Flirting with Thirty

Uh-oh, we're in trouble, thirty's come along and its burst my bubble...Yes, alas, it is true - my tantalizingly tasty days are getting shorter and I have begun the inevitable dance with a new era. I know it is still early days and that there are many a devishly delishious morsel to be gobbled from now until the final slice of cake next May, but, truth be told (I guess this is the curse and the blessing of being all growed up) I have started to take responsibility for myself, my life, my actions, and even my noms (I say this having lost a good 6.6kg's over the last couple of months through healthy eating (aaaargh - never thought I would utter those cursed words), rigorous exercise (at the gym nogal - a place of stereotypical stupidity and my-muscles-are-bigger-than-your-biseps-ipidity), and a food diary complete with pritty pitcha's of all the amazing noms that have passed my lips through numerous meal times. Somewhere in all of this 'getting bigger' (emotionally not waist-bandlly) I have somehow morphed into the very picture of organisation - planning everything weeks in advance, packing meals the night before instead of grabbing a prawn and mango salad from my nearest woolworths, booking play dates with my girls (a new and exciting bonus of this aging thing), and even organising important events and holidays a reasonable time in advance to avoid the disappointment (???). Talk about living by the recipe!!! Oh well - it has been kinda fun regardless and now, with a Thailand and Malaysian holiday all organised, booked, and paid for in November to look forward to, Christmas pretty done and dusted (with icing sugar of course), and my next few weekends choc(mmmmm)-a-block with various girly activities, dinner parties, and hunkalicious boyfriend time all neatly packaged - I move onto the planning of my Thirtieth birthday party...what to do, what to do....

Ultimately I guess this is all akin to the girly flirtations of one's teenage years - the excitement and exhilaration that comes with stolen glances at the guy in the biker jacket across the bar, the innocent flirtations - flips of the hair, high pitched giggles, gentle shoves just to feel the hard muscle beneath all the leather, first dates with wine tinted glasses and giddy happiness, and before you know it you are married to the bastard and there is sweet-fudge-all you can do about it...so yes, on the 15th of May 2012 I will be stuck with my dreaded number 30, but hopefully before then I can flirt with the idea, embrace the changes, put on a pair of adult tinted glasses and try them on for size, carry on giving this organisation thing a bash until I find it fits...and with that in mind...what the hell am I going to be doing for my party???

Party people in da house tonight...

Crustless Quiche Recipe

Broccoli, Carrot, and Spinach crutless quiche.

I have spent years...ok maybe just 3 or 4 attempts...at perfecting this deliciously decadent crustless quiche recipe given to me by my mom and I must say that I think I have created something of a tasterpiece!!!

Feel free to substitute the veggies as you see fit but keep the base ingredients as this is what gives it its decadence and makes it less of a diet meal and more of a treat for both you and your hips.

Serves: 4
Calories: 254 per serving 
 
Ingredients:
2 x Large free range eggs
1 x cup fat free or skim milk
2 x TBSP plain flour
1 x cup grated cheddar cheese (I always use a reduced fat version)
1 x cup chopped broccoli
1 x large onion (finely chopped)
1 x leek (finely chopped)
1 x cup grated carrots
1 x cup baby spinach (chopped)
3 x cloves garlic (finely chopped)

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 180 degrees
2) In a little olive oil, fry the onions, leeks, and garlic until slightly soft
3) Add carrots and spinach and fry for another minute or two
4) Add the broccoli, mix well, and fry for a further minute or two (I leave the broccoli till last so that there is still a slight bit of texture in the finished product)
5) Season with salt and black pepper to taste
6) Mix all ingredients in a large bowl (including milk, eggs, cheese, flour)
7) Season the mixture again to taste
8) Transfer mixture to a baking dish or quiche dish and bake in the oven for 35 - 45 minutes until golden brown on top (a fork should come out clean)

"Why are you listening to the drunk guy?"

 I climbed a Koppi and drank so much I became one of "Those People" and it was terrifying, exhilarating, mystifying, and absolutely amazing and I got to do it with some of my favourite people in the whole wide world...this is the story...

I left my delectably delightful dogs (all the while they watched me with big, strange, scared eyes that screamed "mommy please dont leave us"), my pink haven of flushing toilets and toilet paper, and the luxury of cleanliness on a beautiful Saturday morning heading to who knows where, to who knows what, to masses of alcohol (that Chris and I managed to get through on the first day), to do unspeakable things...except in a blog...and on Facebook...and to anyone I might meet...ok, so I am anything but discreet but let's not share that with anyone else shall we?

With sleep in my eyes and pillow (still) in hand we met Kat and Mike in Brits to embark on the first of (what would later become) many comedy of errors. After polite introductions for Chris and much cuddling (between Mike and Chris), Mike finally found his voice to very meekly point out, whilst Kat was bragging about their over cautious packing that included freshly baked bran muffins, that they had, in fact, forgotten their bedding at home. A quick (30 minute, R300) shop at the local Mr. Price Home had us back on the road with duvets in tow.

I spent the next couple of hours merrily pestering Chris with wonderful renditions of the classic's including "are we there yet", "how much further", "I am hungry", and my all-time favourite "Mommy I need to pee-pee". Once that got boring, Kat (who loves me unconditionally no matter what I do - it is her nuturing "I bake bran muffins" nature) got to enjoy them all over again...via sms...

On arrival I found myself chuffed as a lion in lamb chops to have my armband secured and the most awesomest camping site ever in the whole history of long drops and thorn bushes. Whilst the others (rather irritated for some reason I couldn't fathom) set about constructing tents and no-the-pole-goes-through-this-hole-ing, I snapped up my self-establishing-two-man'er and cracked a beer with Chris...possibly a bad idea in hindsight, but it seemed appropriate - especially with the other two watching me with menace in their eyes and "I am gonna kill that whiney brat with a beer" feelings in their hearts...what fun :-)

From there things get a little blurry, but I do vaguely remember Mrs. I-am-so-super-organised-and-wonderfully-domesticated bran muffin baker having forgotten the essential vegetarian substitutes at home - never fear when Nicole (the unorganised, go-where-the-wind-blows, find-out-when-we-get-there) is near because I brought enough for all us protein deprived individuals, a whole bunch of too much alcohol, fabulous bands, bumping into crazy people, much koppi crawling, a pinch of falling down, loads of screaming (at everyone including each other), one particularly hair raising walk home (complete with wind up torches and some not so lady-like behaviour...on Mike's part of course), and a crying girl in a thorn tree ('cause partridges and pears are only for Christmas time).

Crying girl: "Jy-huuuuun, Jy-huuuuun, pee-pee"

Kat: "Fuck off and walk the other way"

bwahahahahahahaahahhahhah - too funny!!

So to sum up, apart from some drunken-disorderly people, a throw-up or two, a pair of very nice beasts, a couple in a 69 position, a sadly lost girl, lots of fighting, and very bad toilet manners the weekend was absolutely extrodinary...and that was just us...

http://www.mio.co.za/article/oppikoppi-2010-sexy-crooked-teeth-2010-08-11

HOT STUFF!!!

Oh my Great Flambeed banana balls of fire! Could I be any Luckier? Well possibly with a huge helping of oxtail and the ability to actually eat meat, but if my life continues to be this perfect I may never have another delicious bacon craving again...ok, that's never going to happen, but what the sausage - let's just pretend. Alas this particular blog update may have to come with a warning: not for those prone to gag reflexes associated with all things lovey-dovey (or something of the sort). Ok, now that all those underloved audience members have been PG'd - let us indulge in the blissful sweetness that is my life...

First off - please don't get me wrong - I do realise that all relationships have their fair amount of downs, and I am realistic enough to comprehend that ultimately Chris and I are just another couple discovering, learning, and experiencing (although it kinda feels like a heavenly cloud of soft marshmallowy goodness right now) - but having gone through more bastards than a fat kid does candy on Halloween, I am fairly positive that this is my first REAL relationship with all the up's and down's that that entails. So having said that and having (probably not) silenced the bastards among you that are shaking their heads with that "oh how naive" little smirk on their faces I am ecstatic to announce that I now have a live in boyfriend (the most amazingly gorgeous GRRRRRR boyfriend in the world I might add) and cannot wait to get drunk on strawberry flavoured champagne in celebration!


And the masters seem to approve:

Footnote: Ok, so apart from the occasional gooey shmoltz that wasn't half as smoozy as I though it would be *high five's self* but I am going to leave my introduction in anyway...just 'cause I like it.

http://johannesburg.gumtree.co.za/c-Flat-House-Real-Estate-flatshare-house-share-HOT-STUFF-W0QQAdIdZ224666164

My cherry on top!

Home alone with my boys - scrumptious moments stuffed with love, sprinkled with happiness, and drizzled in sparkles. You amazing creatures are the icing on my proverbial cupcakes and I would be lost without you.

(Cuddles and Kisses for Phillip)

This particular morning Chris and myself were, as usual, licked awake by Phillip whilst his brother - Tyson - entrenched (and I don't use that word lightly...in fact there is nothing light about my *deceptively* tiny Tyboy - he is a heffalump) himself under the covers. After getting the ice-cream treatment, Chris used his awe inspiring brain power wisely by grabbing the camera to capture some of our beautifully slobbery moments with the children.

 (Tyson in his favorite place)

("What? I's is juss holding her's down so's she stops wriggling")

Great Rose Petals of Fire

Today, despite a rather lousy hangover that has me feeling like a twice burned spinach soufflé with a side order of headache, I have nothing but thanks to whatever lucky maraschino cherry has found me in the blissful position I am in. In what has been a candyfloss -filled roller coaster ride of crayfish, oysters, and a splash of bubbly, my life has become a half FULL bottle of sparkling wine with chocolate covered strawberries. With so much to update you on I really don’t know where to start but, much like the amazing Twilight Saga that has me salivating almost as much as a ‘Master chef goes large’ episode, I suppose the beginning is as good a place as any. Maybe grab some popcorn – this might take an entertaining while!

Having had my heart ripped out, tenderised, salted, and then microwaved to within an inch of incineration, I found myself very very lost and very very lonely. Without even my trusty appetite to keep me company and fill my long hours with tasty morsels, I finally found sanctuary (and bacon) in the form of a 3 week road trip of self discovery, friendship, and Love. I had no idea the morning I left for Port Elizabeth to join a certain gorgeous boy the extent to which this trip would impact my life, but after numerous treacherous (and almost certainly fatal) incidents including a death defying hike through the Transkei, a terrifyingly hairy caterpillar, some deceptively innocent crayfish wrapped in bacon, and almost dying from laughter at every turn, I have come away stronger, happier, and hungrier than ever before. I feel truly touched (not in an embarrassing ice-cream-child-nervous-twitch kind of way) and profoundly moved by what I experienced and am constantly amazed at this life I live. And not only have I found myself, my appetite, and the secret to a great cheese fondue, I have also found Love, trust, and a person whose idiosyncrasies complement my own – Thank you Chris Hinks for letting me breathe.

So, having got you to this point and skipping over some very important Knysna Oysters (another story in its own right) I can now finally tell you why I am officially the luckiest girl alive. After a long hard day Facebooking, Failbooking, and shuffling papers around my desk in a fairly veined and definitely unconvincing attempt to look busy, I finally made it to the refuge of my Husky dawg run house and an amazing mans arms. With the stress and trauma of the day melting away already, I made my way to the bathroom to discover a candlelit bubble bath complete with rose petals and pink sparkling wine. With my body literally tingling in anticipation I slipped into the warm water and spent the next hour in a happy-alcohol-candlelight daze that was almost too good to tear myself away from – but I was extremely glad when I did. Once out of the bath all vanilla scented and squeaky clean, I went through to the kitchen to find yet another candle filled setting, a plate of smoked salmon covered avo, more pink bubbly, and an irresistibly tantalizing man. Gleefully fed and merrily content I went to sleep with the same smile on my face that I have had for the past two and a half months – to those of you that it has started to irritate – you may want to avoid me...forever it would seem...I think this might just stay.

And he is cooking again tonight!

Is that something shiny in your pocket or....

Apologies go out to my creativity, my laptops keyboard, and all the amazing food I have made/consumed/ordered/looked at/discussed/and dreamed of - you all deserve better of me and I am a complete waste of digestive juices and brain waves for not devoting the kilojoules I have ingested to better use. Alas I have left my blog unattended and no amount of chocolate mousse can atone. Whilst I in no way plan to make excuses, I do feel I should justify my case by the fact that I got distracted by shiny cupcake heart decorations...well that and a couple of guns in my face. Alas, even I have realised not even a GREAT prawn curry or plate of sushi can prevent real life from happening or burglars from buglaring. However, through the trauma and stress I have been quietly consoled by some tasty delights, a boyfriend of tiramisu (which, lets face it, is so much sweeter than gold), and a hefty helping of giggles and fun times ala best friends. Thanks all for the love, support, and yumminess that you bring into my life.

This evening promises to be quite a devilishly decadent affair as my Batman is away on work and I will have everything including the Kitchen sink to myself. Bring on a mammoth size portion of something cheesy, a side helping of "Desperate Housewives", and lots and lots of puppy cuddles. Stay tuned for tomorrow's episode staring Nicole's lack of will power and a healthy dollop of extreme indulgence.