Tomato Soup | Homegrown Kitchen

Soup… Nicky’s Tomato Soup

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We eat a lot of soup around here. I find it an excellent way to get vegetables into my little ones tummies. So when I had an email request for a soup recipe that is toddler friendly I jumped at the opportunity to share our latest favourite soup. We first ate this soup for lunch at my friend Nicky’s. While Nicky and I were yakking away (as two Mum’s will do), my children finished their bowls and proceeded to eat my soup too. I knew this was a winning recipe and with little persuasion Nicky shared her recipe with me.       Continue reading →

Mini Berry & White Cacao Cakes | Homegrown Kitchen

Make… a Puzzle + Mini Berry & Almond Cakes

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I officially feel like a Mum. Now my oldest child is three and her friends are also turning three we have real children’s birthday parties to go to. Not the laid back gatherings we had when they turned one and two, but parties with invites, balloons, games, cake and… presents. The presents subject poses a potential problem for my consumer conscience that usually prefers to reuse, recycle and reduce where possible. But then I don’t want to leave my children feeling embarrassed because their parents are non-consumerist (is that even word?) and won’t buy presents for their friends. Continue reading →

Slow-cooked Fig & Lemon Jam | Homegrown Kitchen by Nicola Galloway

Preserve… Slow-Cooked Fig & Lemon Conserve

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My Dad still lives on the same property I grew up on. His steep section overlooks the city of Nelson and out across the beautiful Tasman Bay. My Dad and his wife have spent years landscaping the property and planting an orchard of fruit and nut trees. Though my Dad trained as a Doctor I secretly think he always wanted to be a carpenter. He has built two architectural houses and is very resourceful. He has terraced his steep section with tyre walls, each wall dug entirely by hand. You really have to see the property to understand what a feat this is. He estimates he has used over 1000 old tyres for the terraces. Continue reading →

No-Knead Sourdough Bread {gluten-free option}

Nicola’s No-Knead Sourdough Bread {including gluten-free option} + A Video

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This has been a LONG time in coming. Way back in October last year I wrote about my journey back into sourdough making. First (part one) came the frothy starter and then (part two) a lovely pizza dough, and a promise of bread. But part three never happened. This is due to my son self-weaning himself from breast-milk and overnight my past trouble with gluten returned. For some reason during my pregnancies, and while I was breastfeeding, I was OK with gluten in small amounts (apparently something to do with the hormones). When I returned to my gluten-free diet, bread became my nemesis. I tried dozens of recipes for gluten-free bread. Some were OK but often too sweet and yeasty, and they didn’t keep well. And none of them could be eaten without being toasted first. Argh I was not have a good bread day… everyday. Continue reading →

Knitted Pebble Vest

CRAFT… Knitted Pebble Vest + A Video

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My Dutch Grandma (Bonnema) taught me to knit, as well as crochet and embroidery. As a child I remember visiting my grandparents in Christchurch where they lived in a large old villa in Papanui. The house was surrounded by gardens and trees including a huge walnut tree in the front yard.  Whenever we visited I would be assigned a new craft to complete during our stay. During the day we helped in the kitchen and explored the gardens, and at night we would play a round of Rummikub (a Dutch game) and then Bonnema would teach me a new knitting stitch or crochet chain. Continue reading →

Pink Butterfly Cake | Homegrown Kitchen

Party… Pink Butterfly Cake {dairy-free}

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It was time for a special celebration this weekend. Our first child, our daughter Mika, turned three. We are officially beyond the years of her learning to walk and talk, and now joining her as she becomes her own little person. A little person we can have a conversation with, learn and grow together, discover new things, and much more. Everyday is an adventure, and we are on this awesome adventure with her. Continue reading →

Seafood Paella {with turmeric}

Dinner… Seafood Paella {with turmeric}

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My 14 month old son is teething. The poor guy has 4 molars coming through at once. It is at times like this that I am particularly grateful for my studies into nutrition. I often pull out my old text books to look up a natural concoction I can use to heal, soothe or settle an ailment. Continue reading →

fruit & nut leather

Part Two: Fruit Nut Leather + A Video

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March has taken it out of me. Most evenings and weekends I have spent preserving our harvest. And to add to that I am a sucker for a bargain, regularly coming home from the farmers market laden with another bag of fruit or sauce tomatoes. I just can’t help myself. At least we will eat well this winter as the pantry is full with jars of all sorts, from omega plums to chilli jam, and my favourite roast summer vegetable sauce. Continue reading →

almond milk (chocolate)

Part One: Chocolate (or carob) Almond Milk

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This post has two parts. Part one is the making of creamy chocolate (or carob) almond milk. As you will see at the end of making nut milk you end up with a mushy mass of ground nuts. This can be added to cakes and other baking, though it is not as rich as un-soaked ground nuts. In part two, next week, I will share my latest clever use for the soaked ground nuts. Continue reading →

feta rolled eggplant & roasted tomato sauce

Feta Rolled Eggplant with Roasted Tomato Sauce

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In my twenties, and before I had children, I used to travel a fair amount. Sometimes I would travel to a place to live and work, and other times I would be on holiday. However, my type of travel is not the rush-around-and-see-as-many-tourist-attractions-as-possible type of travel. Instead I chose a number of places to visit, then I settle in and absorb the culture. Continue reading →