Pesto pasta of prawn, mushrooms, spinach and carrots

Developed in mid-conversation this morning, whilst my beloved was taking a shower. Inspirational quote “What is going rotten in the fridge?” – the only thing I bought was the prawns for this dish.

Ingredients:
Pasta shells
King prawns, shelled and deveined
Bag of mushrooms, sliced
Bag of spinach
2 large carrots, cut into chunks
1 bottle of good pesto
Good olive oil
Sea salt & pepper, seasoning

Directions:

Rinse the prawns (I bought them frozen from Chinese supermarket). After making sure they are relatively dry, sprinkle generously with white pepper, sea salt and olive oil. Coat all prawns and leave aside for 10 mins (at least).

Slice mushrooms. Heat (medium) up a pan with good olive oil, and sauté the mushrooms until they turn black and wilt. Add some water or stock if you prefer. There is usually a lot of moisture, but don’t stop there! Keep cooking the mushrooms until the water is absorbed back into the mushrooms. Scoop onto a dish and set aside. You will find that the cooked mushrooms are now 1/3 of its uncooked size. (That’s ok, just budget for 3 times as much next time! :) ).

Cut the carrots into chunks. I found the best way to cook carrots is actually in the microwave. Put them in a bowl, glad wrap and 3 minutes (HIGH). After 3 minutes, remove and toss. Put back into the microwave for 2.5mins (HIGH). Leave in microwave until needed.

Bunging the pasta (I am the worst offender for pasta sticking!).

If using a bag of 500g pasta, I find that 1.5 litre of water, boiling rapidly in a deep pot, with a good dash of oil (cheapo, like canola) and good sprinkle of table salt is foolproof (or just Ai-Ling-proof). Funnies aside, make sure all the above is happening before you throw in the pasta. Bung the pasta for 10 – 15 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent sticking. If using fresh pasta, 3 – 5 minutes is enough. Sample one, the texture should be sort of chewy & soft but still firm, and not make you want to drink water afterwards (or otherwise known as al dente).

In a hot wok or pan, quickly stir-fry the prawns. This should only take about 5 minutes, or until the prawns turn colour.

In the last few minutes of cooking the pasta, place the spinach above the steaming pot (in a colander or similar) and let the spinach wilt. Drain excess moisture from the spinach.

Throw the cooked pasta, spinach, mushrooms and carrots into the wok with the prawns. Mix everything well with pesto, adding more olive oil if needed.

Serve in a bowl to your lucky dinner buddy. Hand them a spoon and ask them to start shovelling.

A day of domesticity

Time: 4.48pm
Day: Rainy Wednesday
Location: home
Playing: Ben Lee (Awake is the New Sleep)

For the first time for a long time, I took a sickie today. I have been battling some sort of evil New Zealand strand flu virus (self-diagnosed, with snippets from the news of what is going around at the mo) for the better of 2 weeks, and I decided that today, after many days of soldering on to the office, and having likely given everyone else at work a run for their immune system, I decided to stay home. It was probably the best decision I’ve made in the last week or so. Hmm… says a lot doesn’t it?

Anyways, I made my beloved breakfast (porridge and tea), got in the car to do some errands, and dropped the boy at school. Did I mention I am sick? Well yes, being sick as a adult is obviously a far cry from the days my mum taking me to Dr Yap in Petaling Jaya (because he WAS the only doctor that made me better), and going home and getting fed porridge. Being sick, and being an adult involves wagging work, so that you can get some rest… pay the bills, pick up groceries, fold the laundry, rearrange the drawers, wipe every surface in the house (because dust magically appears over every damn thing that isn’t covered!), and make dinner. Phew!! Nigella might call this “Domestic Goddess-ness”, but honestly, it’s left me feeling like a part-time Maria with a head cold.

Okay, so it wasn’t that bad. I did lie on the couch and watch a DVD and flick channels (daytime TeeVee sux big time!), had 2 cups of coffee and did some more lying. What I also managed to do was sort out my bookshelves which has been on my to-do list only since 2003. Tick.

My next task after writing this blog – Attack of the VISA Card Bills. That’s right guys, I am finally going to sort out my spending habit for the last year. NO, I am not a control freak, I am an accountant. And I just can’t think of what else to do (lightning striking somewhere in the world). Oh yes. Also been meaning to load up a whole bunch of photos, but that’s just too scary. Maybe another day…

That’s it from me now.

Big shout out to Johann- Hey babes, thanks for the big wrap on your blog. I am so glad you decided to start one because I love your mind!!!!! Mr. Left-field over here! Can’t wait to read your stuff. Of course, nothing beats the real thing, but I’ll take it anyway.

x

Sniffly girl.

Hi hi! It’s 1am on a Sunday morning, I am surfing away on the internet, whilst my beloved is watching Rage on telly. Interesting stuff. For all those who never spent time in Aussie-land, and had the pleasure to watch telly here, Rage is a music program that runs on weekends only (Fri & Sat days, midnight – 8am). I have only watched the entire segment three times in all my 8 years here! My beloved is also especially pleased these days as they have American World Championship Poker on every Saturday night. Me thinks he secretly likes to be a good card player – or learn to be a master in bullshit artistry.

I am also at the moment, suffering from the sniffles. I think I must have sneezed out about a pound of snot, and my nose is raw and red, and still leaking. Dammit! I’ve said this countless times - the weather here is shite! Hot all the way till the end of April, and bang! suddenly we are down to 2 degrees in the mornings. Freaking great!

Btw (by the way), big thank you to all those who trotted along to watch Star Wars with me on Friday night. I am very contented at the moment, though the thought of rushing out to rent A New Hope did spring to mind a couple of times this morning. I have been disallowed by my beloved, who thinks I’m obsessed. I am.

I also have the tendency to think a lot when I’m ill (mainly along the lines of “fuck, why do I have to be sick?”, “I wonder if I can detach my nose and put it in a glass of water beside my electric toothbrush till it stops leaking”). You know, normal stuff. No, I am actually thinking of how much injustice there is in this world. About being human. Having morals. About why people with power often do stupid things with them. Use and abuse. It makes me really angry. And sort of useless.

Anyways, I am off to bed already. My fingers and toes are cold as ice, and there no better place to be but under the doona. Be happy everyone, tell that someone you love them!

A bit of a spew

Hi all! I am fast wondering if I should be abandoning this idea of keeping a blog. It’s not that I have nothing to say – it’s more like I have nothing useful to contribute to the world. What would all my whining and whinging do for this world? I am sitting in front of a computer writing! I mean, at some point in my life, I envision myself going over to Africa or India volunteering for World Vision or something. Or maybe to Haiti to visit my sponsor child. Or maybe volunteering my time to a ‘cause’. But it just feels like hard work. How selfish does that sound? See, this has been my kinda week. My subconscious drifting in and out these useless thoughts, on a daily basis – now that I’m 26, I’m officially over the ‘young 20s’, not over the hill, but the next crucial 5 years before you officially have to start tut-tting at young, irresponsible 18-yr-olds (apologies to those who are 18, I truly am envious!). What does one do if they do not want to get married and have babies? I can’t watch the news anymore, it’s so depressing. I can’t wait to get over this blah stage.

By the way, I have a compelling urge to say this – May the Force Be With You. The final instalment of George Lucas’s Star Wars is upon us. Whilst I’m really eager to watch it, I don’t want it to end. In truth, it’s not the end, because then you go the video store and get A New Hope. But to make the final instalment a big baddie!! Woarr… I suppose it’s a good marketing ploy. And something so enticing about the dark side…AND a really yummy actor to boot. I’ve read reviews that Lucas has finally stopped writing crappy love lines (thank GOD!). I quote Harrison Ford “You can read this on a script, George, but you can’t say this shit”.

I hope I’m in a better mood by the end of the week.

"The Emancipation of Ai-Ling"

May 10, 2005

MAY 6 will now forever be a special date for me. My day of freedom, to know I never need to open another book that deals with accounting, IF I choose not to. You see, now in my newfound freedom state, I’ve had time to ponder the aftermath of a 3-year CA battle. It wasn’t any particular rocket science. But asking a 20-something to voluntarily lock oneself away every week night and weekend studying over 20 hours a week (at least) whilst holding a full time job AND try to have a life? This is what you get instead – resentment, anger, self-pity, whiny comments like “why is everyone having more fun than me?”, mood swings that can swing an axe… well, you get the picture.

But when it’s all said and done… hey, I’m glad I did it. I fulfilled a promise I made to myself when I was still at school (I’ve since learnt that what you want as a kid, is not necessarily as attainable as first seemed!). I now have time to explore other pleasures in life – food, music, travel and art. My first stop, New York City this July to visit my best friend. It’s only been 4 years since I’ve said I’d visit!

I am a CA people, speak now or forever hold your peace. We will never utter that word again!! For all those who stood by me and always told me to just “get on with it”, THANK YOU very much because you always knew that all I needed was a whinge!!

p/s: I would like to personally thank Amy for the subject Title :) Cool cut btw, Mei!