Broccoli and sweet potato pie

Yep. Another pie. I think i need to change the name of this to a million things to put in pastry. 

I'm happy with this, the filo pastry is crispy, the fetta is salty and that complements the sweetness of the sweet potato nicely. The middle eastern veg has lots of cumin and coriander and other yummy spices. So, yeah happy!

Surprise, surprise I turned to Belinda Jeffery for inspiration. I picked up her latest offering Belinda Jeffery's collected recipes from the library as soon as the boss was finished with it. (I really should take it back and let others borrow it! I'll add to my pinterest board of books people should buy me if you want to know what to get me for Christmas) The middle eastern baked veg here is inspired by her Middle Eastern vegetables with chickpeas (page 133 if your interested!). I've changed the amounts a bit and omitted the eggplant and the pasta sauce she used...mainly because I had made eggplant parmagiana the night before and couldn't do something so similar so quickly (especially since I'd had the leftovers for lunch!).

From Penguin. Gotta say, I'm not a fan of the photography on the cover... especially since the photo's inside are amazing. Maybe it's just my aversion to meat? 

While still on the subject of the cookbook, go and buy it (or at least pop down to the local library and borrow it once the staff have finished with it ;-). It has some reprints of favourites like her Spicy red lentils with caper and currants (with a dressing that works on almost anything) a Slow cooked salmon with lime and lemongrass butter (that the husband is wanting to cook as soon as he can wipe the drool from his chin) and as per usual some AMAZING looking desserts (raspberry semifredo anyone?)

Now without further ado......pie!

Broccoli and Sweet Potato Pie

6 sheets of filo

2 medium sweet potato (kumara)

1 head broccoli

100g fetta

Handful of chopped dates

Cumin to taste (1 tsp?)

Crushed coriander seeds to taste (1tsp?)

Grated lemon zest (again to taste.....about 1 tsp....sorry about not being precise!)

Olive oil

Preheat oven to 180c

Peel, chop and boil sweet potato and steam the broccoli above it (I'm guessing it would taste better if it was sautéed but this is faster). Remove broccoli when still green and firm. Cook sweet potato until a fork goes through it. Drain

When both cooked empty into a bowl (or the saucepan if your as washing up adverse as me). Stir though spices, fetta and dates. 

I used a cake tin to bake this as that's what I have at the moment. You could go all fancy and use a pie dish. 

Line base of tin with baking paper. Spread sheets over dish so that the ends are sticking way over the edge. (Oil between layers). Add veg mixture and folder pastry over the top. Brush with oil. 

Cook until brown. (About 25 mins)

Middle Eastern Veg

2 Carrots

1 Zucchini

1 Red capsicum

1 Onion

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp chilli flakes

1 tsp crushed coriander seeds

1 tsp cumin

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup canned chickpeas

lemon juice

Olive oil

Natural yoghurt, coriander, parsely (optional)

Chop veg add to baking dish, pour over oil and spices and swish around the tray. Cook for 1/2 hr at 220c (stir halfway). Add chickpeas and cook for another 10 minutes.

Add lemon juice and herbs. Add a drizzle of yp and would serve yoghurt when you plate it. Om nom nom (really good with an amber ale or a glass of red!)

Note: alter the veg in this to whatever is in season. The whole thing was super cheap and would serve 4 adults. 

Back off bugs

I've been on a carrot hit the last week, mainly as carrots are cheap, I'm stingy and they are quite easy to whack in food without Chuckles noticing. So we have had wraps, stir-fries and finally cake. Although by the time I made it to cake I was running out of carrots and had to supplement with zucchini, which is also cheap and easy to whack in food without Chuckles noticing. The result was an amazing moist fruity cake that if you left off the cream cheese icing would be vegan. I am not vegan so I piled the icing to the sky. Yum!

As you can see Poppet enjoyed her first experience with cake batter.

It also seems that I am pushing carrots on the kids through this years Christmas book. Every year I try and buy a Christmas themed book. I remember being read  A Christmas Carol as a child and to this day Dickens remains a favourite. This years book follows everyone's favourite wombat on a Christmas adventure. 

Image from Harper Collins

Having been on maternity leave this year I haven't kept as up too date with recent publications as I would like, so was pleasantly surprised when I encountered this read by a dear friend at a recent storytime. I rushed out and bought it the next day and am pleased to day that it been read at least once a day this week!

Carrotty Fruity Cake

2 cups of flour

1 cup brown sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

2 cups grated carrot 

1  cup grated zucchini

1/2 cup oil

1/2 banana

1/2 cup orange juice

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup sultanas / chopped dates

1/2 cup walnuts

Cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice to taste.

Preheat oven 180c

Line smallish round tin (large loaf tin would probably also work)

Combine dry ingredients

Add carrot, oil, banana, vanilla and juice.  Stir until just combined.

Add fruit, nuts and spice.

Bake approx. 45 minutes. 

Leave in tin for 5 minutes and then turn on to wire rack to cool. Be careful when turning out as it has a tendency to break.

When cool top with cream cheese icing. 

xxCC

My name is.....and I have a problem.

I have an addiction. It costs me very little. It gives me great satisfaction. There is benefit to me and my family. But I can't stop.

Op- shopping. I love a good op-shop (or charity store if you're that way inclined). I managed to hit two today and came away with two vintage 1970's frocks, a necklace,  a work dress and a belt for me, a pair of shorts and 2 T-shirts for Chuckles and a pretty little dress for Poppet. All for less than A$20!

One of the dresses will need altering as its a maxi with a touch of the kaftans (which makes me looks super dumpy - which come to think of it would probably be my super hero name). I think it may then be time to dig out the sewing machine (purchased for my last birthday 6 months ago and still in the box) and actually sew instead of just talking about it and subscribing to sewing blogs.

Photos to come.

CC