bean & mushroom hotpot

It’s been a while. I’ve been meaning to update this blog for some time but life sort of got in the way. In the last couple of months, I’ve finished my course, applied for university, quit my career, had a bit of a breakdown and got my braces off. A few other things have happened but those things stand out as being significant for me.

I feel good for a few reasons. The course being finished is a huge feat for me given that prior to completing my uni prep course, I hadn’t even finished my first year of junior high school. The last thing I had successfully graduated from was primary school. So it felt damn good to finish. This now means I can possibly go to university, if my overall grades are good and my application is accepted.  Fingers crossed.

The career.. well… I was struggling to keep it together because I hadn’t experienced the stress of working full time with study and I came close to giving up on my course. I was working long hours in a draining job and sort of stumbled into a bad mood that ceased to exist. So I decided to let go of the job. I struggled a little because of how hastily I left it all but I don’t regret it. It’s so easy for people to become trapped in 15 hour working days and being chained to a desk. Office management and feeling trapped hasn’t ever been something I’ve been happy with. I’m working a pretty cruisy job for now until I get my course results and I’m feeling great about it.

After operations, having gross teeth and needing a whole heap of work done, I finally got my braces off. My mouth has been through a lot and I was excited when my dentist decided to take the metal off. Today when I went back to get my retainer sorted, I was told my braces are going back on tomorrow. In just 4 days my teeth have somehow gotten themselves all jumbled up again. There has been a lot of progress and they look great so far but it is a bit of a pain. I was a little bummed to hear this news and thought I’d come home tonight and transfer my negative energy into a delicious dish.

I threw a couple of things together and came up with hotpot. My guinea pig said I should call it ‘tasty pasta’ but I think it would be great with cous cous, quinoa, brown rice or just a simple side salad. I served it with gluten free spaghetti. Enjoy.

Serves 4.

INGREDIENTS

one bunch spinach/silverbeet/chard, roughly chopped

200g swiss brown mushrooms, halved

1 medium carrot, diced

1 large potato, diced

400g can red kidney beans

400g can butter beans

400g chopped tomatoes

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

one tsp crushed chilli

1 sprig rosemary, finely chopped

1 tbs olive oil

METHOD

In a non stick fry pan, heat up some olive oil. Fry the potato and carrot until the potato is golden brown.

Add your mushrooms and beans and cook for 5 minutes, stirring. Add the spinach and mix it in.

Pour over your tomatoes and add the rosemary, chilli and garlic, making sure everything is well mixed. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Serve it up over some hot pasta.