2.15.2015

THOUGHTS ON THOUGHT + LEEK, BROCCOLI AND COURGETTE SOUP WITH STRAWBERRY AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR TOPPING

Leek, broccoli and courgette soup with strawberry and balsamic vinegar topping

Ever since I met Mr. Lemoui, my philosophy teacher, I started thinking about things I hadn’t taken into consideration before. I look at him and I see a master in the art of unlocking concealed doors in people’s minds – or at least in mine –.  He has this irreverent and questioning attitude towards everything and the ability to entice you into joining his game; no sooner have you left his class, you can’t stop yourself from going over and over what he has said. It’s not that he instils his ideals in students; it’s just that he leaves these blank spaces in their minds so that they feel the need to rethink, analyse and contrast any information they receive. So that they end up building an opinion for themselves and don’t base their thoughts on what they’ve traditionally been taught.

However inspiring this may sound, after some time of experiencing this sort of phenomenon, I’ve come to realize how little time I spend on constructing my thoughts and opinions. What I mean is that I may leave my philosophy lesson and yes, spend the next hour thinking about what has been discussed, but immediately after this, an endless bunch of other things to think about come to me and so as the human being I am, I just can’t handle them at once, so they end up messily displaced in my mind. If besides this comes reality – understood as the physical place where you’re standing; the sensations you feel through your senses; your daily life and duties and the things you must remember and those you forget when you shouldn’t; publicity; news on how the world is a step closer to dehumanization, if it is not yet; etcetera, etcetera, etcetera –, what you get is a huge and tremendous jumble in your head.

Maybe this is just how thought works. Maybe this is the best part of it, making something out of chaos, learning to redirect your thoughts to where you want them to go. Being patient, controlling your eagerness of sorting things out, of finding evident answers – if they’re to exist –. Knowing which information you want to pick and how you want to use it. Being flexible yet determined when it comes to belief and ideas.

Maybe this is growing up, a dash of emancipation. Or maybe it’s something I still don’t know how to portray in words.

Leek, broccoli and courgette soup with strawberry and balsamic vinegar toppingLeek, broccoli and courgette soup with strawberry and balsamic vinegar topping
LEEK, BROCCOLI AND COURGETTE SOUP WITH STRAWBERRY AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR TOPPING


Serves 2/3

(portions can be adjusted to taste) 
 
1 and ½ courgette, skin removed and chopped
1 big head of broccoli, cut into florets and slice the stalk
2 leeks, finely chopped
1 medium potato
A bunch of strawberries, cut into halves or quarters
Balsamic vinegar
Sea salt and pepper
1 litre/4 cups of water (and maybe a little bit more)
2 tbsp of virgin olive oil

·Heat the olive oil in a saucepan. Add the courgettes, broccoli and leeks, lower the heat and cook for about 10-15 minutes with a lid, stir occasionally. They should soften but keep their colour.
·Add water and a pinch of sea salt and cook for 25-30 minutes. Blend the soup until completely smooth using a hand blender. Add more water if it’s too thick and blend again. Season to taste.
·Serve it in bowls with the strawberries on top and a dash of balsamic vinegar. Enjoy!
PS: The soup can be stored in the fridge for a few days.

Leek, broccoli and courgette soup with strawberry and balsamic vinegar topping

6.30.2014

ARTICHOKE AND CHICKPEA SALAD

Artichoke and Chickpea Salad
I'm quite excited to be publishing this recipe as it is my very first own creation. Since I started the blog I've always been trying customized versions of others' recipes, and to be honest, at some point I started to feel that it was time for me to give a try to my creativity. And I've done it! Hurray!

What I like the most about this salad is that it combines both hot and cold. It's nice because it makes it perfect to have it either in summer or in winter, and, in addition, you can easily change its ingredients and make it with any vegetables you fancy.

So here you have it. Hope you like it!

4.19.2014

MANGO-BANANAGURT

Mango-bananagurt

"Today is the first day of Spring", said Clementine in her particular tender yellow-coloured voice. She had been looking forward that day for almost a month, and now that was happening, she couldn't stop herself from telling everyone what a marvelous thing was going on. 

Somehow, it seemed as if she had been chosen for this task by one of these ethereal yet omnipotent natural forces: she was the spring messenger. And she was indeed really good at it. She had some kind of innate talent to spread the season essence over the atmosphere; one could nearly notice it, but we were all being coated with this strange, mysterious scent everyone's sprinkled with whenever spring arrives. 

And that was spring: mainly Clementine.

12.25.2013

HOMEMADE HONEY AND CHOCOLATE OATS YOGHURT

Honey and Chocolate Oats Yogurt

Listen.
Sometimes it just feels great to empty your mind. 
Read through no words. 
Let tiredness hold you. 
Power will come back on time - promise.
Meanwhile: just because.

Merry Christmas folks!

11.08.2013

QUINOA, SPINACH AND PUMPKIN PILAF

Quinoa, Spinach and Pumpkin Pilaf

I don't like to tag nor classify people. I reckon the world is the way it is and try to respect all possible thoughts, despite agreeing or not with them. However, when it comes to friendship, I can't stop myself from being rather selective. Don't misunderstand me, I'm obviously not talking about choosing friends - we don't choose this things, is friendship who puts people together. What I'm talking about has to do with the real meaning of the word friend. 

I've recently realized about the changeable quality that characterizes everyone's conception of life, as while we grow up, the way the world exposes to us keeps evolving unpredictably. We usually have a more flexible perception of facts when we are children. We know barely nothing and we design everything the way we want. We give answers to our questions, without minding whether they are right or wrong; and after, we ask elders about their theories just to prove how ordinary and creativeness their minds are. We're evil in this way - true -, but considering our destitute of knowledge, forgiveness becomes our most valuable shield.