aka Birthday-Love Brunch. Saturday was RJ's birthday and to celebrate we went to 2 parties for other people's birthday's...upside to that one, saw most of our friends and didn't have to plan a thing - nice one! That said we also went out to dinner on Friday evening ourselves [finished off with an incredible Sticky Banana Pudding with Coconut Ice Cream - there was a sparkler in it, didn't get a pic as we could not wait to dig in, maybe next time, will probably tell them again it is his … [Read more...]
Classic Pumpkin Soup
We stayed local for brunch last weekend instead of heading over the bridge like usual. Wandering around our neighbourhood in an attempt to try out a new place, we could only find one that was still serving a breakfast menu after 12pm - our semi-regular one of course...oh well, at least we attempted variation! The rest of them - how dare they all not embrace brunch?! We split Corn Fritters with Smoked Trout and Poached Eggs, and a bowl of Pumpkin Soup - perfect. Interestingly, nearly … [Read more...]
Orange Braised Red Cabbage
It's cold. Last week was like November in Philly - grey, wet and really really cold [so, low of 11 degrees...just above 50...but cold is relative but I don't do cold, especially wet cold]. The weather has sent me into a comfort food spiral of soups, breads and hearty winter vegetables. The other night as I was rummaging through the crisper and decided I HAD TO HAVE Braised Red Cabbage. This is a pretty quick recipe. None of that bake for 2 hours stuff going on here. It keeps a bit of … [Read more...]
Garlic Greens
So the Cavalo Nero from yesterday...this is how it most frequently makes an appearance...sauteed with garlic and olive oil, usually at least twice a week. Like spinach, it cooks down by at least half - if not more, so cut up at a minimum an entire bunch. It goes with everything, or even on it's own. It is currently filling my NEED VEGETABLES cravings, and we have exterminated the vampires for miles based on the amount of garlic we are going through. If you can't find Tuscan Cabbage, … [Read more...]
Singapore Chili Crab
The great thing about a country that is more concerned with having a few days off than with public holiday political correctness is that everyone gets a 4 day break for the Easter Long Weekend. This year, Anzac Day happened at the same time and we all ended up with 5 glorious [albeit rainy] days off. Thursday was like Friday, Saturday lasted for 4 days and Tuesday evening has had that Sunday feel about it... We did very little for most of it and I cooked alot. [I know 'alot' is not really a word … [Read more...]
Bounty Bites
Everyone needs to have a treat every now and then. If it ticks the healthy and satisfying and moorish boxes all at once, even better. I found these Organic Dates on sale the other day and had to do something with them. All of the flavours in these little morsels of goodness meld together beautifully and nothing overpowers. I could have called them Coconut-Chocolate-Date-Nut-Truffle-Balls, but Bounty Bites just sounds nicer to me... Make sure you don’t miss the alternate recipe combination … [Read more...]
Fire roasted tomato sauce
So I like pasta shaped like stuff other than pasta – no, not THAT kind, get your head out of the gutter! This kind: Pasta shaped like Swedish elk heads – could you resist?? They also tend to look like angels or crabs depending on the angle and current mindset of the observer. Even better they are wholemeal and organic….you’d never guess they are from Ikea…huh? Really, hence the nationality of the elk. But more to the point...they quickly made friends with a bag of organic plum … [Read more...]
