...so tired...

*yawn* Just a super duper short post as I've not yet found a magic energy elixir - The fam & I just got back from a short sojourn to the coast, it was lovely but oh-so-tiring. I couldn't even tell you what time Punky ended up going to sleep last night *yawn again* but I do know it was laaaaaaate. Like maybe 1.30am late.

First there was the hysterical crying, she was truly inconsolable, then came a very brief nap, followed by over-tired hyperactivity.... oh it was joyous.

I had a full on bawl about the bushfire victims this morning, probably because I had very very little sleep. The personal stories are filtering through in the media now & they are just bringing the harsh reality home for me. The whole things is absolutely devastating.

I am sure everybody knows by now about the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal (Click here if you haven't & would like to donate) & have given generously, but people interested in handmade goodies can also check out http://handmadehelpsout.blogspot.com/ where lots of big hearted people are doing their handmade bit to help out.

Dinner...

Even though there was a cool change this afternoon our house was still stifling when it came time for dinner, especially in the kitchen. I wanted to spend the least amount of time possible in the kitchen so it had to be pasta (it would have been salad but I was informed that the lettuce had seen better days...).


I didn't think to take a photo so this one is from when I posted this recipe to VegWeb quite a while ago. It's so simple, fast & tasty. Punky loves pasta, especially the part where she tips the entire contents of her bowl on the floor. Apparently, you've not tasted pasta until you've tasted it "straight from the rug".

Broccoli and Mushroom Fettuccine

1 head broccoli
5 larger sized button mushrooms
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 cup vegetable stock
500g cooked fettuccine

Cut broccoli into small pieces. Blanch in boiling water until bright green (up to a minute), drain and set aside. Heat oil over medium heat, add garlic, chili and mushrooms, cook until mushrooms are tender. Add broccoli and vegetable stock, then pasta. Combine well and when pasta is heated through, season with salt and serve. It's "supposed" to serve 4-6, but if you have anybody in your house like The Boy, well... it just won't.

That's not really a recipe in my opinion... more a suggestion, I think a recipe is more something that needs to be written down, something you can't figure out for yourself. Chucking some veg in a pan with some pasta isn't exactly brain surgery, but it's yummy all the same.

Before dinner the news was saturated with pictures from the bush fires that are wreaking havoc around Victoria. I was moved to tears watching a reporter who had lost contact with his wife while she was on their property in the midst of a blaze. It was heart wrenching. Luckily she was fine, but it was then found that a neighbour was missing, I hope with all my heart that that neighbour has also been found safe. 14 people are confirmed dead so far, with fears of the death toll rising.

Victoria police confirmed the deaths tonight and say they fear the figure may reach into the 40s.
At least 100 homes have been destroyed as nine major blazes burnt out of control across Victoria in the worst fire conditions in the state's history.

- Telstra BigPond News

Pretty much every fire I saw on the news had been deliberately lit.

I don't think I can even articulate the disgust I feel for someone who would commit such an act.