Miso Soup

Last night, a friend said I must try miso soup.  I have some miso paste for Japanese-style dishes, but I've never had miso soup.  He handed over 2 packets of the miso, and 2 packets of the ... you know, the other stuff you put in it.  He did tell me what the flavours were, but I neglected to take notes - and it's been a long time since I read any Japanese so I'm not so sure.  (The yellow one is K6 if there are any people in the know reading this).

I thought (due to its salty factor) this would be a good post-run snack.  I think I'm right.  Liquid, quick, and salty.  I still followed it with chicken and kale, but it was a great starter.  And I can't wait to try the other flavour.  Whatever it may be.

Today's photo:

This was almost a New Thing.  Well, it is a New Thing... Today, I ate my first home-grown tomato.  It was so good!  So good, in fact, that you get a bonus photo.  I ate it with fried haloumi; a (delivered) organic tomato; 3 wrinkly but finally red cherry tomatoes (also from the garden); and basil, chives and parsley from the garden.  The large tomato is a Black Russian, so even though it looks a bit green still, it was quite ripe.

It was a good lunch.

The Asylum Seeker Welcome Pack

On Sunday, I picked up a copy of the church community newsletter (this in itself is a New Thing).  In part of my effort to avoid overheating, I read it cover to cover on the sofa.  I found an article/advertisement about welcome packs for asylum seekers and thought it was something I could do quite easily.  The group (Multicultural Development Association) recommended putting together a toiletries pack, including items like soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, combs, toilet paper, dishwashing detergent, washing powder, tissues, shaving cream and razor.  I'd actually found some of these items (as well as some similar items, like body lotions) in my recent clean up of various parts of my house, and it was quite easy to start putting together some of the other items.  The ad also has suggestions of other items you could include, like a Go-card, Coles card, t-shirts etc.  I haven't got all suggested items yet, or many optional extras, but I'm on my way.  Next step is to contact the lady mentioned. 

Today's photos:

Yes, today there are two - I just couldn't choose.  Both my tomato plants have little tomatoes growing, and with the sunlight, yesterday's rain, and windy conditions, I like the result of both photographs.

The top is a Black Russian, the bottom one is a mystery - some sort of cherry tomato, anyway.

Raw Brownies, Tweaked

Back in May, I had my first taste of raw brownies.  Yum!  I bought a mini-chopper so that I could make them, and made my first batch later that month.  I've made a couple more batches recently, but tweaked the recipe slightly today.  The main reason for the tweak is that I love dried apricots, but occasionally my delivery provides me with the totally healthy, sulphur-free variety.  They're okay I guess, but I prefer to cook with them rather than snack on them.  And dates are only in my pantry if I plan ahead.  I find these brownies are the best way to cure a chocolate craving - they're super healthy and super chocolatey. 

For the base:

1 cup dates (or, for me, dried apricots)
1 cup nuts (today I had to use 3/4 cup hazelnut meal, I didn't realise how low my nut supply was)
1/4 cup cacao (topped up today with regular cocoa)
1 teaspoon honey (or so...)

I chop the dried fruit and nuts roughly first.  Then put everything in a food processor/mini chopper.  Then blend/whiz/chop.  Don't get impatient here, when it's starting to clump together - then it's ready.

Line a loaf tin (or tin of your choice) with foil - this makes everything so much easier to deal with later - and transfer the chopped mix.  Flatten it as much as possible, like you're doing a biscuit base for a cheesecake or something. 

For the topping:

A tablespoon each of:
avocado
honey
cacao (or cocoa if you've run out of the good stuff by now)
coconut oil (this was my first time using coconut oil - weird.  Previously I've just used olive oil, but you can taste the olive oil in the topping)

Whiz in the processor.  Spread on top of base.  Refrigerate until firm.  Cut into squares...or slices...and enjoy. 

I find because of the honey and dried fruit factor it is quite sweet, so I tend not to over-indulge.  Phew.

Yesterday's photo:

I found mini tomatoes on my tomato plant!  This plant is one in which I had not much hope, to be honest - but the little yellow flowers have given way to tiny little green baby tomatoes.  I'm not sure if they'll last to turn into ripe tomatoes, but there's hope.

Ssshhh... Please

This morning, I was on duty to serve at church.  As it turns out, I was also on duty to do the prayers - I only found out this fact because the person in front of me had a list of everyone who had a job.  Reading it, I started thinking ... why would you have a list of these things... that just seems so... why is my name there... wait, that's my name - for prayers?!  Thankfully, there are ways to do these almost on the fly.  Anyway, after communion - in the only time a server has to themselves (and even then, still keeping an eye out for if we're needed) - the person in front of me came back for a conversation. 

Now, talking in the sanctuary is a no-no.  It's distracting and just not on.  At servers' meetings, we've been reminded of this fact more than once.  However, not everyone in the sanctuary is a server, and obviously this person hasn't received the message.  In this post-communion conversation, I was as brief as possible.  I know this is not the first time this has happened, and the 'no non-essential talk' request has not made it through to this person.  I'm not good at talking, so this evening I drafted an email.  Not sent yet - I want it to be as polite as it can be, and it might need a couple of revisions before I'm happy with it. 

This whole step is new for me.  Previously, I would say and do nothing.  I might gripe about it internally, or to one or two people close to me, but nothing more.  More recently, I've started telling someone about these things - someone who has the authority and the tact to deal with it better than me.  Actually saying something myself to the person involved - this is really new.  The next level is to say something - in person, with words and all.  But for now, baby steps and emails.

Yesterday's photo:

Sometimes the sunlight looks different.  Yesterday it was looking different on the older tomato plant.

Today's photo:

Water drops and kale.  I'm loving kale.

Movie #21 - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

It's been ages since I saw a new movie.  Looking up my list of posts to see what number this was, I discovered it's been close to 2 months since my last.  On Saturday, I was thinking about weekend plans not involving playing for money, and figured I was due to watch something other than my favourite TV shows.  "Yes," says my brother, "Sam said to tell you - less of the outfits, more movies".  Well, Sam, you're stuck with 3 school outfits a week during school terms, but here's a movie for you. 

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was one I'd hoped to see at the movies, but didn't.  (There were 3 I wanted to see all out at the same time, and Safe House won).  I was rather keen to see this one, as spy thrillers are right up my alley.  I hadn't even realised that Colin Firth was in it - score! 

Due to my exhausted state while watching, this won't be the most in-depth, intelligent discussion ever.  And because I was watching with someone else, I didn't stop to take notes...  Although, I'm not sure I would have anyway.  I really enjoyed this movie, and it's one I would watch again - mostly to work out more of what on earth was going on.  I think I worked it out, but I am rather dim when it comes to plot intricacies.  Often I get to the end of a movie, think "that was great!", but can't explain what happened along the way.  This was one of those.  There is still one scene, just a snippet in a bit of a montage (you gotta have a montage), that is still saying "why???" in my head. 

I was quite proud of myself for working out the culprit before it was revealed at the end.  I'm not sure how I feel about the culprit, though.  He was the only character I actually liked, even after the revelation of his badness. 

The music I enjoyed, it was quite apt without being a cliched 'ooh this is a spy thriller' soundtrack.  And the camera work - well.   The whole movie was so dark, so gloomy, so atmospheric.  You could see the griminess of bureaucracy and secrets, it made me long for sunshine and clean air.  I couldn't help thinking, too, that this was an England in which I'd been, albeit a few years later.

Still, the whole spy thing raises this question in me every time - how would I actually go at working out a spy, detecting a mole?  Finding out who is actually lying to me while giving the air of wide-eyed innocence?  And all this without the help of a script and plot?  Which always gives rise to the other question - how would I go at being a spy myself?

Today's photo:

I noticed that my new tomato plant has grown a whole extra section, and has yet another about to unfurl.