sweet sweet potato

The sweetest sweet potato made into a delicious mid afternoon winter soup snack...

ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, sliced

3 chicken stock cubes

1 tablespoon of each parsley, thyme, coriander

2 teaspoons coriander

1-2 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled, chopped

2 pears, peeled, cored, chopped

to serve:

1/4 cup natural yogurt

1/4 cup fresh herbs (coriander, dill, thyme), chopped

garlic & cheese toast

to do

Heat oil in a large stock pot over medium heat and add onion. Cook onion for 3 minutes or until softened. Add garlic, stock cubes, herbs and spices, stirring cook for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.

Add sweet potato, pears and approximately 4 cups water, bring mixture to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool slightly.

Transfer mixture to a blender jug and pulse until smooth. Add extra water if a thinner texture is desired.

Serve and eat.

love amie x

winter blues

mini blueberry turnovers are a perfect warm sweet treat to ward of those winter 'blues', excuse the pun! Great for a special weekend brunch, and served warm with fresh ricotta and chocolate.
blueberry turnovers
makes approx 14 small half moon turnovers

ingredients
1 x pizza dough recipe (halve the salt for a slightly sweeter dough)
1 x pkt frozen blueberries
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
to serve
icing sugar, dusted
melted chocolate, drizzled on top

to do
Pre-heat oven to 200C for fifteen minutes.
Make pizza dough according to directions in the above link.
Place blueberries in a colander and rest over a bowl, allow to de-frost.
Divide pizza dough evenly into 14 small dough balls.
Flatten out dough ball, using the palm of your hand to 0.5cm thick.
Spoon teaspoonfuls of blueberries and a generous pinch of brown sugar on the middle of each pizza round. (add a little ricotta cheese, optional) Fold the furthest dough side back towards you, covering all the blueberries and pinch the edges to seal. Repeat with remaining dough and mixture.
Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown and lightly puffed. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
Transfer to a wire cake cooling rack and drizzle with melted chocolate or dust with icing sugar!
yum.
love amie x

Vege bar bites again

On a recent trip to Melbourne to visit family, our return flight was delayed so we relished an opportunity to visit a favourite eat. The Vege bar on Brunswick St.
It's not fancy or schmancy food by any means, but it's wholesome food served in an even more wholesome environment, Brunswick.
A loud and colourful vege burrito that screams all things B Street, a lentil and chickpea curry with brown rice and naan bread was healthy and satisfying much 'to my boyfriends dismay', filling our tummies to the brim.
It screams variety, and variety is the spice to life! The Vege bar is loud, fun and unique to Melbourne, a destination eat on the bustling Brunswick strip.
visit http://www.vegiebar.com.au/ and eat.

love amie x

Pittwater perfect - The Boathouse

The Boathouse

A beautiful iconic destination is the Boathouse cafe, situated on the picturesque Pittwater side of Palm beach. A favourite eat spot for Sydney northerners.

Colourful baskets of fruits and flowers greet you warmly, whilst you meander through the door baristas are buzzing like little bees to get the coffees out, 'stat'. Just a few steps further and your eyes can take a break on the over sized chalkboard menu or the sweet eye candy in the glass cabinet. For something simple to a little more special, the breakfasts are superb and a light lunch or a burger are a treat with a cold vino or ale!

A spot you must visit, breathtaking in summer and even through winter there is a calming warmth to this special slice of heaven that must be seen to be believed.

eat.love.explore something new this weekend.

love amie x

one pot green apple puds

This apple pot pudding is a deliciously easy winter pot pud to warm the heart of any pudding fan.

Try stewed apples, or a combination of apples with rhubarb & strawberries or apricots for those who get restless with the same, same (like I!).

one pot green apple puds

makes 2-4

cooks in 20 minutes

ingredients

3-4 granny smith apples, peeled, cored & roughly chopped

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon water

pinch cinnamon, to taste

3/4 cup plain flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

40g butter, chopped into 1cm squares

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 (125ml) cup milk

to do...

Pre-heat oven to 180C for fifteen minutes.

Place apples, brown sugar, water and cinnamon in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for 5 minutes or until apples are slightly softened. Remove from heat.

Place flour and baking powder into a medium bowl and rub in the butter with fingertips.

Pour combined egg and milk into flour and mix until combined.

Spoon apples evenly between 2, 1 cup capacity pots or 4 small ramekins. Dollop tablespoonfuls of pudding mixture on top of apple mixture.

Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown and the pudding is cooked through.

eat.

love amie x