For breakfast this Easter Sunday, post morning run, I treated myself to something far more delicious than Easter eggs:
My own muesli mix with frozen blueberries, honey, natural yoghurt, milk (added after the photo) and the secret ingredient: fresh mint leaves straight from the garden. I wasn’t sure how the mint would affect the taste but it turned out to be an absolute winner. This morning I repeated the recipe with the addition of a Lady’s Finger banana.
Delicious I must say 🙂
– Carcass: Hahndorf Gourmet Kassler pork chop
– Caramelised onions: red onions, apple, white vinegar, pomegranate molasses, honey and date molasses reduced
– Greens: Broccolini
– Mash: butternut pumpkin, royal blue potatoes, Bannister Downs Double Cream, freshly ground salt and pepper
Poppop lived an amazing life.
I can hardly imagine:
– growing up between the wars in the UK
– living through world war II
– serving with the British Army in India
– giving up family to move to a frontier town on the other side of the planet
– rewriting the definition of hard work
– bringing up a family without modern conveniences
When I think of Poppop, I think of: courage, determination, ingenuity, integrity, modesty and principals.
When I think of Poppop, I also think of:
– him plucking my ribs like a human guitar (plinky, plinky, plink)
– riding on his leg like it was a rocking horse
– him giving me a bow and arrows that he hand made
– his wonderful story telling; and
– risqué jokes after drinking a few sherbets
Most importantly, when I think of Poppop I think of that inseparable bond he shared with his life partner Marga. Although it was a sad and solemn occasion, it gave me great pride to fulfil Marga and Poppop’s wish to be reunited in a place close to their hearts.
After running around Kings Park, along the Swan River and up Jacob’s Ladder this morning I went to Subiaco Markets. To my delight, the Spice Library stall had advieh, a traditional Persian spice mix. I didn’t know it was called advieh until today but I certainly recognised the smell.
During my 2004 Iran holiday I bought a plastic jar of advieh from Shiraz Bazaar. After returning to Mersin I used this yummy spice mix in most meals for 3 years including pasta, roast vegetables, stir fries and curries.
The following photo I took at Shiraz Bazaar shows a man taking some advieh out of one of the two advieh mixes. I love how the different spices are layered. In the central top section of the photo are plastic jars containing advieh.
Following is my empty jar prior to throwing it out in June 2007:
Yesterday, on a beautiful, mild overcast day I sold a heap of carpets for Carpets for Communities at the very well organised Mosman Park EcoFair.
Last night I went clubbing at Gold Bar for Malvi’s birthday and rediscovered Dirty Black Russians.
This morning I ran for an hour to the Mount Yokine Reservoir and back.
And, now, I’ve just cooked and eaten this:
Bacon, free range eggs with their yolks broken and spread, green capsicum freshly picked from my courtyard, feta, chilli flakes, extra virgin olive oil and ground black pepper.
The omelette from the first photo in a toasted ciabatta roll with avocado and Mum’s home made tomato sauce 🙂
Yesterday I made my periodic visit to Dunya Market, the Turkish supermarket in Bentley. To my delight, for the first time in Perth I found pure pomegranate molasses (nar eksisi), a stunning and beautiful ingredient for salads, marinades and the like. How good is nar eksisi? Well, if a religionist used nar eksisi as a basis for their belief I would be tempted to convert.
Now, I’m not referring to that more widely available poor cousin called nar eksili sosu (pomegranate flavoured sauce). Anybody who thinks nar eksili sosu is a substitute for nar eksisi should wash their mouth out with soap. They probably also think Creed is a substitute for Pearl Jam.
My favourite use for pomegranate molasses is with rocket salad. Today I made rocket salad to accompany a scotch fillet steak:
– rocket
– roasted capsicum
– garlic bruised and cut finely
– sumac (another super ingredient)
– olive oil
– pomegranate molasses
– chilli flakes
– salt and pepper
2019/05/20 UPDATE
In November 2017 Dunya Foods was destroyed by fire. The shop has now reopened at nearby Unit 1, 1164 Albany Highway, Bentley. It again stocks many Turkish and international foods and supplies, even Argentinean yerba mate tea.
Unfortunately, as of 12 May 2019, they weren’t selling Turkish pure pomegranate molasses (nar ekşisi). The closest items were non-Turkish pomegranate molasses and Turkish pomegranate-flavoured sauce, neither of which are adequate substitutes for the real thing.
