Sundried tomato and anchovy breadsticks

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Sundried tomato and anchovy breadsticks

(makes about 24 breadsticks)

Ingredients:

Making the bread

2 teaspoons salt

10g instant yeast

4 teaspoons sugar

1 ½ cups lukewarm water

1 tablespoon olive oil

For the filling

4 tablespoons anchovies, roughly chopped

1 cup sundried tomato pesto

1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped

1 cup grated Grana Padano

A few grindings of black pepper

Poppy seeds, to garnish (optional)

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
  2. In a bowl, add the flour, salt, instant yeast and sugar.  Mix well and then add the lukewarm water little by little.  Turn the mixture onto a floured surface and knead until you have a smooth dough.  Once you’ve reached this stage, add the tablespoon of olive oil, and knead that into the dough.
  3. Place the dough into a large bowl. Sprinkle a little bit of oil the top to stop the dough from sticking and cover the bowl with cling film. Place the dough in a warm place and leave to prove until it has doubled in size.
  4. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface.  Roll it out with a rolling pin unitl thin and even.
  5. Spread the sundried tomato pesto over the dough then sprinkle anchovies, the rosemary, the Grana Padano cheese and grind over some black pepper to taste.  (Be sure to spread to the edges.)
  6. Fold the dough in half and form a rectangle.
  7. Cut off the edges where there is no filling, and then cut the dough into one 2.5 cm strips.  Give them a slight twist.  (You are looking for a loose corkscrew effect.)
  8. Place your breadsticks on a lightly floured baking tray (keep them slightly apart to leave enough room for them to rise).  Brush them with water and then sprinkle over some poppy seeds.
  9. Leave them to rise until they are twice their size.
  10. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden and crisp.

It is lovely when you serve it shortly after baking – just leave it to cool long enough so that it won’t burn your mouth!  We had ours with some lovely Italian cold meats and cheese.  And the wine of course!

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I’m baaaaaaaaaaack!

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img_2523-copyWow, I can’t believe that it has been over four months since my last post!  As the saying goes – time flies when you’re having fun – but for me the past year was more a case of time that flew even though I was not having fun.

2016 was a tough year for me; probably one of the toughest yet.  It was professionally challenging more than anything else, but unfortunately I let that spill over into (and to a large extent consume) my personal life and it really had a negative impact on me.  I felt despondent, emotionally drained, not good enough, angry, sad, tired and sorry for myself.  And there was no way I could hide all of that in my writing.  So I stopped.  And I didn’t want to start again until I was sure that I was ready to be the real me again.

‘And now, what’s changed?’, I hear you ask.

Well, not a whole lot.  In reality, only one thing really.  Me.  My outlook on life.  My mindset.  And I’m back!

With the help of the love of my life, a.k.a my amazing husband and my friends (a special mention to the CoreCore team and my friend who had to come to the work’s kitchen with tissues on more than one occasion!), I’ve found my stride again.  I am so grateful to each and everyone one of you for putting up with my moods, my silences, my sarcastic comments, my tears, my self-doubt.  Never judging, always supporting and encouraging, and just being there for me.  I would not have made it through 2016 without you!

So there was no big epiphany.  Just a gradual realization (and acceptance) of what I already knew deep down inside.  That no one could do anything about the way I was feeling or the way I was reacting to what was happening to me, but myself.  I saw one of those motivational posters that read:  “There comes a point in your life when you realize that turning the page is the best feeling in the world, because there’s so much more to the book that the page you were stuck on.”  I was holding on to all the negative feelings for so long because it was just easier to do so than figuring out how to move forward.  So slowly I worked through the things I had going on in my head until I came to a point where I was finally ready to admit that only I could change the way I was feeling.  And yes, while the world around me is still pretty much the same, I now remember that I have control over how I react to those things that upset me and that just ignoring how I feel about it won’t make it go away either.  It’s like the old saying of not being able to fill a cup that is already full…  And going forward I will always make sure that there is always room in my cup for something more!

And what better way to celebrate than getting back to writing!

If I look back at my first blog post in December last year, I am so proud of having started WorkFoodHome!  I remember how scared I was when I pressed “publish” that first time!  (To be honest, most of my friends and family still don’t know that I have a blog, but that’s about to change! Deep breaths, deep breaths!)

So, in 2107 you can look forward WorkFoodHome really showcasing the things I am passionate about – more recipes, more travel stories and more beautiful photography – all with hubby by my side!

Here is to 2017 being filled with joie de vivre!

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2017, here we come!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On weekend getaways… and pushing ‘reset’…

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The entrance at KolKol

My blog has been a bit quiet lately – but I have had a very good excuse!  It’s been almost a year since I’ve had some proper leave from work;  I’m not just talking of a day here or there – but rather about proper time for some quality r&r.  So when stress and frustration levels reached boiling point a few weeks ago, I decided that this was a perfect time for a a break.

Last year we had the holiday of a lifetime – barging on the Canal du Midi in the south of France – but this year we have had to scale down a bit (you know, building up the reserves for next year!).  So most of our time was spent at home, doing all the things that we always want to do, but just never have the time for.  It was great to just sit back and relax – and take things in my stride.  I’ve recently come to realise (or finally admitted it to myself!) that I don’t focus enough on the here and now.  My mind is always off thinking about the past (something I should have, could have done or said) or otherwise thinking about the future (what I must do, I need to do, I must remember…).  So with this time off I really concentrated on just enjoying the present.  And I feel so much better for it!

The best part of our holiday though, was a short little weekend getaway.  Located just outside Botrivier (a small town in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, South Africa), you will find the beautiful KolKol Mountain Lodge.  It is truly a special place; unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

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Our stunning cabin, Brunia
The wooden deck with our outdoor fireplace and wood-fired pool
Views for days

It has beautifully furnished log and stone cabins with breathtaking views over the valley.  The attention to detail makes everything super special.  Apart from its romantic setting, with an outdoor braai and indoor fireplace you could ask what more one would need on a romantic breakaway… but wait… there is more.  How about wood fired hot tubs?!  Oh yes!  Imagine the air has a slight chill, but you are sitting comfortably on your wooden deck overlooking the stunning scenery, a glass of wine nearby…  relaxing in a hot tub!  Pure bliss!

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Hubby relaxing in the wood-fired hot tub – bliss.

Hubby and I spend two evenings there – way too short!  But long enough to leave me feeling refreshed and energized.  If you are looking for an amazing place to reflect and get perspective on life again, this is it.  Don’t hesitate to visit!  You have to experience it for yourself.

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Lunch with a view!
Cozy fireplace
So romantic

What I realised during this time is that I need to take better care of myself.  I think for many of us just go on auto-pilot during our normal daily lives without even knowing that we do. During this little break I became aware how important it is to take time out, to make sure that I am OK.  It’s like that saying that you can’t fill a cup that is already full… I realised I was full, but not necessarily with the good stuff.

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The stunning fynbos and views for days…

So here are a few things I’ve decided to consciously focus on going forward to make sure that I am the best me I can possibly be – maybe there is something here that resonates with you as well:

 1.  Focus on the moment

Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift.  That’s why it’s called the present.  – Bill Keane

Cheesy, I know!  But important.  Else I will forever be spending my time worrying about something that happened, or that might happen – and I will miss out on all that is happening around me right now.

2.  The work-life balance

Balance is not better time management but better boundary management. – Betsy Jacobson

I know there is no such thing as a perfect work-life balance.  But you need to watch the scales.  I realise that I have been giving so much time (willingly) to work that I suffered.  So I need to focus on that balance a bit and prioritise some time for me.  It is OK not to work late every night, right?!

3.  Healthy body, healthy mind

To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.  – Buddha

Oh, this is the difficult one!  I’ve never been naturally active, but last year I tried jogging and I really enjoyed it.  It was amazing how it actually cleared my mind after a busy day. However, when winter came, I just could not bear to get out there so the winter was spent on the couch, under the blanket.  I really did find that I missed it and with spring now approaching, I’m dusting off my running shoes and will be hitting the road again tomorrow.  #fingerscrossed  (And of course the healthy lunch is already packed for lunch tomorrow!)

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Cheers – to pressing “reset”!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moroccan lamb kebabs with flatbread

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For us, Sundays are typically lazy days – having a little lie-in, then getting up and enjoying a cup of coffee on the patio and finally contemplating what we would like to do for the day.

In the summer that mostly involves pottering around the garden, taking a dip and in the pool and then going out for a lunch at one of the many beautiful wine farms that surround Somerset West and Stellenbosch – so lucky to live here in the Cape Winelands!

However, in the winter it is a different story (apart from the lie-in, of course).  Winter times we have coffee in bed (or otherwise dressed like an Eskimo on the couch, under a blanket) and it inevitably involves some type of comfort food for lunch!  But, when the sun is out – like today – our lunchtime plans turns into a hunt for how we can maximize the sun spots around the garden.

So instead of being indoors today, you will find us sitting on the patio, in the sun, having a little grill while watching Formula 1!  (Yip, I’m a huge fan.  Funny story – in high school I really liked a boy who really liked Formula 1.  So, in order to make the requisite impression I immediately started watching the races… And while the crush didn’t last, my love for Formula 1 never went away!)

On the menu today is a firm favourite of hubby and mine – Moroccan lamb kebabs with flatbreads.  What I really like about this dish (apart from its wonderfully aromatic Moroccan flavours) is that is really great to serve if you have a few friends over.  You can prepare everything beforehand and then just sit and enjoy your time with them around the grill.  I also like that we keep the dishing up interactive – we lay all the components of the dish out on the table – and then everyone can help themselves and put their flatbreads together with the combinations that they prefer.  Some want a bit more chili, others a bit more yogurt… Really sociable!

Lastly, I have to confess – depending on how the mood takes me, I might take the time to make my own flatbreads and on other days (like today!) I will just buy them.  I could not be bothered to spend any more time indoors than what I absolutely need to today!  However, if you are feeling up to it, I’ve included my very easy flatbread recipe below.

Moroccan lamb kebabs with flatbread

(serves  2)

Ingredients:

For the lamb kebabs:

400g lamb, cut in cubes

1 red onion, cut in pieces

 

For the marinade:

Juice of 1 lemon

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cm ginger, freshly grated

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 pinch cumin

2 pinches dried chili flakes

For the yogurt sauce:

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 bunch coriander, roughly chopped

250g plain, natural yogurt

1 tablespoon lemon zest

Salt & white pepper to taste

To serve:

2 tomatoes, chopped

1 lemon, cut into quarters

Handful of coriander

4 flatbreads

(Tip:  If using wooden skewers to make your kebabs, soak them in water for 10 minutes to prevent them from burning.)

Method:

  1. Mix all the marinade ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Add the lamb cubes to the marinade and mix well, ensuring the meat is nicely coated.
  3. Next, thread the meat on to the wooden skewers – alternating a cube of lamb and a slice of red onion.
  4. For the yogurt sauce, mix all ingredients in a bowl and place in the fridge.
  5. Heat the grill until it is nice and hot.  Grill the skewers on all sides for about 7 minutes (depending on the size of your lamb cubes).
  6. Heat your flatbreads in a pan.
  7. To serve, take the meat off the skewers and place in a large serving dish.
  8. Add your lemon and the flatbreads
  9. Serve with the chopped tomato, coriander and yogurt sauce
  10. Fill your own flatbread and enjoy!

Easy flatbread

Ingredients:

115g white flour

25g wholemeal flour

pinch of salt

Method:

  1. Sift the flour and salt into a bowl.
  2. Make a well in the middle of the flour and gradually add 100 ml of lukewarm water to the middle, adding flour in from the sides.
  3. Knead the dough until it is firm and springy – add a bit more water/flour if needed to get the right consistency.
  4. Divide your dough into small round balls (you should get about 10/12 out).
  5. Place on a floured tray and cover with a damp cloth.  Leave for 45 minutes.
  6. Once ready to cook, roll each ball of dough into a thin, wide circle.
  7. Dust them with flour and keep them covered with a damp cloth to prevent them from drying out.
  8. Heat up a flat pan and place your flatbread in the dry pan.  Turn them over to the other side when they begin to go brown and bubble.
  9. Once done, I keep them in a plate with a damp cloth to prevent them from going too crispy.

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PS:  So at the time of writing this on Sunday morning, we were filled with joy at the prospect of a beautiful sunny day.  Mother Nature had other plans – the sun never made an appearance!  So this dish was prepared on a griddle pan on the stove, and enjoyed in front of the fireplace!

Reflection on the world today

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This morning when I woke up it was with much sadness that I read about the attack that happened in Nice, France, where a truck drove into a crowd of people, killing over 80.

What was even sadder is that every day around the world people are killed in so many senseless acts of violence.  Syria, Baghdad, Orlando, Paris… – those are just some of the more known ones.  But there is also the woman who gets raped and killed while out jogging, or the man robbed and shot dead, while waiting for a train.  And sometimes it feels to me that as a world we have become so desensitised to this; it’s only the latest event that makes the headlines for a day or so and then we move on… So much suffering because of  race, religion, sexual preference… because of evil.

I believe Mother Theresa said “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

There ARE more good in this world than evil.  There are more of us that believe it the value of respecting one another; of allowing our fellow human beings to live in peace in this world.  It is not whether your religion is Christianity or Islam that counts… or if you love a woman or a man… it’s not a black or white life that matters… all innocent lives matter.  Let us respect that; let us live that value – and even if alone we can’t change the world, we can pray that by doing this we will lead by example and that we will leave a better and more peaceful, respectful world for our children and those to come after us.

I leave you with a song from a Just Jinjer, a South African band.  It was written a couple of years ago but as relevant today as it was then.  On my way to work this morning I could not help but think of the first few lines…

if there is grace in this world
if there is light on this earth
let us use it
let us see it
starting right now

can we be down with ourselves
respectful and mindful of one, of one another
your significant other
your sister, your brother

peace, love, more tolerance
faith, hope, trust in the same name of god

peace, love, more tolerance
faith, hope, trust in the same god in whose
name we die for, take an innocent life for
that’s not what he means
and it doesn’t matter what book you read

It’s called “What he means” – and it’s worth listening to it here.

Let us not just pray for Nice today…

let us pray for the world.

Steak tartare with pommes frites

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Beautiful Narbonne, where I had my first ever steak tartare

I was still small when I discovered that I did not mind rare (raw!) meat.  I remember when my mom used to buy our meat from the butcher at month-end… A Friday afternoon would be spent packing the meat, sausages and ground beef into portions and packing it into the freezer.  I always tried to sneak a pinch of the ground beef.  I loved the taste of it, but always felt very naughty doing so.  My folks would not ever consider having a steak that was not super well done, so what demented child was I, eating raw meat like that?!  As I got older, much to my relief I came to realise that some people did actually prefer their steaks cooked medium or even medium rare and when I saw beef carpaccio on a menu for the first time I knew that I was fine!

The first time I heard of steak tartare was on my favourite cooking/travel show of all time – Rick Stein’s French Odyssey.  According to him it was a very fashionable dish in France in the sixties and it seemed to have made a comeback in recent years.  In the program he told a story of how, when he’d order it, French waiters would always pull up their noses at him and say indignantly “You know that it is raw, sir!”.  He was delighted by the fact that an Englishman could prove them wrong and eat it without even batting an eyelid.  On the show, when he made it, I was sure that I would love it and therefore when we visited France last year I made sure that I searched it out on the menus!  We found it in a little brasserie in the south west of France in a small city by the name of Narbonne and it was everything I hoped it would be – the meat full of flavour, blended beautifully with the addition of the tangy capers and gherkins, and the egg yolk giving a velvety feel to it all.

So when Frexit hit me last week, I thought back to this must-have dish and hubby and I decided to give it a try and make it ourselves, using Rick Stein’s recipe.  I was so chuffed!  It turned out beautifully and tasted exactly like the dish we had.  (What was different though, is that the restaurant where I had it, served the rest of the ingredients separately from the meat – so that you could add your own quantity of ‘toppings’ to each little bite of beautiful beef.  I must be honest, I actually prefer the way we made it in the recipe below – all mixed together.)

If you are not an adventurous eater this will not be a dish that appeals to you.  But if you wonder about it – try it!  You will not be disappointed!  (You can also start slowly – take that pinch of ground beef sometime!)

Steak tartare with pommes frites

(serves 2)

Ingredients:

300g tail end of beef fillet, straight from the fridge

1 tablespoon capers, finely chopped

2 shallots, fine chopped

2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 gherkin, finely chopped

½ teaspoon sea salt flakes

10 grinds of black pepper

2 medium egg yolks

(Rick Stein added 3 dashes of tabasco sauce to his dish, be we did not.  We served it with tabasco on the side.)

Method:

  1. Trim the meat of all fat and sinew and chop finely by hand.
  2. Put the meat into a bowl with the capers, shallots, parsley, oil, gherkin, salt and pepper.
  3. Mix together lightly two forks and then spoon into the centre of two plates and shape into a neatish round. (We used little round metal moulds to get a nice shape to ours.)
  4. Make a small indent in the top and then gently add an egg yolk to each.
  5. Serve with some pommes frites (good old French fries, if you are not trying to sound fancy!)

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Have you heard about Frexit?

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This is my French dream – a little house in the country with a small restaurant attached.  This was a lockkeeper’s house on the Canal du Midi.

Every now and again I get struck by a bout of melancholy.  Not a down-in-the-dumps doom and gloom kind of downheartedness, but more a feeling that everything is not quite in its place… as if I have lost something… or have not seen a loved one for a while.  The self-diagnosis took some time… but in the end it became clear to me.  Occasionally I suffer from an ailment I call Frexit, which is the feeling I get when I have been outside of France for a while.

As with any diagnosis it is immediately important to understand the root cause of the disease and in my case, Frexit is a withdrawal-symptom based sickness, brought upon by a yearning for a few major things:

No red lips:  This seems to be a staple of the chic French woman.  Minimal make-up, but gorgeous red lips.  Whenever I am in France I always take out my brightest red lip colour and always imagine that I blend in like a local!  Who does not want to look like a French woman!

Me and hubby by the Eiffel Tower
Red lips!

No sidewalk cafes:  I love the café culture in France.  What is better than sitting down, side by side, sipping a café latte in the morning while watching French life go by?  Wait, I know… Sitting down, side by side, sipping a drink at the end of the day and watching French life go by!

Tree-lined squares with cafes
Watching French life go by in Carcassonne

Not French fresh produce markets:   The pride and confidence with which stall owners display and sell their products is inspirational.  It makes you want to head home and cook something amazing immediately.  And two of my favourite things – bread and cheese.  The sheer variety!

Not enough long lunches:  Food is something to be celebrated; in France it is a key part of life and not something to just be had in a rush.  It is a time to sit down and catch up with family and friends and should not be had without acknowledging the momentousness of the occasion!  It’s the way life should be!

That beautiful blush pink rose
Salad of magret duck breast
An almighty lunch of cassoulet in Castelnaudary
Some creme brulee for dessert

No French in my ear:  I can’t speak French apart from a few essential words, but oh, what a beautiful language.  The flair with which even the simplest baguette is served – “Voila!” – will make you believe that you are having a 5 star meal! (And I must admit, the way a handsome French man pronounced my name once, left me weak in the knees!  Of course hubby says it best, though!)

Lack of French wine:  My favourite red wine will always be a Bordeaux, which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec.  Last year we came across a white Bordeaux (which was sauvignon blanc based) for the first time.  But a newly found favourite on that trip was the beautiful blush pink rose’s of the Languedoc Roussillon.

And just like Brexit, it is important to realise that Freixt can also cause unprecedented economic turmoil and uncertainty as all I want to do is book tickets on the next plane to France. So before things go so far, as with all ailments, prevention is better than cure…

To make sure that I remain healthy  this weekend I will make sure that I put my red lips on.  It’s going to be a cold one here in Cape Town, so I am going to scour the shops for beautiful red Bordeaux (not the easiest thing to find here) and the long lunch is going to be nonnegotiable!  I might even take out that special table cloth I bought in Provence but have been too scared to use!

Here is to banning Frexit – at least for the weekend – and santé to joie de vivre!

Do you suffer from Frexit?  I would love to know why and what you do to get over it!  Please leave a comment and let me know!

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A beautiful square in Roussillon, Provence

To smell or not to smell

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Today was a slow day in the office.  Thursday was a public holiday and many people grabbed the opportunity to make a long weekend and took today (Friday) off as well.

I’m one of the (un)fortunate few that was in the office today – fortunate in a way because traffic was great and I could actually get things done without being interrupted – but then again, getting up in the freezing cold this morning did make me second-guess my choice!

However, the day turned out to be not that bad after all.  With a bit of a jovial mood in the office it was just a matter of time before someone said the magic words… “How about a braai for lunch?!”  And just like that, within 20 minutes, a quick boerewors (a traditional South African sausage) braai was organised.

The fire was lit at 11:00 and with that first smell of the wood burning my tummy rumbled.  By 12:00 the sausage was on the fire and the office was filled with one of the best smells in the world – a braai!  (And the aroma of a braai is also one of the smells that induces the biggest cravings.  Doesn’t matter what you have lined up for supper, if you smell anyone else having a braai, that is immediately what you need to have as well and nothing else will do!)

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Boerewords and rolls on the coals!

Sitting there with a silly grin made me think of what other smells have the same effect on me and that also involuntarily brings a smile to my face…

So firstly there is the smell of freshly baked bread straight out of the oven.  YUM!  It always reminds me of my late grandmother on my dad’s side.  She had this huge wood burning stove and used to bake the most gigantic breads in there.  Maybe it was because I was very small, but I remember that one slice of bread was large enough to cover an entire plate!  But the smell… homely, warm and inviting… best served hot with the butter melting over it, but just as nice the next day with some Marmite!  I think I feel a bout of bread baking coming on this weekend!

Olive loaf I baked a while ago
Yummy olive loaf

But if I talk about bread, I have to talk about coffee.  And not the smell of any coffee… moerkoffie!  (Now to translate that to English is a bit tough – South Africans will tell you that ‘moer’ can have many meanings; some good and some not so good!  Let’s just say that in the instance of “moer” koffie, we will go with one of the Dutch translations for “moer” which means mother, so “moer” koffie = mother’s coffee!)  My grandmother on my mother’s side always made us moerkoffie when we were small.  It is a ground coffee, and she made it in an enamel coffee pot on the stove.  (Her secret ingredient was apparently the smallest pinch of salt!)  It was strong, but delicious with milk and lots of sugar.  And the smell – you just don’t get any other coffee that smells like the real thing!

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Then, for someone that grew up in the Karoo (the Karoo is a semi-desert region in South Africa) there is probably no better smell than the smell of the ground after rain.  I don’t know if people that have grown up with water in abundance can ever fully realise what it is like to wait for rain.  Or what this smell means for the farmer that waited an entire season for it.  It’s an earthy, wholesome smell, but more than the smell it is also what that smell symbolises – reprieve, hope, renewal, growth.  And with such a large part of our country currently in the midst of a drought it is certainly a smell we can do with.

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Flowers in Calvinia after the winter rain

But then thinking of the rain and soil, I can’t help to think of the smell of freshly cut grass – that is a smell of summer; a green smell, a smell of sunshine and warmth – and of my dad.  My dad has the best lawn I have ever seen; it can rival the worlds’ best golf courses!  Even now that we live in our own house, when hubby mows the lawn the first memory that comes to mind when I smell the sweet smell of cut grass is of summers and my dad meticulously tending to his lawn.

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Dad’s lawn; this is during autumn.  So green and not even in the prime of summer!

It is quite remarkable, the connection between smells, memories and moods.  When we went to Italy a couple of years ago, hubby’s cologne of choice was 1 Million by Paco Rabanne and to this day when he wears it I have visions of Venice!  And the smell of lemon blossoms – my favourite shower gel – whenever I use it I instantly feel happier!  The smell just lifts my spirits.  Or lavender; for me it is a smell of nostalgia – it reminds me of our trip to Provence; one of my best holidays ever.

So power to the sense of smell, to your nose and to the smell of life!  What are your favourite smells?  Tell me, and I’ll smell you later!

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Homemade pappardelle with pulled pork

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Homemade pasta – a labour of love!

Sundays have never been a particular favourite day of mine.  I think it stems from when I was small.  After Sunday lunch my thoughts always turn to the inevitability of Monday morning and back to school; and when at seven pm the theme song to my parents’ favourite wildlife program would ring out on the telly, I knew with certainty – the weekend was over.

I’ve carried a bit of that into my adult life and I will lie if I say that the same case of Sunday blues don’t still affect me some days.  However, being grown-up has other perks (apart from no homework!) which makes Sundays a whole lot more bearable.  There’s the Sunday morning lie in, coffee in bed, sometimes a late brunch (with some bubbles of course!)… or like today, the anticipation of a wonderfully lazy lunch at home, trying out a new recipe I found in a magazine.

There is something about making slow food, without a rush, that is good for the soul.  I think it might be because it helps you to focus in the present; be it getting your hands a bit dirty, the aromatic smells, practicing your chopping skills or sipping a glass of your favourite wine – there is no worries beyond creating a wonderful meal and definitely no thoughts of Monday looming!

So today this lunch of homemade pappardelle pasta and pulled pork is just the thing to make the weekend last that little bit longer.  And if I am lucky there might be some leftovers for … let’s rather not say it!

Homemade pappardelle with pulled pork

(serves 4)

Ingredients:

For the pork:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 garlic clove, chopped finely

2 tablespoons of apricot jam

1 kilogram pork shoulder

1 onion, finely chopped

3 apples, peeled, cored and cut in quarters

2 pears, peeled, cored and cut in quarters

250ml vegetable stock

250ml cider

For the pasta:

400g flour

Salt

4 eggs

2 tablespoons of butter, melted

Handful of chopped flat leaf parsley, chopped

Method:

Pork:

  1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius
  2. Rub the pork with the apricot jam and garlic.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large pan and brown pork on all sides.  Remove the pork from the pan, place in an ovenproof dish and set aside.
  4. Add the chopped onions, apples and pears to the pan and fry until caramelized.
  5. Place the onions, apples and pears with the pork in the ovenproof dish and add the stock and the cider.
  6. Cover with a lid (or foil) and roast in the oven for 1.5 hours or until the meat can be pulled apart easily.
  7. Shred the meat in the dish.
Brown pork on both sides
Fry apples, pears and onions until caramalized
Add the apples, pears and onions to the pork shoulder and pour over the cider and vegetable stock

Pasta:

  1. Place the flour into a large mixing bowl.
  2. Add a pinch of salt and make a well in the centre of the flour.
  3. Add the eggs to the centre of the well and mix until a dough forms.
  4. Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and knead it until elastic.  Cover in clingfilm and lest it rest for 30 minutes.
  5. Flatten the pasta dough out with your rolling pin and then roll it out to about 3mm thick.  (You can use a pasta machine if you don’t have the arms for it!)
  6. Cut it into about 5cm wide strips and cook in boiling salted water until al dente.  Drain off the water.
Make a well in the middle of the flour and add the eggs
After resting the dough, roll out in 3mm strips
Cut the pasta to pappardelle
Cut the pasta to pappardelle

To serve, toss the hot pappardelle with the melted butter.  Add the pulled pork and gently mix through.  Top off with the chopped parsley.

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Homemade pappardelle pasta with pulled pork

My top 10 favourite landmarks… to date!

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MyTop10Landmarks

The world is full of beautiful landmarks and these places always top the must-see list for any tourist.  What would a holiday be if you did not have a snap at an iconic location to show that you were there?!

So far in our travels I have always been suitably impressed with all the famous sites we’ve had the opportunity of visiting.  But it is also fair to say that some have captivated me more than others while some hold a special place in my heart because, being able to see it in real life, meant the realisation of a life-long dream.

So while I hope and believe that I will get to add to the list over the course my life, here is my top 10 landmarks as it stands today:

  1. The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

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What more is there to say?!  Every time I see it, I have an urge to take a picture of it.  It represents fashion, food, romance… and PARIS! Talk about iconic – this is probably one of the most iconic landmarks in the world.  One can’t fathom that it was built to be a semi permanent structure for the world fair in 1889.  Now you can’t imagine Paris without it.

  1. London Eye, London, England

While not of any historical importance, the London Eye is definitely something that made its mark on the London skyline.  London was the first foreign city we’ve ever visited and the London Eye the first foreign landmark I’ve ever seen!  What makes this such a great landmark is that, once you are on the Eye, you get to see all the other landmarks on your must-see list as well!  I remember being in the bubble and just staring out in amazement at the view of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey… Oh, I love that holiday feeling!

  1. Carcassonne, France

In 2008 I saw Rick Stein’s French Odyssey on tv for the first time.  A bucket-list item was borne – hubby and I would just have to go on a boat trip on the Canal du Midi of our own.  In 2015 this dream finally came true!  One of the highlights on this trip was visiting the beautifully preserved medieval village of Carcassonne.  Truly breathtaking and special – and a reminder that if you can dream it, you can achieve it!

  1. Rialto Bridge, Grand Canal, Venice, Italy

 

It’s a bit of a cheat, because it’s about the bridge, but it is also because of the view from the bridge.  It’s Venice.  Nothing I can say in words can describe this place.  Just go.  You have to.

  1. Colosseum, Rome, Italy

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This symbol of the Roman Empire is impressive.  I find it hard to believe that they could construct something of such magnitude so long ago and that it is still around today.  You can see chisel marks on the columns and it is almost unimaginable that the stones and column was carved by hand.  It’s majestic.

  1. Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France

This was the first landmark we saw when we arrived in Paris.  As we exited from the metro station, we were greeted with this building standing proudly at the top of the Champs Elysees!  After seeing it for so many years at the end of the Tour de France to see it for myself – unbelievable!  And we were lucky enough that from our hotel balcony we had a great view of it lit up every evening.  At night we would stand outside, sip our Bordeaux and stare like love-struck teenagers at its beauty!

  1. Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England

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WOW.  Upon arrival I was struck by how different it looks in real life than what I’ve always seen in pictures.  Although it is big, it is somehow smaller than I expected – in pictures (like the one above) the circle seems bigger than what it is if you look at it with the naked eye.  The day we visited was overcast and misty.  Black birds were flying around and seemed unsettled, making squawking sounds.  It felt eerie and while we might never know exactly what happened there, I know how it made me feel… as if I was walking on hallowed ground.

  1. The Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Field of Miracles, Pisa, Italy

Of course when going to Tuscany, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was something we had to see, but what makes it worthy of my list is its unexpected beauty.  The details are gorgeous and the fact that we had a perfect blue sky day didn’t hurt either – it is such a magical setting!  Also, talk about the iconic “Look, Mom!  I’m holding it up” photo – I spared you our numerous attempts!  (PS:  It is only once you are there that you realise just how much it leans!  It leans A LOT!)

  1. Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
Sagrada Familia
Capturing the morning light streaming in through the windows
The amazing roof

An amazing place – nothing can really prepare you for the impact!  A male colleague of mine visited the Cathedral recently and said that he had to remind himself as he walked in “Cowboys don’t cry!”.  It is amazing to see the work of Gaudi and the different sculptors and architects after him and to appreciate the effort and craftsmanship that goes into creating an icon.  Almost 134 years in the making and still not completed.  It puts in perspective on so many of the cathedrals we’ve seen – each an amazing feat to complete.  However, the Sagrada Familia with its beautiful stained glass windows is simply amazing.

  1. Piccadilly Circus, London, England

Not quite something that most people would get excited about, but I remember when I was just a little child, seeing it on tv.  It looked so foreign, buzzing and exciting all at the same time.  I was mesmerized and it never even crossed my mind at that stage that seeing it for myself would even be a possibility. London was the first foreign city we ever visited and I remember the evening hubby and I got to Piccadilly Circus.  When we were standing there I actually recalled the small me, sitting in front of the tv – being amazed at all the people and the lights – and there I was, part of it!  Nuts!

So there you have my top 10 – some for obvious reasons and others a bit more personal… I love them all!

But what about you – what would you recommend hubby and my next stop to be?  I hope you will comment and let me know!