tagged ‘coconut’

Cardamom & cocoa nib banana bread with coconut frosting

in Desserts, Taste -

Celebrating International Women’s Day with a cardamom & cocoa nib banana bread with coconut frosting. Sweet, powerful and perfect just the way it is.

Cardamom & cocoa nib banana bread with coconut frosting

Days designated specifically for celebrating anything tend to make cringe; be it grilled cheese or Valentine’s Day, my first instinct is to revolt and mock relentlessly. Yet, I have made my peace with Valentine’s Day, mostly because I love any excuse for a decadent dessert; and I have occasionally hoorayed for other, food related, days. Today, on International Women’s Day, my first instinct is to celebrate. [READ MORE]

Chickpea & red pepper coconut curry

in Savoury, Taste -

A mildly spicy vegetarian chickpea & red pepper coconut curry is full of fragrant spices, and finished off with fresh coriander and lime juice.

Chickpea & red pepper coconut curry

There’s few smells that enchant me as much as curry spices, cooking away along with chopped onion and garlic. It’s a strong, bold scent, never overwhelming though, but utterly satisfying. My knowledge of curries is still quite limited, yet that smell alone is incentive enough for me to learn more, experiment more, cook more, discover more, enjoy more. For the time being, my quite timid efforts focus on flavours which are anything but simple, yet are starting to feel familiar. [READ MORE]

Date, hazelnut & coconut fudge

in Desserts, Taste -

Love at first bite: this super healthy, super quick date, hazelnut & coconut fudge is the perfect little treat for your loved ones.

I believe I have already mentioned here my affection for Valentine’s Day celebrations. It’s a silly day and these are silly sentiments, really, but I am holding on to both with a somewhat nostalgic persistence. I am not quite sure what being a ‘romantic’ entails nor can I put in precise words my definition of a romance. Yet, I have the persistent and almost fantastic certainty that my parents share a love which is both one for the books and messily and reassuringly ordinary. I like to think that Mike’s and mine romance shares both these attributes and somehow balances between the overwhelmingly extraordinary and the comforts of a serene routine. [READ MORE]

Chocolate & coconut spider cakes

in Desserts, Taste -

Chocolate & coconut spider cakes

Less than a week. That’s how long there’s left before Halloween- not that I’m counting. For the past few years, this time in October I get all excited and giddy and spend a ridiculous amount of time decorating the house, testing recipes (this candied salty cashew popcorn and these fruity and spicy cookies are among my favourites) and doing research for my costume. Last year, Halloween was admittedly a bit of a bust. No matter how excited I was, not matter how many bat-shaped things I’d eat make, not matter how spookily dreary London was, the happy/haunted feeling I so love was just not there. [READ MORE]

Chocolate, coconut & sprinkle toffee

in Desserts, Taste -

Chocolate, coconut & sprinkle toffee

Coming back after the holidays, in a slight haze after days filled with too much romance, wine, friends and cheese, I couldn’t help but notice all the many healthy recipes all around. I mean, all those smoothies and fruit and veggie bowls and scrumptious salads and oh my! Getting back into shape seemed almost as appealing as this New Year’s cake: absolutely delicious, beautiful and very inspiring. And I really need that air of freshness, those beautiful colours. Βut I also need me some butter & chocolate. [READ MORE]

Petit pois, avocado & coconut soup

in Savoury, Taste -

PetitPoisSoup-620-2

Today’s soup is the love child of two of my favourite recipes. This beautiful pea & mint winter soup was meant to be with this colorful, summery gazpacho. It was love at first sight, for real. And so it was for me too- how could it not? Sweet vegetables, tons of delicate but lasting flavour, a silky texture- all coming through with each refreshing spoonful. Love at first sight is probably an understatement. [READ MORE]