the everyday calm...

Following the holidays and some lovely unpredictability, we're back into 'it'. Since then, I've been mulling over how to capture 'that holiday feeling' into the everyday week.  I realised its not necessarily the holiday I'm seeking, I quite enjoy my home and work routine, rather it's the feeling I get when everything feels calm and well....good. I feel a little more like the person I strive to be.

After a few more daydreaming minutes watching Nora roll around in the sand I'd come up with a condensed list of what gives me shrills on the inside...

- finding a beautiful jacket

- a lingering breakfast

- omitting the worry and enjoying my child/family
- walking through any market
- dining with an incredible group of people
- trying something new
- drinking tea out of a fancy teacup
- enjoying fresh and delicious food
(with no afterthought other than "ill be eating that again")
- making something beautiful

- listening to a song that curls me into a reverie
- when lunch with friends turns into dinner
- walking into a cafe or shop and thinking "they've got it!"
- growing something from scratch

Obviously finding and buying a beautiful jacket is not going to make it's way into my 'everyday' (sigh). However, taking time to drink tea out of a teapot and growing/sharing with family and friends are all things that can be somehow incorporated into our everyday.

Life is far from monotonous, we* sometimes just forget to include the things that makes us quiver. laugh. wonder.

What makes you feel calm?  Do you bring those things into your everyday or save it for the holidays?


*and by 'we', I mean 'me'...

gypsy eggs...

My sister and I had brunch last week during my 'incubation'*, at a lovely cafe in Willunga. My Eggs a la Flamenca were completely delicious!

Yummo...

I'm changing up my meal plans (again) and decided to find my own recipe for eggs a la flamenca. The recipe I used and adapted turned out to be called 'Gypsy Eggs' - how appropriate.

The final product...

RECIPE:  GYPSY EGGS (inspired by Delicious Magazine)

1 tbs olive oil
2 chorizo, thinly sliced
1 potato, thinly sliced and cut into 2 cm pcs
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
300 ml chicken stock
1 tsp smoked or sweet paprika
1/2 tsp chilli flakes
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
4 eggs
some chopped parsley OR basil leaves
ciabatta OR sourdough

Step 1:  Boil potatoes for 5-6 minutes until just tender. Meanwhile, heat the oil in an ovenproof frypan over medium heat.  Add the chorizo and cook for 2 minutes, stirring, until beginning to crisp.  Remove and drain on paper towel.

Step 2:  Add the boiled potato and and cook for 2 minutes. Remove and add to chorizo.  Add onion to the frypan and cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes until softened.  Add the garlic, tomatoes, stock, paprika, chilli and fried chorizo and potatoes, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the mixture has thickened.  Season with salt and black pepper.  Add peas for final 2 minutes until just tender.

Step 3:  Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180 C.  Make four indents in the pan, then crack an egg into each indent.  Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until the eggwhite has set but yolks are still soft.  Sprinkle with parsley or basil and serve immediately with bread.

(tomato mixture can be divided into separate baking dishes if preferred)

Enjoy...



* Incubation Explained

fortnightly menus...

Following a few years of chaos, a baby, going back to work and some seriously nutrient-less meals, I've finally put together a fortnightly menu. It allows for nutrition, ease and a little excitement, as well as fitting nicely into our budget and work/play routine.

WEEK 1 -
Saturday:  Cauliflower & Pea Curry
Sunday:  Spaghetti Bolognese (my recipe changes each time but the essentials stay the same)
Monday:  OUT (blessed)
Tuesday:  Eggs/Toast, Fried Rice, Home-made nachos
Wednesday:  Vietnamese Chicken (Thrifty Kitchen)
Thursday:  Vietnamese Cold Rolls (using leftover Vietnamese Chicken)
Friday:  Vegetarian Chilli (Delicious - Quick smart cook)

WEEK 2 -
Saturday:  BBQ Chicken & Proscuitto/Basil Pizzas (Jamie Oliver - Pizza Dough)
Sunday: Chicken, Olive and Fennel Pasta
Monday: OUT
Tuesday:  Chilli con carne, Eggs/Toast
Wednesday:  Beef Stew & Salad (Apples for Jam)
Thursday:  Take Out
Friday:  Carbonara & Greens (Everyday Kitchen)


NOTES:
These meals change each school term (10 weeks), so we get variety and follow the change in seasons. I've organised the meals so that I'm using up all ingredients in one week i.e. week 1, coriander, rice noodles etc; there has been a lot less waste.

I try to stick to my weekly budget of $120, which sometimes includes wine/beer (woot!). I shop according to my list and nothing more, however I do include things like haloumi, proscuitto and dark chocolate so we don't feel we're missing out.  I also bake two different snacks ie jam drops, cheese scones (like we did here) and plan possible breakfasts/lunches to include in my weekly shopping list. 

We're fortunate that my parents care for Nora on Mondays while I work, so dinner is gratefully gobbled at their abode Monday nights.  

Tuesdays is another work day for me so I want something quick and easy.  If I've got energy, I'll give Nora eggs and then lazily make something delicious for Joel and I after she's gone to bed.  Hence the multiple choice Tuesdays...

I make a basic tomato sauce recipe here, that becomes pizza sauce for Saturday and the base of the pasta dish for Sunday (I add fennel and some marinated red peppers into the basic tomato sauce). 

None of the meals, including take out night, are limited to specific nights.  We swap and change depending on how we feel.  It does, however, ensure that we only eat out once a fortnight (of course, this does not include our occasional indulgent weekend brunches...these are not negotiable!).

Phew...hope this ramble helps! I would love to hear your own menu plan / quick recipe ideas.



**If there's no link to the recipe and you don't have the recipe book listed, inbox me and I'll send you the details. 

relocation dreaming...

I've just come across Beá 's website La Tartine Gourmande - WOW!

Her latest blog post is advertising a Food Styling and Photography Workshop in East County Clare, Ireland....Oh My Word.

To do this would be a dream come true. The opportunity will hopefully show itself when the kid(s) have all grown, the man and I are living in a recently renovated barn on King Island, making cheese, growing 'things' and our superfunds are bountiful. HA!

The 'tell him he's dreaming' scene from The Castle is on repeat in my head right now...DARN.IT.

One day...