Current obsessions

Music
The Piano Guys - Beethoven's 5 Secrets
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour (especially Heart Attack - on my gyming/jamming mix)
Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People
Simple Song - The Shins
David Garrett - November Rain

Food
Yummy pasta salads galore this week for lunch.  I had left over supper for lunch today and I was so disappointed...missed my pasta salad
Otherwise I'm feeling a little uninspired food wise...but spring is temptingly close along with lots of awesome braai food again
Oh yes, and I tried my hand at cooking both Fillet Steak (melt in the mouth tender, very mild flavour) and Rump Steak (yum, yum, chew, chew...)  I think I can cook Fillet Steak really nicely now (smokey hot griddle pan coated with sugar & butter (!), seal the outsides, put on a place cover in tin foil and rest a few minutes in a slightly warmed oven).  But the Rump Steak needs trying again - pity it's such a difficult cut to find in Sweden.

Technology
My new "little" point and shoot camera  - a Samsung WB690 "super zoom" camera
I saw a real life Asus Zenbook last weekend - lust at first sight!  Only question is which colour?

Clothing
I love wearing this jersey (I have it in this colour and in black)

Cardigan - från H&M

http://www.hm.com/se/s/02FPGV

En lång cardigan i trikå med struktur. Fickor fram.

www.hm.com

Beauty Products


The Body Shop - White Musk Libertine
This is my spring/summer scent for 2012.  I've even splurged and bought the matching shower gel and body lotion!

I've also signed up for a monthly Glossy Box.  My first one arrived this week.  It's got some really lovely products to try out - even two full size samples!  Definitely got my money's worth this month.

Yum

On Friday evening I got my first home delivery of ecological, semi-locally produced veggies and fruit. I liked the mix of ingredients that came in the box.  It sent me on a bit of spree this weekend looking for ideas for using the different ingredients.  The box included a few items I've never cooked with before, namely fresh asparagus and rhubarb.  

First dinner using some of my goodies...I really enjoyed this meal.

And then mister found the empty box...and the inevitable happened.

So far I have made grilled asparagus (as a side to pepper steak) and a rhubarb pie.  I definitely found that getting the box inspired me to loads more home cooking.  I won't be getting a regular box just yet as I'm sure most of the stuff would go off before we got around to using it.  But as a catalyst for some inspiration I might just order the occasional box.

Market Day

Today we visited Hötorgshallen - an indoor food market in central Stockholm.  We bought some Oxtail as I am planning to make an Oxtail Potjiekos tomorrow.

The recipe I am going to try out can be found here:
http://funkymunky.co.za/potjierecipes.html

After wandering around the hall we walked around Stockholm for a little bit.  All the streets have been decorated with their Christmas lights.

It was -8C in Stockholm today, so we didn't wander around empty handed for very long.  We went to Chokladfabriken for my favourite of favourite indulgences...hot chocolate made from pieces of chocolate melted with steamed milk and flavoured with a Rum Ball.  Yum...I had a white chocolate one again.  Next time I think I'll have to give the Milk Chocolate one as the OH tried it and was suitably impressed.

Snack box

Inspired by www.graze.com

Menu Week 41

Monday

Lunch: Salami & Brie Rolls

Salami, brie and a sliver or two of red pepper on a roll.

Dinner: Pesto Crusted Chicken Breasts with veg

Set oven to 200C. Parboil some potato wedges. Roast potato wedges and carrots. Cover chicken breasts with basil pesto and freshly ground black pepper. Roast for 20-30 minutes depending on the thickness of the chicken. Serve with some steamed peas.

Tuesday

Lunch: Ham Rolls & a Side Salad

Dinner: Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta

Cook pasta in a saucepan of boiling, salted water, following packet directions, until tender. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup liquid.

Return pasta to pan over medium-low heat. Add reserved liquid, light cream, pesto, spring onion, shredded chicken and thinly sliced sun-dried tomato. Stir to combine. Cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Divide between bowls. Top with parmesan and thinly sliced spring onion.

Wednesday

Lunch: Chinese Noodles with stirfried veg

Stir-fry thai style frozen veggies in lime juice, sweet soy sauce & sweet chili sauce. Serve on Chow Mein Noodles.

Dinner: Meditteranean Pasta Bake

Cook penne pasta. Brown some mince and lightly fry a colourful combination of red, yellow and green peppers, onions, aubergines & zucchini. Sprinkle with dried basil & oregano. Pour over a can of tomatoes. Sprinkle with a little sugar. Mix the veg & the pasta together. Cover with grated mozzarella cheese & crumbled feta. Sprinkle a little ground paprika on top. Bake in the oven until the cheese melts.

Thursday

Lunch: Cous-cous Salad

Prepare cous-cous according to instructions (I like to add a little lemon juice to the water as it gives the cous-cous a little flavour). I make a salad of very finely chopped ingredients (tomato, cucumber, red onion and peppers) and crumbled feta. Top with slices of grilled chicken. Serve with a yoghurt-based dressing.

Dinner: Take Away

Friday

Lunch: L/O Pasta Bake

Dinner: Steak, oven-baked wedges, creamed spinach & garlicy mushroom sauce

Brown mushrooms over a medium heat in a herb mixture of your choice. Add a little crushed garlic (I use 1 clove). Fry lightly. Coat the mushrooms with flour and then pour medium cream over the mushrooms. Heat through gently and let thicken before serving on top of the steak.