Today’s Lunch – 31st January 2018

Published January 31, 2018 by helentastic67

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Today’s Lunch

Wednesday’s Good Mental Health Day…

Luckily, I got to be here for a quick lunch yesterday. As once a month I see my GP in this neighbourhood. I was able to scribble down a post and as I’m falling behind in my written posts with still plenty to say.

Visiting Dr

So, yesterday’s lunch was the grilled Mediterranean vegetable quiche with a side salad and my medicine! I keep having the best of intentions to order a salad but they are popular and sold out by the time I arrive.

Quiche

Latte

Ah! Wednesday! Salad! It’s called a brain grain salad. I’ve arrived late today and it’s a bit cooler and schools went back today so it’s a little quieter. Thank God!

Brain Grain

Still got my constant companion, my migraine! Not thrilled. Actually, been getting to bed by 1am the last few nights. This morning I managed to sleep in until 9.30am when my Mepacs rudely woke me! And yet my left eye still hurts!

Migraine

Oh, and today due to time restraints and no young John, I can take whatever salad I don’t eat with me and work on my medicine and this little rum ball.

Rum ball

I will need to include a rum ball recipe because it’s that naughty yummy thing that we grew up making but you don’t make them all the time and yes, you must use rum!

Rum balls

Have a great day!

Happy Wednesday

Cheers,
H

Today’s Lunch – 24th January 2018

Published January 24, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays lunch 2401

Today’s Lunch 24/01/18

Wednesday’s Good Mental Health Day…

Today’s lunch is a little different today. I’m actually at a once yearly United Brains BBQ. It’s one of the Melbourne based brain injury groups I am on the fringes of. So, instead of food today, here are some pictures of people!

Ok, and maybe some food.

Sausage Sizzle Steak Sanga

Always feel being at these kinds of ABI groups they could easily recruit the next season of Walkers for the Walking Dead here. There is always some numpty walking around drooling. I generally pick my regular faces to catch up with quietly. Even though I have one ear trained on what others are discussing. I then try to offer a few brief words of advice to help others. I generally don’t last long before I have a migraine and am feeling very seedy. I do still have my standard punchy/stabby day ahead.

Also, note photo of moi with a marrow? Ok, Larissa the artist gave it to me and. No matter how big they get she still calls it a zucchini. I grew up calling it a marrow once they got this big.

Zuchinni

#Helensnotexpecting

Also, the photo of the snag in bread? Most Aussie thing ever! Yes, it’s the long sausage in the square bread!

I really wanted to include a clip of a comedian explaining his take on some of our Aussie food things. His name is Ivan Artisteguieta and yes, I have written that name enough times today. He comes from Venezuela so his take on our food culture is rather amusing to us. He does a particularly witty take on our love of the sausage sizzle at our Bunnings hardware stores. Because they are there to raise money as a fundraising activity. That smell of burning onion as you leave a Bunnings on a Saturday morning gets you every time! However, he makes fun of us trying to put a long sausage into a square piece of bread or as we often refer to it as a Snag in bread. He points out in America and Venezuela where he is from they have long sausages and buns designed for such. So, I guess if you all luck out on finding anything on him online, as I did. Keep an eye out for him on the comedy circuit.

Australia Day/Invasion Day is this weekend so a good Aussie staple is in much need. That is the anniversary of when the First Fleet arrived in Botany Bay in 1788, and when the Aboriginal community see as the start of white man killing and abusing their people. It happened, I’m not suggesting it didn’t. I know I didn’t do it and I’m sure you don’t need me to get politically motivated about it here. If you would like to read more about the above here is a link…

https://www.australiaday.org.au/about-australia-day/history

My brain hurts however have a great day!

Brain hurts 1

And a naughty little custard slice I had last week.

Custard Tart

Cheers,
H

Today’s Lunch – 17th January 2018

Published January 17, 2018 by helentastic67

Todays lunch 1701

Today’s Lunch

Happy Hump Day!

Hump day

Haven’t left the house in 2 days and back at my favourite cafe! Was looking forward to a nice healthy salad, but alas by the time I got here they were sold out. But as you will notice consistency is the key. Pancetta quiche with side salad. With my standard medicine! And rather than try carrying it myself, I asked for a glass of water and this is what arrived. Feeling special!

Water Quiche

Latte

Have a nice little migraine bubbling along behind my left eye since late yesterday so really looking forward to seeing my chiro today. She has been away the last two weeks so I saw a fill-in. Head, shoulders, knees and toes. Or realistically, head, neck(atlas) ribs, back, just everywhere. Ad nauseum!

Head Shoulders 1

Rather warm in Melbourne today! But hellonwheels will make it a breeze………..
Also, big shout out to my pen-pal friend from Texas! Phoebe! I received an amazing parcel from her yesterday. I sent her a late birthday gift last year and am about to post her my last Christmas parcel. Seriously, why should Christmas and birthday presents be on time and just once a year? Anyway, rambling. My left eye hurts.

Texas

Have a great rest of the week!
Cheers,
H

Good week

Today’s Lunch – 10th January 2018

Published January 10, 2018 by helentastic67

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Today’s Lunch

I do solemnly swear to not forget to eat the yummy food before I take a photo, on the other days I eat out at the cool hipster cafes closer to home. As I know I did promise to include those pictures in this post also. I promise to do better…………

Do better

So, again this week my managed to make it to Cliffy Hill with some time for lunch. My favourite cafe/bakery/patisserie is still closed for a few more days.

So, had to find an alternative destination. Today’s medicine, think we call this design – the I was too fucking lazy to pay attention at Barista school to do leaves and love hearts.

Lazy Barista

So, today’s lunch is a healthy quinoa salad complete with mustard seeds and goats cheese.

Lunch

Last year I had a rum ball with my medicine here and despite not being a drinker I found the golf ball sized rum ball both lacking in rum or good quality vanilla essence. Just learnt they make the rumballs themselves on site but he said they don’t have them from where he’s from? Note faint accent, he is from San Fran. Ok, I will allow.

Rum balls

But healthy salad at 1pm, winning! Hope your midweek is coming together?

Midweek

Update on Hikaru the curious cat? He is home from the vet but not only housebound after his snake bite but also contained within a cage. Hikaru is not as healthy and energetic as he believes. The vet said they were lucky he made it.

Cat in a cage

Cheers,
H

Great week

Today’s Lunch – 3rd January 2018

Published January 3, 2018 by helentastic67

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Today’s Lunch

Well, the first few Wednesday’s of the New Year are a bit of a shambles. My favourite cafe is shut for a break which is completely understandable. Between my home and my first appointment, there are plenty of options for cafes to discover with great food and medicine.

Shambles

However, I try to have my lunch a short walk to my chiropractor and the benefits of my favourite cafe is that I can be guaranteed of options no matter how busy they have been or if they are likely to have run low on savoury type options. The other plus is I know roughly what lunch will cost me. It’s not a huge expense generally setting me back less than $15. Occasionally, I’ve attempted to save the money however, the benefits to getting out around normal people and activities is worth the expense.

Going out to lunch

With my recent relief of now paying less rent, I thought I’d get out and about locally on another weekday, staying close to home. As mentioned on Mondays post and I might sneak in a description and picture the following Wednesday. It’s now Wednesday and while I was out on Saturday that’s not my normal routine. So, I would now be admitting I haven’t left the apartment since Friday late. Wednesday’s are also the day I like to do my Out-Reach! I text a great deal. I shoot messages to friends to check on their mental health some respond, others don’t. But the point is they know I care. It also sends the message think it’s ok to not have it all together all of the time. I have friends who have a series of health problems or what seems like the perfect life. Wife, kids, job all those things, but they have times of great distress or depression. My point, is erroneous can suffer depression, everyone’s emotions are valid. And it’s ok to have days you feel like crap emotionally, as long as you know not to catastrophise and let it snowball.

Depression

The next day, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get on with living. I like to look for all the little things in life to get joy from.

Finally, I made it to a cafe close to home and I made it there just in time for their kitchen to be closed!

Not happy and starving, I managed to get an almond croissant, not from my favourite cafe and medicine.

Almond Crossont Medical Latte

I shall plan better next week.
Cheers,
H

Happy Wednesday

Today’s Lunch (Yesterday) – 20th December 2017

Published December 21, 2017 by helentastic67

Todays lunch 2012

Today’s Lunch

Warm weather really brings out the good in people in Melbourne. Was down here yesterday for a meeting. On the tram I used my super power of Tolerance. There’s a guy that got off the tram, I noticed he had a Jesus Badge on. I’ll just say Jesus had not taught him anything about deodorant. Hence my super power. Tolerance.

Jesus

Right now, Wednesday early evening I’m really glad I started this post yesterday. As today was in warp speed from about 12.30pm, when my carer left. I inhaled my pills and my mineral supplement and my juice. Then left on my scooter Hellonwheels. Her first journey out from my new place, the first 5 minutes and I was on familiar territory. That’s right no breakfast, no Young John, no time for diddly squat! Scootered to my normal parking location at acupuncture and crossed the street to catch the tram to Chiro. No time for lunch either.

Speeding

Hence, officially but not officially a normal Wednesday, good mental health day foodie post! Once at Chiro I had a small piece of Christmas cake. Seemed heavy on the rum but not complaining. Had my rib put back in, I was correct as predicted not tickle.

Chiro and then back on the tram north, no time for lunch then either. Picked up pumpkin bread for Christmas, two cannoli from another of my local’s, so I considered that lunch.

Got to have a microdermabrasion abrasion facial. I seem to get one once a year, not often enough. I have an ethic on my beauty regime that is I’m a high maintenance girl in a low maintenance way. Or maybe a low maintenance girl in a high maintenance way. Hard to choose. Anyway, after my facial I collected Hellonwheels, my dry cleaning and pumpkin bread. Scootered home via one of the many Burger places that have cropped up around Melbourne. You may recall I mentioned Coburger and Co some time ago? My local is Kustom Burgers http://www.kustomburgers.com.au/.

main-burger-kustom

I would like to include a picture of the delicious burger I ordered except after arriving home I inhaled it. I was a little dizzy by that stage. I really must prioritise regular meals in 2018!

Made it to 7.30pm before I crashed. Had a kip before getting up to pull the rest of the night together.

Nap time

Apologies for lack of photo moments today, so even the best laid plans and my ability to be flexible and roll with the punches food is often an afterthought. I can always eat later……….
This is always why my Wednesday plans are always so vital to good mental health. To more calm in 2018!

Mental health day

Just a reminder, for the next week the normal routine will be different. Stay tuned you might get a surprise………
Cheers,
H

Christmas

Today’s Lunch – 13th December 2017

Published December 13, 2017 by helentastic67

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Today’s Lunch

Hot! Its hot today in Melbourne.
Luckily, I scored a seat in the back room in full blast range of the aircon. It only sucks a little when the back door gets opened and I’m overwhelmed by a blast of heat.

And something a little different today. Is Pizza! On a tummy fluffy base with buffalo mozzarella.
A bigger than normal side-salad and that little Sicilian cannoli is actually BREAKFAST! (No judgement please) had to get out when Young John could fit me in.

Pizza

Salad Cannoli

Planning to pick up Young Johns beautiful panettone today as his wife Young Betty (of course) will be at Chiro later and can take it home so it doesn’t melt. Gabriella even thought to mention I might reconsider taking it today so it doesn’t melt, I buy one panettone here each year and I gift it to Young John and his wife. They are so important to me and the panettone so pretty.

Panattone

Ironically, I didn’t eat panettone as a kid. Mum recently informed me when we visited my Nona & Nonno, it always appeared dry and unloved so we always avoided it. Now, I buy about 4 cheap supermarket ones every year for my baking!
Sssshhhhhhhh!!!!!(secret!)

Guess I should point out the pizza’s here are like what I had in Italy way back in 1994! Really thick base, made in a huge tray. Simple toppings and very, very tasty.

Italian Pizza 1

And you only need a slice.

Here are some photos for you. Before I leave and brave the heat.

Hot outside
Cheers,
H

Wednesday

Today’s Lunch – 6th December 2017

Published December 6, 2017 by helentastic67

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Today’s Lunch

So! Another crazy day!

Let’s do a stocktake for something different? Who is ready for Christmas? Who has all their gifts? Done their baking? Sent all the parcels to other countries or States to get there in time for Christmas?
Mmmm, not I! Shame!

Christmas stocktake

Lunch today is the Mediterranean quiche with side salad.
Medicine with chocolate mignon. (just saying how hard it is to do food-stylist one-handed?)

Lunch

Chocolate

I really was never to be a Visual Merchandiser after all. It is what I studied not what I wanted to study.

Visual Merch 1
And done!
Cheers,
H

Wednesday

Today’s Lunch – 29th November 2017

Published November 29, 2017 by helentastic67

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Today’s Lunch

There is never enough time! And repeat! Have noticed some signs of anxiety lately. Not the kind to alter my medication but enough to take stock and slow down (as if) and give myself some down time…

never-enough-time-you-have

That said I was able to get here yesterday also before my GP appointment and it’s been a bit of a quiche week. Yesterday it was a quiche with Mediterranean veggies.

Yesterday's lunch

Today’s offering is the Pancetta quiche with side salad. (Note some effort made to style it!)

Pancetta Quiche Todays latte

By the time I got here I felt like I had 20 minutes to inhale lunch.

Not enough time!
Cheers,
H

Wednesday

Today’s Lunch – 22nd November 2017

Published November 22, 2017 by helentastic67

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Today’s lunch

There is always something instantly therapeutic about my Wednesday routine.
No Hellonwheels today as my scooter shed is not up yet and she is currently without power.

She is not the Mothers Cat in this case it’s my mobility scooter.

Today’s offering,
Zaffarino Arancini with the side salad.
(Mint, peas with saffron rice)
With Sicilian chocolate cannoli
(Breakfast)
Medicine!

Arancini Chocolate Canoli