A sense of purpose...

Last night I went through two job specifications for two different schools in the area that want admin assistants.  Upon the merciless hounding from The Husband, I went through each point and wrote down all the examples that I could think of where I had used those particular skills or tools. 

Two hours later and with a head the size of Honolulu, I had completed four pages, both sides.  Wrist cramp and a pen mark on my fingers (remember those from school days?)  I felt elated.  I had a huge buzz that I wasn't just this nothing or nobody.  I have skills!!!

Listing everything that I can do has given me a HUGE sense of purpose. Don't get me wrong, as a mother, I know that we are all important figures in our family's eyes.  I also think it is important to stay at home with your children in the early years IF it is possible (the times we are in are difficult and not everyone can stay at home) but now Little Miss is starting Year 1 in school and Mr Man is approaching three years old and I have been lucky enough to have been at home now for almost four years.  Once Little Man is in full time school what I do with six free hours each day?

I'm not the type to sit around in long flowly bohemian dresses and make cherry pies from scratch to cool on the window sill (not that I'm saying any of my readers are but I've seen it on TV quite alot!) or be a lady that lunches a la SATC! I think now is the time for me to branch out a little and have something for myself where I could possibly take other routes in the future as my children get older.

I am excited about the possibilities.  I have begun organising myself thinking that if I get one of these positions, I have to be uber-organised so that the family still get clean clothes and hot meals.  I actually did the lunches the night before instead of pottering downstairs, bleary eyed in the morning to get them done.  I was up early with a feeling of great positivity that I hadn't felt before because I hadn't understood that this time would come around for me eventually.

So now the goalposts have shifted slightly.  I have learn to go back to work and also to carry on with my fight to be a hot domestic goddess.  I think it might go hand in hand a little.  I could be wrong, but as I see it, I'm going on an adventure and I think my family will enjoy with it me!

But first...I need to get a job!

What's for dinner?

I am glad to say that I am not a total amateur when it comes to some things.  In fact, I would go as far as saying that I am actually very very good at one thing...and that is cooking!

I come from a background that involved food.  My parents were restaurateurs (now retired) and my father a chef.  My mother ruled the roost at home and I have nothing but fond memories of all the delicious meals she would make.  Unfortunately, my repertoire only stretches to making middle eastern or Persian dishes so whilst I learn to make a mean beef stroganoff or simple chicken pie (from scratch of course) you will have to bear with recipes that I've learned over the years that are a hit in any Persian household.

Yesterday, I had no idea what to make for dinner for the children.  I could have done a quick pasta but was bored with the idea myself as we'd only had pasta a few days ago so as I had some minced beef out already, I decided to make something that I grew up on.  Pan fried kebabs served with fluffy white rice.

For this, you need a very good non stick frying pan.  Mine isn't a good one..as you can see from the picture, the kebabs were a little *over-done* and that is due to the pan being no good after many years of being used to the brink of it's own extinction.  The tomatoes make a good mixer with the white rice because there is no sauce.  Iranians mix butter with their rice to make it less dry but tomatoes work just as well and is a slightly healthier option.

You can also add any kind of vegetables you want, it really doesn't matter.  We had mushrooms in so I just simply sauteed them in the pan with the tomatoes after the kebabs were made.

All you need is:

500g minced beef (or lamb)
1 medium onion, grated
2 heaped tbsp natural breadcrumbs
1tsp turmeric (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Mix everything by hand in a bowl and make as many oval kebabs as you can.  Don't make them too thick otherwise they will take longer to cook through and end up burning on the outside.  Don't make the pan too hot and use 2 tbsp cooking oil and keep turning the kebabs.  Have a plate ready at the side for the ones that get done first and as you get space add the others otherwise you'll end up taking forever.  We like to have crunchy vegetables with our meals so I have added radishes as a complement but a fresh salad will do the trick and give a bit more colour to the meal.

If you don't fancy rice with it, pitta bread will do just as good.  The preparation takes a bit of time but trust me, it will only take five minutes to eat it all and the children will LOVE it!