Hi friends!
After a busy weekend of moving, cleaning and unpacking, we
are finally settling down in our new home. We are not quite done yet, of
course, but the basics are all sorted out and at least we can get on with our
daily lives. I am loving all the space, the abundant natural light and the huge
north facing balcony in our new home. We are located near a peaceful lagoon and
a 5 minute walk from an ocean beach which is exactly what we wanted. In the
morning, whilst having breakfast on the balcony, I could smell the salty sea
and hear the loud waves crashing against the beach. Just magical.
Here is a little sneak peek into our new kitchen. It is not quite ready yet, as it's missing bar stools and a few other things. I will post lots more photos when we have everything sorted out and all our new furniture is in. I love the open plan kitchen though and there is so much storage space! It's a huge change from our previous tiny kitchen and I can already tell how much easier cooking is when there is actually space to move around.
I prepared this beetroot and liquorice soup for lunch today. It was unseasonally cold and rainy for a summer's day, so a soup was just perfect. The quinoa flat bread is an adaptation from a traditional Finnish potato flat bread. I've cooked it on stove top, but you could of course bake it in the oven as well. I love the combination of beets and liquorice. We Nordic people are mad about liquorice, and it certainly complements the sweet beetroot so well. I couldn't be happier!
Beetroot and liquorice
soup with quinoa flat bread
(serves 2)
1 tablespoon
virgin coconut oil
550g beetroot,
peeled and chopped into cubes
large knob of
fresh ginger, peeled and grated
3 green onions,
chopped
2 teaspoons ground
liquorice*
pinch of salt
2 teaspoons pink
peppercorns, slightly crushed
1 litre water
125ml almond
milk**
* Ground liquorice is available at spice shops. In Sydney you
can get it from Herbie's Spices.
** My recipe
for almond milk is here.
1. Heat the coconut oil in a large saucepan. Add the
beetroot and ginger and cook for a few minutes.
2. Add the green onions, liquorice, salt, peppercorns and
water and let the soup simmer on low heat for 30-40 minutes or until the
beetroot is tender. Set aside to cool.
3. Purée the soup in a blender. Stir in the almond milk.
Serve warm or room temperature.
Quinoa flat bread
(makes 4-5)
250ml recently
boiled water
60g quinoa flakes*
60g quinoa flour
pinch of salt
* Quinoa flakes are found in health food stores. Look for
flakes in particular, not the 'normal' quinoa. In Sydney, Honest to Goodness stocks excellent
quinoa flakes.
1. Place the quinoa flakes in a bowl and top them with
boiling water. Leave to soak for a few minutes.
2. Add in the flour and salt and mix to combine.
3. Dust your fingers in some extra flour and form small
round breads (10cm across, 1cm thick). Cook the breads in a dry skillet on
medium heat for a few minutes on each side. The bread should feel firm to touch
and there should be a few brown spots on the cooked surface. Alternatively you
can bake the breads in 200C oven for 10-15 minutes. Serve warm with the
beetroot and liquorice soup.
Your home looks beautiful! Congratulation on your spanking new abode :-)
ReplyDeleteMy god, that color. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteThe kitchen looks great, and storage space is something we all need :). I hope I had that much space. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI am jealous of your modern kitchen and proximity to the beach! Wow.
ReplyDeleteThat soup is very interesting. Great with that flat bread.
Cheers,
Rosa
Love your new home and the beach! Food looks amazing too.
ReplyDeleteFabulous recipes and I'm dying to try both of them - probably this weekend! Thankyou :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful kitchen, lucky you! The quinoa bread looks wonderfully simple and delicious!
ReplyDeletewow- what a delicious meal!! Quinoa flat bread looks simply scrumptious & I want to check out Herbie's spices now!! Might be taking a trip to Rozelle soon... :) x
ReplyDeleteYou new kitchen is amazing! I'm jealous because of the space! :)
ReplyDeleteThis soup sounds amazing. I didn't know liquorice, I don't know if I can get it in Hungary. What can I use to substitute liquorice? What do you think, Maria?
your place is in sydney? are you in the suburbs? it just blows my mind that you can be close to an awesome city and still live like this. My dream really, a beautiful little house with a balcony, near the sea and still having access to some great city amenities. Plus good weather year round? Can I come?
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing. I'd never have thought of this but it sounds delicious! Thank you for posting it
ReplyDeleteMaria, love the soup! I bet it's intense in flavour and taste. Love that. Also, the new place and kitchen looks great. Can't wait to see more photos!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds delicious but my Dr has told me I cannot have liquorice :( It is supposed to push your blood pressure up! Diane
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous beach and kitchen! Love the soup and flatbread too :-)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new place :) it looks fab!
ReplyDeleteLook at all that light! Congratulations on such a lovely new place. I so miss living close to the ocean and the smell. Someday...
ReplyDeleteOh and I came her to check out this soup, the flavors sound delightful.
Wow, what a great place! To be so close to the ocean would be a dream. I love brightly colored (and flavored) soups like this one as they make me feel so healthy.
ReplyDeleteMaria, first of all, congrats on moving in to the beautiful home! I love your beautiful kitchen already and after you decorate everything this kitchen will be more cozy and stylish. :-) I'm so envious that you can smell the ocean and 5 minutes walk? WOW! I live right next to the canyon where there are all kinds of animals live (but I'm not in countryside...). I rather want to live next to the beach.... Your beetroot soup color is amazing and delicious!
ReplyDeleteYum.. I do like the idea of quinoa flat bread. Congrats on the move. There is nothing quite like having your own place especially when it is by the sea. I love having the beach nearby to us to wander to with the boys. It is also a great place to think...
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new place...the kitchen looks amazing! This soup is perfect (and healthy) for the current weather!
ReplyDeleteMissing the sound of crashing waves. Your kitchen looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteTHis combination really makes me excited. Your new surroundings look like a dream come true!
ReplyDeletethis is an AMAZING soup, I bet it would be divine with some pumpernickel bread too?
ReplyDelete