I’m in Melbourne for a few days, meeting people and reading and watching and thinking and writing and all the other things this Phd has me doing. today, after a couple of threatening days, the skies crashed down onto Melbourne, with a very spectacular storm. So loud it set off the fire alarm at the state library.

The storm also means it’s cooled down a lot and I had a night in, by myself, in Brunswick. Listening to new music of jon’s and reading, feeding myself the best in comfort food: stew.

This is tempeh mushroom and spinach stew. Made to indulge in the vegan delicacies Melbourne has to offer.

Fry cubes of tempeh in oil till golden (I used blue lotus pepper tempeh), drain and set aside.

Sauté a chopped onion and 2 cloves chopped garlic in olive oil. Add 3 chopped field mushrooms and a big tablespoon of nuttelex. Keep frying till the mushrooms go soft. Add a bunch of chopped spinach, stir through, add the tempeh cubes and a tin of chopped tomatoes (I accidentally bought tomatoes with Italian herbs – icky but ok) and a couple of bay leaves. let it simmer for a while, adding water if it gets too dry.

Served here with sourdough bread slices and this to-fetta I found at the IGA. Melbourne is so tempting sometimes…