Entries from March 2007 ↓

Hmmm, not sure I’ve enjoyed the Grow Your Own kitty experiment – it was rather gut-wrenching watching the little fella peering out of a glass of water for the requisite 3 days – going through all sorts of stages of lumpy growths. I almost gave up after 2 days but a friend who I consider wise on all matters involving experiments and physics said to wait out the full 72 hours, that it would all be OK.

It’s not. The kitty is lumpy, has one side of his head bigger than the other, has some kind of growth out of his cheek and is definitely not 6 times his normal size. I hope the shrinking part of this experiment goes better – I guess I now have to wait another 3 days!

Always when we go to Awakeri there are tui in the backyard, clambering around on the flax right up close – it’s really amazing to see. And now we can see one in our city backyard every day atop the new Forest & Bird headquarters.

A couple of memorable occasions food-wise today.

The first was my first-ever taste of pumpkin pie. Our American colleague had canned pumpkin brought over from Seattle to make it with, which he duly did, and brought into work for sharing.

It looked orange, and like pictures of pumpkin pies that I’ve seen. Everyone in the line of people coming out of the kitchen was oooo’ing and aaaaah’ing and telling me how good it was.

Ummmm, I didn’t like it. I had a couple of mouthfuls, with and without the suggested whipped cream accompaniment but I just couldn’t face it. I ‘fessed up and spoke to Jiff-the-baker about it and tried to explain myself. All I could think of to say was that it tasted too pumpkiny – well d’uh – it’s pumpkin pie! It did have spices and was sweet but perhaps I just associate pumpkin so much with a savoury taste that at 10.30am my craving for sweetness with my coffee wouldn’t let me disassociate from what pumpkin is to me. He seemed OK with the feedback. I think. No-one else said they didn’t like it. I’m not sure about his response though … “That’s OK. I’m making pumpkin cheesecake next – you’ll like that.” …. uh oh ….

Oh, that’s right, the second food thing for Wednesday. Tried out a recipe from one of my River Cafe cookbooks involving tomatoes, pancetta, cream and pasta seeing as we had all that in the cupboards. I was not expecting such a scrumptious creamy sauce that we figured out was a fabulous homemade version of a pottled Frescarini sauce. Mmmmm.

The twins turned one during this latest knitting marathon so I hope they fit!

WaaaaaaaaaaAAA! Bring back the good old Telecom world clock! I don’t like the Yellow Pages (R) one that the Telecom site now links to because you actually have to *know* something to use it. Previously I could just type in ‘Basel’ or ‘Washington DC’ and get their local time. Now I have to pick from a list which means I have to think a bit more.

I know I shouldn’t be advocating for less thinking in this world where people have lost the ability to think (<rant> uuummmmmmm, if I whack my kid real hard they might get hurt but seeing as I can’t think that through for myself I will have to rely on a law to stop my actions</rant>) but you know me – it’s mostly about not liking change!

A friend got me a little friend 🙂

Nothing beats Sundayitis like an afternoon in Orange Kitchen. First attempt at choux pastry, and without a blender I might add!

Sugar, eggs, cream, vanilla pod, coffee beans

Choux pastry by hand

Sweet peppers

The end result:

Peperonata over orecchiette
(sweet peppers & tomatoes over pasta)

Profiteroles with espresso creme & bitter chocolate sauce

I’m now such a fixture on Sundays that I have my own orange cup 🙂

I think they were a little behind schedule. The by-pass and associated direction changes were supposed to be in effect from 6am this morning. It was interesting watching it unfold. There was much consulting of papers – the paint-by-numbers for the arrows I suppose.

8am:

9.15am:

11am:

12.45pm:

1pm:

Another post-daylight-savings summer’s day – just lovely for a stroll around town.