food when you're sick

because i'm sick
i eat what chinese people always eat when they are sick
rice porridge, congee or bubur
[people also eat it for breakfast when they aren't sick]
its a savoury dish thats very simple and comforting

i loaded mine with lashings of garnishings
to give it heaps of flavour

this was the bowl i had for lunch and i added
- chinese crullers [ char kuay]
- sweetened pickled radish
- spring onions
- fried crispy shallots [ bawang goreng]
-soy sauce
- white fine pepper
- sesame oil

to make the basic plain congee
i added 2 cups of cooked white rice into a large pot
added about 2L of water
and put it on medium heat on top of the stove, stirring every once in a while

eventually all the rice grains breakdown and it becomes a thick porridge

to make it more flavourful you can add
- chicken stock
- vegetable stock
- chicken pieces
- pork mince
- thinly sliced fish
- century egg [ for the adventurous!]

in my porridge today i added pork mince and century egg
because its my favourite flavour combo :)

my throat is getting better but my vow of slience continues
xxoo

lost my voice

with all the craziness that goes with teaching the graduating year group
i have lost my voice

i really really really pushed myself this time
and now my body is paying for it

it has been such a super duper crazy 2 weeks and it is seriously non stop
my body is so tired and exhausted - i guess something had to give

anyways, here is the graduation cupcake from the yr 6 2010 graduation dinner and dance party
our theme this year was winter wonderland and the parents did an AMAZING job
putting the party together

it's too cute to eat!

circa home candles

i really really really love my candles
but i don't just like any old candle
i'm quite fussy about the ones i buy

i love the ones that smell f beautiful fresh flowers
or a crisp fresh fruit in season
or a fresh light scent that reminds me of a glorious day at the beach or picnics in field of flowers

as a little reward to myself today
[i have been very good at sticking to a basic budget and got my cc under control]
i decided to buy myself a candle :D

i went into bed bath n table looking for a beach towel for a kk present
but found myself a gorgeous candle that reminds me of my bali holidays

Candle is made by Circa Home in Jasmine & Magnolia
$29.95
45 hrs burn time

I'm burning it now as i write this blog and it is just gorgeous!
The jasmine & magnolia combination is light and sweet,
and smells like a tree full of frangipani flowers from bali

There were other fragrances ... but this was my favourite by far :)
check out the full range at www.circahome.com.au

image courtesy of circahome

bye bye puppies..

the puppies are finally gone and we're back to 3 adult bassets
no more puppies
not for a reeeeeeeeeeeaaaal loooong time

it's sad but it's also a relief
having puppies is like having young children/babies in the house
they're A LOT of work
but very very adorable and fun

so its back to loooong walk to piney lakes
walks around the block
doggy showers
and lazy sleepy logs that look like bassets