More chilli

This meal was inspired by Natalia Ravida's book "Seasons of Sicily". 
This book is very close to my heart, just as Sicily is.

It is pasta with chilli, tomato and almond pesto. Very simple, very tasty.

Tonino Carotone's music goes well with this dish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNQkLjDIrqU

Chilli chicks

Chilli chickpeas with carrot and orange salad are a real treat on a warm summer night. 
We dining out most nights now i.e. out in the back due to the weather.

I find that Raasuk Mashrou3 does very good music to accompany this kind of a meal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUhYXRSDWjg

Strawberry morning

I guess the reason for my blogging hiatus is obvious on this picture.

Namely this strawberry granita and ricotta cum biscotti breakfast is for two - my husband is back from Kazakhstan for a while.

Kazakh horses.

Green, green

Avocados a nice in every which way. This time they are nice as an avocado-tomato salad.

I guess people have different tastes but we loved our years living in tropics. The smells and tastes and the easy going being are something that stay with you.

This was near Cairns, QLD.

Pears among peers

This time it is fennel and mustard that make this pear salad good.

I don't think that there is anything sweeter than this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX2hoL9UTkY&index=10&list=PLF4uYz6HuuQ--NDQcQhyqcGgagQBbC-_9

Rather unbelievable isn't it?

Green

I missed a blog on Saturday as I was on a rodeo in York, WA. It was a real nice one.

Here is one of my favourites that makes my husband green around the gills - an avocado milk shake.

Variation on bean theme

Beans seem to be my guiding light and lodestar at the moment.
So, here comes an other bean instalment.

Evora

I do like olives for lunch, dinner and occasionally for breakfast, too.
We got this olive dish from Evora, Portugal.

Evora, as all of Alentejo was very lovely. 

Actually, Portugal is a nice place all over.

Dinner time

This is my version of a hearty dinner - during summer at least.
Mashed fresh beans and and an egg baked in olive oil with tomatoes and feta.

Sweet

Summer is drawing near and melons are getting sweet.
A sweet, sweet and cold melon is a perfect dessert with summery weather.

I ate the best melons ever  in Kazakhstan (they probably were from Uzbekistan though).

Kazakh horses at sunset. 

Bukhara at night time. Moon was pink there.

Spilling the beans

This is how I love to eat fresh flat beans - mashed with olive oil, lemon juice and fresh thyme.

Some of the best things in life

Sourdough rye bread is definitely one of the best things in life!
This one is called Riga's Fine Bread in Estonia - it has sweetness to it and contains either caraway or coriander seeds. I added caraway seeds this time but both varieties are delicious.

Riga is one of my favourite cities of all time. There are so many different parts with very different architecture and ambience. Food is always great and so are the people. 

Vennaskond - an Estonian band that was hugely popular during 80s and 90s - has this song "Riga, my love" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-ZcHlPFIqE

Prata Vetra aka Brainstorm is a fantastic Latvian band that has songs in Latvian, English and Russian and they all very, very good! 

Here is one in English - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-CmEbXH90M

An other very good thing in this life is mashed strawberries with milk. I made this childhood summer staple tonight and it is as lovely as it was then.

One more very good thing in this life are flowers. I got really beautiful roses this time from our Sunday market.

More of continental breakfast

So this time it is a banana and yoghurt smoothie with strawberries and wholegrain cereal.
I guess some would call it healthy, I just think it is a delicious way to start a day.

That is how a Viru Street flower stall looks like in June. 
Tallinn is one nice, little capital full of greenery and good cafes.

Flowers and gardening were impeccable in Estonia.

Paprika

I had cauliflower with an Hungarian twist for lunch today - just added smoked paprika and quite a lot of it to the salad dressing.

Continental breakfast

A continental breakfast true to its form - fresh orange juice, milk with coffee, Sicilian style custard with strawberries and almond bread.
Breakfast has to be continental: weather it is of Turkish, Austrian or Swedish variety is not so important anymore.

Pears don't have to go pear shaped

I had a carrousel of a day so in the evening I decided to go for something that is always a success.
Pear, fresh greens, walnut and feta salad is a definite winner in our house. Especially when it comes with slices of sourdough rye bread of my own making.

I am lucky in a way as I have a small but well stocked herb cum salad garden. Therefore throwing such salads together is very easy for me. This year I had an abundance of sweet peas on the edges as well. Sweet peas are so lovely!
Here is a photo of some flowers that look somewhat like sweet peas but as my husband took the picture in September somewhere deep in outback I doubt they really are sweet peas.

Simple things

Once I have boiled these little beauties tender with some sea salt, added a good dash of olive oil, fresh thyme and lemon juice they will turn into heaven on earth!!!

Going bananas!!!

Some simple things are unbeatable! 
Like a this banana mousse with strawberries and lemon balm.

Market day

Today was a market day and I came home with a nice bounty.

In addition to afore pictured I also lugged home a 10kg bag of oranges. So, I am quite a hamster.

Our market is a very good place for buying wide variety of excellent local produce. Olive oil and apple juice from the Hills and fabulous bread and pastries are there too, as are wonderful flowers.

As you can see - tomatoes found their tasty end pretty soon.

I simply like markets. Sunday morning always finds me on our Midland Farmer's Market.
Rest of the time I do my food shopping at Gilbert's Fresh Markets which are more than just good - they absolutely lovely.