Hello weekend

I made one really good call this week. Midway through the week I left work on time, instead of trying to finish a million last minute things. Home alone, I put on a funny soundtrack and made spaghetti and a salad for dinner. It sounds small but I was super chilled out by the time Tony got home. This week I've been listening to Caliphate (truly amazing journalism) and finished reading Less. I'll miss it! For your weekend:

How to make a kitchen altar.

A winning pear tart from Hetty McKinnon's new cookbook.

On managing the tricky balance between work and who we really are.

Adore this series on single women and their spaces. Every now and then I daydream about what my apartment would look like if I could choose all of the things.

Plus some recipes I worked on for ABC Life recently - the pink grapefruit drizzle cake from this post (note the instructions for getting a bundt cake out, inspired by my mishap), and a grilled cheese sandwich with jalapeno cream.

P.S - Here's an update on how I went with my daily vacations this week. On Monday I started a new podcast, on Tuesday I went for a lunch break walk with a friend. Wednesday featured lunch and a hot chocolate from my favourite cafe. I planned to walk through town and buy a gift on Thursday but lucked out with a lift home instead. So I went with some extra nice face stuff at night (mainly birthday exfoliant and fancy face oil). And today's vacation was homemade burgers, beer and my very first  attempt at barbecuing! We lost one patty but it was worth it.

Daily vacations

The weekend felt both exciting and long. There were pockets for reading, a surprisingly thrilling carousel ride with my sister and four-year-old niece (the Canberra merry-go-round goes fast), time for coffee and pastries out with Tony, plus a trip to the Canberra Writers' Festival to see Bridie Jabour. It was a happy weekend and I didn't get the Sunday blues, at any point in the day.

It could be because on Saturday I stumbled across a lovely idea in Stephanie Rosenbloom's book Alone Time. It comes from two researchers, Fred B. Bryant and Joseph Veroff, and it's called the Daily Vacation.

'Here's how it works: 

Each day for a week, plan and take a daily vacation by doing something you enjoy for twenty minutes or more. The vacation can be something as simple as going for a walk around your neighbourhood, or thumbing through a book or gardening. Aim to be in the moment, and "to see things as if for the last time."'

I'd love to try it this week! I could read my book (just started this, and already loving it), walk into the city after work as the sun goes down, take a bath with the last of my winter candle, listen to a new podcast, bake a salted caramel slice.

More ideas on how to spend your daily vacation, and savour happy moments, right this way.

Hello weekend

Hope you had a great week, though how zany has the news been? We just spent the last hour catching up and I almost forgot to write to you here, for the first time ever. But onto the weekend. I have some really fun things planned, including a girl date with my sister and her daughter. On the agenda: an afternoon carousel ride and then cake and tea at this super cute cafe. And on Sunday, I'm going to the Canberra Writers Festival, which should be really fun. Things to share:

So keen to try Rachel Khoo's Swedish meatballs.

Do you ever worry about being overdressed? I always stress about what to wear when I go to Sydney for work.

Enjoyed this episode of Radio Cherry Bombe featuring UK cooks Anna Jones and Melissa Hemsley.

Loved this snapshot of a gear shift and feel like it can apply to so many situations where our expectations can change for the better. Also, we are now having pizza for dinner as a result.

A recent lunchtime read, on rebranding motherhood. Mamas, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I probably recommend every other episode of How To Be A Girl but this one is especially moving, and builds empathy so beautifully.

One reason I'm super excited to see Crazy Rich Asians when it comes out in cinemas next week. I've also read and loved all three books. My friend Kristy put me onto them years ago. The first one is hilarious as an audio book, and I read the most recent one on the plane home from Darwin last year. I must've been super engrossed because when we landed the  woman sitting next to me wanted to know what it was all about.

And this week I've been loving Alone Time, by New York Times travel writer Stephanie Rosenbloom. Over a year, she travels for a week at a time overseas and by herself. She writes about her time in Paris, Florence and Istanbul with a bonus staycation in New York. It's part travel writing, part exploration of how our perception of life and moments change when we're on our own.

Cosy things for the very end of winter

The end of winter is often the iciest. It's been freezing and grey these last few weeks, so I'm leaning into the cosy. Most of the time that means being easy on myself and making plans to roast a chicken/make brisket ragu/eat more porridge. Here are a few late winter essentials to get us through the next few weeks.

First up, this tiny candle that my friend Irini gave to me. It has a subtle wintry scent of oakmoss, amber and sage that also masks the smell of anything I've burnt in the oven recently :)

On a cold Saturday night, we put on a DVD and heated up some cinnamon scrolls. I found Listen Up Phillip at the library and it reminded me of a few favourite movies from Noah Baumbach, Greta Gerwig, Wes Anderson and Woody Allen.  I completely missed this when it came out in 2014. The soundtrack is lovely too. 

For when it's way to cold to leave the house to go shopping, I recommend Julia Busuttil's winter tomato sauce. I usually have the ingredients on hand, and while it simmers, Tony's been making spaghetti from scratch (!!!). We often take turns making dinner, and it's been super nice to make it together instead. 

A post shared by Charlotte Ree 🥐 (@charlotteree) on Aug 17, 2018 at 2:05am PDT

Finally, I'd love to try these Nutella thumbprint cookies because turning on the oven heats up our little apartment. Plus, I can 100% vouch for these chai choc chip cookies from Thalia Ho. I tested the recipe for ABC Life and they make the house smell faintly of gingerbread as they baked. And they're really delicious.

Hello weekend

What are your plans for the weekend? On Saturday we're having lunch with our friends and their twin babies by the lake. I'm hoping for some winter sun and a cuddle with each twin :) Other than that, I'll be chilling at home, with some new books and other lovely things that were given to me for my birthday. It should be really nice! To share:

How good (and quick) does this salmon sandwich look?

This mini-episode of Forever 35 is helpful and funny.

Surviving maternity leave - a list of essentials that could be easily adapted for busy weeks and challenging times.

Malted chocolate cake. Seriously contemplating a post-birthday cake.

Five novels to read. I've reserved three titles from the library.

What new parents actually want. Nappies came up way more than I expected.

How to make Tartine's jam slice.

And I loved this (and promptly sent it to one of my besties): When your sense of self includes your best friend.

See you next week! X

Coconut scrambled eggs with avocado and chilli sauce

This is my favourite at-home breakfast. It's inspired by a beautiful French bakery on our street that serves poached eggs on toast with a generous amount of chilli jam. There's something about hot eggs, toast and coffee that makes me very happy.

For ease (or because I'm lazy), I make scrambled eggs. They're less fussy than poached and more festive than a boiled egg. Using coconut oil, instead of butter or olive oil, also gives the eggs a lovely subtle flavour.

To keep everything hot, I put on a pot of coffee, pop my bread in the toaster and get my avocado and condiments ready before I start on the eggs. It's extra luxurious if you can find a really nice loaf of bread, like the kinds served in cafes.

Coconut scrambled eggs with avocado and chilli sauce

Serves 2 (or one if you're extremely hungry)

You'll need:

1/2 to 1 tsp of coconut oil
4 eggs
A dash of milk or water
Salt and pepper
1 avocado
2 extra large slices of bread (or four regular slices)
Chilli sauce (our favourite, chilli jam would be lovely too)

Here's how:

I like to get everything ready before I start cracking the eggs, so get your bread in the toaster, and have a chopping board ready with the avocado and chilli sauce.

Then, crack the eggs into a medium sized bowl, add a dash of milk or water and whisk lightly.

Heat the coconut oil in a fry pan over medium-high heat. Now's a good time to put your toast on. When the oil is melted, pour in your eggs, and give them a moment to set slightly before you start stirring them gently with a small whisk.

Continue to stir until they're scrambled but not completely cooked. Turn off the heat and season with salt and pepper.

Call in some help to spread the avocado over your toast if you have it. When the toast is ready, gently scrape the eggs onto the toast, and top with chilli sauce. We normally have one slice with avocado and eggs, the other with butter and jam.

Enjoy with hot coffee or tea, and some fruit to finish.

P.S - Tony's favourite eggs on toast - a folded omelette with cheese.

Hello weekend

I am counting down the days til my birthday :) In preparation, we're going to... IKEA to stock up on bowls for a pasta party (somehow we're down to two in the house). I want to try the Swedish cinnamon buns while we're there, my friend who has excellent taste in coffee and cafes rates them. And my sister's making me a chocolate ripple cake for my family celebration, which should be really fun. Good things to share:

One of my heroes, Miranda July, on making art.

Beyonce in her own words.

Related: How to spend your privilege via Jocelyn.

Listening to lots of Emily King this week.

South-Sudanese Australians on police, politics and the media.

Salad win: trade croutons for grilled cheese squares.

And I thought I'd share some of my favourite stories from my new gig at ABC Life, because it launched this week:

My week without plastic.

A beginner's guide to meditation.

Finally, The Baker and the Beast podcast, which follows a family after the mum is diagnosed with motor neurone disease. I had very little knowledge about MND, and watching this video of Cath gave the audio series an extra dimension. It sounds heavy, but I got so much out of listening to the story of this family.

See you next week (I'll be 34!).

X