Prague

Hello Readers!

Last weekend Darren and I went on a pretty last minute holiday to Prague. Darren had a couple of involuntary days off work (due to the job at that site winding down) so it was a case of check all the cheap airlines and see where we can get to - Prague came in the cheapest so that was good enough for us! 

Anyway it was a really lovely weekend. I'd definitely recommend Prague - but to be honest I really haven't found a place I don't like yet so maybe I'm not picky enough or something. Everywhere we've been has had it's own personality and charm. In terms of physical beauty though I'd say Prague is definitely up there, there were many gorgeous old buildings with a unique style of exterior decoration - quite highly decorated.

We spent the first morning in the castle, where we visited this gorgeous church but I can't remember if it was a basicilica or cathedral and I'm sorry I can't be bothered looking it up. It had very vibrant stained glass windows - I spent ages just looking at them while Darren wandered around as usual taking hundreds of photos.

In the afternoon we rushed back to the other side of the river to do a walking tour but I got the wrong meeting spot so we just explored the old town square and did quite a walking tour of our own! Then - sorry to admit it - we had TGI Fridays for dinner. I haven't had this since it was in Chch where the Vic and Whale now is and well I just really wanted to for old times sake. And I must say I really enjoyed my meal too!

In the old town square there's a cool clock tower with an astromical clock. Each hour from 9am- to 9pm I think there's a short ceremony where a skeleton to one side of the clock starts ringing a bell - apparently to tell us we're going to die, the two men on either side of the clock shake their head to say no we're not, and there are two or four saints or something that circle in and out of doors above the clock. Then the clock chimes. It is quite cool, but more amazing is the crowd of tourist who gather every single hour of the day to see this!

The next morning we did make it to the right spot for a great free walking tour which was really good we got to learn a bit of cool history and see some things we wouldn't have found ourselves. Like this cool statue.

And just so there's a picture of me in this post (haha) here's a picture of me in Prague - notice my cool new jacket which I purchased a couple of weeks ago from my favourite shopping spot - the Yorkshire outlet mall :D

xxx

Mindy

Stuff and Things

Howdy!

Ok I haven't blogged in awhile. I've been reading a lot more blogs lately though so that's encouraged me to get back into it a little bit more. It's funny as I think I've said before when things aren't going well I don't generally feel like blogging but this hasn't been the case lately - things have been really great for ages - maybe it's just that I've been distracted by my hobbies.

Ok so firstly Amy and I have become obsessed with cakes and cake decorating, which has also led me to the discovery of some awesome cupcake blogs too! These are the sites I've been frequenting:

• Cake Wrecks
  
• Cakelava
• How to eat a cupcake
• I heart cuppycakes

I was even inspired to make some cupcakes today. They didn't come out quite round as I don't have muffin tins to cook them in so they sort of had to keep their shape in the cases by their close proximity to each other. It worked pretty ok, I'll just have to make sure I don't fill them too full. Can't wait till I get back to New Zealand to all my baking trays etc. Also I think I'll need to buy a cake mixer too.

Also just when you thought I couldn't get anymore geekier or home-maker-ly-er I've taken up embroidery. I've so far done two little blackwork designs, one from a book I got out from the library and one I designed myself. I've always thought that cross stitch etc was a bit silly as there was no creativity in it as you were just following a pattern - but I must admit you do have to be neat and it is so rewarding to see the work progress... I'm addicted. Plus also of course there is the challenge of creating your own design.

So of course I've been neglecting my knitting and my French has suffered immeasurably for several months. But I am hoping to get back to it.

In other news Darren and I are now almost coutning down till we go back to NZ. I am really looking forward to it so much. We're going to love the last few months we're having here but I really am ready to come home. I've got lots to come home to - meeting Eloise, Christmas with family, meeting all the new people at work, the new building at work, my bike, doing some bike and running events in Christchurch etc etc.

Hope everyone else is also well and happy!

Love,

Mindy

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Vegetable Goulash

Well I had an absolutely exciting weekend. We got our first very early wedding present from my lovely friend at work Ann who got us a slow cooker. She left work on Friday so she gave it to me then - and she said I should start using it immediately. So being the good girl I am and doing what I'm told I had it going all weekend! Slow cooked porridge on Saturday morning for breakfast (the best ever with apples and raisins in it - delicious!), chicken casserole cooking on Saturday, pork chops overnight on Saturday and the subject of this blog my vegetable goulash on Sunday.

I'm not sure what something has to be to be considered a goulash but I love the word goulash so I'm calling this goulash regardless. And it's not actually vegetarian even though it doesn't have meat in it because I used beef stock - but you could use some other kind of stock. It is really thick and hearty and has a delicious smell. Anyway I thought I'd share this recipe with everyone - although posting it here also means it will be easy for me to find it again if I ever forgot it!

Mindy's Vegetable Goulash

Makes 6 servings

50g barley
50g green lentils
1 very large potato (approx 200g) - cubed to about 1x1cm cubes
2 large carrots (approx 150g) - cubed into small cubes
1 small onion (approx 60g) - finely diced
3 stalks celery (approx 120g) - cubed into small cubes
1/2 red capsicum (approx 60g) - chopped
1 tin tomatoes & juice (I used whole tomatoes and chopped them roughly)

50g tomato paste
1 Tbsp smokey paprika
2 beefy stock cubes
2 cups boiling water
3 tspns cornflour

The method couldn't be easier. Put all the vegetables and lentils and barley into the slow cooker. Combine paprika, cornflour, crumbled stock cubes, in small bowl, add water stirring to avoid lumps, add tomato paste. Pour liquid over vegetables and cook in slow cooker on low for about 8 hours! Or (though I can't vouch for this) you could cook in a big pot on the stove but you'd probably want at least another cup of water to account for the evaporation.

Enjoy!

Mindy