Feelgood grains
I feel this morning like you do when you have a new lover in your bed. Her name is inspiration. When the alarm went off I rolled over with a smile on my face and whispered to the one next to me, “I’m going to pack lunch for R”. I warmed a rooti out of the freezer and filled it with last night’s vegetable curry. It is her favourite school lunch. What an extraordinary child? I took the recycling bags out and saw orange glimmer like certain bright hope. It echoed from the buildings, mountains and still naked trees. New ideas do that to me. They are essential to my survival.
I put on Takk by Sigur Ros and ideas, dreams and plans collided and sloshed around in my heart and head while I bathed at a time usually reserved for sleeping. Today everything seems: Possible.
There is something about newness that ignites all sorts of desires, possibilities and general good vibes. I wonder if everyone feels like this? For the longest time I used to stave off the pangs for real renewal with things like new clothes, new food, new places, new jobs… I remember myself in new food deli’s – you would swear the pink peppercorns and imported overpriced pasta would actually contribute to my life here on earth and eternal happiness.
All this year it has taken me to come to a place where I could get real about what I want and what it would take for me to get it. A place that is very quiet and very scary at first. I’ve let it go. All of my dreams. They used to fill me with anxiety. I had to sit in the frighting stillness of Not Doing for a really long time. A place that is beyond trust, because in trust there is still assumption and hope … of something changing, getting better, attainment. Beyond that there is just – being. Being connected.
And now a new idea, a new possibility has come down. I used to keep my visions so high, at such great heights, that I was assured of always having them! In their immaculate unrealised state. Hovering up there with angels, and all things unmarred by reality. But this dream is coming down and meeting me halfway. And I’m willing to let it.
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting,” says Poelho Coelho. Someone else added to that, that with each small creative act, you set in motion all of the possibilities of your desires coming to you.
PS: You should really recycle by the way – visit this site for recycling in Cape Town, they pick it up.
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Photography: Lee Malan.Styling & recipe: Aletta Lintvelt
Quinoa & smashed herb salad
Eat something really healthy and really good for you today. Did I mention tasty? This salad has been inspired by the wonderful book Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi. It is full of texture, popping flavours and comforting tastes. One day I will be happy in a little cafe of my own, inspired by him.
Prep:5 min
Cooking: 20 min
Serves: 6
GATHER
100g Quinoa (about a cup each)
100g Couscous or Bulgar wheat
Tin of lentils, chickpeas or butterbeans, drained and washed (optional)
50g Baby spinach, washed and shredded
50g Raw nuts (pistachio or almonds), dry roasted in a clean pan
1 small onion, thinly sliced
3 spring onions, thinly sliced
dash of ground cumin
salt & black pepper to taste
lime or lemon juice to taste
freshly chopped chili, to taste (about 1 small green one)
Herb dressing
PS: I use a mix of grains such as quinoa & legumes because it is full of protein. But you can also stick to one grain (brown rice for example) and just add your protein of choice such as feta or labneh balls, hard boiled eggs, seared chunks of fish or fried tofu strips to make more of a meal out of it.
Step 1: Prepare the grains individually as per packet instruction but instead of water use good quality vegetable stock. When done but still hot, stir in the spinach so that it can wilt just a bit. Cover.
Step 2: On a medium heat fry the sliced onion in a small teaspoon of olive oil & cumin for about 10 minutes or more until golden and soft.
Step 3. For the dressing: In a food processor or in a pestal & mortar pulse the herbs together.
Step 4: Mix the grains with the tinned beans. Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and black pepper. Top with the spring onions, fried onions, nuts and smashed herb dressing. To serve as a warm dish – cover with tinfoil and leave in a medium hot oven for about 15 min or until serving. Or serve immediately as a salad at room temperature with some roasted baby vegetables.
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5 Responses to “Feelgood grains”
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My son loves leftovers more than the actual meal itself. I’ll ask him at dinner if he’s had enough and he’ll say no, but I want to keep some for tomorrow rather! I really get inspired for meatless meals here – thank you.
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That salad looks so good, flavorful and healthy! I love your idea.
Cheers,
Rosa
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Your site looks fabulous. What a delicious selection of recipes and scrumptious looking photographs.
I am definitely going to visit regularly for some cooking inspiration.
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I’ve just been ogling some of you recipes – what a beautiful blog. Thanks for sharing. Can I ask where you buy smoked paprika from in ct?
Thanks- keep it up!
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aletta Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Hi Woolworths ,Pick& Pay or Atlas Trading in the Bo-Kaap stocks it. Look out for Spanish Paprika that say smoked in little tins. Keep well.
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