Sweet Potato, Cabbage & Kale Flower Curry

Hello :) Somehow I'd forgotten how easy a stir-fry or curry was to throw together for a midweek meal. Well until last night. I was inspired by this amazing curry paste I bought yesterday, with wild ginger, lemon dress, kaffir lime leaves etc! It's super flavoursome! So with some fresh vegetables, coconut milk and this exciting curry paste, a wholesome dinner was made.

Ingredients-
1/4 red cabbage, shredded
Bunch of kale flowers (or regular kale)
1/2  sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1/2 broccoli, chopped
1 tablespoon curry paste
1/2 cup coconut milk

What to do-
1. Steam the sweet potato for about 5 minutes, then add the broccoli and kale flowers for a minute or so.
2. Remove from the heat and combine in a bowl, with the cabbage.
3. Heat a wok with a tablespoon of oil (I used grapeseed) and then add the curry paste to cook for about 30 seconds.
4. Throw in the vegetables, cook for a few minutes and add your coconut milk. In a few minutes it should be done!

This is more of a guide than a recipe, I just played around with the ingredients on hand.

The curry only takes about 10-15 minutes, and is really delicious. It is quite filling with the sweet potato, although adding tofu would be great as well. I think I shall be having this again tonight with some smoked tofu :)

Enjoy your week! I turn 20 tomorrow which is fun! I think skipping uni to go out to a fancy lunch seems rather appropriate :)

Also! In a little over a week I'm going to Melbourne for about 5 days in my mid session break. I'd love some recommendations from you Melbourne ladies, perhaps a nice place to have brunch, any great exhibitions or anything really. I'll be staying in South Yarra, but obviously we'll be happy to explore as much as we can!

Hannah x

Smoked Tofu Nori

Hello :) I can tell that nori rolls are going to be my go to meal in this warmer weather! They're so fresh and light, and can be made with whatever you have in the fridge. I was inspired to make them by this smoked tofu I came across today, and decided it would pair well with some nori sheets and fresh vegetables for a light dinner. I decided that coating the tofu with black sesame seeds would also be lovely, as I was already using black sesame seeds all afternoon in my granola baking for Sunday's markets :)

Smoked Tofu Nori

What you'll need-
organic smoked tofu
black sesame seeds
julienne carrots
kale*

*These kale stems/flowers (not sure what they're called) I was told are only available for one month during the year- and they seem even easier to add to salads etc than the larger kale leaves. Yum!

How to assesmble-

Start by slicing the smoked tofu and coating with the black sesame seeds.

Add on your julienne carrots and kale.

Top with whatever else you like. I used some avocado and mung bean sprouts.

Roll up, slice in half and serve with tamari.

The flavour of the smoked tofu is incredible, as silly as this sounds- I was surprised at how smokey it is! Have you tried smoked tofu before? I loved this little combination of crunchy vegetables and creamy avocado and tofu. It's always going to change depending what in my fridge though, which is fun! 

I hope you're having a great week :) I'm seeing Bill Bailey tomorrow evening which should be awesome!!

Hannah x

Dukkha Eggs with Avo, Tomatoes & Haloumi

Hello :) Here's a fancier way of having eggs for breakfast. I'm going through a boiled eggs on toast phase at the moment. Don't worry, it'll probably change by tomorrow. I want to experiment with oat groats soon as well as amaranth too! But back to eggs. It started when I bought this macadamia and chilli dukkha at EQ markets before work yesterday. Speaking of the markets Indira Naidoo was there yesterday selling homemade basil pesto, with some of the basil from her balcony garden, as well as promoting her book on the subject. Pretty cool.

Ok, dukkha. So this morning I decided to roll my boiled eggs in it, for a hint of spice and a nutty twist! I spied something similar on a cafes menu a while back (perhaps it was The Grounds) and it seemed like a great idea. All I've done is literally rolled the eggs in a tablespoon of dukkha, although I did some googling and there's recipes where they roll it in oil first, or flour, or both and fry it. I'm not that fussy, so I was happy with how mine turned out.

Dukkha Eggs with Avo, Tomatoes & Haloumi

1. Boil 1-2 eggs per person for about 3.5 minutes, then rinse them under cool water and peel. Coat in a tablespoon of dukkha. 
2. In the meantime, fry up some sliced tomatoes and haloumi and toast some of your favourite bread! 

And yes, this was a huge breakfast! I was very full afterwards, usually I'll just have 1 egg. 

How do you like your eggs?

Hannah x

Everyday Detoxing

Hello :) Spring is definitely in the air! Instead of a crisp breeze this morning, I was greeted by warm sunshine. In this transition between seasons, it got me thinking how we intuitively change what we eat. Naturally in the warmer months I crave raw salads, fresh vegetable juices and, well, iced coffee. It's also during this time people tend to go on a detox.

Now drinking nothing but juices for a few days doesn't particularly appeal to me (I want to eat actual food!), but the idea of everyday detoxing is certainly something I try to do. I like the idea of incorporating super healthy and nutrient dense food and drinks into everyday life. So here's a few things which have taken my fancy of late...

Coconut water. It does seem like a trendy little drink at the moment, and that's because it's super hydrating! I must say there's nothing like having a whole coconut to drink, and for scooping out the flesh, but packaged coconut water is a nice quick fix.

Raw Veggie Salads. For uni lunches I make something similar to this, and also add some brown rice, chickpeas, toasted nuts etc for protein. My favourite vegetables at the moment are cauliflower, purple cabbage, kale and green beans. 

Half an avocado and a handful of sprouts were added to this salad today. I'm not too fussy with dressings and some extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and sea salt are usually all I add. 

Liquid Chlorophyll. I love jazzing up water, whether it be with apple cider vinegar or a squeeze of lemon in the morning. Well today I purchased my new friend: liquid chlorophyll! Basically chlorophyll is the green pigment in plants, and is very alkalising. I was a little worried of the taste, but was surprised it tastes so fresh, clean and minty (this one contains spearmint oil). 

I added 1 teaspoon to a glass of water, and tomorrow I'm going to try adding a tablespoon to my water bottle. Have you tried liquid chlorophyll before? I also have barley grass powder, but this one dissolves much better and has a nicer, fresher taste.

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think about detoxing?

Hannah x

Best Avocado Toast!

Hello :) Sounds simple, avocado toast, but it's a definite weekend winner, especially after work on Saturday when I have a delightful loaf in tow. I wish I could say I've been making more than avocado toast lately, but truthfully I haven't really. Anyhow, let's talk about all the ingredients which make this combination a favourite...

Ok. Bread. I've tried lots of loaves and my favourite now is this Sonoma "miche" kind. Dark, crusty outside, with a brown pillowy soft inside. It's the perfect loaf, and doesn't last longer than 2 days!

Avocado. Well I'm not too particular here, except it must be ripe of course. And I tend to use at least half an avocado. Be generous I say!

Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Good quality olive oil is a must! I bought this baby at EQ markets a week ago just before work, from the lady who owns the business. Tastes terrific too.

Smoked sea salt. Just something different, this smoked sea salt has a mixture of coriander, chilli, garlic and a few other herbs. It adds a unique flavour, and a little sprinkle goes a long way.

 How to make? Toast the bread, smoosh half an avocado on top, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle some smoked sea salt on top. Does deliciousness get any simpler? 

Oh look at the new issue of Kinfolk, making me jealous with all their shoots and articles revolving about summer holidays. 

I'm also pretty smitten with my pretty new teacup. It was from a small ceramics factory/shop on the way to Bread and Circus- in Alexandria I think. I am sipping mint tea from it now in fact :)

Any other secrets for the best avocado toast? 

Hannah x

Sunday Beauty: Facial Cleansing Wipes

Hello :) Moving on from the fact I've neglected this little series and don't even seem to post them on Sundays... today's beauty post is on facial cleansing wipes. They're super handy! So as the name would suggest, this is basically a quick cleansing option. And when would you use such a wipe? Well I use them when I'm too tired to properly wash my face, and when I'm away for the night and want something quick to wipe makeup or sunscreen off. If you go to the gym, or exercise on the go, they're awesome to freshen up with.

These particular Eco Care ones  have an added bonus of being biodegradable and use organic cotton. Made with effective, simple ingredients- and they smell like delicious apples! I've only just started using them, and I reckon they do a great job of cleansing and leave my skin feeling soft and clean. Sometimes I might massage a drop or two of oil (I'm a fan of sweet almond oil at the moment) afterwards as well.

Here's the ingredient list. Impressive.

I think it's the kind of beauty product you can live without, but when you have them, they really do seem essential sometimes. Next on my list I want to try a dry shampoo (a quick way to eliminate oil and freshen and jazz up hair in between washes) and am interested to see if there's a good natural version. Any ideas? Anyway...

Do you use facial cleansing wipes?

Hopefully I'll keep up this series. I might start doing more product reviews of natural or organic products, which I primarily use. 

Hannah x

Spelt Porridge w/ Caramelised Banana

Hello :) I'm always trying out new options for breakfast and lately I've been making this spelt porridge combination. Even though I've had to start waking up before 6 on most days, I always look forward to a warm, nourishing breakfast. I'm super organised the night before, having packed my bag and worked out what I'm wearing, so in the morning you'll find me pondering around the kitchen, listening to the radio, brewing some tea, and of course: making breakfast.

Spelt Porridge w/ Caramelised Banana (serves 1)
2/3 cup spelt oats
1 cup coconut milk
1 teaspoon chia seeds (optional)
1 banana
1/2 teaspoon of butter

The night before, soak the spelt oats and chia seeds (if using) in 2/3 of the coconut milk (you may like to use more), and let it sit in the fridge. In the morning pop the mixture in a saucepan and cook for about 5 minutes. At this stage you may like to add more coconut milk, depending on how you want your porridge.

While this is cooking add the butter to a heated pan and let the sliced banana caramelise slightly for a minute or so on each side. It'll start to turn a lovely golden colour.

Taking just a few moments to caramelise the banana results in something much sweeter and yummier, it takes the dish to a new level you know. And don't be afraid of a bit of butter! The spelt oats are a recent find, and they're tougher and nuttier than regular oats like you'd expect, so soaking them overnight in coconut milk or another milk (or even water), helps to soften them. 

So there is another little brekky option you can try if you fancy :)

Enjoy the weekend!

Hannah x