Pasta with Pumpkin, Caramelised Spanish Onion and Ricotta/Fetta

Oh dear. Lately, I’ve been buying all my lunches. And my dinners. And sometimes, my breakfasts too. Whatever way you look at this, it is neither economically responsible, nor particularly healthy. This I attribute to working at a rock climbing gym, where I spend my day running across the gym floor to prevent people from deliberately letting their friends free-fall to the ground. After several hours of averting manslaughter and negligence litigation cases, I’m pretty reluctant to cook – meaning it’s either “Hello tuna sandwich and spoonfuls-of-peanut-butter dinner” or (as things have been lately in Blissful Financial Ignorance World) a trip to Burger Wisconsin for their “CCC” Burger (Chicken, Camembert, and Cranberry Sauce). (Incidentally, I consider this combination to be an exemplary example of New Zealand Cuisine – nowhere else in the world loves the CCC as much or rolls it out as often as the Kiwis.)

So. Things had to change. Today I made a version of one of my favourite pasta dishes SO I COULD TAKE IT TO WORK FOR MY DINNER TONIGHT. I even made enough so there would be leftovers for at least tomorrow’s lunch and dinner. Ohh yeah.

I usually make this pasta with ricotta (the greatest soft cheese in the world) but given that I couldn’t get across town last night to the only deli that sells fresh ricotta, (having decided that tubbed ricotta is pretty much pulped cotton balls and paper, packaged in Italian-flag themed tubs), I choose to use fetta instead, a substitution that works similarly well.

Ingredients (serves 4)

1kg of unpeeled, seeded pumpkin

One monster Spanish onion, or two mid-sized ones, chopped into strips

A pkt of pasta (I use spirals)

Two to three garlic cloves, sliced

Half a bunch of rosemary

300g of FRESH ricotta OR

200g creamy fetta, one egg, 1/3 cup milk

LOTS of salt

LOTS of pepper

Olive oil for cooking

Turn on the oven to 200˚c. Peel, deseed and chop your pumpkin into mid-sized cubes. I always feel bad for peeling the pumpkin (I know the nutrients are in the skin!) but unless you can be bothered scraping the pumpkin flesh off the skin after roasting, peel the damn thing. Put some olive oil on a baking tray, roll the pumpkin around in it. Then season liberally with salt and pepper and strip your rosemary and scatter the leaves over. Put this fabulously scented tray in the oven.

Put a couple of decent sized splashes of olive oil in a fry pan. Before it is too hot, add the onion, keeping the heat low. I’m never patient enough to properly caramelise onion with balsamic vinegar, but the idea is to cook it for a long time over a slow heat, so the onion really breaks down and becomes sweet. But as long as you get it is translucent and soft, it will be ok. So, cook your onion slowly, and a couple of minutes before it’s done, add the garlic and gently fry it too. Remove from heat.

Check your pumpkin, turning the cubes over. Put on water to boil for the pasta, adding pasta when it’s boiling (der).

When the pumpkin is very soft and can be easily pierced with a knife, it’s done. Put it into a large bowl and mash roughly. Add the onion.

If you’re using ricotta, add the ricotta to the onion/pumpkin bowl. If you’re using fetta, crumble two-thirds of the fetta into a small bowl, then add the milk and egg. Combine roughly with a fork, then add to larger bowl. Crumble in remaining fetta (or cut it into cubes, whatever you prefer). The pumpkin mix will be quite thick – this is a good thing. Taste it for salt and pepper – it is likely to need both.

Drain pasta. Put pasta back into saucepan and stir through pumpkin mix. Serve. In this case for me, “serve” means “shove into plastic containers”. Classy presentation, hey?

Esther xx

Kenzo Crush

I often have fashion crushes. If I see a stylishly dressed woman with a quirky flair walk by I can't help but look at her with admiration, and jealousy. My favorite couture label is without question Kenzo. The Parisian company is all about arty, eclectic and gorgeous fashion, which are all the things I love. Amidst study procrastination, I checked out their Autumn-Winter 2009/2010 collection (online of course, you can't get much more than Kenzo fragrances in Canberra, sigh) and fell in love with the label all over again.

The collection is filled with detailed trench coats, leather gloves, fur,boots and pretty floral dresses. The clothes have a distinctly Russian feel, with the calf-length dresses teamed with fur-trimmed boots. The patterns remind me of something you would see in a Nathalia Goncharova painting or costume design, with their folkish, vibrant feel. Goncharova was a member of the Russian Avant Garde, with her cubist, colour-rich style reflected in the contrating fabrics and cuts of the latest Kenzo line.

Nathalia Goncharova, Original Ballet Russe Season Program 1940-41,

Illustrated cover, Private Collection.

Nathalia Goncharova, Costume for a Peasant Girl in the Ballet

'Foire de Sorotchinsk',1940, graphite, transparent and

opaque watercolour,

Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco.

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I love the colours that dominant the collection; clear blues, metallics, purples, reds showing that winter doesn't have to be boring. It is a chance to accessorise with cute gloves (I would kill for the blue Kenzo ones), jackets and scarves. The Kenzo designers clearly shame my excitement, the over sized cuts of thick material and chunky jewellery indicate that these pieces are designer to keep you nice and warm on those cold winter days.

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Kenzo is known for its eclectic, folkish style, something that once again stands out in this collection. The designers have incorporated elements of knitting, quilting and embroidery, giving the jackets a distinctly rustic and unique feel. They are nothing like the slick, streamlined trenches that normally populate the Paris catwalk. This floral piece is my favourite, with its shapeless cut reminding me of my own collection of (much less stylish) handmade, woolen jumpers that are all about keeping you warm, and looking chic in classic florals at the same time.

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It is probably a good thing that I'm not anywhere near Kenzo fashions at the moment, my Parisian Aunt had to drag me out of the Paris boutique as I became incredibly overexcited by all the colours, patterns and gorgeous fabrics. I mean really, is $8,000 too much to pay for a Kenzo jacket? Perhaps I should wait until I have a real job. For now, I will have to settle with my tiny bottle of Flower perfume.

For a Kenzo fix you can check out the collection on the Vogue Australia website, where I got these photos by Marcio Maderia:

http://www.vogue.com.au/fashion+shows/galleries/kenzo+ready+to+wear+autumn+winter+2009+10,6967?

The Kenzo website also has footage of the runway show, complete with a Babushka doll, blue lights and Russian music. What more could you possibly want in a fashion show? http://www.kenzo.com/index_mode.php?langue=en

There is a Kenzo boutique in Melbourne for you lucky things down there,

Grace

xx

Avatar (Or James Cameron's Big Win)

I saw "Avatar" on the weekend. (Yes, I am that disorganised that it has taken me two months longer than everyone else to get to see it. Oddly enough, this exact same situation occurred when "Titanic" was released too.)

Anyway, after watching "Avatar", my Spy-friend and I (oh yes, New Zealand has spies) decided that the entire film was probably the result of a bet, probably between James Cameron and Steven Spielberg. We think it probably went down something like this:

A bar, Hollywood, CA, 1998

JAMES CAMERON and STEVEN SPIELBERG are having a beer. There are many empty glasses around them. Also, conversation is beginning to get a little on the braggart side.

JAMES CAMERON

So, I'm pretty much the greatest director ever.

SPIELBERG ejects a lot of his beer, spluttering into his glass.

STEVEN SPIELBERG

Bullshit you are. Remember "Schindler's List"? Academy Awards?

CAMERON is not having any of this.

JAMES CAMERON

Please, Stevey-Boy - "Titanic"? Highest grossing film EV-VAH, biatch.

Plus, I've got those gold statues too.

STEVEN SPIELBERG (mutters)

Yeah, but you're a commercial sell-out.

But CAMERON hasn't heard him and just rolls on.

JAMES CAMERON

That's right. You got nothing.

SPIELBERG just stares at him, steely.

STEVEN SPIELBERG

Ok then, jackass. If you're that good, top "Titanic".

JAMES CAMERON

Easy. No worries.

But SPIELBERG continues.

STEVEN SPIELBERG

But you have to put something really messed up in it.

Like something that NO ONE in Hollywood wants to see.

CAMERON is wary.

JAMES CAMERON

Ok, like what?

SPIELBERG leans back, considering.

STEVEN SPIELBERG

Like blue aliens. Really big aliens. With tails. Having sex.

CAMERON is nervous but he tries to hide it and sits up straight. He's ready.

JAMES CAMERON

You know what? I'm the greatest director ever.

I made the best film ever. But now I will top it.

And the film will have blue alien sex.

I can do it.

---

And so BAM. That's the story behind "Avatar".

Look, I'm sure most people have seen "Avatar" by now and have made up their own minds about it, so I will try to keep this review short.

I think it's very "Blockbuster" - very epic. I found it entertaining but that the story line was quite conventional and really, it felt like a bit of a first draft (sorry JC, know you worked on it for like 10 years...). All the key elements of an interesting story were there, but they needed to be refined and shaped in order to be more thought-provoking and truly fresh.

Also, I thought it didn't have anywhere near the same amount of emotional depth, nor the nuanced examination of the human condition that Cameron's (best) film "Terminator 2" does. Furthermore, all of the major characters felt anywhere from underdeveloped or just downright cliched and lacking in genuine motivation.

Of course, the whole film looks fantastic. This can't be stressed enough. You're never aware that what you're watching is probably 90% not real - it looks REAL, and REALLY COOL at that. You don't sit there going "that's fake, that's all computer generated..." - I find this is the case with most other action blockbusters...

Also, I should add that I think it's great that millions of people are seeing a film that stresses environmentalism and a gentle approach to looking after the planet, rather than say, a film like "Independence Day" where it's all about being defensive and the killing of aliens is the primary goal.

So that's my little "Avatar" review.

Esther xx

Rainy Day Breakfast

For the past week Canberra has forgotten that it is still Summer, and has been blessed with Autumnal weather. This morning I woke to puring rain and a misty sky. As someone who loves rain and cloudy days (surely they provide creative inspiration), I have been very happy with the tea-drinking, tight-wearing weather. The best part is that I can now indulge in my favorite cold weather breakfast - porridge.

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I never skip breakfast, and always try to make it as exciting as possible (no burnt toast and tasteless cereal for me)! I mus admit though, laziness does make me an instant oats girl. I know that oats cooked on the stove are much tastier, but I never have the time!

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For my delicious porridge you need:

1/2 cup of instant oats

2/3 cup of milk

1 banana (or any fresh or dried fruit you like, grated pear or apple is delicious)

A handful, sliced of blueberries

1 tablespoon of honey

1 tablespoon of slivered almonds (or chopped walnuts)

1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

Add the milk and oats into a medium-sized bowl and microwave for two minutes. Then add a sliced banana, or other fruit and microwave for another minute. Remove from microwave and add honey, nuts and blueberries. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy with a nice cup of coffee. This will set you up for all those wintry days to come.

gg

Grace

xx

Cubans and Coffee

As mentioned in my post earlier this week (a not so subtle way to say: "look! I'm posting twice in a week!"), one of the things I was looking forward to in Wellington was the cafes. I'm not sure what it is, but Wellington has a ridiculous number of quirky, interesting cafes that produce fantastic coffee.

Because I haven't been here long enough to visit all the centrally located cafes, I'm not yet up to anointing any particular one with a "Best Coffee" award (give me another week though...). However, what I can say at this stage is that Fidel's cafe on Cuba Street is all kinds of awesome.

A nice start to a morning? A long black, date scone and The Dominion Post.

I'd say that was pretty damn nice.

So, why is Fidel's awsome?

Their long blacks. They're strong, not too long, the beans are never burnt, and the they're served hot enough to boil the inside of your mouth. So, they're pretty much perfect.

They produce excellent date scones. Oh yes they do. They're so damn good that I bother getting up early so I can ensure I get one (and, if it weren't for the similarly tasty (but very different) scones at Finc, I'd be prepared to declare them the best in Wellington).

There's a variety of inside/outside seating options - they have two (two!) different groovy courtyards!

And the staff are friendly. Always.

Mad props go to Fidel's.

Swellington

Wellington Harbour

So a little while ago I decided I'd organise an exchange through my university and study in Wellington, New Zealand for a year. This seemed like a nice idea and for a long time, everything was all fine and dandy. Throughout the second half of 2009, when I saw people I hadn't seen for a long time, and they asked me what my news was, I could tell them in a very blase manner "oh, I'm living in Wellington next year". I could dream of being (kind of like) Katherine Mansfield (no dying at 33, thanks) and imagine a year spent writing in Wellington's groovy cafes, a long black on the table in front of me.

Looking down to the city from Mt Victoria

Then, suddenly, 2010 came around and I actually had to move. For me, this involved a fair it of stress and attempting to fit as much sporting equipment as possible into an over-sized ski bag.

Down by the harbour

Anyway, I've been in Wellington now for nearly two weeks and it's been lovely. This notoriously stormy city, it seems, tends to make the most out of its summer by throwing a large number of festivals. There's the New Zealand International Arts Festival, Wellington Writer's Week, a French Film festival, the Sevens International Rugby Tournament (which was basically just a city-wide dress-up party), a Fringe Festival, summer evening free film screenings and night markets happening nearly every day of the week.

From Mt Victoria, looking to Hataitai and Miramar

So Wellington is pretty swell. As part of my introduction to Wellington, here is Angus and Julia Stone's song, "Private Lawns". It talks about a "windy city". I'm not sure if they mean Wellington, but it is windy here, and there are lots of lovely (green!) gardens and lawns all over the place too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63TyKWQLm_8

xx Esther

The Drawing of Life

A few weeks ago did an intensive week-long life drawing course. The concept of 'life drawing' produces mixed responses. Arty types think it is wonderful, while the more conservative members of society feel a little uncomfortable about the subject (and I did get a few raised eyebrows when I mentioned the idea). I like the think of myself as part of the former category, which is why I enrolled in the course.

Okay, to be honest I may have blushed a little when the first model (a twenty-something girl with a Classical figure) de-robed, but that didn't last long; I had charcoal to play with! The course was five full days, with studies of both male and female nudes, and portraiture. There was about a dozen of us in the group, and I was the youngest by about twenty years! Not that it mattered, everyone had such different styles and experience so it was great to be a part of it.

Our teacher, Melbourne artist Linda Robertson, focused on the shapes of the body. Linda was such a lovely, knowledgeable teacher, and an amazing artist. She really made each student feel comfortable, and didn't smother with advice. This was great for me, as I haven't done a drawing class in a while, and was quite nervous at the prospect.


After a few minutes of looking at the nude model and imagining the array of cylinders, triangles and oval that formed her arms, torso and face, the hesitation amongst the group disappeared. Another focus was on the light and shadows on the figure, and the shapes they made. I found myself staring right at every part of the models, but suddenly they didn't even seem like people; they were just a series of light-reflecting forms. This may seem like a lot of nonsense, but the atmosphere of the class really emphasized this approach to drawing.




I loved doing portraits, and produced my best work during these sessions. Interestingly, it was harder to draw people with their clothes on, after having focused the day before on the nudes. All the folds in the fabric where very hard to draw! The clothing also made the subject a real person again, intruding on my Romantic aesthetic sensibilities. Nonetheless, I persevered, and loved capturing (or atleast trying to) the expression of the subject.



The same thing happened during the nude sessions. Each time we paused for lunch and the model put their clothes back on. They seemed so out of place all of a sudden, and I found it very embarrassing when they came to look at my drawings of them. Let's hope I didn't exaggerate any of their insecurities! One of the best things I took from this course was not improved drawing skills (which I noticed when looking back from my work at the beginning of the week), but an altered view of body image.


There is so much focus on the nonexistent 'ideal' body, that it is easy to forget what an actual naked person looks like. A real person, who isn't super thin or athletically toned; just a normal body. The models we had were like this, and made me more aware of how unnatural the body images that society presents. I would recommend life drawing to anyone, and before you gripe about being unable to draw (which is something I struggle with too), give it a try. There is more to get from it than artistic skills.


The course was part of the Artists Society of Canberra's 'Summer Art Experience.' The society does regular life drawing class. CIT Solutions and the ANU Visual Art Access also run similar classes.


You can see some of Linda's work on the Metropolis Gallery website;
http://www.metropolisgallery.com.au/artists/linda_robertson/index.htm

Grace

xx