Remember that...

 

My Dodo Flora...

 

FLORA...

Such a sweet girl!!!... Horrid and greedy AND, very hungry pirates were chasing her! Poor Flora was scrambing along, stumbling, and bruised, tiring, practically faining in terror, helpless, because dodos can't fly. What a good thing that I was passing overhead and saw the pitiful sight. I swooped down, snatched Flora up, and away I went, zooming along. The pirates were astounded. They couldn't believe what they had just seen, ~ a flash of purple cape and, then, their prey, the dodo, just DISAPPEARED! Of course, I was back at my castle in seconds. I calmed Flora with kind words in my soothing voice. She was so very grateful. She rubbed against my arm like a cat. I gave her a meal of sliced apples amd sunflower seeds, and made her a soft bed next to my hearth. She has been with me for hundreds and hundreds of years now, for no one dies of old age in the blessed lands of Faerie.

Maleficent Make Up...

 

My Cat Fiddle...

 

FIDDLE...

I found Fiddle, as a bedraggled, skinny kitten, in the dark streets of nineteeth century Paris, in Pigalle.

He was soaking wet and starving too, for a drizzling rain had fallen all night. I put him inside my robe. I could feel him shivering, poor, tiny baby. What he needed was a warm bowl of porridge, or stew, or soup. Fortunately, I found an inn that was open, it looked like, all the time. The innkeeper was glad to provide a meal, complete with wine, for me and a bowl of meaty soup for my cat. He grinned hugely, with popping eyes, when I paid with a gold coin, unsuspecting that that coin would turn to a dried leaf in the morning! (This is an ancient faerie trick, of course!) After we ate, Fiddle and me disappeared in a mist, outside the inn. He has been with me, living a pampered, blissful life, in the Land of Faerie, ever since.(I call him Fiddle because he has such a high, melodic voice, like a violin!)

A Darling Castle Creature...

    His name is Darko.

(My Easy And Most Excellent Recipe For Homemade Beef Stew) So, I was rummaging around my castle and it's environs...

Mmmm... Time to go inside and stir up the fire in the main hearth, in my large hall and in my sitting room, where my familiars, --- that lazy Diaval, the raven, and my cat Fiddle were snoozing in front of the remnants of the coals.. I swung the cauldron out. It was empty and thoroughly scoured since my house maid Grisella was one of the best sculleries around. 

   I was in the mood for making a savory stew. Do you want my recipe???... 

   HERE IT IS:

   In a large pot, --- you may use a crockpot, which is best for this, (you let it simmer all day, on low.) Place chopped beef stew meat, or a chopped up chuck steak, Add a couple of cans of diced tomatoes, a couple of cups of water, 1 cup of rich red wine (like Burgundy or Chianti) . Later you can add some tomato paste, if you like a richer broth. Season with a couple a cubes of beef boullion, to taste, and some black pepper, plus a bay leaf, which you'll remove later, and some dried oregano. Add cubes a raw red potatoes, don't peel them, all the flavor is in the skin. 

   Simmer, as I said, slowly, --- for hours and hours, stirring occasionally. Don't let the bottom of the pot burn! When the meat is tender add, cans of mixed vegetables, spinach, green beans, peas, sliced carrots and, perhaps, anything else you can think of adding,---  like, maybe, corn or garbanzo beans. Simmer more, till the vegs are hot. 

   Serve over some delicious and lumpy homemade mashed potatoes, or freshly made baking soda biscuits. 

   NOW, --- THAT'S A MEAL FIT FOR A WICKED QUEEN!!!... Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!... 

Thank You, Fans!!!...

 

"MALEFICENT IS MY FAIRY GODMOTHER," --- "She's Magic * Midnight Lace". 

(Applause, applause... She bows, gracefully.)