The HotHouse Kitchen focused on two more family favourites this week: fried rice and chili con carne. The eldest has gone off fried rice, but I love it, so he had to suck it up. It's so easy and yummy to make when you use ready steamed packets of rice. As for the chili con... Continue Reading →
So many B words
My freelance world has been a little more complicated than usual this week because the "b" key on my computer keyboard is malfunctioning. It's sticking and misbehaving. You don't realise how often you use the second letter of the alphabet until it starts playing up. I’ve been putting off going to Officeworks to get a... Continue Reading →
Imposter syndrome
I haven't been sleeping well this week. Bilbo the moxie has decided - for some unknown and totally infuriating reason - that he is scared of sleeping in the laundry after months of quite happily heading there of his own accord each night. His whining woke me at 3.30am on Wednesday morning. Then I couldn't... Continue Reading →
Scratching my Chichen Itza
I may have to stop watching the 11am COVID-19 updates on the NSW Health Facebook page. Geez they're depressing. Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll be glued to my computer screen this morning, when Gladys is apparently announcing another month of lockdown for Sydney. Sad face. I was watching yesterday’s grim report when someone rang... Continue Reading →
Soooooo many questions
It's my weekly cook-up-a-storm day in The HotHouse Kitchen. My friend's kids have been mourning the loss of takeaway, so I've come up with a menu that I hope returns some balance. I'm taking over a casserole dish of special fried rice for their dinner tonight, plus some chilli con carne that can be turned... Continue Reading →
Walk with me
I can't put into words how furious I am with the COVID protestors who effectively put us into lockdown for gawd knows how much longer with their "freedom" march on Saturday. So I'm going to let The Shovel do it for me. You’ve probably seen the meme, it’s gone viral: Hopefully COVID won’t do the... Continue Reading →
Recipe of the week: Sausage, tomato & gnocchi bake
Welcome to week two of The HotHouse Kitchen. This week I'm sharing three recipes: Pepperoni and Avocado Linguine, Sausage, Gnocchi & Tomato Bake and Roast Tomato Soup. The pasta isn't haute, but it's the youngest's favourite thing I cook. I used to make it with bacon, then chorizo, but both are off the table now... Continue Reading →
Shake, shake, shake
Back when DD travelled waaaaaay too much for work, his ritual when he landed in a new city was to order a margarita at a bar. I've never considered myself a tequila fan, but last night changed my mind about his favourite cocktail. Remember how I thought I had a virtual tequila tasting on Tuesday... Continue Reading →
The price of freedom
A friend is currently in hotel quarantine with his wife and two teenaged sons and he's drawn the short straw. While I've watched more fortune souls score apartments and balconies and even have exercise bikes delivered to their doors, my friend is doing it tough at a Sydney CBD hotel. He posted this pic on... Continue Reading →
I got it wrong
Yesterday was pretty hectic, as far as days in lockdown go. I didn't want to get out of bed because it was so bloody cold. But, once I threw off the covers, I was keen to get to my local coffee shop for the best flat white in Sydney. As I walk home sipping my... Continue Reading →