Small luxuries

One of the things I love about being at home is being able to take the time out of my day to give myself or the boys small luxuries.  Things that are seemingly really simple but seem completly luxurious if tweaked a little!  

Now that I'm out doing more ministry with church, training, helping run various groups and some study these 'home' days are such a treat to my soul and I cherish them even more.  

For instance one of my favourite foods as a little girl was two minute noodles.  Now as an adult I still LOVE packet noodles, except sadly the ones from the shops are high in fat, highly refined and contain all sorts of colours, flavours and preservatives which as a general rule I try to minimise in our diet.  So I have mastered my own noodle dish that quite frankly, craps all over the shop bought ones and is cheap, quick and completly delicious.  

Most weeks I make chicken broth out of left over bones and veggies so this is the bulk of the liquid.  

Then I add.....
Sesame oil
Soy sauce
Fish sauce
Brown sugar 
Lemon
Rice noodles
Chicken broth
Garlic

From my garden I then grab.....
Chilli
Fresh Lemon grass
Asian basil
Mint
Spring onion
Spinich
Meat - chicken/left over roast is great too! 


I pop the kettle on and whilst that's boiling I quickly fry up a finely chopped chilli and garlic from the garden in the sesame oil, then add in a couple of ladels of stock, the lemongrass and season to taste with a glurp of soy, some fish sauce the juice of a lemon and a teaspoon of brown sugar to balance.


Quickly soak the rice noodles in the boiling water and when ready transfer the softened noodles into the broth.  Add the roughly shredded greens or what ever veg you want, and the left over meat to warm it through.  Serve and sprinkle the fresh herbs/spring onion on top!  It's 10min quick meal that feels luxurious, is nourishing and delicious! 

Another thing I love to do at this time of year is to lay the boys pj's out in front of the fire while they are in the bath so they can get dressed in warm snuggly pj's.  I quite enjoy this too! ;) 


A ritual I really cherish is to take the time out of my day to actually sit in my favourite chair with a hot cuppa and a book and read a chapter or two or in the garden enjoying the sunshine and the birds.  

We are a generation that has gotten used to doing things on the run, eating on the run, coffee in the car on the run, and jamming as many things into a small time frame as we can.  Stopping is a simple but necessary luxury, sitting, contemplating.  It's what recharges our batteries ready for the next round! 

Too often we spend time rushing, focusing on the completion of tasks, the list of things we have to get done.  Often there is no need to rush as much as we do.  We rush because our mind is rushed and flustered, but by doing things purposefully, mindfully and taking time to find the luxury within the activities of our day....this can help calm the mind and soul.  I don't know about you but I'm much more efficient when I'm calm and methodical! 

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