Look at how this last day of March began before my walk, and before writing this post…
Sunrise, 31 March
Builder’s dust on everything
For the last few weeks the activities at our house have focused around the laundry, not the kitchen. The laundry was the very last area to receive the makeover treatment, in the 15 years (almost to the day) since we moved into this house. I had dreaded it, and it turns out, with good reason. No, not horrific, but painful enough, with the usual problems of having to ‘undo’ what was haphazardly done 26 years ago when the house was built. And wet-areas are always worse to renovate that other rooms.
Flour-less chocolate cake
The reno is done now, and as of wine-thirty on Friday (28th), we can get back to the fun stuff… eating and blogging! Friday being the last day for the builder/tiler/all-round-great-tradesman and fellow, I made Flour-less Chocolate Cake, for him, and the electrician who has a few updates to do in other rooms.
Meatballs/spaghetti squash with Bleasdale Shiraz
I’ve had a craving for meatballs, so on Saturday while my husband played golf, I went into a meatball trance. It was worth it. Please try these some time and don’t leave out the sultanas, they are the perfect balance for the chilli flakes and the sauce and you will be glad you didn’t (I hope). My husband is not really one for fruit in meat dishes, even in curries, which sometimes call for them, but he loves these meatballs. And the sauce…. resist temptation to tinker with it, and remember it is the foil for the meatballs and it doesn’t taste like most normal sauces, in my experience. The meatballs are the star of this meal.
Spaghetti squash with butter, salt, pepper, lightly cooked yellow cherry tomatoes, broccoli and Parmesan
Shred the inside of the boiled spaghetti veg
I am also having a love affair with spaghetti squash at the moment! Revealing though that may sound… spaghetti squash and I go waaay back. When I was a child in Ohio and my Mom made it, I was pretty unimpressed. But now, being the gluten free, grain free consumer that I am, it is a little slice of heaven… a vehicle for butter and Parmesan, and a perfect base upon which to add other vegetables or meatballs (above). I have never seen it in Alice Springs previous to this autumn and believe me, at $10-$12 per vegetable, I imagine it is not a big seller. But I get several meals from one and if you price good chocolate per kilo, it is much more expensive, so I am indulging.
On Sunday I made baked cheesecake (gluten free base) for a friend whose birthday is today, 31 March. According to him it is his favourite all time dessert. Who am I to argue??
Bodum, coffee grinder
When one is occupied with renovations, there are many tedious hours spent waiting for tradesmen. One day, when I was waiting for the plumber, and entertaining myself, I clicked the ‘buy’ button for this lovely coffee grinder. Oops! If you want a small, but very robust grinder for home use, this is the one. Love it. It has taken my morning cuppa to a new level. Listen, smell that??
(As usual, In My Kitchen posts are part of the monthly hosting by Celia at figjamandlimecordial. Lots of interesting goings-on in kitchens around the world–go have a look!)
Okay, you have waited patiently, so here you are, the good, the bad and the recently renovated laundry photos. Thanks for reading.
Temporarily repositioned washing machine-outside
Laundry ‘before’
New light fitting
Plumbing ‘before’
plumbing/hot water heater ‘after’
Laundry ‘after’
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Here, in the heart of Australia I stopped. Three days before Christmas I sat on a bench with a path converging in front of me and a sunrise that was the harbinger of rain for Christmas. Lots of rain. We welcome rain, in the arid lands, whenever it chooses to anoint us. I sat on this bench feeling grateful that my family was home and for all the goodness Life has brought us.
