When I'm in Melbourne living my run off my feet, crazy mama life l find it difficult to stop and find time for 'me'.  Hence, one of the first things I do when I come to Gozo (apart from eating ħobz biz zeit) is to book myself into the Kempinski Hotel Spa Centre for a couple of hours of pure indulgence. As soon as Huxley got wind of my plans he decided to book himself into the Spa centre too. So first thing this morning we headed over to the beautiful village of San Lawrenz for a couple of hours of fulsome bliss!

First up was a 20-minute Dead Sea salt bath that is basically a -  'remineralising and detoxifying underwater massage, from neck to toe with circular movements from the jets'. A lovely beauty therapist called Marisella kindly settled me into my suite and then pointed out where the 'stop' button was and how to pull on the 'help' cord should I need any assistance mid- treatment. I thanked Marisella and ensured her that I would be fine and then shut the door and promptly jumped into my Thalgo bath.

The water temperature in the salt bath was a very warm 32C and after about 15 minutes into the treatment I decided that I had had enough. I pressed the 'stop' button so to turn off the jets, but got no response. I tried again and again but to no avail. There were only a couple of minutes left on the timer so I decided to hop out of the tub and grab my robe to dry off.

That was my first mistake!

Today I leave for Malta and I am filled with a mixture of excitement and unease. I'm really looking forward to spending time with my extended family in Malta, yet at the same time I am feeling conflicted and torn about leaving Hoover and Fussy behind. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to have an amazing time with their papa, but still I worry. If only I could turn my 'mama switch' off albeit for a couple of weeks and just chill.

On papa's watch the kids will probably consume a truck load of sugar, be able to stay up way past their bedtime and all semblance of order and routine will be thrown out the window. I'm also big enough to admit that Hoover and Fussy *always* have more fun with their papa as he lets them go to bed without brushing their teeth and lets them watch way too much TV. He's  also really good at letting things like fruit and vegetables slip underneath the radar.

Huxley will join me in Malta in a week and we will then scoot over to Barcelona. My amazing mum will ensure that order returns to chaos and she will love and indulge our kids like only a Nanna can. Thanks Mum you know I couldn't do this without your love and support!



As this is a work (and fun) related trip I will not be blogging as regularly, but I will attempt to stay connected via facebook and twitter. So in my absence why don't you try out a couple of those recipes that you have bookmarked over the last couple of months and go discover some amazing new blogs?

I hope to resume life as we know it by the third week of October. No doubt I will have loads of stories and several hundred (thousand) photos to share with you all. And if I remember every now and then to dig my flip out of the depths of my handbag I may even have some video of my travels to share with you too!

Stay safe dear readers and ciao for now!

The other day Anastasia sent me a text at 8.05am alerting me to the fact that one of our favourite cookware stores was having a 50% clearance sale. I immediately sent her a text back letting her know that I would meet her at the store after I dropped the kids off to school. I also suggested if she could exercise some restraint until I got there as she is just as obsessed (if more) when it comes to kitchen gadgets and bakeware.

By the time I got to the store Anastasia had already amassed a huge pile of things she 'needed' for her kitchen. I managed to quickly match her speed and mania and before I knew it I had a mountain of stuff that I apparently needed for my kitchen too. One of the things I managed to pick up for just $15 was a large, round French metal baking dish. I held it up to show Anastasia and we both said simultaneously -'spanakopita'!

Almost six months ago we said farewell to tomatoes and began to welcome Autumn's rich bounty. Although I enjoy what the colder months have to offer I really do miss my tomatoes. During the winter months I improvise here and there with Italian tinned tomatoes and sun dried tomatoes. But you and I both know that nothing compares to a sun blushed, vine ripened tomato. Well let me qualify that, nothing compares to a Mediterranean sun blushed tomato.



One of the first things I will do when I get to Malta this Sunday (after greeting my family of course) will be to make myself some ħobz biz zeit  with Maltese bread and some sun kissed tomatoes - simple, honest, uncomplicated peasant food at it's best!



Yesterday we finally got around to planting our precious tomato seeds. Because I am leaving this Saturday I have left my budding seedlings in the care of my gorgeous neighbour Lanie. Upon my return home we should have enough seedlings so to ensure us a constant supply of plump, red, juicy tomatoes throughout the summer months here in Melbourne.

Last year when I was in Rome I went a little crazy taking photos of nuns. It started off quite innocently when I took a photo of a nun in full habit on the Metro. Consequently I ended up with all sorts of photos of nuns on the run.

I have a photo of a nun on a mobile phone and another photo of one texting on her Blackberry. I also have a great photo of a group of young nuns standing outside of Zara.  Hence, the last thing I expected to find at Campo de' Fiori that morning were two Canadian nuns and a bemused Roman butcher.

The other day I mentioned that I had received Maria's book in the mail which I have since read it from cover to cover. This tomato and fig soup is yet another one of Maria's clever creations. Again I didn't want to wait until tomatoes were in season before trying this soup, so I decided to use tinned Italian tomatoes instead. This recipe also called for a green capsicum, but in this instance I chose to use a red capsicum instead as I find them sweeter.

Fathers Day at our house is pretty low key and very much hand-made. Both Hoover and Fussy made cards, poems and gifts for their papa at school and kindergarten last week that they then gave him on Sunday morning.

We then made him a big 'bacon breakfast' and loafed around in our pyjamas for most of the day. Despite it being Father's Day, Huxley insisted that he still man the coffee machine. In the afternoon Hoover and I made some cardamom and orange truffles. Well if truth be told I made the truffles and she licked the bowl clean.



If cardamom and orange does not take your fancy, then why not try and infuse the thick cream with other flavours such as - cinnamon, lavender or rosemary.

A couple of weeks ago on twitter I asked Anissa if she could recommend some cook books as I was about to splurge on AbeBooks. One of the books Anissa suggested was The Modern Vegetarian by Maria Elia. The book finally arrived in the mail last Friday and I have since read it from cover to cover.

Although Maria grew up in the kitchen of her Greek Cypriot father's restaurant in London, her recipes demonstrate an eclectic love of world favours. It was only after reading the book and talking to Anissa that I found out that indeed it was Anissa who taught Maria the 'delights of Moroccan cuisine'. Hence, this savoury tomato and Medjool date baklava is yet one example of Maria's versatility and broad culinary landscape.

In this particular recipe Maria suggests that you use fresh tomatoes. Unfortunately tomatoes are not in season yet in Melbourne as we are at the tail end of winter. Being the impatient sort that I am I didn't want to wait months before trying this baklava so I decided to use sun-dried tomatoes instead. The end result was magnificent and the baklava was delicious served warm for dinner that night and equally impressive served cold the next day.

I highly recommend Maria's book as it will not disappoint!

Over breakfast this morning we were all chatting about how exciting it was that spring is finally here. I love spring and would much prefer if we could have six months of glorious spring and do away with summer altogether, as summer in Melbourne is insanely hot.

Ah, well no harm in trying!

Hoover then appeared in the kitchen after breakfast fully dressed for kindergarten wearing gumboots and fairy wings. I suggested that maybe she would like to lose the wings and change into shoes as it was not going to rain. She replied - 'but mama I need to help Tinkerbell with the blush of spring today'.

'Of course, the blush of spring!'  I repeated. What a complete nincompoop I can be at times.  'Sure bella, keep the wings as I'm sure Tinkerbell can use all the help she can get today'.

When I dropped her off at kindergarten I told her teacher to remind Hoover to hang up her fairy wings once the novelty wore off. When I collected her at 12.30pm this afternoon this is how I found her - bless her!