Seriously Addictive Chinese Chilli Oil

Floral fragrant Sichuan peppercorns, dried chill flakes, garlic and fermented black beans slowly toasted in oil. This chilli oil might not be much to look at but it packs a massive punch of flavour and nostalgia. You will find chilli oil like this in pretty much any side street noodle shop or dumpling joint in Hong Kong. There are a million different versions, each region will have some different take on it, every restaurant will have their own special twist on this classic condiment.

Cheesy Creamy Shin Ramyun Korean Spicy Noodles

I saw a post pop up on my Facebook feed talking about ramen with milk and cheese and it was just one of those trainwreck dishes that sounds terrible but you can’t stop thinking about.  So bad it must be amazing right?? Ramen + spicy Korean chilli kick + creamy cheesy sauce. Like an asian style spicy mac and cheese amiright? And in the aftermath of the horribleness our little old NZ had been through over the weekend, I am all about comfort eating.

Sky High Fluffy Pancakes aka Greatest of All Time Pancake recipe

Happy Shrove Tuesday aka Pancake Tuesday 🥞 !

This is the my GOAT pancake recipe.

Perfect incredibly fluffy and soft pancakes every time. Easy enough to whip up with a toddler insisting on “helping” out in the kitchen and an infant on one hip.  Pancake perfection.

Black bean chocolate brownies - vegan, gluten-free, paleo

I had been hankering for chocolate brownies for a while but had been feeling guilty about all the over-indulging as of late *cough* honey muffins, nutella croffins, ice cream *cough*. So a little while back when we were about to spend a week with my vegan in-laws I thought I would bake a healthy vegan chocolate brownie. Beans are a vegetable so they're practically a salad amiright?!

Lychee and Summer Berry Jellies - vegan, gluten-free, plant-based

 

This is the ultimate summer dessert. Cool and refreshing. Beautiful to look at and it's  healthy too!


This is one of those ridiculously easy but super impressive looking desserts. What a winner!

It’s so pretty to look at - ruby red raspberries and sapphire blueberries encased in crystal, like little jewels on the plate... it’s almost too pretty to eat. Almost.  

 

Cauliflower Tabouli with Fennel and Sweet corn

 

This tabouli/tabbouleh has so much going for it. It's packed with vibrant vegetables. And the flavours are phenomenal. It tastes like summer. Zingy fresh mint, sweet kernels of corn, lemony garlicky dressing, all bound together with nutty cauliflower rice.


It's quite filling on its own for a vegan meal, or add some extra protein with grilled tofu/tempeh or falafel. If you're in the paleo space, this salad is dreamy with grilled seafood (fish, prawns, calamari), chicken or pork chops - dusted with sumac spice and drizzled with olive oil.

Raw Beetroot Salad with Beet Greens and Tumeric Roasted Nuts

We are in the middle of a super hot summer down here in the Southern Hemisphere and I’ve caught myself the flu. Yes, the flu. In the middle of summer. Of all the rotten luck 🤦🏻‍♀️.

At least it's a good excuse to share my super flu fighting salad recipe that's packed with vitamins and immune boosting antioxidants 💪🏼 .

Honey & Vanilla Muffins: inspired by Ilona Andrews

Curran popped the lid off. Six perfect golden muffins. The aroma of honey and vanilla floated around the table. [...]
Curran took one muffin, passed it to me, and bit into a second one. “We came to your house last week.”
“I was out on clan business. That doesn’t count.”
I bit into the muffin and, for the five seconds it took me to chew, went to heaven.

~Magic Binds, by Ilona Andrews

I have a confession: I am hopelessly addicted to urban fantasy books.

I just love being transported to another world where there are heroes and heroines, magic is real and there is a mystery to be solved. 

One of my absolute all time favourite series is the Kate Daniels series by the urban fantasy royalty duo Ilona Andrews. A wisecracking badass heroine, magic, mystery, were-creatures, vampires and monsters - what’s not to love? I was doing a reread of the whole series because the tenth and *sob* very last book came out, when this passage stopped me in my tracks:

Six perfect golden muffins. The aroma of honey and vanilla floated around the table.

Holy honey muffins, Batman, do those sound freakin' amazing or do those sound freakin' amazing?