Mom overboard! When can we start over?
I have always believed that starting over is a choice. You can turn the page any time you want, whether it’s mid-year, mid-freaking-day or halfway through a sentence… if you feel like things are heading very quickly in the wrong direction, STOP. Take stock, get your crap together, map out a new plan and start over.
Well into the second quarter of the year, I am there! Sinking faster and deeper into a bottomless ocean of WTF…
Actually, when I find myself running out of the house, having forgotten the thing I have been reminding myself of for the last three days, I realise I may already be beyond help.
On a day when mothers are celebrated and treated for all their amazingness (Mothers Day), I thought to myself (in amongst all the thoughts of failure) that I am so completely and utterly grateful that my children still love me. I find comfort in this.
Despite having missed the deadline on a school project,
despite having only managed to sew on one badge instead of two,
despite forgetting to pack away the laundry, getting stuck at a meeting, cooking dinner that they didn’t like, sending them to school in the wrong clothes because I couldn’t get to the shop to buy the winter uniform (and by the time I did they only had one pair of pants)…
Absolutely, positively, no doubt about it UNCONDITIONAL love. That’s what I get from my boys.
At this juncture I could also wallow in being a terrible wife, not making our home homey enough, wanting to do things and not doing them, coming up with great ideas and not following through on them… the list really does go on…
And on…
And I feel so lost…
How we beat ourselves up… isn’t it madness?
Therefore, I have decided to start over. Take a deep breath, get my shit together and simply start over. My new plan includes bullet journalling – write down every thing, every day, tick off as I go and try my best not to forget.
The one thing I do have down is meal planning for the week! It runs like clockwork, it generally works out the way it should and I hardly ever mess it up. Which is great!
My next attempt might be to wake up an hour earlier to find some time for meditation… I’m going to have to think seriously about this one. I love my sleep!
Well, here’s a wonderful, comforting Cottage Pie recipe for you…
The Cottage Pie that even I can not screw up!
Flop Proof Cottage Pie
Ingredients
- 6 potatoes
- 1 onion chopped
- 1-2 tsp crushed garlic
- 2 tbsp flour
- 300 ml beef stock
- 1 kg beef mince
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1-2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
- 250 g cheddar cheese grated
- 1 tbsp butter
- paprika
- 1 tsp hot English mustard
Instructions
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Peel potatoes and cut into quarters. Place in a pot with cold, salted water.
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Bring to boil and cook for 15 minutes or until soft.
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Fry chopped onion and crushed garlic in olive oil over medium heat until translucent.
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Add flour and fry for 2 min, stirring often.
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Add beef stock, stirring it in little by little until you have a smooth consistency.
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Add mince, season with salt, black pepper & thyme.
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Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mince is evenly browned.
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Add mixed vegetables, lower heat, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes. Empty into oven dish.
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When potatoes have cooked, drain and place back in pot. Add butter, 200g cheese, teaspoon of mustard and teaspoon of paprika. Season with salt to taste and mash until smooth.
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Spoon the mash on top of mince and spread evenly. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Grill for 5-10 minutes.
Recipe Notes
Variations:
Make with sweet potato for a low carb option and/or replace mince with lentils for a delicious vegetarian version!
