Must see football

Every year, some of our good friends and my husband and I await with anticipation the Sydney Swans v Collingwood Magpies game in Sydney. My friends and I are all Collingwood supporters and my husband is a very proud Sydney Swans supporter. I wasn't able to cheer much as I have lost my voice and was rather conscious of undoing the good work of being indoors for a couple of days had done.. Here are some photos that I took using my iPhone 4. I used a photography app called "Camera Bag" which has a range of filters.

I hope you enjoy... oh, and the 'pies won!

Change of plans

This weekend, I was supposed to go to Canberra - for an amazing dinner tonight with friends and then a conference tomorrow. It seems my body had other ideas - after losing my voice and clearly not shaking whatever bug it is that I've got, my husband and I made the decision to stay at home. Needless to say I am really, really disappointed that we couldn't make the journey. Not being one to wallow in self pity, I did put those thoughts to the side. The positive that emerges from this is that it's the first meal I get to have with my husband this week! That's something to be grateful for, so tonight I cooked an amazing spaghetti bolognese - because it's one of my husband's favourite meals. It has been a great week of cooking - Persian Chicken in a Pomegranate and Walnut sauce served with rice cooked in the Persian style , Moroccan Chicken with a great Couscous and tonight I made Spaghetti Bolognese. I also had the strawberries tonight.

It has been a great evening. A day filled with nothing but rest (and the odd email and tweet) but an evening filled with warmth, a great meal and wonderful company. Am feeling rested. Voice still not returned, but incredibly thankful to be able to spend the evening at home, with my husband.

Dinner tonight

I was just so pleased to have (finally) left work for the day. It was cold and dark, but soon the days will get longer. Tonight I decided to make Moroccan Chicken and Couscous. It was just delicious! I loved the fact that I could use a whole host of spices (and herbs) to create such a flavoursome meal. I find that preparing and cooking a meal is rather cathartic.

For dessert, I created my own recipe... nothing lavish, but I warmed some honey and vino cotto on the stove, while whisking vanilla and marscapone together. I placed the marscapone at the bottom of the bowl, then some strawberries (cut in half) and then topped with the vanilla and marscapone. Use a vanilla bean. Scrape the inside and use that. I know some recipes call for cream to be whisked into the marscapone, but I didn't have any and it all tasted fine.

You could also cook the strawberries in a sugar syrup with some lime juice if you wanted to.

Enjoy your evening!

Dinner

Well tonight, after feeling unwell for a while, decided to cook something to awaken my senses and give me some energy. I was so inspired by the recipes in "Pomegranate Soup" that I cooked two of the dishes mentioned in the novel. The first is called Fasenjoon which is a Persian chicken stew with walnut and pomegranate sauce, served with chelow - rice cooked in the Persian style.

I have to say that for a first attempt, it was very tasty. I think I will try a different recipe next time as I think I would like a more subtle taste of walnuts. I think I did get the sweet (sugar) and sour (pomegranate syrup) balanced in the stew.

I am not sure what I am going to make for dinner tomorrow night. Possibly another chicken dish, but something from another part of the world - maybe Lebanese, Greek or Morrocan. Am really engaged in the Middle Eastern / Mediterranean dishes at present. Last month I couldn't cook enough Thai, Chinese or Japanese.

A journey travelled through a most delightful novel...

Well I must say that the road to recovery has been longer than I had anticipated. I am feeling much better now, but yesterday afternoon, not so good. I suspect that working so hard and little down time (and being around so many people who are unwell) has left my immune levels much lower than usual. I also attribute this to the lack of exercise I've done in the past three weeks. Nevermind, am on the mend and today gave me the opportunity to rest and read.

I finished reading a most delightful book, "Pomegranate Soup" that I mentioned in a previous post. What a delightful read it was! It has inspired me so much, that I am going to cook a Persian dish for dinner tonight. Not sure which one, but I am sure it will be delicious! I loved the way food and place were woven through the novel. I must admit that her descriptions of the fragrance of food, the power of spices and the history of many of the dishes has inspired me to read more about Iran. The connection between food and events was also quite powerful, the way in which she would refer to the Revolution and how the memory of those events was triggered by a particular food or meal. For me, that is something that is so incredibly powerful and incredibly true.

I tend to attribute food to particularly experiences, so my memory of an experience can be triggered by preparing a meal or using an ingredient. I don't know if it is commonplace and everybody thinks like this when preparing meals, but this was something inherent throughout the narrative that resonated so strongly within me.

I love to cook and I love to cook for other people and reading this novel affected all of my sensibilities! I have the next novel, Rosewater and Soda Bread and I hope to start that tonight (even though I have tax returns and a pile of marking to do)

I will be sure to post what I cook tonight and let you know if my senses are delighted as much as the characters were when trying the Persian food for the first time!

A time for rest

Well I was wrong to think that the many viruses and bugs that are slowing and stopping people in their tracks would somehow avoid my body. It seems that I too, can succumb to the bugs and viruses of the day. I suspect this is because I have been burning the candle at both ends. Three fundraising dinners this week, and I was sick as well!

Thursday night through to Saturday morning was just rest. There is no other way to overcome the viruses of winter. Well, rest and lots of water.

In any case, in between naps I have continued reading 'Pomegranate Soup' and I am loving it! It has inspired me to learn more about how to make Persian food. I am now trying to locate pomegranate paste. I have found the rose petals used in the recipes and I have found a good supplier of saffron. 1g at $20/g. I will be shopping around!

I am really enjoying this novel. The characters are beginning to come into their own and the town is really coming to life. Lots of little complications are woven into the narrative, which help to create a mosaic of the community!

Anyway, I have promised myself one more search for Persian ingredients - have you seen the Persian Fairy Floss? I can't wait to try the saffron flavoured one!

Enjoy your weekend!

What I'm reading now...

Aside from the huge pile of essays on my desk at home (I don't seem to get any time to mark them at school) I have begun to read 'Pomegranate Soup' by Marsha Mehran. It is set in Ireland and follows the story of three Iranian sisters who seek refuge in Ireland. It is a fictitious story, but interestingly the author is Iranian and has lived in Ireland. I am enjoying it thus far and will be sure to share more of my thoughts as I progress. At present I love the way she creates atmosphere. The characters have emerged as rather quaint with their own idiosyncrasies. Ballinacroagh sounds like an interesting little village for as the setting for three Iranian refugee sisters.

Well I had best get to my reading.

A day to reconnect...

Today we had a staff day. Being a teacher in a Catholic school, the focus of the staff day was on spirituality. We had plenary sessions run by Catholic Earth Care. We also were given opportunities to engage in a couple of workshops of our own choice. I chose the same one, that I have chosen each year - The story of the Presentation Sisters' Order, the foundress, Nano Nagle and the charism as it is in our school today. I like hearing a Presentation Sister, bring to life, the charism of the order and set challenges for us in our daily work. It is like a nourishment. To hear Nano Nagle, how as a young Irish woman, met the calling of the poorest of the poor in Ireland and then systematically being credited to beginning Catholic schooling in Ireland is amazing. To think of how women, young women, over a hundred years ago were able to see a need, then meet the need to create a better society is really, really inspiring. I never, can never tire of hearing her story and hearing of the work the Presentation Sisters do, on a daily basis. They even have a seat as an NGO at the UN!

The other workshop I chose was to read, but I also had a half an hour reflexology session. It was just the most wonderful way to slow the thought processes right down. It made me realise how much I missed the quite, down time.

Taking this and finishing with a liturgy of the word, I went home and decided to go to the local library. I borrowed a number of books, one of which a cook book titled 'Manna from Heaven' by Rachel Grisewood. Tonight, whilst updating this blog and doing some marking and reading, I am waiting for the delicious Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut biscuits to bake! The recipe called for milk chocolate, but as I am not a fan of milk chocolate, I decided to substitute with Dark chocolate. I hope it works out okay! I haven't baked biscuits for a very, very, very long time. I am not sure how they will turn out, but given I was so successful in my Lemon, Chicken, Vegetable and Noodle soup the other day, I figured I should give 'sweet' a go!

I have thoroughly enjoyed the day. It has allowed me to stop and slow down. It has enabled me to clear my head of some of the clutter - the to do lists for one!

I will post a picture of my batch of biscuits once they are done!

Flowers and Food

Oysters with Tetsuya's Vinaigrette

Peking Duck with minced Apple wontons

Shiitake and Scallops Gow Har

Stone Temple Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

Beautiful Orchids on Bedroom Verandah

Beautiful Orchids on main balcony

Breakfast at Rosebud Cafe, Rozelle

My delicious lemon chicken, noodles and vegetable soup.

It has been a long time since I have had the opportunity to upload pictures. So, I have decided to upload pictures of my gorgeous Orchids. Yes, almost 6 years of persistence and they reward me with some beautiful flowers! Finally!

I have also uploaded some wonderful food that I've prepared myself (the chicken, noodle and vegetable soup) and food that I've eaten out.

I hope you enjoy these pictures! Pictures of my weekend away at the Hunter Valley will come. I will dedicate a post to the Hunter Valley Gardens! They are worth a post!

Internet disasters this week

Don't you just hate it when technology fails? Why is it that when report comments need to be uploaded to the reports program, when staff require you to print marks that need to be imported into the reports program and when you are out of school for a day and all of your lessons require students to access their learning website, that the entire network crashes... and why does this extend beyond a day... into Tuesday?

I feel that in so many ways, we have progressed in our profession. I believe that we are so much more accountable and technology has allowed for much greater scrutiny and transparency of what we do. Furthermore, when the technology fails, it sets me back a whole two days.

Hopefully, what I planned to do on Tuesday, i will now be able to do on Thursday.

Bring on the long weekend!

On a happier note - my orchids look divine and yes Melinda, pictures will come, I promise!

Something other than work...

It has been a busy week. Am doing some work at present for an organisation, helping to write a book for students. Needless to say, have quite a bit of marking to do this weekend - all on Module B, Witness (think HSC English)

Lots of great things happening - namely students working hard and writing some wonderful stories. Lots of student work that we (my fabulous dept) will publish on our department blog.

I have also been asked to tutor several students, all of which I have turned down, but will help out one student who is willing to work with my most crazy schedule. I meet her today.

Looking forward to seeing the lights in the city as part of the Vivid festival.

I also promise to upload some photos. Yes, it has been a while.

My orchids are in bloom and look amazing. Must take photos and must upload. This has been almost six years in the waiting!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!