Good bye Summer... hello pumpkin pie

As those of us here in the southern hemisphere are about to farewell the summer... it's time to enjoy that delicious indulgent pie that defines the introduction of Autumn so well.  The beautiful dark orange and earthy colours, it's rich and moist stickiness and burst of aromatic gingerbready spices all bundled up in every heavenly mouthful.

So before thinking of words like 'carb laden' and 'love handles'.... let's focus on all the good that makes this AMAZING dessert worth every bite.  Pumpkins are FULL of beta carotene which is a bonus for the eyes and packed with potassium and fibre keeping our bodies clean and balanced. 

This recipe adapted from 2 recipes I came across here and here was an absolute hit and with my soulful touches of creative decorations, it came out perfectly and had me feeling super chuffed and proud of myself.  Mind you... it DID have me busy beeing away in the kitchen for most of the day.... but it was definitely worth it.

Wonderfully rustic and buttery crust

Decorations that say Hello Autumn

Sticky, gooey.... goodness

Pumpkin Pie

Shortcrust pastry and decoration ingredients (from Modern Classics Book 2 by Donna Hay):

2 cups flour

3 tablespoons caster sugar

150grams cold butter cubed

2 - 3 tablespoons ice cold water

Instructions:

Add the flour and caster sugar into a food processor and process lightly.  Then gradually add the cold butter cubes whilst the processor is still on.  Once mixture is a crumbly texture add the water a bit at a time while the processor is still on.  Once it forms into a ball of dough, lightly knead together and wrap in cling wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile preheat the oven 180 degrees celsius.

Also grease a 23cm spring form pan on the base and around its sides.  Cover the base with baking paper.

Then remove dough from the fridge and roll out the dough between baking paper to about a 2mm thickness.  Then gently place the rolled out dough into the pan and if need be fill up the sides using bits of broken off dough.  Using fingers blend into the dough in the pan.  If there is left over pastry dough, roll out and make pretty shapes out of it using cookie cutters or your own designs.

Place baking paper on top of the pan and cover base with baking weights.  Ensure the baking paper spills over the sides of the pan so it covers the pan's edges.

Blind bake for 10 minutes.  Then remove the baking paper and weights and bake for a further 10 minutes.

Then leave to rest and cool.

If you have the left over dough shapes bake for about 5 minutes until lightly golden.  Then leave to rest.

Pumpkin pie filling ingredients:

1 3/4 cups pumpkin puree (I baked some kent pumpkin then mashed it up and let it cool)

1 cup full cream milk

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

good pinch of salt

Instructions:

In a bowl blend together the pumpkin puree, spices, vanilla extract, salt and sugar.  Once combined add the eggs and milk.  I used an electric beater and found the mixture flying everywhere!  If you do this beat on low until a little frothy on the surface. 

Pour pumpkin mixture into the pie crust in the pan.  Bake at 180 degrees celsius.  Check pie at 50 minutes.  If it is still undercooked bake for a further 20 - 30 minutes depending on your oven.  It is ready once the filling is set and a tiny bit wobbly in the middle.  Once you insert a knife about 5 centimetres in from the crust's edge and the knife comes out clean it's ready!

Once cooled decorate with your short crust pastry decorations... you'll be chuffed as me and getting out the camera too xo

Fall in love with this Spicy twist on Quinoa

My Sunday mornings kick off with a hearty breakfast whilst leisurely reading every bit of the Body and Soul magazine of the Sunday Telegraph.  We don't go a week without including quinoa somewhere within our meals... so when I stumbled across this featured recipe in Body and Soul I couldn't resist giving it a whirl.

With a few touches of Saya's soulful inspiration to tweak the recipe, I came up with this version which was a BIG hit.  My famished partner came home from basketball, delighted with the spicy fragrant kitchen and gobbled down 2 big bowls immediately and fell in love.

Spiced Quinoa pilaf with corn and mushroom*

Ingredients:

1 tbs olive oil

2 brown onions diced

2 garlic cloves crushed

7 - 8 button mushrooms sliced

2 teaspoons finely grated ginger

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

4 teaspoons Massel vegetable stock powder

1 cup quinoa rinsed and drained

2 cups water

2 corncobs

olive oil spray

Instructions:

Heat oil in a large saucepan and stir in diced onions.  Stir fry until translucent, for about 6 minutes.  Then add the ginger, garlic, spices and stir to coat onions.  Then add mushrooms, quinoa, stockpowder and water.  Stir well.  Reduce to a gentle simmer with the lid partially off.  Leave it to simmer for about 20 - 30 minutes or until liquid is completely absorbed (look out for the small dots on the surface of the quinoa).  Then remove from heat and place lid on top of the saucepan for 2 minutes.  Then fluff up with a fork.

While the quinoa is simmering heat a good wok, frypan or chargrill on high and spray the corn cobs with olive oil.  Cook them for 20 minutes or so while rotating them with tongs occassionally to get an even spread of that lovely golden colour with a chargrilled rustic touch.  Remove from heat and once cooled cut and remove the kernels.

Top the cooked quinoa with the sweet corn kernels and voila!.... fall in love xo

*Adapted from page 24 of Body and Soul magazine, Sunday Telegraph, 26th February 2012

PS: For a tomatoey rich quinoa recipe, see my original version: Delish Vegetable Quinoa 

Revolved Side Angle Pose - balance, twist, turn.... and breathe

Yoga benefits you on SO many different levels from improving physical and mental strength and going as far as optimising your health deep down into your internal organs.

Such intense twists as found in this pose, are known to cleanse your organs through the pressure on your abdominals and leave you feeling revitalised.  Excellent to improve digestion too.

This pose challenges you in just about EVERYTHING... balance, flexibility, your mind's ability to stay focussed ....and the biggest one for me is STRENGTH.  Those lunges that yoga is renowned for have tested me time and time again and it's been a great way to get to know what my body is all about and discover what I need to nurture most within myself.  Patience, mindfulness and STRENGTH.

As you turn the navel, chest and head upwards and outwards over your supporting thy, you find yourself enjoying a beautiful stretch and chest opener.  For that extra kick of intensity clasping your hands behind and under the thy will take that twist and balancing challenge to whole other level.  After a few embarassing tumbles to the ground, finally finding poise and grace in this variation (below) had me steadfast in the present moment.

And in the midst of the delicious twists and turns always remember that precious life line......the breath xo

Revolved side angle pose variation

REAL honey nut bars

It amazes me how many 'HONEY' nut bars sold at the supermarket and health food stores contain sugar.  Flip over the wrapper and you'll most likely find processed sugar as one of the top ingredients listed.  Don't get me wrong.... I LOVE getting my hit of sugar too (macaroons, creme bulee, chocolate.... yum).  But when I'm specifically in a health kick mood and want a quick snack with natural basic ingredients I struggle finding something authentic! 

So here's my sweet, chewy recipe for my own version of REAL honey and nut bars.  Can get your fingers a little sticky because of the generous amounts of honey in it, but that's part of the fun of knowing you're enjoying something REAL, NATURAL and SIMPLY good for your body.  Finger lickin good!

Saya's REAL honey nut bars

Ingredients:

1/2 cup honey

1 cup granulated dry roasted peanuts*

1 1/2 cups granulated dry roasted almonds*

1 handful of dry roasted almond chunks (I just made rustic chunks by putting them in a ziplock bag and hitting them for half a minute with a wooden spoon - great chef skills)

1 heaped tablespoon of cinnamon

pinch of salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

* I used a food processor for the granulated nuts.  I just processed them enough so they still had a bit of bite.  Like the size of small beads(see pics below).  It's fine too if there is a little bit of a powdery consistency mixed in with the granulated nuts.

Instructions:

Roughly tuck in baking paper into a square shallow dish leaving a generous amount of baking paper spilling over the side.  When I say generous, I mean long enough so the baking paper spills over the sides of the dish to double it's measurements.

In a saucepan over a low to medium heat, melt the honey, salt, vanilla extract and cinnamon together.  Once it comes to a simmer, stir for a minute and make sure everything is dissolved together making a dark brown sauce.  Add all the granulated nuts (almonds and peanuts) and the almond chunks and stir in.  Then immediately remove from the heat and pour mixture into a shallow square dish lined with baking paper.  Using a wooden spoon spread mixture around base of the dish as pictured below.

Then fold over the long part of the baking paper to cover the nut base and press down firmly using your hands (make sure the mixture isn't too hot).

Now leave it to rest (I like stacking books on top to keep it firm as it sets to room temperature). 

Then once cooled refrigerate for a few hours.  Then you're ready to slice and chew and enjoy xo

NOTE: I LOVE generous amounts of cinnamon but if this is too strong for you just add a teaspoon instead.  Or you could always omit the cinnamon and add 1/4 cup of desiccated coconut for a creamier taste xo

Soulful girl's night out at Bloodwood

 A fun catch up with the girls called for a visit to Bloodwood in Newtown.... a funky and quirky restaurant and bar serving soulful tapas style food.  It's menu boasts produce and lingo like 'bresaola', 'socca', 'pomegranate', 'ceviche', 'wasabi leaf', 'chicken liver parfait'..... you get the picture?  It had me curiously thinking it yells out 'posh!!!'.  But in addition to this array of upmarket and classy produce, Bloodwood comforts its visitors with that casual flair and local friendly athmosphere that a pair of ballet flats and jeans donned with a floral vintage top would comfortably fit into.  No need for that sparkly clutch and uber high heels combo reserved for other pristine white tablecloth venues.

Opening it's doors about 2 years ago, it's been tantalising the tastebuds of people searching for a place with not just nourishing and sophisticated food, but also a visually entertaining athmosphere.  With it's rustic brick walls, colourful and bold interior decorations including bright lightbulbs dangling from the ceiling and jutting out from the walls, it has an upbeat and arty vibe.  When I go out to eat, I LOVE LOVE LOVE choosing a place not just for the tasty and decorative food... but for that extra hit of unique athmosphere.

Furthermore, I was EXTRA impressed to know that their extensive wine list includes organic and biodynamic wines and they focus on sourcing seasonal and organic produce ... which justifies their continually updated food menu changing every 1 - 2 months.

Try and get their as soon as possible to sample their current February menu.  After us four spoilt gals OOOHHED and AAHHHED over each of the 5 mouthwatering dishes we shared, we walked out with a happy spring in our step and our tummies well and truly satisfied for just $25 each! I'll DEFINITELY be going back... next time leaving ample room for dessert xo

 
Polenta chips with gorgonzola $9

 Kingfish, ocean trout ceviche with avocado, wasabi leaf, buckwheat crisp, finger lime $16

(a definitive FAVOURITE amongst all the girls.  The combination of textures with the soft pillows of ceviche and the salty crunch of the crisps topped with a big dollop of creamy avocado.... equals a mouthful of HEAVEN xo)

'Socca' - chickpea pancake, spiced pumpkin, quinoa, persian fetta, fresh herbs $15

(my personal close runner up after first place.  Bursting with aromatic spices, herbs and rich savoury flavours)

'Salsify' Gruyere Tart $25

Whole roast rainbow trout with saffron butter and fried potatoes $32

(melt in your mouth lusciousness with a subtle kick of spice)

PS. A BIG thank you to the super helpful and generous staff who patiently answered all the questions I hounded them with to write this piece xo

Bloodwood Restaurant and Bar

416 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042

9557 7699

http://www.bloodwoodnewtown.com/

Sun Love Inspiration from Hafiz

The Sun Never Says

Even after all this time,

the sun never says to the earth,

‘You owe me.’

Look what happens with a love like that.

It lights up the whole sky.

Remnants of the romantic high from Valentine's Day are still floating around in my head, so I wanted to share the above poem and dedicate this post to the beautiful thing that is.....LOVE.

I discovered the Persian poet Hafiz* only a few years ago, and at that moment his beautiful, inspiring poetry dating as far back as the 1300's ... immediately fell into my 'favourite soulful things' world. 

This poem is certainly one of my favourites... expressing all the beautiful, romantic and sincere notions of unconditional love, purity and humbleness.  May this soulful poem give anyone reading this, inspiration to embrace this type of 'sun love'.  An unconditional and unlimited love that doesn't hold back, that doesn't demand, that doesn't calculate... but is just free and pure and beautiful xo

*Wikipedia - Hafez

My Valentine's Day love gesture..... seriously delish flourless chocolate cake



Getting to know: Wei Yee and Yoga

People will always surprise you.... so don't be deceived by Wei yee's dainty, pixie like figure.  Despite her petiteness, she is packed full of punch and bursting with energy and a strong 'can do attitude' head on her shoulders.  With big aspirations in and outside the sphere of yoga, this young lady is sure to to excel in whatever direction her sights take her!  I love the beauty and power expressed in her yoga poses and her clean, flowing lines in the photos captured below.  Young.., old.., big.., small.... JUST WORDS.  Push beyond those boundaries and deceiving categories you mentally confine yourself within, and your body will always surprise you and be true to you.  Wei yee shows you how.

When did you first start yoga?
You could say I started when I was about 6 when I used to copy my grandfather whom was 80 at the time doing headstands every morning.

Why did you start yoga?

I have to admit that I actually took my first class purely out of vanity and in pursuit of a better physique at the time.  But after one class I realised there was a whole lot more which yoga offered that none of the other gym classes I had attended ever did.  I was hooked from there.

What do you think yoga aims to achieve?

Unification and harmonisation of all things within and around us whereby we ultimately learn to understand the true nature of everything as it is.  It teaches mindfulness of how you treat yourself and all others around you.

What do you find most rewarding in yoga?

Understanding how to be more mindful of everything I do in life and how my actions impact others.  As a training teacher, the most rewarding thing is to be able to pass all I have learnt to others.

What do you find most challenging in yoga?

Physically, I find postures requiring flexibility quite challenging in yoga as I am naturally not very flexible.  In a more subtle sense, learning to apply the patience and calm we learn in yoga to everyday life is a big challenge.

What kinds of people would you recommend it to?

i) I recommend it to all people who work in corporate or sedentary jobs because we really need the movement!

ii) It's such an amazing workout physically because it works on both what you see on the outside and your internal organis.  I don't know why anyone would not give it a go?

iii) I recommend everyone to retain an open mind and try more than one class before they conclude whether yoga is for them.  There are a multitude of yoga styles now being taught which will suit all tastes and ages.  Keep a curious mind.

3 words that describe how you feel after yoga?

Release, peaceful, relaxed.

What makes you smile?

To see others around me smile.

What's your ideal way to spend a Sunday?

To be able to have the luxury of just relaxing and not going through my list of chores.  A yoga class has to be in there at some point though.

What's your best holiday?

It would have to be my five week trip to Europe (UK, France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy) with my 3 closest girlfriends.  We didn't follow a tour, just our maps.

Favourite food?
Potatoes in any shape or form.

Favourite book?

Pride and Prejudice.

What's something that a lot of people don't knkow about you?

That I absolutely love tha alpine and love hiking the high country regardless of what country I am in.  The last few years I've been making annual trips up to the Snowy Mountains to explore the alpine walks there.

Thanks Wei yee! xo

Colour the day with LOVE

Happy Valentine's Day everybody. 

I hope love is in the air and that you do SOMETHING.... write in a card, buy a bunch of flowers, bake a cake or give out a hug and a kiss dedicated to that someone special.  All you romantics out there..... Enjoy xo

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

I will treasure this imaginative classic forever.  Paulo Coelho beautifully conveys soulful messages through his stories in such simplistic and poetic ways.  My copy of The Alchemist pictured above has literally spent the last 14 years being passed around my closest friends because yes... I am the ultimate word of mouth promoter!

After thinking I'd lost it for good, it came back into my hands recently through an old friend and I re-read it and got another sweet touch of that inspirational message....to follow your dreams.

It's more a parable that reads easily and smoothly, than an overly decorative and complicated novel and it will leave anyone of all ages feeling comforted and inspired as you are encouraged to pursue those hidden dreams you've long treasured but been too afraid to act on. 

The Alchemist follows the story of a shepherd boy named Santiago who through listening to various omens and messages from the people he encounters... he goes on a journey seeking special treasure.  The story's underlying messages are so beautifully expressed, constantly reminding the reader about the  essential need to listen to your heart's passions.  As well as to remind us that often it's not the attainment of a final goal, but rather it's the JOURNEY along the process that is the REAL gift... of becoming who you are.  A powerful and soulful twist at the end of Santiago's journey will leave you loving this book forever... just as I will be doing.

"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure."*

"It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”*

“The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”*


*Coelho, Paulo The Alchemist New York HarperCollins Publisher's Inc, 1994

Cloudy day comfort - banana bread in the oven

How good is that dreamy, golden smell of freshly baking banana bread wafting through the house?  So early this morning I pottered around in my pj's on a mission to kick off the day with some warm and moorish comfort and I created this yummo, moist and spungy goodness above.  No it's not a caramel slice or chocolate mud cake... but banana bread is one of those timeless treats that fulfills the comfort food cravings without the over indulgence factor.  It is SERIOUSLY good and super easy so definitely give it a try.  You will absolutely love this recipe.... a definite keeper xo

Best Banana Bread (adapted from original recipe here)

Ingredients:

2 over ripe bananas

2 tablespoons golden syrup

1/2 cup caster sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 cup self raising flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

Pinch of salt

2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, then melted and cooled a little (optional)

Instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (160 degrees if fan forced).  Grease inside of a loaf tin and cover base with baking paper.

Mash bananas in a bowl (best to get sticky with your hands).  Add the golden syrup, vanilla essence, sugar and egg and combine together well using a whisk.

Then if using the melted unsalted butter, stir this in also.

Add sifted flour and cinnamon and salt and gently fold this into the mixture until just combined.  Over stirring will make the banana bread tough so watch out.

Pour mixture into the loaf tin and bake for 30 - 40 minutes or until a skewer is inserted and comes out with a touch of moist crumbs on it.  These moist crumbs should be able to be easily rolled between your fingertips into a small bead shape (not stick to your fingers like gluggy batter).

Rest for 10 minutes then cool on a wire rack .. that's if you can wait to sample the first slice!

Getting to know: Marilee and Yoga

I wanted to kick off a new series of posts where I'll interview yoga loving people. 

No better way to start it off with beautiful, free spirited MARILEE.  What can I say... this lovely lady exudes such a peaceful, content and humble presence in our yoga classes and I love watching her demonstrate some of the most challenging poses yoga has on offer.  And at the age of 62 she definitely sets an inspiring example of utilising your body's full potential no matter how old.  No excuses!

Why did you start yoga?

One day I reached down and could barely touch my toes which I'd done easily in the past.  I thought 'this just won't do!' and went in search of a yoga class.

What do you think yoga aims to achieve?

I think it aims to achieve a unification of physical and mental fitness for a balanced healthy lifestyle.

What do you find rewarding in yoga?

Yoga and gym practice helps me feel younger and more able to do a lot of physical things I love, like backpacking, kayaking, bike riding.  I've also made many friends thru yoga.

What do you find most challenging in yoga?

Keeping focussed during practice and unfocussed during meditation... for example thinking: 'Oh, I must cut my toe nails' or 'hmmm what was I supposed to buy on the way home?'.

3 reasons you would recommend yoga to others

Yoga can be for anyone but I would especially recommend it to people who care about looking after their bodies and who through age or injury are starting to lose their mobility.  Yoga has given me:

1) flexibility and balance = confidence

2) fitness = ability

3) helps me stay calm in stressful situations = whew!

3 words that describe how you feel after yoga

Relaxed (like a massage), Sweaty, Rejuventated

What makes you smile?

Seeing something totally surprising in nature like a seagull scratching its head with its foot while flying.  A dolphin in the wild doing a complete sommersault in the air.  The vibrant yellow mushrooms that appeared overnight in my garden pot (I didn't eat them!)

What's your ideal way to spend a Sunday?

Getting up early to go on a bushwalk in the Blue Mountains - I don't do this enough!!

At home I read my book in bed with a cup of coffee, then work in the garden. 

What's your best holiday?

One of my best holidays was kayaking in the wilderness rivers near Katherine in the Northern Territory with a wonderful group of like minded 'oldies'.

What's something that a lot of people don't know about you?

I spent quite a few years as a cruising yachtie, sailing in the Pacific Islands in a tiny 11 metre yacht.  My husband had to row me ashore in our dinghy to the hospital in Noumea to give birth to our first baby.

Becoming Velveteen Rabbit REAL

This one is for the little ones and for any adult who has that 'kid inside'... like me!  I have a real love of special children's books that convey sweet and soulful underlying messages.  I WISH I could retrieve the story book, The Velveteen Rabbit which I misplaced years ago because it tugs at the heart strings and makes anyone feel all soft and fuzzy inside.

The story goes that in the world of toys you can only become 'REAL' if you are TRULY loved by your owner.  And with that comes the side effects of losing your 'newness' as you become more tattered, dirty, and ugly because a child has put their heart and soul into playing with you and loving you literally to 'bits'.  So the story is based on the stuffed toy Velveteen Rabbit's desire to find happiness by being loved and becoming REAL through the eyes of his owner, a little boy.  Such a gorgeous, heartfelt ending... if you don't already know it you'll just have to go out and get the book for your little ones!

""What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real. It doesn't happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."" (Cited under Notes)

Love DOES make you real. It's through loving and nurturing a child that they develop the ability to grow into their own 'REALNESS'.  And it's through loving oneself that you become REAL to shine in your uniqueness and be REAL to yourself and others.

Notes:
Williams, Margery - The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams & illustrated by William Nicholson, Harper Collins Childrens Books (Velveteen Rabbit Link) harpercollinschildrens.com retrieved 05/02/2012



Pigeon Pose - intertwined beauty

© 2012 Saya Style

It feels amazing to open your heart like a puffed up pigeon and open the hips and stretch, stretch, stretch. Once I'm in it... I don't just don't want to leave!

I love pigeon pose.  There are so many variations but this one above is by far my favourite.  With the hands clasped behind the head, foot tucked snug inside the elbow and chest spread WIDE open... it feels so liberating.  Being far from a symmetrical looking pose, it magically FEELS the absolute opposite.... it instead feels so balanced, grounded and perfectly smooth in its intertwined beauty.  BEAUTY and GRACE is what you feel in these snapshot moments.

© 2012 Saya Style

Pigeon pose variation