I know know, you all are wondering I totally disappeared for couple of weeks and suddenly you see 2 posts a day.

U see, its Noel’s half term and I have invited his 4 friends over as I took a day off.

Kids are having fun with their game consoles indoors as the sun yet again hidden behind the dark clouds and wouldn’t come out at all. We have waited n waited and moaned and groaned for a sunny week so that the kids can have good time but we are still waiting… yesterday we had a glimmer of hope as the sun was playing hide n seek, the kids 6 of them could play cricket and football at the nearby park yesterday as it was one of our friends son Rohin’s Birthday. I feel when they are with their friends and having fun, weather doesn’t dampen their spirits at all. Good to see them enjoy.

For me I am off today, its so nice to take a break in-between to recharge your batteries and guess what I could post a couple on my blog today.

I cannot miss Jai and Bee’s event for anything in this world and I always send at the last minute. Its fun u know, you think about it all the time and never get a chance to click and suddenly you stand in the kitchen on the last day looking around to find what to click. Luckily I didn’t have to struggle this time as I planned kids lunch today as 3 bean soup as a starter and beef lasagna for mains.

So here we go my first picture is on its way to Beans n Lentils, Click Event…

Kids are already hungry and I promised them I will make a dessert for them so before its lunchtime I better start cracking.

Next week I am running for charity, Race for Life 2008 ~5km on Sunday so if you don’t see me blogging I bet you will see me running on the street rigourously preparing for this Race. Wish me luck!!

The cool refreshing taste of mint lingers on most of the things I use, right from toothpaste, mint chocolates to wonderful cool icy minty teas.

I never knew there are so many different varieties of mint unless I saw almost all the varieties that are available at a famous garden centre, Wyevale in Woodbridge.Some of them had very starnge names like red, yellow, pineapple , lime and lemon.The common types being spearmint, peppermint and garden mint.

Fresh mint is best used for cooking, but when it’s dried, sealed and kept away from sunlight it holds its aromatic oils.
 

 Did you know that the  Latin name ‘mentha’ comes from Menthe an enchanting spirit who was changed into the Mint plant by Proserpine, the jealous wife of Pluto. It also does repel rats, mice and cats, relieves wasp stings and was even used by the Romans to whiten teeth.

As I love to use Mint in most of my biryanis, kebabs, salads and my favourite drink of all, Pimms, I picked few varieties for my herb garden. Now I have Mint, Sage, Thyme, Basil and a beautiful Bay leaf plant. Many more to be added sooon.

I am sending this first picture of refreshingly luscious mint leaves over to Jai and Bee’s Click event