And while I keep crashing.....

...."I might as well finally write down one of my all time favourites", Miss Ayla thought

Red onion Tarte Tatin

2 1/2 lbs red onions
25g/1 oz butter
1 tsp caster sugar
6 thyme sprigs
1 tbsp fresg thyme chopped
1tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the pastry
75g/3 oz plain flour
50g/2oz plain wholemeal flour
50g/2oz soft butter
25g/1oz cheddar cheese
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves chopped
2-3 tbsp cold water

Preparation:

1. Pregeat the oven to 170C/350F/Gas 4 and preheat a solid baking sheet too
2. Begin by preparing the onions, which should have their outer skin removed and then be cut in half lenghthways from stern to root. Then place the pan over medium heatand, as sooon as it is hot, add the butter and the sugar, then as soon as the butter begins to sizzle, quickly scatter the sprigs of thyme in, then arrange the onions on the baseof the pan, cut side down. Afrter the onion halves have been placed in the pan to cover the surface, all of these left over need to be cut in wedges and fitted in between to fill all of the gaps. Bear in mind that what you see when you turn the tart out, is the cut side of the onions.
3. When the onions have all been fitted in, give them a good seasoning of salt and pepper, then scatter over the chopped thyme and sprinkle in the vinegar.Now turn the heat down under the pan and let the onions cook very gently for about 10 minutes.After that cover the pan with foil and place it on the baking sheet on the shelf just about the centre of the oven and leave it there for the onions to cook 5- to 60 minutes.
4. While the onions are cooking make the pastry. This can be done in a food processor. When the mix resembles fine crumbs, gradually add enough cold water- about 2 to 3 tbsp- to make a soft dough. Then put the dough into the fridge, wrapped in ccling film for 30 minutes to rest.
5. As soon as the onions have had their cooking time, test them with a skewer: they should be cooked through, but still retain some texture. Then replace the pan from the oven and place it back on the hob, increasing the oven temperature to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Now turn the heat under the pan with the onions to medium as now you need to reduce the juices. This will take app. 10 minutes. Watch them carefully so they don't burn.You should be left with very little syrupy liquid at the base of the pan.
6. In the meantime roll out the pastry to a circle of about 25 cm/10 inches (most blokes allegedly know exactly how much that is )in diameter- then turn the heat off under the pan, fit the pastry over the onions, pushing down and tucking in the edges all round the inside of the pan. Then return the tart to the oven on the same baking sheet but this time on the higher shelf and give it another 25 to 30 minutes until the pastry is crisp and golden.
7. After this remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for 20 minutes before turning it out. When turning it out it is important that you have a completely flat plate or board. Place the plate/board on top of the pan, then turn it upside down, give it a good shake- and voila. Done. Lovely warm with a few shavings of Parmigiano/Parmesan- and a glass of wine of course.

I know- I should.......

..as I promised add my onion tarte recipe- but I am not in the mood.
I will probably send it in a notecard- or- in the next entry- tonight I think I have to deal with emotions. Hurt, betrayal, loss......
I am at an age where yiy have been there, done that, have the t-shirt- but when it happens again- it is not less painful- maybe even worse because you thinnk that this time you chose your friends wisely- and you waited a fair bit before you opened up.Wrong- you are never safe.
Miss Ayla turned to Higgins and petted his big head. "I know why I prefer you" she thought.
A lot of things to consider- is it worth bending over backwords to please other people and to create an environment- or should I just retire from it all and have a lovely private life with the Captain? Come out of our enclosure whenever we feel like and build to our hearts contempt? Or finally explore our private side? On the other hand- there are some really nice people that come together regularly on a casual and relaxed basis- and for them it is sure worth. Miss Ayla shook her head. " I have to wait for the Captain" she thought. It needs to be talked over.Yes- it is a beautiful sim- but at the end of the day- the people who use it are the ones who breath the life into it.
Does friendship always have to hurt?

Thumbs up!

The move is done- and all looks bright and shiny. Miss Ayla looked across the water and smiled. And all the lovely friends still by her side- she had not really expected this. " I have to find a way to thank all of them" she thought. It is time though for now that things settle and the peaceful atmosphere that always was an attribute around the Chateau would take over again.
But it looks like this is already happening- quite a few lovely gatherings with old and new friends had already brightend her mind. It is time to enjoy the long evenings in fron of the fire- and perpare for Christmas. "I need to look for Granny's book" Miss Ayla thought- it was probably still in one of the removal boxes. "Yes- time to get moving again" she thought " and tomorrow i will start cooking again.
With a little jump she got up and made her way to the pier where she hoped to find Higgins. "Oh," she thought, "I would right fancy a glass of champagne and a dance".

end of a chapter

When one door closes another opens” and “ Things happen for a reason”- Miss Ayla remembered her own motto very well. Still- once the situation arises it is not that simple. Seeing her Xaara- well- not here’s anymore- being transformed into a cold plain platform made her cringe. Her mind drifted in memories. The moment she stood on the hill- overlooking Xaara for the first time, the moments when she was in tears- convinced that she would never manage to get a building placed within this landscape- the breakthrough and the idea for the set-up. Miss Ayla smiled- she actually does not actually plan a sim- she feels it and it grows from there.

Discussions with Proc that usually ended laughing on the beach, dancing in the moonlight, making love under a waterfall-trying ideas. Xaara grew-the relationship ended- too much work. “Yes”, she thought, “Xaara came at a price. Only a few days earlier she had to learn that Proc had died but in parts of her builds he would live on- Miss Ayla would make sure.

She leaned back and overlooked the vineyard. The gallery- she was not sure anymore if it was a good idea back then to offer the outlet to them, which finally ended up in being a quarter sim. Well- it probably was, she thought as she met a lot of nice people- a handful of true friends- yes it was. “At the end of the day” she thought “I can recreate my dream anytime and anywhere- it is inside of me and therefore nobody can destroy it.” The thought made her smile. She softly petted Higgin’s head and he looked up at her with a sign of relief feeling she was not as troubled anymore. “Let’s make the best of what we have here” she said to Higgins- “Let’s cut out the ugliness and preserve the friendliness. Let’s make this a home for the friends we know and those we have not met yet.” With these words she turned and made her way to the kitchen where a nice pigs ear waited for Higgins and she reached for the wine before she turned to Grandma’s big old handwritten cooking book and looked for inspiration.” Time to get back on track” she thought.

It never ends

...but that's a good thing- in a way. The past few weeks had proved busy, sometimes hectic- but successfull. "what an interesting and lovely mix of people are finding their way to Xaara lately!" Miss Ayla thought.
But there was the Zexpo to come. Miss Jorden and Miss Ayla had just finished their set-ups there the other night and Miss Ayla thought it really looked good. She was looking forward to showing off Xaara to all the different people and to browse the set ups of all the other exhibitors (Miss Ayla almost wrote "exhibitionists" here).
With amazement she learned the other day that Higgins had obviously opened his own photo business- "Hmmmm" she thought "Can't really blame him" Miss Ayla was aware that the poor dog must be feeling neglected.
"Time to think about setting some time aside for fun", she thought and was suddenly aware of the fact that she didn't even have a home on the three sims. She shook her head in disbelief and sighed.
"There will be time to think about that soon! she tought. leaning back in her chair- "time for coffee".
And as she thought she deserved a treat she decided to make it her special Irish Coffee.
Brew a strong black coffee and keep it hot
Put a good serve of Irish whiskey into a glass and add 2 teaspoon of brown sugar
light a candle (There are better constructions where you can put the glass in and turn it over a flame) but it works with a candle too- just make sure you don't burn yourself as the glass gets hot.
Heat up the whiskey in the glass by twisting and turning it over the candle until the sugar kind of caramalizes.
Pour into a warmed coffee mug and fill up with the coffee, top with whipped cream (Most delicious when sweetened) and enjoy.

Yessssss- I am so clever- it almost hurts! Now- as if Miss Ayla hadn't enough to do- she managed to demolish the Chateau on Saturday night. meant to remove a beer- and removed the complete left wing-rrrrraaaaaah!.


Ok- started from scratch and trying to see the positive side- there is always room for improvement.


In the meantime Higgins roamed the courtyard slightly worried as they hadn't seen any of their friends for a while- now- in Higgins case the worry was also about the good food he was used to- and while she was so busy he was confined to dogfood- uuuargh.


They had a short visit though from Monsieur Percival and Miss Kim, which was quite amusing- even for Miss Kim, it seems- though she was chased around by Monsieur Percival and captured all the time- but they disappeared in the new Highway Man's Bar and and had a couple of drinks before they continued there chase.


Monsieur Aidan who was also present to discuss the new design of the upper floors seemed rather intrigued himself- s

and then there are.....

the days, when Miss Ayla felt she was the loneliest person in SL.