Monday Mail Out: Creative Space.

It may be old. It may have dents, scratches and the odd screw hole where no screw goes.

It may be in a colour that does not match our existing furniture at all, but I don't care.

Because I finally have my own creative space.

No more having to use the dining room table! Which is the wrong height anyway and terrible for posture.

I can have all my usual essentials for letter writing and crafting laid out right in front of me, or stashed neatly away inside the drawers. 

I am giddy with organisational glee!

There's also been a sudden burst of motivation to write and create pretty things, and I am completely up to date with my mail.

Thanks to Ma and Pa for keeping this desk, just for me.

(Mail out today to Rusty, Nicki and Rachel) 

Written correspondence has been a hobby of mine for a long time, & Monday Mail Out is a weekly feature whereby I can share my love for the lost art of letter writing. I hope my experiences will encourage others to send out letters on Monday too, and have them rediscover the joy of sending and receiving mail. If you have a blog, feel free to join in.

Bean Central! (aka Nachos, nom nom)

[Vegetarian Nachos]

I came up with this recipe for vegetarian nachos around five years ago, when we were still living in Adelaide. It has remained a firm favourite, but something we only have as a bit of a treat. It was a public holiday here in Australia yesterday, and in true summer fashion it was a right scorcher (38*C in the Ranges), so I decided to whip up some nachos for dinner. They only take around 30 minutes to make, from start to serving, and taste absolutely fantastic. They are surprisingly refreshing on a hot day.

This recipe makes enough to serve 6 adults.

INGREDIENTS

425g tin red kidney beans, drained

400g tin brown lentins, drained

425g tin mexican chilli beans, drained

400g tin diced tomatoes

1 jar nachos sauce (with pinto beans, onion and tomato)

Paprika

1/2 brown onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

Salt & pepper

Corn chips (original/salted)

Grated cheese

Chopped iceberg lettuce

Diced fresh tomatoes

Sliced red (spanish) onion

Sour cream

Guacamole

INSTRUCTIONS

Place the corn chips in the bottom of a large baking dish. Grate a little cheese over them, and then pour over drained mexican chilli beans.

In a medium saucepan fry brown onion with garlic in a little olive oil until onion tender. Add tin of diced tomatoes and bring to the boil. Add drained kidney beans and lentils, a dash of paprika, and season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes and then pour over the corn chips, followed by the jar of nachos topping.

 Generously grate cheese over the top and bake in oven at 180*C until cheese has melted and is starting to brown.

Best served fresh straight out of the oven whilst the corn chips are still crunchy. Top with chopped lettuce, red onion and tomato, a dollop of sour cream and a drop of guacamole.

Monday Mail Out: Little Surprises...

"The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity". ~ Walt Whitman

Back in November I sent StoneZebra a MaxiCard with a little note as part of a giveaway. In return I received this wonderfully long letter.

My first piece of mail from a blog reader, it included a beautiful notecard and was written in orange ink from what I assume to be a fountain pen (must source myself one of those).

I just love mail surprises! No matter how big or small they are always welcome surprises.

Written correspondence has been a hobby of mine for a long time, & Monday Mail Out is a weekly feature whereby I can share my love for the lost art of letter writing. I hope my experiences will encourage others to send out letters on Monday too, and have them rediscover the joy of sending and receiving mail. If you have a blog, feel free to join in.