Sweet chilli labneh (or labna)

September 20 2015
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Sweet chilli labna l a splash of vanilla

As mentioned in an earlier post, I made some labneh!

It’s very easy and sort of exciting seeing how it firms up.  I added a heap of chilli flakes and some honey which made it subtly sweet with a nice bite and it’s creamy texture is perfect on crackers as a snack with some wine or with bread for a quick lunch.  Traditionally, it’s made plain or with herbs.

This recipe makes a lot; I had no idea so used a ton of yoghurt and we were eating labneh for days.  The amounts are easily halved and will keep for about a week in the fridge.

Oh and, just for interest’s sake, I worked out the cost (using extra virgin olive oil because that’s all I had):

Store bought 200g tub of labna – $8.50
Home-made 600g – $10 ($3.30/200g)

= a saving of around $5.20 per 200g.

Win!!

Sweet chilli labna l a splash of vanilla

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Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door

September 16 2015
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I’ve been waiting for Channel 7’s two part mini series Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next door, watched the first part on Sunday night and loved it!  It was full of energy, beautifully and sensitively filmed with brilliant casting, catchy vintage tunes and genuinely funny, touching scenes, all ultimately showing the lovely fellow we always knew Peter was.  And even though he was before my time, more my parents’ generation I guess, I’ve always been really fond of Peter’s fun and charismatic personality with quite a bit of sadness underneath.

We first see Peter as a lively kid growing up in country New South Wales, enduring a difficult childhood and performing at the local pub, then touring Australia and overseas and finally moving to the US and becoming the successful Broadway entertainer and songwriter Australia knew and loved.  I can’t wait for the conclusion on Sunday (which will be desperately sad in parts so I’ll keep my tissues close).  Also, we should all keep an eye on both actors who played the young and adult Peter Allen, as I’m sure they’re destined for amazing things.

Oh and they advertised Molly while it was on – awesome!

Images 1-6 from the mini series: Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door, Channel 7, Australia, 2015 starring Joel Jackson, Ky Baldwin, Sigrid Thornton, Rebecca Gibney, Sara West
Image 7 of Peter Allen and fiancée Liza Minnelli in 1964 via

Stir fried chilli basil chicken & cashew omelet

September 13 2015
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Stir fried chilli basil chicken & cashew omelet l a splash of vanillaI love a good curry!  Especially with chicken and cashews.

So this is an easy, delicious dish I made recently with stir fried, spicy chicken, basil and cashews but in an omelet; much lower in carbs than a rice dish and with spicy, delicious flavours.  You can whip this one up in 20 minutes or so for a fast and healthy lunch.

carton eggs l a splash of vanilla

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The best sandwich ever

September 11 2015
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labna cheese

Haha no, it really is!

I tried labna (labneh) cheese the other day (a bit late on the bandwagon I know but I couldn’t get my hands on it until recently) and it’s so gorgeously creamy and rich.  We had some for lunch recently with oven roasted cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and toasted multigrain sour dough and I just want to eat.it.every.day.now.

I’ve read labna’s super easy to make so I’m going to give it a go very soon, I’ll let you know.

The brand I purchased is also magically quite low in fat and calorie levels, I keep thinking it’s like the non-fat yoghurt episode of Seinfeld where they all gained weight, it’s too good to be true!

Happy weekend all.

labna basil tomatoes on sour dough l a splash of vanilla

 

Butterscotch dairy pudding with tiny teddy biscuits

September 6 2015
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Butterscotch dairy pudding with teddy bear biscuits l a splash of vanillaThis is a real treat today you guys!  Silky smooth, creamy sweet butterscotch custard, cool cream and crunchy Tiny Teddy bikkies (tell me I’m not the only one who loves these)!

It’s super easy to whip up (it’s egg and oven free) and all you have to do is wait a bit for it to set.

And spot the cranky bear in the middle!  I only noticed after I took the photos and it made me laugh.

tiny teddies l a splash o vanilla

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A tribute to Wes

September 4 2015
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My adolescence wouldn’t have been the same without sleepovers with my friends and Wes Craven’s awesome movies.

Thanks for the screams Wes.

Images from and belong to Wes Craven films:
Scream, 1996
Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984

The People Under the Stairs, 1991
The Last House on the Left, 1972
The Hills have Eyes, 1977
Scream, 1996
Nightmare on Elm Street, 1984

Orange ricotta hotcakes with orange honey syrup

August 23 2015
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I made these zesty, bright pancakes one recent weekend; the syrup is so deliciously sweet and full of floral honey and orange flavours.  I make ricotta pancakes quite often; ricotta makes pancakes fluffy yet slightly custard-like inside unlike the cake texture of your classic buttermilk pancakes, but lovely just the same.

There’s heaps of syrup so if you have any left over, pour it warmed over porridge with Greek yoghurt as a treat.

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Spicy lentil & sweet potato cottage pie

August 16 2015
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Sweet potato lentil cottage pie l a splash of vanillaI love my lentils and beans and things and this dish is something I make quite regularly in colder weather.  It’s a hearty, spicy, vegie packed cottage pie with French lentils; I prefer French lentils as they keep their shape and have a nice bite to them.

Lentils are a brilliant sub for meat and even carnivores don’t miss meat that much when they eat something like this, especially with the spicy sweet potato mash topping.

This is such a warm and cosy dinner for a cold night and pretty economical too!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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