Saturday, June 30, 2012

Veggie Lust


Moo, Woo and I have been in country paradise for a week now - while B has worked his heart (butt) out in the city and up north, and because we decided we could and would, we have had a week of eating almost zip meat in any shape or form.  (One transgression only for all the right reasons.)

I put together a little menu plan for the week (sooooooo not my style - usually I cook at whim - but I decided to be grown up about it so I could acquire all the yummy veggies we needed from lovely Jim at his Sutton Forest fruit and veggie market on Sunday - best produce around, ever!).

So, what have we eaten over a series of lunches and dinners pray tell?
  • Pumpkin, spinach and sage risotto - an all-time favourite here at the Palazzo
  • Spinach gnocchi with a puttanesca sauce - a new all-time favourite and that's a big statement
  • Creamy baked polenta with roast veggies atop (Moo not too keen on that caper, so not making it anywhere near the all-time list, let me tell you)
  • Poached eggs atop a feta, spinach and mushroom fritter - a la Raw and Wild in Bowral - drop dead goodness!
  • Rumpledumps (roast veggies, mashed and creamed, with caramelised onions and baked cabbage - soooooo good - we love comfort food)
  • Veggie bake (layers of finely sliced veggies, with red onion, tomatoes and sharp cheddar, baked, with a crispy corn crumble atop - kind of veggie lasagne w/o the pasta - yumbo scrumbo)
All up ... a very successful meat-free week apart from a little trip to Bundanoon to check out the new menu at the pub (important 'research' trip for when B is back down and a night visit to the Winterfest celebrations is in order over in the village).

I couldn't say no to the scallop risotto and M gave a nod to a steak sandwich w/o the bread so I guess us gf peeps call that a steak solo?   Very yummy and no sign of the resident ghost (kid you not  - they have photos up - she lives in Room 11 upstairs!).

B got back down last night so we plan on breaking out and having shanks tonight - we bought them from our favourite local butcher the other day.  The boys will be on slow cooking duty as I was in bed all of yesterday, feeling lousy and under par.

NOTHING to do with the lack of meat I might quickly add to curb the comments of carnivores reading this.

Just that normal lark of flu circling around at this time of the year and bad luck on my part.  Another quiet day today and all will be good - especially if the boys take over the mothership (kitchen).

Long live health and more veggies - I plan on whipping up a whole bunch more meat-free treats over the next couple of weeks while we are lazying by the fire late afternoon.  Might even experiment with the polenta (huge shriek of nooooooooo from Moo echoes through the house!).

(Ohh and in case you are wondering Woo ate his usual dry food fiasco - no point upsetting the apple cart for the pooch - he is a creature of habit, tried and tested.  No idea what B feasted on - but he'll be sad he missed the polenta ... not ... at all!!!!)

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Yoga lust


Ahhhhhh - finally it's that magic time I love most - school holidays!  Phew - it has been a huge term, yet again, and we are all had it - even Woody (god knows why - he sleeps his life away - but he is feigning exhaustion drama dog that he is).

Moo and I plan on doing a whole lot of this caper in the holidays down in paradise.  Thanks to my divine friend/almost sister Mary I've found the perfect yoga studio and have been doing a whole bunch of kundalini and naam yoga in the past few weeks.


I am hooked - it is the best yoga I have done in a long time.  It's challenging - some of the poses really push you to the limit (no I didn't cry but that was a little tear of exhaustion last Wed!).  Ther's nothing namby pamby about these two disciplines - they take you to the brink and make you really work your heart, butt and all other bits out.


I love it so much (big news) I am holding off zooming down to paradise this am as I want to go to an 11am class before I head off for three weeks. 

Now that's true namaste passion! 

Not only do I love everything about this new studio (they even have herbal tea brewing after each class - this place has my name on it!) BUT ...

... drumroll please ...  

I have slept like a baby in the past week.  



Shut the front door!  

Considering what a nightmare pathological insomniac I am (it's been going on for years) that sentence is a miracle!   I am walking on clouds, literally, this sleep business is bliss.

So, yes, I am signing up and chanting my little heart away while doing some of the hardest yoga ever - whatever it takes to feel amazing and ZZZZZZZZZZZ!!

Namaste.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Woody wooooooos


Man the time has flown - it has been very busy here at the Palazzo Josamina and down at The Old Nursery.  No time for posting - too busy gardening, (work) writing, as well as editing and testing a whole bunch of recipes (I'm editing and proofing a cookbook which means I am constantly ravenous while oohing and ahhhing over some gems.)  The repertoire this weekend will be a treat - all inspired by the last couple of weeks of cravings.

Thank the lord the holidays are just around the corner - I sooooooo need some down time!

Woody of course doesn't have a problem with relaxing - he is the King of all things lazy and couch-related.   When he does venture out, his favourite thing to do is pull me up the back lane to visit Ashleigh - Sydney's divine hairdresser to the stars (i.e. Moo and I).  And wow does she do a jolly good job! MeMe is the place to be if you want the best coiffeur in town!

She is one divine gal - and has quickly become a fast family friend to all of us.  Woody is very smitten and loves to pop in, chew the fat and bask in the sun in her studio.   (Don't worry Kelly - he still has room in his heart for you!).

In fact - he is a bit of a toy boy that pooch of ours - loves the ladies and has made a point of wooing as many as he can during our daily walks up and down Oxford Street.  He so knows which ones have treats in their stores and makes a bee line for them - and some have started to stock treats knowing he'll come calling.  And he does!

I have had to mix up our route to make sure he doesn't chub out too much on daily treats!!

Best he gets a good run around this long weekend down country.   Can't wait - it's a long weekend and we have a houseful of lovely friends - the fire will be roaring and the kitchen humming - bring it on!