Black Syren

Roasted Pork Chops

with Herbs of Provence

4 large pork chops

1 tablespoon herbs of Provence

½ teaspoon black pepper

½ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter

Rub the meat evenly with the herbs and spices, cover and place in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Place the pork chops on a roasting rack, and cover with foil. Bake 17 minutes, remove the cover, turn over and lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Bake 10 minutes longer or until the center of the chop is not pink. Melt the butter and drizzle over the chops. Place under the broiler and lightly brown the tops. Serve with roasted or mashed potatoes and a salad.

Roasted Potatoes with Herbs of Provence

This is a delicious dish and makes a wonderful presentation.

4 medium potatoes

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon herbs of Provence

1 tablespoon of olive oil

Cut the potatoes into wedges lengthwise. In a medium pot, bring salted water to boil, add potatoes and cook 10 minutes. Do not overcook. Drain potatoes. Drizzle potatoes with olive oil, sprinkle with herbs, salt and pepper and toss to coat evenly.

Transfer to a cookie sheet. At this point the potatoes can wait until you’re almost ready to serve. Place under the broiler and broil 5-10 minutes until the edges start browning. Serve immediately.

Lavender Lemonade

We have found this lemonade to be a very refreshing treat, especially during the warm spring and summer months. The surprising flavor is elusive and yet quite unforgettable.

3 large lemons

1 large pitcher of ice cold water with ice

½ cup boiling water

4 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon lavender in a tea ball

Squeeze the juice from 2 lemons. Slice the third lemon thinly. Combine the boiling water with lavender, let steep 3 minutes, remove lavender and add the sugar and dissolve. All to the pitcher of ice water along with the sliced lemon. You may want to adjust the amount of lemon juice and sugar to taste. Serve chilled.

Lavender Sugar

You can easily make your own lavender sugar. Use it in your kitchen or give as gifts in decorative jars

6 cups sugar

6 teaspoons dried lavender buds

Grind the lavender buds in a grinder or a mortar. (Coffee grinders work well for this) Mix with sugar. Store in airtight jars. It will be ready to use after 4 weeks.

Alternative methods: There are several ways to make lavender sugar. If you have fresh lavender flowers on a stalk, cut the stalk off and place the flower spike in a jar. Cover with sugar. Shake every few days. It will be ready to use after 4 weeks. Another way is to place whole buds in sugar, either fresh or dry, and sift them out before using in a recipe.

Ingredients

shortcrust pastry (or pre-made shortcrust pie shell - 9 inch diameter)

1/2 lb cheese curds

3 tablespoons rose water

2 tablespoons currants

3 egg yolks

3 ounces butter

3 tablespoons sugar

nutmeg, grated (to taste)

mace (optional)

Directions

1NB Ricotta cheese can be used in place of cheese curd or you can make your own cheese curd very easily.

2Prepare a deep short-crust pastry shell (9-10 inches across) and bake it blind for 10-15 minutes in a hot oven.

3Remove from oven and allow to cool.

4(Or have your pre-made pastry shell waiting.) Place the cheese curd and softened butter in a bowl and blend well.

5Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating them well into the mixture.

6Add the rosewater, sugar, currants and nutmeg to the mixture and beat in well.

7Pour the filling into the cooled pastry case and bake in a moderate oven (gas Mark 4, 180C or 350F) for 30-45 minutes. (Warning- once the mixture is poured into the pie shell, it should be baked straight away. Otherwise it will start to separate and become oily and not cook well.)(The cheesecake should have risen a little and be a golden color.).

8Lift from oven and lightly dust with ground mace (if desired).

Celebrating!!!!

1) One thing you ate today--Double cheeseburger with cheese covered tater tots and a choclate malt.

2) One thing you saw today (big or small)--My Droctor

3) Name of a person you spoke to--Stynky right before I was late to my Dr. *pokes Stynky with her Trident*

4) Name of a person you thought of but didn't see.--Haunting Lily, William Red Wake, Maeve, Sterling, Dorian, and my Dad

Released with full honors from my Dr..and Im feeling so devilish..heaven help you all....*Grins*

*Hides from Lily and her whip*..She means it to..specially when her whip is out..Trust me I know...

Well Im glad you decided on the hinges issue. Sophie is very smart..bet you could teach her how to play.

..speaking of Texas food :)

Syren did u ever have Texas Pie?

We were in Fredericksburg a few

yrs back and had it..said it was

A favrite on the Tejas frontier

.. Kinds plain but tasty-think like

A sugary butter mix on a pie crust!?

I do remember Kate and I split a 2nd piece :)

Nay I have not..Never heard of it actually. I need to get out more...

Nothing..I am eating nothing at this moment...Although Peanut butter and jelly sounds wonderful right now...

LOL This is the box we were talking about on the phone when the hinges came up??? It's beautiful, very nicely done!

diet pepsi and chocolate milk

Together?!?!

Orange Juice...no pulp

Bloody hell... all th' more reason I should take up th' study of French.

Lady B

*Grins* That makes two of us Lady B...about that drink..A Plunder Me Cherry with extra cherries please sir...

*Goes to find her french text book*

*Grins and accepts towel and bucket* Some mudbugs would go well with the shrimp do you not think? I better quit..this could lead me to trouble...

Well if you need help let me know.

I bid you a warm welcome sir and glad that you find the pub and all it offers to your taste. Please feel free to ask questions if there is something you do not understand. We will be more than happy to assist you. Again welcome to the Pub.

Thanks Patrick..I appreciate all your input!

Ha! Ha!..Tease me all you wish..*grins* Flattery gets you everywhere!

I never smile in my pics...Well tis very rare...

lOL Just got it on mine..Thanks for the heads up!

Gotta post this since no one else will! Above, http://www.scribd.com/full/12947458?access...y8zcaqvsfzck3sg Captain Bloody Spike Pierce, Diosa, Hurricane, below Rusty Nell and yours truly!

Very Nice! I need new pics..*pouts*

Capt. Synn, love that hat!

It's got Pyrat-attude!

Heh... Ye should see it at nyght when I put the red lights inside the molded leather skulls...

Specially when Halloween comes 'round... an' I transform int' Commodore "DeadBeard"...

Commodore Ashton "WeirdBeard" Synn

DAMN!!!!! That's just HOT!!!!!! Wonders if she can steal the hat too! *Grins* Very well Done!!!!!!!!

Im not sure they would let me in without checking boarding passes...

*Sighs* First Sterling and then Diosa steals my spotlight..Oh well...anyone happen to know where I can get a really cute puffy fuzzy bunny tail and ears????

Pfft...You did not hijack it I did. Now quit trying to steal my spotlight!