Vanilla Vegetarian : My journey to become a more inspired cook

In my attempt to be a more involved, more inspired and to become a cook who pours more soul into the art of cooking, I have started an e-log of my recipes and my regular food - Vanilla Vegetarian.com

Please do visit and leave a comment.

(It)aly just melts your heart...

It has been kind of long since I posted anything here. But I bring you some more of the visual treat from Italy - yes it's a never ending process and  ...it takes over one small part of heart first and then slowly captures the whole heart and then just keep melting you in its love and charm. That's Italy !

A little town called Hahndorf - Part 1

The cute little towns, the rustic shops and cafes, the streets with traffic slow as a snail, people wandering around and having a good time, arts and crafts, great smell of wood oven pizzas and grill : that's pretty much how I can sum up Hahndorf, the German village in Adelaide hills.

Here are a series of photos spread over several posts from my little moments captured in this town over time. It's so gorgeous that it almost takes you back an era. *sigh*

Date with myself

Pure white morning

Death by Chocolate and coffee

A day's affair in Mclaren Vale

A beautiful day spent at Mclaren Vale recently. We are kind of romantic birds and love to take a flight alone every now and then to absorb nature, sip a cup of coffee together and eat some good food. 

Visitor Centre is the first place to go in any area when you are travelling especially around Australia. This is the beautiful McLaren Vale Visitor Centre also emcompassing a beautiful spacious Art Gallery - The Stump Hill Art Gallery. 

You can easily spend hours in Visitor centre alone, as it has a wine tasting bar, art gallery, shop showcasing local produce and art and crafts and a cafe that sells yummmm Gelato ! 

Our next stop was this cute cafe 'Tin Shed' Cafe - a really cute little cafe in the heart of Mclaren Vale. 

Based in famous Salopian Inn, I have been meaning to come to the Vale Ale brewery ( Mclaren Vale Beer Co.) for a long time. Beautiful venue for lunch although we had some Pizza, cake and coffee and my camera's battery had died by that time (Will never forget to re-charge before taking it with me next time !). 

I believe Vale Ale is SA's 3rd largest brewery now. They offer tasting of 4 different types of beers ranging from clean crisp tasting to American style dark lager. Hmmm....Sniff, swirl, swallow.

We found it to be a perfect spot to watch the day go by...

Kikki K for my precious thoughts

Since childhood I have always loved notebooks - notebooks of any kind - lined, unlined, plain, handmade papers, plain paper, old and new, all kinds.  But especially with hard covers and blank pages for your imagination, memories, beautiful words to fill in, sometimes lined to create a space for discipline. I think it makes them so special. Special part of your life. 

I have always journaled my thoughts, views in happy moments and sad ones too. After years, it's amazing to find the handwritten daily memoirs of your own life that we tend to forget at times. 


And hence why these pages filled with thoughts, drawings, sketches became such an important part of my life.

Since I have discovered these, I love simplistic Scandinavian Kikki K designs. The modern feel, not too stark white but mellow off white plain pages. Anyone else loves them ?

Especially this “365 Days” this year it’s in red. And Kikki K gives you some ideas on using this journal too. I love them all !

This year I will simply use it as I flow through the year and rather than remembering the dates, I would track the days. And jot down my sketches, photos, inspirations, words, thoughts, feelings, notes. 


...and yes - notice the beautiful detailing on the cover. *sigh*

Diary writing is truly like talking to myself in the dream world so that I can see where I have come from and where I have reached. Almost meditative. Helps me to stimulate that visual, holistic, intuitive side of my brain.

What do you do to keep a track of your thoughts ?