Hi luvs! Is your weekend off to a good start?
Mine’s been a bit rough, but things are getting better today. 🙂 Turns out my issues with mold and Ecoli I had in Washington weren’t fully resolved and have resurrected with a vengeance. Docs have me on four meds now and hopefully I will start feeling better soon.
In the meantime I’m counting up some good things in my life: like my friend Ann bringing her Christmas turkey over for a visit. 🙂 And this little green frog who watched me contentedly while I swept the porch. And two baby goslings toddling about the goose pen.
If you have to be sick, rural Queensland has got to be one of the most beautiful places to do it in. 🙂
Bear took me for a drive the other day and pulled into The Mill Outlook for a cuppa. Just getting out of the car presented a feast for the eyes.
I love the flowering bushes and trees they have here. Such wonderful blossoms in vivid purple, fuschia and red.
We thought it was just a pretty spot for a coffee shop, but it turns out The Mill Outlook is much more than that. Next door to the Settler’s Cafe is a rural center and hobby farm filled with all sorts of farmyard critters waiting to be adopted and taken to a new home.
I love the fluffy white chickens who look like they’re wearing Russian fur hats on their heads, and the adorable nearly featherless fellow who trotted around as if he looked like a million dollars.
We couldn’t pass up a few additions to the farmyard so we got a couple of ducklings and a male and female Belgian.
Then it was time to get out of the hot sun and sit down with a cold drink. My favorite Aussie cold drink is an iced coffee – lusciously creamy and decadent, not too sweet but with plenty of strong coffee flavor. Mmm. I know it’s not the most ideal thing to have when you’re sick, but sometimes you just need a little treat to make life special.
It was such a nice surprise to discover this place. A truly lovely spot along the highway to pull in for a break, sit in the shade and enjoy the view, the chickens, and the occasional baby goat who may wander up for a scratch.
After I got home, I stared at a huge bowl full of ripe, juicy plums – a gift from my friend Ann – and wondered what on earth to do with them. Then I remembered a German dish I had tried years before, a cold fruit soup, and decided that was the ticket.
I wanted it to be a little Christmasy so I added spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, and a little creamy so I stirred in some plain Greek yogurt. The result was deeelectable! Creamy, spicy, and fruity, and I can’t begin to describe how good the house smelled while it was cooking.
I’ve been sipping this concoction all week, figuring the yogurt was the perfect thing to combat the antibiotics I’m taking. 🙂 Now THIS is what I call good sick food. 🙂
What’s your favorite thing to eat when you’re sick?
Chilled Spiced Plum Soup
Ingredients:
6 cups halved VERY ripe plums
water to cover
1/2 tsp each of nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom
2 Tbsp honey or real maple syrup
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
Directions:
- Place plums in soup pot and cover with water.
- Add spices and honey and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer 20-30 minutes or until plums have broken down.
- Remove from heat and let cool 30 minutes.
- Puree entire contents and pour into serving bowl.
- Stir in yogurt and chill until ready to serve.
Sorry to hear the bugs are still bothering you Krista. A couple of days in Brisbane will be good for you I hope. Bryan has promised me you won’t need to negotiate any boxes to get to your bed!
Thank you, dear Barbara. 🙂 I’m SO looking forward to a couple days with you. Us two sickies gotta stick together! 🙂 Thank Bryan for me!! 🙂
Krista I am so sorry to hear that you illness has returned. At least you have friends and The Bear to rake care of you:D
Thank you, dear Val. I am very, very grateful for the care of my dear folks here. They’ve made this awfulness so much easier to bear. 🙂 xo
Sorry to hear Krista that you have been unwell. As usual you have taken the most gorgeous photos. I love the look of that iced coffee – yummy! Before I drank coffee, I loved iced chocolates! When I am feeling sick, I try to make a chicken soup.
Oh, I’ve heard of iced chocolates, Cathy, but I’ve never had one. I will need to try that very soon! It sounds marvelous. 🙂
Oh Krista, so sorry to hear you have had a relapse, but sure hope you will recover quickly now you are living in such a great environment. Take Care xx
Thank you, Linda! 🙂 My body may be misbehaving, but my heart and spirit are thriving. 🙂
Sorry to hear that you’ve been ill!
Your day sounds marvelous though. The pics of all the baby chicks etc are so cute. And the landscape where you live is truly something. It sort of reminds me of parts of California and Brazil though has a completely different feel to it.
I’ve had chilled fruit soup before–mainly blueberry. Never with plum and spices. That sounds like something to try next summer here.
Get well!
I know what you mean about it looking like California a bit, Stevie. 🙂 Like you I keep trying to pin down exactly where it looks like, but it never quite fits perfectly. 🙂 Ooo, blueberry soup sounds marvelous. 🙂
the plum soup sounds great! too bad our plum season is over – i would make this right now! hope you feel better soon!!!!!!! the critters are wonderful. xo
So glad you like my critters too, Paradis. 🙂 Aren’t they darling?
I hope you feel better! The scenery in your pictures looks so calming! Def read Bossypants for a pick-me-up, I was laughing so hard I cried 🙂
I tried our library and they don’t have Bossypants!!! GAH!! 🙂 Sigh, I guess I shall have to order it like a normal person. 🙂
Great photos as usual, Krista! Love the rooster and the iced tea.
Glad you’re feeling better and sorry this has dragged on so long.
Your plum soup is such a pretty color and I do like chilled fruit soups. Copied the recipe!
I hope you love the soup, Barbara. 🙂 It is seriously one of the best-smelling things I have ever made. I want a pot of it simmering on my stove every day. 🙂
Is that Jacaranda tree in full bloom? I love this tree very much. Beautiful shots as always. Plum soup sound delightful too.
It is just past its peak, Dewi, but still gorgeous. 🙂
I bought some plums today and I think I am going to leave them to get really ripe just so I can make that delightful soup! i’m glad you are being well looked-after and hope you get better soon 🙂 When I’m sick, there’s nothing better than a simple piece of toast and marmite (vegemite is the closest thing in Oz!) and a nice cup of tea!
Oh good, Katy!! I think you will love it, and positively swoon at how delectable your house smells when you make it. 🙂 I’ve been having many cups of tea and, just like you told me, they’ve been so restoring and fortifying. 🙂
Get well soon friend!
Thank you, dear Cailin! 🙂
You always seem to have such a great outlook – I’m inspired! I hope you’re feeling better now. Thinking of you!
Thank you so much, Erin. That means a lot. 🙂
Sad to hear you had a flare up – hope you feel better soon!!
Thanks, Andrea! I’m just glad they found out what was wrong so they could treat it in time. 🙂 That is a relief! 🙂
I hope you get better soon. 🙁 that’s a scenic place to rest plus a yummy iced coffee to sip! keep counting your blessings! 🙂
Thank you so much, especially for the reminder to keep counting my blessings. 🙂 I will!!
what a great good sick food! Yum….
I am putting a blog down for you to check out as she is in Austrailia and has amazing flower shots and inspirational at the same time…
good healing your way dear Krista
http://piecesofcontentment.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much, Susan! I will go check her out right now. 🙂
You have such an eye for beauty or you can turn anything into something beautiful. I know, I would walk by some of the sites, you make spectacular with your camera and your eye. Maybe, some plum soup will renew me.
Ohh, thank you so much, dear Chaya! 🙂 You never fail to cheer me up with your visits here. 🙂 I think plum soup would be very restorative. 🙂