Friday 26 August 2011

Lamenting the lost morning person.......

As my little cherubs bounced into my bed this week full of joie de vivre and the promise of a new day, I lay in my foggy morning state and lamented the days when I used to wake all bright & bushy tailed.

They come in and snuggle, wriggling with energy and ready-to-go-ness until finally I roll out of bed and begin my day hazily.

First stop is the coffee machine.

Nowadays I need all the help I can get.

Once upon a time I was like my children.

Hubster never was and it would drive me mad having to wait for him.

I hated that I felt we missed all those hours that could have been spent together....awake.

Now we both get up at the same time as our children to more or less start the day together.

When did it leave me....that ready-to-go-ness?

That ability to bound out of bed & seize the day with the same joie de vivre my children do.

I miss it......

GOURMET GIRLFRIEND'S POACHED GREEN EGGS WITH CUMIN SALT: 
This morning after I had despatched various children to various spots I came home and really fancied something delicious for brekky.  This is what I made myself.
Do you have those days...where cereal just ain't gonna cut it for brekky?
Try this...it is delicious & really pretty easy.  It would also make a delicious light dinner.  Or a great dinner if you are home alone and cooking for one!
Our bantams have just started laying again and I also had some beautiful fresh  Cavolo Nero (Tuscan Kale) so I wanted to use them together.  I love Cavolo Nero- it is probably one of my favourite greens. Do you know it? It used to be quite hard to find and we started to grow it ourselves but now it is much easier.  You can substitute it wherever you would use spinach or silverbeet.
Here are some pics of it.  I think it is really beautiful.




Did you know the key to perfect poached eggs is the freshness of the egg- it is that simple! If you have old eggs the white will dissipate in the water.  Fresh eggs congeal beautifully to make the eggs you may have only been able to achieve when you eat eggs at a Cafe.  Supermarket eggs are invariably old.  It is one of the joys of having your own chickens- you know your eggs are always super fresh!
This recipe is for one- so obviously just adjust according to the amount of people you have.
NB: for the cumin salt I roast  seeds and grind them but you can skip this if you wish.  Fresh roasted & Ground spices will always give you a superior flavour. You can make larger amounts and keep in an airtight container.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
  • 1 egg
  • 3 leaves of Cavalo Nero roughly chopped
  • 2 teaspoons cumin powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  •  a small amount of fresh coriander, roughly chopped
  • a slice of sourdough toast
  • EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar 
  • water
METHOD:


For the cumin salt just simply add the ground cumin & salt together.


Half fill a deep frypan with water, add a tablespoon of vinegar (this helps congeal the egg) and bring to the boil.

In a small frypan add a teaspoon of EVOO and gently fry the Cavolo Nero till just limp. I like to still have crunch.  Cook for longer if you prefer it softer. Remove from pan.


Pop your toast in the toaster.


While it is toasting you can poach your egg.


Reduce the water from a boil to a very low simmer. Use a spoon to create a whirlpool action in the water and then crack your egg into the centre.  I cook until when I touch the whit it is just firm...probably about 3 minutes.


Butter your toast and pop Cavolo Nero on top.

Remove egg carefully with a slotted spoon and place on top of Cavolo Nero.



Dust with a little cumin salt and fresh coriander.

Drizzle with a little EVOO.


Enjoy with a bowl of coffee!

I was listening to this at breakfast this morning.









10 comments:

  1. Yum. I LOVE cavalo nero and it will be one of the first things I plant when we FINALLY create our vegie garden. I get so bored of breakfast, my only every day essential is coffee, but I do love eggs. I'm off to the farmer's market on sunday, let's hope they have some cavalo nero for me...

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  2. I hate having to buy my eggs from the supermarket but studio apartment living doesn't allow for a garden much less chickens! I need to make it to more Farmers Markets! Maybe we can meet at the one at the Collingwood Children's Farm or Convent Gallery one month??
    Monday to Friday I eat porridge or English muffins with promite but the weekend is always special breakfast time!!

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  3. Now that's a breakfast I could jump out of bed for! So wholesome and scrumptious.

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  4. Oh how I miss those days too! I used to be the earlybird while hubby was the sleeper and now we both get up at the same time without the energy of the boys. My first thing every morning is making coffee for that energy boost while hubby feeds the little ones. I would love to have that youthful energy back, even if only for one day. xx

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  5. I have never been a morning person. Ever! But now I am trying to stay on Vic time, even though we are in WA, and get up and go for a walk on the beach before the family is awake. So far so good.
    And you know I love to start the day with a gorgeous cup of your coffee too. I thanked you on my blog just now too.
    Have a wonderful weekend. xx

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  6. Hi, I just stumbled across your blog and am enjoying it very much. I also love food, cooking and music. I have a big vegie garden, chooks and three kids and am always the one to get up early with the kids while lazy bones sleeps in! I wish I didn't drag my feet in the morning but alas these days I do! I'm not a coffee drinker but love a cup of tea preferably chai every morning. Coffee sends me nuts. I agree wholeheartedly with your no homework policy - let the children play! Anyway I am looking forward to cooking some of your recipes and listening to some new music too. All the best fromKate

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  7. Yum! I adore cavolo nero,.. unfortunately, our resident bower birds do too :((

    the cumin salt sounds divine! I shall make some for my brekkie tomorrow. (this morning hubby cooked me an egg sandwich with parmesan,..but used one of our super rich duck eggs,..and I feel sooooo unwell! bleugh!)

    xx

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  8. Now that looks DIVINE!! I am not a cereal-in-the-morning person, no. I like something a bit MORE. And I like the look of this! Yum!

    Ps. I am a morning person. But I fear the summer holidays have got their insidious lazy-tentacles around me. Ah, school in a couple of days!

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  9. Have never, in my entire life, been a morning person. All that cheeriness that early in the day, scares the bejesus outa me. Those delicious green eggs sound like lunch heaven to me. ; ) x

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  10. i'm not really a morning person...first stop coffee...unless I'm really in a good exercise groove and get up and exercise then I am on top of the world in the morning and loose some of my night owlishness. That brekky looks totally delicious...love a runny poached egg, yum! Will have to try out the cumin salt. Tatum xx

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