Tag Archives: FOOD

MAKE IT | Summer pickled vegetables

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With summer still hanging about ( although as I write this I see it slowly disappearing into a dark ominous cloud ) I am hanging on tight with these simple, delicious pickled veggies.

Side note : They taste amazing, but smell kind of awful.

Seasonal veg, I chose radish, cucumber and carrots
1 cup vinegar (apple cider, rice wine, champagne, red wine)
1/2 cup cold water
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 clove garlic, sliced

Thinly slice the veggies and place them in a jar. In a small saucepan combine the vinegar, cold water, sea salt, and the garlic. Stir to combine, bring to a boil, and then remove from the heat.

Pour the vinegar mix into the jar. Place the lid on the jar. Allow to cool. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to 10 days.

Yum! What is your favourite veggie to pickle?

Until next time,BlackbirdBLOG signature

MAKE IT // Sunday Muesli

I’ve always been partial to a good muesli, and often tend to make my own over the store bought variety. You see, I like what I like. So this way it’s win win for my morning repast.

YOU WILL NEED:

3 cups of whole oats
1/2 chopped raw almonds
A handful of dried peaches
1/2  cup of shredded coconut

1/2 cup chica seeds
2-3 Tablespoons of honey
Whatever else you like

Preheat your oven to 180 C.  Spread out your oats on a large baking tray. Heat your honey in a saucepan until runny. Pour over the oats and quickily mix through evenly. Put into the oven and roast for around 20 minutes,  tossing every ten minutes or so until lightly browned. Add your almonds, peaches, coconut and chica seeds. Give it a good old mix. Pop it back in the oven for another 10 minutes. Done.

Serve with some yoghurt, a few blueberries and a little honey.

Enjoy!

Until next time.

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HELLO STRANGER // Eleanor from Petite Kitchen

Photography by Blackbird

 Meet Eleanor.

The brilliance behind Petite Kitchen. A simple, whole food and clean living website that has grown from the humble little kitchen into seasonal journals and a spectacular blog.

Eleanor is not only a creator of simple, wholesome and delicious recipes. But a mother to two equally delicious children, and the wife to one part of the impressive label I Love Ugly.

I am incredibly honored to know this women, and to be given the upmost privilege of shooting her. Eleanor is quality. Through and through. Furthermore, She is a bit of a babe.

Where do you live? :
Mt Eden, Auckland, New Zealand.

What do you do 9-5?

I have recently decided to take the plunge and work on Petite Kitchen full time. My days are spent cooking, coming up with new recipes, researching, finding inspiration, replying to emails and enquiries, and mainly working on my seasonal recipe journals. Over the last few months, I have had an overwhelming positive response to my work, and felt this was a true indication that I should follow my dream, and share my passion for healthy wholesome food with others.

What do you do with the other hours of the day? :

I pick up my 5 year old daughter Izabella, and 1 year old son Obi at 3pm, then the afternoons are dedicated to spending quality time with them. In the evenings once they are in bed, my husband and I enjoy dinner together, and talk about our day amongst other things.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I have always wanted to own my own cafe. I love the cafe culture here in New Zealand, and this is still something I would love to do in the near future.  I believe there is a gap in the market for a natural whole foods cafe, which focuses on serving wholesome, delicious and nourishing food.

Favorite online places:
Tumblr, and pinterest are amazing for finding inspirational photos and content. I also have a huge list of food and lifestyle blogs which I read on a daily basis. A few in particular are, My New Roots, Manger by Mimi Thorisson, Green Kitchen Stories101 Cookbooks, Smitten Kitchen, Che & Fidel, Bleubird Blog, and A cup of Jo.

Favorite real life places:
My husband and I went to Europe for our honey moon a few years back. We both absolutely fell in love with Amsterdam and Belgium, and I would love to be able to go back there again in the near future. The food, the fashion, and the culture is just incredible, not to mention the beautiful surroundings. I also absolutely love New Zealand, and feel sometimes I forget how lovely our home land is. Its amazing how you only have to drive an hour or so out of Auckland to find your own beautiful slice of paradise.

Listening to:
 I love almost all types of music. But at the moment, mostly listening to Tame Impala, and Chet Faker. I have always had a love for blues and jazz too.

Influences:
My number one influence would have to be my amazing husband. Over the last five years I have seen him build his incredibly successful menswear label, I Love Ugly, from the ground up. He constantly surprises me with how talented and driven he is, and his support with Petite Kitchen has been amazing. I believe his passion has been the number one thing that has driven me to follow my own dream.

Until next time.BlackbirdBLOG signature

HIM&HER // Communion #4

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COMMUNION #4

Beer & Cheese Matching – hosted by Libby & Matt

Really, what could be more perfect.
With the combination of these two, there is no way you can go wrong.
Matt makes a killer home brew beer. From scratch. What a pro. And Libby. Well Libby is a domestic goddess. Serving local and international beer and cheese that has been stunningly matched, all with our very own tasting notes ( I know. Tasting notes. So bloody awesome ) We then moved onto a deliciously comforting pumpkin soup and crusty bread. And topped it all off with a beautiful vanilla bean creme brulee. Heaven.

Thanks Matt & Libby. It was brilliant.

Bring on Number #5.

Until next time

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