So, I had this post all typed out about fears in the kitchen and me overcoming the dreaded yeastiness that is required for all things fluffy and bready and risen (very inspirational etc etc)…
…and then I remembered why I ended up making this batch of pizza to start with.
I did not mean to disappear for so long. In fact, I didn’t intend to disappear at all – but oh! Life and all it brings has laid its heavy hand on me and so, to keep myself sane, I’ve been concentrating on enjoying the time I spend cooking and eating (and eating) instead of turning it into yet another thing on my long list of “items that have to be completed (and soon!)”
And in amongst all of the hustle and bustle (some parts of which being far more pleasant than others) I’ve happened upon a little something – and, like most little-somethings in life, it’s popped up in the place I least expected it.
…continue reading two cheese & onion focaccia
Studying and working in the advertising / marketing industries has turned me into a somewhat cynical consumer. Will that face cream really reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in only eight hours? I don’t know, but I’d highly doubt it. So when I opened my inbox to see the words “Make an Italian Beef Casserole to feed two people in under 15 minutes with Leggo’s”, I almost (almost!) laughed. But I didn’t. And, because I’m try to be as fair as I am cynical, I decided to give it a shot. (And, as a sidenote, I’ll be giving some of it away too, so you can have a shot at it yourself…)
…continue reading italian beef casserole – a Leggo’s challenge
“I’m cooking lunch for five” I said to M & Zo over a food court lunch “and I don’t know what to make.” The boys looked at me quizzically. “Surely it isn’t that hard,” said M. “just go with something you’re comfortable with.” “Yes,” said Zo “but if you’ve invited them over, it has to be something a little bit special.” And so I variously groaned, threw my hands in the air and wrinkled my nose distastefully at their suggestions. Until, that is, M suggested pasta. “Pasta,” he said, with the gesture of an 80 year old Italian papa “is so simple, but the fresh stuff? Ah! You can make a person very very happy with that”.
Miss Shiny & I were running late (and oh! but doesn’t that seem to always be the tale). We shouldn’t have been, for we had both left work with time to spare. But then a phone call (“We’re at the Bowler’s Club playing Wii! Come along!”) and a quick wander down, and a slow chat (“If we beat the high score, everyone gets a round of drinks!”) was followed by a surreptitious glance at the time (“Ahh! We need to be at dinner 10 minutes ago!”) and a hustle and bustle back up George Street, onto Park then onto Pitt. A scurry past the cupcake shop, Sakura and the convenience store… and we were there. The last to arrive, but present nonetheless. …continue reading macchiato
