Food porn and a bump

Congratulations to Roasted Sweet Potatoes which turns one month today. When I started this blog I said I'd keep going for a month and then see how I felt about it. I'm happy to announce that I like it more than expected and I'll keep going for another little while. When I started wrestling I also said that I'd try it for a month or two, and twelve years later I'm still doing it, although I'm having a long timeout at the moment.

Apart from loads of lazy food, mainly consisting of pasta in various forms and green vegetables, there have been some rather good food moments this month too. Let's take a look.

Baked sweet potatoes with gorgonzola, beetroot burger with goat's cheese and feta cheese salad. Oh, cheese love.

Bruschetta with tomatoes and mozzarella, roasted new potatoes, bean burger and garlic bread.

A breakfast of banana yoghurt, eggs, tomatoes, coffee ... and a chocolate ball.

I made flapjacks for the first time ever.

And discovered a new favourite in kidney bean and walnut burgers - here served with baked sweet potatoes and roasted halloumi.

Another breakfast. Homemade bread this time.

Lastly, the least pretentious food you can make, but it's both tasty and healthy, especially with green pesto and chopped walnuts. I just love it.

October was good for other reasons too. Although I'm still haunted by heartburn and vomiting, I've had a lot more days without sickness lately. On top of that I visited the midwife today and it seems like the baby is growing perfectly. Hurrah for you too little champ.

A spontaneous one at Joshua Brooks

You know those evenings when you have something in mind and it turns out completely different but it ends up being much nicer than anything you had expected? In any case, let me tell you about it.

It wasn't a particularly nice day, I was tired and didn't feel like doing much at all. The afternoon turned to early evening and Jon asked if I wanted to go and watch the football. I hesitated for a while but decided that it could actually be good to get some fresh air and leave the flat for a couple of hours. When you're six months pregnant, that's quite an adventure in itself.

We set off for Lass O'Gowrie, where we had also decided to get something to eat. According to their website they served food until 8 pm but as we arrived it turned out they didn't. I was starving and when I'm hungry I need to eat straight away, otherwise things can turn a little uncomfortable.

Our first thought was to go to Spar for a sandwich and then head back to the pub, but instead we settled for something much nicer and went to what-was-for-me an entirely new pub, Joshua Brooks. Although it's right beside Lass, I had never been there before. I'm happy my record changed this evening.

So with the expectation of nothing than boring pub food; a frozen pie that's put in the microwave for a few minutes, we ordered a pie each as nothing else was available. However, they were much beyond our expectations, surprisingly tasty and with smooth buttery mashed potato and lovely mushy peas with mint and a hint of lemon as sides, it turned out to be a really nice meal.

Goosnargh Chicken, Stornaway Black Pudding, Apple and Mustard Pie (£4.50) with Creamy Mashed Potato (£0.75)

Leek and Potato Pea Cream with White Truffle Oil Pie (£4.50) with Mushy Peas with Mint (£0.75)

I had water all evening but Jon had a couple from the Slightly Foxed range that was on tap (£2.30). Aside from this, the bottled beer selection looked impressive and I can assure you that I'll be back once I can enjoy beer again.

Papers, beer and pistachio nuts

The atmosphere wasn't that of a typical football pub, but then it wasn't a big football night, so I guess my judgement is halting a little. I got the impression that the audience was a good mix of both ages and genders, the service was friendly and the overall atmosphere unpretentious, nice and relaxed. One couldn't really ask for much more on a Tuesday night.

Vegetarian selection: 6/10
Vegetarian food: 7/10
Non-vegetarian selection: 4/10
Non-vegetarian food: 7/10
Service: 7/10
Value for money: 8/10
39/60

 

Controversial toast, non-alcoholic beer and a haircut

I believe it's time to explain a thing or two. Like why it seems I only drink tap water and non-alcoholic cocktails.

Maybe you've already figured it out, but I'm pregnant, a little more than six months to be exact. In case you want to read more about my pregnancy, I wrote a column that was published in Body Confidential two weeks ago. Here it is.

It's only fair that I tell my blog too because it's affecting both my writing and inspiration in the kitchen. One aspect is of course that I can't eat or drink whatever I want. Although I'm keen on tomato juice with Tabasco and black pepper, it's just not the same without vodka.

A bigger problem, however, are days like yesterday, when I was supposed to make a new soup but due to sickness I just couldn't think of anything but plain toast and cold pasta with ketchup. Not the most exotic for a food blog but what can I say? I'll do my best to make up for it in a couple of months. In the meantime I guess you better get used to lazy meals and sometimes less frequent updates.

Anyway, as I prepared yesterday's toast I had to take a photo. Does anyone else make a little house with their toast???

It's so that it goes cold quicker. We always did like this when the builders came in for breakfast in the sandwich deli where I used to work. While I think it's clever, someone else in this household thinks it's completely bonkers.

Apart from Monday, which was spent in bed with a bucket next to me, the weekend was beautiful as ever. Friday I had two little boys visiting which was a good reason to make Swedish Chocolate Balls. Needless to say, they went down well.

Saturday I went to Sainbury's and discovered Beck's non-alcoholic beer, which was really nice compared to most other brands I've tried. Of course I understand that it's nothing like drinking proper beer, but until that day, it'll do.

Beck's non-alcoholic beer, as if there wasn't enough carbs already

Sunday was football, nuts and sparkling water in the pub, and risotto and a spontaneous haircut in the evening.

Spinach and Parmesan Sauce

Last week I made these lentils burgers, served with pearl barley and a sauce of spinach and parmesan. I'd made the spinach sauce with cream and salt before but as I was walking home from the supermarket discussing what I was cooking that evening, Jon said "Oh, that one with spinach and parmesan?" Eh no, I've never heard of that one before, but I'll try it tonight, thank you very much.

So it was the first time I made the sauce, from a recipe that didn't even exist an hour earlier - well, I'm sure it exists, but not to my knowledge - and I will most definitely do it again. It matched the subtle taste of the pearl barley perfectly and it was very simple to make. All you need is spinach, cream and parmesan. Because of the cheese, you don't even need salt.

Pearl barley, lentil burgers with spinach and parmesan sauce

Cooking time: 5 min
Serves 2

5 chunks (around 100g) of frozen spinach
200 ml cream
1 dl grated parmesan

Heat the spinach in a sauce pan. Add the cream and parmesan, and stir. Leave to simmer under a lid for a few minutes.

Swedish Chocolate Balls

Chocolate balls is a favourite recipe that pretty much every child in Sweden know by the age of three, they are really that simple to make. But with their rich cocoa flavour and hint of coffee they're not only suitable for children, but a delicious treat for any adult as well.

If you like them a little more chocolatey, just increase the amount of cocoa powder. Instant coffee is fine, but if you've got proper dark roasted coffee, I'll advise you to use it.

Swedish Chocolate Balls

Preparation time: 15 min
15 balls

100g butter - best at room temperature
2 dl sugar
3 dl oats
3,5 tbsp cocoa powder
3,5 tbsp cold black coffee
1/2 dl coconut flakes

Mix everything thoroughly, until there are no lumps of butter left. You probably have to get your hands dirty.
Form about 15 balls and roll them in coconut flakes.
Put them in the fridge to harden for an hour.

Lentil Burgers With Oregano and Cheddar

Lentil burgers with oregano and cheddar

Cooking time: 30 min
8 burgers 

2 dl red lentils
1,5 dl oats
1 large onion
1 chilli
1 large carrot
1 green pepper
1 dl grated cheddar
1 tsp oregano
Olive oil
Vegetable oil

Bring the lentils to the boil in 4 dl of water. Stir, lower the heat and let them simmer under a lid until soft, about 10 min.
Chop the onion, chilli and pepper, and put them in olive oil in a medium hot pan. Grate the carrot and add to the pan.
When the lentils are ready, mix everything. Add the cheddar and oats and stir thoroughly.
Leave the mix to settle for 10 min.
Form round burgers and fry in vegetable oil in a hot pan until they've gone a little brown.

End of October afternoon status

If it's still sunny when you wake up in the morning...

... it's not too late to have a tomtato juice in the afternoon sunshine.

Peanut Butter and Date Flapjacks

About two or three times a year something rather strange happen and I decide to bake sweet stuff. This time I suddenly felt a huge urge to drink Swedish coffee for the first time in six months and nibble on something other than dark chocolate with it.

A while back I found a recipe for flapjacks in the Guardian and came up with the ingenious idea to remove a few things, especially the amount of butter and sugar, and add peanut butter and dates instead. It was my first go at making flapjacks and I made two mistakes:

1. I didn't use baking paper, and ended up with slightly burnt edges. Not the biggest deal but if it's avoidable, I'll advise you to use it.

2. I was too excited and cut almost straight away after they had come out of the oven. Leave them to cool completely before cutting otherwise they might fall apart, though they taste just as nice.

Use baking paper and leave to cool completely before cutting

Prep time: 10 min
Cooking time: 20 min
16 squares

2.5 dl oats
60g brown sugar
60g butter
60g peanut butter
1 dl chopped dates

Heat the oven to 180 C.
Melt the butter, peanut butter and sugar in a pan until the sugar is dissolved.
Stir in the oats and dates.
Smooth into a 20cm square cake tin, or something similar, greased and lined with baking paper.
Put it in the oven for 20 min.
Leave to cool completely, then cut into smaller pieces.

Peanut butter and date flapjack

Green Halloumi Pasta

Let me introduce you to one of my many lazy meals. I pretty much throw in whatever I have at home so feel free to remove or add anything you find appropriate. Lazy food isn't such a bad thing as long as the basic foods in your cupboard are somewhat nutritious and tasty, that way it's never hard to make a decent meal. For instance, in this house you'll always find beans, fresh and frozen vegetables, eggs and nuts.

Pasta with green vegetables, halloumi and lemon juice

Cooking time: 10-12 min
Serves 1

50g wholegrain fusilli
80g (about 1/3 of a standard packet) halloumi
5 spring onions
4 spears of asparagus 
1/3 chilli
3 chunks of frozen spinach
1/2 tin of kidney beans (or peas if you don't have beans)
1/2 lemon
Olive oil
Black pepper and/or chilli powder

Bring a pan of water to the boil and add the fusilli.
Chop the spring onion and chilli finely, the asparagus into 1-2 cm pieces and the halloumi into cubes.
Put olive oil in a medium hot pan and add the chopped ingredients. Add the spinach, beans and black pepper, and stir.
When the pasta is ready, mix it with the other ingredients.
Squeeze the lemon juice over and serve.

Butternut Squash, Red Lentil and Broccoli Soup

Hello soup Monday. If you've got any leftovers from making the pasta I posted last week, this is a perfect soup to make today, and if not, it's still a pretty good one. Enjoy. 

Butternut squash, red lentil and broccoli soup with lemon juice

Prep time: 5 min
Cooking time: 25 min
Serves 2

1 butternut squash
1 large onion
1 dl red lentils
50g broccoli
1 vegetable stock cube
1/2 lemon
Olive oil
Salt and black pepper

Bring 6 dl of water to the boil and mix with the stock cube.
Peel the butternut squash and rinse the seeds. Chop it into smaller pieces.
Chop the onion and broccoli and put them, together with the butternut squash, in some olive oil in a medium hot pan. Stir for a minute.
Pour the water over and aadd the lentils. Season with salt and black pepper and stir.
Leave under a lid for about 20 min.
Mash the soup if you want it smooth.
Add the juice from the lemon.

A birthday at Richmond Tea Rooms

A week ago, the time had come for a group of 15-20 people to gather for a birthday celebration at Richmond Tea Rooms. I was one of them.

As we arrived, the staff looked a bit stressed, and although we had reserved our places they didn't seem to know how many of us to expect. Room got tight, but at least we all had somewhere to sit so everybody seemed happy.

Richmond Tea Rooms

For the rest of the afternoon and early evening the service was a bit messy, but it didn't really bother me. What else can you expect when going for afternoon tea on a Saturday afternoon, in a group of more than 15 chatty women?

I wasn't that hungry, nor do I fancy sweet cakes, so the natural thing for me to order wasn't one of the afternoon tea sets. Although they seemed impressive, I remember three years back when I ordered one for the first in my life in the Midlands Hotel; I hardly finished half of it, purely due to its size.

I thought I'd be more sensible and ordered a Club Veggie sandwich (£5.95). It would prove to be a good choice.

Club Veggie

The only downfall was that it came with crisps. It said so in the menu so it wasn't a surprise, but still. I know it's just me being weird, but crisps?

For a Swede it's impossible to consider crisps a food. I'm struck by how many Brits seem to dine on these oily potato flakes for their lunch. It doesn't matter what it's plated with, it will make any dish look hundred times poorer and greasier.

Other than that the Club Veggie was very fresh and tasty.

It consisted of a toasted onion bread with three layers of roasted peppers, rocket, goat's cheese and pesto mayonnaise, a colourful salad with a mustard dressing on the side and best of all; homemade coleslaw. Full of flavours and both crispy and smooth at the same time. This was my favourite part of the meal.

For various reasons I drank tap water the entire time so I haven't got much to say about the drinks.

However, my fellow celebrants were more keen on alcoholic indulgence, as well as the sweet and savoury afternoon teas. A few of them ordered the bubbly Richmond Tea (£23.95) including champagne, tea and the full selection of cakes, scones and sandwiches. These were available as a vegetarian option too.

Richmond Tea

To judge by their reactions it was a successful choice, although I didn't spot a single one finishing all of it. You can bet they asked for doggie bags though. Good value for money? Most certainly.

Richmond Tea cake selection

Richmond Tea fruit scone

I had finished my sandwich while the others were still nibbling on their finger sandwiches, so I felt like I should at least try some of the dessert. After all, it was a birthday. I ordered Chocolate Fudge Cake (£3.95), and I wasn't just surprised by the size of it. It tasted of rich dark chocolate heaven, perfectly balanced with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Fantastic! Though it was so rich I couldn't even finish half of it. Thankfully, the others came to my assistance.

Chocolate Fudge Cake

Overall it was a lovely visit. The atmosphere isn't overly fancy but really relaxed. It's suitable for everyone, whether it's just the two of you, or you're going as a family or a bigger group. If you're going on a Saturday however, make sure to book in advance as the place seems to fill up quickly, and it's easy to understand why.

Vegetarian selection: 7/10
Vegetarian food: 8/10
Non-vegetarian selection: 7/10
Non-vegetarian food: 7/10
Service: 6/10
Value for money: 7/10
42/60

Butternut Squash Pasta with Lemon Quorn Fillets

While this might be the most complicated recipe so far, don't worry, it's still really simple. Believe me, otherwise it wouldn't qualify for this blog.

This dish is perfect for a grey autumn afternoon, not just because of its colour but the flavours come together very nicely.

Of course you could make just the pasta or the quorn on its own, or add other components. Don't be afraid of experimenting.

Butternut squash pasta with lemon quorn fillets and vegetables

Prep time: 5-10 min
Cooking time: 20 min
Serves 2

For the pasta
1 butternut squash
100g wholegrain spaghetti
20g butter
1 dl finely grated parmesan
Salt and black pepper

For the quorn
2 quorn fillets
1 dl frozen peas
4 large spears of asparagus
1/2 leek
1/3 chilli
1/2 lemon
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt

Heat the oven to 200 C.
Bring about 1/2 liter of water to the boil.
Peel the butternut squash, cut it in half and rinse the seeds, then cut it into smaller pieces.
Place the butternut squash in the boiling water, lower the heat and leave under a lid for about 20 min, until it's mashable.
Cut a 50 cm long piece of kitchen foil and place the quorn fillets on the foil.
Chop the leek and chilli and place it, together with the asparagus, on top of the quorn.
Pour the olive oil, salt and juice of the lemon over everything and fold a packet of the foil and put it in the oven for 15-20 min.
Make the spaghetti.
Pour out the water and mash the butternut squash. Add butter, parmesan, and salt and black pepper, and stir.
When the pasta is ready, mix it with the mash. Stir thoroughly.
Serve with the quorn and vegetables on top.

Served with rocket salad

Manchester food blogs I follow

Most of these blogs are more about dining and reviews than cooking but nonetheless it's worth checking them out.

North West Nosh
Brutally honest and no-nonsense reviews without fluff. Highly amusing.

Lickerish Split
More thoughtful and deeper than other similar blogs.

Mean Miss Mustard
Vegetarian mix of homemade cooking and dining reviews.

Good Gobble
Inspiring and just how a blog should be. Everything you need food wise.

Bacon on the Beech
Reviews full of interesting information and lots of photos.

Food Geek
He can eat, a lot. When you think he's on the second main he's still on the starters. Not exclusively vegetarian but covers a lot of veggie dishes.

Mrs Petticoat
Entertaining, personal and straightforward writing/reviews.

Bean and Vegetable Quesadillas

So the comfort food season is almost blooming. From now on it's gonna get wetter and darker, and even wetter. It's probably the hardest time of the year to resist giving in to food temptations. But next time you feel that massive carb and fat addiction making itself apparent - think twice - and try these simple cheesy quesadillas before calling for a pizza delivery.

Quesadillas with kidney beans, tomatoes, sweet pepper, leek, gorgonzola and cheddar

Cooking time: 10 min
Serves 2

2 large tortillas
1/2 tin (200g) of kidney beans 
1 tomato
1 pepper
1/2 leek
30g gorgonzola
1/2 dl grated cheddar
2 tbsp natural yoghurt

Heat the oven to 175 C.
Place both the tortillas on an oven tray. Don't worry if they don't fit completely.
Spread the gorgonzola over half of each tortilla.
Chop the tomato, pepper and leek and spread it over the gorgonzola.
Drop the cheddar on top, then fold the other half of the tortilla over.
Place in the oven for 6-8 min.
Serve with natural yoghurt. Add chilli powder and black pepper to the yoghurt if you want.

A nibble of The Whim Wham Cafe

If you're looking for a cosy and relaxed spot on a chilly autumn Saturday evening, The Whim Wham Cafe is the place to go.

I had only been once before, on a sweaty summer day. Already then I liked it, but it was rather empty and the atmosphere felt a bit flat. I remember having a light refreshing salad but that was all I could manage because of the heat.

Except from nibbling on some olives and peanuts, I didn't eat this time. According to Jon the olives were "reeeally nice", though I think that was more down to hunger than the actual quality of the olives. I was busy studying people, enjoying the interiors and drinking my non-alcoholic Elderflower and Mint cocktail.
 
Whim Wham is designed to look like an old train carriage. You have to see it to get it, but it's retro in a balanced, not too stylish, way.

The crowd appears to be rather mixed. You get the hipsters; the sort that doesn't seem bothered about anything but having a good time. Then you get those totally weird groups of people that you just can't define. They're always a good sign though - no one has to feel excluded.

The menu doesn't offer that much vegetarian food but some of it sounds really tempting. Next time I think I'll have to try the Blueberry, Mint & Pickled Walnut Salad and the Beetroot Bourguignon. If it's not perfect, I probably won't mind, I'm sure the atmosphere will make up for it.

Vegetarian Pasta Bolognese

Monday is normally bolognese day in this household. Like I said, it's one of my favourites. Though the more winter is approaching, the more it seems to turn into a soup day. Therefore I thought I should post my vegetarian bolognese before it gets too chilly out there. Sometimes I make a similar tomato sauce, only without the lentils and soy mince and with added vegetarian meatballs from Asda instead.

Prep time: 5 min
Cooking time: about 25 min
Serves 2-3

1 large onion
2 garlic cloves
1/2 chilli
2 dl soy mince
1/2 dl red lentils
1 tin (400g) chopped tomatoes
3 tbsp olive oil
Soy sauce
Basil
Salt and black pepper
(2 tbsp natural yoghurt)

Chop the onion, garlic and chilli. Add them to a medium hot pan and stir actively in olive oil, until it's got a little colour. Make sure to not burn.
Add the soy mince. Season with soy sauce, salt and black pepper. Stir more.
Add the chopped tomatoes, lentils and yoghurt (just leave the yoghurt out if you're vegan).
When the sauce is starting to boil, lower the heat and put on a lid.
Leave to simmer for 25 min, stir once in a while.
If the sauce seems to be getting dry, add about 1/2 dl of water.
During this time, make the (wholegrain) pasta.
When everything is plated, add basil, either fresh or dry.

I love to add grated parmesan or cheddar on top

Birthdays, vegetarianism and cheese

Garlic bread with cheese for my birthday

It's sunny, it's Saturday and yesterday was B's birthday. Today we're celebrating by going to Richmond Tea Rooms. I've never been there but I've heard good stuff and to judge by the menu, we're in for a good time. If nothing else it will be exciting to meet up with everyone.

Meanwhile I thought we should get to know each other a little better, at least one way around. The infamous blogosphere way of doing that is by interviewing yourself, and I'm no exception, so here we go...


You're a personal trainer and wrestler. Why do you write about food?
Last year I was pretty active on my PT blog writing about fitness, health and eating. To me those subjects go hand in hand, but it felt like the food posts didn't always fit in. Eating is not only a health issue in terms of nutrients, it's also about enjoyment and a pleasure that we shouldn't feel stressed or guilty about, as that's not exactly healthy either.

I started thinking of writing about food separately but at the time I was so busy that I didn't get around to it, but now I've got a bit more time on my hands so I thought 'why not?'

Does Internet really need another food blog?
Hmm, does Internet really need anything, except perhaps being fed new content? I've heard that Internet is about democracy and in such a system there should be room for everyone.

To be more specific however: yes, although I love to drool over recipes containing 28 steps of how to get the perfect mash - and believe me, Internet is full of those - I think it's hard to get to anybody but already convinced food geeks with that sort of cooking.

My aim is to be more about ideas than precision; about how to easily and quickly eat a little bit better thanks to a lot more simple homemade food.

Why the name 'Roasted Sweet Potatoes'?
I wanted something that's associated with comfort food, but something healthier than chips and pizza from the local takeaway. Roasted sweet potatoes is pretty close to the best comfort food I know.

Why a vegetarian blog?
Because I'm a vegetarian, and have been for the last 16 years. I honestly wouldn't have a clue how to prepare or cook meat. I know how to fry sausages and fish fingers, but that's about it.

So why did you become a vegetarian?
When I was 12 I started hanging out with some really clever people. We used to meet up, make vegan taco buffets and talk about interesting stuff, like meat. I became more and more convinced that I didn't want to support the meat industry, me and my mum agreed that I would eat vegetarian for a test period and I realised how easy it actually was. I haven't looked back since. Any little good I can do, I will try my best to do - that doesn't just concern meat.

However, it's not only for ethical reasons, but also about health. I've always felt really fit, strong and energetic on a vegetarian diet. It works well for me so I can't see any reason why I would need meat. Nor can I see why my guts would be very much different from anyone else's.

Though this blog is not about persuading anyone to eat this and that. I just want to offer ideas about how to eat greener and I hope that meat eaters will find some of them useful as well.

Why doesn't your food look prettier?
I prefer taste, texture and simplicity and leave the prettiness to other bloggers.

What's your favourite dish?
Pasta bolognese, risotto, everything my mum cooks and pretty much anything with cheese. If I really had to pick just one, it'd be cheese. That's a dish, right?

Vegetarian Pasta Bolognese

Favourite fruit, vegetable and root?
Tomato, onion and sweet potato.

And last, best drink?
Beer and water, please don't make me choose...

Wholemeal Bread with Apricots and Dates

Chopped dried apricots and dates.

Who thought I would ever post a bread recipe? I never used to make bread. Then last year I suddenly got in a bread mood. At the same time I started to make lots of soups which I think is part of the explanation. In case you didn't know it, homemade bread and soup were born for each other.

Anyway, I found some recipes and started experimenting. I fell for one in particular, that promised to not take any longer than 40 min, which included 30 min in the oven, while you can do squats or something else.

Make the dough, place it in the oven and take it out - and it is really that simple. So is there only one bread you're ever gonna make in your life, make it this one. You'll thank me afterwards.

Originally the recipe (from the Guardian I think) contained nuts, salt and more honey but I adjusted it and like to use dried apricots and dates instead of nuts, and cut down slightly on the honey. Feel free to give it your own personality though.

Prep time: 10 min
Cooking time: 25-30 min
1 loaf

4 dl wholemeal flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 dl chopped dried apricots and dates (or more if you prefer)
1 dl yoghurt
1 dl milk
1 tbsp runny honey
1 tbsp rapeseed oil

Heat the oven to 200 C.
Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda, apricots and dates in a bowl. Stir.
Mix the rest of the ingredients in a separate bowl. Stir.
Mix it all together and work thoroughly, until you've got a solid round shaped dough.
Spread some flour over an oven tray and place the dough on top.
Cut a cross on top of the dough, about 1 cm deep.
Put it in into the oven for 25-30 min.

Great to serve with a tasty soup, perhaps this sweet potato and lentil one, or just for breakfast.

Sweet Potato, Lentil and Leek Soup

So, autumn is finally here. Jumpers, hats, waterproof boots, candles, homemade breads and soups. UK is supposed to get cooler by the end of the week so what better way to keep warm than by making simple, nutritious and delicious soups?

Sweet potato, lentil and leek soup

Prep time: 10 min
Cooking time: 25 min
Serves 2

1 dl red lentils
1 large sweet potato
1 leek
1 garlic clove
1 vegetable stock cube
6 dl water
3 tbsp natural yoghurt
Olive oil
Black pepper

Chop the leak and garlic finely and the potato into cubes.
Put olive oil, leek, garlic and black pepper in a pan on medium heat. Stir until they've got a bit of colour.
Boil 6 dl of water and mix with the stock cube.
Pour the stock into the pan, then the potatoes and lentils.
Cover with a lid and leave on low heat for 25 min.
Mash everything (or leave as it is if you prefer a lumpy soup).
Stir in the yoghurt and serve.

5 cooking blogs I follow

Today my blog celebrates one week - Hurrah! - so I thought we could take a little look at some of the bloggers that inspired me to start. This list is longer and eventually I should make a proper blogroll. Feel free to get in touch if you've got anyone to recommend. For now however, check out these five foodie stars...

Cookie + Kate
I think you could say that Kate's blog is somewhat of a holy book for food bloggers. She's got mouthwatering recipes, wonderful photos and even guides on how to run your own food blog, take food photos etc. So much inspiration in just one little blog.

The First Mess
Although I don't cook anywhere near as complex as The First Mess - that's kind of the point with my cooking - she's someone who'll inspire anyone. Plus she takes some heavenly photos.

Love & Lemons
This blog has recipes boiling of just that; love and lemons, plus a lot more. Beautiful, delicate, and mostly vegetarian.

Vegoriket
Mattias is Swedish like me. He lives a hectic, non-perfect life and often cooks really simple, but oh so lovely, vegetarian food. Just like me ;)

Naturally Ella
I wanna dive in and eat everything from this blog. No, I mean everything. Simple, nutritious and beautiful food at its best.