La Buena Vida Ep 8 The Adventurer in YOU

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Sometimes we need a change in routine or vibe or feel to make us ‘feel’ alive, when in fact you have been very alive the whole time.

But sometimes an ‘adventure’ is what we need!

The oxford dictionary defines it as ‘ an unusual and exciting or daring experience’..an escapade, an episode, caper, quest or a happening.

These words don’t dictate you have to climb a mountain, dive in the arctic or chase a crocodile in order to have an adventure. They merely want to inspire you to try something new! Have a beginners mind, let go of what you think you are capable of, don’t listen to the nay-sayers and know the only defining vessel of your adventure is in your hands, in your own mind and spirit.

It can be as simple as a new unchartered walk in your suburb or diving into a new type of food flavour or learning to dance.

I know that in these particular times our adventures are limited by distance in many forms BUT you can still have an adventure every day.

Build something from scratch, cook a cuisine that excites and challenges your current skills or dream about – envision yourself taking that next or first adventure. The act of visioning your dreams is the first step to making them happen in real life.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain

My dream is to learn to fly a plane and spend more time on the ocean…to be free and untethered, to feel limitless and view the world differently.

Mindfulness is a perfect instrument to BE in a moment of conspiring your dreams, it provides a canvas for whatever colours and shapes and movements you are wanting for your outward actions.

I don’t know about you, but I need goals to stay balanced, mentally, spiritually and physically. I need to know I’m working toward something. Meditating helps me stay calm and less restless and the visioning gives me a picture to focus on.

WE all need something right? We all want to have purpose and reasoning.

We are humans after all, but we can also become obsessed instead of enjoying the ride.

So, today choose an adventure to go forth toward…be it learning a language, an instrument or even as simple as making a new dish…like my fresh pasta from scratch.

I’m on this adventure with you too, as this is my first time. So, let’s start my friend.

Firstly, let’s wash our hands …

Sift the flour onto a clean work surface and use your fist or hand to make a well in the center.

Break the eggs into the well. Add the oil and a pinch of salt too.

Gradually mix the egg mixture into the flour using your fingers or like me a fork. Bring the ingredients together into a firm dough. If the dough feels too dry, add a few drops of water; if the dough feels too wet, add a little more flour.

Knead the pasta dough until it’s smooth, 2 to 5 minutes. This is such a mindful state – staying in the moment , just focusing on feel of the dough in your hands.

Next lightly massage it with a touch of olive oil, tuck the dough into cling film, and let it rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, once rested it will be much more elastic!

Next, you could opt to roll the pasta dough by hand using a long wooden rolling pin, although a pasta machine makes for far less work. I’m feeding my pasta dough through a pasta machine set on the widest setting. As the sheet of pasta dough comes out of the machine, fold it into thirds and feed it through again, slowly narrowing the setting each time. Pass it through this same setting a few times.

After the sheet of pasta dough has reached the right thickness – I like to fold the long sheet over itself a few times then with a sharp knife cut it into the width you like, then hang it over a wooden spoon handle. Once again this is mindful, just unravelling the long pasta ribbons quietly and gently.

To cook the pasta place it into a large pot of boiling water with salt and a drizzle of olive oil.

It should only take 2-3 minutes to cook after it returns to boil, but it depends how thick your pasta is.

The only way to check is to taste it. Then strain it and slather with your choice of sauce, cheese and herbs. I have to say it was the silkiest pasta I have tasted for a long time.

This lesson in cooking gave me pleasure, joy and satisfaction and that is an adventure worth having.

You are having an adventure everyday you are alive, so don’t compare, let go of old expectations and find a new exciting and unusual caper to dive into right now!

“Adventure is worthwhile in itself”: Amelia Earhart

Ingredients for 4 people

· 1 2/3 cups Italian “00” flour* (or half Italian “00” flour and half Farina di Semola)

· 2 medium or large eggs

· 1 tablespoon olive oil

· Pinch sea salt