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Yum : Spinach & Sage Blue Cheese Soup

Soup

I haven’t made this soup yet, but I came across the recipe in the latest Est Magazine. It would be a delicious soup for a dinner party (for all that entertaining that we are doing at the moment! Ha..ha!)

Spinach & Sage Blue Cheese Soup

  • Bag of Spinach
  • 1 Leek
  • 1 Fennel
  • 1 Broccoli
  • 1 Sweet Potato
  • Olive oil
  • Butter
  • Bunch of Sage
  • Blue Cheese
  • 250 ml Chicken bone broth (Purchased or homemade, see this recipe)
  • 1 Garlic clove
  • 1 Tbsp Anise seed
  • Brown Onion
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Greek yoghurt

Method

  • Wash vegetables. Bring a large pot of water to the boil, chop broccoli and sweet potato and cook for 5 minutes, remove broccoli, continue to cook sweet potato for a further 10-15 minutes until soft
  • Slice leek, fennel bulb and herb, garlic, and onion and simmer with butter in a pan on low to medium heat until translucent
  • Strain sweet potato and place all ingredients in a blender including a good drizzle of olive oil (may have to do 2 batches in blender) add a dollop of yogurt and blue cheese as desired
  • Blend on high until rich and creamy
  • Serve with warm crusty sourdough and a dollop of both yoghurt and blue cheese on top
  • Serves 4

Source:  Est Magazine – Velvet Virtues

Tuesday, 10 September 2013 0 Comments Short URLYum

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V Neck ♥

Vaille-V-NeckToday I am loving my new Vaille Cashmere jumper that I bought when I was pregnant and unable to wear it.  

When I was in Melbourne in May with Melissa, she took me to her favourite jaunt, Grace Boutique in Hawkesburn Village.  The whole shop has ‘Melissa‘ all over it, and is totally her style with lots of beautiful floral prints, crazy cat jeans, silk shirts and beautiful jewellery.  There was one piece that sang to me though and that was this little beauty.  

I have pulled the jumper out of my drawer post baby and it is almost too warm to wear it at the moment, but I won’t be holding my breath – I am sure Tassie won’t let me down and provide another cold snap for me!

VAILLE means “worth” in French and this knitwear label is certainly worth falling in love with! Utilising soft, long-wearing, pure cashmere we love the unique designs created by Vaille for a modern update on the classic yarn. Luxurious and suitable all year round, whether worn with your favourite jeans or layered over a silk dress, this cashmere brand has become our firm favourite.

We think there’s something so sexy about a super soft low v-neck jumper. This cashmere knit is our favourite of the season! This style features a beige base with a mottled multicoloured fabrication, divine paired with light denim and a silk shirt.

Here is one of the gorgeous ‘Grace’ girls super stylin’ the V Neck which featured in a recent Est article:

Grace-Shop-Girl

Thursday, 5 September 2013 1 Comment Short URL, Today I Am Loving

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Hi Top ♥

Today I am loving Poppy’s new ‘Carmen Floral‘ Hi Top from Cotton On.  So groovy!

Ps:  I’ve just realised my Thursday’s ♥ post often revolve around shoes?!

Thursday, 29 August 2013 1 Comment Short URLToday I Am Loving

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Sneaky Peek : Lifehouse Design

My sister’s home is featured on the front cover of the current Sanctuary Magazine after their business – Lifehouse Design recently won two awards in the BDAV (Building Designers Association of Vic) annual design awards for their LiFEHOUSE 2.2 house in Castlemaine for:

  • Best Energy Efficient Design
  • Residential Design, up to $300K construction cost

I had also featured their home here when I stayed with them in December. It is so wonderful to see loved ones recognised for many years of hard work!

Wednesday, 28 August 2013 1 Comment Short URLSneaky Peek

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Merci

I came across this gorgeous photo online of Minnie Mortimer’s daughter – Tuesday in Paris.

I am so looking forward to all the travelling opportunities in the future with Poppy and James and certainly hope that Paris will be on the list.  We can then pop into the fabulous store – Merci!

(Sorry no recipe today – I haven’t cooked anything exciting this week). Xx

Tuesday, 27 August 2013 0 Comments Short URLUncategorized

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Yum : Chicken Stir Fry with Coconut Buns

Pork BunsI am finally getting back into some kind of routine at home after James was born and hope that I can continue to post my regular format on The Poppy Files again.

I found this recipe on-line and made it last night for dinner.  It was delicious and very easy (Poppy loved the Coconut Bun but didn’t exactly demolish the chicken):

Coconut Buns

  • 270g tin of light coconut milk
  • Approx 2 cups self-raising flour
  • ½ tsp salt

Chicken Stir Fry

  • 1 tsp vegetable oil
  • 3 chicken thigh fillets, cut into 1cm strips
  • 100g mushrooms, such as shiitake or button, roughly torn
  • 1 bunch broccolini or small broccoli, cut into 5cm pieces
  • 3 tbsp oyster sauce, plus extra to serve
  • 2 tbsp lightly toasted sesame seeds
  • Lime wedges, to serve

Method

For the coconut buns:

  • Pour the coconut milk into a food processor
  • Use the empty tin to measure out the self-raising flour – you want 2 tins’ worth of flour
  • Add the flour and salt to the food processor and process until a dough forms
  • Lightly knead the dough on a lightly floured surface, then roll out 4 to 5 balls of dough (you may need to dust with more flour, it’s quite a wet dough)
  • Place the balls into large muffin cases and place, in a single layer, into a steamer basket with a lid
  • Put the steamer over a pan of boiling water (medium heat) and steam for 10 minutes.

For the chicken:

  • Place a wok over high heat and add the oil
  • When hot, add the chicken pieces and stir until the chicken is browned, about 3 minutes.
  • Place the broccolini in a microwave-safe container and microwave for 50 seconds
  • Add the broccolini and mushrooms to the chicken and stir for 1 minute
  • Add the oyster sauce and stir until the chicken and vegetables are coated and heated through
  • Put the chicken and vegetables onto a large plate and sprinkle with the sesame seeds
  • Place extra oyster sauce, sesame seeds and the lime wedges on the side
  • Mop up the juices with the hot coconut buns.

Source:  Adapted from jamieoliver.com

Chicken Stir Fry with Coconut Buns

Chicken Stir Fry with Coconut Buns

Chicken Stir Fry with Coconut Buns

Tuesday, 20 August 2013 0 Comments Short URLYum

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Moose ♥

Moose CushionToday I am loving all things MOOSE after looking through my Alaskan photos from yesterday’s post.

I love their big goofy eyes, their long eyelashes and nose with their massive antlers – conjuring up exotic places from the Northern Hemisphere.

Poppy was also reunited with her Mortimer the Moose last night after he took a little holiday to Melbourne with her cousin Max, and his moose. Mortimer’s home is usually in my car, but last night he was fortunate to sleep in Poppy’s cot!

Mortimer

The Mortimer the Lamaze Play & Grow Moose is part cuddle toy, and part teething toy. His plush body is perfect for snuggling, while his plastic antlers double as safe, non-toxic teething rings. Machine washable, and comes complete with the Lamaze Link to make it perfect to take with you everywhere you go.

Mortimer

The humble moose has also influenced many gorgeous features for the home:

Moose Duvet Cover

Moose on the Loose

Michelle the Moose

Mr Moose Art Print

Thursday, 18 July 2013 1 Comment Short URLToday I Am Loving

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Art ♥

Madeline Goodwolf - Exquisite SecretsToday I am loving Tasmanian art and printmaking from Handmark Gallery. A gallery in Salamanca Place that you just feel great being in.

Nick and I have bought quite a few pieces from the gallery over the years, but now unfortunately our art budget and wall space is quite limited.  My favourite artists include Madeline Goodwolf, Justin McShane, Jonathan Partridge and Alexandra Pitt.  Xx

Justin McShane - Pine Trees in Morning Fog

Justin McShane - Early Morning on a Mountain Lake

Jonathan PartridgeJonathan Partridge - Reminds Me of You

Alexandra Pitt - Illumination I

Thursday, 11 July 2013 0 Comments Short URL, , , , Today I Am Loving

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Sneaky Peek : Spiritual Midwifery

During my nesting phase of cleaning out our cupboards on Monday I came across this classic “Spiritual Midwifery” that my friend Lil gave me when I was pregnant with Poppy.

I had an insatiable appetite for reading anything to do with pregnancy and birth.  You name it I read – Kaz Cooke’s ‘Up the Duff“;  ‘What to Expect When You are Expecting‘ and this one ‘Spiritual Midwifery’.  The funny thing was I read so much about the various stages of pregnancy, I always knew what size fruit the baby was in utero (it is so funny that your baby is compared to the size of a peach)!

However when Poppy was born I felt out of my depth!  I personally feel there is so much emphasis on pregnancy, labour and birth but little on the emotional impact that a baby has on your life.

I distinctly remember when Poppy was two days old, Nick was out celebrating with his friends and my sister Cath and her daughters came in to meet Poppy.  They left my hospital room around 6:30 pm and on the click of the door I felt very alone and scared.  But I wasn’t alone – next to me sleeping soundly in her little crib was Poppy – and I had no idea what to do.

I kept thinking to myself how did Miranda Kerr feel in this instance, or Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark or Posh?  Did they have any panic attacks about what to do?  They probably had 24 hour nannies and wet nurses!

I remember thinking my life will never be the same again and of course it hasn’t, but for all the right reasons.

I haven’t read any pregnancy/birthing books this time around but I will revisit the words of author Ina May Gaskin who is:

founder and director of the Farm Midwifery Center, located near Summertown, Tennessee. Founded in 1971, by 2011, the Farm Midwifery Center had handled approximately 3000 births, with remarkably good outcomes. Ms. Gaskin herself has attended more than 1200 births. She is the author of Spiritual Midwifery, now in its fourth edition…

The classic book on home birth that introduced a whole generation of women to the concept of natural childbirth. Back again are even more amazing birthing tales, including those from women who were babies in earlier editions and stories about Old Order Amish women attended by the Farm midwives.

Poppy was born in a hospital in a very conventional way, but I still enjoyed reading this book which gave me the strategies to tap into the ‘rushes’ (contractions) and to keep your hands, shoulders and mouth very relaxed during labour.  Let’s hope I can hone in on those skills again for this birth??

 It’s not just the making of babies, but the making of mothers that midwives see as the miracle of birth.

Wednesday, 3 July 2013 2 Comments Short URLSneaky Peek

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Yum : Tuna Mornay Pasta Bake

Cover-medium1 I made this recipe on Sunday night from my new Thermomix book – Cooking for Your Baby & Toddler.  It has so many great family recipes and this one will be added to my ‘regular’ list.

Tuna Mornay Pasta Bake

  • 50 g Parmesan cheese – grated
  • 2 slices (80 g) bread – grated/blended
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 700 g water
  • 200 g small pasta shells
  • 1 quantity Cheesy Bechamel Sauce (see below)
  • 425 g tinned tuna – drained and flaked
  • 150 g frozen peas

Cheesy Bechamel Sauce

  • 30 g butter
  • 40 g plain flour
  • 460 ml milk
  • 60 g cheddar cheese – grated

Method

  • Preheat oven to 200ºC
  • Make Cheesy Bechamel Sauce by melting butter and adding the plain flour to make a roux
  • Cook on low until slightly coloured.  Add milk and cheese and whisk until smooth
  • Combine your breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese for your topping and set aside
  • Cook pasta in boiling water until al-dente
  • Pour Cheesy Bechamel Sauce over the pasta
  • Add tuna, peas and parmesan cheese and stir to combine
  • Spoon into a casserole dish and top with breadcrumb mixture
  • Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Ps – I have converted this to suit stove-top instructions so I hope it makes sense?

Tuesday, 2 July 2013 2 Comments Short URLYum

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