The Green Kitchen Project, recipe no.1

I am so in love with my newest cookbook, The Green Kitchen. As I wrote earlier I'd like to do what Julie did to Julia Child's cookbook (in the film Julie&Julia) with it. Cook it through and document it here. If I remember right Julie cooked a recipe per day but I'm thinking more like once a week or so and I'm propably not setting a particular day in a week either, at least not yet, to keep it fun and spontaneous.

I actually already kicked off the project when I last had Helena over for breakfast with Banana & Coconut Pancakes. Oh my goodness these are good.

FLOUR-FREE BANANA & COCONUT PANCAKES

(makes about 15)

3 ripe bananas
6 eggs
50g-75g shredded coconut
(150g blueberries)
0,5tsp ground cinnamon
coconut oil for frying


Mash the bananas with a fork. Beat the eggs lightly and add them and the rest of the ingredients. (I use about 75g of shredded coconut; the blog version of this recipe calls for 100g and the book version for 50g. I like using more than 50g because then the batter is thicker and so will the pancakes be.) I have now made these both with and without blueberries in the batter and I prefer having blueberries fresh on the side. Bake 3-4 pancakes at a time in a regular pan on medium heat (these burn easily). The Green Kitchen suggests maple syrup and/or plain yoghurt for serving; I serve these with fresh berries, maple syrup and quark.

I am very excited about this project; I'm sure there are plenty of amazing recipes in the book I would never try out otherwise (because you never really cook your cookbooks through, do you). The Green Kitchen also seems to be a perfect summertime cookbook and will definitely travel up north with me for July.

The Green Kitchen Project, here we go!

(photo by Helena Mackey)

It's finally getting warmer, how lovely! My jaw dropped this morning when I looked out the window and realized they'd put the table out in our backyard garden. I just had to have lunch outside. On Tuesday when I got to work the loveliest surprise was waiting for me there: Mr. Basil! (Jessika, you're a sweetheart.) To accompany it I planted some wild arugula; we'll see how that goes. And inspired by the warmth I made myself a pair of shorts from Helena's old jeans. New favorites!

Have a good Thursday folks!

Here's a new breakfast favorite:

SPINACH RICOTTA FRITTATAS

(makes 5 frittatas in a muffin tray)

4 to 5 handfuls of fresh spinach
4 eggs
100ml whole milk
75ml freshly grated parmesan
2 heap tablespoons ricotta
salt
a pinch black pepper
pea sprouts for garnish


Drain spinach and cook it in a dry frying pan for about a minute, turning frequently, until it wilts. Mix eggs, milk, cheeses, salt and pepper in a bowl (ricotta doesn't need to blend smoothly; clumps of it will be nice in the frittatas) and add spinach. Cut 5 squares of about 15x15cm of baking paper (I greased the papers with a little olive oil to make sure I'd get the frittatas out nicely) and put them in the holes of a muffin tray. Bake in 200 celsius for about 12-15 minutes. Garnish with pea sprouts.

I had Helena over for breakfast on Tuesday on her last morning in Helsinki. How precious and how odd (I still can't really grasp it). I will miss that smiling face, her bubbly laughter and her amazing, warm heart. But I am so excited about her bravely turning a new page, not knowing all that it brings. Sweetheart, embrace it all.

I was so delighted to have Henna and Markus over for a week after Easter (I miss them alot and often). We ate lots of good food and tried out recipes from my new Indian cookbook with great success. We walked around downtown (and accidentally found a wonderful antique shop Fasaani Antik in Punavuori) and took it easy. I was left with yummy leftovers in the fridge and flowers on the windowsill. Very happy.





On Sunday me and Helena had brunch at Goodpie Bakery's Galleria Keidas (Fleminginkatu 7). Bread was delicious as always and warm from the oven, granola, halloumi omelet and cheeses were tasty, DJ played Nina Simone on LP and there was Matti Pikkujämsä´s art on the walls. Nothing beat the lovely company though.

A long awaited mail came just as I was about to sit down for breakfast! What a lovely, heartfelt and inspiring book. I love their blog but it's even better to have the recipes on pages to flip through. (To order yours inexpensive go here.) This book will definitely deserve lots of my time and attention (and maybe even what Julie did to Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in the film)!

My favorite blogs

Green Kitchen Stories
Mouth-watering recipes for healthy, vegetarian food. Beautiful pictures and heartfelt stories. They live my dream.

capturinglifethrougthelens
My sweet, sweet friend Helena shares her photography.

The Sprouted Kitchen
Whole, clean cooking that is about the food at hand. I so share their love for the kitchen and shared meals.

dive in
A collection of inspiring photos.

bleubird
A blog I've been following for quite a while already on the colourful everyday life of James, Aubrey and their four children in Tennessee.

Kaikki mitä rakastin
I love Eeva's unpretentious and witty style in writing about simple, everyday things (like her relationship to her couch).

Kauhaa ja rakkautta
Eeva cooks fancy simply.

Sandra Juto
Lots of photo walks and coffee in Berlin.

Sincerely, Kinsey
A lovely serene atmosphere and beautiful photos and stories.

A Beautiful Mess
Inspiring DIY projects!

Holiday. Family and friends around different tables. Happy days.