Auckland weather is Icy icy!

Thrilling wee thunder storm going on here, lightning hail, ridiculous amounts of water. My poor little plant, which I should have put in a nice container by now got to bear the brunt of the ice.

However this excitement has broken up the afternoon. I don't why I feel so blah this weekend, I haven't been able to drag myself out of the house and I've worn nothing but slippers. I am inclined to put it down to the weather.

sigh

Yet another Saturday in which I am in danger of drinking too much tea.

Finally found my matcha!

After much searching I have finally found some matcha. (Thanks asian grocery store tofu shop!)

One teeny tiny tin set me back $6.99 but it was worth it!

So whats so great about matcha? Um everything! But seriously its very finely powdered green tea, no bags here ladies, tea goes straight in the bowl and just add hot water (not boiling, too hot and the tea will be bitter!), then whisk with your authentic japanesse bamboo whisk. (One day I shall find you bamboo whisk!) You're not just drinking an infusion its every bit of the tea as well, so you get ALL the goodness. mmmmm green tea goodness.

I am supposed to be doing housework, bugger that.

You know whats good?

Chicken, garlic, bacon, and white bean casserole.

You know whats not good?

Droping the casserole dish lid and smashing it.

le sigh.

Ze gods! Zey do not want me to cook! no?

Woe!

My stick blender died a tragic death! I am so bummed, it was real good for making soup and things. And wouldn't ya know it, I can't find the receipt or the warranty card or even the manual anywhere. THE HUMANITY!

Reading why not

Ah reading, the ultimate slacker hobby that also gives one a smug feeling of being somewhat intellectual and much better than those movie, popcorn chowing, "buffs".

I've been trying to remember a name of a book from my childhood. It was about a steam powered shovel, a little crafty googling came up with its number

Mike Mulligans Steam Shovel. And of course while browsing my other favourite childhood book My cat likes to hide in boxes. There are about four books that stick out from my childhood. After that I dont remember much of what I read till I was a teenager.



Lately I've had trouble finding anything good to read. I blame Robin Hobb entirely. Damn assassin series ruined me for all other books. Last two books I bought from Borders "Hidden Talent" shelf left me cold and with no real desire to finish either of them. In order to avoid the pile of unfinished books on my beside table, I will drag my eyes over the remaining insipid chapters and enjoy barely drawn characters (whom I care little about) doing almost arbitrary tasks which seem irrelevant.
Last good book I read was The Lies of Locke Lamora. Damn thing was on that Hidden talent shelf too, How easily I was fooled into parting with good money to buy two mediocre at best paperbacks.

So I gave in and paid my $30 library fine. Borrowed an unreadable amount of books considering my lifestyle and am hoping against odds to find something good.

So far I've read "Affluenza" - summary - we are all unhappy and distressed because we can't be rich and famous. And if we are rich and famous we are unhappy because we are not rich and famous enough.
I guess its true, I'm pretty distressed over my lack of new car buyingness. I don't want a loan to buy a car but trying to exercise my limited purchase power has been grating on my nerves. I thought it was a buyers market. So much for a recession. And my negotiating skills are crap. Sigh.

Spicy Rustic Red Lentil Soup

Food Gawker is the place to go for foodie inspiration.
While there I came across spicy rustic red lentil soup.
"I HAVE RED LENTILS!
I COULD COOK THAT!"

I said to myself.

After all I quite like dahl, I made that once. (True bro!)

And while my picture is not very inspiring, it is proof that I cooked something off the interweb. Trust me it was delicious. Red lentils cook super quick and go very mushy, I always chuck half a cup into beef stews or the chilli con carne, and no one really even notices them. But they add bulk and texture and other goody goodness.


A recipe and a much nicer picture is this way at A Life (time) of Cooking. I added turmeric and cayenne pepper and used about three times as much tomato paste and used half chicken stock and half water. Also I'm eating it unadulterated. I'm brave that way.