#25 Sacrifice/Pleasure

I was told by the doctor to eat just fresh raw vegetable for a while. So I was wondering, what can I eat instead of the boring raw plates with some bread? Suddenly, I got it!!!
I decided to go for an exotic dish: a Tabbouleh salad made with couscous!

250g couscous
Some tomatoes (any type)
One red pepper
Edamame Beans
half a cucumber
1 bunch spring onions or red onion, sliced
fresh parsley, (or also basil, mint)
grated zest of a lemon
6 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 crushed garlic clove

Prepare the couscous: Put the couscous into a large bowl. Pour over the boiling water or stock and stir. Cover with a plate or cling film and leave to stand for 5 mins until all the liquid has been absorbed. Separate the grains by roughing them up with a fork.

Cook the edamame beans in an hob with hot oil and garlic, for 2 minutes.

Finely dice thetomatoes and the cucumber. Slice the onions and finely chop the parsley, then add everything to the couscous with the grated zest of a lemon (or other spices you like: I added a touch of nutmeg).

Whisk the olive oil, lemon juice and the garlic with plenty of seasoning and drizzle over the couscous. Toss well and serve!

Our lesson:

sometimes you are given to do a sacrifice, but if you are not passive it can turn into a pleasure.

#24 Friends' influence

I have a young colleague, Rebecca, who is vegan and make tasty and creative dishes everyday, then posting them on instagram

(see: https://www.instagram.com/veganfoodboatfun/ )

She inspired me in making this dish with steamed broccoli, asparagus, feta cheese, tomatoes, avocado, olive oil...

and everyday sandwiches for lunch break, very similar in the appearence to tuna sandwiches, but using a chikpea filler with mayo and sweetcorn instead of tuna.

Friends influence our lives. Choice the ones can teach you the love for yourself and others.

#23 Take it easy

#22 Good start

Porridge time! I take care of myself from the beginning of the day with: positive thoughts, some yoga exercises and a freshmade porridge with fruits (mango, banana, pineapple, strawberries, blueberries...it depends on what I have in the fridge!), cinnamon, honey, chopped almonds and sometimes a touch of cocoa podwer and Chia seeds. Delicious, healthy, colourful!

Love yourself, otherwise you will suffer more when someone you care doesn't love you enough.

 I LOVE AND RESPECT MYSELF.

#21 Feeling at home

Looking at these ingredients an Italian would immediately guess what I am going to cook! Yes, PARMIGIANA ! One of my favourite dish, and one of the most loved in Italy.

To begin we need to slice two aubergines and leave them half an hour with some sea salt on the top. In this way they will lose a black water and their bitter flavour. Wash them again after the time is  passed. Then put them in the microwave for 7-8 minutes: in this way they'll become soft and half cooked.

Then prepare a sauce. I hope you know how to do. Very easy. Some garlic in the pain with hot oil, then add tomato sauce (or chopped tomato), salt, black pepper. Cook for 15 minutes stirring.

Now you have just to put in a baking tray a greaseproof paper and some tomato sauce on it as first layer. Then cover it with layers of aubergines, a layer of tomato again and some parmisan cheese (also mozzarella or cheddar can work well), then again...  layers of aubergines, tomato sauce and  parmisan cheese...continue like that until you have ran out all your ingredients.

Put into the oven for 30-40 minutes....................... Enjoy!

Doing something which bring you back to your cultural roots and home, make you feel at ease, accepted and well. It's certainly something to remember when you love someone and want to make a surprise.