Category Archives: Social Media

01.31.24
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Thoughts: 2024 Culinary Challenge

Over the last ten or so years, I have created a routine at the beginning of the year, in which I pick a cuisine that I don’t know, and spend time getting passingly good at cooking it.

Most years I’ve been successful, some years simply not.

For example, I never quite got the hang of making tortillas – and watching Mexican kids and their grandmothers making them effortlessly on YouTube only made everything worse! And instilled a degree of performance anxiety.

I need to revisit tortillas. For sure.

But having another go at Mexican cuisine is not for me in 2024.

My year of Chinese cuisine was fun. I now have a deep love of Asian supermarkets. I love walking the aisles looking at jars and other packaging, trying to work out what is what. A favourite, for example, is fermented red tofu. (Amazing in a twice-cooked pork dish by the way).

So. What to do?

I’ve decided, in acknowledgement of a former favourite colleague (and one of my great losses in leaving my former workplace), to explore Pakistani cuisine. In her words, sooooo much tastier than Indian… we shall see. In the interests of geopolitical peace, I couldn’t possibly comment. Yet.

I have a cookbook to get started with. I’ll be sure to Instagram everything of course. You know if it’s not ‘grammed it didn’t happen. There are rules.

And to mix it up, I’m also saving up for an ice cream maker. I’m intrigued by the idea of making unusual flavoured ice cream or gelato. And to recreate Goodie Gumdrops. This ties in with my need to get good at creating desserts, something I’ve deliberately stayed away from for the last decade. It’s now time. I’m looking at this: https://www.thehomestoreauckland.co.nz/products/cuisinart-ice-cream-gelato-maker-1-5l-built-in-compressor – (I should add that this local store is awesome).

In 2024 I’ll also need to pick up my levels of exercise. For obvious reasons. Desserts? Getting into baking? Eating all the things? Ruh-roh.

What annual challenges do you set for yourself? I’d love to hear your stories!

^SJD

04.11.20
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Thoughts: Isolation 2020 – 9

So, a few days ago (weeks? I have no idea… I’m really losing track of time), I was challenged on Twitter to make Beef Fudge. Someone had found a recipe that (I believe) originated in 1960’s Montana.

Challenge Accepted.

Note: I’ve reached that point in lockdown/isolation where I’ll do many things to amuse myself.

First I needed to obtain the roast beef required. I have to say, I’ve eaten well this week. This roast has a mustard and pepper rub in case you were wondering. It worked really well!

The recipe also gave me the opportunity to use some kitchen equipment I acquired a couple of years back when I was dabbling in learning the craft of sausage-making. Also, I have a lot more to learn in the craft of sausage-making. But that’s for another time.

Marshmallow Cream isn’t readily available in NZ (unless you go to places like Martha’s Backyard close by). I made a substitute by melting a pack of marshmallows (put them in a mixing bowl, above a pot of boiling water) and adding 2tbsp of syrup. You’d usually use corn syrup but golden syrup works also.

The end result? Actually surprisingly good. It’s fudge, and it’s not the abomination I thought it might be. Of course, this recipe and resulting product reminds me precisely why I don’t do baking. It’s lethal for those wanting to lose weight.

02.25.17
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Thoughts: Focus on the Positive


Over on Facebook I’ve been posting a ‘Good Thing of the Day’ each day this year.

Why?

It has occurred to me that we spend far to much time thinking and worrying about the bad things. And not only the bad things that actually happen and impact us but also the imaginary bad things we dream up that could possibly happen. 

Some of you know that the last couple of years for me have been fairly challenging. 
Thankfully I am wired that I tend to not let these challenges occupy my head too much, but there are definitely times when the dark twin comes out of the shadows and reveals himself. 

I have learned to focus only on the things that I can control and change, and I am actively engaged in this process at present. I have zero control over the actions of others. I have total control over how I respond (note: not react).

My positivity posts are designed to reinforce one idea: That no matter how crappy your day is, there has to be One Good Thing that you can find. I have found it to be incredibly useful for me to take a few minutes, disengage from the busy-ness and simply reflect. Reflect on the people met. The conversations had. The tasks completed. The new thing tried. The successes. The opportunities.

The more I’ve done this, the more my outlook has changed. It gets easier to see the good things in my life, and easier to acknowledge these good things. It gets easier to be grateful for the good things. And easier to express my gratitude.

Will I continue to do this? Yes. Will I continue to post to Facebook at the risk of being boring and repetitive? Probably. I don’t have an endless supply of cat GIFs after all.