Rosemary flowers
It’s a bloody age since I’ve been able to indulge in one of my primary self-care activities. If missing out on seeing ‘Free Guy’ (2021) on the big screen wasn’t enough because we went into lockdown the day it was released in Australia, I haven’t had eggs benedict for weeks.
Weeks.
WEEKS!
It’s been more than a month since the Great Pink Disaster of August 2021 and literally months since I had an EB that I wanted to savour and take my time over.
Part of the appeal of going into a cafe and ordering something familiar, but unlike ordering a Big Mac, you have no idea what you’ll be presented with. It could be an tasteless visual masterpiece or a tasty presentation failure. I love that it’s a gamble.
I’m not a gambler, so it’s weird that the biggest risk I take is with strangers cooking for me.
I also enjoy the process of writing about the food. It means I eat it mindfully. I take note of all the elements. Lingering over what I can see, smell, taste,texture, and focus on my surrounds with what I can hear and see. I then get to relive it as I write. So much self-care for relatively low time and financial investment.
Today, Fe and I went for a walk. Mask over face, stick in hand. 2.4kms from home we met up with Roni. A friend that has chooks. They get a free range and mixed diet, including the odd mouse that strays into the run. That’s never not shocking.
We walked around the oval a few times, with Fe doing donuts, happy to be running like an idiot in the sun. We chatted and laughed about work, home life in lockdown, how cooking for one is a pain in the arse, and generally set the worlds to rights for a couple of CoVid safe hours before parting, but not before trading in the carpark.
In exchange for a bottle of Brew Daddy Meadery Mead and an empty 12 carton I was given a dozen freshly laid eggs in a lovely purple box. I’d even been gifted a delightful pale blue eggs from the Araucuna.
On my way home I popped into the supermarket. I needed spinach for what would happen next.
I also brought some parsley. You know, even home cooking needs a garnish.
I had brought some Masterfood Finishing Sauce a few weeks ago for such an occasion. Of course these packets still contain enough for at least two people. As that isn’t going to happen for the forseeable future, I’ll just have to repeatedly nuke it and maybe have some on scrambled eggs another day soon.
I used Turkish Bread, English spinach (which I didn’t wilt), smoked salmon from the island state of Tasmania, and eggs from West Belconnon. A truly international effort.
Naturally because I’m a EB wanker, I garnished it with rosemary flowers from my garden.
Now, they say that food you’ve cooked yourself is never as tasty as when it’s been cooked by someone else.
Not true.
I was really please with how it looked. It was pretty with a nice balance of colours so it looks appetising. I’ve never seen an EB served with rosemary, so I wasn’t sure it would work, but the subtle flavour wasn’t distracting or overpowering.
It would have been one of the cheaper meals if I take into account I may get another meal out of the finishing sauce ($3.75), I’ll definitely get lunch out of the spinach and the rabbit (Bella) and guinea pig (Michael) will likely get a nibble ($3.50), the bread will give me another three or four meals ($5.99), the rest of smoked salmon will be draped over scrambled egg in the morning ($12.50), and of course, the eggs came by way of barter economy.
I used my silicon poachers but it’s been ages since I did so I forgot to put the lid on the saucepan. While the yolks where still runny I think keeping the heat in at the top would have resulted in a more even cook. Noted for next time (if that occurs).
The biggest disappointment here was — packet sauce. Really. Must try harder. A real let down. There sauce for four anyway…why not just make some?
Being an evening meal in this instance I paired it with a cheeky Long Point 2019 chardonnay from the Port Macquarie region. This lovely refreshing, oaked drop brought in hints of melon and citrus.
I may repeat this dining experience if I’m desperate.
Michael and Bella appreciated the parsley.
Location: Florey
Address: A five minute walk from the nearest Pokestop
Website: www.wildtalk.org.au (my counselling charity)
Price: $11.50
(approx. this is materials only. Does not include, time, electric, procurement, cleaning etc.) Something to think about…perhaps?
