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April Favourites

Miscellaneous May 1, 2018 Leave a comment

What a wonderful month it has been.

A happy month as I would like to call it because there were lots of great moments with family and friends. It was also the month of birthday parties which is always a nice occasion to catch up with friends.

It was school holidays at the beginning of the month so it was all about spending time with Adi, planning playdates and taking him for workshops and activities. One of our favourite places for creative workshops is at the Heide Museum of Modern Art. This time, Adi enrolled in the stop motion/animation class which was quite an exciting one for him. And after the workshop, we always make it a point to visit the ongoing exhibitions at the museum.

The museum has an extensive open space which is absolutely stunning and the perfect place to plan a picnic. But I equally love the café too, the food is just brilliant.

The best thing at the gallery is that they have interactive activities for the parent and child in relation to the ongoing exhibition which is a great way to engage a young child to appreciate the finer arts.

Heide museum of modern art - thespiceadventuress.com

When Adi was away, I relaxed inside this beautiful hut with a coffee and my favourite book. The best kind of relaxation!

The other highlight of the month was the Michael Jackson tribute show, The Legacy Tour by William Hall and his live band. We had gifted Adi the tickets to this show as his birthday gift. Though he had to wait for more than a month to enjoy his gift, he was absolutely ecstatic being a crazy MJ fan.

He even got the opportunity to go on stage and dance to one of MJ’s songs which I think he did full justice too. Many of you even wrote to me about his ‘moves’ after watching the video on my Instagram page.

Getting back to food, I finally have the recipe for this chickpea dish (Sundal) on my Facebook page. Lots of friends have been asking for it and since it’s a pretty common one, I decided to post the recipe on my page than dedicate a full blog post to it.

The Sunday chicken curry used to be a very memorable tradition in most Indian households. And even though the novelty has worn off these days, I still try and continue with my version. Find the recipe on my Facebook page.

Also in love with these plates I picked up while I was on holiday in India; totally digging the wildlife theme. The salad spoons are from Nigeria that I bought on Ebay eons ago.

Other favourites:

I love savoury breakfasts, especially if it involves egg and bacon!

Homemade extracts! Now this is very informative….

This ravioli looks too pretty to eat.

This chicken tagine and this chicken piccata.

Pork stir fry and green beans. Not a combination I would generally try but this looks so yumm.

Mexican frozen hot chocolate……this is chocolate heaven, guys.

Mother’s day is almost here, so how about some interesting gift ideas?

Can’t beat this rather unique ‘sausage bouquet’! Definitely for a foodie mom….

If a quiet tea time is her thing, then this exquisite tea set collection is a must buy.

But I have been throwing hints about this one. Beautiful, isn’t it?

March Favourites + Win Five Double Passes to the Tesselaar KaBloom Flower Festival

Competitions and Giveaways, Miscellaneous, Travel and Lifestyle April 3, 2018 Comments: 12

It’s been such a fantastic month. With two birthdays in the house and the countdown to Easter, it’s been a month of blessings and celebrations in our home.

Our little boy turned nine, and we celebrated with a Hot Air Balloon Ride in Yarra Valley. I am sure most of you have seen the photographs or read my blog post by now. It was such a magical experience and another item ticked off our bucket list.

Up in the Air! (A Hot Air Ballooning Experience with Global Ballooning Australia) - thespiceadventuress.com

Courtesy – Global Ballooning Australia

My birthday celebrations are almost always revolved around food, and this time we celebrated with a fabulous dining experience at Grossi Florentino (Grill). A delicious Tuscan experience at an iconic Melbourne restaurant!

Easter celebrations were rather low key, just catching up with some friends over the long weekend. But we also had a fun time at the Tesselaar KaBloom flower festival in the Dandenong Ranges.

Everyone’s familiar with the annual Tesselaar Tulip Festival, but for the first time this year, the farm fields have been opened out to the public for more than just tulips. Imagine rows and rows of so many different types of colourful flowers in bloom. The festival is on only for a short period; March 30 – April 15, 2018.

A stunning display of colour and spectacular views abound with fields filled with blossoming Begonias, Petunias, Sunflowers, Hollyhocks, Dahlias, Snap Dragons, Delphiniums and many many more….

There’s plenty of activities lined up for the children, with each week taking on a different theme. We attended the Chocomania weekend, but there’s also the upcoming family fun days, music concert days, flower expo etc…..

Lots of great food options too which makes it a great space for a day trip with friends and family. And especially with the school holidays on, it’s perfect for a relaxing fun day with the kids.

The folks at Tesselaar have been very generous to giveaway 5 x double passes to 5 lucky readers. Isn’t that simply great!

To take part;

Subscribe to the blog using your email address
Comment below which is your favourite flower along with your email id (to get in touch with you if you win)

Terms and Conditions:

Competition open to all living in Victoria, Australia and 18+ years of age.
The competition will run from Apr 3^rd to Apr 4^th The winners will be notified by email and direct messaging and if I do not hear back within 24 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Do share the competition details with your friends too. All the best!

Getting onto the other favourites now;

It’s also been a month of easy cooking and more packed lunch boxes. And two recipes that I cooked often and also shared on my social media was this delicious, tangy lemon rice and a spicy scrambled cottage cheese dish, fondly called paneer bhurji in India.

Some of the other recipes I intend to try out soon are these;

I am just a huge fan of devilled eggs!

We go to IKEA just to feast on these meatballs, and now I have a recipe to make it at home itself.

This garlic capsicum chicken is just perfect with my veggie fried rice

This risotto has my name written all over it.

And this pasta can be my alter ego.

I think I am more in love with the photograph than the actual cake.

These chocolate sprinkle cookies are just stunning.

January Favourites + a Giveaway (Silvers Circus, Melbourne)

Competitions and Giveaways, Miscellaneous January 31, 2018 Comments: 12

Fabulous 2018 folks!

Hope all of you are having a great start to the year. I have, for sure, begun the year with much positivity, happiness and enthusiasm for work, family, friends…..everything about my life.

While I do not set resolutions, I do set a lot of goals at regular intervals throughout the year. And one of my major goals for this year is ‘balance’.

As work progresses and so does my family and social commitments, I realize that I can stay on top of my game only if there is a balance between all these parts of my life. When you have a business of your own, it’s very easy to spill over work into family time and vice versa. So that’s where I am going to strive and strike balance. Better management and clear cut division of time so that my family does not feel I am working all the time.

Have you set any goals for yourself this year?

Speaking of family time, I am so excited to take Adi to his first ever circus show – Silvers Circus, touring Melbourne currently.

Circus was a big thing in my childhood. We hardly had choices like today when it came to kids entertainment so going to the annual circus show in town was a huge thing. And most often, we would be taken from school like a picnic and I would get pocket money from my parents to buy cotton candy or some popcorn – and oh my, that was a big treat.

Surprisingly, Adi has never been to a circus and when Silvers Circus got in touch, I was so excited. I know we are going to have a fabulous time for sure.

Owned by Swiss born Anna & Anton Gasser, Silvers Circus began its journey 40 years ago and has evolved into one of the Top 10 circuses of the world. Stunning artists, Las Vegas style illusions, innovative stunts, humor, modern production techniques and much more, the Silvers Circus is a captivating experience for the young and old alike.

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Silvers is currently touring Melbourne with shows at two locations, Mornington Peninsula (ended) and Dingley (January 31^st to February 25^th) with multiple show timings.

And they have been extremely kind to sponsor a giveaway i.e. one family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) for three different families to any show of their choice. Isn’t that awesome?

(This giveaway has now ended, and the winners have been notified by email)

So some rules;

Subscribe to my blog using your email address (you can find the subscribe button at the top right hand side of the blog)
Leave a comment below about what’s your most memorable experience visiting a circus.

Unfortunately, this one’s only for the Melbourne subscribers. Giveaway ends February 4^th midnight and winners will be picked through a random draw and notified through email and on my social media channels.

Let’s hop on to top picks for the month of January;

This traditional South Indian dry chutney is super delicious and healthy.

5 easy steak marinades – and I love each one of it.

Indian style Nachos; yeah bring it on!

Baked but super crispy chicken wings; you definitely need this recipe in your life.

More fried chicken!

The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is back on. Lots of interesting stuff and tickets are selling like hot cakes.

Do you have only one child? Why aren’t you having more? Won’t your child feel lonely? I am so tired of these questions. This article makes perfect sense and our reason is the second one ‘trust your gut’.

Top 10 Recipes of 2017 – a Reflection on the Year Gone by

Miscellaneous January 22, 2018 Leave a comment

“We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.” – Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?

This line totally reflects the state of mind I am currently in.

As most of you would be aware, I was away on holiday from mid December to January, which saw me take an almost complete break from work.

Initially, it was a bit overwhelming and unsettling seeing the kind of content that most bloggers and influencers do over the holiday period, but soon I realised that the long break was a blessing in disguise for the very tired soul inside me.

Now that I am back, I realise that break was necessary as it helped me reflect on the past one year, both personally and professionally.

While the first half of 2017 was immensely gratifying, the latter half saw me going into a state of stagnancy. I had become too comfortable in my space here that I forgot to push myself creatively and by the end of the year, I was bored.

And boredom is not a great feeling especially for someone who is creatively inclined. But the break happened at the right time and looking back, I see it as a wakeup call. The first thing I did after the holidays is reflect on how to take forward my blog and everything else associated with it. Because for me, this blog is everything…it’s an extension of my soul, my very being and not just a job.

The best way to reflect for me was to go back and see for myself the kind of content I had created for 2017. Because that gives me the inspiration and the clarity on how I want 2018 to be….

And that’s exactly why I decided to do this roundup. It was hard to pick just ten recipes but these best reflect me and my food philosophies. Now if all of you could take a moment and let me know which of these is your favourite and also what do you expect to see from ‘The Spice Adventuress’ in 2018. Your feedback would mean a lot to me….

Before signing off, wishing all of you and your loved ones a blessed and prosperous 2018!

Omelette Brochettes

This recipe was a major hit of 2017. After all, who doesn’t love eggs!

A quick and simple one, these brochettes are great as school snacks, potlucks or even as party canapés. Pair it with a great chutney and you have a clear winner on your hands.

Salmon Kebabs

These salmon kebabs were the result of a happy accident. I had set out to make salmon croquettes, instead ended up making kebabs when I ran out of time. And it has become a hot party favourite in our home ever since.

It’s so simple and salmon is an excellent choice for making these kebabs and always a hit amongst our friends.

Tatrelo Kolmi Patio (Parsi style Prawns)

Another first for me this year. In spite of knowing that Parsi cuisine has some of the best dishes that India has to offer, I took so long to try some out. Started with this delicious prawn preparation that was quick to become a hot favourite at home.

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

This recipe was a major discovery for me this year. Indian cuisine is so vast and the traditional dishes from each region continue to surprise me.

I was thrilled to learn this regional recipe that is popular in a few states in North India where the fenugreek is used as the main ingredient in a dish instead of as a spice. We all know how healthy fenugreek is and though this is a tad bit difficult in the preparation stage, I do make it occasionally for its health benefits.

Fish Tacos (with Pickled Slaw and Jalapeno Mayo)

Tacos are a hot favourite in our home. It’s so easy to put together a whole meal in such short time and we like how it can be customized to each one’s liking. And I think tacos are great for bringing the family around the dinner table. One of my personal tacos favourites for the year was these delicious Fish tacos with pickled slaw and jalapeno mayo.

Crispy slivers of barramundi with sweet n’ salty pickled onions and carrots, finished off with jalapeno mayo to spice things up a bit. You ought to check these out for sure!

Moroccan Lamb Chops

This year’s Easter party was a big highlight as I prepared a feast for some of our closest friends. I chose to make a selection of dishes from different cuisines, but all flavours we enjoy.

And hands down, the winner of the feast was these delicious Moroccan Lamb Chops that so many of you have tried and got back to me with amazing reviews.

Tandoori Chicken Thighs (with Grilled Vegetables and Couscous)

I absolutely love my homemade tandoori marinade, using which I have created so many memorable dishes in my kitchen. This one’s special because I made it for my parents while they were visiting us for holidays.

Bring out your barbecue if you have one which is the best way to make a tandoori. And these chicken thighs smothered with the flavourful marinade make it one of the most delicious dishes I prepared last year. Paired with an unlikely side of grilled veggies and couscous.

Fettuccine Carbonara (with Spicy Sausage Meatballs)

I am a big fan of Sucuk, a Middle Eastern style sausage which we often have just grilled as a snack or for breakfast. This time, I decided to make meatballs by removing the external casing which was great as Sucuk has loads of flavour and you need not add any extra spices or aromatics. Paired with a simple carbonara, this is a pasta dish that comes together in under 30 minutes. Needless to say, it’s a favourite!

Duck Kurma

Another favourite this year was this Chettinad style Duck Kurma. This is the first time I prepared a duck dish on my own and I was so ecstatic that it turned out really delicious. Also a part of the ‘Great Australian Curry Campaign’ which makes this dish all the more special.

Spiced Rum Chocolate Mousse (topped with Buttercrunch Toffee Crumble)

Deliciously wicked silky and smooth Chocolate Mousse laced with spiced rum and then topped generously with buttercrunch toffee crumble. And maybe some strawberries too…..

Do I need to say more as to why this was a hot favourite on the blog?

November Favourites (and a Spice Tailor Street Food Kit Giveaway)

Competitions and Giveaways, Miscellaneous December 4, 2017 Comments: 17

What a fabulous month it has been!

It’s been crazy hectic as my parents were leaving back to India which meant a lot of travelling amidst other things. And that’s why you have not seen me here for quite a while now.

Since I have not been working much the whole of last month, everything has piled up on the work front, so pardon me if I am going to bombard your inbox with posts on most days. There are lots of recipes, brand collaborations, product reviews etc…. in the pipeline and I assure that you guys are going to enjoy it all.

Let’s start this month’s favourites with a giveaway (which I know is exciting for all of you!)

Spice Tailor recently launched their Street Food Kits, which are a take on the famous kathi rolls that are a street food delight across the length and breadth of India.

The kathi rolls (originally invented in Kolkata/Calcutta) became an instant hit across the country as it was delicious and so easy to customize it for each one’s liking. Basically, it’s like a wrap that is filled with all sorts of deliciousness and can be either vegetarian or non vegetarian.

The Spice Tailor kits come in three different flavours – Tangy Punjabi, Classic Tandoori and Spicy Chettinad. I tried out the Tangy Punjabi and Spicy Chettinad…..and it was difficult to pick out a favourite. Each kit comes with six whole meal wraps, a stir fry sauce or marinade to cook the protein, chutney and a spice blend.

For the vegetarian version, I used paneer (Indian cottage cheese) with the Tangy Punjabi kit and for the nonvegetarian version, I used chicken with the Spicy Chettinad kit. Super easy to make and on the table in 15 minutes, these kits were a lifesaver while we were travelling. The flavours were distinctly Indian which was great when travelling with parents who are not too experimentative with all cuisines. And kits like these are way cheaper when travelling as it greatly reduces the need to eat out at restaurants.

(A little disclaimer though….. I do not endorse any sort of meal kits as an alternative to everyday home cooking using fresh, in season produce. These are meant to be a help during those crazy busy days, when your health is not the best or while you are travelling).

Now, let’s get onto the giveaway part! I know we are all super busy this season so this giveaway is the perfect one for you during the holiday/travelling season. The Spice Tailor has kindly agreed to give away 14 meal kits to 2 lucky subscribers (i.e. 7 kits each per winner). Isn’t that really generous?

To enter the giveaway;

Subscribe to my blog using your email id.
Comment below what protein/vegetable will you use for this meal kit

Competition open only to Australia residents (It’s Christmas guys, so if you live overseas, you can enter it on behalf of any of your friends/family living in Australia).

The last day for entry is 8^th December, 2017 and the winners will be notified through my social media channels and private message on 9^th December, 2017. So make sure you are following my social media handles if you aren’t already.

Getting on to the other favourites from last month:

Gratitude! That’s my word for this month of joy, sharing and thanksgiving.

People who are always late are more successful! Now I have the perfect excuse too….

Lusting after this bar cart from Pottery Barn.

I am obsessed over DIY table settings for any kind of party. Do check out my Pinterest page for loads of inspiration.

My favourite store to shop for Christmas decorations.

The Negroni has become so popular during the summer months, so it’s time we had an Aussie version.

I thought I had tried out all sorts of hummus recipes by now. Apparently I was wrong.

These potato skin egg boats would be perfect for entertaining.

Isn’t this the most gorgeous nachos in town?

Shireen’s Mangalorean plated series are back, and it’s as delicious as ever.

Edible gifts for Christmas are a great idea. How about these delicious simple syrups?

Totally digging this Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake for easy entertaining.

A ‘white’ hot chocolate! Isn’t this gorgeous?

October Favourites

Miscellaneous, Travel and Lifestyle November 2, 2017 Comments: 2

October literally flashed by in the blink of an eye.

Since my parents are visiting me, the days go by super busy with a lot of travel that we do on weekends. There’s no particular routine at home and it all seems like an extended vacation to me.

Yarra Valley was one of our travel destinations in October. And unlike most visitors, we checked out the Yarra Valley Orchid Show instead of visiting the usual spots. My parents are such avid gardeners, especially fond of growing ornamental orchids at home. So this was something they were totally looking forward to, especially to pick up some gardening tips from the experts.

If you love orchids, then do check out the Orchid Societies of Victoria. The society has lots of registered clubs across Victoria and holds a lot of shows around the year. So it’s a small but great show to visit if you love orchids or want to learn more about growing these beauties.

Yarra Valley Orchid Show - thespiceadventuress.com

We also went fishing at the Australian Rainbow Trout Farm in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges. The farm specializes in Rainbow trout, Golden trout and Atlantic Salmon. It’s a great spot for a one day family picnic which includes the fishing experience, bbq pits, children’s playground, mini golf course etc…

I have been here before and you can read all about that experience here. We also caught all the different varieties of fish and I used the golden trout to recreate last year’s recipe again at the farm. Delicious and perfectly grilled, do try it out if you haven’t before.

Australian Rainbow Trout Farm - thespiceadventuress.com

I was quite surprised to see how popular Halloween has become in Australia. Personally, I do not celebrate it and quite frankly find it a bit weird. But given the nature of my work, I did create DIY Halloween themed pizzas for Stuff Mums Like. It was fun doing the project because I have finally nailed making pizza bases from scratch.

So do check out the post if you would like to attempt making pizzas at home, So much fun and way better for your health.

Halloween DIY pizzas - thespiceadventuress.com

Last week, I attended the Kids Business Bloggers Brunch at Encore St Kilda. A fantastic event with lots of brands to interact and meet up with. I have decided to collaborate with a few that I personally use and enjoy, so do watch out this space for more information.

One of the highlights of the event this year was the partnership with Ryobi. Barry Du Bois, star of The Living Room and Kerryn Carter, founder of Tool School were among the VIP guests for the day sharing their inspiring story which has highly motivating and moved many of us to tears.

Another highlight was the DIY workshop set up by Ryobi for all the attendees, where each one of us could make our own food/cheese/presentation board. We were taught how to use Ryobi power tools for sanding, drilling, driving etc…. to create our own board. I must agree that it did give me lots of confidence and I am seriously thinking of executing some DIY projects over the summer hols.

Ryobi power tools DIY workshop - thespiceadventuress.com

Have you started planning for your holiday parties?

I have. And even before the menu planning, I have the tablescape sorted this year with this stunning stoneware and pottery range from Salt & Pepper. I picked up pieces from the ‘Artefact’ and ‘Relic’ collection; both have a rustic yet contemporary feel which I totally love. And the duck egg blue and slate colour tones would go perfectly with the white Christmas theme I have in mind.

Salt and Pepper stoneware range - thespiceadventuress.com

And now other news from around the globe…

My love for travelling kicked in well and truly only after I had a baby; and I thoroughly enjoyed travelling the world with him. If you think travelling is difficult with a baby, then here is the expert talking.

Well, this has what Instagram has truly become!

Margatini, now that’s interesting.

A spicy old fashioned!

This shakshuka sounds more interesting than the original version.

Chicken chickpea curry; that’s a new combination for me.

I am not a huge avo lover but this coconut avocado lime soft serve seems perfect for summer.

This chai masala bundt cake looks simply awesome.

Dark chocolate tahini cups! Now that’s an equally delicious use for tahini as hummus.

Tesselaar Tulip Festival + September Favourites

Miscellaneous, Travel and Lifestyle October 3, 2017 Comments: 5

Another month has gone by and can’t believe that we are almost nearing the end of another year.

Life was super busy this month as my parents are here for a short stay. And as I mentioned in my last post, I am taking it real slow on the work front. It’s been a long five year gap so I have decided to take it easy and spend maximum time with them.

Apart from the long hours of chatting, we are also introducing them to the Melbourne way of life. Slow, relaxed, lots of travel and great food. Must admit they are really enjoying this break which makes me feel so grateful and blessed.

My parents are avid gardeners; in fact we have a really beautiful garden back home with an area for growing ornamental orchids and many other flowering plants. So I knew they would be thrilled to visit the Tesselaar tulip festival.

The Tesselaar Tulip Festival is an annual event held at the Tulip Farm, 357 Monbulk Road, Silvan –VIC. Since we had a late start to the spring season, the festival has been extended until 15^th October this year.

Trying to describe the beauty of thousands of tulips in bloom in a few words is a futile effort. So here are a few photographs that I shot during the festival.

I was also quite impressed by the lineup of food at the festival. Lots of traditional Dutch delicacies but also several other cuisines like Turkish, Indian, Greek, Japanese etc… were also available. And with Yarra Valley being a major sponsor, there were also some great wines from the region.

Have you taken a ride on the Melbourne Star?

We have, quite a few times. It’s often an activity that we pick when we have friends or family visiting from overseas.

There are a range of experiences to choose from and one of our favourites is the Sights and Lights, which allows you to experience the Melboune cityscape during day and night. The Star is one of its kind experience to see this beautiful city, memories of which you will cherish forever.

I made this Cambodian chicken curry for my parents and they absolutely loved it. Aromatic and fragrant, this curry is just lipsmacking good with just steamed rice to accompany.

And now my favourites for last month from around the globe:

Future of the written word! Do we get excited for scared?

Bacon gremolata; my new favourite soup topping.

Such a delicious way of using celery in a dish.

This chicken wing platter is the perfect summer party dish.

Love Sichuan peppercorns and these ribs just celebrate the spice.

These turkey meatballs are stunning.

Have you heard of Spain’s famous blue wine?

These mini taco bowls are so delish.

Celebrating the hardcore Aries in me with this Pandora charm.

July Favourites

Miscellaneous August 2, 2017 Comments: 6

A roller coaster of a month peppered with both good and bad!

July left me drained, tired, overwhelmed for most of the month but ended with a bang, which overshadowed all the unpleasant things that happened over the initial days.

My little boy gave his first public guitar performance at the recently concluded Springvale Snow Fest. He has been taking guitar lessons for the past 2 years and though he has performed in his school, this was the first time he is playing for such a large audience.

So proud and chuffed that he took on the challenge and grabbed the opportunity that he was presented with. It’s not every day that we get opportunities, so when we do, we must be able to embrace it whole heartedly.

His musical journey has just started and we truly hope that he continues on this path that brings much joy to him as well as everyone who listens to his music.

Coming back to food, these chicken omelette sandwiches were made and consumed quite a bit during the busy working days. Super simple and makes a delicious lunch box option!

Blame it on my Mallu genes, nothing gets me more excited than fish curry and rice. And the Chettinad style fish curry is pure magic on your tastebuds. Spicy, tangy and mouthwatering, I made these with Spanish mackerel cutlets. Enjoyed it with some steamed white rice….food coma!

And here’s a list of everything else that has inspired me over the last month….

Are you truly happy? A recent Harvard study has revealed the single most important factor for happiness.

7 ways to be a Parisian chic! This is what I want to achieve for myself….

The luxurious Alex Perry collection from Linen House. Can I have one of each?

Kitchen tips! Cleaning your oven with baking soda and vinegar; time to ditch those nasty chemicals.

Maldives is a hot shot tourist destination but there are a few things to be aware of before planning a vacation. Here’s what you need to know!

Kisume is the hottest restaurant in town right now. I just can’t wait to try out the food…

I love salads, especially when delicious and pretty like this one and this one.

Nashville hot chicken! Drooling…..

How delicious does this burrito bowl look? The perfect weekday dinner…..

A recipe for all the gochujang lovers!

Bbq pulled pork rolls. Enough said.

I have found my perfect summer party dessert.

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!

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

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