borsch - borscs

1 medium onion, chopped
few teaspoons olive oil
1000g beef, cubed
beef bone (if available)
2-4 bay leaves
black peppercorns
1 small white cabbage, cut into squares
500g smaller potatoes, cut into half slices
4 carrots, cut into thick slices
500g beetroot (2-3), quartered than sliced
half can of chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 lemon

fresh dill, chopped
sour cream

Saute the onions for a few minutes. Add beef, fry for a few minutes. Add 3-4 litres of water, bay leaves, black peppercorns, some salt and bone if using, cook for 1,5-2 hours.
Add beetroot, carrots and potatoes, cook for another 10 minutes. Add cabbage, tomatoes, cook for another 10 minutes.
Add vinegar and lemon, dill, season to taste.
Serve with sour cream on top.

roughly adapted from here and here.

coco/nut granola

coco/nut granola
(makes enough for 12 days)

updated version here

1/8 cup olive oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
100g oats
100g walnuts, chopped
50g cashews, chopped
50g almonds (slivered/sliced/chopped)
100g coconut chips
50g linseeds
(50g pumpkin seeds (?) - too much stuff, skip it next time)
50g raisins (chopped if huge)

the usual: heat oven to 150C fan
mix oil, maple syrup, spices in a big bowl, add oats & seeds & coconut, mix well
transfer to baking sheet, bake for 20 mins
add dried fruits, bake for 15 more mins

cooking quinoa

1/2 cup quinoa
1 cup water

place into pot, bring to boil. immediately turn down to simmer
cook for 10 mins, turn off the heat, leave it to steam for 5 mins (with lid on)
fluff up with a fork, serve

avocado, tuna and quinoa salad

(makes 4)

100g (1/2 cup) quinoa, cooked
4 tbsp olive oil
juice of 1 big lemon
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
salt, pepper

200g can tuna, drained (about 140g net weight)
2 avocados, cubed
250g cherry tomatoes, halved
100g feta, crumbled
100g green leaves (spinach, rocket, mix, etc)
6 tbsp mixed seeds


cook the quinoa, leave it to cool for a bit
in a big bowl, mix the olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar with some salt & pepper
add the quinoa, tuna, avocados, tomatoes, feta, mix well
just before serving, mix in the green leaves and mixed seeds

based on
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/tuna-avocado-quinoa-salad

chocolate chip cookies

chocolate chip cookies
(makes 12)

75g salted butter (room temp)
45g coconut sugar
1 small egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
115g flour
1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/8 tsp salt
100g chocolate chunks
50g raisins
30g cocoa nibs

preheat oven to 175C fan
fluff the butter and sugar with a hand mixer, add egg and vanilla
add flour, bicarbonate soda and salt, mix into a dough
carefully add chocolate, fruits, etc
place 1 tbsp batches to baking parchment, flatten the heaps with a back of a spoon
cook for 8-10 mins (9 for my preheated oven), or until the bottoms turn slightly brown

based on
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2459643/vintage-chocolate-chip-cookies

lemon curd cookies

lemon curd cookies
(makes 12)

200g almond flour
60g butter (way too much)
4 tbsp lemon curd
60g sugar (can be less too)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
zest of 1 lemon
60g sliced almonds

preheat oven to 150C fan (175 is too much)
combine all the ingredients into cookie dough
shape a biscuit-sized roll, refrigerate for 30 mins
cut half-1 cm sized biscuits, place them to baking parchment
cook for 8-10 mins, or until the bottoms turn slightly brown

based on
http://www.healingwholenutrition.com/paleo-lemon-shortbread-cookies/
and http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/9839/almond-and-lemon-curd-buttons