Fondant Cupcake Class!

Here is another snapshot of some of the classes we are running at Nosh Espresso Bar in Meadowbank.

During this class the girls got to colour their fondant, ice their cupcakes and then decorate them with their own fondant creations. 2 1/2 hours of fun!

I will let the pictures speak for themselves!

Colouring the fondant

Very de-stressing. It's a bit like play dough for adults!

Fun fun!

Busy Creating

Some of the girls creations

Our Fondant Cupcakes created to inspire!

The next class we are running is Biscuit Decorating. To enquire or for more information send us an email to info@foodlove.com.au

We look forward to hearing from you!

Spanish Goodness!

We love Spanish Food- the richness of flavours and the simplicity of the food is something else! We thought we'd share a favourite recipe that uses two pantry staples: Chorizo and Chickpeas.

Chorizo and Chickpea Hotpot ~ Chorizo (pronounced with a 'ch' like cherry) is a paprika and garlic infused Spanish pork sausage. You can buy them fresh or cured.

(serves 4)

Ingredients:

2 chorizo sausages roughly chopped

1 x 400g can chickpeas drained

1 small brown onion finely sliced

2 garlic cloves finely chopped

2 celery stalks roughly chopped

1 red capsicum roughly chopped

2 handfuls of baby spinach washed

1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes

1 cup chicken stock

2 small potatoes peeled and chopped into 2cm cubes

1 tsp smoked paprika

1/4 tsp chili flakes

Crusty bread to serve

Method:

Saute the chorizo in a medium saucepan with a little oil until brown. Once the chorizo is brown saute the onion, garlic, capsicum, celery and potatoes for about 5 minutes on medium heat. Add the tomatoes and the stock. Bring to the boil, add the paprika, chili, and spinach. Simmer for about 20 minutes with the lid ajar. Season with salt and pepper.

*Alternatively pre-heat the oven to 200 C, spoon the stew over individual ramekins and crack and egg on top. Bake until the white is set for about 10-12 minutes.

Enjoy our take on Spanish food and indulge in tasty comfort food!

It's not only delish but also very good for you!

Nutritional Facts:

• Capsicums are very high in anti-oxidants (prevent premature aging due to the environment, smoke etc) and an excellent source of vitamin C, they also provide Vitamin B6, folate and betacarotene.
• Eggs are ans excellent and inexpensive source of high quality protein, they provide many vitamins and minerals.
• Chickpeas are one of the most nutritious plant foods- high in protein, B vitamins, iron, potassium and fibre.
• Onions might make you cry but rejoice- they are very good for you. They are a super food that should be included in every savoury meal. They contain sulphur compounds and have anti-inflamatory properties.
• Spinach is rich in potassium and magnesium which are good for keeping your blood pressure in check. Rich in anti-oxidants that may have anticancer activity, good source of vitamin C, good source of lutein which is great for your eye health and vitamin K for bone health.

Cupcake Class!

Here are a few pics from one of the Cupcake Baking and Decorating Class we are running at Nosh Espresso Bar in Meadowbank

Basic Ingredients:

Fat = flavour

We use eggs for enriching, binding, aerating and structure

Flour gives structure, you must sift to remove any lumps of flour and for aeration

All ready to go!

We love using the old fashioned ice-cream scoop for even portioning

Baking

Piping the icing seems to be the hardest task, but once you've got the technique right it becomes second nature

It's a bit like draping fabric over an object

Once you master the perfect swirl, it's time to decorate!

For decoration less is more

For more information please ring 0404 166 070 or email us at info@foodlove.com.au

Photography by Stefanie Thoms

Brekky spots we love around Sydney!

Sydney is full of incredible foodie spots! We are all about health and balance that's why brekky treats are included in this whole foodlove concept!

Out for brekky or brunch:

• The Bathers Pavillion in Balmoral Beach- they not only have one of the most beautiful beaches in Sydney's north but they are also the home of irresistibly fresh croissants and danishes accompanied by tea or coffee. You can't go past the big breakfast, scrambled eggs on sourdough toast or the blueberry pancakes with Canadian maple syrup. If you prefer traditional and rich go for the Eggs Benedict so so good. Beautiful spot, great service- yummy lunch, dinner or afternoon tea as well! We love the Bathers.

www.batherspavillion.com.au

• Brasserie Bread- you saw them featured at MasterChef. That was for a reason, they bake Sydney's most delicious and best bread. Bummer they are all the way in Botany, but that shouldn't be an excuse! Try the sourdough berry pancakes with honeycomb butter, you will dream about them from then onwards- guaranteed! if you prefer savoury try the croque madam, delicious 'sandwich' made with sliced sourdough and layered with Gruyere cheese and ham, topped with a gooey fried egg...yum. Take away a loaf or two of their sourdough as well as a caramelised garlic bread for lunch- divine.

www.brasseriebread.com.au

• The Chelsea Tea House in Avalon serves delicious organic muesli as well as 'huevos rancheros' which are latin style eggs with beans, tortilla and the lot- savoury and moreish. There are also smoothies like rhubarb and strawberry or honey and banana and toast with butter and preserves. You can't go wrong-they also do delicious lunches.

*they don't have a website but here is the address: 2/48 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon.

• Garfish in Kirribilli- best place for your second breakfast or refuel after the Saturday markets. Try the pear and raspberry bread with praline butter- light but wholesome.

www.garfish.com.au

• Bills at Surry Hills- incredible corn fritters with crispy bacon, fluffy ricotta hotcakes with honeycomb butter, real hot chocolate and funny enough unforgettable porridge with rhubarb compote- comforting.

www.bills.com.au

• Sea Sweet at Parramatta- for something different. They sell an amazing dish called a 'knefe' which is like a thick slice of warm mozzarella cheese saturated in rosewater syrup sprinkled with crispy semolina, this cheese is served in a brioche-like bun topped with toasted sesame seeds. Absolutely delicious, words don't come close to how satisfied you will feel after trying this Lebanese delicacy!

www.seasweet.com.au

Food rescue!

Here are a few ideas of what to cook with:

-Milk that is near its expiry date

-Ripe bananas-( the less appealing the better for cooking!)

THE EASIEST CREAMED RICE ~ this is serious comfort food!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 lt milk

1/2 cup castor, raw or brown sugar

1/2 cup medium grain rice

Method:

In a medium size sauce pan bring the milk and the sugar to the boil, add the rice and turn the heat down. Cook covered for an hour stirring every so often. Serve hot or cold with apple or berry and rhubarb compote.

BANANA BREAD ~ you can make it as healthy or as rich as you like

makes a 20cm loaf

Ingredients:

75g melted butter or apple pure

1 ripe mashed banana

185g sour cream or plain yogurt

1 egg

1/2 cup Castor sugar

1/2 tsp bicarb soda

220g plain flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 180 C and line your loaf pan. In a large bowl mix the sour cream/yogurt with the bicarb and set aside for 5 minutes. In the mean time sift the rest of the dry ingredients. Add the butter, sugar and eggs to the sour cream mix and mix well, then fold in the dry ingredients and the bananas. Pour into loaf pan. Bake for 45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Set aside and cool for 15 minutes until turning out.

You will never go back to the Cafe/Commercial varieties...

Tips

• You can freeze milk in ice cube trays
• You can freeze ripe bananas with out the skin in a ziplock bag

Food Facts:

• Bananas - have low Gi- which means they keep you feeling fuller for longer. They are a nutritional goldmine; they provide potassium, Vitamins B6, C and folate. They are also a good source of fibre. Ideal snack when you require a substantial energy boost.
• Milk- an excellent source of calcium, it can help prevent osteoporosis. If you don't get enough, your body will draw it out of your bones! Contains plenty of protein, some carbs and vitamins A, D and B12, riboflavin, phosphorus, zinc and magnesium.
• Rice- all rice starts off as brown rice. White rice has the bran and germ removed. It is a nutrient packed, fibre-rich whole grain.

LOVE FOOD hate waste

Did you know households spend an average of $1,036 per year on food that is wasted across in NSW? This totals to $2.5 billion a year. Shocking news when avoiding and preventing waste is so simple.

At the Good Food and Wine Show there are many stalls- you taste their food, give them feedback, buy goodies, watch cooking demonstrations etc... This year, a particular stall caught our eye- the 'LOVE FOOD hate waste' stall from the NSW Government Environment, Climate Change and Water.

This group is teaching people across NSW how to avoid waste by implementing four simple measures:

1. Don't buy more than you need
2. Don't cook more than you will eat
3. Store food correctly
4. Compost any leftovers and organic waste

The people who waste the most food are:

• Young consumers (aged 18-24)
• Households with incomes of more than $100,000 per year
• Families with children

This 'LOVE FOOD hate waste' program aims to raise awareness about the environmental and financial impacts of food waste in NSW and to reduce the amount of 'good' food being sent to landfill. By promoting easy and practical solutions for buying, cooking and storing food, 'LOVE FOOD hate waste' will help the NSW community to prevent food waste, save time and money and reduce our impact to the environment.

A few tips to help you reduce food waste:

• Next time you go grocery shopping, write a shopping list based on a menu plan
• Change the way you store food
• Cook only what yo need to
• Buy a compost bin- all your veggie scraps and other organic waste goes in it! Worms love it and you'll love it too when you can use your rich soil to plant herbs, fruit and veg in the comfort of your home! Nothing beats home grown!

If you like us are passionate about this topic, other recommended literature is:

Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal by Tristram Stuart

At the end of the day, this is all about loving food and loving the place we have been entrusted to live in. It's about sustainability and passion for our planet. For more info visit: lovefoodhatewaste.nsw.gov.au

* Source- lovefoodhatewaste.nsw.gov.au

Fast, easy and absolutely delish!

TUNA PUTTANESCA

serves 4

One of our favourite ways to use tinned tuna! if there's only two of you, eat the leftovers as a pasta salad- delish!

Ingredients:

Enough spaghetti for 4 serves

1 x 400g tin of tuna in springwater drained

Handful of italian parsley or basil roughly chopped or both!

3 tbsp EVOO

Zest and juice of one lemon

10 anchovy fillets

Handful kalamata olives pitted

Small handful capers rinsed

2 garlic cloves crushed

2 vine ripe tomatoes roughly chopped

1 birds eye chilli finely chopped

Extra EVOO

Method:

Cook spaghetti to packet instructions. In the mean time marinade the tuna with the EVOO, the lemon zest and juice and the herbs. In a frying pan fry the anchovy fillets with a little EVOO until melted, add the capers, olives and garlic and cook over gentle heat until warm. Add the marinaded tuna, the tomatoes and the chilli- cook until heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Drain spaghetti and mix with the sauce. Serve hot or cold.

EVOO= extra virgin olive oil

Food Facts:

• Chillies are rich in anti-oxidants
• Tuna has a high content of omega-3 (the heart healthy fatty acids essential for brain and heart health) it is also a rich source of protein
• Garlic reduces blood glucose levels - it is shown to help reverse diabetes
• Lemons are full of vitamin c and are rich in anti-oxidants
• Olive oil is liquid gold! (comes from olives so both are magic) it is a good source of fat, rich in healthy mono-unsaturated fats , it also contains an anti- inflammatory component so strong that researchers liken it to aspirin
• Pasta is a useful source of protein, B vitamins and fibre and is low in sodium and fat
• Parsley has useful amounts of vitamin C, calcium , iron and potassium
• Tomatoes are low in calories, they provide a lot of fibre, vitamins (especially C) and minerals- they are also rich in anti-oxidants

Incredible- a humble and tasty dish that is good for you!