Happy Birthday to me

Today I turn 28, and this is the 4th year I spent my birthday here. My expectations of an awesome birthday decrease every year, maybe it's just me getting old? I don't know. Anyway, I started the first day as a 28 years old with yoga, full ashtanga primary series.
After that, I got a big hug and kiss from the person I love most, and then we're off for a great coffee from wide open road.
It was a slow and unpretentious birthday, and I closed it with baked kale chips and green tea cookies.
Recipe follow soon.

white beans with rosemary and garlic

Anyone ever tried henry's white beans from a cafe in brunswick called A minor place? mmmmm... so good, so comforting..!! Here's a perfect description of it. It's so smooth and silky that I would happily lick my plate off.
We're quite lucky that it's only 5 minutes walk, but who could afford brunching there everyday? (well, not us anyway)
here's something I've created to soothe my white beans craving. It's obviously not as good as the real thing, but worth a try :)

ingredients :
1 can of canelini beans, drain and rinsed
1-2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 tsp chopped rosemary
olive oil
1/2 cup of water / light cream
dukkah (optional)
rocket leaves
2 slices of sourdough toasts

first, heat olive oil in a frying pan, add garlic, and fry until fragrant. add the beans and rosemary, stir it around and mash it up a bit with the back of a wooden spoon, add some water or cream and mash it again until it turns into a thick mashed of beans, but leave some beans whole (or not, it's up to you ).
Taste, season with salt and pepper, meanwhile, pop your bread in a toaster and toast for 2 minutes, and spread some butter / drizzle with olive oil.
Serve in a big plate, sprinkle some dukkah on top,serve with some rocket leaves and toasts.

butter chickpea

finally, a curry recipe that doesn't take hours to make. thanks stonesoup!
here's the recipe, fairly easy and straightforward, the only thing I add was I add chopped coriander at the end. Head to stonesoup for video instructions. Because the ingredient list is quite short, make sure to use high quality spices, invest in a good garam masala. I got mine from a cute spice shop called gewurzhaus in Carlton.

ingredients :
2 tablespoons garam masala
1 – 2 teaspoons dried chilli flakes
1 can chickpeas (400g / 14oz), drained
1 can tomatoes (400g / 14oz)
2 – 3 tablespoons cream

1. Heat a few tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan. Cook garam masala and chilli over a medium high heat for about 30 seconds.

2. Add drained chickpeas and cook for another minute or so.

3. Add tomatoes and their juices and bring to a fast simmer.

4. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring every now and then and breaking up the tomato with a fork.

5. When the sauce has reduced a little stir in the cream. Taste and season.

nicoise salad

Fresh tuna is a million time better than canned.


This is the easiest meal ever, just a matter of assembling it.
you will need :
fresh tuna, cos lettuce (or other crunchy 'substantial' lettuce, (save romaine for takeaway lunches, pls), 1 cucumber, cherry tomatoes-halved, pitted olives, some fresh soft herbs (here i used dill), hardboiled eggs (1 per person), some yoghurt, olive oil, salt and pepper.

how to :
first, season the fish with olive oil, salt and pepper, and panfried 3 minutes on each side.
While waiting for the tuna, you could also start assembling the salad on platter, simply just scatter the vegies on the plates. After 3 minutes on each side, your tuna should be nice and pink, you could slice them, or tear for a more rustic look ( jamie-oliver-esque).
for the dressing, mix yoghurt, olive oil, season with salt and pepper,stir some chopped herbs. taste & think..... add something more if you think it's appropriate.
Place the sliced tuna on top of the vegies, serve with dressing on the side.