Post 2: When the going gets tough...

Welcome back, readers!

So you're new in town and you need to make those last few dollars make the rounds before your paycheck gets in, right? I've been there - it's always a difficult place to be. Payday seems like a mile away and you have fifty dollars to get you there. The bills and rent are paid, but what are you meant to do after that? Rewatch Gossip Girl or, failing that, dig out your worn-out copy of Hung?

Never fear, there are a few places left in the city that you can still go and have fun for next to nothing. Here are my top recommendations:

Bar Century : Three dollar drinks. I'm serious. Frozen cocktails for five dollars and jugs of beer? Ten dollars. If you're looking for a good night out with your friends for $20, you really can't go past this place. Also, if you're into dubstep and house music, Sydney's 3-Bit DJs play every Saturday night on the second floor (usually there is no cover charge).

Game Arcades : Okay, hear me out. Essentially, this is just like gambling. But take along a couple of mate, ten dollars and a healthy dose of child-like fun and you can walk away from the skil-testers laden down with fluffy toys and a great time! Galaxy World on George St is right across the road from the cinemas, so it's easy to find. George St is also home to a number of other game arcades, so if you head down towards Paddy's Markets, there are at least another two arcades to play at.

Sydney Domain : The Domain is famous for holding Carols by Candlelight, but during the year it also plays host to many prestigious events, like the Archibald Prize - where finalists go on display. It's often free to drop in and see many of the events that take place here, so if you have a weekend spare and no cash, why not stop by and see what's going on?

In today's post, I'm also sharing my recipe for epic salmon pasta. This recipe has undergone a few changes since its early incarnation as mussell pasta, but I can heartily recommend it as a great choice when you have pescatarian friends over for dinner.

You will probably need to get:

1 pkt Fettuccini (I usually use Latina, only because it looks nicer than the cheaper versions)
1 tub cooking cream (You could probably swap this out for cream cheese or sour cream. The favourite around here is the Philly kind)
1 pkt Shredded Cheese (I like to use parmesan, because you can get a small amount perfect for this at a very reasonable price, but feel free to change it up)
1 can of salmon (Feel free to mix it up here. We've done tuna, mussells and salmon and we quite like the salmon best)
1 bag of steamed mixed vegetables (The best ones to use are the kind you can throw into the microwave and forget about for a few minutes. I tend to use the Birds' Eye ones, because they usually cost less than $3)

When you have obtained said ingredients, this is how you make it:

First of all, pop a saucepan of water on to the stove and boil it up. I don't usually bother, but if you so wish you can add a dash of salt to the water. While this is happening, pop the amount of steamed vegetables into the microwave and follow the instructions on the packet. Usually it'll be about eight minutes for three bags (if you're cooking for more than one), or two-ish (if you're cooking for you).

When you've done that, grab the can of salmon and pop the top. Drain the liquid and scoop out the bones. Place the de-boned fish to one side and chill for a bit, because you can't do anything until the pasta is cooked, regardless of the cooking status of the vegetables.

Once the water is boiling, turn it down and place enough pasta in to feed all those you are cooking for. Keep an eye on it, because it will be done in a minute or two. Take the saucepan off the stove and strain the pasta. When the pasta is less soggy, scoop in a couple of dollops of cooking cream and half a packet of the cheese you bought. Stir through until the pasta is coated and the cheese is somewhat melted. Toss in the salmon (try and break it up as it goes in), then throw in the cooked veggies and toss through.

Serve hot in bowls, plates, whatever. In keeping with my "healthy" information, here's a link to some interesting facts about salmon:

Salmon - the wonderfish!

So while you're chowing down on that delicious bowl of pasta watching Jamie Oliver being smug with his organic food, you can rest easy that you're doing your body a world of good, too!

Until next time, remain awesome!

~@ LW

Post 1: Welcome to Sydney!

Hola, people! I finally decided to bite the bullet and write this blog - Living Solo In Sydney! Woo! You'll all be pleased to hear that this isn't going to be your regular 'OMG! Tht ws tly awsom!' type blog. At least, not if I can help it. This blog chronicles my time in Sydney - the trials and tribulations, the celebrations and felicitations, all of it. Along the way, I'll be posting what I consider to be useful advice - cheap meals that don't require the budget of a BBC production of Northanger Abbey, stuff to see and do, interesting facts and above all else, just a fun read.

So sit back, relax with a cuppa and enjoy the ride!

Since today is my very first post, I thought I would share with you a quick recipe that I whipped up on Tuesday night. It's the perfect light meal/snack for those days when you really can't be arsed cooking for everyman and his pooch. Living on my own, this applies to me most days. So here I present my Eng-lush Muffins with Tasty Toppings.

You will most likely need to get the following:

1 pkt English Muffins. These can usually be picked up for about $1.67 from Coles.
1 tub of Philly (Philadelphia Cream Cheese). Any cream cheese will do, this just happens to be tasty.
1 Avocado. You don't have to have this if you don't like it, but I think it's yummy.
1/4 Roast Chicken. You can grab this on the way home from work. Get a half if you think you'll need it.
Handful of grated cheese. Get whatever you like. :)

When you get home, you'll need to do the following to cook it...

Toast the muffins. While that's doing its things, grab a bowl and smush up half the avocado with some Philly to a paste (mine was a little pulpy, but palatable). When the toastings done, slop on the paste and top with the roast chicken. I highly recommend tearing bits off with your hands and arranging them however you like. Finish with some grated cheese and whack it in the microwave. Nuke it until the cheese has melted. Take out and enjoy!

Have as many as you want. You are getting a good dose of vitamins with that avocado. Here are some fun facts about that delicious green fruit (yes, fruit!) that you may not have known (courtesy of http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/20-facts-about-avocados.html ).

The average avocado contains 300 calories and 30 grams of healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat.
Avocados have the highest protein content of any fruit.
Avocados contain more potassium than bananas.
One avocado contains 81 mcg of lutein, an important nutrient for healthy eyes.

Until next time, keep living life!

~@ LW.