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Archive for the ‘snack type things’ Category

Crispy cauliflower poppers

Posted in healthy, savoury, snack type things, tagged , , , , , on October 29, 2012 | 9 Comments »

Epic battles.


Greeks versus Trojans.


David versus Goliath.


Sauron versus (free) Middle-earth.


Batman versus The Joker.


I could go on, but you get the drift.


Here’s personal battle:


Delicious food versus Staying fit.


Are you familiar with that one? Bet you are!


I’m constantly surrounded with food.


I have a dessert-baking disease.


My work involves looking at pictures of food and writing yummy recipe descriptions.


My friends/co-workers/parents/dog ALL love food and if we’re not talking about food, we’re eating it while simultaneously planning our next meal.


I often have the wonderful opportunity to review restaurants and food festivals and eat all kinds of scrumptious things.


So since food is pretty much my entire existence, and I want to live to see my grandchildren, I’ve realised that staying fit is important.


I already do the stuff we all know: portion control, kickboxing, filling up on water, blah blah – but what really helps, I’ve found, is a recipe that’s healthy AND yummy. And I can tell you, my friend – there aren’t that many.


A friend sent me this book recently.



It’s a rather hilarious read with funny chapter names like “PMS (Pissy mood snacks)” and funnier recipe names like the “Denver Bitchlette for two” for instance. Essentially it’s a vegan cookbook with strange ingredient requirements like vegan beef strips and vegan chicken patties.
Seriously?! I would not eat that. Like. EVER.


The philosophy of the book however, is making healthy food delicious, which is something I can totally get on board with.


And in that spirit, I present this.


Crispy cauliflower poppers. Beautifully caramelized. Crunchy in part and chewy in part.



It’s no secret I’m not a fan of vegetarian food. But these are SO good. Each floret has lovely brown, crispy parts.


Slightly sweet and slightly savoury. Entirely yummy.


Dunk in a yogurt dip. Guilt-free, healthy food never did taste this good.



Crispy cauliflower poppers with a garlic-yogurt dip


Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 45-50 mins
Serves: 2


Ingredients:


2 medium heads of cauliflower, washed and cut into florets
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp honey
salt and pepper


For the dip


200g yogurt
1 tsp garlic paste
sprinkle of dry minced garlic (you can leave this out if you want- I just like my dip really garlicky)
paprika salt (or regular salt, but paprika salt is prettier :P )



Method:


For the cauliflower poppers


1. Preheat the oven to 180º C.
2. Dab the cauliflower florets with kitchen paper to remove any water. Mix the olive oil and honey in a bowl and add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Toss the florets a few at time into the oil and honey mixture and toss to coat well. I like to use my hands here, so the cauliflower gets nicely coated. Place the florets on a baking tray. Make sure they are spread out. This will ensure each one gets caramelized.
4. Bake for 45-50 minutes, turning the florets two or three times during the process.


For the dip


1. Mix all the ingredients for the dip together and keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.
2. Serve with the cauliflower poppers. Dunk and enjoy!



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One step to Guacamole!

Posted in savoury, snack type things, tagged , , , , , , on April 2, 2012 | 17 Comments »

This is a bit embarrassing to admit, but I’m not a fresh food person.

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I mean I like salads and stuff, but only if they’re accompaniments to a meaty meal.

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I can’t go on a fruit diet.

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And please don’t tell me that a bowl of raw veggies make a suitable dinner.

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This however, I can get on board with.

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Fresh, greeny-tomatoey goodness.

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The creamy texture of the avocado, with the bite of onion, and the pungency of lime.

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I love.

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Also, it’s so pretty!

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Next time you’re reaching for a bag of chips, make some guacamole instead.
(FYI- The chip-type things in the picture are baked) :D

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Guacamole

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Prep time: 5 mins
Serves: 2
Eat this with: Baked chips/nachos

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Ingredients:

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1 ripe-ish avocado cut in half, seed removed and pulp extracted
1 large tomato, chopped roughly
1 onion, chopped finely
a small handful of coriander, chopped roughly
juice of 1 lemon
salt to taste

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Method:

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1. Mash up the avocado pulp with a fork. Add everything else and mix together. You’re done!

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In other news, I’m going home for Easter! YAY :) Puppy love and Parent love are awaiting me! I do also plan to spend some quality time baking with my Dad, who by the way has become quite the cool baker. Here’s proof.

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Isn’t it lovely?

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So you guys get to vote for what Dad and I will bake together. We did this once before and Chocolate éclairs won. SO excited to see what you pick this time :)
Happy Easter readers! I love you all!

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Coriander and Garlic Focaccia

Posted in breakfast, savoury, snack type things, tagged , , on March 16, 2012 | 16 Comments »

The Bread Lord is pleased.

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Here is proof.

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I’m not going to tell you that this was easy. It was however, completely achievable once I was determined to make it work.

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My first attempt was a miserable failure. I know now that it was because I used bad yeast.

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So that’s my first nugget of advice. Buy good yeast. I used Tesco’s dry active yeast.

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Once you mix the yeast in warm water, it will smell. A rather unpleasant odour. But this will please you, because it’s an indication you’re on the right track. This is what it should look like.

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Once the dough is mixed you’ll put it in a bright-orange bowl, cover it and leave it to rise.

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Then you will go about your business. You will look like a normal person during this time (at least to other people), but only you will know the fervent prayers you will be silently praying for the dough to rise.

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Then you will remove the cloth and find this.

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You will proceed to do a merry dance to the song Glad you came.

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Once that’s out of your system you will return to the dough, bash the air out of it, do a few other things and put it in the oven looking like this.

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This is what will emerge.

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You will look at it skeptically and wonder why it isn’t more golden-brown.
You’ll feel a bit sad. Try not to be. Please. You’ll see why.

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Once the bread is cool, you will cut into it. And marvel in your greatness.

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Seriously.

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Make this bread and feel powerful.

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Just not as powerful as the Bread Lord.
He’s a rockstar. (Said with utter respect, that.)

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Coriander and Garlic Focaccia

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Recipe adapted from: Baking step by step
Prep time: 30 mins + rising and proving time
Cook time: 20-25 mins
Serves: 6
Eat this with: A drizzle of olive oil

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Ingredients:

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1 tbsp dry active yeast or a 7 g pack of dry active yeast
425 g plain flour, plus more for dusting
2 tsp salt, plus more for sprinkling
a few sprigs of fresh coriander, chopped finely and some leaves reserved
1 tsp pepper
90 ml olive oil, plus more for greasing
10-12 cloves garlic, chopped

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Method:

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1. In a small bowl, put in the yeast and top with 4 tablespoons of warm water (not too hot). Stir once to dissolve and leave for 5 minutes.
2. In the meantime, mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the chopped coriander, pepper, 4 tablespoons of olive oil (keep the rest aside), and 240 ml lukewarm water. Add the yeast mixture. Mix all this together gently until you have a sticky dough.
3. Sprinkle some flour on a clean surface and knead the dough on it for about 10 minutes. This really requires some muscle strength!
4. Take a clean bowl, grease the inside with oil and put the dough in. Cover the bowl with a damp muslin cloth and leave in a warm place for about one and a half hours.
5. When you remove the cloth, the dough should have doubled in size. Place it on a floured surface again and knock the air out of it by kneading. Leave it on the surface, covered with a dry cloth for a few minutes.
6. Grease a baking tray and place the dough on the tray. Gently push it all over the tray, reaching the corners and trying to create an even layer. This may be a bit difficult because it is a sticky dough, but if you do it slowly it will work. Cover the tray with a dry cloth and leave in a warm place for about half an hour for the second rise.
7. Preheat the oven to 200º C. Arrange the coriander leaves on top of the dough and sprinkle the garlic pieces over. Poke dimples in the dough with your finger, and then spoon the rest of the oil all over the dough. Finish with a scatter of salt.
8. Place in the upper shelf of the oven for about 20-25 minutes. Remove from the tray and cool on a wire rack. Slice and enjoy with some olive oil drizzled over.

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Banana muffins

Posted in breakfast, desserts, holiday, snack type things, tagged , , on December 12, 2011 | 13 Comments »

Don’t people say that the fun is in the waiting?

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In the chase, or the build-up, or the journey?

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I’ve reason to believe that this is true.

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In the past few months, I’ve been lucky enough to have had several experiences that I’ve enjoyed immensely and will cherish for a long time.

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In retrospect though, I feel that the build-up to these events- the endless planning, the long discussions, and the anticipation was actually the most fun part. The actual event would pass me by in a flash.

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So I’ve decided to really start enjoying the ride.

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And in an attempt to savour the build-up to this festive season, I’ve made crazy-soft, melt-in-your-mouth banana muffins.

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Easy enough to make in a hurry, these muffins are perfect with a warm mug of tea or coffee.
And I think they are the food equivalent of a hug :)

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Happy holidays friends!

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Banana muffins
Recipe from: Cat Can Cook

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Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Makes: 12

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Ingredients:

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4 bananas, as ripe as possible

190 g flour

100 g granulated white sugar

1 large egg

80 g butter, melted and cooled

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

chocolate chips (optional)

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Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 175º C. Peel the bananas and place them in a mixing bowl. Mash them to a pulp with a fork.
2. Add all the other ingredients and mix thoroughly.
3. Spoon into a 12-grooved muffin tray lined with muffin liners. Sprinkle a few chocolate chips over each, if you wish. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove and eat warm.

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Goodies from Germany

Posted in holiday, lists, snack type things, tagged , , , , , , , , on September 23, 2011 | 2 Comments »

I had a moment recently when I realized just how much I am interested in food.

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My parents were going off on a holiday all over Germany with their friends.

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While usually I would give them a list that looks like this:

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This time I gave them a list that looked like this:

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And as usual, my Mum and Dad did not disappoint.

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Will you take a look at this stash!?

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It makes me crazy happy thinking of all the new recipes I’m going to try and all the new tastes to experiment with.

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Let’s take a closer look at some of the stuff, shall we?

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Pretty, pretty cupcake decorations. I make about 24 cupcakes every week, (yes, I know. It’s a bit scary) so it won’t take me too long to get through this ;)

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Floral cupcake wrappers.

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An assortment of German sausages.

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Sausages have been on my mind recently, since I’m editing a book on them. To actually get to taste some of them? Pretty awesome.

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Vanilla sugar. A match made in heaven and blessed by angels.

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Sea salt

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I’ve never used anything except regular salt before. Can’t wait to get all fancy with this baby :)

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German mustard

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And one in a tube! Love it.

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Golden syrup

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There is an amazing Dulce-de-leche recipe that uses this. It was on Masterchef Australia recently. Will be trying that.

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Cheese. Yum.

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Balsamic vinegar.

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Geez, I feel so fancy :P anyone got any recipe ideas for this one?

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Also, my best friend went to Leh on a holiday, and look what I got from there.

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Sea buckthorn jam- with no preservatives. This will be delish on fresh toast.

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And (I’m so excited about this)…

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Sun-dried tomatoes! And look how pretty :) A few in a dish of pasta will brighten it up and add so much flavour.

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I’m off to spend some quality time with my loot. Have a good weekend you guys :)

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Buttery shortbread bits

Posted in snack type things, tagged , , on August 1, 2011 | 17 Comments »

Question: What do you when you’re craving something buttery and sweet?

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Also, it’s raining like the world is ending outside, and you’re as tired as rat after a long day.

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Oh, and you don’t have any fancy things in the fridge. So no- I can’t eat a bar of 80% cacao organic dark chocolate with a macadamia nut and marzipan filling.
(Does this chocolate exist only in my dreams?)

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Answer: You make shortbread!!

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I was seriously in shock when I looked at this recipe.

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3 ingredients.
Flour. Butter. Sugar.

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How simple. How perfect.

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Why did I expect anything different from the goddess of comfort baking?

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This shortbread takes less than five minutes to prepare. Add to that the 10 minutes or so in the oven, and you’re set.

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They can be made to look elegant of course, but I was in a hurry.

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Fresh from the oven, you don’t even have to bite into them. They melt in your mouth. And you’re left with the most dreamy, wonderful, comforting aftertaste, of butter and a delicate sweetness.

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Shortbread bits

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Adapted from: (Nigella’s Easy Shortbread)

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Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 10-15 mins
Makes: about 20 medium sized bits

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Ingredients:

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150g plain flour, unsifted
110g butter (salted is fine), melted and cooled
50g icing sugar, plus a little bit for dusting

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Method:

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1. Preheat the oven to 160º C.
2. Mix the butter and sugar together, till there are no lumps. Add the flour a little at time. Mix with your hands and knead gently. Form into a smooth ball.
3. Roll out to about 1/2cm thickness and cut out shapes with cutters, or just slice the dough (if you’re like me) into strips of different sizes.
4. Bake on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 10-15 mins. Remove from the oven and dust lightly with icing sugar. Let it cool slightly before you eat :)

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