Fallen in Love With...Friday

Every year in August, when winter should be winding down and spring is on our minds and in the fashion magazines, a colder wind starts to blow to remind us that the cold season is not over yet. In Brisbane we call them the Ekka winds; named after the agricultural show that comes to town at the same time every year, bringing livestock, lolly stuffed show bags, fairy floss, the fireman's calendar (all proceeds go to the children's burn unit at the Royal Children's Hospital) and without fail, a massive city-wide dose of the flu.

This week's list is all about comfort, those things that are designed to ward off the last of the winter season, and promise us that warmth is just around the corner.

• Food is comfort in my mind and when I'm not in the kitchen cooking it, or at the table eating it, or on the couch reading about it; I love watching films about food, or where food plays a major part. For me, this week's television viewing has been all about 'It's Complicated', 'Julie & Julia', 'Chocolat', and, 'Because I Said So'. Inspiration definitely abounds!
• Even though winter in Brisbane pales in comparison to myriad other cities I still find myself spending a lot of time indoors out of the cold. All this time in the 'great indoors' leads me to thinking about home interiors and decorating so when a post about the 20 Unforgettable American Movie Interiors caught my eye on Apartment Therapy I indulged in a little vicarious decorating pleasure. My favourites Meryl Streep's home from 'It's Complicated' and Cary Grant's amazing cliff hanging home in 'North by Northwest'. 
• This week I have found myself with a slight obsession (okay so maybe it didn't only start this week) with layer cakes, that decadence seems to be the perfect comfort, whatever the season. Saveur has a beautifully moist chocolate layer cake on offer, with strata of slick shiny chocolate frosting cushioned between three luscious rounds of deep cocoa laced cake. Coconut is the harbinger of summer; cocktails and the scent of sunscreen, so what better than this gluten free coconut layer cake from epicurious to beckon warmer weather to our shores?
• Finally, the ultimate winter indulgence is to plan an escape to a warmer climate, which this chickpea has done! In three weeks tomorrow I will be taking off for the warm shores of California! To see my beloved Ben, dip my toes in the waters of the other side of the Pacific and soak up some end of summer sun. I can't wait, my suitcase is being progressively packed and I am counting down the days.

This weekend is packed with beautiful adventures too. Tomorrow I am off to high tea with Mama Chickpea and Jess at the beautiful Room with Roses, and on Sunday Jess and I will be taking part in the Brisbane Times 10km, winding our way through this pretty city. Oh, and I have a banana muffin recipe to share too! Happy weekend everyone.

Winter Reading List

I have an addiction. Well, I have many but I have two in particular that come together in today's post.

"Hello, my name is Amy and I am a book purchasing addict with list making issues."

I am here today to make a confession: I own a lot of books, I mean, A LOT. My collection is also growing at such a rate that it will soon rival the Great Library at Alexander. Unfortunately due to a million well worn excuses I have not yet made a significant dent in reading all of said collection, mainly because I buy them faster than I can read them. I also make a lot of reading lists, a habit that started in primary school with reading lists that the library would hand out to challenge the kids, or recommendations to keep children busy over the Christmas/ Summer holidays. I loved ticking each book off the list that feeling of accomplishment, like I had somehow absorbed even more from the book, derived more enjoyment because I could quantify my experience in someone else's eyes. I have continued this tradition into adulthood and still keep a list in the back of each year's desk diary of the books that I have read over the course of the year.

With these two addictions in mind I have decided to share my winter reading list with you all. As I finish each book I will post a review and if you have any ideas or thoughts about these books or authors, please share. There is nothing more important about literature than sharing it with others and letting it spark conversation and nourish connections and create shared experience between people.

Here are the books I have chosen so far:
1. Carrots 'n' Cake by Tina Haupert (I also love this lady's blog)
2. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
3. The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
4. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

A fence that I pass on the way to work. Fascinating that the vine is now gone,  but has left behind a lasting memory on the fence.

My bookmark is at the ready and my mind is hungry for whatever I find between the pages, here I dive into some of my favourite travels; through the front covers of a great book.

So tell me, what are you reading at the moment?

Fallen in Love With....Fridays

This Friday post is brought to you by the glorious sunshine and blue sky filled winter day that I woke up to this morning!
Molly is home from the veterinary hospital now after having two operations to her leg. She will be sore and sorry for a little while but the vet said she will be as good as new in about three months time.

This week I have fallen in love with:

• Jamie Oliver magazine. I love the way this magazine is published on soft recycled paper with gorgeous photography, yummy recipes and great articles. The website is also worth a look as it features recipes, local articles and information on Jamie's Food Revolution.
• Every single piece of kitchen ware and table ware on the Anthropologie website. In addition to their beautiful and unique clothes this shop has wonderful dishes and quirky kitchen knick-knacks.
• Autumn leaves. I have a particular weakness for the way the leaves fall from the trees at this time of year. There is something so elegant in the way that nature sheds her skin over the winter months and recreates herself in the springtime. 
• Latest photos from the NOH8 campaign. I have been following this campaign for quite a while now and I love receiving the newsletter and updates from this silent photographic protest for marriage equality and anti discrimination. The photographs taken by Adam Bouska are so beautiful in their simplicity, a worthy cause. Love is love people. Couldn't we all use a little more?
• Walking everywhere I can. Brisbane winter is perfect for walking, and getting out of the office at lunch, and walking a little further to work instead of parking near the building are all easy ways to build some extra activity into my day. Luckily the area I work in is beautiful and leafy and people take care of their gardens and so there are lots of beautiful things to see on my lunchtime, morning and afternoon rambles.

First Soup of the Season

There have been signs of late; clear blue skies, crisp mornings and cloudless winter nights. All the heralds of another winter season have begun to sing in a change in the weather. One of the best things about the cooling and shortening of the days is a big pot of soup to look forward to in the evening. I find this especially comforting after a nice long run and a warming shower, this soup chases away the rest of the chill and leaves plenty of leftovers for tomorrow. 

Sweet Paprika Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

2tbsp olive oil

2 Brown Onions

3 Carrots

1 Large Red Capsicum

1/4 head of cabbage

2 Potatoes

2 Zucchini

1/2 cup red lentils

2 tsp Sweet paprika

2 x 400g cans tomato puree

2 Vegetable stock cubes

1 Litre of water

Method:

1. Finely chop the onion and dice the carrots, cabbage, potatoes, capsicum and zucchini
2. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot, and add onion, carrot and capsicum and sprinkle over the paprika. Cook until vegetables are softened. Enjoy the fragrance of the paprika as it warms.
3. Add the remaining vegetables, water, vegetable stock and tomato puree.
4. Bring the soup to a boil and add the lentils.
5. Allow soup to simmer until lentils are cooked and potato is soft, about 20-30 minutes.
6. Spoon into bowls and serve with oat scones.

Serves 6-8. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for a few days.

There is only one thing that can possibly elevate vegetable soup even more; scones. Here is the recipe for the oaty scones that I pulled out of the oven just in time to accompany the soup to the table.

Oat Scones

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups self raising flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup quick oats

6 tbsp butter

Salt and pepper

 1/2 - 2/3 cup light milk

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius  and line a baking sheet with baking paper
2. In a medium bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, oats, salt and pepper
3. Add butter and rub into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs
4. Create a well in the centre of the flour mixture and add 1/2 cup of milk, stir with a flat bladed knife, adding more milk as needed to create a soft dough.
5. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and pat into a rectangle about 1 inch high
6. Cut rounds using a 1.5 inch diameter round cookie cutter and place on the lined baking sheet
7. Place into the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until lightly golden.
8. Enjoy with your soup!

This soup is even better the next day. I warmed up the leftovers and added some steamed asparagus, peas, zucchini and some chopped sundried tomato. I stirred through some canned chickpeas as well and enjoyed round two of the soup even more than the first. 

So pull out the soup pot and enjoy some home made comfort as this winter season begins.