Bake Figs

I read an article this week about a new trend for office space in Melbourne. Apparently cafes are starting to cater to the needs of small business's by making the seating space like tiny offices. People who cant quite afford the space to set up there own place for meetings and research are now just meeting for coffees and renting a table for the day. They are dubbing them "coffices." I liked this idea a lot.

At the moment my bedroom is my office. This works fine for me as I have no meetings as of yet and all my research and writing can be done from my bed. So I get under my blankets, eat some cake and play corporate (well my versions of corporate anyway. I think its very similar to how I used to play secretary as a kid.) Really all this involves is writing a few restaurant review, working on my blog and reading foodie magazines. But its a start. Its only a matter of time now before you will be watching "Cooking with Cherry" on your t.v's and purchasing my first cook book (I hope I hope I hope!!)

Today I slept in through my alarm and woke up an hour late on the day of all my theory tests. I ran around the house like a mad woman getting ready, finding something to wear and making breakfast (Toasted bagels with smoked salmon, cream cheese and avocado...yummm.) Normally this would really stress me out because being late is just something I don't do (I hate to look unorganised), but I realised there was nothing to gain by getting worked up over it. I even stopped for a coffee on the way to school (yes I was late, but what would the point of me being there at all be if I hadn't had a coffee yet?)

After the tests we received our marks for the term. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I topped the class! Its nice to feel like I'm getting something right. It can be a constant struggle some days to feel like I'm holding everything together (school, work, paying bills, finding outfits that match, enough exercise, being social, going on bad dates.) My expectations of myself are quite high, and this term has been a little crazy. I'm glad its nearly holidays. I'm really ready for a break. I asked one of my friends today if it was just me finding life a bit challenging at times this term. "Has anyone else found themselves nearly crying on a train and then remembering that they are in public" I asked. She assure me that I'm not alone in that one. Life can get a wee bit 'real' at times.

Here's something to cheer you up if your a bit strung out like me at the moment too.

In the supermarkets and the fresh food markets there are some lovely figs around at the moment. This is a lovely recipe you can use for a desert or a naughty snack. I sometimes find figs a bit intimidating having not used them very often in cooking, but this is very very easy. So give it a go.

Baked Figs

You will need:

• 5 fresh figs
• 40g butter
• 3 tbs honey
• 80 ml of red wine
• A drop of vanilla essence

What to do:

1. Score your figs on the top with a big cross (Kind of like you are going to but them in quarters but don't cut all the way through)
2. Place the rest of your ingredients in a bot and cook on a low heat until combined and the honey has melted
3. Place your figs on a baking tray and drizzle with the source.
4. Place in the oven at a moderate heat and bake for 15 minutes
5. When they are done serve with some vanilla ice cream or yoghurt.