A Table For Two-Up!

a great 'good friday'

Spooning

Roast Pumpkin and Cinnamon Soup

If you’re a soup fanatic like me, you’ll love this recipe. It’s unbelievably silky in texture and as the cold weather is approaching nothing is more comforting than the thought of spooning. The hint of cinnamon and chilli giving it that eastern spiciness. With each spoonful you'll find yourself imagining you are in an exotic location (as opposed to the couch)!

1.Preheat the oven to 220C/gas mark 7. Cut 600g seeded pumpkin or squash into 3cm cubes. Toss with 2tbsp olive oil and salt and pepper. Roast in a roasting tin for 30-40min until soft.

2.Meanwhile, fry one sliced onion and some salt in a saucepan. Add two thinly sliced garlic gloves, 1/2tsp ground cinnamon and a pinch of crushed dried chilli. Fry to release flavour , then add one medium potato (in 2cm cubes). Cook for 5min, add roasted pumpkin and 1litre vegetable or chicken stock. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 20min.

Let the soup cool down then blend until smooth.

3.Once blended, reheat and serve with greek yogurt and a sprinkle of pine nuts.

Happy Spooning.

Linda Rodin Olio

She sells sea shells...

je suis célibataire

i am single.

Blue Suede Shoes

Dear Rosie,

Enlope

(v): to elope in a metaphorical envelope of love

mr. cottontail countdown

As the Easter bunny is planning his April globe-hop, collecting choccies from Cadbury factories near and far, I too am preparing my Easter overnight bag!Yes, a Yarrawonga yearning for river fishing, colourful foil, duffel coats, bunk-beds, egg hunts, woollies, wellies and hot cross buns!

the girl in the mirror

"Mirror, mirror on the wall who's the fairest of them all?"

Those who know her could think of no other. My dear friend, and make-up artist Jaz happily had me over her humble home this afternoon for chai served with smokey eyes. A master at her craft, she was a terrific tutor. The girl in the mirror? Jaz, and her perfect reflection.

If men are from Mars...

Women are from Venus!

As they say 'the grass is always greener on the other side', and every women wants a slice of Mars (Bar Cake)!!

One of my most loved "me time" doings is baking! You name it, I've baked it (or at least tried). At my 13th birthday party my mum donned her pinny and baked the best cake a mother could bake - well, maybe not 'the best' cake but as she is not a baker, the best cake a mother who is not a baker could bake! It tasted almost as good as opening my pressies felt! Here's her recipe, it's as easy as snap, crackle and pop!

MARS BAR CAKE

Ingredients

3 cups of rice bubbles
3x mars bars
125g of unsalted butter
200g of milk chocolate

Method

Step 1: Grease and line a cake tin with bake proof paper

Step 2: Pour the rice bubbles into a large bowl



Step 3: Chop the mars bars into chunks and combine in a saucepan with 90g of butter. Whisk and boil until the two ingredients form the texture of a caramel, Note: it may appear that the ingredients are separating - just keep stirring

Step 4: Pour the caramel into the rice bubbles and mix until sticky. It may be tempting to indulge in a scoop of the batter - DON'T! Trust, me it is extremely HOT!



Step 5: Transfer the cake mix into the tray and pat-the-cake down so it is smooth



Step 6: Melt the milk chocolate and the leftover 35g of butter in a saucepan (careful not to burn). Pour the chocolate sauce over the rice bubble base



Step 6: Lick your fingers and put the cake into the fridge for an hour, or until it is set hard

Step 7: Collect your cutest plates and invite your cutest girlfriends over for guy talk also known as a slice of Mars!