Packing bags with maple syrup

'We guesses, precious, only guesses. We can't know till we find the nassty creature and squeezes it. But it doesn't know what the present can do, does it? It'll just keep it in its pocketses. It doesn't know, and it can't go far. It's lost itself, the nassty nosey thing. It doesn't know the way out. It said so.'
- Th Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Right, this is going to be a bit all over the place...which is a bit like my brain right now as I attempt to pack in a record amount of time before my shuttle arrives. I'm off to Queenstown today for work and from what I've heard the weather is so bad that it's even been flooding. Fun times!

Firstly, if anyone is interested about whatever mad adventures I get up to, you can read all that here. This is mainly so my family can keep track of me but you're welcome to visit too ☺

Next, good food...

The Chef cooked up the most delicious dinner the other night (oh, and last night but I forgot my camera so I don't have a photo which is disappointing because it was very pretty)...


Roasted pumpkin, capsicum and mushroom topped with slices of tofu baked with lemon, a giant falafel and homemade tomato sauce with steamed broccoli on the side.

Then, because I am special (!), he'd got me a slice of vegan chocolate cake from Blue Bird because I'd really wanted one the other night but had decided to go for the crumble instead (but still wanted the chocolate cake even after I'd eaten crumble!!).


Chocolate craving successfully satisfied (and stomach successfully over-full)!

And lastly, because I know you all want it, here it is...the recipe for Maple Syrup Tofu!!

I didn't want to post it until I'd actually had a chance to make it...but that hasn't happened yet so leg me know how it goes if you do make it! Hopefully when I get back from Queenstown I'll whip up a batch.

Ingredients
3 Tbsp oil
300g tofu cubed into 2 cm pieces
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1/4 cup soy or tamari
1 Tbsp minced ginger
juice of half a lemon
1 Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp minced herbs (e.g. corrander,basil, mint)

Saute the garlic,ginger, and herbs in olive oil for 1 minute then add the cubed tofu and coat all the pieces.

Pour soy or tamari over and stir. Saute for 2-3 minutes. Add lemon juice and maple syrup. At this stage the mixture will be quite watery.

Saute until the tofu had absorbed all the liquid, about 4-5 minutes or longer if you like a crunchy texture.