Easy Shakshuka

I’m never in the mood for complicated dishes. More so right now. I was out all morning/early afternoon running errands. Carrying all the grocery shopping up the stairs isn’t how I would like to spend the first part of this Valentine’s Day but there you go. I don’t expect anything else mind you, I like when my days are full with things to do, although I must say today I feel somewhat under the weather, after a few sleepless nights. I’ve tried everything, from a calming brew of herbal tea to lavender essential oil, but nothing seems to work. Part of it is that my mind just doesn’t stop and I’m finding it so hard to wind down at the end of the day. Some of this comes with keeping on with my reading, writing, thinking and jotting down mental notes throughout the day, especially late into the evening. I know some of my readers and blogger friends are nodding in firm agreement. I can almost hear and see you my friends. I find a kind of gentle reassurance in that, although I do wish everyone plenty of peace and rest. Always.

Advertisement

Spaghettini with Roasted Aubergines and Courgettes, topped with Pan-fried Cherry Tomatoes

A little while ago I went crazy with the oven and roasted anything and everything I could think of. OK, not exactly everything, but pretty close. Hopefully, because hope never dies down, the weather will start cooling down very soon and the oven will start working on overtime. I know I’m not the only one who thinks that oven roasted food is not only convenient but also always seems like a proper meal. It’s homey, cozy and comforting in a good way.

Coffee Date #4 and a Tuna, Cucumber and Olive Salad as a bonus

I think it’s time for a coffee update. Have I told you how much I enjoy writing these? And today I really need this. So while listening to the Mood Booster playlist by Spotify, just because the classical one was becoming a bit too much, I’m here for a little chat. Preferably over an iced latte. This is a long one, but this is how I originally wrote it so I hope you do have a little read.

Easy Mediterranean Spaghettini

When I started writing this post, I had something totally different planned, but I decided to be spontaneous and changed my mind. Right now. I don’t even know if I’ll manage to post this today. Today as in Wednesday. Sometimes I feel so rushed during the day, that this blog is the first to take the hit. Unfortunately so I always say, as C&T is where, to a certain degree, I feel myself the most. I feel glad about this, because I never wanted to lose myself in here. Let me rephrase that: I never want to present anything that is not me. The food in the photos is never wasted, always eaten by us and/or friends and family. I share, because I love to, I want to, and of course, because I cannot justify eating a whole cake by myself. Well…

So let’s take a little break from cake and let me give you this.

Raw Carrot and Date Truffles (GF)

I usually work best during the afternoons. I’m a bit strange that way – I’m not a morning person nor an evening person. I’m somewhere in between. This applies during the colder months. When the weather starts getting warmer, plans like these go loopy and then it’s either late in the evening/well into the night, or insanely early in the morning. So the question I’m currently asking myself is what gave me the idea to start writing at 15.00 hrs? My upbeat playlist on Spotify isn’t even helping. I’m about to resort to slapping myself in the face to try to wake up. Please note: at this very minute it’s 18.26. Yep…p..p..

I find myself channelling Caitlin Moran‘s special power (one of my favourite people on this Earth) to put thoughts into words – eloquence and genius all in one. No success. Moran 1/ Briffa 0.