I awoke one morning in Fiji to find the grass outside my room sprinkled with these stunning flowers. It’s the sort of thing you dream about but never see, and I was utterly charmed.
A couple of weeks ago my friend Corrie encouraged me to start jotting down my dreams every week. Not the ones my vivid imagination conjures up at night, but the dreams that are closest to my heart, the things I would do, try and experience if I was allowed to do anything in the world.
Yesterday, as the sun finally came out in rainy Washington, I sat in my armchair in a beam of sunshine and began to write.
I confess it was hard at first. Each thought that came into my head was immediately squelched by an “oh that’s not very practical” or “you don’t have the money for that” or “so and so wouldn’t approve at all!” But I kept shushing those naysayer thoughts until my deepest desires bobbed happily to the surface. From the silly to the sublime they came, and soon I couldn’t write fast enough.
Suddenly I noticed I was grinning like a Cheshire cat. 🙂
How lovely it was to let my imagination go wild and picture such good things as being debt-free and healthy or quirky things like building my own adult-sized tree house and traveling First Class on the Orient Express while sipping Earl Grey tea and reading Agatha Christie.
Some of my dreams may never happen, but simply writing them down got my mind whirling about ways to maybe, just maybe, make them happen. I feel inspired, creative, and excited about the future, whatever it may hold. Thank you, Corrie.
Do you have any “silly” dreams? Is there one thing you could do today to get closer to making that dream a reality?
It was a Random Torrential Downpour sort of day in Fiji and I decided that rain or no rain, I was going for a walk. And not just any sort of walk. I wanted to walk in the country, away from the beautiful but polished environs of the resort to see how real people live in Fiji.
So I donned my walking shoes and comfy sundress and asked the boatman to ferry me across the straight so I could stroll along country roads.
I hadn’t gone far before the skies opened and dumped a mighty torrent. It fell heavy and warm and felt absolutely wonderful after a day spent in airports and airplanes. I strolled past boat landings and fields, tidy little farms and seemingly abandoned ones.
I love how Fijian homes are painted in gloriously bright colors, surrounded by flowering trees and bushes, their wide welcoming porches beckoning passersby in for a chat.
The countryside is breathtaking. Lush and green dotted with palm trees and checkered by sugar cane fields and family gardens.
In spite of the pouring rain I was not alone on my walk. Others strode cheerily along in their flip-flops, greeting me with beaming smiles and a hearty “Bula!” as we passed.
By the time I got back I was well and truly drenched, much to the amusement of the taxi drivers I had to squelch past on my way to the boat. But it was worth it!
There is something so peaceful about sunset on my friends farm in Australia, especially after days and days of torrential rains and flooding. It was good to see the ground become firm again after feeling like you were walking on a sponge, good to see the thick, black clouds drift away and clear blue sky take over, good to see the animals perk up, their rain-washed coats glistening in the last rays of the sun.
I liked how happy the wildflowers looked, stretching up for some sunshine.
I loved walking about just before the sun slipped down behind the hills, strolling around the gum trees glowing in the amber light, casting long, cool shadows along the lush green grass.
It was so very good to feel the sun on my face again.
That night I decided to introduce taco salad to the Aussie table and went to town to pick up hamburger and all the fixings. Alas, with the main food distribution center in Brisbane under water, farmland turned into lakes, and disintegrated roads keeping the foods trucks from getting through, many of the grocery store shelves were almost empty. I was able to get a few veggies but there was no hamburger left. Our only option was kangaroo burger (kangaroo mince to my Aussie friends). I was thrilled! 🙂
The kangaroo mince was very lean but had a consistency more similar to sausage than ground beef. I placed it in the skillet and started frying and soon a scent not unlike deer or moose wafted through the house. I added taco seasoning and kidney beans and the somewhat gamey smell virtually disappeared. Piled atop lettuces, sugar snap peas, tomato, avocado, and topped with extra sharp cheddar cheese, the taco kangaroo mince was absolutely delicious. I am officially a fan. 🙂
For more information on where to buy kangaroo meat, click here.
My favorite part of each day in Australia was morning. I would wake early to this view, stare out the window for a while then clamber out of bed and wander out to the back porch for a sit. Twas the perfect way to wake up.
If ever my friends wondered where I was, they could find me perched there looking out at the gum trees and wildflowers, listening to the kookaburras and other Aussie birds twittering away.
Nearly every morning I had breakfast out there: freshly brewed coffee with milk and wildflower honey, and pristine white bowls filled with all sorts of scrumptious Aussie fruits like mild paw paw, tart passionfruit, and sweet mangoes.
I loved gutting the paw paws with all those strange looking seeds inside, then scooping out one juicy spoonful after another of sweet, fragrant fruit.
I learned to make a drink that I’m now addicted to: 1 part mango juice to 8 parts cold club soda. Delicious and so refreshing, especially in hot weather.
Breakfast was always on the back porch, rain or shine. The dogs, Whombat and Fletcher, would join us, nuzzling in for pats before settling down for a snooze. I got to drink coffee out of my very own personalized mug. If you look at the mug below, you’ll know my Aussie nickname. 🙂
I took a short little video for you of the view from the back porch on one particularly rainy day.
When our dear friend Don announced his engagement to his fabulous girlfriend Jen, our cooking club was delighted! We were even more excited when we found out we were going to get to make the Rehearsal Dinner.
This week was our trial run and we had such fun experimenting, tasting, making notes, and giving each other tips on how to make everything just right for the big night. While we cooked, Don and Jen entertained us and kept us supplied with red wine and Brandy Alexander’s. Before long it was time to eat.
We started out with Selwyn’s fabulously fresh salad filled with all sorts of yummy bits: crispy bacon, toasted sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries.
Then it was time for the main course: Cameron’s savory Smoked Pork Tenderloin, Darren’s melt-in-your-mouth Smoked Prosciutto-wrapped Scallops, and his succulent Lemon Risotto. Deeelectable! For the real deal we’re also adding grilled and roasted vegetables.
We rounded off the meal with my Coffee Rum Creme Brulees. They tasted marvelous but melting the sugar properly didn’t quite work out. We have a plan of attack for next time to ensure smooth, glossy tops.
We’ll do everything we can to make Don and Jen’s rehearsal dinner scrumptious and beautiful.
If you’ve had a wedding, what did you eat at your rehearsal dinner?
Add rice; stir 1 minute. Add wine and stir until evaporated, about 30 seconds. Add 1 1/2 cups hot broth; simmer until absorbed, stirring frequently.
Add remaining broth 1/2 cup at a time, allowing broth to be absorbed before adding more and stirring frequently until rice is creamy and tender, about 35 minutes.
Stir in cheese and remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in parsley, lemon juice, and lemon peel.
Season risotto with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve.
Krista’s Coffee Rum Creme Brulee
Ingredients:
2 cups heavy whipping cream 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 1/2 tsp instant coffee granules, ground fine (or coffee ground fine) 4 large egg yolks 1 tsp rum 1 tsp vanilla brown sugar boiling water
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Arrange 6 ramekins in 9 x 13 metal baking pan. (MUST be metal or will not bake properly.)
In saucepan combine cream and sugar over medium heat. Bring almost to simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar.
Remove from heat, add coffee and whisk to dissolve.
Whisk egg yolks in medium bowl until just blended. Gradually stir in warm cream, then rum and vanilla.
Using large measuring cup with spout, pour equal amounts of cream mixture into ramekins.
Pour enough hot water into pan to reach halfway up ramekins.
Bake about 35 minutes then chill until cold, about 3 hours.
An hour before serving, preheat broiler.
Arrange brulees on baking sheet and gently press 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar evenly over each one.
Broil 6 inches from heat until sugar melts, bubbles and caramelizes. Watch carefully so it doesn’t burn.
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