This week’s small pleasures. #395

Thistles and Kiwis

While summer is my favourite season, a crisp, sunny winter day is also a joy to behold. Put on a warm sweater and coat and you are set. Saturday at least began like that….then it rained, then the sun came out again…..you know, one of those days. Anyway, today (Monday) the sun is out and all looks well. The pictures below were taken on Saturday morning on my way to Pilates.

A good lunch

It was my birthday on Wednesday – as I already mentioned – and after Pilates (I go twice a week) I headed over to August Eatery for some lunch. I had been recommended their soup, and I was not disappointed in this gorgeous chicken, greens, butter bean and lemon delight with a chunk of sour dough bread. Excellent!

In the shopping basket

It was back to a Wonky Box delivery this week, and there was a leek, yet more onions (should I attmept to make an onion jam?), potatoes, avocados, tenderstem broccoli, parsnips and yams (oca). There was also more local garlic and a good sized piece of pumpkin. I picked up a fennel bulb, rainbow chard, cavolo nero and tamarillo on Wednesday, and also a pot of buffalo yoghirt with boysenberry. Grapefruit, red onions, lemons, red Brussels sprouts and yellow carrots were added on Saturday, the latter two only because they looked good!

A birthday dinner

On Saturday evening we headed over to Koji for a belated birthday dinner. We opted for the ‘just feed me’ chef’s menu of 9 dishes, which we did the last time we were there too. This time we had yellowfin sashimi, the wonderful venison pie tee, the yellow curry beef doughnut (top picture on the right), chicken and prawn dumplings, udon noodles with wagyu beef, hibachi roasted lamb, salmon with sesame, aubergine with miso and pepita with a mango and coconut ice-cream with black sesame seeds. We have been feasting a lot recently…..time to pause for a few weeks until Wellington on a Plate next month.

Out and about

On Friday I popped over to the Karori Arts & Crafts open day. There was a lot more to see than I expected, and I spent ages at the calligraphy stall, looking at all the fantastic works that people had produced. I did a 2 hour class last year which I loved, and would really like to do more, so need to think how I can explore this further.

Sunday saw us head out to the cinema to see a film we missed on the French film festival, The Taste of Things. I absolutely loved this film, a visual delight it also fed into all the other senses too – even taste and smell – as the cinematography really made you feel you could taste and smell the amazing food. The first half hour or so of the film are just taken up with people cooking and preparing food, and at one point I even exclaimed ‘I want to eat that’. The film stars Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel and directed by French-Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung. The Guardian gave it 4 stars – I would give it 5. Warning – eat before you watch!

Simple things

  • Going to the library, finding a book from my ‘want to read’ list then going home to the sofa and a pot of tea to start reading.
  • Having a lovely birthday week.
  • Chatting to everyone at book club.
  • Finishing up French classes for another term and registering for term 3.
  • Baking and eating a cake.
  • Getting back into the kitchen and cooking something new – pork and pumpkin meatballs from Lagom by Steffi Knowles-Dellner.

What were your small pleasures this week? Here are some other blog posts from a few fellow bloggers looking at the good things in life. Also shared in the weekend coffee share hosted by Natalie.

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.

You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. If you want to get in touch, email me on lofgren@thistlesandkiwis.com

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

47 Comments

  1. Wait — red Brussel sprouts? Cool. Also off to look up Buffalo Yogurt as I have no clue what that is. Belated birthday greetings. Glad you had a good week celebrating. That supper certainly looked and sounded worthy of a special event!

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  2. It sounds like a great week. I love a cold clear day. I know we will have some of those days soon. Our temps this week have been so hot. Onion jam sounds interesting. I love calligraphy and I love watching people do this. Have a wonderful week.

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  3. I am pleased you were able to celebrate your birthday in a grand style. You hardly need your wonky box when you have enjoyed such delicious meals out! This post is uplifting as always 🙂

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  4. What a delightful time you’ve had Barbara! A small pleasure this week has been spending time with our daughter and 4 yr old grandson – although both have ended up sick while we’ve been here so we’re helping out as much as possible! Thanks for the mention, I had fun writing about my Tour de France memories 🙂

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  9. Hi, Barbara – I love your biirthday treats. Sounds like you celebrated in style (which is very well deserved).

    Funny that you should start your ‘simple pleasures’ list with going to the library. Deb (WBA) and I are taking the Ferry to Vancouver tomorrow to get our library cards there. She with the most library cards (Deb wiill have 3) has access to the most adventures! ❤

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  11. Congratulations on the birthday and thanks for the link.

    I have heard it all now! Red Brussels sprouts? I bet they taste just the same. And do they remain red after being cooked? Purple sprouting broccoli is disappointing in that aspect. You have some amazing meals out, I am surprised you ever have to cook at home. Your winter weather sounds better than our summer, which is very disappointing so far.

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    1. Yes the red sprouts taste exactly the same – the colour stays if you roast them but they do fade a bit after steaming/boiling. I like cooking and eating out! There was one day the other week when it was the same temperature here as in Glasgow…..

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  12. Pingback: Words on Wednesday – Thistles and Kiwis

  13. A sunny fall/winter day can be almost more enjoyable, because it is more rare, at least here 🙂 Good for you going to Pilates twice a week!

    Your veggie boxes looks fabulous as always.This week have been all about taking care of harvest at my house. Today I blanched 2kg of beet greens. I cut the bigger leaves into smaller pieces, bleach them, and freeze them in packages of about 1/2 kg. I use them in soups and stews during the cold season. They stay very fresh when they are blanched.

    Have a great rest of your week!

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  14. You’ve had a great week Barbara. I always think the small pleasures have the most impact. I had too many onions this week, and made French Onion Chicken soup. As usual I love your food photos.

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  17. Happy belated birthday, Barbara! Sounds like you celebrated in style. The food and the Wonky Box all look so good. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.

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  18. HI Barbara,

    Remember me? I’ve been MIA for several months, but it was all for good stuff. Mostly travel to be with our kids all who are going through various new phases of life, a first-born baby boy for our oldest, a new/first boyfriend for our Dr. student and a new apartment near the hospital where her 3rd year of studies just started and our youngest has married and is setting up a home with his wife. We, as a family are so blessed – except they are all scattered around the nation right now so seeing them often requires expensive travel.

    Today – you introduced me to yet another thing I did not know exists. Red broccoli – I’ve never even heard of it, and will have to look it up to see where, other than in New Zealand, can it be found? The normal green variety is a family favorite.

    Blessings

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  23. I’ve heard lots of good things about “The Taste of Things” but it also reminds me to consume more French speaking films to improve my listening comprehension of course.

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