Healthy Living – Citrus Poached Salmon

I love salmon, and this recipe would have to be my favourite so far. It’s simple, quick to prepare and totally delicious.

Citrus Poached Salmon with Asparagus.

  1. Mix juice of one large lemon and one orange.
  2. Put aside 1/4 cup for dressing
  3. Add rest of citrus juice to pan with cup of water.
  4. Bring to simmer and add skinless salmon
  5. Simmer covered for 4 minutes
  6. Add fresh asparagus, woody part cut away
  7. Simmer covered another 4 minutes
  8. Meanwhile add finely cut up parsley to the citrus dressing and mix with salt, pepper and lemon rind
  9. Add small dollop of butter on top of salmon.
  10. Serve on plate with asparagus and drizzle with parsley citrus dressing

Enjoy! 😊 šŸ‘Œ

Healthy Living – Frittata

Vegetable and Bacon Frittata

Great dish for a warm summer day – and today is a super warm day here in Sydney.

  1. Quickly stir-fry cut up bacon, shallots and mushrooms.
  2. Add to oven proof dish and layer with cut up vegetables (I used carrots, beetroot and kale but add any you have in fridge will do. Just make sure they are even sized to cook at same time)
  3. Add chopped parsley and parmesan cheese.
  4. Whisk 6 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 1tblspoon Flaxseed meal, a teaspoon of mustard, salt and pepper together. Pour into dish. Should cover bacon and vege mix.
  5. Bake in oven till golden (about 30 mins)

Enjoy with extra parmasan cheese, parsley and a light salad

Healthy Living – Work Life Balance

images

I don’t always get this right; the work life balance.

I like to do my best and do it well, which sometimes means I end up working long hours.
But when I get a chance, I make sure I get the life balance part in.

Like right now, on my 10 day break from work.

I found myself without family this Christmas for the first time in my life, and I have to admit I struggled with the idea. Knowing I would be in a bad mood I turned down invites from well-meaning friends, and decided instead to book myself into a small cabin up the coast for the 3 days around Christmas time.

Right up until the day I was due to leave I had doubts. Was I doing the right thing? Should I stay and celebrate with friends I loved?

But I hit the road and it was the best thing I could have done. I had 3 days of pure bliss; total me time and total relaxation. My cabin was in a quiet coastal town within walking distance to a lake. You can see the photos here

Lake Budgewoi Track Walk

Sunsets at Lake Budgewoi

Birdlife on Lake Budgewoi

As soon as I arrived, I could feel myself relax, and I fell in love with the peace and quiet; the sound of nature; the sweet smell of green bush and trees along the lake; the bird life and the smooth shimmering water.

I found my life balance, and can highly recommend time alone. It may not be for everyone, but as an introvert I need it to recharge properly.

Coming back to the city has been a shock, but I am making the most of it. I live in a lovely area near the beach, and it is easy to continue the holiday balanced living when on a break.

IMG_7304

This morning I headed for the beach, and after a long walk I hopped into the ocean for a refreshing swim followed by an extra strong late at the beach cafe. I love watching people; imagining stories about them; finding new plots for future stories. Doing it on a hot summer’s day with the sound of the waves makes it so much more enjoyable.

By the time I got home I had worked up an appetite, and prepared myself some brunch to enjoy on the porch with my current read ā€˜The Obsessionā€ by Nora Roberts.

Brunch was a delicious meal of:

Organic sourdough toast
Advocado
Vegemite, a spread us Aussies love, but most of the rest of the world hate
Truss tomato sliced
Cheese
Baby spinach leaves
Strawberries

Plus another coffee, of course.

IMG_7306

Best part is I have another 3 days off before work calls me back.

Right now the Work Life balance is tipping towards life.

I hope yours is too.

See you soon. I am off to the beach again this afternoon with a friend for some reading and no doubt girly chatting šŸ™‚

Healthy Living – Mind and Body

This healthy living is hard work. Not just physically hard work, but hard work staying on track. We humans like to indulge, and I am guilty of that.

Still, it is the thought that counts, and I can say my intentions are always there.

This month is my NaNoWriMo challenge month. Last year I achieved the 50,000 words, but the muse has escaped me this month. I am about 7,000 words into my sequel to the novel I wrote last year. But the characters are no longer talking. It is hard with full-time work, but I was intent on doing it again. My mind however was elsewhere, and I chose to just go with what I felt I needed to do for myself.

It has been a full year and the usual end-of-year tiredness had set in. A personal family issue has been bothering me for the last three months. Enough to seek professional help, and it was the best I could have done for myself. The problem had left me empty, well at least not as creative as I could have been. But on the up side seeking help assisted me in maintaining a healthy mind.

So what are the main things I have learned that is helping me grow and move forward?

1. Even if you do not understand why or even agree, learn to listen and validate the feelings of others. They are real to the other person.
2. Another person’s decision and actions are not a mirror of you. It is their journey, not yours.
3. Self blame zaps your energy. You cannot change past decisions and actions. You only can affect future actions , so put your energy into them.
4. Learn to accept our roles in life are ever changing
5. Accept that we enter this world on our own and we only ever have ourselves.
6. Find peace in yourself and FOLLOW YOUR PASSIONS

I have walked a lot with the warmer weather approaching, and right now I am sitting in a park after an hour-long walk. Being outdoors is peaceful and clears any cobwebs. It is invigorating, and as your mind is part of your body, moving it improves your overall well being. Plus it awakens those creative juices.

I will continue my feeble attempt at healthy living, and looking forward to getting stuck into editing my novel in December. November for me was more National Me Month. Maybe I am onto something, NaMeMo.
How has your months been?

Healthy Living – Mushroom Lentil Dinner

Sometimes throwing together what your imagination comes up with makes the best meals. Sometimes also disasters.

Tonight turned out really delicious, so I am sharing it with you.

Fry onions and garlic till soft.

Add large cut up mushrooms and cook, moisten with water if needed.

Add brown lentils, basil, salt and pepper. Simmer under lid for fifteen minutes

Par boil cauliflower then mix into mushroom mixture

Continue simmering another five minutes.

Add dry parmesan into mixture, serve and top with shaved fresh parmesan.

Delicious, healthy and filling

Bon appetit!

en_USEnglish