Vegan

travel

Alongside the laughter: reposting travel tales from Blogger….

stanley & bear

I love Europe, but I am also Australian, which is somewhat problematic when wanting to indulge that European passion.

On the bright side though, I was also an international flight attendant.  For many years I served the masses from overloaded trolleys whilst hurtling across oceans in a sleek, silver tube bound for new adventures.

Needless to say this employment allowed me to partake in a number of my own, off-duty adventures. Not all were in my beloved Europe, nonetheless, they all offered adventure of various description of which I documented in a blog I no longer use.

A  few posts in particular captured the adventures of a few wintery weeks driving through regions of France, Austria, Switzerland and Germany. Rather than let those moments that were filled with mayhem and hilarity, yet also quiet contemplation melt into cyberspace, I have re-posted here.

Feel free to read on – maybe grab a wine or coffee as it could take awhile…

Screen Shot 2014-07-09 at 2.59.02 pmScreen Shot 2014-07-09 at 2.59.17 pm

Screen Shot 2014-07-09 at 3.00.46 pmScreen Shot 2014-07-09 at 3.01.54 pmScreen Shot 2014-07-09 at 3.02.02 pmScreen Shot 2014-07-09 at 3.01.08 pmScreen Shot 2014-07-09 at 8.25.49 amScreen Shot 2014-07-09 at 8.26.08 amScreen Shot 2014-07-09 at 8.25.59 am

dogs

the serious business of being a dog…

stanley & bear

Being a dog is a very serious business.

It’s a dog’s business to inspect, sniff AND sample all foods a human consumes.

It’s a dog’s business to always accompany the human to the bathroom.

It’s a dog’s business to occupy 2/3’ds of the human’s bed.

It’s a dog’s business to always travel in car with the human.

It’s a dog’s business to love and be loved.

Ah, the serious business of being a dog…

vegan

Delicious vegan tzatziki…

stanley & bear

tzatziki#2 (1 of 1)Just as music can float us down memory lane, so can certain foods.

For me, I can be transported back to a Greek island by simply savouring tzatziki on a slice of warm, crusty bread.

However as a vegan, that perfect tzatziki, without the tangy flavours of yoghurt was difficult to find.

So I started scouring through foodie & vegan sites and stumbled upon a wonderful site called, Lazy Cat Kitchen where I found Ania’s perfect plant-based tzatziki recipe.

I was eager to try it, but discovered I didn’t have any cashews on hand. Seeing as I was impatient and didn’t feel like driving to the supermarket, then having to wait for the cashews to soak, I decided to substitute the cashews with tofu.

Ania from Lazy Cat Kitchen says using tofu can tend to leave an aftertaste. I didn’t find that so much, but I think it comes down to individual choice: some taste buds may go ahhh yuck, others may rejoice.

I plan to follow Ania’s exact recipe sometime soon and look forward to discovering the comparison.

Enjoy 🙂

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 pkt medium firm tofu
  • 1 Lebanese cucumber
  • 2 small garlic cloves
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp dried mint, adjust to taste
  • a few pinches of salt, adjust to taste
  • ¼ tsp white (or black) pepper, adjust to taste

METHOD

  1. Grate the cucumber coarsely.
  2. Squeeze the water out of the cucumber using a fine sieve and a spoon to press the grated cucumber down.
  3. Place tofu, lemon juice and olive oil in your blender and blend until smooth.
  4. Season with raw garlic, salt, pepper, dry mint or fresh dill and some apple cider vinegar for extra acidity.
  5. Transfer into a bowl or container and mix in grated cucumber. Place in the fridge for about 3-4 hours to allow the flavours to deepen.
  6. Serve with crusty bread and an icy cold beer…

bread food fresh hands
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

cambodia-1-of-1-33.jpg

dogs

Dogs do speak, just listen to their ears…

stanley & bear

Dogs can speak. Just as humans use sign language, I believe so do our 4-legged friends, but instead of using their paws, they use their ears.

If you take the time to listen to their ears, you’ll see they actually speak volumes.

I decided to gather a few images of doggy speak, and who better to demonstrate that speak than my beloved Stanley, Eddie and two other 4-legged friends I met on recent travels?

As I went about my business, so did they: sniffing, sleeping, catching a few winter rays, or simply going about the important business of being a dog.

But I did manage to capture a little of how their dogships communicate – with a little caption ‘translation’…

 

Mum, left at the next set of lights.’
What, is there a problem?
Mum, I don’t think that’s a good idea”
That’s close enough thanks’.
‘Wait, is that Frank over there”.
‘I’m sorry’
‘Santa Claus is coming to town, la la la la’

life

Still, stagnant water…

stanley & bear

It’s that same road again,
the cycle repeats.
The scenery never changing,
it remains cold and bleak.
At times there is sunshine,
Rays of hope, light and love.
The clouds though take over,
Raining sadness from above.
Try to find light,
in the bleak, endless hail.
Searching for a rainbow,
To repair what’s now frail
The darkness, the shadows,
the whispering thoughts.
The endless days,
equating to nought.
Petalless flowers,
dry, yellowing grass.
Still stagnant waters,
a sad, heavy heart…

 

 

travel

In 5 years …

stanley & bear

A good friend asked me recently, ‘Jen, do you ever think about where you will be in 5 years?’

On hearing his words, I didn’t need to think about where I’ll be, for I already knew, as the destination had danced in my mind for many years.

Now, as my life changes, and my precious sons and partners are now shaping their own futures, the path to that destination is becoming a reality.

So where shall I be? 

I shall be somewhere in France, perhaps sipping a good Pinot Noir or Gris, whilst basking in the hue of glorious sunset from the verandah of my home.

Along the verandah’s balustrade, brightly coloured flowers stretch upward and fresh herbs, of which I use to excite my cooking adorn the ledge. In the garden, my precious sausage dogs are taking in the scents, before rolling with passion on the freshly mowed grass.

In the small, yet quaint living room, an overstuffed sofa bed bought from a second hand store, lies in wait for my two grown boys who are soon to arrive.

My french is now reasonable and in the last 5 years I have trekked the Annapurna, floated in the Dead Sea and gazed in wonder at the natural beauty of the Northern Lights.

My life is full of simple pleasures.

Daily jaunts to the colourful market where freshly baked baguettes and locally grown produce are in abundance. Summer evenings see friends gathering under the vine covered terrace, their faces taking on a warm, orange glow from the abundance of fairy lights intertwined through the vine’s branches. Soft music filters through the night air, as does the laughter of people living a life well loved.

In the winter months snowflakes dance through the frosty air before blanketing the ground, and transforming my garden into a shimmering winter wonderland. Inside, I’m curled upon that comfy sofa in front of a flickering log fire, with the company of a good book and my beloved dogs.

I am content, I have fulfilled long held dreams.

Mostly though, I’m full of love for my beautiful children and loyal dogs who are, and always will be my greatest achievement.

life

Dipping toes…

stanley & bear

street14©jenhammer copyIt’s good to take risks, don’t you think?

At the same time, dipping toes into unclear waters is frightening for one can’t see what lurks below the surface.

But in order to grow, to learn and to embrace the new, risks must be taken.

Toes should be dipped. For who knows, that unknown water may turn out to be brilliant.

Crystal clear and filled with endless opportunities offering love, laughter and endless happiness.

And those ties that hold on to the past?

They can be released.

Given permission to float into the yesterdays, taking with them those long held regrets that blanket the todays …