Métamorphose – for Cin

no mask

no cover

no voice

no sound

solo

in my verse

as light fades

***

for pain

has no shelter

nor has love

***

silence

Photo credit :- morgen-danach

For cindy

Silent Innuendos

the crimson light

of a newborn day

joie de vivre in

every breath I take

treading footsteps

echo the sound

of silent innuendos

as thoughts fly away

like nectar dripping

invading my senses

where muses play

I’ll write you a verse

and softly whisper

“come play”

***

(Picture taken by yours truly at 5am on my daily 8km walk..phewww)

http://youtu.be/7AW9C3-qWug

Maze – Haiku

 

 

convoluted maze

tears mixed with mud and blood

dwindled in the dust

 

 

©AvdL 2011

 

 

PRISMS OF FATE

  

 

fading brightness

from mountains of glory

to canyons of fate

golden shades melting

turning into brown

the stars have dimmed

in the sky once bright

shine your rainbow prism

through the rift of clouds

where my feet will follow

and my heart will hold

visions of the dark night

  this never-ending rain

full of sorrow and pain

where my hands bleed

against my aching heart

 

©AvdL 2011

 

 

réflexion

 

 

before rise of sun

everything seems grey

in habitual ambience

as I recall your reflection

a desire for movement

where my secrets are safe

and in the dark

I ache

for your slow embrace

take me – all the way

to the bone

but

♥ silence ♥

about the one

who matters most

♦

walking the streets

of no direction

where I still seek

resonance….

and

YOU

 

©AvdL 2010

 

 

Crayfish Salad (entree)

A woman should never be seen eating or drinking, unless it be crayfish (lobster) salad and Champagne, the only true feminine and becoming viands.
Lord Byron 

 Crayfish is a freshwater variant of the lobster.

INGREDIENTS

• Sea salt and pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
• Juice and zest of 1 lime
• 1.5 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger root
• 1 tablespoon chopped coriander
• 2 tablespoons olive oil + more to drizzle
• 1 pink grapefruit
• 150 g (5 ¼ oz) drained cooked crayfish meat
• 1/4 English cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced finely
• 1 Pink lady apple, cored and diced finely, drizzled with lime juice to prevent discoloration
• 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced finely, drizzled with lime juice to prevent discoloration
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion + 1 teaspoon
• 2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds, to top
• Watercress leaves, to serve

Steps:

• Have six appetizer plates ready. In a small bowl, combine a pinch of sea salt, pepper, the cumin, the zest and juice of 1 lime, ginger, coriander and olive oil, and whisk to emulsify.
• With a sharp serrated knife, peel the skin and pith from the grapefruit. Cut the fruit into segments, discarding the membrane. Dice finely and set side. Dice the lobster meat finely.
• In a large bowl, gently toss the crayfish meat, cucumber, apple, grapefruit, avocado and 2 tablespoons of red onion. Drizzle with the dressing and toss again.
• Place the ring mold on top of one plate. Pack 1/6 of the fish preparation into the mold and remove the ring. Repeat with the other five plates. Top with chopped red onion and pomegranate seeds. Drizzle with olive oil and decorate with watercress leaves. Serve immediately.



 ”Things that excite me, be they pastry, or crayfish (lobster), or love…”  Jimmy Buffett.

Downunder

My friends, you might have noticed that I’ve not been around for a couple of days…apart from the fact that business has been very demanding this time of year,  my current situation compels me to not post on a daily basis like I have been for the last 7 months….I’m not disappearing completely…… I will continue to respond to comments made on all entries ………talk to ALL OF YOU, read your blog daily and  still post regularly…just not on a daily basis.  It has taken me a while to work this out, I have been on a spiritual journey…a lot has been happening in my life over the last 2 years and I know that I have grown and moved forward a lot.  This place, right here, with all of you, has given me so much …you have opened my eyes to so many things that I thought was not possible for a long time…..and I want to thank each and every single one of you for the part YOU have played on this journey.

All I know TODAY…is that I have a life to explore…one I want to embrace with everything inside of me….Wayne Dyer said….”Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.”…this is how I want to live….one day at a time…but with all of my heart and all the passion I have inside of me…..I send all of you so much love…always

On a lighter note…I’ll share with you my Sunday morning….(many of you might know that I live on the water and not at all hard to catch fresh seafood)…Late last night I’ve put the crab pots out…..when I woke this morning…….

Now who can argue that there’s not many a thing that can beat a brunch like this….

Crab omelette with Veuve Clicquot (and YES..you can have this all by yourself:)

Pottering in my garden (my favourite thing)

Ending the day with a platter and good friends…..

Love from Downunder…have a happy weekend..see you for Monday Potluck my dearest friends oxoxoxox  

PAELLA

In my opinion, the best comfort food is everything in one dish in the most unsophisticated way.  No introduction is needed to paella.. I am sure!  For those weekend late afternoon get together’s with special friends, good wine, jazz music in the background and the best rustic meal ever!!  What more can you ask for?

 

INGREDIENTS 

• 5 large chicken legs
• 1 lb pork
• 20 slices of chorizo
• 2 lb fresh mussels
• 1 lb fresh squids
• 20 large shrimps
• 1 lb + 2 oz round rice or paella rice
• 2 large onions
• 2 lb tomatoes
• 1 red pepper
• 1 green pepper
• 1 yellow pepper
• 10 artichokes hearts
• 4 garlic cloves
• 6 oz fresh peas cleaned (or frozen)
• 1 bay leaf
• 7 cups + 1/2 chicken stock
• 2 saffran capsules
• About 1 + 1/4 cups olive oil
• 1 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper

 

METHOD

• Cut your chicken legs in halves.
• Chop the pork in cubes.
• Heat some olive oil in your paella dish (I use an All-Clad braise pan as I do not own a paella dish). When hot, brown all meats on all sides and set them aside.
• Wash and brush your mussels and place them in a large pot.
• Cook on high heat for a few minutes until they open. Remove them but keep the juice they give out.
• Heat some olive oil in a pan and cook the sliced squids for 5 mns. Set aside.
• Heat some olive oil in a pan and cook the shrimps for 2 or 3 mns and set aside.
• Blanch your tomatoes for 1 mn. Rinse them in cold water, peel them and remove the seeds. Chop them.
• Heat your chicken stock.
• Slice the peppers (remove all white parts and seeds).
• Slice the onions.
• Heat some olive oil in the paella dish and when hot, cook the onions and peppers until softer (on medium heat for at least 10 mns min.)
• Add the tomatoes, the saffron, the bay leave and the rice, and mix well.
• Cook for a few mns before starting to add the broth and mussel juice. Add a few ladlefuls and then add all the pieces of meat. Stir to make sure it does not gets sticky to the bottom, and continue with the rest of the broth. Do not cover your paella.
• Cook the chorizo in a frying pan for a few mns (no oil is needed). Place on a paper towel to absorb the excess of grease.
• 10 mns before the end, add the peas and the artichokes hearts.
• Chop the garlic and parsley and add them to the paella 5 mns before the end, along with all other ingredients set aside: the mussels, the squids, the shrimps and the chorizo.
• Serve without waiting!  A good Sauvignon Blanc normally goes well with this dish.

Pink October

 

I am not writing today…it is spend with very special friends to honor the month of October and all of those who have lost the battle…

 

 

Some days there won’t be a song in your heart.  Sing anyway.  ~Emory Austin

 

 

TO A PRINCESS

 

I just could not keep this to myself…for weeks I have been waiting for a certain parcel to arrive from someone VERY special in South Africa…from experience I know that it can take forever and every single day I have been listening if the “Postie” on his scooter would actually slow down and stop….about 2 hours ago, as I was talking on the phone, I heard a knock on the door, instinctively knowing what it was all about!!

My day is filled with the brightest of sunshine, as this is the best present I could ever wish for!!  I am smiling from ear to ear and thank YOU, young Lady, for making me smile and so very happy.  From the very beginning I knew you where very special…and forever you have that special place in my heart…thank you so much!!

I have a notice board in my kitchen where I keep everything that’s very important and dear to me…know that your place is set forever dear one..give hugs to your Mom  

Dedicated to ONE very SPECIAL Princess…GIVE YOURSELF CREDIT   I love you Chelsea and Cindy oxoxoxox