Creamy Polenta With Sauteed Mushrooms

Ok, I know I was supposed to work on part two of my travel post, but things have changed.  I've got other priorities right now.  Like making this creamy polenta with mushrooms. 

I like to think that I make my polenta the way the Italian grandmothers do.  Minimal ingredients.  I don't think they'd like it if I fuss around with it too much. 

The toppings for polenta are endless.  I particularly like sauteed mushrooms.  If you can get a variety of them, you've hit the jackpot.  I used a mix of button and oyster mushrooms.

Quinoa Salad Bowl

Ok, so this is what I made for my birthday lunch. It's not much of a celebratory meal, considering the fact that I'm turning the big 3-0.  Where's the cake you ask?  Well, I've been trying for a while to exercise on a regular basis again and eat healthier.  My lifestyle lately was working too much, working late, and thus, too tired (and lazy) to actually work out.  Oh, and did I also mention that the past few weeks, Jeremie's dad was in town? Travelling and moving from place to place meant we were going out for dinner every night.

Missing My Mom's Cooking- Chinese Steamed Fish

I've never missed a good home cooked Chinese dinner.  Not even when I moved to Toronto for a year.  Planning a dinner was always something like a good bowl of pasta, vegetable soup, stew, and if it came down to it, a sandwich or a bowl of cereal.  (Sorry mom).  Chinese food was never something that came to mind when thinking of what to make for dinner.  These past few months, it was all I can think of.

Home Sweet Home For Now

The past ten days after arriving in Sydney has been to say the least, stressful. We arrived at 9 am and pretty jetlagged. We made reservations at a hostel and ended up staying there for 8 days before we could move into our temporary apartment. It was my first time staying at a hostel and it wasn't as bad as I thought. We made sure to book a private room (which didn't have an ensuite bathroom). The bathrooms and kitchens were shared and everyone buys their own groceries and cooks their own meals. This kind of accomodation encourages people to be more social, although the downside is that there are some rowdy people that just want to party.