tagged ‘kale’

Super green avocado, kale & ginger smoothie

in Breakfast, Taste -

Rise and shine! A super pretty, super tasty, super green avocado, kale & ginger smoothie with chia seeds and fragrant lime.

In the winter, when early morning as usually dark, quiet and cold,  I long for comforting, warming oats with stewed fruit, nut butters and fragrant spices; or hearty, saucy eggs served with thickly sliced bread. And then, there are also those days when all I crave are bright smoothies, filled with all the goodness and freshness, served in big round glasses. Sometimes they are dark pink or pale yellow, most often though they are green: pale and smooth or deep emerald, thick and frothy. [READ MORE]

Barley salad with orange, fennel & black olives

in Savoury, Taste -

This barley salad with orange, fennel & black olives is great both as a refreshing side dish or a light main for those hectic pre-holiday days. 

Barley salad with orange, fennel & black olives

It happens almost every year, around the same time: before the holidays, just when the weather starts getting wintery and the lists of things to do a little longer, as the light each day fades a little earlier. It happens and I am now almost at peace with the almost bizarre combination of feeling at once exhausted and filled with energy. I find myself under the covers often before 11pm, barely able to read more than a page (even though I have this in hand and it is pure pleasure), yet most mornings I get up excitedly, well rested and impatient. There’s meals to plan and gifts to be considered (thought I wait till the 1st of December to do any holiday shopping), cards to be made and outfits to be put together for upcoming festivities. I love all of the above and that too, that weird and exhausting and exhilarating amalgam of  energy and slumber. [READ MORE]

Vegetable platter

in Small bites, Taste -

My favourite vegetable platter features lots of crunchy veggies, toasted sourdough, mozzarella balls & my favourite, smooth, green, sour & sweet dip. 

Vegetable platter

One of the things that makes me happiest is having friends over and feeding them. I always prefer preparing the food myself (be it small bites or an actual meal) and not relying on store-bought options- so when guests do arrive, I’ve been through a bizarre state of mild stress and almost absolute bliss. And they can both be attributed to cooking, which stresses and relaxes me in almost equal measures. My biggest joy is to prepare a platter, abundant in some of my favourite things. These most often belong in the dairy family (there’s few things I love more than a good cheese platter), but as of late, I have been experimenting with including more freshness, crunchiness and colours. [READ MORE]

Chorizo, kale & blue cheese pasta bake

in Savoury, Taste -

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Let’s start the week with the absolute best food in the planet: pasta (duh!). Ever since I was a kid I loved everything about pasta: all the varieties and their versatility, how they’re basically the perfect canvas for different sauces and ingredients, textures and layers. From a perfectly green, salty and nutty pesto, the elegance of a squid ink sauce, or the wonderful simplicity of a one pot dish, pasta is king. As part of a tuna salad, in a jar or featuring the best summer ingredients, to more wintery versions, featuring dark colours and no frills. And of course, my all time favourite version: covered in a cheese sauce and baked until bubbly, golden brown and delicious. If I had to choose one comfort food, it would be this. Every time. [READ MORE]

Coquina squash, quinoa & goat cheese salad

in Savoury, Taste -

Coquina squash, quinoa & goat cheese salad

It’s pumpkin season and I’m in love. And by pumkin, I generally refer to all you wonderful squashes out there. All the different shapes and colours and textures- every year I get so excited and overwhelmed, I end up covering every corner in our house and sneaking squashes and pumpkins into most of our meals: from soups, snacks and mini cheese pies to main dishes and dessert, come October, chances are there will be squash or pumpkin in there. [READ MORE]

Black eyed beans, smoked mackerel & caper leaves

in Savoury, Taste -

Black eyed beans, smoked mackerel & caper leaves

I first had this dish two summers ago at a tiny restaurant in a tiny village in Milos island. We had arrived there on a hot, hot, hot afternoon, following my mom’s directions and her very fond memories of the village she had visited with my dad while she was pregnant. After a very brief stroll around, during which I was constantly repeating over and over again how hungry I was (it’s kinda like my mantra), we started looking for a place to eat. We randomly stopped by that minimally beautiful little restaurant and ordered almost everything on the menu. And what a menu it was: all fish and vegetables, super seasonal and local. And when the food arrived and we had our first bite, we were in love (at least I was). [READ MORE]

Couscous with roasted beets, kale & feta

in Savoury, Taste -

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So the other day, my friend George requested some food inspiration to beat the January blues. I hear you, buddy. The weeks after the holidays suck. The tree is down, the presents have been opened and it’s time to put your party shoes away and get back to your normal routine. For me, it’s also time to stop having cake, cheese and wine with almost with every meal and get back to my less indulgent habits. [READ MORE]