Daily Life

Chicken Paella

Posted on May 2, 2011 by ghotiindustries

Dinner time! Tends to be my favourite meal owing to how much time is able to be devoted to its preparation as opposed to other (slightly more rushed) meals. Today’s meal is all by Himself. He makes a mean Paella! He has also gotten extremely good with experimentation using this recipe as a base. The recipe is consistent in results, and therefore foolproof.

From this book.

This recipe.

The onlookers aren’t convinced. but what would they know?

Surrounding yourself with ingredients, makes for no nasty surprises later!

Cooking, cooking, cooking …

And it went so well with knitting!!! 😀

Bon Appétit!

Weekend Round Up

Posted on April 27, 2011April 27, 2011 by ghotiindustries

Long Weekends are such an odd phenomenon. I go into them with such high expectations, and long lists of all I would like to achieve, then my body catches up with the fact that I’m not at the day job and pulls my feet out from under me and demands down time! 😛 What’s with that?! So, here’s what I did do.

Friday we headed up the Hill to the Annual Easter FishBQ. Every year there seem to be more children running around, and less inebriation. I guess the babies are all getting older. It is so good to be able to see and catch up with people we used to see every week, even if it does now average once a year …

There was a new pair of socks begun as they are the perfect traveling project to take on the train for a four hour round trip! They are Marlene by Cookie A, in Dragonfly Yarns “Norbert” colourway which I got via a sock club last year.

Saturday there was a little local wondering and I bought the Julie & Julia DVD which I’d been wanting to see for a while. I have now watched it 3 times since buying it. I feel a sudden urge to buy Mastering the Art of French Cooking and expanding my repertoire. I love having a kitchen that I enjoy cooking in for the first time in years!

While watching DVDs I spent some quality time with my sticks and strings.

There was an interesting moment where the designer of this spectacular piece insinuated that I was an idiot, and in a moment of complete clarity I backed away from telling her what I thought of her. I’m still proud of myself for that one. However, Twitter heard all about it 😛

Sunday Himself cooked the most delectable dinner, which deserves a post all on it’s own, and which will be forthcoming in the next few days. He cooks so well and I always eat far more than I should when one of his creations is up for the offering!

Monday and Tuesday was when my body caught up with me and though I felt lazy, I also felt exhausted and so achieved very little other than further knitting, and some adorable cat photos. So I shall leave you with those.

I hope your weekend was wonderful!

ANZAC Day

Posted on April 25, 2011April 24, 2011 by ghotiindustries

A few years ago now in a different time and place I accepted the challenge of attempting to eat just army rations for ANZAC day. I was even given real ones. The real deal. Beige packaging and all.

I didn’t remember details given that it was two years ago, but thanks to the magic of online journals, I rediscovered that between Himself and I we had found it a LOT of food. With the prompt I also remembered writing “I don’t think I ever want to see jam in a tube again”. There were also some helpful hints (too little too late) from an ex-enlisted friend about how to have combined bits made it all a touch more palatable.

As we headed up the Hill for our annual Easter FishBQ just 3 days ago, this challenge came back to mind, as the generous soul who proposed the challenge and provided the rations would normally have been in attendance. I asked of his whereabouts, only to be told that he was currently deployed.

It’s so easy to forget while going about daily routine that the people out on the frontlines are our friends, neighbours, and family.

When you wake up this morning in your comfy bed, and contemplate walking up the local café for breakfast or whatever your routine is, spare a thought for the people out there fighting for what they believe in. How many of us can honestly say the same?

Thank you ANZACs.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Yarn Related Adventures

Posted on April 13, 2011April 13, 2011 by ghotiindustries

I did it! I have finished the Kai Mei socks by Cookie A in Flambe by Needle Food!

I love the way the increases and decreases make the lace panel swoop up from the gusset of the heel!

I love the way the colour remind me of tropical flowers and large fruit juice cocktails!

And they have Edgar’s seal of approval!

(True colour depends on what light you’re sitting in!)

Now for those of you following along on the Twitter feed over on the right of the page, you will know that I am now completing my Fichu. This may take some substantial time!

Lamb and Barley

Posted on April 11, 2011 by ghotiindustries

This weekend I washed the curtains, sheets, mattress protector, towels, and all clothes that were waiting for a load of sufficient size to go through.

I have dusted, vacuumed, aired, bleached and scrubbed the interior of the house.

Saturday evening we went out to dinner at a friend’s house. *waves at the subscriber* We were fed Gumbo of Deliciousness, and may have shared the last of the snickerdoodles from last weeks baking whilst sipping down Black Russians.

I also found time to make this Lamb and Barley Stew on Saturday, for Sunday night’s dinner in the slow cooker.

I was a little worried that it wasn’t actually cold on Saturday, but I may have affected the weather by making this one, as Sunday was chill and raining! Perfect weather for this recipe!

The first step is a little fiddly, so make sure you have a sharp knife.