So, first off the rank in healthier recipes this month is a quick and easy pesto pasta. Numminess

Ingredients

(Serves two)

Spiral pasta for 2

8 Kalamata olives

3 Mushrooms

6 Semi-dried (or Sun-dried) tomatoes

Half a bunch of broccolini

1 tbsp Olive oil

1 tbsp Sun-dried Tomato pesto (or basil pesto)

1/2 tspn mixed Italian herbs

1 tspn of Crushed garlic

Small handful of grated parmesan
1 Chicken Breast

It is delicious and fresh. Perfect for a summer meal.

Put the pasta on to boil.

Roughly chop the Kalamata olives and sun-dried tomatoes. Slice the mushrooms. Chop the broccolini into inch size pieces. Chop the Chicken into bite size pieces. 

Heat the olive oil on medium-high. Add the garlic, herbs and Chicken. Cook for a few minutes then add the vegetables (except broccolini). Stir for 3-5 minutes until the mushrooms have a slight golden colour. Add the broccolini and stir for another 2 minutes to heat through, but still maintain the crunch. 

Remove the pan from the heat.

Once the Pasta is al-dente, drain most of the water, leaving about 2-3 tbsp in the pan with the pasta. 

Tip the cooked  vegetables into the pasta, add the pesto and mix on a medium heat until everything is combined nicely. Remove from the heat.

Dish this up and sprinkle with parmesan.

My boyfriend and I really enjoy this one. The Kalamata olives give the dish a saltiness, and the tomato and broccolini a hint of sweetness.  I hope you enjoy this as much as we did. (Simply omit the chicken to make this Vegetarian)

Yes, today I was booked, in a good way. It is that time of year again. Lifeline Bookfest. The time for all bibliophiliacs to rejoice and join as one to converge on the Brisbane Convention Centre. With everything from kids books to science fiction, and cooking to humour, the Bookfest has something for all book lovers.

 Separated into the 3 sections the Bookfest has something for every budget, even some PS2, Xbox and PC games, DVDs and CDs. The three areas are the unpriced section, where you normally pay by the book size, the Priced Section, where books are all $2.50 this year, and the Quality Section. Today was a bit more of a browsing expedition for me, and I intend to return again later in the week, and as Bookfest is open from this last weekend to Sunday 22 January, there is plenty of time for everyone to stop in. Today I managed to pick up the first Manga in the "Return to the Labyrinth" story. This is something I have been wanting to read for ages.

Browsing through the titles there were yet again plenty of copies of Dan Brown's Davinci Code, and this year there was nearly half a table covered in the Twilight series. I love looking through all the cookbooks to try and find something a little different. Last year I picked up a great Moroccan cookbook. I look forward to returning later in the week to search through the rows and rows of books to find further treasures.

I hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of 2012. Mine has held some ups and downs, but I am trying to remain positive.  Now to talk about those wonderful New Years resolutions that people always make, but rarely stick to. As you may have noticed from some of my food posts I love sweets, and making sweets. No I am not talking about giving up these wonderful treats (that could quite likely send me over the edge frankly). I am proposing an effort to make some healthier treats.

To my friends out there who occasionally enjoy my biscuits, chocolates, or baking, I will continue to produce these yummy treats, but for home and for my health I am going to try to make my cooking for home happy and healthy. Good yummy treats, but good for me too :)  There will be photos, there will be blog posts, and there will be disaster. This is not a New Years resolution... this is just a new lifestyle choice.  Now to check what ingredients I need to make my Choc Chunk Cookies for visiting friends this weekend. See, not a resolution, so not breaking anything.

Merry Christmas everyone. This Christmas I am spending with my wonderful boyfriends family for the first time. In an effort to pitch in I am bringing sweet treats. My baking efforts have included Chocolate chunk cookies, Gingerbread and Chocolate brownies. To top it off I have also made Chocolate truffles and will be making Tiramisu. I have been a baking and chocolate queen this week.

Firstly lets have a look at the Chocolate chunk cookies. My work colleagues always love when I bring these into work. My secret is...... doubling the vanilla and using milk and white chocolate melts instead of chips. I am a big fan of vanilla, and if I am putting it in a recipe I want to taste it. Hence the double shot of vanilla in these cookies.

Recipe

125g unsalted butter

3/4 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons of vanilla essence (it is worth getting essence or even vanilla paste if you can)

2 1/4 cups plain flour

1 teaspoon of bicarb

1 cup of white chocolate melts (roughly chopped)

1 cup of milk chocolate melts (roughly chopped)

It is a basic recipe, and simply a case of preheating the oven to 180 C, then creaming the softened butter and sugars together until light and creamy in texture. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix on medium until well combined. Add the sifted flour and bicarb and stir until they are well mixed in then add the melts. Using a desert spoon, place spoonfuls on the baking tray (lined with baking paper, no greasing or flouring required). Place them in the oven for 10-12 min until the are turning golden. Remove from the tray with spatula and place on a cooling rack, then repeat. This recipe makes between 3-4 dozen depending on the size of the biscuits.

I will post the other recipes over the coming days but here are some pics of the yummy foods I have prepared.  Merry Christmas everyone :)

I have been walking past Two Cups in Spring Hill everyday for the past six months. I have always seen happy smiling faces coming out and have admired the Quote chalk board out the front. For six months I have been saying I should try them soon. But whether I was running late for work, or had other things on my mind, it just never happened. Until this week.

With the Christmas rush on for all workplaces I have been starting work a bit earlier a few days this week. On Thursday morning I had not had a morning cup at home and was sleep walking to work. As I approached Two Cups I could smell the coffee and breakfast foods. I could see a couple people enjoying a full cooked breakfast out front, and the sounds of friendly laughter from inside. I admit my body was just crying out for coffee/caffeine but my logical mind had no objections.

As I entered I was greeted by the barista. He was serving what sounded like a long standing customer, but he took the time to ask what he could get me and put my coffee in the queue. Once he had finished serving the customer he turned to me and a had a friendly chat, even though it was 6:45 in the morning. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him make my latte as I could tell he knew his craft well. I even ended up with a little latte art on my cup instead of the normal pour and serve that some cafes do. Two cups also advertises coffee courses, and a book on how to use your home machine effectively. Very tempted on both accounts.

I've been back in a few times since and the service is always great, as are their homemade sweet chilli and cheese muffins. Definitely a place to check out if you enjoy good quality coffee and a friendly atmosphere.