Handpicked Links Winter into Spring 2012

by sophie on February 26, 2012 · 12 comments

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Roasted beets with feta & cumin
I bought some large, slightly potholed beetroots at our local farmers market and made this BBC Good Food recipe for Roasted Beets with Feta and Cumin with them.  The cumin is wonderful with the earthy beetroot and the little caramelised, crusty pieces of feta make the dish.

Chickpeas centre stage
The Kitchn had an inspiring round-up of week night suppers all featuring the humble but super healthy chickpea, my favourite being the Cous Cous with Chickpeas, Fennel and Citrus

Where do you find plant based protein
I’m often asked by vegetarians for ideas to widen the range of protein sources that they include in their meals.  There are plenty of options beyond eggs and cheese but it helps to know where to look.  I’m now pointing them all towards this excellent list of non-meat protein sources from the GI newsletter

Snow Salutation
The last handpicked links list included a post on seasonal mindfulness and the transition into autumn so I can’t resist yoga practitioner Alison Wearing’s piece on mindful movement in the Winter, and the delights of snowga.  Gorgeous writing too.

Understanding Anosmia
I’m betting most of us have wondered at some point what it would be like to lose your eyesight or hearing, but I’d never wondered what life would be like with no sense of smell.  Mindfulness teacher and foodie Susan’s post on ‘3 things to tell people‘ surprised and informed me

Roasted Winter Citrus
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best, like these jewel-coloured baked citrus segments from Joy the Baker. And besides, it’s the time of year for an orange or two (I’m just revisiting last year’s baked tofu double citrus salad).

Ever wondered what a nutritionists keeps in her freezer?
Loving Kathryn’s post on what she keeps in her freezer and there are a ton of good ideas for novel freezables in the comments too. I like Kathryn’s philosophy of experimenting with freezing foods, rather than rushing to eat them food before they go off

Salt and pepper french toast
This savoury take on french toast is a little bit rich but delicious with a big pile of salad and roast cherry tomatoes

I’ve popped in this photo of those pear muffins I told you about last time round as an excuse to mention it again.  The recipes is an absolute keeper – a bit more work than your usual muffin mix as you have to whisk egg whites but the results are really moist and freezer friendly. And the pic at the top is a January flower arrangement from this Farmer’s market.

Sophie Dahl's orchard pear muffins

{ 12 comments }

James B February 26, 2012 at 19:50

The roasted beets sound fantastic. Definately making them!

sophie March 4, 2012 at 17:45

Definitely – they’re really good but don’t skip the feta!

Martin February 26, 2012 at 21:33

The ‘Salt and pepper french toast’ looks particularly good, thanks for the link!

sophie March 4, 2012 at 17:46

My pleasure. It does make a nice change from the usual savoury variety

Elaine February 29, 2012 at 05:55

Wonderful links to bring forward into Spring, Sophie, and lovely photos, too. I’m enjoying your post on this wet, dark February night that feels more like winter so, yes, it’s especially cozy to think about roasted beets, roasted citrus and pear muffins fresh from the oven.

sophie March 4, 2012 at 17:47

Aah, thank you Elaine. I’ll actually quite miss all this wintery stuff when it goes. Though we have just had a mid-March snow flurry so it won’t be just yet

Ric February 29, 2012 at 20:17

So many cool links Sophie (especially the chickpea one)…thanks for sharing!

sophie March 4, 2012 at 17:49

Thanks Ric. We always have a can of chickpeas in so you can never have too many recipe ideas for them.

kathryn elliott March 2, 2012 at 02:05

Brilliant edition (as ever) of your Handpicked links Sophie. That roasted citrus recipe is incredibly looking. I have never thought to roast citrus fruit, but can’t wait now. The snowga piece is beautiful, such a good read.

And thanks for including my freezer piece – am amazed at the list which is growing bigger and bigger and bigger.

sophie March 4, 2012 at 17:49

Your freezer piece. is brill and I always love a “virtual” nosey into other people’s food cupboards.

The roasted citrus idea is so obvious when you think about it but it hadn’t occured to me either.

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Cookery Courses March 16, 2012 at 22:51

Thanks for the suggestions – the beets were great!!!

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