It’s been 3 years now since I starting writing recipes for this Shiny Bright new blog. Three years of experimenting with food, testing it out on family, friends and complete strangers. Three years of cutting back on white sugar, salt and white flour. And many long years learning that ‘home-made’ is in danger of always becoming ‘store bought’ and full of hidden sugars and bad fats.
It’s been quite the journey for a technophobe such as me but I like to think, it has been a delicious and relevant one. I passionately believe that we should all know how to cook and where our food comes from. I absolutely believe that we must pass on our skills in both the culinary world and the gardening one to our children. And in this increasingly complicated world I still believe that anyone with a common cold will benefit from a hot lemon and manuka honey drink, that a meal made with love will bring joy to a sad heart, and a gift such as chutney or jam will send a wave of goodwill to a friend or neighbour. I hope you find these recipes useful. I wish you a holiday season full of good, honest food and someone to share it with, all the very best, Kathy Voyles, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Here are some requests from friends and food colleagues and some ideas for the party table!
Sweet Potato (Kumara) and Feta mini Frittarta
2 medium sweet potatoes
olive oil
1 tsp ground cumin
fresh basil, parsley or chives
baby spinach leaves
half a cup of either grated parmesan, feta or cheddar (whatever is in the fridge)
6 eggs
160 mls cream
Method
Roast the peeled cubed sweet potato in olive oil with the ground cumin at 180 degrees for approximately 15-20 minutes and leave to cool
Mix together the cream and eggs with chopped herbs and baby spinach leaves
Line 12 greased muffin cases with paper muffin cups or cut round from baking parchment to line the muffin tin bases. Place the sweet potatoes in the base of the muffin tins, pour the cream egg mixture over.
Bake for 20 – 25 minutes at 160 fan forced oven. Allow to cool and gently loosed and turn out. Serve with a chutney or a spice yoghurt dressing.
Whole Wheat Oattie Quinoa Cookies
This is based on a recipe from 101cookbooks.com. I have changed some of the ingredients and amounts. This recipe makes enough dough to make about 40 cookies. All I can say is hide them because if you don’t, they won’t last! They are simply too delish!
2 and a half cups of rolled oats
1 cup of whole wheat flour (can use spelt)
2 thirds of a cup of quinoa flakes or puffed quinoa
1 tsp Baking Soda
half a teaspoon of sea salt (not coarse)
225 grams of soft butter
1 cup of dark brown sugar
half a cup of palm sugar (101 uses 2 cups of light and dark brown sugar)
2 large eggs
2 tsps of vanilla extract
280 grams of dark chocolate (I use the Sligro dark choc drupples) Break half up but leave some large rounds for decoration
Combine the dry ingredients and put aside.
Place the butter and sugars into the mixer and cream together. Add in vanilla and eggs, mix
Add in dry ingredients and the broken chocolate pieces. The mixture will be moist but not too liquid
Place large teaspoonfuls of mixture on baking parchment. Place a large round piece on each cookie in the centre. I fit in about 20 on each tray. They will spread a little. Bake at 175 fan bake for about 12 minutes. If you like them chewy then cook them for about 12 minutes. For a crispy darker cookie then leave them for about 15. It really depends on your oven. Cool on a rack and store in air-tight tins. Prefect for a class party or trip. The Quinoa is protein so will really keep you going!
Other ideas for class parties
Spanish Tortilla cut into squares
Kappa Maki – simple cucumber sushi
Morning Glory Muffins
Cheese, tomato and basil tooth picks
Stuffed eggs
Corn, coriander and panner bagjees with yoghurt sauce
Ottolenghi’s sweet potato fritters served with a minty lemon thai chilli sauce
Omelettes rolled and tied with chives
Nov 27, 2013 @ 13:09:19
Lovely to have Kathy! Love
Lily-Anne
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 11:59:48 +0000 To: stroozand@hotmail.com
Nov 28, 2013 @ 07:27:34
Should have said December is almost here!