WIAW Party Time!
Thanks, as always, to Jenn over at Peas and Crayons for hosting our virtual foodie feast. Jenn wrote an awesome post last Friday on the Glorification of Sugar, which really is worth a read. I’m loving her Play with your Produce Pinterest board. I can’t imagine how any kiddie would be able to resist veggies when displayed in such fun and attractive ways 
Right time to get with my submission for this week’s WIAW party (I’m already so late!) This week, I thought I’d share our eats from Sunday.
Breakfast
As per usual on a Sunday, Lil’ L asked whether we could have a ‘special’ breakfast. As a change from pancakes, he asked whether we could have Apple & Cinnamon Monkey Bread. We used to eat this a lot as a ‘treat’ breakfast, but I’d totally forgot all about it! I remember taking this shot last time we ate it … back in September!
These little apple cinnamon bread balls really are delicious, and a great breakfast/brunch treat to make with the kids. I’ll type up the recipe and post it on Friday.
Lunch
For lunch, we had Thai Vegetable Curry, leftover from Thursday evening. This is one of our absolute favourite home-made curries.
I make my own Thai curry paste, so that it’s mild enough for Lil’ L (I also prefer it to the shop-bought pastes AND there’s no waste as I freeze it in portions ) This time round, I doubled the quantities and I’m planning to use the second portion next week to make Thai Sweet Potato Soup.
After lunch, we had a hot chocolate made with Alpro Hazelnut Drink. It’s the first time I’ve used hazelnut milk in hot chocolate and it was delicious! I also blended in some ground almonds and chia seeds to add protein and other yummy goodness. I’ll definitely be making this one again 
In the afternoon, we munched on pretzels whilst watching Monster House on DVD (a very bizarre film IMO!)
Dinner
For our main meal, I made a Fruit and Nut Pullao Rice. I was amazed to discover that the last time I made this dish was in 2011!!!
With its fragrant flavours, fruit and nuttiness, M and I love this dish… unfortunately Lil’ L isn’t so keen. I thought I’d try again but alas no, it was still a thumbs down 
He just doesn’t like fruit flavours in his savoury dishes.
I had the leftovers today for lunch and it confirmed for me how much I like this dish. Perhaps, when I try again in the future, I’ll just add the fruits after I’ve taken out Lil’ L’s portion. That might work
I know it says on my blog that all recipes are road-tested and approved by Lil’ L, but I thought I’d publish this one anyhow. I’m sure he’ll approve of it one day
Here’s how I made it…
Serves 4
Hands on time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 35 minutes
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups brown basmati rice, rinsed and soaked for 20 mins – ½ hour
1 tsp ground cumin
3 cardamom pods
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
4½ cups vegetable stock (divided)
pinch saffron, steeped in a little hot water
juice and zest of 1 orange
3 medium carrots, cut into julienne sticks
handful green beans, trimmed and chopped
12 dried apricots, chopped
42g / 1½ oz / 1/3 cup pistachios
42g / 1½oz / 1/3 cup almond flakes, lightly toasted / dry-fried
1½ tbsp sweetener of choice (I use Sweet Freedom)
sea salt & ground black pepper, to taste
sprinkling of hemp seeds (optional, for a nutritional boost)
Method
- Rinse and drain the rice. Gently heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the rice and spices (except the saffron), and stir until coated in the oil. Add the saffron, 4 cups of stock, orange juice and zest. Bring to the boil, and boil rapidly (uncovered) for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat, cover with a lid and gently simmer for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add the remaining ½ cup of stock to a pan. Add the vegetables, dried fruits and sweetener. Cover with a lid and gently simmer for about 8 minutes or so, until the veggies are cooked through, but still retain a ‘bite’.
- When the rice is ready, remove from the heat and allow to stand for 5 minutes, still covered. Remove the cardamom pods, and mix in the veggies, fruits and nuts. Add salt and ground black pepper, to taste. Sprinkle on hemp seeds (if using) and serve in warm bowls.
I’ll be back again on Friday with the Monkey Bread recipe and to announce 3 winners of the Good Hemp Seed Giveaway. The giveaway is open to UK residents until midnight tomorrow (Thursday 28th February 2012) so do make sure you enter if you haven’t done so already!
Enjoy the rest of the week everyone! xx
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Nice new smiley profile pic.
Apple and cinnamon sounds good to me!
Blue Garuda recently posted..Tiger Bells and related use in Vajrayana and Shamanism
Glad you like the new pic
That’s probably the last one of me looking ‘youngish’ (taken on my 40th last year). It’s going to be all downhill from now on lol!
x
I’m looking forward to reading your post on Tiger Bells. Sounds very intriguing indeed
Your food looks incredible, great day of eats!
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes recently posted..{WIAW} Feeling fabulous and better than ever
I love fruit in savoury dishes- usually ends up being in salads but pomegranate studded rice, apricots in tagines are also favourites. I’m sure I’d love your pullao rice. Could you post how you make your hot chocolate? I’m sure it’s really simple but I never get the quantities right..
Emma recently posted..Finding Peace in Uncertainty
Pomegranate studded rice sounds beautiful! ♥
Here’s a link to my hot chocolate recipe: http://bitofthegoodstuff.com/?p=6942 I call it ‘breakfast hot chocolate’ in this post but lately we’ve been drinking it as an post work/school snack. I tend to always add chia seeds and ground almonds, which add lots of nutrients and make it nice and creamy. I blend all the ingredients in my high speed blender first before gently heating it through. Saying that, the hot chocolate will also be great without these additions x
Everything looks heavenly as always!!! Hope you’re having a fabulous Wednesday pretty lady! Xoxoxo
I love the new profile picture you’ve put up…although I’ll miss the last one (such a bright and cheery photo it was).
Yummy food as always but I think I like the dinner the best (my children on the other hand would want the breakfast…which I think I will be making for them tomorrow).
I look forward to Friday’s recipe.
I hope you are having a great Wednesday.
Oh, and this is completely off topic, but my husband and I just started following the Premier Cup and we are just in love with football (I won’t mention who we are pulling for, so as not to offend anyone
Rachel @ My Naturally Frugal Family recently posted..Getting My Frugal On
Aw thanks Rachel. I was getting so bored of the old picture that I needed a change.
Our ‘home’ team is West Ham and my sisters’ families are avid supporters. M and I aren’t into football so much these days. We’re far more likely to be watching the cycling. It’s very uplifting watching the international cycling events at the moment as the UK cyclists are winning everything 
That’s so cool that you’re watching the Premier Cup! Go on you can tell me who you support … is it one of the top teams?
We pull for Tottenham. We watched several different league games and we are VERY impressed with Gareth Bale. We didn’t realize what a big deal he was until after we selected the Spurs
Rachel @ My Naturally Frugal Family recently posted..Conscious Box GIVEAWAY
All looking amazingly delicious
Love your new pic in the top corner xxx
Sandy recently posted..WIAW – Last Week of February
Aw thanks Sandy ♥
Your hot chocolate sounds so delicious. I really like fruit in savoury dishes.
Lauren (@PoweredbyPB) recently posted..WIAW- Fighting off fatigue
Love the Pullao Rice, looks delicious.
As always looking at your food makes me hungry
Nikki @ The Road to Less Cake recently posted..WIAW
Adding chia seeds to hot chocolate? What a great idea! Did it make the chocolate extra thick and creamy?
It’s never too late to give up hopes for Lil’ L’s tastebuds to change
as I can say from my own experience. Some foods I’d never have eaten years ago are now favourites of mine.
Miss Polkadot recently posted..WIAW … with odds, ends and lots of beans
Yes, the blended chia seeds make the hot chocolate lovely and creamy. They also make the drink really filling, which is why I sometimes have it for breakfast. It leaves me feeling full up all morning! I’m not sure if you saw my recipe, but here’s the link just in case… http://bitofthegoodstuff.com/?p=6942
The list of foods that Lil’ L likes is slowly growing all the time (which is great!) And, like you, some of the foods that he used to detest, like mushrooms and goji berries, are now some of his favourites! Hopefully fruit in savoury dishes will make it onto the ‘like’ list one day
That Thai vegetable curry looks amazing! Thanks for linking the recipe
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Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl recently posted..Mexican Chili Mac Bake