LOVE WHAT YOU DO FOR PEOPLE THAT MATTER

LOVE WHAT YOU DO, WHERE YOU ARE AND YOUR RELATIONSHIPS TO PEOPLE WHO MATTER TO YOU.

I am always fascinated by the way we act with people who are part of our lives. Perhaps we behave differently with people at home, at work, in the bus, or people we meet in strange surroundings. Often when we are in a hospital, a doctors room or at a clinic, we open up to total strangers. We tell them things our family does not know. We discuss intimate details. Sounds weird? It happens.

At home it is strange how many people put on a show for strangers only. When my kids were little I worked and in order to prepare the Friday night meal, I worked ahead . So the fridge had labels, like for Friday, do not touch the cheese cake, it is for Friday. There were dishes I hid at the back, hoping they would not be discovered……One Friday, I opened the fridge and the labels were changed. The kids decided to eat the chocolate cake and delve into the pudding. It was a good lesson. I decided that the family are the most important guests in the house. No more labels.
My sister, Helena, bakes well. There was always the walking Chocolate Cake , for friends who returned from holiday Her three guys always called them walking cakes….they walked out of the house.

One night I prepared all the food for Friday, did the table and was ready for Sabbath. At about one in the morning, burglars came in and robbed the kitchen. They suddenly realized the table was set for Sabbath, opened the fridge and sat down on the floor and ate all the food. They were interrupted by my son, returning from a date. The police had a great laugh. They could not believe they had enough conscience not to sit at the table…………………….
So do your best for those you love. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to create an ambience and good food for the people I care about. If I am too tired or rushed to make a large dinner, I make it simple, stylish and full of care for their needs. Then I go and sit down, relax or simply read the paper. The idea is to be a happy hostess, not a frazzled and exhausted one.

Try new ideas and recipes; create dishes that are nutritious and interesting. Make surprises for birthdays, their favorite dishes, individual chocolates at each place or a wicked plate of desserts. No one comes to the table with a calorie calculator.

I keep plastic containers for dishes that go home with the family. Desserts must go. I am over the age that I can have them for breakfast. Plan to have extra helpings of food if your family have a heavy week schedule. Soups, cookies, a quiche, a potato salad, home made humous, a jar of beetroot salad or home made muffins love to go home with them.

.
HERE ARE A FEW EASY IDEAS FOR DINNERS WITH FAMILY..
STARTERS………Make a quiche. Do a spinach or mushroom quiche. Cut with a round or square cookie cutter. Place on a large plate on the left. Create a little salad with a teaspoon or two of mustard on a baked potato . Decorate with sprouts. .
Mushrooms… Use rinsed and dried mushrooms. Lightly fry six garlic and two onions in a little olive oil. Not on high…… Then add the mushrooms, herb salt and pepper and two tablespoons of pesto. Fry through and serve with grated parmesan on a slice of hot toast.

MAIN COURSES.
PASTA AND SAUCES WITH A GREEN SALAD.
Families like a good portion, not the little presentations that blow your mind, but leave you starving. Make a large pot of good pasta. Add a little olive oil and salt to the pot. Drain and serve with the side dishes.
Number one is a bowl of good tomato and basil sauce. Two is chopped or grated cheese with lightly fried onions in it. Three is a dish of steamed broccoli, parsley, grated ginger and mozzarella cheese I add two tablespoons of peas and stir into a bowl. People like to select what they enjoy.
Four A mustard sauce. I make this with grated zucchini, chopped onions, garlic, a little pepper and lemon salt. Fry this all lightly in a little olive oil. I add two large tablespoons of mustard and a jar of yogurt and warm this through.
Place the sauces on a large warming plate with a ladle in each of them.

Make a large green salad, in a flat bowl. Use lettuce, parsley, chives, spring onion, red onion, cucumbers, yellow peppers and lots of mixed nuts on this. The dressing is lemon juice and olive oil with herb salt and pepper.
I keep the salad fresh and full of energy by placing a clean wet towel over it until needed.

LENTIL STEWS AND LOAVES. See the blog of 1 September 2008.

MUSHROOMS. See the blog of 10th September 2008.

Have a great week and take time to spend moments with each member of the family. Plan ahead for school and make sure you do a fun thing over the week end for the family. Love and light RONA