Chocolate, flowers and the PERFECT Italian Bolognese Sauce.

Today I feel like a house-wife from the '50's....I have been spending lots of time trying to get our house back in shape after several weeks of neglect!

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So much washing, cleaning, ironing and vacuuming!

On top of that we have been in the thick of back to school preparations so we have been buying and covering books and school supplies, labeling uniforms and sharpening pencils!

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All of these old-fashioned images are making me wish that life was so much simpler and gentler. Since it is a holiday tomorrow to celebrate Australia day I am going to take 5 minutes to make my life simple and fun!

I am going to take a break from cleaning and labeling and I am going to:

1. Find some pretty flowers:

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2. I am going to listen to listen to some classical music! An Australian study found that listening to Pachelbel’s Canon in D major prevented increases in anxiety, heart rate and blood pressure during a stressful situation.

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3.I am going to eat Spaghetti Bolognese.....

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Serotonin, the brain chemical that promotes feelings of peace and tranquility, gets a kick-start from Tryptophan which is found in protein-rich foods such as red meat and wouldn't you know it, Tryptophan is absorbed best with the help of insulin, which is found in carbohydrate-rich foods like pasta! Yum! I think I might try this recipe from the UK that claims to be the PERFECT Italian bolognese sauce.

PERFECT Italian Bolognese Sauce


Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil
6 rashers of streaky 'pancetta' bacon, chopped
2 large onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 carrots, chopped
Stick of celery
1kg/2¼lb lean minced beef
2 large glasses of red wine
2x400g cans chopped tomatoes
2 fresh or dried bay leaves
salt and freshly ground black pepper
800g-1kg/1¾-2¼lb dried tagliatelle
freshly grated parmesan cheese, to serve

1. Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan and fry the bacon until golden over a medium heat. Add the onions and garlic, frying until softened. Increase the heat and add the minced beef. Fry it until it has browned. Pour in the wine and boil until it has reduced in volume by about a third. Reduce the temperature and stir in the tomatoes and celery.


2. Cover with a lid and simmer over a gentle heat for 1-1½ hours until it's rich and thickened, stirring occasionally.


3. Cook the tagliatelle in plenty of boiling salted water. Drain and divide between plates. Sprinkle a little parmesan over the pasta before adding a good ladleful of the sauce. Finish with a further scattering of cheese and a twist of black pepper.
And finally,

I am going to eat some chocolate!

 

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God gave the angels wings and he gave humans chocolate. -Anonymous

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Chocolate contains phenylethylamine—a mood-regulating chemical found naturally in the brain. Researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine say that it can boost the brain's production of the natural antidepressant serotonin!

Dark chocolate can also lower blood pressure and help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.



So here's to chocolate, flowers, food and having fun!

See you next time and Happy Australia day to all of my Aussie mates!

Best wishes,

Natasha In Oz 

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