The Spice Adventuress

May Favourites

Miscellaneous June 8, 2017 Comments: 2

Another fabulous month has gone by and once again it’s time to share with all of you the highlights of my month and all that tickled my fancy in May.

The world seems to be in much turmoil these days, most of which are beyond reason and comprehension. Which makes me all the more grateful for all that I have. In spite of the dark days, I continue to remind myself of all the goodness in this world, glimpses of which cross my life almost everyday and I continue to celebrate the simple joys that come my way.

Mother’s Day this year was a very special one for me. The little fellow showered me with quite a few gifts that he had bought from the Mother’s Day stall at his school. There was a also a special handmade Lego gift for me, a small house with our little family inside but, I was placed in the centre and he gave it to me saying, ‘you are the heart of this house, Mama’ which pretty much had me teary eyed. He is such a thoughtful boy and these simple joys make life so worthwhile.

The other surprise for Mother’s Day was from Pottery Barn, Australia. Earlier that month, they had run a competition on Instagram asking to post a special photograph of you with your mom or with your children. I had posted one with my little boy and we turned out to be one of the lucky winners. So we were sent a $100 gift voucher and also featured on the special Mother’s Day wall inside all their stores. It was a really beautiful thing to do which completed our special day on a high.

At Pottery Barn, Chadstone - thespiceadventuress.com

That’s us at Pottery Barn, Chadstone pointing to our photograph on the wall.

Coming back to the Lego bit, Adi is a Lego freak and a visit to the newly opened Legoland, Chadstone was on the cards for a long time. If you haven’t visited yet, then please do…..it’s amazing and the perfect place for some indoor play.

Stir fries have featured a lot on my dinner table last month, due to a lot of work commitments. Just a few ingredients and hardly any cooking time, that’s why stir fries are so popular these days. One of my favourites and one I have been making a lot recently is the Stir Fried Chicken with Sichuan Peppercorns, Chillies and Cashews. Its delicious guys, do give it a try.

And this has been my favourite drink of the month. A tad bit expensive, but totally worth it.

Everything else that has inspired and wowed me last month;

Let’s start with this quote.

This Spanish chicken stew with cumin flavoured Cauliflower broccoli rice; healthy and absolute deliciousness.

One sheet pan shrimp fajitas; yet another quick weekday dinner.

More stir fry inspiration.

We are crazy about olives in our home; so the puttanesca is also much loved.

Pork belly rolls! Need I say more?

Have you ever wondered why the restaurant salsa tastes so good? Then here is how you make it.

This would make an interesting starter at your next party.

The most delicious thing I have seen all month.

This pineapple chutney is so interesting; would make an excellent addition to my cheese platter.

What a delicious way to finish off the sambal paste in my fridge.

Learning to incorporate more farro into my diet with this salad

Such a beautiful cocktail and delicious too.

Cocktails and sun signs! Apparently I am the champagne girl…hmmm, really interesting. What’s yours?

Lusting after this beautiful Staub dutch oven. Sigh!

Pork Steaks with Madeira Reduction, Potato Mash and Roasted Carrots

Mains, Non vegetarian, Pork May 30, 2017 Comments: 2

My love affair with pork began only after moving to Australia.

Pork was an almost non-existent meat in my childhood, since I lived in the Middle East. And it only made an occasional appearance when I visited India during holidays. There is a myth that pork is not very popular in India but that’s so far from the truth. Agreed, it’s not the most preferred meat due to several cultural and religious reasons but there are communities where pork is revered and is considered a delicacy. And in Kerala, it’s extremely popular among several Christian communities.

When I moved back to India, pork became a more regular meat in our household because my mom absolutely loves it. But I really didn’t enjoy it at all and would just pick at it. I think it must have been the preparation and also the quality of the meat itself that put me off.

After moving to Australia, the fact that prompted me to buy pork is the disappointing ‘vindaloo’ that is served at most Indian restaurants. I was on a mission to learn how to make a good vindaloo (which I did) and pork ofcourse was the meat of choice.

Australian pork was a revelation. The quality of meat is absolutely amazing and I could not help but fall in love with it. I cook with pork a lot these days, not just in curries or stir fries but also a variety of ways and one of my absolute favourite is steak.

I usually cook steaks based on intuition but for pork, I usually follow the 6-2-2 method. You cannot miss the Australian pork ads that run on TV with a catchy tag line like ‘get some pork on your fork’ and that’s where I first got to know about the 6-2-2 cooking method. Basically what it means is cook the steaks for 6 minutes on one side, then 2 minutes on the other and finally rest for another 2 minutes before serving. I have been using this guideline for a while now and it always delivers the best result.

The thickness of the steak is important while using this method. If you like the meat well done, then use 2cm steaks for this method but if you prefer that blush of pink (highly recommended), then get steaks slightly bigger than 2cm.

So here’s the final dish, pork steaks with a simple coriander fennel rub, creamy potato mash, roasted carrots and Madeira reduction. Now let’s get cooking….

Recipe for Roasted carrots can be found here.

Ingredients:

For the pork:

4 pork steaks (approximately 2cm)
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp fennel seeds
½ tsp black peppercorns
Salt, to season
2-3 tbsp olive oil

For the Madeira reduction:

(adapted from Heston’s Fantastical Feasts)

85gms shallots; finely chopped
30gms leek (white and pale parts); sliced
2 medium garlic cloves; crushed
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 dried bay leaf
375ml Madeira

For the mashed potato:

500gms potatoes (I used russet but you can use any which lends a creamy texture)
2 large garlic clove
5 tbsp unsalted butter
½ cup milk
1 tsp dried oregano
Salt, to season
Black pepper, to season
1 tsp chives; finely chopped

1 tsp chives; finely chopped

Method:

For the pork:

To prepare the rub, pound the coriander seeds, fennel seeds and black peppercorns using a mortar and pestle.
Add to the pork steaks along with the olive oil and season well with salt. Rub thoroughly on both sides of the steak and keep aside for at least 15 minutes.
Heat a pan to high (you may use a grill) and then reduce to medium high. Place the pork steaks and cook on one side for 6 minutes. Then turn over and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from pan and rest for another 2 minutes (cover while resting). I do not add more oil to the pan as the steaks are oiled well but you may add if you wish to.

For the Madeira reduction:

Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and cook on low heat for about 30-40 minutes or till the liquid has almost halved. Strain and keep aside.

For the mashed potato:

Cook the potatoes in salted boiling water till soft.
Add 2 tbsp butter to a small pan along with the garlic; cook on low heat till garlic turns golden. Remove from flame and add the oregano. Keep aside.
In another pan, place the potatoes, milk and remaining butter. Mash and cook on low heat whisking continuously till you get a smooth, creamy mixture.
Season with salt and pepper; remove when desired texture has been achieved. If you want super creamy texture, pass the mashed potatoes through a sieve (I didn’t do this, though).
Add the melted garlic infused butter to the mashed potatoes and stir through; garnish with chopped chives.

This post has been bought to you in collaboration with Australian Pork and Social Soup. I have been using Australian pork for years so the opinions as well as the recipe are unbiased and entirely mine.

Methi Dana ki Sabzi (Indian style Fenugreek Seeds Stir-Fry)

Side Dishes, Vegetarian May 24, 2017 Comments: 9

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to a friend’s home for a girls’ lunch meet-up where I came across one of the most interesting dishes using fenugreek seeds.

My friend was so excited to serve this dish because none of us had ever heard of or seen this preparation before. Many of the girls thought it was a lentil dish but I did figure out that it was fenugreek seeds from that mild hint of bitterness. Though I use fenugreek seeds a lot in my cooking, it has always been as a spice and never as the main ingredient.

And even before the thought entered my head, my girlfriend had decided that I must share it on my blog. Love it when people get so excited about my work and want to share unique and amazing recipes with me for the blog. Deeply indebted for having friends who are always willing to share their knowledge.

This is a traditional dish from India, commonly prepared in some parts of North India. I haven’t seen anything like this from the southern part of India or from any other part of the world; please correct me if I am wrong.

Now the reason why fenugreek seeds are generally used sparingly is because of its mildly bitter taste. But when I tasted this dish, it was hardly bitter….just a mild aftertaste if you eat the stir fry on its own and almost none if paired with rotis.

And my friend told me that’s because the fenugreek seeds are first boiled in a particular manner, washed thoroughly and then used for the stir fry. The recipe is an extremely simple one and the only care to be taken is in the cooking and washing of the seeds which I have outlined below.

So please do give it a try, it’s a really unique and interesting way to consume fenugreek seeds.

(Thanks a lot to my friend, Alka who not only taught me how to make this dish but also came home the day I was making it to ensure it turns out perfect. Also my hand model for the day!)

Ingredients:

½ cup fenugreek seeds/methi
1 small red onion; finely chopped
1 tsp ginger; grated
1 tsp garlic; grated
1 green chilli; chopped
½ tsp cumin seeds
A pinch of hing/asafoetida
¼ tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp red chilli powder
½ tsp coriander powder
¼ tsp garam masala
Salt, to season
2-3 tbsp vegetable oil
Coriander leaves; chopped for garnish

Method:

Pour 5 cups of water into a saucepan and place over low to medium heat.
When the water has become slightly warm, measure out the fenugreek seeds using a spoon or measuring cup and add to the water (do not touch the seeds with your hand or wash it before adding)
Bring to boil and then simmer till the seeds are cooked. If you want to check if the seeds are cooked, use a spoon to remove a few from the water and discard after checking. The fenugreek seeds will plump up lightly and the water also turns dark while cooking. The seeds are cooked when it has become soft but still has a bite to it (it might still taste slightly bitter at this stage).
Once cooked, place the saucepan with the seeds in it under a trickle of running water. Do not disturb or touch by hand. You can see that the water begins to run clear after some time. When the water runs completely clear, strain into a colander and keep aside.
To prepare the dish, heat oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds. As it begins to splutter, add the asafoetida followed by the chopped onions. Sauté for a minute and then add the chillies, garlic and ginger. Sauté till the onions are lightly browned.
Add the turmeric, red chilli, coriander powder and garam masala. Mix well and tip in the fenugreek seeds. Season with salt and cook till the extra moisture from the seeds have dried out.
Garnish with coriander leaves.
Keep the dish for at least 30 minutes before having it.

Note – As I mentioned, the only care that needs to be taken is not to touch the seeds by hand at any point till the dish is done. A lot of dishes on the internet using the fenugreek seeds are prepared by soaking the seeds overnight, wash and then use for cooking. I tried out this method too but found that though the seeds do not taste bitter after soaking, it does develop a bitter taste once cooked.

Asian style Fried Chicken Drumsticks

Appetizers, Chicken, Mains, Non vegetarian May 19, 2017 Comments: 8

Time management has always been a roller coaster ride for me. Some weeks, I am organized, motivated, super productive and all the good stuff but other weeks, it just drowns and overwhelms me completely. And this is not something that has happened post my blogging/self-entrepreneurial journey; it has always been the case.

Last week was one of the latter. I have no clue what went wrong but nothing was really getting accomplished. My mind was not in the right space, a wavering mish mash of random thoughts that left me emotionally drained for no reason at all. And soon the writing work was getting piled up which left me all the more frustrated.

Unlike many people who say that cooking is a stress buster, I cannot bring myself to even boil water if I am not in the right mood. But takeaways do not sit too well with me so I had to force myself into the kitchen. Instead of elaborate meals, I opted for no fail recipes that required minimal prep time, one pot meals etc…. and these chicken drumsticks fit perfectly.

Fried chicken is an all time comfort food. If crunch is the end result of dunking anything in oil, then it wins my heart…always. And if it’s savoury, then all the better.

So as the name of the dish goes, these are fried chicken drumsticks with some Asian flavours going on. You can use any part of the chicken; I went ahead with drumsticks because it had been a while since we had it. The only difference from any regular fried chicken is the Asian style marinade in which the drumsticks are marinated before going through the flour-egg-flour routine.

If you are not a fan of the flour coating, then use breadcrumbs instead. And if you can find Panko, then all the better for the crunch. Remember that you only need a light dusting of the flour or the outer coating can be quite floury and gluggy. And get that oil temperature right before frying the chicken if you need the crunchy deliciousness.

If oven baked is your preference instead of deep frying, then I suggest the breadcrumbs as I feel the texture is better with crumbs than flour.

So there you go; so many options to make these delicious fried chicken drumsticks. And please do tag me #thespiceadventuress if you are posting on any social media; gives me great joy to see your creations.

Ingredients:

8 medium sized chicken drumsticks
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp sriracha (can be replaced with any chilli sauce)
3 tsp crushed ginger
½ tsp crushed Sichuan peppercorns
½ cup cornflour
½ cup plain flour
2 eggs, beaten
Salt, to season
Vegetable oil; for deep frying
Sichuan pepper-salt

2 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns
50gms salt

Method:

To prepare the Sichuan salt, toast the peppercorns in a pan (without any oil) on low heat for about 2 minutes. Shake the pan constantly to avoid burning the peppercorns. Remove and allow to cool. In the same pan, lightly heat the salt for about 30-40 seconds and then add to the peppercorns. Using a mortar and pestle (or grinder), crush well to get the Sichuan peppercorn salt. If you prefer a fine powder, you may sieve this but I like to use it a bit coarse.
To prepare the marinade for the chicken, mix all the sauces, wine vinegar, sesame oil, ginger and pepper. Add the chicken and mix well; cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or longer if possible. Taste and season with salt only if required.
Combine the corn flour with the plain flour in a bowl. Add ½ tsp Sichuan salt to the flour and mix well.
Beat the eggs well in another bowl.
Remove the excess marinade from the chicken and then coat lightly with the flour mixture. Shake off the excess flour before dipping in the beaten egg. Return back to the flour mixture for another light dusting and keep aside.
Heat oil for deep frying and fry the drumsticks in batches till golden brown and crispy. (Remember if the oil is too hot, the outside will brown up quickly without cooking the chicken inside properly).
Serve hot with Sichuan pepper salt.

The ‘Hummus’ Revolution (with recipes for Beet Hummus & Kashmiri Chilli Hummus)

Appetizers, Chutneys/Dips, My Food Philosophies, Side Dishes, Vegetarian May 10, 2017 Comments: 8

Hummus, a simple rustic chickpea dip that has somehow bridged geographical, cultural and religious borders. Today it graces our dinner tables in a zillion avatars, from simple to gourmet.

I love hummus, not just for its soul-satisfying taste, but because it is a taste of my childhood. Growing up in the Middle East, there was no way you could avoid this condiment. And it was such an integral part of the food we ate, because hummus was one of the very rare dishes that my dad would eat outside the traditional Kerala cuisine. So it made its appearance constantly sitting unassumingly alongside a platter of kebabs and tikkas.

And when we returned back to India, it was one of the main things that we missed; so much that my mom would request every friend who travels from Dubai to get her a bottle of tahini (which was very difficult to source in India at that time).

Today, we aren’t just talking about hummus as a dip, but as a medium for social and religious cohesiveness…..and it’s through the #spreadhummusnothate campaign spearheaded by Lina J, an award winning food blogger and the creative force behind ‘The Lebanese Plate’.

I have been following Lina’s work on Instagram for quite a while now and I really appreciate the work that she is doing to spread awareness and help address unwanted social and religious stigmas we have as a society. So here are excerpts of an interview with Lina and the significance of the #spreadhummusnothate campaign.

The first question and perhaps the most relevant one to this conversation….Where were you born? Are you an Australian?

I was born & brought up in Sydney.

Why #spreadhummusnothate? Could you tell us what led you to take up this campaign?

This campaign came about after coming across the hashtag #spreadhummusnothate. I felt there was increasing negativity towards people from diverse backgrounds & especially people of Muslim faith. I used the hashtag online but really felt that I needed to take it off line into our everyday lives in order for it to have a lasting effect. This is when I came up with creating opportunities for everyday Australians to sit & converse with everyday Australian Muslims & literally ‘spread hummus’ together.

You are an award winning food blogger but is that the only reason why you chose ‘food’ as the medium to express your opinions?

I don’t even think of myself as ‘award winning’ to be honest!

Working with & around food naturally led me to use it as the basis for this campaign. I think we tend to take for granted the power of food, not just as something to nourish the body, but also as a tool to bring people together.

Is it a single person initiative or do you have a team working along with you in this campaign?

It is just me really. I have certainly had people help here and there along the way, but mostly just something that I have been pushing on my own.

What is the primary message that you want to spread through this campaign? And how do you go about it?

That all it takes is one conversation (over food) to break down barriers. I hope that people will be able to see that although we have some difference, we actually have a lot more in common. Life isn’t about agreeing with or being exactly like the next person, it’s about understanding & respecting our differences & still be able to converse in a positive way.

How has the response been so far?

I would say 99% of response to this campaign has been quite positive, which really gives me hope.

I have seen on your Instagram account that you host events in relation to the campaign? How are these done and is it open to the public?

The events have been smaller gatherings up until this stage. I am currently in some collaboration talks with some lovely people who really want to help take this to the next level, where hopefully there will be more opportunities for a wider range of people to attend such events. There’ll be more detail soon about these events on my social media.

What are the different ways in which anyone who interested in this campaign be of help?

A number of people have helped spread the word, which is really important! But a number from my Insta family have assisted in providing goods for the #SpreadHummusNotHate Brunch, cake & desserts, meat & poultry, fresh fruit & veg. Couldn’t thank these people enough for their support.

And on a lighter note, you have become the ‘queen of hummus’ platters with all sorts of flavours including beautiful looking ones like the beet hummus. But which is your favourite?

I do love the Beet hummus, especially topped with a marinated feta, but at the end of the day, the original hummus will always be my favourite!

Do check out her blog and Instagram page (for some amazing photography and mouthwatering food).

Of course, I cannot leave you without sharing any hummus recipes so there are two delicious ones today. First, it’s the super gorgeous beet hummus recipe, one of Lina’s favourites which she has kindly shared with all of us. And second will be my signature hummus recipe with Kashmiri chilli (you will love this!)

So let’s #spreadhummusnothate

Beet Hummus

Photograph courtesy – thelebaneseplate.com

Ingredients:

1 cup dried chickpeas; soaked overnight
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (optional)
250g roasted beetroot
Salt, to season
3 cloves garlic
¼ tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp tahini paste
1/3 to 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
olive oil for serving
1 tbsp Persian feta (optional, for serving)

Method:

Beginning the night before, soak the dry chickpeas in a bowl of (approximately) 3 cups water with the teaspoon of bicarb. The chickpeas will need to soak overnight and will double in size.
The following day, rinse chickpeas and place in a pressure cooker (see note) with plenty of fresh water. Lock the lid and turn to the LOW pressure setting. Once it comes to pressure (mine begins to whistle when at full pressure), turn heat to low and cook for a further 20 minutes. Take pressure cooker off heat and allow the pressure to release and cool naturally. This may take a further 30 minutes or more depending on the type of pressure cooker you have.
As the chickpeas are cooking, preheat oven to 200ºC and prepare beetroot for roasting. Cut off greens and scrub beetroot thoroughly. Using a large enough piece of baking paper, wrap beetroot loosely and enclose by folding both ends into the middle and folding up ends to create a bag. Place paper bag with beetroot on an oven tray and into the oven. Roast for approximately one hour, or until beets are soft and cooked through. Remove from oven; allow to cool before peeling skin.
Once pressure is released from the cooker, drain away as much liquid as you can leaving only chickpeas behind. You will find that the chickpeas look mushy, but do not fret…that’s exactly how you want them! I find using the pressure cooker softens and almost melts away the chickpea skin that you don’t need to remove them.
Place the garlic, salt and cumin into a mortar and pestle and crush to create a paste. Set aside with the lemon juice.
Place the chickpeas in a food processor and blend until a smooth puree is formed. Add the beetroot and continue to whiz until you have a vibrant puree.
Add tahini, garlic, salt and cumin paste and blend some more. While processor is on, add 1/3 cup of lemon juice in a steady stream. Stop to scrape down sides and taste for more lemon juice.
Serve with Persian feta and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

NOTE: If you do not own a pressure cooker, use a large saucepan instead. Add chickpeas to pot with plenty of cold water and a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. Bring to the boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for at least an hour until chickpeas are very soft.

Kashmiri chilli Hummus

I used dried Kashmiri chillies for this recipe which can be easily found in any Indian/Asian store. These chillies have a beautiful deep red colour but very less heat when compared to other varieties.

Ingredients:

1 cup dried chickpeas; soaked overnight
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (optional)
3-4 Kashmiri chillies (soaked in warm water)
Salt, to season
2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp tahini paste
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp thick greek style yoghurt
olive oil for serving
Dried chillies (for garnish)
Green olives (for garnish)

Method:

The first step (just as in the beet hummus) is to soak the chickpeas overnight with bicarb. Canned chickpeas can be used if you are really rushed for time but soaking and cooking the chickpeas yourself makes a big difference to the taste.
Next day, rinse the chickpeas well and cook in a pressure cooker or pan till well done and lightly mushy. Season the chickpeas with salt while cooking.
While the chickpeas is cooking, soak the Kashmiri chillies in warm water for at least 15 minutes or more if possible.
Using a blender, grind the chillies, garlic and a pinch of salt to a coarse paste.
To this add the drained chickpeas (reserve a little for garnish), tahini paste, yoghurt and half the lemon juice. Blend till a smooth consistency is achieved (you may need to scrape down the sides in between). Taste and add more salt or lemon juice as required.
Transfer to a bowl and serve with olive oil. Garnish with the cooked chickpeas, sliced olives and crushed dried chillies.
Enjoy

April Favourites + a Giveaway!

Miscellaneous May 4, 2017 Leave a comment

Usually I always start by saying the month has gone by pretty fast but that’s not the case with April. It was a heavily packed month in terms of social commitments but it felt like a long month too. Perhaps, it was the weather transition or just a feeling but April seemed to go on forever.

The month began with an impromptu trip to Lorne for an office party at one of Sam’s colleague’s holiday home. Now I have never been to Great Ocean Road before (I know, not yet seen the Twelve Apostles) so it was quite exciting even if it was just a day trip. Their holiday home is set on a beautiful property which has the rolling hills on one side and the ocean on the other, with breathtaking and stunning views. A truly spectacular place to retreat….

Lorne - travel photography - thespiceadventuress.com

I also discovered a new Mexican restaurant El Sabor, which serves really good food and drinks. I was actually invited for some photography work but it turned out to be such a delicious affair so thought of doing a proper review as I really enjoyed the food. Read more of the review here.

Fajitas - El Sabor, Melbourne - thespiceadventuress.com

Coming to the giveaway, I would like to introduce you to my latest spice obsession – Fuegorita, the dried hot pepper flake blend. Crafted in California from some of the hottest chili peppers of the world, Fuegorita is a flavourful alternative to the regular dried chilli flakes. Trust me, this blend is really hot but I wanted to create a dish that won’t blow your socks off so I came up with these delicious grilled chicken skewers marinated with a mixture of parsley, coriander, basil, garlic and Fuegorita in lots of olive oil. Pair with some flat breads and hummus for a thoroughly satisfying meal.

The folks at Fuegorita have been kind to sponsor one bottle of this hot pepper blend to one lucky reader of mine. So to take part, visit my Instagram page for more details. Content open worldwide!

Fuegorita - food photography - thespiceadventuress.com

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, so I decided to do a guest post for the website ‘Stuff Mums Like’ which featured a delicious brunch perfect for treating your mom. So forget all the expensive gifts this year and treat the special woman in your life by letting her sleep in followed by this delicious Toasted Bread with Mushrooms, Avocado Smash, Poached Egg and Grilled Tomatoes, served with her favourite cup of tea and ofcourse, the bubbles!

Mother's Day brunch - food photography - thespiceadventuress.com

And with the weather transition, it was time to bring out my favourite J.Elliot Ellis Pom Pom throw in the most beautiful deep grey colour. It has an amazing cozy weave yet lightweight and resilient. And the contemporary finish adds the perfect hint of winter glam to my living space.

J. Elliott throw - product photography - thespiceadventuress.com

The Indian parathas have carved a name for themselves in the culinary world but I have not been the biggest fan till these delicious Stuffed Prawn Parathas happened. Fabulous, and hence you need the recipe.

Prawn Paratha - thespiceadventuress.com

And now time to dive into my top picks and favourites from around the world;

Let’s start with the drinks. This floral cocktail, in spite of its name, is quite apt for autumn and so simple to make.

Our family is all about sleep-ins and weekend brunches. And these baked beans are so flavourful and fit right in!

This lamb salad is just freaking awesome.

Here’s more salad inspo, this one with prawns in it.

Is there something called ‘dumpling porn’? Because these are just making me swoon….

Anything with sriracha in it wins my heart, like these devilled eggs.

I have never made a hollandaise sauce before. Have you?

Time management is a skill and as a creative, I constantly need to re-work my strategies. This was an extremely helpful read.

Whenever I tell people (especially working women) that I am self-employed and work from home, I always get this line…..’oh, life is so easy for you. It’s super hard for us to go to office, manage children, home etc…’ Self-employed is like being unemployed to them and this article is my answer to them.

What you need to know about life; this lady’s advice is spot on.

Are you an Instagram fledgling? Then this article will be of mighty help.

And this Gold opulent floral charm is truly after my heart!

Omelette Brochettes

Appetizers, Eggs, Side Dishes April 26, 2017 Comments: 12

We are big time egg lovers and go through quite a few cartons every month. In fact, if its egg curry bubbling on the stove, my son would sniff it a mile away and come running all excited about dinner.

All forms of egg dishes are welcome in our home and fried runny yolk eggs are a hot favourite of the kiddo for weekend brunches. We are lucky that so far, there has been no restrictions at school too because Adi really loves egg sandwiches in his lunch boxes.

Even though there are plenty of different egg dishes I cook, I was still on the hunt for new ones especially that cater to the after-school-hunger-pangs category. With a growth spurt happening, Adi comes home from school totally ravenous and needs something really substantial. And that’s how I came across a similar recipe for Omelette Brochettes in a cookbook called ‘Mini Treats’ by Hinkler Publications.

This one’s pretty simple to make, almost like a frittata. Though I have used onions, bell peppers and ham, any combination of meats or veggies can be used depending on your preferences.

It’s a really easy and simple dish to make and one you can make in bulk which also makes it as an excellent starter choice especially for children’s parties. If you are a light eater like me, it makes a delicious lunch option too when paired with a simple green salad.

I have not used cheese in this recipe, somehow I don’t like the texture too much if I have to refrigerate and then re-heat it later. But I would, if I was making it for a party or to have immediately afterwards.

Do try it out and let me know if you enjoyed it and don’t forget to tag your creations with #thespiceadventuress while posting on social media so that I can see it too. Happy cooking!

Ingredients:

3-4 tbsp olive oil
1 cup whole milk
12 large eggs
1 onion; finely chopped
8 ham slices; chopped
2 mini red bell peppers; finely chopped
½ tsp red chilli flakes
3 tbsp parsley leaves; finely chopped (reserve a bit for garnish)
½ tsp dried Italian herbs (a mix of dried oregano, thyme and rosemary)
Salt, to season
Freshly milled black pepper; to season

Method:

Preheat the oven to 160°C (fan forced).
Line an oven pan (32x26cm) with baking paper. (You can also use a square or rectangle cake tin).
Heat olive oil in a pan and add the chopped ham; sauté for about 2-3 minutes and then add the onions.
Once the onions are softened and translucent, add the bell peppers. Season with salt and allow to cool slightly before adding to the egg mixture.
In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together. Add the chilli flakes, dried herbs, parsley and the cooled onion ham mixture. Season with salt and pepper and whisk well.
Pour into the pan and cook in the oven for 12-15 minutes or till the egg has set.
Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before turning it out of the pan. Cut into squares and serve with your favourite sauce.

Grilled Prawns with Herbs and Chillies

Prawns/Shrimp, Seafood, Side Dishes April 20, 2017 Comments: 4

For all the prawn lovers out there!

Personally, I find prawns the easiest yet the most indulgent seafood to cook and eat. Not just for the fact that it cooks super fast but also for its ability to absorb all sorts of flavours in minimal time. Agreed, prawns are slightly more expensive when compared to your regular fish fillets, but there’s so little you need to do to it for a delicious dinner on your table in no time at all.

In our home, prawns are most often cooked for mid week dinners. And that’s because, by Wednesday, I get into the when’s the weekend coming mode and I really need something to get me going. Sometimes, it’s a nice glass of wine or perhaps a late night movie (for which I curse myself the next day morning) and sometimes, it’s an indulgent plate of food. And prawns fit perfectly in that mid week indulgent category.

While I need that mid week luxury, I am not willing to work too hard for it. So today’s recipe, grilled prawns with herbs and chillies is just perfect.

All you really need for this dish is a bunch of herbs, which makes it also a good dish to use up leftover herbs that let it go bad in the refrigerator. When I have an excess amount of herbs (I grow quite a few at home), I usually chop it all up finely, mix with a generous amount of olive oil and freeze for future uses like this dish. So that’s another tip for you!

So that’s it really, mix the prawns with the herb oil emulsion, a touch of chilli flakes to spice things up and then grill it. Top it over a big bowl of salad or a quick rice or noodle stir fry for a delicious and indulgent midweek dinner.

Ingredients:

350gms tiger prawns; deshelled (leave tails intact) and deveined
1-1 ½ tsp chilli flakes (adjust to heat preferences)….

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Supreme Seafood, so head over to their website for the full recipe.

El Sabor (Melbourne) – a Review

Restaurant Reviews April 12, 2017 1 Comment

El Sabor by El Cielo, located on Victoria St, North Melbourne, specializes in authentic and traditional Mexican style comfort food in an upscale setting.

The fact that the restaurant has Executive Chef Dhi (a two time winner of Restaurant & Catering award for Best Corporate Caterer (Victoria) 2012 & 2013) at its helm speaks a lot in terms of the quality of food served here.

I decided to check out the restaurant with my girlfriends who were equally keen to try out some real Mexican food. El Sabor has a quaint ambience with a bit of functionality and tradition thrown in. The restaurant has two seating areas….the more communal dining space with handcrafted wooden tables and benches on the ground floor and a more relaxed space on the first floor for those who want to spend more time catching up over food especially on weekends and at dinner times. It is best to make reservations if you are visiting on weekends or in a large group.

You can also find a lot of products, especially salsas and hot sauces made under the El Cielo banner on display and on the tabletops. While there is a small bar area on the ground level, most of the drinks are mixed in the bar space upstairs which boasts of some traditional mezcals, tequilas, beers and wines from South America & Spain.

The menu is truly Mexican and not the fusion that we often get to see in many restaurants that claim to serve Mexican cuisine. So while the tacos, fajitas and many other dishes may sound familiar, you will be surprised that the flavours are different to what you may have eaten in many other places.

The drinks menu is also very interesting, especially the cocktail section with a lot of Mexican/South American influence. Hence we decided to skip the wine and try out the cocktails. Also strongly recommended are the mezcals and tequilas.

We couldn’t skip past Tommy’s Margarita, which is the classic style served on the rocks. Loved the rim lined with chipotle salt; lipsmacking and highly recommended. I always gravitate towards drinks or dishes which uses a particular spice in an interesting manner and that’s how I ended up ordering the Chipotle El Sabor made with mezcal, chipotle, agave, lime and ginger beer. Very refreshing and a really different cocktail; loved it. The third cocktail we tried was the Mariachi with mezcal, pineapple, jalapeno, orange, lime and agave. This one was really refreshing with a lot of punch on the tastebuds. Don’t feel threatened by the jalapenos; a really good drink if you like refreshing flavours.

And to accompany, we had the corn chips (made in house) with some delicious guacamole and salsas. Can’t think of a better way to start a Mexican meal.

We began our meal with the tacos. Tried out three different ones; Pollo Pibil (chicken marinated in orange-lime juice & Achiote, served with pickled red onion), Pescado (Baja style battered fish, served with chipotle mayo, red cabbage and lime) and Carnitas (Michoachan style slow cooked pork belly, served with coriander and onion). All the three were delicious and in the hurry of gobbling it all up, I forgot to photograph one. But the Pescado was the crowd favourite; that battered fish combo was simply to die for.

The next dish we tried out was Sopes; this is a traditional Mexican dish that I have heard a lot about but never really tried one. So it’s basically handmade thick corn tortillas served with refried beans and topped with chicken/beef/potatoes (your choice) and then topped with lettuce, cheese and cream. We tried out the chicken and it was really delicious; and I recommend trying it out with the salsa if you want a bit of that oomph factor.

Another traditional Mexican dish that I have heard heaps about but never tried is the Tamales. So we ordered the chicken tamales which is basically freshly steamed corn masa pockets, filled with chicken mole; again recommended with the salsa especially the hot green one.

Next it was time to try out the Fajitas. Loved the way it was presented; make your own fajitas which are so much fun with friends and family around. So the tortillas, chicken fajita filling and a platter with beans, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, Mexican rice, corn chips and cheese. And there are of course the salsas on the table.

And even though we were stuffed, dessert was not going to be skipped. The dessert choices are rather minimalistic with just three options. Instead of the classic churros, we decided to try out the Burnt Flan with that hint of coffee and icecream on the side. While it was good, not the best I have had.

To summarize, El Sabor is a great place to experience traditional and authentic Mexican cuisine. The staff are friendly and ready to help you out with suggestions. And don’t forget to make a booking before you visit.

El Sabor (by El Cielo)

500 Victoria St
North Melbourne

Phone: (03) 93299477
Website: http://www.elsabor.com.au/

Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday – 6pm onwards

Disclaimer – I was invited as a guest but all the photographs, opinions stated here are entirely mine.

March Favourites

Miscellaneous April 5, 2017 Comments: 5

March…..the birthday month!

With so many birthdays in the family, March sped by at rocket speed. Little Adi (growing up way too fast) turned 8 and I turned 37 (ahem, age is just a number folks!!). We are pretty low key on birthdays usually but this year turned out to be a lavish celebration.

Adi wanted to celebrate with his buddies and lots of Pokemon, so that’s what we did. Lots of handmade decorations, party bags and a fabulous birthday cake from Vanilla Cakes, Oakleigh (Melbourne). A big shout out to them for taking my order at the last minute and doing such a fabulous job. Do check them out for customized cakes and the Vanilla Lounge is also a great place to dine out.

On my birthday, I was treated to a special surprise dinner at Fedele’s Ristorante Italiano, Glen Waverley. No photographs though because it was a special intimate dinner for the three of us, one just for our memories. But do check out the restaurant…..it has a beautiful ambience, great food and wine which makes it a good option for celebratory dining.

A feature on Dandenong Market had always been a dream, but now it’s a reality. For those who missed out, here is the article and my top picks on where to shop, what to eat and drink while at the Market. I also conducted two successful giveaways, the third one coming soon. If you are interested, make sure you follow me on Instagram.

Snippets from my Easter party was the most read post last month with lots of you writing to me about these delicious Moroccan Lamb Chops.

Wine of the month – Yering Pinot Noir 2015; a really balanced wine on the palate with hints of cherries, dark berries and savoury forest floor spice. I loved the fact that the tannins are not overpowering and has a delicate finish, thus pairing beautifully with grilled Moroccan lamb chops

I was quite lucky to get introduced to Chef Anshul Chandna and do a feature on his gastronomic and culinary journey for Indian Link. With a wealth of experience working with the who’s who of the culinary world, he is all set to return to Australia to start work on his dream venture. More of the write up here.

Been digging into this bowl of Burmese style Prawn Tomato Curry, an absolute fave of ours.

Slowly getting my wardrobe ready for the colder months ahead and absolutely loving the knitted top from H&M and the 100% Australian merino wool coat from Marcs.

I have been ignoring my skincare for the last year or so which has begun to show in the form of dull and dehydrated skin. So picked out this Seaweed Toner and Vitamin C glow boosting moisturizer from Body Shop which has proven really beneficial to my skin. Loved the fact that they do a detailed analysis and then recommend products most suited to my needs; I can already notice the difference.

And now it’s time for all those amazing stuff I found on the Internet; loads of delicious stuff last month.

Let’s start with this drink. I am gonna try it even though it’s autumn here already.

A Devilled eggs party……now that’s more like my entertaining style.

Chickpeas and spinach. This dish is just fabulous, taste and health in a single bowl.

Vegetarian Nachos. You need this in your life.

This pork roast is just insanely delicious.

This chili is gonna be perfect for the colder months.

Turkish kebabs! Need I say more?

This laddu and this laddu! (For the uninitiated, laddu is an Indian sweet.)

Desserts like these are a lifesaver. And it’s so pretty…..

Eggless brownies; needed a good recipe desperately for school bakes.

Latin Food in Melbourne; need to check out this place for sure.

Little Joys, Breaking the Trance of Busyness…..so apt for our lives.

The Spice Adventuress

May Favourites

Pork Steaks with Madeira Reduction, Potato Mash and Roasted Carrots

Methi Dana ki Sabzi (Indian style Fenugreek Seeds Stir-Fry)

Asian style Fried Chicken Drumsticks

The ‘Hummus’ Revolution (with recipes for Beet Hummus & Kashmiri Chilli Hummus)

Omelette Brochettes

Grilled Prawns with Herbs and Chillies

El Sabor (Melbourne) – a Review

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