lunches at home

Since I'm now at home more often than not at lunch time, I am having to make my own lunch. Shock horror! No more sushi or store brought sandwiches. It's surprising how much buying lunch had become a way of life and a hard habit to break. I like cooking and I enjoy it as something to do in my spare time, but lunches, I just can't get my head around.

Usually I am so hungry and need something instantly, so fall back on the ham/cheese/tomato sandwich or egg on toast, but it's wearing thin. Last week for sides with dinner I cooked a few of the salads from the Arthur Street Kitchen book and they were perfect lunch leftovers (the one above is the pearl barley and basil salad). I need to do more things like this, it was so good and just a little bit more exciting. Does any one have any other good salad recipes? I'd like to make a few different ones to have a variety together over a few days but I worry about how they keep.

The Grounds

It's amazing how quickly holidays start to fade into the background. Last week was a busy one for me, I started a new job (nothing too different, it's two floors down from my old job, but there's a lot to get my head around), but then halfway through the week managed to catch a cold which meant a day and a half at home, plus a very quiet weekend, feeling rather congested in the head. Not quite what I had planned.

Anyway I wanted to share one more post on Sydney, more specifically on the The Grounds of Alexandria. It was one of those places (along with Koskela - which is amazing, and where we ended up going twice - more on that another day!) that I had read about a few different times, seen a lot of pictures of and was keen to try out the food. We went on a Monday, and while it was busy the wait wasn't too long and by the time we shared a lemonade and had a wander around the outdoors area it was time to go in (I have to say Kevin Bacon the little piggy was super cute). For lunch I had the burger and Matt the tasting plate/ploughman's lunch, there were so many options I would have liked to try and the cake/pastry cabinet looked pretty darn good too, but the meals were quite big so we didn't really need to go there. I'd definitely go back, the styling of everything was lovely and that green they use on the tea/coffee cups and in the garden, I think that is the best green ever!

Carrot Cake

I haven't baked much lately, and that's been good because I really don't need to eat that stuff! But I'd had a little voice in my ear going on about a certain Donna Hay carrot cake that we made a few months earlier and that maybe it might be nice for the new year. So I caved in and made it, it's really moist and light, the icing is kinda whipped (not heavy) and caramelised pecans on top are the bomb.

Bagels

Finally I did a new post for Island Menu....some home made bagels. They are really super simple.

Doughnuts

Last weekend I made some lemon curd filled doughnuts for Island Menu, it's been a while since I've done a post but I was pleased with how they turned out!

Saturday breakfast

I love weekend breakfasts, it's nice not to have to rush them and you can spend time doing other things before you sit down at the table, also there's no work to go to. I'm generally a fan of eggs, pancakes and porridge but recently Kate of Full of Grace very kindly sent me a package of her organic ginger granola to try, so that was on the menu yesterday! We had it with some rhubarb compote I made and it was a really lovely combination.

Rachel Khoo

I have been cooking quite a lot lately, more for myself than for Island Menu, not because I don't want to but because at this time of year the light goes so quickly which makes it impossible to photograph dinners, quite frustrating!

Anyway for my birthday a few weeks back I got a copy of Rachel Khoo's Little Paris Kitchen, then of course had to watch the tv series, and I loved it and felt rather inspired again. We cooked her beouf bourguinon for mother's day (along with Heston Blumenthal's thrice cooked chips and churros for desert) and it worked so well. There are quite a few other recipes I want to try but these cheesy potato nests look amazing!! (suspect they would require a run afterwards!)

Lately..

I had last week off for a rather needed holiday and got away to country Victoria and Melbourne for a few days. It was really lovely, despite the fact that it rained in the city the whole time! We had some fantastic food: went back to Pizza Verde in Kyneton, dinners at Hu Tong and Movida Aqui, breakfast at the European, lunch at Earl Canteen and cupcakes from Little Cupcakes....mmm now I am hungry just thinking about it! I also did some shopping to stock up on basics, which was a bit dull, but necessary. Oh and I also got bitten by the Instagram bug, I’ve been hesitant about it for a while, but it is so easy while being on holiday to use the iphone rather than lug the slr about. So above are some of my shots...I'm littleglowinglights.

Market

I went to Salamanca market for the first time in absolutely ages yesterday, mostly I was after some tulips but they didn't have any so I got snap dragons instead. I would have loved the poppies but they just make me a bit hayfeverish.

The exciting find was zucchini flowers! I had some in Melbourne many years ago and they were fantastic and I have wanted to re-create that ever since. I did get some flowers from a friend last weekend but was lazy and left them out and they went all limp. So tonight I cooked them properly, stuffed with goats cheese, ricotta, basil and fresh grated nutmeg and a light tempura batter, and I was pleased with the way they turned out, nearly the same as my memory.

Lately...

....life has been about the Mona Foma festival, hence the silence here, four nights of great music: Girl Talk, the Dresden Dolls, Amiina, a rendition of the Violent Femmes first album, and stunningly PJ Harvey last night.

Oh and the Mona Market yesterday too which I thought was really great (I got some of Michelle's wonderful strawberry and pimm's jam - which was perfect on my blueberry pancakes this morning and a lovely cheery bunch of dahlia's!). So I am a little tired and weary today and have spent it soaking up the sun because it has been a perfect blue sky day. Posting should be better this week...well that is the plan!

Summer

Today definitely feels like summer, mostly because I have spent what could possibly be Hobart's warmest evening for the year leaning over a hot boiling vat of apricot jam because the fruit needed to be used before it dropped to the ground (oh and in the midst of a thunder storm!). But the positive side is I love apricot jam, and while I am not a bread or toast person at all, I now feel like buttery toast and jam. I also love all the blueberries that are out right now and I'm thinking I might need to make some blueberry cinnamon buns.....I'd also better keep up with the gym I think.

Christmas Cheer from Logan Wines

Some christmas cheer arrived a few days early on my doorstep in the form of a box of a dozen bottles from Logan Wines based in Orange in NSW, a place I haven't been to but am now intrigued to visit. I was absolutely floored to receive such a fantastic gift and it all looks so amazing! I know you shouldn’t judge wine on a label and packaging alone (and I have no doubt the wine is fantastic) but this really is quite wonderful. Everything is done to perfection and I love the photographs in the little booklet.

My poor knowledge of wine is something I’ve been wanting to develop for a little while now, especially with the work we do for Island Menu, and to be given such a wide selection means this is the perfect opportunity! I plan on cooking a few special dinners over the summer months to try them out and I’m thinking of starting with the Hannah rosé and perhaps making some nice light homemade pasta with bloody mary mussels…any other good food/wine combination suggestions I can try? All ideas would be most welcome!

Island Menu Christmas Cards

I am very excited to share a little project Sam and I have been working on for Island Menu over the past few months....christmas recipe cards. Yes thinking about christmas that far in advance was no easy task (for us!) but we got there in the end and I am so proud of the results. I can vouch that each recipe on the cards is worth giving a whurl, but I particularly love the champagne poached salmon...totally decadent and perfect for that time of year, ooh and the cocktail of course! If you are interested you can purchase them here.

Cooking

Lots of cooking going on this weekend: porridge with blueberries and golden syrup, the best bread for home baking (more on that later) and some new things for Island Menu. In the middle above you can see the behind the scenes chaos! I'm not a tidy cook unfortunately : )

Pie

The pie recipe is up on Island Menu, if you are interested.

Violet

When I was in London I had the intention of stopping by violet cakes, I think I had read about it in a Jamie mag and it sounded like a must visit place. But because I had so little time never made it there, seeing the photographs on Narumi's blog makes me wish I really had. Serious cupcake love! I think I'd have to have a french apricot...but then salted caramel....!

Weekending

Still making the most of the poppies around here! Actually I am amazed, the last time I had poppies for only two days before they had to go, I'm usually so allergic to flowers like that.

This weekend has been one of two halves, yesterday I felt a bit sick and bored (that dreaded b word!) and watched a few movies. Then today the sun came out, I went to the farmer's market, the gym, did three loads of washing, and an island menu post. Now I'm enjoying a hot blackcurrant drink made with syrup from the market and listening to led zeppelin (Since I've Been Loving You), perfect sunday night.

Doughnuts

Last weekend I made doughnuts for Island Menu, I was so pleased with how they turned out!

Friday

Happy friday! It's been cold here lately (above are some pics from the top of Mt Wellington last week) but luckily today was twice as warm as yesterday so I have high hopes for the weekend and some quiet time planned. I hope you all have a lovely one!

Also a new post on Island Menu!

The Agrarian Kitchen

On monday (which now feels like a lifetime ago) I was lucky enough to have the day off and attend a class with friends at the Agrarian Kitchen. We booked almost six months ago but it was definitely worth the wait, we did the agrarian experience class and I would highly recommend it. Seriously nothing better than spending a monday walking around a veggie garden, milking a goat and then cooking up beautiful food in an amazing kitchen. I went a bit crazy taking pictures but nevermind (!), like I say if you get the chance definitely book in a class.