My Creative Everyday

Leftovers, cupboard raiding & what's in the freezer? It's a new week. To jump start my creativity, I'm in the kitchen with not much left in my fridge and a few frozen treats I've been saving.  Bread mix has been in my cupboard and it's just pass or coming up to the expiry date. I have escargot in the freezer and fresh bread goes well with it.  I don't have a bread maker but the mix that I buy is fine with a wooden spoon, mixing bowl and oven. It's a matter of patience and time. It's in the oven now and I can't wait.  Wright's bread mix is pretty easy and I've had a good experience with it. This time I have a grains bread mix, so hopefully it won't be too dry. To be on the safe side, I've added water to a tray at the bottom of the oven.  Bread is a treat and I'm looking forward to it. There's some cherry tomatoes in the fridge which will be great for bruschetta.  Rice is also a rare visitor to my kitchen, but I have leftove

Last week it was Chinese New Year, aka another excuse to celebrate and take a break.  Chinese New Year is a special holiday for Asian families. It's like Christmas, but instead of gift giving, red envelopes containing money, are given to children. Also, you sleep with a red envelope of money under your pillow on New Year's eve. Most of it relates to prosperity.  The colour red, which represents luck, is prevalent. You wear red and / or new clothes.  New Year is celebrated for 15 days and as with all festivals, lots of eating is involved. Historically I would go to a restaurant with friends to treat ourselves to lobster noodles. Roast duck is also usually involved because the Cantonese style is the perfect mix of salty and sweet.  What is also fascinating is that there is a belief that certain foods bring good fortune. Also, food that are specially for new year - the equivalent to turkey and cranberry sauce, sort of ...  This article will give you an idea about it: https://www.c

A day in pyjamas, sleeping, achieving little and letting my body recover may sound terribly dull. However, I discovered that  plain meals and rest actually nourishes the soul.  It's been a long time since I've been sick: properly unable to leave home and do anything. Yet in some ways, there is a freedom in not having to be around people or do anything.  After I passed the 'I'm dying phase' and allowed my rational side to insist my body is working properly to protect me, a strange calm came upon me.  I caught up on some much needed sleep. I was undergoing an imposed detox. My mind felt clearer. I was looking forward to the days ahead. Rather than rushing back to what I should be doing, I hit the pause button and escaped into what I wanted to be doing. I realised that I'm not running a race. I'm not fighting to survive.  Here I am, still in bed, not feeling too guilty, doing what I love - writing, reflecting, learning & living.   I've also started look