Cookbook of the Month | 26 Grains

Think you know all there is to know about grains? Think again. I sure did. I was admittedly undecided about picking up this cookbook because grains are not something you would otherwise get excited about, am I right? Considered a staple, I had always thought of them as something to bulk up meals, rather than being the star ingredients. After an eye-opening visit to 26 Grains in Neal's Yard and consequent purchasing of the cookbook, I now know to never underestimate grains again. The way you treat and cook with grains can mean the difference between an ordinary bowl of porridge and an extraordinary one. I know which option I'd take, even if it involves a bit more prep time!

26 Grains has become my go-to cookbook not only this month, but the months previous. It is filled with both time saving recipes and ones that take that little bit more effort, but each meal I have tried has made me rethink the basics. Alex has elevated otherwise simple meals without any unnecessary fuss. Over a recent period that has seen me lack the motivation to get creative in the kitchen, her approachable recipes mean I can whip something easy up that doesn't compromise on taste.

I have so far tried and loved these recipes: Hazelnut and Butter Porridge, Blueberry Porridge, Porridge Pancakes, Spelt Salad with Beetroot, Feta, Chickpea and Apple, Coconut and Butternut Squash Curry with Black Sticky Rice, Tomato Coconut Rice with Halloumi and Avocado, and Dark Chocolate, Hazelnut and Cinnamon Cookies.

If that's not enough to whet your appetite and convince you to get your hands on a copy of 26 Grains, then this recipe for chai spice will, which makes for the perfect cup of comfort for those experiencing a cold December. Alternatively, this chai spice added into Alex's recipe for homemade almond butter will make you wonder what life was like before the phenomenal condiment graced your taste buds. It can be enjoyed on toast topped with fruit, on pancakes or straight out of the jar. The spiced almond butter also makes for a perfect veganised chai caramel for caramel slice...Watch this space, because I'm currently trying to create the perfect recipe!

Chai Spice by 26 Grains

5 tbsp ground cardamon

2 tbs ground cinnamon

1/2 tbsp ground cloves

1 1/2 tbsp ground ginger

Good grinding of black pepper

1/2 tbso freshly grated nutmeg

40g coconut palm sugar

Mix all the ingredients together and store in a jar in a cool, dry place for several months (most spices deteriorate after a year).

To make a chai spiced drink, mix 1 teaspoon of the spice blend with 250ml milk of your choice and heat gently, stirring continuously.

Podcast Picks | Food, Travel and Art

So I realise that I am probably one of the last people to jump on the podcast bandwagon, but now that I'm on it, I don't know how I lived without it! I've found myself listening to a range of different podcasts over the last month, and said listening sessions have usually been accompanied by some kind of creative endeavor (painting, drawing or cooking). I find that it's such a productive way to wind down and can really lift your spirits. As my life kind of feels like it's in a limbo right now (shout out to post University life and job hunting!), I have naturally felt inclined to seek out podcasts of the inspiring and uplifting kind but at the same time, ones that encourage me to learn new skills or simply learn new things.

I thought I would share my top three Podcast Picks that I have been obsessed with lately, so much so, that I am pacing myself with each episode, because I don't want them to end! If you have any other podcast recommendations, I would love to know.
 

Roam and GoLightly

This has to be my favourite podcast series of all three. I first chanced upon it shortly after coming home from time abroad which, as keen travelers will know, is never easy. Reverse homesickness is a real thing! Roam and GoLightly appealed as it has a keen interest in travel, so I could happily sit and daydream about my next adventure...but it also places huge emphasis on sharing the adventures of the everyday. This description on the blog particularly stood out:

"I set out to find that creative, adventurous lifestyle that I experienced with a passport in hand, except this time it would have to happen in the "real world." With real responsibilities, with real struggles, with a realistic approach to living the lifestyle I craved"

I realised while listening to a number of podcasts that living an adventurous lifestyle is possible without necessarily having to board a plane, and this can be made possible by making time for creative pursuits. Roam and GoLightly interviews a number of talented craftsmen, writers, thinkers and dreamers. I have yet to finish a podcast and not come away feeling inspired. Some of my favourite episodes so far are: Minisode: ROME! | "A Little Bit of Everything" with Bianca Cash | "Grand Possibilities" with Ziza Bauer of Darling Magazine

*Just as a side note, the Roam and GoLightly blog is equally fabulous and worth checking out!

The Jealous Curator: Art for your Ear

I've been a long time, let's say, casual reader of the blog The Jealous Curator, so it took me by surprise to only just recently discover that Danielle Krysa also has a podcast series called 'Art for your Ear'. As if her site isn't amazing enough as it is, her podcasts give an inside look into the lives of some incredible artists. On the inspiration behind creating a podcast series, Krysa writes:

"When I studied art history in university, my favorite part was, well, basically the gossip. I loved hearing why artists did certain things. What was going on in their personal life, stories about other artists they knew and worked with. ART FOR YOUR EAR is exactly that… inside-scoop stories from amazingly talented contemporary artists."

I've always been a bit of an art lover and regret not taking more courses in history of art in University. However, with these podcasts, it's truly wonderful to know that I can deepen my knowledge and awareness of celebrated and upcoming contemporary artists despite not necessarily studying art extensively. These podcasts make for the perfect way to kick start a creative weekend or wind down in the afternoon with a cup of tea. Who knows, it may even prompt you to take out your paints and paintbrushes!

Favourite podcast so far: REBECCA LOUISE LAW: Painting with Flowers (aka my favourite installation artist!)

Olive Magazine

Finally, this is a podcast I only just recently got into, but am certain that it will become a firm favourite. I'm a big foodie, but have lately felt lacking in inspiration in regards to what to cook. After listening to just one episode, I felt like I was getting my mojo back and was motivated to get back into the kitchen! The Olive Magazine podcast is hosted by the editor of the magazine and shares 'exclusive additional content, behind the scenes gossip, expert advice and fun'. The topics usually centre around a specific ingredient or food and there is often a guest speaker, but the podcasts also discuss everything from upcoming events in London to traditional cooking methods and customs of different cuisines. It is an absolutely delightful podcast series. 

Cookbook Review: The Forest Feast by Erin Gleeson

"My hope is that this book will find a nice balance between your coffee table and your kitchen counter and that you will be inspired to cook, eat, share and enjoy colourful healthy food together" --Erin Gleeson

Cookbook author Erin Gleeson seems a jack of all trades. With a natural talent and eye for photography, food styling and watercolour painting, she was able to create a stunning book full of delectable vegetarian dishes. What first drew me to The Forest Feast was, indeed, its impeccable presentation. From front to back, this publication is the very definition of a 'visual feast'; but don't be fooled into thinking that it's just a pretty face.

The Forest Feast is a compilation of Gleeson's favourite go-to dishes that make vegetarian entertaining stress free and will satisfy even the most devote carnivores. As a regular hostess of dinner parties, which take place on the balcony of her stunning forest cabin, Gleeson knows all the tricks when it comes to presenting a jar dropping feast without the fuss.

I have been meaning to review this cookbook for ages as it has become such a staple in my household, even more so now that mum has taken a particular liking to it. Each recipe only uses a couple of ingredients and, even better, require little effort to put together with only 2-4 steps involved. Lately, our household has been feasting on cinnamon cauliflower (yes, it initially struck me as a strange combination too, but its a winning combo), accordion zucchini and fiery red roasted carrots. These and many other of her sides are proof of how much depth of flavour can be achieved with just a few spices. For a heartier main, the veggie roasted gnocchi has become a firm favourite as an easy weekday meal. Even my meat loving father approves.

Alongside sides and mains, The Forest Feast also contains recipes for cocktails, starters and desert. What I love about each and every recipe is the way Gleeson sets them out; on the left side, she pictures her ingredients and her handwritten recipe. On the right, she has a big, beautiful picture of the finished product. These and other added touches, such as her use of watercolors, make the cookbook a delight to read and the recipes achievable. It's not one of those cookbooks where there's plenty of room for error. I never feel disheartened with my end product in comparison to Gleeson's. All these meals can be whipped up no time and never fail to impress. It's the complete package.

Value for money: ****
Recipes: ****

Presentation: *****

Diet adaptability: *****

The Forest Feast by Erin Gleeson by stewart tabori & chang. For more recipes and photography envy, visit The Forest Feast.

Seasonal Baking: Mulberry Frangipane Tarts

 
Ever since I was little, the idea of picking my own fruit has appealed to me. It seems like a quintessential Spring/Summer activity. I can't think of a better way to celebrate the season than to soak up the sun, get in tune with nature and carry home a basket full of beautiful sweet and ripe fruit at the end of the day!

However, where I live, there are very few PYO farms. While I know of one strawberry farm that offers the service, I'm not aware of any other farms on the outskirts of the city and even way down the South of Western Australia. Thankfully, mulberry trees, especially in West Perth, are abundant and there is even one on my university campus. I decided to take advantage of the situation and harvest some mulberries during one of my class breaks. While the tree had been thoroughly picked over, I was still able to collect a good amount of ripe berries; enough to make a batch of frangipane tarts specifically!

With so little ingredients and not a lot of hard work involved, these tarts are a delight to make and eat. They aren't too sweet, with the mulberries cutting through the butter and sugar. They are simple yet indulgent and serve as the perfect afternoon treat. Seasonal baking couldn't get any better than this.

Ingredients

Makes 6-8 tarts

Pastry

110g butter

100g castor sugar

1 egg

250g cake flour

Frangipane filling

60g butter, diced

60g castor sugar

1 egg

50g ground almonds

As many mulberries as you wish (I used 5 in each tart)

Flaked almonds

Method

Pastry

Combine the butter and sugar in a food processor an, while it is still running, add the egg. Add the flour and blend into a dough. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using. Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Press the pastry into 6-8 loose-bottomed tart tins measuring 10 cm in diameter, and refrigerate for 45 minutes. Bake the tart shells for 10 minutes.

Frangipane

Mix the butter and castor sugar together in a food processor. Add the egg while the motor is still running and then add the ground almonds and blend well. Spoon a dollop (teaspoon) of frangipane into each tart shell and gently place 5 mulberries into each shell. Sprinkle with flaked almonds and bake for 25-30 minutes at 180 °C, turning the tarts around halfway through the baking time. You want the edges of the pastry and the frangipane to turn a little brown. Allow to cool and serve as is or with cream.

*Recipe adapted from Crush Magazing here

Currently Pinning: Cakes and Desserts

  1. Caramel Mascarpone Tart with Brown Sugar Rubbed Pears 2. Eton Mess Cake 3. Raw rose and raspberry tart

4. Elderflower, Lemon and Mascarpone Cake 5. Almond and Blackberry Cream Pavlova 6. Nectarine Pistachio Coconut Yogurt Tarts

If my 'Cakes and Desserts' board on Pinterest is anything to go by, then it's safe to say that I'm excited to bake up a storm this Spring and Summer! I have been particularly drawn to desserts that are simple, delicate and rely on the gorgeous produce of these seasons; think berries, stone fruits, citrus, herbs and even flowers. Indeed, my board is shaping up to have a very 'garden party' feel. I couldn't think of a lovelier way to spend a sunny afternoon. What do you feel inspired to bake?

See more here

Tiny Tales from Paris #6: Odette

Today I found myself trawling through my Paris photos, and I felt these shots warranted another 'Tiny Tales' post. 

Odette cafe on 77 Rue Galande has to be one of the most gorgeous buildings in Paris. Before my trip, I made a mental note to pop into the area to see the building and maybe even grab a choux pastry (but who am I kidding, of course I wouldn't visit without one).

It came as a surprise, then, that the day in which I ended up visiting Odette was totally unplanned. It was a Sunday morning and, being used to having cafes open at 8am back home, mum and I made the mistake of waking up too early and then wandering the streets for ages in pursuit of a warm drink. It was luck that we stumbled upon Odette on the dot of opening. We took refuge in the warm cafe on the second floor and ordered two delectable and delicate violet choux balls alongside a cafe au lait for mum and chocolate chaud for me.

It was such a pleasant morning that stands out in my mind so clearly. The sun was shining, despite still being cold, and I delighted in sitting next to a little window that happens to give stunning views of Notre Dame. Evidently, the high price you pay for the choux pastries and drinks are probably influenced by said views, but in my opinion, it was 100% worth the experience.

Cookbook Review: Community by Hetty McKinnon

"For me, the happiest expressions of food are the ones that stem from sharing – whether it be sharing a plate, sharing a story over a meal, or sharing a recipe"- Hetty McKinnon, via Arthur Street Kitchen Blog

Today, I am excited to get the ball rolling with the first Cookbook Review on Windswept Wishes. Other than my immediate family, not many people know that I am a massive cookbook fiend. It's so bad that one of my 'goals', so to speak, is to one day have a room where cookbooks line the walls! It's not just the recipes I adore, and enjoyment I get out of cooking delicious meals, but I'm also drawn to cookbooks that have stunning photography that make simply flipping through pages a joy in itself.

The problem with owning a fair amount of cookbooks though is that you can easily fall into the trap of just making one or two recipes and be done with it. So I thought that by creating a 'series' of cookbook reviews, it would help me get more value out of the books I own, as I will hopefully become more motivated to try a range of recipes from each book.

Cue Hetty McKinnon's Community. The story of Hetty herself is quite an inspiring one; born out of her love of vegetables, Hetty one day decided to establish a community kitchen, called Arthur Street Kitchen, in Surrey Hills, Sydney. Every Thursday and Friday, Hetty would ride her bike to deliver fresh and seasonally curated salads to residents. After gaining quite a following, her cookbook followed suite after she received a number of recipe requests. 

So, this cookbook is all about salads. Now, that may sound dull, especially if you're not a salad fan unlike myself. But I guarantee that even the most devote meat eaters will find these recipes delicious, because they're not just your standard salad. Hetty's recipes are inspired and prove that there are is so much you can do with vegetables to make them shine, and to make them stand as a complete and satisfying meal on their own. 

This cookbook ticks all the boxes in my 'cookbook' criteria. Its layout is extremely helpful, as all the recipes are sectioned into 'chapters' with each focusing on different ingredients ie. root vegetables, fungi, cereals (grains) and more. There is also a section at the beginning of the book titled 'The Larder' which is a helpful guide stating the necessary ingredients of a well stocked larder and 'Salad Fundamentals'. 

All the recipes in Community are tasty, wholesome and filling. I have really enjoyed whipping up something different once a week for my family, and the great thing is, there's always leftovers that have me sorted for a couple of University lunches during the week, making healthy food choices so much easier to maintain. I have discovered a lot of different ingredients; I never knew there were so many different types of grains, which is awesome as it means that I can switch it up every now and then, rotating between quinoa, couscous and lesser known grains such as farro. Beyond that though, there are also pasta salads, lentil salads, green salads, noodle salads; everything you could think of and more. Above all, I love that Hetty's belief in Community, the sharing of good food with loved ones, shines through in this cookbook; a belief further accentuated by the stunning accompanying photography by much loved photographer Luisa Brimble. 

Whether you are seeking exciting ways to reinvent the humble vegetable or simply want to get more into your diet, Community is the cookbook you need.

Sample Recipe: Slow-Roasted Balsamic Tomatoes with Spelt Pasta, Porcini and Ricotta by Hetty McKinnon

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

10 roma tomatoes (1.4kg), each cut into 8 wedges

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

4 tbp extra virgin olive oil

4 thyme sprigs

2 garlic cloves, grated

Sea salt and black pepper

500g spelt pasta (or your favourite pasta shape)

10g butter

30g dried porcini mushrooms (or other dried mushrooms), soaked in hot water

250g ricotta

1/2 basil leaves, torn

1/4 cup oregano leaves

2 tbsp caramelised balsamic vinegar

Preheat the oven to 140 degrees Celsius

In a large mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, 2 tbsp of the olive oil, thyme, 1 clove of grated garlic and season well with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 1-1.5 hours until the tomatoes are shrunken and juicy.

In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the spelt pasta (or whatever pasta you're using) according to the packet instructions.

In a small frying pan, melt the butter, add the remaining grated garlic and cook for 10 seconds until fragrant. Remove the mushrooms from the water and add to the pan, along with a couple teaspoons of their soaking liquid (making sure not to exclude any of the grit) and a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Cook for 2 minutes until the water has evaporated.

Combine the tomatoes, pasta an mushrooms and season well with salt and black pepper. Break the ricotta into chunks and gently fold through the pasta. To serve, scatter over the basil and oregano leaves an finish with a drizzle of caramelized balsamic vinegar and the remaining olive oil. 

Tiny Tales from Paris #4: Du Pain et des Idées

"I'm going to make you bread like you've never seen before, and in this bread there will be love and friendship"

Such are the words of Christophe Vasseur, the baker behind Paris' best bakery, Du Pain et des Idées. At thirty years of age, he decided to leave his job as a sales executive in the fashion industry behind in order to pursue a career as a baker. His ambitions were no minor feat; wishing to not just be an 'ordinary baker', he strove to be a 'one of the kind' by practicing time-honored and traditional techniques in order to ensure all his baked goods are a standard of quality to the highest degree. He has certainly excelled in his aim, and today, Du Pain et Des Idées continues to be one of the most loved boulangeries in Paris. 

I knew that I couldn't possibly miss a trip to this stunning bakery while in Paris, and had I been able to stay longer, I just know I would have soon become a regular visitor. Stepping into the tiny bakery filled with patrons, my senses were treated to the deliciously warm and heady aroma of freshly baked bread, yeast and sugar. Words really cant accurately describe just how heavenly this sensation is! You really must experience it for yourself.

I was also amazed by the stunning majestic interior. The bakery building itself dates back to 1889, and as Christophe states on the bakery website, has the ability to transport you a century back in time. The whole experience had me feeling nostalgic for a past that didn't even exist in my lifetime; for when 'simple' things such as bread were made properly.

I wholeheartedly admire Christophe's vision and his 'aim to show that [his] profession is amongst the most beautiful in the wold'. The sheer, unadulterated happiness that I experienced from walking away with a loaf of Pain des Amis and other added goodies, nibbling on pieces while strolling the streets, should not be underrated. It is one of the simplest kinds of magic that exists in this world.

P.S: If you haven't already, take a peak over at Sunny Sweet Pea to read my guest post 'Hidden Paris' for more tiny tales.