Recipe; Buffalo Cauli Wings
Another week down and I’ve been experimenting in the kitchen yet again, this time trying a savoury snack I’ve seen popping up on my social feeds. One of my favourite vegetables is definitely cauliflower, so when I saw this pimped up version with a spicy twist, I had to try it for myself!
The ingredients are actually pretty simple and the sort of things you may have in your kitchen cupboard at home. The spicy dipping sauce is just maple syrup (or I used golden syrup) mixed with hot sauce, then for the cauliflower batter you need:
1 cup of flour, 1 cup of soya milk (or any milk of preference), 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon of paprika, salt and pepper to taste and 1 head of cauliflower cut into large florets.
Make sure to pre-heat the oven to approximately 180 degrees (fan assisted) and line a tray with baking paper beforehand as things get messy from here! In a large mixing bowl whisk the flour, milk, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper until combined, before dipping each floret of cauliflower into the mixture. They must be fully covered but not dripping too much.
Once all of the cauliflower is coated and ready on the baking tray, oven cook for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Meanwhile, whisk together the syrup and hot sauce to taste, ready to drizzle over the finished wings as well as saving some extra for dipping.
I plated mine up with some spring onions and coriander to garnish. These turned out to be super tasty and perfect wing texture with that crispy batter crunch coating the tender cauliflower florets. Being so spicy, I would definitely serve these with a cooling yoghurt or tatziki style dip next time along with some more fresh salad too.
These would be perfect finger food for a party and are even relatively cheap and easy to make, not to mention a whole lot healthier than your usual buffalo wings. I love finding these awesome recipe hacks which mean we can enjoy some healthier alternatives to those more indulgent treats.
The recipe is super simple, you just need medjool dates, walnuts (although I used plain mixed nuts as that’s what we had in stock) and cacao powder. Start by blending the nuts then adding the medjool dates and finally cacao powder until a thick sticky batter is formed. Spoon out the mixture into a lined baking tin and use your hands to smooth out the batter to the desired thickness for your brownies. This bit can be quite messy so roll up those sleeves and don’t wear white!
For the topping simply melt coconut oil, honey and more cacao powder on the hob until a liquid consistency, before pouring over the brownies making sure to cover all of the top. I chose to sprinkle coconut chips on mine at this point (optional addition) and then left the brownies to set in the fridge for at least an hour.
Once set, cut into bitesize chunks as big or small as you like. These are super rich and gooey, so store in the fridge and take out 15 minutes or so before serving. You can experiment using different nuts in the mixture and whatever toppings you prefer, but the essential basis to these are just 3 wholesome ingredients and require very little effort to make. Simple, indulgent and believe it or not, healthy brownie treats! Let me know if you try these and what you think – enjoy :)
I was intrigued to try this sweet treat for myself and pleasantly surprised at the simple list of ingredients required. Taking the above recipe which I found on Instagram, I swapped the sugar for stevia sweetener and opted for soya milk.
It certainly takes a good 10 minutes of whisking if done by hand, but be patient and soon your coffee will form a creamy butterscotch foam. As I prefer a less milky coffee, a short tumbler glass with large ice cubes is my favourite way to enjoy this beverage.
This is of course a treat and takes a little more time to make than your usual coffee. However with so much time on our hands at the moment everyone has jumped on the whipped coffee band wagon!
I’d be keen to try experimenting with flavours for the creamy whipped topping, perhaps cinnamon or even coco powder like a Frappuccino . Enjoyed in the sunshine whilst reading my book makes for the perfect morning routine or afternoon pick me up.
This will certainly be one of the most unique periods of life for our generation, as we learn to accept social distancing measures for an extended period of time. In the UK the lockdown has allowed us to get outside once a day for exercise and as we welcome in a particularly sunny springtime, it’s a blessing that we can still enjoy the gorgeous weather and boost our mood with some vitamin D.
Being on ‘Furlough’ from my job has given me the gift of time, so it’s been a great opportunity to get on with my ‘To Do’ list and finally see to those longer term projects which I’ve always wanted to do (more on this in a later post!). I’ve also been able to spend more time looking after my wellbeing as I get rested and can priorities those things which matter most to me; staying fit with home workouts, brushing up on my dance skills in the garden, cooking yummy creations in the kitchen, reading books, taking photos and of course, writing my own blog 🙂
Cooking has always been one of my favourite hobbies too, so I’ve been experimenting with a few new recipes and even tried some baking. The popular quarantine sweet treat which everyone has been making is banana bread and being my first time, I was impressed with my creation pictured above. With the sun shining over the past few weeks, I’ve also been making a lot of delicious fresh summer dishes, including this easy Greek salad.
Maintaining sanity during this time has pulled family, friends and community together as we all find ourselves in the same position. Our extended family now have a weekly ‘Zoom’ quiz every Sunday evening and my work colleagues organise regular drinks via video conference too. Creativity is key also as my Dad decided to host a neighbourhood quarantine disco from our back garden last weekend! Having posted fliers around our surrounding neighbourhood to notify them of the party and to text in with song requests, my Dad setup his sound system in the garden ready for two hours of music from 7-9pm on Saturday.
With the BBQ lit and the bubbles flowing, before we knew it requests for songs were flooding in! At 7pm on the dot we heard cheers from the neighbours in their gardens as we got the music pumping. By the end of the set, we counted over 70 messages from neighbours sending their song choices and thanking us for the disco. Being such a success, our plan is to do the next one to raise money for the NHS which I’m sure our neighbours will appreciate.
So as we continue forward in this period of uncertainty and apprehension, I remember how incredibly fortunate I am to be in my position during this pandemic. With my job secured, a comfortable home to reside in a lovely village and most of all a healthy family, I’m optimistic that my life will go back to normal once this all blows over. In the meantime, I hope this pause on our busy lifestyles will help us all slow down, appreciate the simple things and build a stronger relationship with loved ones as well as ourselves.
Being my 3rd year in a row celebrating in Aus, it’s always a big one as coincidently my birthday falls on Australia Day – the anniversary of when the first fleet of British ships arrived on the shores of Australia. Although a controversial national holiday given the impact white man had on the indigenous Aboriginal people of the land, it’s an excuse to get out the BBQ and join together with friends to soak up the peak of summertime.
This year I found myself back down in the Southern Highlands with my closest friends from my time in Aus. It was also another friend’s birthday that weekend, so the guys pulled out all the stops for a fantastic party including delicious food, good old Aussie garden games and even a coffee cocktail cart!
One of my old housemates comes from a Portuguese family of foodies, so produce is super fresh and nothing done in half measures. I was very happy with the array of cocktails on offer, including my favourite Espresso Martinis made with the best Australian roasted coffee. The night previous I also got involved prepping homemade hummus and even fermenting sauerkraut and kimchi. However the star of the show was the Hog Roast which got going on the spit from 9am to be ready for the afternoon.
After such a feast and plenty of beers down, we spent the arvo basking in the sunshine and listening to Triple J Radio top 100, before going out into the field at sundown for an obligatory game of Cricket. It just wouldn’t be an Australia Day if we didn’t play Cricket and it’s become a tradition to do so on my birthday… along with the need for VB Beers to keep me smiling of course!
As golden hour glowed and the sunset, I was so happy to have spent another fabulous birthday in the land down under. I’m very lucky to have made such special friends during my time living in Sydney and I don’t doubt we will be partying together again in the very near future. Cheers for the beers and awesome times Straya!
One of the places high on my list to try in Canggu was Give Cafe, sister to the famous Kynd Cafe in Ubud. This colourful little eatery with its pretty interiors gives all of its profits to charity, so at the end of your visit you pop your token into one of the charity boxes that they support to choose where your money goes. A fully vegan menu includes local dishes such as the Balinese curry which I opted for, as well as nutritious salad bowls and meat free alternatives which could be mistaken for the real thing – those satay skewers were just like chicken!
Another awesome cafe we were keen to hit up was Cinta Cafe which overlooks a rice paddy. This makes for a picture perfect lunch setting in the heart of Bali, especially when enjoyed sitting back and sipping on a coconut.
Next we tried Shady Shack for dinner as we’d heard great things about this hidden gem nestled in the trees just off the main drag in Canggu. Sat on wooden benches amongst the foliage glistening with fairy lights, it makes for an intimate dinner setting with friends or a partner. I was overwhelmed with the extensive choice of salad bowls and vegan dishes, but finally settled on the green bowl including zucchini noodles, broccoli heads and lettuce drizzled in a creamy peanut sauce and topped with a sweet almond brittle. Everything was so fresh and portions were certainly generous without compromise on flavour; this was my favourite dinner spot as I can’t resist a loaded salad bowl.
Back to brekky, I had my eye on the acai bowls I’d seen on Instagram from The Loft. A little on the pricier side given its reputation, I couldn’t fault the presentation of this perfectly formed bowl which even came with a cute pineapple gold spoon for me to scrape every last bit from the coconut. Located on one of the main strips in Canggu, I sat out on the terrace and savoured by sweet acai bowl whilst watching the madness of Bali scooters racing by.
Given our short trip, we weren’t in Bali long enough to sample all of the fabulous places I’ve seen scrolling through Instagram. We did however cover a lot of Canggu and on the most part everywhere was reasonable and eating out was relatively cheap, with the total cost of dinner and drinks typically about half what you’d pay in England! Whilst I didn’t manage to photograph every place we went – I was enjoying myself too much 😉 – below is a list of some of the best cafes, restaurants and bars we did visit and would highly recommend trying for yourself:
Stopping by for a late brunch we got seated on an outdoor bench and table overlooking the golden stretch of Bondi beach. Having been out for a few wines the night before, I was ready for some clean food and kick of good coffee to fuel my afternoon, so I opted for the bircher muesli topped with crunchy granola, yoghurt and heaps of fresh berries.
I was however a little envious of my friend’s choice to have the french toast which was made with a deep fried croissant instead of bread. Basically a desert for breakfast, but we weren’t mad about it and I was more than happy to help her finish it off!
After devouring our delicious breakfast we sat and sipped our coffee watching the hustle of Bondi pass by as we soaked up the afternoon sun. I was particularly chuffed with my purchase from the day too – a Stanton bucket hat. I’d wanted a bucket hat for ages so when I saw this one at the street market in Bondi, I couldn’t resist. Happy days 🙂
Strolling the endless rows of distinctly Victorian terraced houses, you never know when you might stumble across the next cute café or even another old fashioned pub. Famous for its English style architecture and leafy green tree lined neighbourhoods, it certainly feels like you’re miles away from the city in Paddo.
We found ourselves a little table outside Café Five Ways and dug into some delicious food having worked up an appetite shopping and walking around. I always loved this café for its location and the fantastic food for a very reasonable price. I went for a goat’s cheese beetroot salad whilst my friend chose a melted brie toasty with some cheeky chips to share – yum!
It was the perfect way to spend our arvo in Paddington; strolling, shopping, lunching and laughing!
Arriving in Bondi just after noon, it was busy and most places had a long wait for a table. Thank fully we came across Heart Cafe tucked behind the main drag of Bondi offering all kinds of delicious, nutritious dishes. I opted for a granola bowl with plenty of fresh fruits, yoghurt and edible flowers, whilst my friend chose a power bowl bursting with greens and other yummy superfoods. Breakfast any time of day is definitely an Australian tradition and something I always loved when living there.
Coffee is another speciality of the Aussies and it was a warming welcome back to sip my favourite long black with a dash of hot milk. With a jet lag to power through, strong coffee and sun on my skin was just the answer.
Being such a great spot for shopping with its countless boutiques, surf shops and numerous vintage stores, my equally shopaholic bestie was excited to take a look around the neighbourhood too. Weaving in and out of the streets behind the main drag of Bondi, every time I go I discover another hidden gem.
Finally we made our way over to the beach via the iconic grass hill which overlooks the vast expanse of Bondi Beach. Being a bank holiday between Christmas and New Years it was of course heaving and full summer vibes were in swing as we strolled past the beach front bars pumping out the tunes. As we sat just by the skate park soaking up the salty sea air watching surfers in their line up for the next wave, I truly felt back in the thick of Sydney life and ready for the holiday fun to commence!
Waking on Christmas morning at home, we were treated to clear blue skies as the sun glistened through the crisp winter air. After opening our presents sipping some bubbly, we drove over to my Auntie’s house in Surrey. I was thrilled to be wearing my fabulous new prescription sunglasses by Kenzo.
As always my Auntie and Uncle’s home was exquisitely decorated with tasteful touches of Christmas and aromas of the roast dinner cooking away welcoming us as we arrived.
It was a very much scaled down family affair for us this year as our international family continues to expand. Nevertheless it was lovely to be with close family again and soak up the festivities as we drank and ate wonderful food. Starter was Jamie Oliver’s seafood cocktail with smoked salmon, prawns and a thousand island dressing – a classic Christmas entree.
The main event was of course a traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings including my favourite bread sauce with leeks. After enjoying a perfectly matched white wine to have with my starter, I moved onto red to compliment the rich flavours of dinner. Every single mouthful was scrumptious!
After such a culinary delight, we all slumped on the sofa and kicked back to watch the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special. Later we served the cheese along with an assortment of deserts including mince pies, Christmas pudding and a decedent cream and chocolate choux pastry. A midnight Baileys finished me off before I curled up in bed feeling very merry indeed, the way it should be 😉
