Category Archives: Food Blog

Peach and Berry Crumble

11 Replies

Since it is pretty much Fall here… yes, this soon. I’m thinking we can all use a little extra comfort.
In the form and shape of crumble, lots of clumpy crunchy comforting lumps of cookie flavoured morsels covering juicy peaches and berries.
To me that is comfort at it’s best.
You can serve it either warm or let it cool and serve it with whipped cream or even ice cream.

It’s simply one of our favourite desserts and we make it all the time with all kinds of fruit, depending on the season, but this particular combo has me running back for more each time, not to mention the cookie like smell coming from the oven during baking.
I actually also love to have this in the morning,  if there are any leftovers and serve it with a dollop of Greek yoghurt. I mean it’s healthy right? Fruit, fibre, yes, I think so.

INGREDIENTS:

Fruit mixture:

  • 2 cups of fresh or frozen berries and/or blueberries
  • 2 -3  roughly chopped fresh peaches, (skin removed)
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon flour

Crumble Layer:

  • 1 1/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup (spelt) flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 cup almonds, roughly chopped
  • pinch of cinnamon
  • pinch of salt
  • 6 tablespoons almond butter, soft
  • 6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small piece (or grated)
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup or light brown sugar

Extra:
1 tbsp of butter for pan or baking dish
whipped cream to serve

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F / 175 C .

2. Butter a 10-12 inch skillet or a similar baking dish and set a side. This step just adds flavor.

3. Peel the peaches (as best as you can) and remove the stone, cut them into bite size pieces and place them in the skillet.

4. Add the honey and vanilla and stir to combine.

5. Add the raspberries/blueberries and corn starch and stir carefully until all is just combined.

3. To make the topping, combine the oats, flour, cinnamon, almonds, salt and baking powder in a medium-size mixing bowl. Add the maple syrup or brown sugar. Add the butter and almond butter and use your hands to work the butter into the dry ingredients until everything is combined and lumps form. Sprinkle the topping over the fruit.

4. Transfer to the oven and bake for 40 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbling. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped cream. Enjoy!

XO

Myra

chicken banh mi

Lemongrass and Ginger Grilled Chicken Banh Mi with Ginger Lime Sriracha Mayo

14 Replies

chicken banh mi

…AND CRUNCHY VIETNAMESE MANGO SLAW!

Don’t let the long list of ingredients put you off, this is actually very easy, there are just a few steps that need to be taken, and believe me you won’t be sorry. Because these Lemon grass and Ginger grilled Chicken Banh Mi are the business!
The smell in my kitchen when I was grilling the chicken was incredible…
Grilling the chicken gives it an amazing caramelized crispy sticky outside. Serve on a warm baguette with crunchy Vietnamese Slaw and drizzle with the ginger lime Sriracha mayo. Full of sweet, savoury, sour and spicy notes
Good times, I promise!
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SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS BANH MI:

• 4 Baguettes
• Grilled Chicken, sliced
• Vietnamese Slaw
• Ginger Lime Sriracha Mayo
• Cucumber, about half, sliced
• Cilantro (Koriander) , a handful. Roughly chopped
• Lots of paper napkins!

CHICKEN:
• 1 pounds chicken breasts or thighs, de-boned

MARINADE:
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce
• 2 tbsp. fish sauce
• 1 tbsp. coconut sugar
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 2 tbsp. chopped cilantro
• 2 tsp. fresh peeled and grated ginger
• 1 lemongrass stalk, bashed with the side of a meat hammer
• 1 tablespoon chopped Thai (or Sweet) basil
• 1 tsp. hot sauce
• Zest and juice of 1 medium lime
• 1 garlic clove , minced (about 1 teaspoon)
• Cooking oil spray
• Freshly ground black pepper

chicken banh mi

METHOD:
1. Whisk all marinade ingredients together in a measuring cup. Pour over chicken thighs or breasts and seal bag or place in a large dish and cover.
2. Marinate for at one hour or up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
3. Remove from fridge and bring to room temperature one hour before grilling.
4. Heat your griddle pan.
5. Remove chicken from bag. Pat dry with kitchen paper. Discard marinade.
6. Spray both sides of thighs with oil. Place on griddle pan.
7. Season generously with black pepper.
8. Grill for about 2 minutes on each side on high.
9. Lower the heat.
10. Continue grilling until thighs are done, about 7 to 10 minutes more. Chicken will feel firm to the touch. Let rest for 5 minutes before cutting.

chicken banh mi

chicken banh mi

VIETNAMESE MANGO SLAW:
• 2 cups shredded cabbage
• 4 spring onions, finely sliced
• 2 medium carrots, cut in to julienne
• 1/2 Mango, peeled and cut in to julienne
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 1/2 bunch coriander, washed
• 1/2 bunch Thai basil
• 1 long red chili, de-seeded
• 1/2 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger, peeled and grated
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp. ginger syrup (from the jar of candied stem ginger)

chicken banh mi
METHOD SLAW:
1. Place cabbage in a bowl with the spring onions, bean sprouts and carrots. Roughly chop the coriander and Thai basil and add to the bowl. Cut the chilli in half then cut across into fine strips.
2. Add the chilli to the bowl.
3. Place the remaining ingredients into a small jar and shake well until the sugar has dissolved. Dress the salad.
4. Put on some plastic disposable gloves and start mixing well with your hands – make sure it all gets covered in dressing or it will taste bland.

GINGER LIME SRIRACHA MAYO:
• 3/4 cup Mayo
• 1 piece candied stem ginger in syrup, finely chopped or grated
• 2 tsp. Sriracha sauce
• Juice of half a lime
METHOD MAYO:
1. Place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix with a spoon.

chicken banh mi
TO ASSEMBLE THE BANH MI:
Pre heat the oven to 200° C / 400° F
1. Slightly dampen the baguettes with a little water. Wrap them in foil and heat them in the oven for about 10 minutes.
2. Remove from oven. Remove foil and discard.
3. Carefully slice open. Hot!
4. Spread a generous amount of the Ginger Lime Sriracha mayo on the bottom of the baguette.
5. Then a layer of sliced cucumber.
6. Then the grilled chicken.
7. Top with Vietnamese Slaw
8. Sprinkle over some cilantro
9. Drizzle over some more mayo
10. Put the top of the Baguette on.

Serve with plenty of paper napkins!

Enjoy!
Myra XO

chicken banh mi

greek meatballs in tomato sauce

Greek Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, Keftedes me Saltsa Domata

14 Replies

greek meatballs

After having our first beach day of the season today I felt it more than appropriate to share this super delicious and easy dish with you that just screams SUMMER .

It’s the kind of dish you make in a breeze and it tastes heavenly, it reminds me of long hot summers in Greece.
You can serve it with pita bread and a Greek salad or oven fries, it’s all good and the point is to keep it simple.

greek meatballs in tomato sauce
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⏰ Prep time: 10 min
♨ Cooking time : 15
🍴 Serves : 4-6
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Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef, pork, or lamb
• 1/4 – 1/3 cup fresh breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1⁄4 tsp. ground all spice * SEE NOTE
• 1 small red onion, grated
• 1 clove garlic grated
• 2 large egg yolks
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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• 1 tablespoon olive oil (Greek preferably)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1⁄2 tbsp. tomato paste
• a pinch of sugar
• 1 (28-oz.) can whole peeled tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes
• 2 tsp oregano
• 1/4 tsp all spice
• 1 cup dry white wine
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp. chopped dill, for garnish

greek meatballs in tomato sauce

Instructions:

In a medium bowl combine the meat with the breadcrumbs, oregano, all spice, grated onion, garlic, salt, pepper and egg yolks.
Divide mixture into small balls or roll into ovals.
Heat a non stick skillet over high heat and working in batches, cook meatballs until browned on all sides for about 6-8 minutes. Transfer meatballs to a plate and wipe out the skillet with a paper towel.
Heat olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and a pinch of sugar. Tip in the can of tomatoes and the white wine. Add the oregano and all spice. Season with salt and pepper. Add the meatballs back to the skillet and cook for another 10 minutes. Garnish with Dill.

καλή όρεξη.

• NOTE: If you don’t have All Spice you can make a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves in equal parts.

Enjoy!
Myra XO

greek meatballs in tomato sauce

everyday spelt bread

Everyday Spelt Bread

64 Replies

everyday spelt bread

This is the easiest bread recipe I have in my repertoire, I make it all the time. Mostly because it is a no-brainer recipe and some times because it’s even quicker than going to the store to buy a loaf, or because it’s raining and I don’t want to leave the house. Whatever the reason may be, this fool proof recipe is one I use time and time again .

Pro’s :

  1. delicious
  2. Soft
  3. Warm
  4. Healthier
  5. No additives
  6. Cheap
  7. Home made

Con’s:

  1. Nope…can’t think of any.

everyday spelt bread

Prep time : 10 minutes

Cooking time : 30 minutes

oven temp : 200 C / 400 F

Ingredients:

  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 3/4 cup warm water
  • 1/2 cup milk at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 3 1/2- 4 cups whole grain spelt flour
  • 2 tablespoons extra-light olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • extra olive oil or melted butter for brushing loaf

everyday spelt bread

Instructions:

Combine the warm water, yeast and honey in a large jug, and let it sit and “proof” for 10 minutes. Add the milk and stir.

Place the flour in the bowl of your mixer, fitted with the kneading hook, pour the water yeast mixture into the bowl of flour with the motor running on the lowest setting. Add the salt and olive oil. Once incorporated you can turn the mixer setting on higher. Knead for about 7 minutes.

Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let the dough rise for 45-60 minutes in a warm place. It should double in size.

Grease a loaf tin with melted butter.

Turn the dough out on a floured surface and knead a few minutes. Shape into a loaf and place in loaf tin.

Let rise again for 30 minutes covered with an oiled piece of plastic wrap.

Preheat your oven to 200 C/400 F , remove plastic wrap and place loaf on a rack in the middle of the oven. Bake the loaf for about 30 minutes turning half way, tap the loaf to see if it’s fully baked, it should sound hollow. Once baked , brush the crust with some butter. This is an optional step but I love the way the crust gets a bit softer and glossier. Let it cool in the pan for a few minutes before removing it to cool completely on a wire rack.

Enjoy!

Myra xo

everyday spelt bread

If you make this recipe please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love hearing from you. And please don’t forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations!