the latte files: foodie/tassie edition!

Happy Sunday my friends!  I hope you're enjoying your first full 2012 weekend!  Hard to believe that this time last week it was only New Year's Day and the year had only just begun.  I hope you've all had happy and healthy starts to your year.

Originally Tom and I were meant to go back home last Thursday, if we had stuck to our original itinerary!  I'm so glad we extended the trip, it feels like we only just got here!  It's wonderful to know we have a few more weeks of sunshine and time with the people we love.  I am dreading having to leave Tassie.  I'm trying not to think about it.  Being back has made me realise how much we do miss out on being so far away :(

Awww :) 

Yesterday we made our way to Salamanca Market with my sister and niece. It's one of my favourite places in Hobart and has not really changed all that much since I was a child. While we were wandering around there was a man at one of the fruit stalls calling out "Cherries!  Eight dollars a kilo!" over and over, and I remembered hearing the same voice calling out pretty much the same thing about twenty five years ago!  Salamanca Market  is definitely a must see when you go to Hobart - I always recommend visitors to the city go if you happen to be there on a Saturday.I don't know whether it's the beautiful old buildings and cobblestones, the smell of coffee, bratwursts, donuts frying, fresh flowers, huon pine and beeswax candles, music from live bands and buskers, the freshness in the air from the nearby wharf, the crowds of chattering people.... it's just magical. I never get tired of going there. It was a must on our itinerary at least once while we were back!

We got there early to have breakfast first, and to beat the crowds (I feel like that should be in inverted commas, although yesterday's crowds did have an Oxford Street quality about them!) Breakfast was at Tricycle, which is in the building where the Peacock Theatre is.  I've been there for coffee a few times now, and the breakfasts always looked delicious.  I had scrambled eggs on sourdough:

And my usual coffee order:

On Friday I helped one of my other sisters, who is about halfway through her second pregnancy, stock her freezer with healthy meals!  We managed to make a huge batch of best ever vegetable soup, which we put cannellini beans in instead of pasta, and a huge loaf of multigrain bread.  Tonight I'm going to help her make a huge pot of carrot and spinach dhal.  Not that it's the sort of weather for it - in fact, I am questioning my sanity slaving over a hot stove making curry when it's 28 degrees out there!!  But I'm happy I can help out in a practical way while I'm here - something that I can't really do once I'm back on the other side of the world. My sister has a job and a toddler to run around after as well -  by the time baby #2 comes, she'll have two under two!  I have nothing but admiration for her, I don't know how she does it :)

I took advantage of having a nice kitchen to work on in and so on Friday I also did another Weight Watchers recipe video - this time it was dessert!  Check it out:

Marbled meringues with chocolate mousse!  It didn't taste like diet food to me :)  Tom is editing as we speak, and I will let you know when you can view the videos.  Hopefully they aren't too embarrassing!

And, on that note (!), if you're in the UK, go and grab yourself a copy of the latest Running Fitness magazine. They have a new columnist......yours truly!  I was approached late last year to write a regular column for them, and the first one is in the latest issue.  My column is called "The Latte Files", where I talk about how I got started in running and the adventures I've had (and continue to have) as I've got well and truly sucked in to the wonderful and addictive world of running!  If you want to feel pumped up to get out there and train for an event, or to get started on your own running journey,  I do recommend checking Running Fitness out - whether you're a beginner or an experienced runner, it's impossible not to feel motivated after reading it! Everyone who writes for the magazine loves running, and I think that really shows (and I'm not just saying that!).  I'm excited about seeing it properly once I get home (I don't think I'll be able to find it in Hobart somehow!).  Let me know if you check it out, I'd love to hear what you think :)

source

Well, the rest of this week is going to be making the most of the time I have left on the island.  Taking Tom to a few places he hasn't seen and I haven't been for years; squeezing in every possible moment I can with my parents, sisters, friends, nephews and niece; soaking up all this glorious sunshine.  I can't remember the last time Tassie had such a great summer!

What are you up to this week?  Hope you have a great one! :) xx