Saturday 29th Mar '08

Today I woke up with the biggest migraine I've had in a while. I popped a few panadeines and went back to sleep but it felt worse when I woke up. I had to cancel plans with uni friends I haven't seen in a long time.

I was bedridden most of the day. I got up in the afternoon and tried to make lunch but all the aromas in the kitchen made me feel nauseas - no it wasn't bad cooking!! I couldn't even keep down any fruit or bread all day. I started making some okra but had to cook it in steps because I'd feel so nauseas I'd have to go back to bed. Took me about four hours to finally make this!! And even then I couldn't stomach it.


I made dinner plans thinking I would be better in the evening. I took some stronger painkillers that I got when I hurt my neck gardening and went back to bed. No help. Had to cancel the dinner plans too. Simba's been a great little companion sleeping with me most of the day.

Wah I hate migraines!!! I've only just been able to manage some food...it's 2:30am Sunday. I'm not in the least bit tired because I've spent all day sleeping but my head's starting to hurt again.

I'd better be feeling better tomorrow. I have some eating to make up for.

Friday 28th Mar '08

LONG MAKES BEEF NOODLES - TAKE TWO
Last time Long cooked for us, he ended up with third degree burns to his foot when using a pressure cooker. That was a few years ago at least. Tonight, he made dinner for us - beef noodles. He didn't use a pressure cooker. *giggle*

I went over straight from work and was damn hungry and looking forward to authentic Vietnamese Beef Noodles. I was not disappointed. Some of us even had second helpings!


Ivy can't eat beef, so Long made her something else. She had Rice with Pork and an Egg Omelette. I don't remember what Long marinated the pork in but he'll have to make us that some time.


Ben looking satisfied after dinner.

At home, I got the munchies again. I've been on the late shift at work so I've been eating my "dinner" when I get home around 2am. I had half a lobster in the fridge so I tried a recipe for Lobster Thermidor, but realised half way through that I didn't have any cream. So I altered the recipe to make Lobster Mornay but then realised that that recipe also required cream. Let's just say I did some modifications and ended up with Lobster Therminay.



I also made a light pasta dish with scallops, garlic, spring onion, onion and chilli.

Thursday 27th Mar '08

Today for lunch I made a hotdog using a Chorizo sausage!

After work, I came home and had a craving for something I used to have years ago in high school - BONOX. It comes in a jar and looks like vegemite (it even smells similar to vegemite). All you do is add hot water and voila - beef flavoured soup. I had a few of Mum's homemade curry puffs to go with it. Yum.

Wednesday 26th Mar '08

Today I searched the fridge for what I could use to make lunch with. Ah ha! Found some Chorizo sausages. That would go perfectly with the mini Turkish bread rolls Jocelyn had brought home.

I made a toasted sandwich with sliced Chorizo, fresh Tomato, Red Onion, Baby Spinach leaves, sliced Gouda cheese, and a generous squirt of Mayonnaise.

Monday 24th Mar '08

Today I got up and felt like some cleansing noodle soup. I made some 'bee hoon' soup.

I have to say, nothing beats making stock from scratch with chicken bones, pork bones etc. But when you're in a rush or can't go to the fridge, pull out a pot of stock and say "here's some we prepared earlier!", then Vegeta stock is really the way to go. I like to use some in my minestrone to give it that extra lift. I also like to use it in my noodle soups to help give it a fuller flavour.

Soo...here's how I made this quick noodle soup.

1. Sautee chopped garlic in olive oil in a pot.
   
2. Add chilli and/or sambal oelek if desired.
   
3. Add diced chicken and cook until it's starting to brown.
   
4. Add water with dissolved Vegeta stock and bring to the boil.
   
5. Add chinese vegetables, sliced beef balls and 'beehoon' that's been presoaked in water.
   
6. Let simmer for a few minutes.
   
7. Serve with fresh cut chilli and coriander.

For dinner, I had half a lobster on a bed of salad with rosemary infused butter, and homemade cajun wedges. *slurp*

Sunday 23rd Mar 08

Today I had my yummy leftover okra for breakfast/lunch when I got up. I'm definitely going to have to cook this dish again very soon.


In the afternoon I made some cannelloni. I used mushrooms for the sauce this time and only used ricotta, spinach and pinenuts for the stuffing. I had to double the amount of ricotta I used last time.


For dinner, Mum steamed some Black Bream from the haul my cousins brought back from their camping/fishing trip this weekend. They've got their own boat and take it out whenever they can. If only I could have known earlier of their plans, I could have gone with them. Trust my mum to ask me the day they're leaving if I want to go. The fish was steamed with ginger, tomatoes, soy sauce and coriander. My favourite!!

Saturday 22nd Mar '08

IRON CHEF NIGHT
Ingredient: TURMERIC

Hooray! After...almost half a year we finally manage to get together for our long awaited 'Iron Chef' night at Ling and Shallen's place. The contestants and dishes:

Kong: Samosa

Ling & Shallen: Morroccon Pork Satays
on a bed of Turmeric Fragrant Jasmine Rice
Sarena: "My Israeli Moroccan Vegetables and Okra
are going to delight and shock ya"
Meng & Yen Chen: Turmeric Noodles Kanoodles



And the winner is...*DRUM ROLL* Ling & Shallen