Monday 24 June 2013

Winter Weekends


On Sunday we headed out as a family to one of our absolute fave family destinations.

It has been SOOOOO cold in Melbourne the last week..

Freezing frosty starts followed by clear blue, crisp aired days.

Really lovely actually.

I guess in some ways the natural reaction is to hunker down at home and snuggle on the couch.

But our house, already very small, is compromised even more for space while we build extra.

The renovation is SUPER exciting and it is really coming along but we have no yard and staying inside all weekend at our place with 7 people for days at a time is challenging to say the least.

We ate breakfast got dressed and all headed off playing 20 questions and I spy galore as we drove into town.  The big ones adjusting the games for the littles. Me & Mr Girlfriend talking in the front as if sitting privately in our little cocoon up the front of the bus.  Happy times.

We headed to the Melbourne Museum.

My favourite display this time was the AMAZING Designs of VCE students. It finishes this weekend so if you can I highly recommend a look.

Two hours of fun and a quick Yum Cha lunch on the way home.

Weekend perfection.

Mr Girlfriend and I decided we needed to make Sunday our 'Outing day'. We came home with plenty of time to still do jobs but felt like we had a really full & happy day.

Usually we tend to stay at home and catch up on the relentless and never ending 'jobs' here at home and sometimes feel a bit like we are chasing our tails and then it's back to work before we know it.
It makes the weekend feel a little like a rip off!

So now I need to research the kinds of places that suit our family for our outings.

I was thinking next weekend a little bushwalk would be nice.  Another fave family thing to do that has been WAY too long since the last time.

What did you do on the weekend?

Do you have a regular 'Outing Day'.

Cream of Broccoli Soup with Fried Hot Salami:
Along with the chilly weather comes the desire for super soup season.
I  love soups and would be happy to eat them every single lunch time.
Today I really was craving a Creamy soup.
This soup has a little chilli kick but you can omit if it is not your thing.  And omit the Salami if that is not your thing either!
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

  • 500gms Broccoli
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/2 onion chopped roughly
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 2 cups stock (chicken or veg)- you may need a little more depending on what consistency you like your soup
  • 4 tbspns cream
  • S & P
  • 1/2 tsp chilli flakes
  • 10 slices good quality hot salami or chorizo

METHOD:
In a large sauce pan add butter and melt over medium heat.

Add onion & garlic & chilli flakes and fry till translucent.

Chop the broccoli- including the stem (just trim the woody end).

Add to pot. Stir through and add the stock so it just covers the broccoli.

Season and bring to boil.  Boil till just tender so the broccoli remains luminescent green.  It tastes better this way and retains more if it's nutrients too.

While Broccoli is cooking, slice the salami and cut into matchsticks and dry fry in a non stick pan- I didn't add any oil as it has plenty of it's own that will render as you fry.  Fry for a couple of minutes until it looks as if it is crunchy. Set aside to use as a garnish.

Once Broccoli is soft, remove from heat and blitz using a stick mixer.  

Now add cream and blitz again, check seasoning.

Serve with a few strips of the Fried Salami.

6 comments:

  1. Tammy Willersdorf26 June 2013 at 17:41

    We've just started to make Sunday our 'Outing Day' too.

    We visited the Melbourne Museum a couple of weeks ago which we all loved.

    We have a Zoo membership so we sometimes do the drive to Healesville and watch the Birds of Prey demonstration, the kids love it, then a quick bite at Giant Steps before the drive home.

    Last Sunday we went and saw The Archibald Prize at the Mornington Art Gallery. It was great, there were questions about some of the artworks to get the kids involved, some art appreciation, thinking about what they can see and what some of the symbols may mean. We then had a play at the beach and then a lovely relaxing lunch at a winery and then home in time to do the grocery shopping, laundry folding etc., just bliss.

    Not sure what is in store for us this weekend ...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yum! Love soup in this freezing weather! x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pack a picnic and thermos in a couple of back packs and head to Mt St Gwinear for a gorgeous bush walk and maybe some snow.

    ReplyDelete
  4. carolyn99_turner@yahoo.com.au10 June 2014 at 14:42

    We always used to have a Sunday morning walk with the dogs when the kiddies were younger but that has now simply become Sunday coffee/brunch now that we've reached the mid/late teenage years and there's lots of homework to do. Haven't seen Top Designs this year but saw Top Acts with my boy and Top Arts with my girl - they are great events to see each year.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great diversion tactics! We had a whole summer of renos when we doubled the house. I don't think we missed a; museum, park, festival...in the entire city and surrounds. Hope your's is done super quick!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I Love soup so much especially for lunch,I would eat it for dinner but my husband will only eat it once a week.When our family was young we used to take the kids out on the weekend but now everyone plays soccer except me,of course knee replacements with extra metal cannot run. so usually I do something I want to do on the weekend, but yes you should have an outing day and enjoy it and see interesting things .I am going to find out what markets are on in our local area and try and buy fresh produce from them. I have joined a crochet knitters group at a creative Café and I think I have found my happy place it is so friendly and I have learnt to crochet I have always been able to knit since I was a child and the one woman sells her own honey and handcream and has a huge veggie garden she sells at on weekend markets.
    You will love your renovation Ruth we did a big one about 13 years ago and it is so worth all the mess and fuss :)

    ReplyDelete

Thankyou SO VERY much for making time to comment.

I LOVE to read your comments.

Just know that it totally made my day that you made a comment on my blog :)
xxx