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Unorthodox lasagna (et al.)
Jan. 7th, 2011 10:54 amI had this irresistible urge yesterday to make lasagna -- this happens about 4 or 5 times per year, and the call must be followed.
Yesterday was a holiday, i.e. no work, so I played tennis with Elena and then went to spend time with the Black Beast. There's a supermarket not far from where the Black Beast dwells, but I'd completely forgotten that this chain of supermarkets doesn't offer fresh meat. Hence the dilemma: do I go to another supermarket to get minced meat, or do I prepare veggie lasagna, or shall I be bold and try something else? Too lazy to go else where, and somehow the veggie idea didn't really appeal, so it was Something Else.
I bought sausages, Bratwurst style, i.e. the ones you have to barbecue or pan-fry, peeled them and put them in the blender. The result was more than just acceptable -- the consistency of the meat very, very close to minced meat, and the taste maybe even better.
Irene and I had two helpings each (I had another one later before going to bed, shame on me), three pieces are in my fridge, and the rest will be consumed today for lunch by Charlie, Irene and yours truly.
Susanne, my brother's partner, turns 50 on 21 January, and there will be a party on the 29th. She asked whether there was a possibility for me to come, and I thought, why not. So I'm flying to Innsbruck on the 28th, from there to Vienna on the 30th and back to Skopje on 1 February. We're not going to tell my brother, so he'll have a surprise. And my mother will be happy, too, because we can see each other on Monday 30th. I, on the other hand, have taken the rest of the week off, too -- in case the weather is fine, I can get started with the "climb the Vodno every day" project. Plus, I'll finally start making a dent into my 2010 paid leave. A very small dent, because I've still got leftover days from 2009, but it's a start.
I briefly considered taking the train from Vienna to Innsbruck but decided against it. The trip lasts almost 5 hours, is almost as expensive as the plane tickets, and I don't need the hassle of going from airport to train station, when I can just change terminals and be done.
Susanne already booked my hotel room -- I love that hotel. It's in the very centre of Innsbruck, new, stylish and has the bestest breakfast buffet evah. I'll have to check whether they've got a gym; otherwise it'll have to be running, weather permitting.
It's funny, usually I'm extremely reluctant to go to Austria, but this birthday trip makes me feel happy. Well, there's my brother at the other end, so that probably explains it. Janine is happy, too, because she'll see me.
The Black Beast and I have a ritual: when I enter the flat, I pick her up and cuddle her. Then, if I'm wearing trainers (usually once a day, when I visit her after tennis or gym), she must pounce on the shoelaces and chew them with abandon, while I'm allowed to pet her some more. Yesterday she farted during this second part of the ritual, and I thought I was going to suffocate. Lola, queen of farts. But so sweet. And so sleek, silky and rounded, I could cuddle her all the time. Still, it'll be nice to have Alexandra back, although I've got completely used to planning my day according to Lola's needs.
Yesterday was a holiday, i.e. no work, so I played tennis with Elena and then went to spend time with the Black Beast. There's a supermarket not far from where the Black Beast dwells, but I'd completely forgotten that this chain of supermarkets doesn't offer fresh meat. Hence the dilemma: do I go to another supermarket to get minced meat, or do I prepare veggie lasagna, or shall I be bold and try something else? Too lazy to go else where, and somehow the veggie idea didn't really appeal, so it was Something Else.
I bought sausages, Bratwurst style, i.e. the ones you have to barbecue or pan-fry, peeled them and put them in the blender. The result was more than just acceptable -- the consistency of the meat very, very close to minced meat, and the taste maybe even better.
Irene and I had two helpings each (I had another one later before going to bed, shame on me), three pieces are in my fridge, and the rest will be consumed today for lunch by Charlie, Irene and yours truly.
Susanne, my brother's partner, turns 50 on 21 January, and there will be a party on the 29th. She asked whether there was a possibility for me to come, and I thought, why not. So I'm flying to Innsbruck on the 28th, from there to Vienna on the 30th and back to Skopje on 1 February. We're not going to tell my brother, so he'll have a surprise. And my mother will be happy, too, because we can see each other on Monday 30th. I, on the other hand, have taken the rest of the week off, too -- in case the weather is fine, I can get started with the "climb the Vodno every day" project. Plus, I'll finally start making a dent into my 2010 paid leave. A very small dent, because I've still got leftover days from 2009, but it's a start.
I briefly considered taking the train from Vienna to Innsbruck but decided against it. The trip lasts almost 5 hours, is almost as expensive as the plane tickets, and I don't need the hassle of going from airport to train station, when I can just change terminals and be done.
Susanne already booked my hotel room -- I love that hotel. It's in the very centre of Innsbruck, new, stylish and has the bestest breakfast buffet evah. I'll have to check whether they've got a gym; otherwise it'll have to be running, weather permitting.
It's funny, usually I'm extremely reluctant to go to Austria, but this birthday trip makes me feel happy. Well, there's my brother at the other end, so that probably explains it. Janine is happy, too, because she'll see me.
The Black Beast and I have a ritual: when I enter the flat, I pick her up and cuddle her. Then, if I'm wearing trainers (usually once a day, when I visit her after tennis or gym), she must pounce on the shoelaces and chew them with abandon, while I'm allowed to pet her some more. Yesterday she farted during this second part of the ritual, and I thought I was going to suffocate. Lola, queen of farts. But so sweet. And so sleek, silky and rounded, I could cuddle her all the time. Still, it'll be nice to have Alexandra back, although I've got completely used to planning my day according to Lola's needs.
