[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #9b9b9b;”] W[/dropcap]ant to know one of the scariest things I’ve ever done?
Well there was the time this summer I came face to face with a tiger snake on our front terrace…
But even scarier was the decision to quit my corporate job and start my own business.
At the time I loved my job designing Tim Tams (chocolate cookies) for Australia’s largest biscuit manufacturer. I mean who wouldn’t love working with chocolate?
However, writing my first cook book had given me a glimpse of another life. A life without bosses or a long commute. A life where I controlled which projects I worked on. A life where I could help people eat better.
At first I dismissed the idea.
How could I earn as much money as I did in the corporate world?
About the same time I discovered the blog, Zen Habits. As I read about Leo’s journey simplifying his life and going from a job he hated to full time blogger, it dawned on me…
I didn’t need to match my 6-figure corporate salary. If I focused on living more simply, I could survive on a fraction of the amount.
All of a sudden the change seemed possible and in January 2010 I quit my job.
I haven’t looked back.
These days I feel incredibly blessed. I get to help people all over the world discover that healthy eating doesn’t need to be complicated. I only work on projects I love. I have the freedom to fit in my work around taking care of my two young boys.
And I make way more money than I ever did as an ’employee’.
I wouldn’t have made it here if I hadn’t simplified my life.
That really was key.
Which begs the question…
What opportunities might open up if you started to simplify YOUR life?
If you’d like to find out, there’s a project I’m a part of that will make it easier.
It’s called ‘A Simple Year’ and basically it’s a year long program of guided simplicity. It focuses on simplifying a different area of your life each month.
If it sounds like something that might help you:
www.simpleyear.co/
NOTE: ‘Early Bird Discount and Registration for ends 14th November 2018.
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Easy 1-Dish Ratatouille
Over the Summer I’ve had a bit of an eggplant fetish happening. I wish I could say that it was from all the eggplant in my garden but the sad truth is my 3 tiny aubergine were mauled by possums before they were ripe.
One of my fave ways to prepare eggplant is this super simple ratatouille. Gotta love a dish you just chop some veg, set your timer and let the oven do the rest!
Enough for 2
Takes: an hour
2 red capsicum (bell peppers)
2-3 zucchini
1 large eggplant or 2 medium
1T sherry or red wine vinegar
1 bunch basil or parsley, to serve
1. Preheat your oven to 200C (400F). Chop veg into 2cm (1in) chunks. Place veg in a large roasting pan. Drizzle generously with olive oil and toss to mix. Sprinkle with salt.
2. Roast veg for 45-50 minutes. Stirring once or twice.
3. When all the veg are soft, remove from the oven toss in the vinegar. Taste and season with more salt and /or vinegar if needed.
4. Toss through herbs and serve hot or at room temp.
Variations
different veg – finely chopped onion, garlic, cherry tomatoes or diced tomato, fennel or summer squash. Or even some mushrooms for a bit of Autumn flavour.
caponata – replace the zucchini and capsicum with an extra eggplant and finely chopped onion. Toss in toasted pine nuts to serve.
carb-lovers – toss in cooked pasta, quinoa or brown rice and serve with grated Parmesan.
more substantial – add some protein! Cooked chicken or sausages or chorizo are great. Or try a poached egg, grilled Halloumi, salty feta, a handful of nuts or cooked beans or legumes for vegetarians.
favourite lunch – toss in a drained can of sardines or tuna and serve on a bed of salad leaves.
Have fun in the kitchen!
With love,
Jules x
ps. Here’s what people are saying about ‘A Simple Year’…
“Participating in “A Simple Year” has offered me the opportunity to focus on several areas of my life and reconsider, unclutter, and ponder changes that I would not have pursued without the program. The structure of the course allows you to dig in as little or as much in each area as you care to or can manage. For me it’s been life changing.”
–Carole
“Signing up for and participating in “A Simple Year” has been one of the best things I did. It has allowed me to make some significant changes in my life, each leading to other new changes and opportunities.”
–Kathy
Early Bird Registration ENDS 14th November.
For more details:
Click Here
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Its look sooo delicious. Perfect dish!
thanks for sharing recipes with us here. Looking more from you dear
Great recipe, I will try it for sure in the future :-)
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