Roast Chicken and Baked Beans

I was studying for an exam the other day and my very sweet neighbour brought me a plate of food.  She had made roast chicken and rice with brocolli. Her brocolli was divine, not over or under - cooked. She told me that she steams her veg.

I also cooked and decided to go back to basics. I made baked beans.

2 tablespoons of sunflower oil
1 medium onion, sliced
1 large tomato, diced
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
1 can of baked beans
salt to taste.

Fry the onions until golden brown. Add the garlic and tomatoes. Cook until the tomatoes are cooked down and add the salt, I used fine, table salt.  Add the baked beans and cook for 15 minutes at medium heat. I used oregano for flavour and it tasted ok. The oregano worked out, though,  I used the leftovers on a pizza and it tasted great.

tomato soup and grilled cheese and epiphany

I have been ordered to rest my feet due to a broken bone and have been spending a lot of time at home but not cooking too much. I am trying to make easy meals. The other day I made tomato soup and grilled cheese. The tomato soup was out of a Hienz can. It was surprisingly good.

I also had some kind of epiphany or something. I have realised that in certain instances, worrying about what people think of me and how they respond to me  matters less than what I feel, how I respond to people. My feelings are valid and provide an excellent compass with which I may navigate the world.

It seems obvious but for me this is a new learning. It's not about being arrogant but being self aware. This self awareness allows us to be kinder to the  people in our orbit, family, friends, lovers, even acquaintances - anyone who crosses our paths. Acknowledging one's feeling allows for honest, open hearted communications and interactions.


Also, love and light is a thing to strive for, it doesn't just appear. Sometimes you fake it till you make it, other times there is a visible path towards it.

Self honesty is not easy but it is essential. Communicating our authentic feelings is so difficult but unavoidable if we truly wish to live as  our best selves.

I don't usually sign off but today I will.

love and light, today and always.

A new day has dawned or something

I last updated more than a year ago, mostly because I started eating meat again. 

So much has happened in that time but I will just say that I am learning and growing.

with recent events that have occurred in my life, I believe that there are some things you just have to go through in life, you cant  avoid them. 

Life has truly humbled me but made me strong at the same time.

I continue to live in positivity and love.

During the time I was eating meat, I gained so much weight and I just started losing it recently. The plan is to eat as healthy as possible with as little effort as possible. Lots of protein and iron.

Madumbi's/taro root

I had a madumbi for lunch today.  It is known as taro root and is a sort of potato.  I had it boiled, without salt and it was delicious and filling.  Sometimes I cook it as a curry with beans.
Madumbi's are of flavour and very nutritious.  They have so many health health benefits and are also gluten free.

When cooking madumbi's you just have to make sure that they are properly cooked or you might feel a sort of itchiness in your throat or upset stomach.

 

 

 

gem squash with mixed veg

Last week, I found cut gem squash at the vegetable market. I steamed some veg, and mixed in some hot sauce, hummus, and a little olive oil.  Roasted the gem squash for 45 minutes at 180 degrees and filled it with the mix veg. Baked it for another 15 minutes after covering with a mix of gouda and white cheddar cheese. It was pretty good.

Toasted cheese, spinach and avocado

2 slices of multigrain bread
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 cup grated cheese
2 leaves spinach
1/2 avocado

Layer the cheese, spinach and avocado in the sandwich. Brush the bread with olive oil. Toast sandwich in a non stick pan or thawa.  Serve with salad and chips

Artichokes, lentils and Hysteria

I have always loved artichokes, especially on pizza and in rissotos but I have never tried cooking them at home. 
I recently found fresh ones at the store and of course I had to buy them.

They looked very different to what is served at a restaurant.

I bought four of these but kept them in the fridge, having no idea how to prepare them.
Eventually I watched a couple of youtube videos and finally attempted cooking them.

Cleaning artichokes is a bit of a chore, you have to cut off all the inedible bits and at the end you are left with a very small piece of artichoke.  It is well worth the trouble, though.

Here is an easy to follow video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF78n_DvMWE

I boiled the clean artichokes in some salted water in which lemon juice and olive oil has been added.  It was delicious and looked like this:

I also made some soup using a mixture of lentils and barley:

Isn't that pretty?

I watched a very funny movie last week.  It is called Hysteria and is about the invention of the vibrator.  Maggie Gyllenhaal's character was charming and the movie was light hearted and entertaining.