Five on Friday - Simple Pleasures

I am stupidly busy with work and home at the moment and feeling like I'm swimming like mad and getting nowhere.   I wanted to share my Five on Friday along with Amy at Love made my home.   It's such a good way to look back on my week and get some perspective on what I have actually been up to, what I have achieved and what has brought me joy.  Looking back on them, perhaps I won't be so hard on myself and not feel like a week has gone by with nothing done.




Cook



I love creating simple food in my kitchen, feeding the soul and the body.

I saw this recipe posted by one of my friends on Facebook so gave it a go

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

1 cup of cauliflower florets
3 cups mozzarella grated
1 tsp dried oregano
1 crushed clove of garlic
1 tsp salt
1 Egg

Topping of your choice

Place the cauliflower in a food processor until chopped into tiny bits (like cauliflower rice)
Microwave the cauliflower for 8 minutes
Mix in the egg and seasoning and 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella
Spray oil onto an oven tray, then tip mixture onto it and make into a pizza base shape
Brush top with oil
Place in oven 200 fan oven for 15 mins
Remove from the oven and cover with the rest of the cheese and the topping (I pre grilled mushrooms and peppers)
Place under the grill for 2 - 3 mins.


No carbs, but LOTS of cheese which I will cut back on the next time I cook it.  I don't eat a lot of dairy so will experiment with the recipe to suit me.  A good gluten free option.





Sew


Making something for my family brings me great joy.

I have been working on our new grandsons quilt over the last couple of days, I need to finish it before he grows up and leaves home!




Listen

A good book

Reading Christina's Blog A Colourful Life, a few weeks ago, she was discussing the books she had 'listened' to.  In the past I had bought a few books on tapes to listen to on long car journeys, but never thought about listening to books any other time even though I enjoy listening to them on the radio.  Having already dipped my foot into alternative ways to read 'books' on the iPad, I thought 'what the hell, be adventurous and downloaded one. It was so easy!  I could even listen to it on my phone as I moved around the house and garden. Of course it will never replace sitting down with a good book, but I will be getting through a lot more books I had been meaning to read.  Have you joined the book listening revolution or are you firmly a traditional book reading person?  This is the book I listened to, So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson. It is a very thought provoking and in places a shocking look at how your life can been ruined by making one stupid remark and photo.  Social media at its worst.  I've also just downloaded a book by David Sedaris, I needed something light and fun and David Sedaris always makes me laugh.   Now at least I can 'read' some books while still working.




Grow

Growing and eating my own produce.

It is lovely to see my little veg patch springing to life, I'm looking forward to the new potatoes, freshly picked spinach and kale, and tomatoes that actually smell and taste like tomatoes.  How does your garden grow?




Sleep

Shhhh I don't want to jinx it, but for the last couple of weeks my sleep patterns have improved.  Now I only wake up a couple of times a night.  I can live with that.  I'm sure my insomnia will return but I will enjoy the sleep while I can.

I hope your week has been kind to you,

Chickpea xx

Trevoole, a little gem in the heart of Cornwall

Purely in the interest of research for our new garden, I paid a visit to Trevoole today.  I absolutely love this place, (and I'm not being paid to say this)  It has just the right balance of wild, overgrown areas and semi formal areas, wild flowers alongside formal showy flowers.  Areas that look like they have been abandoned and left alone to do their own thing, but are actually very cleverly designed.  Old buckets in a row, jam jar candle holders hanging from trees, old granite cottages,  and glass houses that appear to have seen better days.  Fans of shabby chic will love this place, but the beauty of it is that they are genuine vintage finds, and there is a little shop where you can buy all sorts of fascinating bits of history.  There is also a plant shop, so I will have to visit again when the garden is finished.

Of course, we couldn't resist the lovely little cafe for coffee and cake. (including a gluten free cake luckily, or I would have been very upset) There is soon to be a new larger cafe which I am sure will be just as lovely.

They also run workshops here, this is where I learned how to make rag rugs.

I had never seen these before, but will be looking for some to add to the garden, such cheerful little flowers.

I love this, but I'm sure the OH would just see it as a load of old buckets making the place untidy

Old Cornish cottages built out of granite are warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  Before we moved to a new house, we lived in a lovely old miners cottage with thick granite walls, it even had the coffin hatch still in the ceiling.

An infants food warmer, no microwaves back then.

Here's a link to Trevoole http://www.trevoolefarm.co.uk  as I have said, I'm not being paid for this, I actually don't even know who owns it.  It's a beautiful place that I don't want you missing out on if you visit Cornwall and like me have a love of quirky little places.

Chickpea x