A recipe I do not know

I want to write down my favourite recipe, I really really do, but I don’t (exactly) know it.

I mean, I KNOW it, but not in the orthodox “measuring cup” sort of way, that I can write it down and you can pass it on from generation to generation.

This inability to remember (and somewhat follow) recipes comes from my poor at-home “training”, given to me by my mother.

Always having been a foodie my interest in cooking has been rife. I somehow just knew which flavours are best infused together, such as lemon and garlic, coriander and thyme, rosemary with meat, so on.

When I started asking my mother for the recipes of my favourite foods that she would make she simply could not tell me. No, I retract that. She could, kind of tell  me, but in a very rough kind of way. “just a pinch of salt, a little bit of lemon juice, some pepper, a dash of oil.” I never really learnt any of her recipes. It would infuriate me because I wanted to learn, she just did not know how to teach me!

…and now at 26 I am the exact same. I don’t have children but I love cooking and when people ask me for my recipes I just blurt out a list of ingredients with some rough measurements, as though I am throwing it at them.

“What did you put in that vegetable casserole you brought over tonight?”

Spice

Spice

Condiment

Himalayan sea salt

Black pepper

Spice

Chili

Spice

But here I go. I am going to try to tell you my favourite vegan pasta recipe. It is so fresh and crisp, made with zucchini noodles and a heap of vegetables. Totally raw, nutritious and delicious!

It is worth noting that I have only ever made this for myself so all measurements are for one person.

You will need

·     2 x zucchini

·     1 x tomato

·     ¼ green or red capsicum

·     ¼ Spanish onion

·     Generous amount of basil (i mean a lot - you want the flavour and aroma to come through)

·     Handful of parsley

·     Himalayan rock salt

·     Black pepper

·     ½ cup apple cider vinegar

·     ¼ cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil

(FYI these are all approximate measurements – I usually just chop and add until things start looking right).

What to do

1. Spiralise the zucchinis to make zu-dles (zucchini noodles). You can buy a vegetable spiraliser from any kitchen or homewares store. I think some fruit markets now also sell them.
2. Chop the tomatoes and Spanish onion into diced bruschetta-like cubes.
3. Desiccate the basil and parsley
4. Mix in all ingredients with the noodles, including the apple cider vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper and mix together.

If you don’t necessarily want this to be a vegan dish you can add some smoked salmon.

Crisp, healthy and fresh…the perfect post weekend detox meal or summer time light lunch!

Again, I am sorry for the approximate measurements – you will get the hang of it, I promise!

Postcard from a place too familiar

My cousin Kristina sent me this post card from London in 2010. I love that she mentioned that "everything here reminds me of you." 

At this stage I had not yet been, but I had hoped that everything was reminiscent of me as I only dreamt of this stunning city.

I have been twice now, and I profess that London is quintessentially "me". I love that there is tranquility in the middle of the chaos, through the beautiful parks, green landscapes, the canal and the beautiful River Thames.

Backstreet's Back…Alright?

My first album was Backstreet Boy’s “Backstreets Back.” As soon as I would hear “Everybodaaaaayaaa, rock your bodayaaaaaaaaah” I would feel chills down my spine. I was in love.

It was the 90s and before the Internet and pirated downloads we actually had to pay for music (I know, as if!) 

If I wanted "Backstreets Back", mum's order was that I had to "save up". 

Usually, I only got CD singles which were $5, and just had a single song (as well as its various remixes). But I was hell bent on owning this album, and to have it I was going to have to “earn” the $30. But at 7 years old my only way of “employment” was mum handing me $2 a day, so it was going to take about 2 weeks (and a day).

By day 6 my patience had run out! I wanted Backstreet’s Back! I begged and pleaded, offered to vacuum, keep my room clean, cook, do all my homework, ANYTHING! I sang, danced, threw tantrums...

After school on day 7 mum took me to Sanity Music, reached up high (because it was #1 and all the way at the top) and grabbed the musical accolade that would become the soundtrack of my childhood. I was in awe. There it was, beaming in all its glory. The Boys looked so cool on the cover, leaning just perfectly against a warehouse wall in their oversized jackets. My “favourite” was Nick. He was the “baby” of the group and so cute!

 I opened my Velcro pink wallet and spilled out all the $2 coins on the counter for the salesman. Mum paid the remaining $18.

My memories of that night are clear. I got home and played the CD over and over and over again. Every song. During dinner, while doing my homework, all night. Even the shitty ones that are never released. I listened to them on repeat anyway.

These were the days before YouTube, Vevo, Channel V and mainstream cable TV (so no MTV), and watching video clips meant waiting for the weekend so that we could turn on Video Hits and watch music countdowns. Backstreets Back was in the music charts and I wanted to learn the steps that Nick, Brian, AJ, Howie and Kevin jammed out in the haunted house...

…and that is what I did. When relatives and friends came over I would force them to give me "ticket money", to watch my Backstreet Boys dance-a-long concert. I even dressed up as the “mummy”, hoping that I would emulate “Mrs Mummy” and be Nick Carter’s corpse bride.

In 2000 my sister and I got our 1^st computer. It was a bulky Windows 98 but the detachable side speakers made it super-duper cool! I had a stroke of genius to put the CD in the disc drive, just to see what happens. All of a sudden, the screen went blue, and the backstreet boys were invading. I had the option not only to hear their songs, but to see them sing, dance, and even watch bits and interviews from their global tour whenever I wanted! I was in heaven. The obsession only grew stronger.