing It Down
It’s always challenging to come up with a wonderful story to entertain the reader. I hope to have this book about the club finished by the end of 2022.
Food For Thought
Chocolate Cake
Another book that is in the works is a cookbook with food safety practices. Here is a chocolate cake which is my recipe made with spelt flour. With my background in public health, I’m well aware of the need for safe practices when preparing food. Fortunately, cakes don’t present much of a risk except too many calories unless you want to eat raw cake batter! Flour can contain E.coli which is destroyed by cooking. It’s now not a good idea to taste raw cookie or cake batter for that reason due to the risk of food poisoning.
Writing Updates
The blank page is a challenging start!
These ideas for new story lines are a challenging beginning to the new year! I will write more in future posts.
As we have another Christmas with the pandemic, it is still very important to follow safe preparation practices for your Christmas turkey. The risk of foodborne illness is always present. By following these 5 tips, your Christmas meal will be safely prepared.
Turkey Preparation
As everyone knows, remember to always wash hands with warm or hot water and soap before, during and after preparing and serving the turkey.
Turkey in the raw
Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination must be avoided. For example, do not use the same knife and cutting board to handle the raw and then cooked turkey. The contamination of the raw blood and juices to the cooked turkey via the knife and board can result in bacterial growth and cause a foodborne illness.
Christmas Tree
Safe Defrosting
Defrost the turkey in the refrigerator or cold water but never at room temperature. I once had a group of hockey parents who decided to defrost their turkeys for the team Christmas party on the ice rink overnight! The turkeys were then cooked and served at their banquet the next day. Unfortunately, 33 parents and children became ill because the turkeys were improperly defrosted.
Christmas Breakfast
How To Stuff Properly
Stuffing tastes delicious, but can act like a sponge inside a raw turkey and soak up blood and bacteria allowing for bacterial growth. Either place stuffing into the turkey immediately before going into the oven or cook the stuffing separately.
Cooked turkey
Cook To The Correct Temperature
Cook the turkeys internally to 74C 165F and check with a thermometer placed in the center of the bird.
Appetizers
After the Meal
After the meal, cut up the turkey into smaller portions and cool quickly before refrigerating.
Christmas Tea
Don’t Forget!
Lastly, don’t leave the cooked turkey in the oven overnight. One of my students did this and was not happy to learn that the turkey had to be thrown out as it had been in the Danger Zone for too many hours!
Have a wonderful Christmas meal by following these 5 food safety tips.
