Phew! Apologies for the day lost, but we finally moved yesterday! Awesomeness? Absolutely. Sadness? Well, the internet stick was empty last night, much to my undying horror, since I had this post all ready and stuff. Man-thing was sent out on an early mission today to restore my internet to its rightful capacity (maximum or death!), so I’m back in action and will be posting now and later again to catch up! 😀

On Friday we had to unplug the fridge and let it thaw out, which means that all my very carefully stocked items were going to perish. I can eat my body weight in frozen veggies rather easily, but pastry is not really one of those things that survives a day or two out of its chilly nest, so this had to happen, and fast! Luckily pastry is rather forgiving as long as it’s baked, and I also had some canned fruit and a last bit of jam that needed a new home (in my stomach). This is so easy to make I even managed in-between packing, and it always helps to have comfort snacks around for moving when you feel equal parts miserable and excited.

Ingredients (serves 6-8:)

1 sheet puff pastry (should be approx 30 x 20 cm rolled out/180g)

1/2 cup rice

1/4 cup + 2 TBSP non-dairy milk

2 TBSP vanilla

1 TBSP pomegranate preserves

2 TBSP simple syrup/ agave/maple syrup

soy milk for brushing on

1-2 TBSP pomegranate preserves for topping

1 cup of cut canned pie apples

2 TBSP simple syrup

Allspice galore +cinnamon

1 tsp sesame seeds for garnish

How-to:

Thaw out your puff pastry in advance. Preheat 180C and line a baking paper. Roll out your pastry into a rectangle – approx 30 x 20 cm. Mix your syrup, apples and spices together, then lay down your filling lengthwise in a log (approx 3 – 4 cm thick), 2 cm from the edge closest to you. From the side closest to you (longest part), roll up and over the filling, then keep rolling until the seam is underneath the pastry. Make slight slice marks 4 – 5 cm apart and paint with non-dairy milk. Meanwhile, blend together your rice, milk, vanilla essence and 1 TBSP pomegranate preserves until smooth. Bake the pastry for 20 minutes, then smear on the pink rice mixture along length of the strudel. Bake for another 10 minutes. Remove, paint over the pink frosting with more milk. Smear some pomegranate jam down the top length of the strudel (approx 1 – 2 TBSP) along with some sesame seeds then let it bake for another 5 minutes or so. Slice and serve.

Man-thing has been pretty bummed out at work, because between the long hours there and our moving I suspect he’s burning out. He’s a devout lover of pastry, however, so I figured this would help solve my pastry problem and make him happy and act as snacks for work/weekend duties. I love pastry just as much but it doesn’t love my pants size, so I keep my portions minimal, but oh man it’s tasty stuff! Best thing of all, Man-thing, avid pomegranate hater, actually really enjoys this (despite the pomegranates). He says it actually gets better with time after chilling in the fridge (since it’s Spring/Summer by us he doesn’t want to heat it, which is how I would munch it, with ice-cream!). Seal of approval! The pink rice mixture might sound weird but it’s actually a pretty nifty frosting type thing, and is so nice and creamy out the blender I was tempted to eat it all up there and then. It gives the pastry just a little something different, especially with the divine jam and sesame sprinkles on top.

Anyway, someone who is also not enjoying himself today is Gatsby. I drove him to the new place at the crack of dawn yesterday to lock up in one section of the house where the movers wouldn’t be faffing about. My biggest fear is always losing him in a move so we always make sure to prioritize him and make him as comfortable as possible. We’ve also pledged to hammer in lots of little cat wall perches everywhere so that he can feel he has some sort of mastery in the new poz, because he always loved to spy on us from the top of the staircase, and there’s nothing better than seeing his face peeking down at you ❤ Anyway, he’s realized there’s no escape since he’s been sniffing at all the windows, but he’s staying indoors for the next two weeks or so. That also gives us time to chop down or re-purpose the bird baths everywhere, because that’s just asking for trouble!

And before I forget, here’s what I did yesterday! Naturally this was my first priority (because, you know, clothes and boring stuff like files can wait), and thankfully Man-thing was around to help with the other super big priority – our computer/play room! I got my station set up first, which is why I love him :p We’re pretty much all set to get the newest foster kittens, other than trying to figure out how to not depress poor Gatsby even more. :p

Yes, the curtains are uber kitch, but we got the curtains with the house to save on having to put something up the first few days. Alas, I don’t have the patience to go buy new ones for the kitchen, so this is a painful but necessary decorative decision.

See you later for a super tasty treat!