Thai Pumpkin Soup

Thai pumpkin soup is my first creation from the organic food box. The soup is really simple, takes about half an hour and its hearty and warming. 

With the veggies from the food co-op, meals like this one are super cheap. This soup cost less than $10, eat your heart out Kurtis Stone. I even have plenty left over for lunch.  

The following ingredient list makes around 4 average size serves.

• 1/4 Kent Pumpkin
• 2 medium carrots
• 2 small brown onions 
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 cup red lentils
• 1 tbl spoon red curry paste
• 1 litre chicken stock
• 150ml coconut milk 

Dice the onion, pumpkin and carrot into small cubes. Throw the veggies into a large soup pot with a knob of butter and a lug of olive oil.  Add the crushed garlic, red curry paste and season with salt and pepper. 

Cook on a medium heat for between 5-10 minutes and then add a cup of water. Leave to simmer for another 5 minutes. Add the cup of lentils and 1 litre of chicken stock cover and let simmer again for 10 minutes to allow the lentils to soften. When the lentils are soft, add the coconut milk. 

Use a blender or stab mixer to wazz the soup up. Be very careful to not get hot orange goop all over your kitchen! I found that the soup had a nice smooth consistency, but if you use a little more pumpkin you may need to add some more liquid. 

Serve with a dollop of sour cream! Yummm. 

North Fitzroy Arms

296 Rae Street, 
North Fitzroy 

Jeff and I have driven past the North Fitzroy Arms about a hundred times in the last few months. Every time I say 'Oh we should go there!' It's getting old, but tonight we finally remembered to check it out! 

Tucked away in quiet Rae Street, the Arms is a sweet little local with a bar at the front, a restaurant out the back and a pretty good menu. There are plenty of gluten free and vego options and heaps of wine by the glass. 

Tonight I had a seafood spaghetti with chili and a glass of Mornington Peninsula Pinot. 

Jeff had the fish of the day which was Atlantic Salmon on a light tomato risotto.

Both dishes were excellent. My seafood pasta was light and fresh tasting, the prawns and mussels were juicy and the chili really lifted the white wine sauce.

The service was friendly and the atmosphere was relaxed and warm. Its seems like a place that a lot of people love, people seem at ease here.

Both our mains and a glass of wine each came to $66. We really loved the Arms and were talking about what we wanted to order next time.

Moreland Organic Food Co-op

Thanks to Carla's recommendation on Easy as (vegan) pie I decided to give the Moreland Organic Food Co-op a go....and i love it! I have been like a little kid waiting for Christmas this week. 

I'm really astounded by how great the value is, I don't know how we are going to eat it all, but I'm sure we will manage. 

This weeks box has:

• Carrots
• Onion
• Cauliflower
• Pumpkin
• Cos and baby spinach
• Apples
• Bananas
• Custard Apple
• Red grapes; and
• Sweet corn

I really encourage anyone who lives in the area to give it a go, the above box is $25 and its local and organic. You can trial the co-op for a month before joining for $30.

To learn more about how the co-op works and how to get involved check out Carla's post, its very detailed! or email morelandvegiecoop@gmail.com   

Cheese affair

I want to marry this cheese. 

What you are looking at here, is some fine South Gippsland Shadow of Blue, stocked in the deli at my favorite supermarket, Piedimonte's.  

The cheese has a rich and creamy flavour and finishes with a lovely sharpness. Its not to overpowering, and is best eaten at room temperature. Wonderful with a cold Pinto Grigio, on a Saturday afternoon, or any other time really.