Bridget McNulty

Lemon meringue pie

// August 4th, 2010 // No Comments » // Inspiration, Recipe of the Week, Tea Parties, food

Okay, so this week’s Recipe of the Week is already halfway through the week… Blame my wonderful weekend away, and subsequent need to spend all my spare time potting succulents! Seriously, my succulent garden just doubled in size.

Still, I would like to show off by telling you how unbelievable this lemon meringue pie is. So unbelievable, in fact, that I’m using my own picture! Looks delicious, hmm?

Now I won’t lie, this baby takes a long time. Set aside 2 hours and do it properly – step by step, following the directions. It’s worth it! Here goes…

Lemon meringue pie
Absolutely divine! Don’t be put off by the long method, it will help you to avoid a raw-tasting filling and meringue slipping off and pulling away from the sides.

Crust:
¾ packet (200g) Tennis biscuits
¼ cup (60ml) butter, melted

Filling:
2 cans (397g each) full-cream sweetened condensed milk
½ cup (125ml) boiling water
2 Tbsp (30ml) grated lemon peel
¾ cup (187ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 extra-large egg yolks
Pinch salt
2 tsp (10ml) cornflour

Meringue filling:
4 extra-large egg whites
1 Tbsp (15ml) lemon juice
¼ cup (60ml) castor sugar
¼ cup (60ml) icing sugar

Makes 1 x 24cm pie.
Serves 12

Preheat oven to 170°C.
Use a non-stick spray to coat the inside of a 25cm x 5cm pie dish.
Crush biscuits. Add butter and mix together. Tip into pie dish.
Spread crumbs onto base and up sides using the back of a tablespoon. Freeze for 10 – 15 minutes to firm.

Filling:
Beat condensed milk, boiling water, lemon peel and juice, egg yolks and salt together until well combined.
Carefully pour filling into crust to avoid disturbing the crumbs. Bake pie (without meringue) for 20 minutes.

Meringue:
Beat egg whites in a clean glass or stainless steel bowl until just beginning to foam.
Add lemon juice and beat until mixture forms stiff peaks.
Add castor sugar, a spoonful at a time, while beating fast.
Sift icing sugar over in 3 batches and beat well (meringue mixture must be stiff and shiny and be able to hold its shape).
Remove pie from oven. Sift cornflour over filling (this acts as a ‘glue’ to hold the filling and meringue together).
Spoon meringue over hot filling, working it up and over the edge of the crust.
Make a wave pattern in meringue by swirling it with a spatula. Return pie to oven.
Bake for another 35 minutes.
Open oven door by 1cm, switch off oven and allow pie to cool inside.

As always, recipe courtesy of Fresh Living magazine.

Day 26: Time

// July 28th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // 29 Gifts, Decisions, Time

So I’ve finally started reading the 29 Gifts book, by Cami Walker, the woman who started this movement. It’s a lovely book, all about how an emphasis on what she could give others let her energy shift from focusing on her debilitating condition (MS) to being able to regain some sense of control over her life. Wonderful stuff!

Anyhoo, one of the things she says about the giving challenge is that you have to give something that you feel is scarce in your life right now. I thought about it, and I think the thing that feels most scarce to me is time. We’ve had a craaazy busy week or two, and free time feels like a precious gift.

So I gave some of it to my sister-in-law, who’s in the market for some company this week while my brother is overseas. And when I left I felt so much more filled up than if I’d just hung out at home for an hour. Goes to show, hmm?

Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

// July 13th, 2010 // No Comments » // Blogs, Inspiration, Recipe of the Week, food

Raise your hand if you loved the movie Julie and Julia. Really, who didn’t?

We watched it while we were away and it awoke in me a deep desire to cook. Not just to cook boring old regulars (which is what I’ve always done), but to cook wonderful, inspiring, deeply delicious meals. I mentioned before that part of my new job is going to be testing out recipes every week, sort of a Recipe of the Week Challenge. But the blog is taking toooo long to get off the ground, so I’ve resorted to using Facebook to share recipes. And here, of course!

Today is the first day of this cooking challenge, and I wanted to mention a little of why I love to cook… It’s only a recent love, so I’m still learning how it makes me feel and the various pleasures it brings me, but here are a few:

* I love that I can put together raw ingredients, and come out with something warm and tasty, that didn’t exist before.

* I love that when I come home from work and my head is all full of computers and To Do Lists and planning, I can focus solely on the food – on chopping the leeks and stirring the soup – and that moment is all that exists.

* I love that the more you cook, the better at it you get. This might sound obvious, but it’s a confidence thing. Right now I’m not attempting anything too difficult, but I can already tell that I’ll be able to do quite tricky things in the not-too-distant future.

* And lastly, I love that it results in food, and eating. Because really, what greater joy is there than a homecooked meal shared with someone you love? I can’t think of one right now…

So join me! If you please. This week’s recipe is for Broccoli and Cheddar Soup – mine is bubbling on the stove at the moment. It’s really easy to make, and actually pretty good for you (it uses a whole lot of broccoli). Directions below.

I’ll post my photo of it tomorrow – please feel free to comment and post pics of your soup too!

Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

Ingredients:
• 2 leeks, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• Oil, for frying
• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 2 cups (500ml) chicken stock
• 1 cup (250ml) low-fat milk
• 1½ cups (375ml) grated cheddar

Serves 4
Fry leeks and garlic in oil until soft.
Add broccoli, stock and milk.
Bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until broccoli is tender.
Add cheese and mix well.
Blitz until smooth using a stick blender.

Photo from Fresh Living magazine.

Day 12: Passing on freebies

// July 13th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // 29 Gifts, Decisions, Life (and the living of it)

I have a confession to make: I’m a hoarder. As in, I hoard pretty much anything free that I’m given. I love free stuff, absolutely love it. I’ll accept something solely because it’s free and I feel as if I’m getting a good deal (even if I really don’t want or need it). But as I discovered when we had to clear out our last apartment before we went travelling, a lot of the freebies I get are really not that cool (to me). But by the time I’ve kept them for 6 months or a year, they’ve lost their fresh and shiny allure.

So today I passed on two freebies to the security guards at work. Look, they’re pretty lame keyrings, but the guys seemed pretty happy with them. And like I said, it’s alll about creating new habits, hey? Maybe I can out-habit the hoarder in me.

What do you think? Any chance of that happening?

PS: Let’s also not discount the fact that they call this a 29 day giving challenge because it is a CHALLENGE! To think of something new and not lame every day is harder than I thought it would be…

Taking time:

// June 25th, 2010 // 3 Comments » // Inspiration, Life (and the living of it), Time

I’ve had the most delightful week.

We had to take Monday off because of the soccer game being held at the Cape Town Stadium (in our street!) It was an afternoon game, and my man and I went – very exciting. Portugal scored 7 goals! I’ve been completely soccer mad, watching games almost every day (Me? Watching sport? Hard to believe!) but yesterday, for the first time since before World Cup madness began, I had a chance to catch my breath.

This was mainly because I had a half day at work (and alll day off today, yippee!) because we’re moving offices. I hadn’t realised quite how busy I’d been until I was faced with an afternoon of nothing to do. What bliss! Nothing on my To Do list, no chores to run, no emails to answer or phonecalls to return (well, yes, there were both of those, but I chose not to do them).

So what did I do? I went shopping. Slow, leisurely, lovely and relaxing shopping. I didn’t spend a fortune, I just needed a few essentials, but giving myself the afternoon to windowshop and wander around and look at anything I wanted to without looking at my watch (or my phone, which I had conveniently left at home) was a rare and lovely treat.

When I got home I pottered around watering my plants, and then did some sewing and mending I’ve been meaning to do for weeks (or possibly months). This morning I went to a Nia class, which was simply extraordinary – a combination of yoga stretches, dance, and a little bit of martial arts. I loved every second of it!

And this afternoon my man and I are going out for soup (at a place called Soupa – ha!) and then going for foot massages, one of our engagement party presents. After that I’m going to spend some time with the cutest girl in the world (my niece) and tonight we’re going to watch a movie. I ask you – what more could a girl want from a day?
(The answer is nothing!)

What’s so interesting, though, is that every week I have two whole days to myself, but I somehow never end up just doing what I want to do. There always seem to be things to do or people to see or places to go. But when I allow myself to slow down and just do what I feel like doing, followed by a little more of what I feel like doing, and a little more, I feel so wonderful! Vital and alive and full of energy (even though I went to bed late cause I was sewing up a storm…)

Do you ever have days of doing just-what-you-want? Why don’t we have more of them?!

Photo: cavan images, via naturally nina

Memory Lane Monday:

// May 31st, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Blogs, Inspiration, Memory Lane

Growing up…

// April 19th, 2010 // 3 Comments » // Decisions, Life (and the living of it), Time

It’s true. The inevitable has finally happened. I’m growing up.

This week alone, I’ve applied for a vehicle loan, chopped an onion, worn a suit and am embarking on My First Ever Business Trip. If that’s not grown up, I don’t know what is! I mean, an onion? Do you know how much I hate onions?

And the vehicle loan! Do you know what that means? I’m buying a car! My first car ever. At 27 and a half (pretty good going, hey? I’ve managed to survive on a scooter and various boyfriends-with-cars for a decade now).

Let’s not even talk about the business trip! Well, we can’t, because I’ve only just left and am currently waiting at the airport to depart for Johannesburg, city of gold (and business) to go to meetings with various people. Business people.

In a suit.

Sheesh!

Photo: grongar

Working 9 to 5…

// April 8th, 2010 // 6 Comments » // Cape Town, Life (and the living of it), Time

… Is actually quite a nice way to make a living. Yes, believe it or not, I have a Job. A Real Job, involving an office, a desk, colleagues and regular working hours. After over 2 years of freelancing and six months of jetting around the world, it’s quite an adjustment, let me tell you!

But, so far, a rather lovely adjustment. I’m the new Digital Online Editor of Fresh Living magazine, Pick n Pay’s foodie mag. It’s pretty much the only magazine I buy, packed full of recipes and suggestions and lovely photographs, and I intend becoming a much better cooko before many months are out! Watch this space.

Obviously, I’m still in the starry-eyed beginning stages of the job, helped no doubt by the fact that I’ve only been working a week and most of that week was a weekend (hooray for 4 day weekends!) Nevertheless, here are the things I’m enjoying about being employed:

•    Time to focus. At home there are always a million things to do, many of them work but lots of them home too, but when you’re at work, although there’s a long To Do List, it’s all work-related. This is surprisingly refreshing.

•    Feeling cutting-edge. When you’re at work for 8 and a half hours, there’s time to do things like watch videos and read Twitter updates and keep a finger on the pulse of what’s happening.*

•    Challenge. A whole heap of it. I feel more challenged this week than I have for months of working for myself… With other people asking me to live up to my potential, I already feel as if I’m growing.

And yes, I have to wake up early to get to work on time, but it’s rather lovely being up in the cool quiet stillness of the morning. Packing a lunch isn’t so much fun, it’s true, but I just need to learn to be more adventurous with my lunch ideas. And – the biggest surprise of all – I actually kind of like working with other people! Who’da’thunk? Perhaps I am less of an anti-social troll than I anticipated.

(PS: One of the main reasons I’m enjoying it so much is that it actually IS 9 to 5 – well, 8.30 to 5. So I’m home by 5.30pm and have 5 whole hours of real life before the day ends. Lovely!)

* I realize this is only because I’m working in Social Media and Online, so it’s pretty much my job to be cutting edge. Brilliant!

Photo by EverJean

WAIT! I thought of another two (apart from The Paycheck, which is so obvious I don’t think I need to mention it).

* Coming home is such a pleasure now. It’s like retreating to my nest, my own sacred space. Whereas before, because I was home all day, I didn’t have that sense of, “Ahhh…. it’s so lovely to be back.”

* I have to be more inventive with my clothing. This is a biggie for me – left to myself, I’ll wear the same, boring, comfortable clothes day in and day out. But I actually really enjoy putting together outfits! And now I have a good reason to.

Okay, that’s all for now. Got to go to work!

How are you feeling today?

// August 4th, 2009 // No Comments » // Cape Town, Life (and the living of it), Time, travelling

Me, I’m feeling as if I’m standing in the middle of a tennis court, with Life Lessons being thrown at me from every direction. I’m catching most of them, but some are either hitting me or dropping, and I’m not quite sure what that means!

It just seems as if I’m on learning fast-forward at the moment, you know? And I know it’s because I’ve asked for a lot from life-right-now… Doing a 9 month Round-the-World journey isn’t your usual run-of-the-mill life choice. But I feel like I need to wise up really quickly to grow up to the challenge.

Is any of this making any sense? Basically, I’m having to learn a lot while being really busy and dealing with challenging situations. And it’s not exhausting, or overwhelming, but it is big. Life feels big at the moment.

How are you feeling today?

Are you focused?

// July 8th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Decisions, Inspiration, Life (and the living of it), Time

I don’t think I am, at the moment.

I mean, I’m long-term focused – I know exactly what I want and when I want it (Hello Round-the-World!) but short-term, day to day, moment to moment, I feel like I’m just the teensiest bit scattered.

There’s just so much going on, you know? So many things to remember, and think about, so many people to communicate with, so many balls to juggle. And instead of taking one ball at a time, and juggling it peacefully and quietly, I’ve been juggling all of them at the same time. So far, none of them have dropped. But I don’t like my odds.

So as of today I’m all for focus. I’m going to try that trick that Esther and Jerry Hicks recommend – segment intending. At the beginning of each segment of your day you set your intention (i.e. your focus) for that segment. Sitting down to breakfast? I intend to enjoy this meal, and for it to nourish me and sustain me. And then you sit down and just eat – don’t think about the rest of your day. About to check your email? I intend to communicate in a clear and straightforward way. No extra fluff.

I’m going to give it a go today, and I’ll let you know how it goes. I like the idea of each part of a day being a focused entity in and of itself – and then all those parts fitting together like an intricate piece of machinery… or an orange.

What do you think? Do you think it’ll help?