Category: 5. Things I love!
Ok – today I made up a soup. I had a whole bag of carrots and they were going to go to waste, so I put my thinking cap on and came up with this recipe. It was delicious – the kids loved it (it’s not spicy hot) and so too did the grown ups. Even I really loved it and I’m not a fan of my own cooking. I’m a fairly good cook, but it never tastes as good when you’ve had to make it yourself right?!
So here is my new recipe – hope you enjoy it!
CARROT SOUP a la MUSSAMAN
1kg bag of carrots
2 med onions (or 1 large)
2-3 medium potatoes
500ml chicken stock
500ml vege stock (can use 1litre of one or the other)
3 heaped dessert spoons of mussaman curry paste
1/2 tin coconut milk
4 dessert spoons fish sauce
Fresh coriander chopped – optional
Chop onion, scrape and chop carrots and potatoes.
Saute onion, then add curry paste and fry till fragrant, add carrots and potatoes and saute on med-low heat until well coated and golden looking.
Add stock and fish sauce and cook until veges are tender. Puree in food processor, return to pan and add the coconut milk. Warm through and serve.
Fresh chopped coriander sprinkled over the top would taste awesome.
Tastes great with ham and cheese toasties 
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and I can really vouch for that.
Some background first. My father is an accomplished and talented musician. He’s been playing piano/keyboards since he was 3 or 4 years old and not only plays but arranges music, MD’s etc etc When I was child I’d go to recording studios, gigs, rehearsals etc for lots and lots of local artists such as Normie Rowe (one of my Dad’s dearest friends), Shirley Strahan, John Farnham, Young Talent Time and so on. In fact my father was commissioned to be the musical director for the Papal tour in the 80′s – like he’s REALLY good, know what I mean!
So when I was little (4 or 5yo) I started playing piano. Apparantly I was pretty good….but I’d have rather been outside playing with the kids in the street rather than doing my 30 mins practice every night. So after a couple of years (all faint and distant memories for me), I gave it up and had absolutely NO interest in taking up an instrument ever since. I guess it is that silly rebellious streak us kids have in us, if my Dad’s a muso, I surely will be ANYTHING but that hehe (silly fool was I)!
So fast forward 33 or so years…..
Signs, music all around me…..I start working with my gorgeous friend Merrin at GymbaROO www.gymbaroodarebin.com.au
Merrin has her Bachelor in Music…….she not only runs Gymbaroo but also Little Musicians
Plus Chloe (my daughter) starts learning piano, wants to do singing etc…..so many signs.
So Merrin recommends Chloe does Simply Music – explaining that it teaches them to play and then to read sheet music later. That her children had done it and had so much fun because they were playing with 2 hands quickly. I give it a go – I ring Kerry Verdon who is one of my local teachers in Reservoir (and Glen Iris).
Chloe’s playing takes off….within 3 months she is playing several songs with 2 hands and LOVING it. One of the requirements of Simply Music is that the parent joins their children in class so that they are able to help and address questions at home during practice. Last August I decide that I want to do this too – that I REALLY want to do this… so I ask Kerry if I’m able to do my best to catch up to CHloe so we can ‘learn together’ (Chloe’s other classmate ceased coming so it was a great solution too).
Well, I HAVE NOT LOOKED BACK. At 40 years of age I decided to ‘give it a go’ and I can’t begin to tell you how much joy it has given me. And now only 7 months later I have a repertoire of about 20 pieces……..2 hands, and I sound amazing when you consider that I’ve only been playing for 7 months. No I’m not fabulous yet (I will be though haha), but ‘by crikey’ I’ve been playing for only 7 months. It totally amazes me that an oldie like me can get so far, so easily under this program.
So I love Simply Music -if you (or your children) want to learn then really, what’s stopping you? So many people sound surprised that I started learning at 40yo, this amazes me. If you want to do something then go ahead, don’t make excuses just do it. In my father’s words (which I think may be Normie’s) ‘LIFE IS NO DRESS REHEARSAL…….THIS IS IT – THE BIG SHOW, YOU ONLY HAVE ONE GO AT IT….MAKE IT MATTER”!
here is a link to a Youtube video that Kerry sent me. I wish I could embed it to the page but it isn’t letting me. But have a look, it’s only a couple of minutes and it explains Simply Music wonderfully.
And here is a pic of Chloe last September playing for my 91yo Nan!
Chloe playing piano for Nan - some of the other oldies came to listen to her too and some got really emotional. It was very sweet.
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http://www.newtonfaulkner.com/au/music/releases/albums/rebuilt_by_humans/
Ok – he’s on the radio a bit. But I saw him one morning on Sunrise and was transfixed. Told myself I had to get his CD. Well yeah – life gets busy and I forgot all about it, until yesterday. I saw it in Sanity and I bought it – I didn’t listen to it first, just bought it with my fingers crossed.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It’s the kinda music you could just lay back and close your eyes whilst sipping a neat Drambuie (insert fave drink here). I listened to it while editing and it was fabbo, Paul is playing it over and over in the car. Chloe already knows half the words hehe.
So, it may not be the most popular CD out there but do yourself a favour and have a listen.
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Fantastic, fantastic