Cooking up schemes

I still can't quite believe that it's now only one more week at work. One more week before I jettison myself into the world of freelancing. Other people call it unemployment. However there are many things that will be keeping me busy. 

Not just eating. I love to cook - and this is something I've really rediscovered lately - and as soon as Amazon's bloody useless courier service surrenders my two new cook books to me, I will be experimenting more with Italian and French cuisine.  Above: soda bread (as my friend Robyn calls it, 'ethnic food')  and its twin is Vanilla Honey Pound Cake from Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa. 

My latest favourite i.e. craved food is Nigella's Moonblush tomatoes, seen here with Parma ham and fresh basil (can't believe I've kept something green alive - on purpose, as opposed to something green I've cultured by accident, in a penicillin-type way) on a wholemeal muffin. She's right - they are fabulous as a pasta sauce, particularly with some chilli flakes and bacon thrown in.  Still don't like raw tomatoes though.

Finally something I've been craving for a long time - again from Nigella's Feast, her Red Prawn and Mango Curry which is utterly delish.  One of the problems about cooking for one is that you end up eating the same thing for more than one meal - invariably having to downsize recipes and when it gets to that splitting one egg thing, it makes you a bit crazy and cranky so you make enough for two and eat it again the following day. In the case of this recipe, one of the great things about cooking for one is that you end up eating the same thing for more that one meal. Flib doesn't share food, it seems.

It also remind me chilli = flavour :: flavour = satiety far earlier than with bland food. This is important in the wake of a big diet and rediscovering fabulous food. 

Went to see Julie & Julia tonight, along with a friend who desperately wants a relationship, marriage and children and to be a full-time painter, who just split up with a man who is desperately in love with her, and desperately wants to marry her, have children with her and can afford to provide very well for her and family and was encouraging to leave her corporate life. But - and oh this is really the biggest but there can possibly be - she doesn't love him.  Despite having tried hard to convince herself, she knows that she never will. It doesn't matter a damn if all your boxes are ticked off if you're ever going to wake up one morning and think "Well it's fine. Just fine. I can make the best of it". Even worse if this becomes clear to you, vividly, during what is supposed to be the honeymoon period of the relationship.  So, I took her to see a movie which is essentially about two very happy couples and pursuing your dreams. Go me! Luckily it did cheer her up rather than send her off the deep end. Ah, I think. Might just text her now...

I love feel-good movies. Mainly because, you know, they make me feel good. That there's a world of possibilities out there, that you can find your niche, that everything can work out well for everyone. I have my rose coloured glasses on, but I rarely take them off.  I admire the fact that both Julie and Julia as portrayed in the movie took risks and found their true north. Would that we all good do that. It did raise interesting questions in my mind about 'Why blog? Is this incredibly narcissistic? Does anyone care - or do I have to care about it very much in order for it to resonate with people? " and then I put all those things aside and started mentally composing this post.

This isn't going to turn into a cookery blog. Primarily because I'm not willing to work on my presentation skills enough. Oh by the way, Mum, I'm not going to just be cooking. Don't worry. There'll be some knitting too. 

Comments

[Thimbleanna]

What a good friend you are, to cheer your friend up. It sounds like it's very sad for the guy though, no? Looks like you're having a lot of yummy food -- that shrimp soup looks divine! And you forgot at the end -- some quilting too! ;-)

[Claire]

Well you have been busy. My blog is as neglected as yours was. Good to see you back after all this time. xxx

[Jeri]

Stumbled across the pond and landed on your blog somehow...happy find! I loved the film Julie and Julia, so I am now reading My Life In France; Julia writes quite well. Have fun with your new cookbooks. I adore Ina; her recipes never fail. Try Beatties Chocolate cake. Yummy!