Simple.

Welcome to ‘The Chronicles of a Reluctant Housewife’ where I document my love/hate relationship with my current occupation.

Today marks the first Year of the Housewife ala Sadie. 

So far today I have done three loads of laundry and baked the second layer of our anniversary cake and done some light cleaning. 

It’s been a long year.  I’ve learned a lot about myself and marriage. 

But for now, I think I will keep those lessons to myself. 

Over-sharing will re-commence on Monday.  We are promised a beautiful weekend full of sun and humidity and I plan on relishing every second.  Sundresses at the ready!!!

Morning Fantasies

There is a moment in the morning where all is right with the world.  Pete is in the process of rolling out of bed and the sun is brightening the room despite the blinds.  I can stretch out into my preferred diagonal position and relish having the whole bed to myself for these moments.  The neighbourhood is waking around me.  The birds singing in the garden in the back, water gurgling down the pipes from upstairs and next door’s showers, the boiler exhausting into the side return outside our bedroom window, and then it starts.  Voices erupt from the next door’s kitchen (just below our bedroom window).  I mean, it is just toast.  Does it warrant actual screaming and swearing and ganging-up? Could we not have a morning without broadcasting your dysfunction to your bed-lounging neighbours?

Every. Single. Morning.

I try not to get too annoyed by these daily morning disputes spilling into my auditory space, as I assume that our family (when we get around to adding to it) will also be a loud family, but I would hope that we could manage to get out of the house most mornings without a full-on screaming match. 

I’m dreaming aren’t I?  Don’t tell me.  Let me enjoy the fantasy. 

Sadie's Kitchen

I'm hungry today.  I want to eat every meal on our list this week all at once.  Instead, I am posting some photos of dishes that seemed to warrant a photo at the time.  It's a safe bet I wasn't as ravenous as right now.  Because right now, the idea of taking photos of the plate before diving in (in fact, who needs a plate? I have been known to eat directly out of the pot, although I usually managed to get the pot to the couch.) seems like a huge waste of time. 

But here you go, recipes to follow the next time I decide to add them to the meal list.  Most of these I make frequently, but I still pull the recipe out each time, even if I never look at it.  That way, if something goes wrong, I can blame it on the oven or the stove because obviously it wasn't me, I was *following* the recipe.  No operator's error here.


This first one is a staple soup for the rainy/cold months (so every week).  In the winter we enjoy at least one soup a week in lieu of big comfort food dishes.  They prove just as comforting but keep the winter insulation layer to a minimum.

Carrot, Red Pepper and Cumin Soup

Counter to that, in the warmer months we make big salad dishes twice a week.  This one is a bit of an ongoing experiment.  The first time I fried the chorizo to within an inch of their 'lives' to accidentally create a new kind of crouton.  Still good.  Is chorizo ever not good?  It's like bacon. 

Chorizo and Roast Veggie Salad

In more chorizo adventures, this is the dish we take to all BBQ/Picnic to which we are invited.  This summer (i.e. those two weekends in April that made us all believe we may actually get a summer this year.  Silly us.) we made this three times in two weekends.  Love it!!!!

Chorizo Potato Salad

This next one is also a staple.  It's different everytime, but always good.  This was the first time we added beansprouts (they were hanging around the fridge threatening to go slimy).  Pete usually handles this meal.  I do the cabbage underneath, but Pete mixes the sauce depending how he is feeling that day (the secret is in the sauce).

Soy Chicken on a bed of Savoy Cabbage

I haven't made this next one in a while, but it always surprises me.  It is a simple recipe, if I am remembering correctly, but the flavours are awesome.  Of course, fresh dill is mandatory, no exceptions. 

Courgette and Prawn Pasta

I am in no way a chef/foodie, but I think these attempts put my single-gal one-pot boiling cooking to shame.  Still eating on the couch, though.  Baby steps.  Baby steps to the kitchen table. (Anyone else have a flash to 'What about Bob?' there?)  Funnily enough, it would only take a baby step to reach the kitchen table, but we still prefer to carry dinner up eight steps to the couch.  A mindful attempt to insert exercise into our daily lives or an addiction to 'Friends' repeats? 

Maybe we just focus on the food here?  Agreed?

With that, I am heading to the kitchen to rustle up another chorizo dish.  We may have two addictions to deal with...

Longest Day

I know you have been dying to know what I have been getting up to, but I have to say it hasn't been much.  It's a busy week here at the TWE house (which means it's probably the level of semi-busy for everyone else).  We are in full-time throes of visa extension paper collection.  I know.  It's so glamorous.  You're jealous, it's okay.  Today I am scanning a year's worth of bank statements from three different bank accounts.  Can you stand it? 


With all this paper-based fun we did manage to squeeze in some actual paper-based fun.  We went to Royal Ascot this past weekend with some lovely friends as a joint anniversary/birthday celebration.  We got a tad soaked on arrival, but the sun came out and the day went swimmingly.  We were in shoe-throwing distance of the Queen (although we would never think of actually throwing a shoe at her majesty) and Pete won on a semi-longshot horse, meaning we came out slightly ahead.  Plus, there were hats to be worn. 

Her Majesty the Queen

Pete's horse winning, which he missed.  He was standing in line somewhere.

Sadly, this next photo is the best we got of my full ensemble.  As you can see, it was at the end of the day and we were getting a little sloppy.  Nothing too embarrassing, just partaking in the tradition of going from classy to trashy when betting and alcohol are involved. 

That's classy!

There were no Eliza Doolittle moments to be had, sadly.  We couldn't swing an invite to the Royal Enclosure and I was never really clear about how my horse was doing in the course of the race.  I shouted general encouragement which was lost admist the roar of the Grandstand. 

That should hold you for a few days, yes? 



You want more? 

my DNA source

Thirty years ago today, on the longest day of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere), my parents got married with flowers in their hair.  (I would show you a wedding photo, but they were Polaroids and might be lost in a box somewhere. Hippy days in San Fran will have to do.)

Happy Anniversary, you crazy kids!!! 

Desperate

It's Friday! Welcome to ‘The Chronicles of a Reluctant Housewife’ where I document my love/hate relationship with my current occupation.

I’m watching Desperate Housewives of Orange County.  I don't know why.  It's a car wreck.  If you are ever feeling bad or uncomfortable in your life and marriage, watch this.  It is guaranteed to make you feel better about yourself.  That’s not to say that I am feeling bad or uncomfortable, the complete opposite actually, but there it is.  I am also currently battling a migraine (TV and computer screen are probably not the best weapons) and the meaningless buzz in the background keeps me from thinking about the pain behind my eyes. 

I wasn’t feeling this post today.  The headache was getting too much and nothing was really flowing.  I decided to pack it in and take a shower and start on my to-do list for the day.  As it turns out, I ended up taking a very long steamy shower and was still sweating 10 minutes later.  I had applied some of that gradual tan lotion and was waiting for it to dry before pulling on my outfit for the day, which means that I was walking around the house in my undies.  (No, you won’t be getting a photo of that.  What kind of girl do you take me for?)  In a rare move, I was wearing a matching set and caught my reflection.  I have to admit, I wasn’t horrified.  Here’s what happened next…

I finished doing my hair and started in on make-up, deciding to try out a more dramatic look for tomorrow’s races.  So there I was in my matching undies, hair and make-up looking pretty good and some house cleaning to do.  I also wanted to clean my ring and the best way of doing that is to clean the bathroom.  I’m serious.  The ‘grime and lime’ formula makes Betty shine.  If you know me, you know what happened next. 

I put on Madonna’s greatest hits and started cleaning and dancing…in my undies.  I might be a Desperate Housewife afterall.

Royal Ascot this weekend.  Hats!  Yeah!! 

100

I have been putting off writing because this will be my 100 post.  That seemed momentous and so I wanted the post to be momentous as well.  But let’s be honest.  It’s just a number.  Just like my weight, which has stayed the same for the last five weeks, is just a number.  I have a tendency to want things to align in some meaningful way.  But let’s be honest, it’s better when things align on their own than when you force them.  So I’m giving in and writing and it may or may not be a good post. 

Today I had an interview.  I haven’t had an interview for about seven years.  I was nervous to say the least.  I picked out my outfit on Monday.  I watched the forecast all week.  Monday through Wednesday was gorgeous.  This morning it was pissing it down.  Great.

I got dressed, did my hair and makeup.  As an aside, I realize that getting up and doing my hair and make-up everyday is actually practice for when I actually have to look presentable.  It takes the stress out of it when it counts.  Amazing, right? I go on.  I kept my tidy cardigan in my purse (so I wouldn’t sweat under my rain mac) and wore big clogs (to keep myself out of the water), my cute heels in a bag.  I had my rain hat and umbrella.  I was fully prepared.  I had planned enough time (triple the travel time) to get to there and make a stop in the restroom to change.  Here’s what actually happened.

 Public transport was working slow, due to rain.  Because, you know, rain in London is a rarity and they haven’t quite figured out how to deal with it yet.  So by the time I got to the interview building I only had about 10 minutes before the interview was about to start.  There was no one at the reception desk and no signs.  The only direction I had received from the interviewers was to report to so-and-so in room ___.  So I decided to head up to the room.  A nice woman noticed I was looking a bit lost and pointed me the way.  But when I stepped off the elevator I found myself stuck between two security doors.  Hmmm.  The only phone number I had was a general HR number.  I had no other option.  I called and said I was stuck.  They said they would send someone to fetch me.  Then they asked me the colour of the walls.  What??!! 

It was getting really late now.  I still had to change my shoes and put on my cardigan and check the hair and make-up after the rain-soaked journey.  So I decided to change in the hall between the security doors.  The shoes were very clunky and I was wearing bright white socks with them.  Not the first impression I was going for.  As I was pulling on the cardigan, my coat and bags in a pile around my feet, a lovely secretary came to my rescue. 

From there, things went fairly smoothly.  The interview was okay.  It was all very proper and official for a one-day-a-week-for-seven-months job.  A three person panel, at the end of a long room.  One woman was very warm and engaging, a man that had a very straight face, although did smile a few times, and another woman that didn’t say much and was a bit fidgety and distracted.  Either I wasn’t engaging or she way dying for the loo.  She did rush out behind me, so maybe it was the loo.

As I was heading out, the next candidate was waiting in a three-piece suit.  A bit of an over-kill I thought, but then maybe I under-killed it.  Time will tell.  By the way, by the time I got home (30 minutes later) it had stopped raining and the sun was out.  Nice timing.

I came home and attempted a cheesecake, baked in water.  But that’s another story. 

So not momentous, but fairly typical. 

Shop Well

It’s Friday!!   Welcome to ‘The Chronicles of a Reluctant Housewife’ where I document my love/hate relationship with my current occupation.

And…Scene. *movie clapper*  Demon day ended much as it began.  Unexpectedly.  I finally dragged myself off the couch and went for a run (mostly because I have a dress to fit into for Ascot next week and it might be a stretch) and then everything that comes after the run (stretching, showering, etc) which led to more activity and by the time Pete came home I was feeling slightly better and really looking forward to our Turkey Tacos (we have gotten almost too healthy over here) followed by the last big slice of ginger cake with vanilla thick cream. 

As with last week.  I don’t feel like I have much Housewifey stuff to talk about today.  At the book club last week we discussed this term, ‘housewife’ a bit.  Why do I feel like a housewife now when I am pretty much doing everything I did when I was a student?  I guess the answer is, before, the housewife stuff (chores, food, etc.) was a side venture to my studies, now it is my only focus beyond job searching and putting off writing.  And I guess I prefer the housewife title to the job-seeker title.  Maybe if I was a competent sewer or hobbyist of some sort, the housewife stuff would again be a side venture but, I don’t really have any hobbies.  It was one of my resolutions for this year to find a hobby I really enjoyed.  Six months down and I’m not quite there yet.  Still searching. 

But I do have to say that since taking on the Housewife title I have enjoyed cooking more and more.  I still detest creating the meal plan for the week but I do enjoy the actual cooking.  I am trying out new recipes each week and have started making notes for the next time.  I know this doesn’t sound like a big deal, but this is coming from the girl that thought throwing some canned tuna and frozen peas into Kraft Mac n Cheese was gourmet. 

In light of this budding hobby I am going to let you in on my meal strategy.  I know you didn’t ask, but I’m putting it out there.  Here is why I call it a strategy.  A fridge that is full but cannot offer up a meal is a huge annoyance to me.  Before I learned to cook, I didn’t notice this phenomenon, but now it drives me a bit looney.  Actually, now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure my single-hood fridge was a victim but since I considered a bowl of instant rice or popcorn a suitable dinner, I didn’t notice.  If your fridge suffers from this disease, here is the cure. 

Move into a flatshare where you get two shelves in the fridge, one shelf in the freezer and one cupboard to store all your food.  I’m completely serious.  Okay, if you don’t want to sell your home and move into a flatshare, downsize your fridge or, at the very least, declare particular DFZ (de-foodized zones) shelves in the fridge and cupboards.  Here’s why.  When you have limited space you really have to pay attention and plan ahead in order for you not to waste food or money. 

Sit down with your partner or family and think about what is coming up in the week.  If that isn't possible, sit down with yourself and a nice cup of tea or coffee or whatever.  How many meals need to be provided from your kitchen?  Do you have dinner dates or potlucks or whatever?  Do you make breakfast and lunch everyday or do you purchase?  Do you need left-overs for lunches? You get the picture.

Now, decide what those meals will be.  I know this sound Herculean if you have a bunch of people to satisfy, but it is possible.  We do this a few ways.  We have a running list of meals we have a hankering for, or really love, or want to try out.  This has been built up over the past five years.  When we started planning meals we did the same three every week; ‘spag bol,’ sweet ‘n’ sour chicken from a jar over instant rice, lasagna and then some take-away.   We have progressed a bit since then.  When planning the meals, don’t worry about figuring out which meal will happen when, just know that you need to come up with 6 dinners, 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 potluck, etc.  You may also take a look in your fridge and freezer and cupboards and see if there is something that needs to be used.  It may also help to make sure you have quick meals as well as time-consuming meals.  So those nights when you just can’t be asked, you know there is a fast meal waiting.

For example, this is what we had down for this week (pay no attention to the effort required, I obviously have more time on my hands than some).

Chicken Pad Thai

Chorizo & butternut salad

Egg, spinach & pepper bake

Carrot & bean soup with leek & feta toast

Turkey taco kit

Pork chop, butternut & tenderstem broccoli

Prawn stirfry (precut veggies and sauce packet)

Pete buys his breakfast and lunch during the week.  I have porridge and blueberries every morning and left overs for lunch or a salad with tuna.  This week I left out the dessert, but we still had half the ginger cake from last week.

Next, figure out what you need to make these meals happen.  What ingredients do you already have?  What do you need to get?  Make a list of what you need to complete these meals. 

That’s it.  Your food shopping list is done and you know that everything you buy is going to be used by the end of the week.  Every time you open the fridge you know that there is a meal that can be made.  It takes the guess work (and so some of the stress) out of meal prep.  Yes? But here's the thing, you still have to go to the store and purchase it all.  With list in hand and meals planned out, I find we don't wander aimlessly up and down the aisles just buying random stuff that looks good.  We also always go together.  I know this isn't possible for everyone, but we go together and we have a system while we are there that we have honed so that we are normally done with groceries (door to door, and we walk there and back) in an hour.  Pete heads straight for the fruit, I gather up the veggies.  We head to the meat which Pete picks out while I move through dairy.  We meet up in the grains, discuss and move off again.  We usually end up in paper goods, take one last look on the list and then Pete heads to a check out line while I run for whatever we forgot.  In line, I pack (four bags at most since we are walking the stuff home), he pays and we are off.

So there it is.  That’s our strategy.  If all goes well, we have a fairly empty fridge by the time we go to the grocery each week and have enjoyed some nice meals with minimal stress. 

Go forth!  Plan, cook, enjoy.