Some Lovin’

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

Woke up feeling much better this morning. Still week and achy, but not sick to the stomach at all! I had the nicest Valentine’s Day breakfast in bed. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture of it!

Sebastian made fresh baked rolls, perfectly hardboiled eggs and “fancy” coffee with whipped warm milk. I was able to eat one roll and an egg. He is so sweet.

Since Sebastian doesn’t really believe in Valentine’s day and I love it, we celebrate Kendel Loving Day later in March. He is such a sweet guy though that he doesn’t need any special day of the year to show me how much he loves me. I am just so blessed! Every day is Valentine’s Day in our relationship!

A loving photo from the other night.

I used the lazy day to catch up on reading blogs. I’ve been reading blogs for about 8 months now but only set up my Google Reader today. I can not believe how easy it makes blogging!

Why oh why did I not do this before?!?!?!

I told myself that I couldn’t write my own posts until I was caught up on reading.

Since Valentine’s day is a busy day in the food service industry, Sebastian had to work. We shared a favorite meal early in the evening before he had to leave.

Mock Fondue Dippers

Valentine’s inspired sun-dried tomato ciabatta bread.

Stinky baked cheese and garlic spinach dip.

Spending the day at home= baking bread.

For this week’s lazy day bread adventure, I decided to try something new…

Homemade Whole Wheat and Honey Pita Bread

Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 ½tsp.  active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1  cups all purpose flour
• cooking spray
• cornmeal for dusting

Directions

1. In a bowl mix the water, yeast and honey. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes, then gradually mix in the salt, whole wheat flour and all purpose flour. Turn out onto a floured surface, and knead until smooth. Place in a large bowl lightly coated with cooking spray. Cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
2. Punch down the dough, and knead for 5 to 10 minutes. Divide into 6 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, flatten each piece to about 1/8 inch thick with a rolling pin. Cover with a towel, and let rise 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Warm a baking sheet in the preheating oven for about 2 minutes, then remove from heat and sprinkle with cornmeal.
4. Arrange the dough rounds on the prepared baking sheet, and bake 6 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from heat and cover the bread with a moist towel to soften. When cooled, use a knife to cut pockets in the bread.

These puff up so beautifully! Try it out today!

Now for the clean-up!

While I was busy baking and blogging… Alex was keeping watch over Sebastian’s computer. If only he knew that his newly cleaned Mac was covered in cat fur while he was away!

Keeper of the warm computer.

Although I’m missing my family today, I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day with the people you love!

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Friday and Saturday

I woke up on Friday feeling fit and well!

Went to school for regular working hours to participate in a staff in-service on Child Protection in Education.

Very depressing. We heard story after story of children who are now dead because the child protection systems failing them. It really made me aware of the responsibility I have not only to educate the children I come in contact with, but also be aware of changes that can signal abuse or neglect.

Very serious. Very sad. Very real.

I like to think that I work in a school where “this can never happen,” but this naïve attitude only welcomes my own neglect in helping to protect the children I work with.

I came home with a headache and broken heart.

The serious nature of the in-service really got me down. I felt tired and just wanted to sleep.

I took a 2 hour nap but was still not feeling very well. I stayed in while Sebastian went out with his friends from University.

I was feeling in need of something fresh so whipped up a veggie pasta salad with anything fresh I could get my hands on.

Fresh Feast

Veggie Pasta Salad

Cooked whole wheat pasta

cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, broccoli, red onion, carrot, celery, tomato, imitation crab meat

Italian dressing made with : olive oil, vinegar, Italian seasoning, dried basil, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of agave

I watched the movie Leap Year and ate spicy popcorn. I didn’t have much of an appetite but also ate a couple of clementines.

Spicy Popcorn

Fresh oil-popped popcorn

Good shake of chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and oregano.

I went to bed early but when I woke up on Saturday, my headache hadn’t gone away. Maybe because I’d only worked out twice this week… so I headed out through the Karnivel crowd to the gym.

I hour of body balance later, I felt better but not back to normal. I hit up the sauna, took a shower, then went home.

I was hungry after the workout and went on a search for ultra healthy muesli bread rolls. Needless to say, the 4 bakeries I visited didn’t have what I was looking for so I came home with this instead.

I’ll take some chocolate with that.

Sebastian made some coffee to along with the chocolate fix. This sugar and caffeine rush was followed by another nap.

Hmm… strange… I don’t feel very well…. have a headache…. can’t get enough sleep…. I must need to go out again!

My friend Kate picked me up to go to Zoe and Jan’s place for a little get-together.

Jan impressed us with his home-made lobster costume.

Watch out! Lobster on the move!

I still wasn’t feeling very well but didn’t want to be a party-pooper so sipped a vodka bitter lemon all night.

Around 11, I started feeling really rough. I got the chills, was sweaty, and feeling a little funny in the tummy. Zoe made me some stomach settling hot fennel tea and then Kate decided to call it a night and take me home.

Well, to make a long and disgusting story short, the motion of the car added to my sickness and Kate had to suddenly pull over on the AUTOBAHN on a BRIDGE (seriously the worse place to stop a car) for me to get sick. Several times. I was so embarrassed and felt really bad for Kate. She was so sweet and acted like she couldn’t smell anything and it wasn’t a big deal. What a great friend! I immediately felt better. I was so glad to get home, take a shower, and brush my teeth.

Put to rest a funky few days and sleep off whatever bug I must have caught.

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Weiberfastnacht

Weiberfastnacht- Women’s Carnival!

The night when women run wild!

You’ve heard about the Thursday morning of Carnival activities… now bring on the night!

An unusual combination!

After leaving school, Sebastian and I got ready to head out. The “night” started around 3:00 in the afternoon!

My Rasta Man!

We met with friends at their apartment.

This is one of Lulu’s photos- she’s the one on the far left, then there’s Kim, Rachel, and Rachel’s brother Chris. Lulu is from England and the rest are from New Zealand.

On the train to the party!

Then we headed out to the big tent to meet the rest of the group.

You couldn't bring alcohol into the tent... so this lady was slipping the abandoned booze into her purse!

The scene from outside the party tent.

The Kiwis were even interviewed by a local radio station!

Inside the party tent. Smokey- crowded- but full of people in great spirits and hilarious costumes!

Great fun was had by all!

Question: What would your costume be at Carnival?

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