what's cooking wednesday

It's a funny old week this week. The gal's at her grandparents tonight - so we're off for a belated anniversary dinner. Friday signified 17 years since my lovely husband and I met. Bless. I still love him to bits and pieces. So tonight, a restaurant shall be serving our meal. Tomorrow night we're picking up our gal - and being fed by my mother-in-law. Woo hoo. Nothing like a roast with all the trimmings cooked up by a fabulous cook. Here's what we'll be eating the rest of the week.

Tonight: Dinner somewhere nearby in The Junction

Thursday: Roast Beef with the in-laws

Friday: Salmon {and I swear that this time I'm going to make it - promise!*}, wilted spinach and lemon baked potatoes.

Saturday: Spanish chicken with rice and a green salad

Sunday: Osso Bucco or some other slow cooked delight from the Farmers Markets along with fresh veg - whatever's appealing.

Monday: No netball, we have a bye. So to celebrate the first day back at school {woo hoo!} I'll cook lamb backstraps, braised french lentils, pumpkin mash and sweet potato chips for my lovely gal.

Tuesday: Ballet resumes so it's a slow cooker dish. Liss's curry chicken will do just nicely I think. With garlic naan, rice and green beans.

Wednesday: Slow cooker again - netball training. I'm going to go for a soup. Lots of veg, ham hocks and pulses - served with Sourdough from the new bakery in Hunter Street.

*Okay, I swear to god this is not my fault - but it's Friday and once again, I'm not making salmon. Honestly, I have no umbrage with salmon, but every single time I go to cook the damned stuff something happens. And, once again, has happened. Maybe I need to do a sneak sabotage salmon supper. That might work...

p is for...

I believe there are two types of people: those who plan, and those who prefer to be more free-spirited, spontaneous, and... stressed.

I used to be in the latter category. I scoffed at those who wrote an essay plan, guffawed at the very idea of writing down weekly meals, stifled hystrionics at the idea of a budget. Now, I'm firmly in the former camp.

I could kiss my meal plans. On the weeks when I don't plan my meals I become crotchety, nervy, stressed and spend, oh, at least twice what I should. Rather than meals being planned for ease, nutrition, taste and variety - they're hastily assembled from whatever pops first in my brain and then, as I'm cooking, I realise I'm making a meal with beef, and we'd eaten beef last night, and the night before...

When we went away last weekend, even though I'd been working late, late nights, we were still prepared. I went into my "general folder" {pink, sparkly cupcake icon on my desktop} and printed out "Long Weekend Away Check-list". Oh yes, I have checklists for our holidays: from overnight stays, two days, long weekend and week-long. This way we don't worry that we've forgotten the phone charger or curl cream - they're on the list and are ticked off. I know, sounds anally retentive, but it takes one minute to print out - less - how much time would you spend rewriting a list everytime you go away - or just mentally going through it all?

My working days are divided up in the same way. I prioritise and allocate chunks of time to tasks in order of urgency. Some things {such as vacuuming the crunchy kitchen floor - sprinkled with more cupcake toppings than the cupcakes} fall by the wayside under more pressing tasks {finding interview subjects for an article due in just over a week}.

While I used to be a free-spirit in love with spontaneity, I've realised that I much prefer not stressing. I'd like to know what needs to be done and tick it off a list. I think you need to work out what's important to you - and live it. I used to make grand meal plans back in the day. I thought that because I was organised I'd create gourmet masterpieces, try something different, and make everything impressive. But you've got to make space for spaghetti bolognaise. Meal planning's not meant to add another dimension to your life, it's meant to make your life simpler.

Planning makes my life simpler. It's weird at first, and can seem like too much effort. But now, it takes me three minutes to come up with a weekly meal plan. Then I just need to do a big shop, and take note of what I need to buy fresh. Less waste, less spending and less stress. Who wouldn't want that?

something sweet

Do you look for the prettiness in your day? The things that stand out and make you smile? I had to do that this morning after being shuffled around to 6 different Telstra departments {all with that odd mechanical voice thing that's so difficult to understand...}. Nobody could help me, everyone knew they had to pass me to someone else, I swear I went back to the same department at least once or twice... But I had to chill. I found myself getting angrier and angrier, until I stopped and realised that it was okay. I was sitting here, in front of my computer, and I had the opportunity just to cruise around the internet with nothing else pressing. I did have work to do, but I can't focus on research while I'm waiting {and cranky}.

So I cruised, checked out some blogs {barely commented though - sorry - I'll get back into that soon...} and found a few places to dream.

Then, after I hung up, my lovely gal called. She's having two night's sleepover at her grandparents and is having a ball. So far they've made cupcakes and hazelnut slice - and she was due to decorate them next. Bless. Just hearing the happiness in her voice made everything seem better. So I'll buckle down now and get to work. Real work. I'm happy knowing that I'm getting my work done and my gal's spending some serious quality time with her grandparents - you couldn't pay for that could you?

ooh la la

It's Bastille Day today - a day to consider all things French {hold on, how's that different to any day for moi?} Currently I'm celebrating by waiting on hold for Telstra. Le sigh. Me and a new sim card, that was never going to be pretty. Of course I've waited till the last minute to activate my new account, have inserted the sim card without bothering to find my phone's manual. Oh yeah, the height of organisation...

So Bastille Day - you doing anything French? Chic?

dear dior

These would look pretty damned magnificent on my feet...

afternoon delight

I do so love an afternoon nap - and boy, could I use one today. A few days of working till midnight are really starting to take their toll. I'm nearly at the end of my 'impossible' job {when it's done it shall no longer be impossible...} and because the end's in sight, my adrenaline is slowing to a halt. Of course, once I finish this task I'll need to move straight onto the next one - but maybe I could squeeze in a lazy hour's lay-down in-between... {ps: this bedroom looks like the ultimate spot for an afternoon snooze - a little sun streaming in, cool breeze, books at hand to initiate slumber...}

flower power

While I spent the day yesterday working, my husband spent it in the garden. All the roses are now pruned and ready to burst into spring colour. All they'll need is a bucket of manure and a wee spot of sunshine to see new lush new growth sprouting out everywhere. It's funny, I don't even mind the bare, twiggy look. I guess it's because the catmint is so lush in between the roses, and we've got the odd Duchess de Brabant rose which doesn't need pruning and which are still covered in delicate pale pink blooms. But you can't just appreciate something for the end result, sometimes you've got to see the beauty in the journey...

tea time

Rosepetal and violette cupcakes are about to go into the oven - which means afternoon tea time in about 20 minutes! The girls were beside themselves when I told them they could pick a rose each and decorate the cupcakes with petals {our roses are organic, hence, edible}.

Now, how's this for an idea for a tea tray? From Martha natch. It's a series of little planters which look ever-so-lovely filled with the necessities for afternoon tea. Bless.

a gift

Hope your Monday's serving you up something special. There are some times when you realise that life's a gift and you should just sweep it up in loving arms and give it a great big hug.

How are these Valentinos? I do love a bow, it makes everything seem more special. So a pair of black shoes with satin bows are bound to set my heart a-fluttering.

Enjoy your Monday, and I hope that every day you see some special gift in what's being offered to you.

home again, home again

Wow, that went quickly! After a mammoth drive we're home again. Our weekend away was just lovely. Cute little doll's house cottage on the hill was the perfect accommodation and Sutton Forest seemed miles from everywhere, yet was only a three minute drive to Moss Vale. Last night we had a magnificent dinner at the Sutton Forest pub. If you're ever in the Southern Highlands I strongly suggest a meal stop-over. Fabulous pub food in a lovely pub - complete with tartan carpet in the bistro. I had a beautiful steak that was so tender and tasty I cut it with a normal dinner knife - no need for a steak knife. Served with horseradish cream and thick chips and salad it was hearty pub fare served with a deft hand - that chef knows what he's doing.

Today we had lunch at The Black Swan at Berrima - and we'll be revisiting. Our repast today was light, just a pie, but what a pie. Lamb and rosemary encased in light, buttery pastry. Mmmm. They do fine dining downstairs in a series of rooms so exquisite I had to stop and fan myself. The holiday also reinforced my belief that there's no better town for shopping than Bowral - particularly if you love food and cooking {um, that'd be me}. The day was brought to a magnificent climax with macarons from The Strawberry Thief - a patisserie to rival my other love - the Bowral Patisserie. Thank goodness we're headed down again in September...

loooooooong weekend

Today we're packing up the car and heading south. We're off to the Southern Highlands, our favourite place in Australia {aside from home!} We'll have a weekend of pottering, of pub meals, of coffee and shopping. Bliss.

I also plan to take a few days away from work - but will get straight back into in when I return. I think my eyes will enjoy looking at the odd magazine or reading pages from a book.

Enjoy your weekend.

perfectly pretty

How enchanting is this image? I'm taking a wee break from work and needed something pretty to rest my eyes on so Martha Stewart came up with the goods. Can you imagine anything prettier than flowergirls with floral wands? Love.

a little ray of sunshine

Sigh. Will it ever stop raining? I know that I shouldn't care as I'm just sitting at my desk working, but, well, it's noisy. Rain on a tin roof sounds romantic when the drought first breaks, but after a few days it's just another distraction.

Husband's having time off today to spend with the girl. They're off to see Toy Story 3. I'm a tad jealous, but after the whole watching-how-to-tame-your-dragon-in-the-front-row-in-3D I don't really mind. I think my eyes are forever traumatised by the too-close viewing.

Have I told you that I've developed a bit of a crush on Louis Ghost chairs? I was considering having one as an office chair, but these last few days of 12hour+ working days {and my friend Anne's OT advice...} have made me realise that I really do need an ergonomic office chair. Surely I can find a pretty one out there somewhere...

Back to work then.

nearly there...

Thanks to a lovely friend having my gal for two whole days and a sleepover I've managed to get through so much of my work I feel positively exultant.

And also in need of a nap.

In a petal pink dress.

On tufts on the softest, most verdant grass.

Oh.

My.

bathing beauty

Did I tell you that I have a big hole in my bath? Well I do, which renders it completely useless. My husband's planning on patching it till we can redo our bathroom and install this beautiful slipper bath here. Pretty non?

Now, I'm not ordinarily much of a bath gal, but with ours out of order how much do you think I'm craving a big, long soak? Yep, you guessed it - it's number one on my wishlist.

Sigh...

i got chills...

Phew, it's frosty. And we're off for a weekend in the Southern Highlands where the temperature will drop even further. But this lovely Chanel coat straight from the runway would warm the cockles of any heart would it not?

Le love.

dioriffic

I can work no more, slumber's calling me. But, before bed, and because I probably won't have a chance to post at a more sensible hour tomorrow - eek - today... Here's a wee spot of floral fabulousness from Dior. John Galliano - I heart you.

just chill

As a freelancer you can work the strangest of hours. I started at 9am this morning and I'm still kicking on at 10.51pm. I did take a break and had a lovely walk down to the beach at sunset. The crazy 'non-storm' we had {weird, ferocious thunder for 20 minutes, then a few spits of rain followed by sunshine} seemed to have created a sunset that turned out quite the show over the ocean - yes, on the East Coast!

Lovely husband's watching le tour de France, picturing himself there next year in the crowds. He's also cleaned the kitchen to perfection and is making me a hot chocolate to sustain my final burst of work. I think I'll keep him...

Gal's at a sleepover so I'm free to burn the midnight oil - something I don't think I've really done since uni days. But I'm keen to knock over as much of this job as possible so at the end of the week we can toddle off to the Southern Highlands feeling I've earned a holiday.

Now, this cake - the cutest thing you've ever seen? That's a pudding - not some strange olive macaron fiasco {oh yes, I'm still going on about it. It's also on the cover of MasterChef magazine - with an added mustard coloured macaron. If that little bugger's actually mustard flavoured I think I'll move beyond feeling nauseous to the actuality...}. If we're going to have food that looks like another food at least let's have both of them looking delicious non?

perchance to dream

If you really managed to follow your bliss I'm pretty sure you'd end up here. Oh my, talk about 70 shades of lovely...

knuckling down

There's nothing that I like more than being busy - so today, I'm positively blissful. Lots on, plenty to keep my mind occupied and a few challenges thrown in there as well.

Oh, we won our semi final at netball last night. I sat there with my injury cheering my team on. We had a close game with the final, but ended up losing by a respectable 5 goals. It's a novel concept just watching from the sidelines - one that I'd prefer to just do the once. Hopefully this crazy knee injury of mine will heal soon and I'll be back on the court next week {yep, straight into the new competition - indoor netball allows no rest}.

Finally, three words I never want to hear in the same sentence again: macaron, olive and beetroot. Zumbo might be considered a genius, but I swear I felt a little sick every single time olive macarons were mentioned {and boy, were they mentioned a lot last night on MasterChef}.