GUEST SPOT: 5THANDJANE

Ahead of a busy week in New York, better known as Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, 5thandJane kindly offered me a guest spot on their blog. Here's to a week of amazing fashion shows and parties! Cheers...

BAKED OATMEAL (PORRIDGE)

Oatmeal or porridge, whatever you want to call it, this IS the breakfast of champions. Great for a winter's day...eating it is like snuggling in a warm fluffy bed.

I was introduced to baked oatmeal, on one of my many visits to Blue Bird, on an especially cold morning in New York. It looked like a muffin, but it wasn't, they said it was oatmeal but it didn't look like it. I knew it would be delicious, everything at Blue Bird is. I was intrigued when they said it is served with steamed milk. After finishing it, I was hooked, but I knew I had to attempt it on my own, to control the sugar intake.

My version, for you to enjoy! 

BAKED (ADDICTIVE) OATMEAL (for 2 x 18oz ovenproof dishes)

Ingredients (serves 2):
1 cup rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup roughly chopped nuts (hazelnuts, almonds, or walnuts)
1 cup milk  (I used Goat's milk)
1 small egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 banana, sliced
1/3 cup of blueberries (or blackberries)
Butter, for greasing

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 400F (205C).
2. Grease two small oven proof dishes (18oz = 2 1/2 cups).
3. Mix the DRY ingredients in a bowl (oats, nuts, baking powder, cinnamon).
4. Whisk WET ingredients in another bowl (milk, maple syrup, vanilla, egg).
5. Arrange the banana slices to the base of the oven proof dishes.
6. Divide the dry ingredients between the two dishes.
7. Top the two oats with the milk mixture, again divide equally. 
8. Sprinkle top with the blueberries. 
9. Tap lightly on the bench to make sure the milk mixture settles. 
10. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes (check at 30 minutes as each oven is different). 

Optional: you can rehydrate with warmed milk after it's baked.

WELCOME TO MIAMI

Question: When the temperature drops below zero in NYC, where do you go?

Answer: Miami baby!

A white Christmas sounds good, but as an Aussie girl, I was desperate to thaw out from the sub-zero temps. With endless choices of where to go...there was one place we couldn't pass on, Miami. Three hours on a plane, and hello summer.

Mr. S has been once before, but for me, this was a whole-new-world. With only a week to research and book everything, it was time to put my game face on. It was all about the food and the sun. So I'm going to share my tips & hot spots to check out.

What we ate (and drank):

Dessert at Michael's Genuine Food

Breakfast of champions; fried chicken with biscuits

A cocktail with it's own lip-balm, SLS

Bazaar at SLS hotel: Dragon fruit ceviche, compete with foam

News cafe breakfast plate, did I mention this is for ONE!

La Sandwicherie, the salad was smaller, than the sandwich

Amazing tacos from Ola

Where (we wished &) we stayed:

SLS (poolside)

W Hotel

We stayed at Surf Comber

Restaurant recommendations:
- Michael's Genuine Food & Wine, the food is delicious with an ever changing menu - try go at lunch and enjoy the design district.
- Ola, rated the number one Mexican restaurant in South Beach, it's not traditional but worth a visit.
- Barton G, get your instragram shots ready, the most inventive ways of serving food you may ever see, Pop Tarts (made to order) served in a toaster.
- Juvia, South Beach is known for its architectural-carparks, and this restaurant sits up top, great views, go at sunset.  
- Yardbird Southern Table, we came for brunch & dinner on the same day. Nothing further needs to be said, just go eat there.
- Pinocchio, you'll feel like you've stepped out of Miami and into Italy. Great coffee for the Aussies who miss home.
- Scarpetta, you can't argue with a restaurant that serves, good meat, fish, pasta, sides, and makes it's own bread.   
- News Cafe, a great people watching experience as well as a very filling breakfast.
- The Dutch, we enjoyed several breakfasts here. There's great variety for a delicious breakfast, and has a great indoor-outdoor feel.
- La Sandwicherie, if you don't mind waiting, or eating on the run, you have to have a sandwich or salad here. they're big but delicious.
- Lantao, Surfcomber Hotel, if you feel like, Thai, you can't go past Lantao. 
- Casa Tua, the outside is so inviting you can't help but step in for an Italian meal.
- The 660, recommended for breakfast, and go hungry.
- Jerry's Famous Deli, there's nothing like a good Matzo ball soup in Miami, and there's no better place to get it than Jerry's.


Hotel recommendations:
- Fontainebleu
- SLS
- Surfcomber
- Delano
- Shelborne
- Dream Hotel
- W Hotel  

SWEETEST-SWEET POTATOES

I've unlocked the key to the perfect sweet potato dish! Mr. S is a HUGE fan of sweet potatoes, not regular potatoes, just sweet. Therefore, I'm always looking for new and exciting ways to cook them. On a Pinterest search I found it! Without much hint of a recipe, it was time to experiment.

So it was going to be just hubby and me for dinner, so it was time to put the picture to the test. I've now tested this a few times, and with a variety of guests, it was a hit, and I promise, not too complicated.

NB: When experimenting with a new/untested recipe, don't attempt to try it before six guests are walking through the front door, it's just less hassle to test it out a week before and then try the big reveal!

Ingredients (serves 4):
2 x large sweet potatoes, washed, with skin on
1/4 cup coconut flakes (you can use shredded if you have that)
1/4 coriander (cilantro), chopped
2 x shallots, chopped
1/4 pomegranate seeds
Salt and Pepper 
Alternative to pomegranate:
1/4 cup hazel nuts (and/or) almonds, roughly chopped
1 tsp maple syrup

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius (405F). 
2. Cut bot ends off the potato.
3. Using a regular fork, poke holes in sweet potato (approx 20) around the whole potato.
4. Place the two potatoes on a lined baking tray and place in the oven for 45mins - 1hour (depending on your oven). The best way to tell if they're ready is use a skewer and feel how easy it is to go through - they should be soft but not mushy. 
5. While the potatoes are in the oven combine the coconut, coriander, shallots in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. 
6. When the potatoes are ready, cut an oval opening (use the side that was facing down), scrap off any of the sweet potato flesh into a bowl.
7. Using tongs, scoop out most of the sweet potato flesh (from both) into the bowl and mash with a fork. 
8. Gently place the mash back into the two whole-baked potatoes. 
9. Sprinkle over the coriander mix and pomegranate seeds. 

Alternative to pomegranates:

1. In a bowl mix nuts with the maple syrup. 
2. Spread the mix on a lined baking tray, and cook in the oven for 5 mins. 
3. Keep an eye on the nuts so they don't burn. 
4. Once cooled, add to the coriander mix.

Complete meal suggestion (comment below if you would like the recipe to any of these):
Grilled chicken breast
Green salad with feta cheese
Oven roasted Brusselsprouts

COFFEE ADDICT IN NYC

OK, so my friends know this, and laugh at me, but I'll admit it to the world... Hi my name is Jordana, and I order a "weak, skim, latte, extra hot!" - yep that's my coffee order. Living in Sydney, I was totally spoiled with the coffee. The one hesitation I had when I knew we were moving was COFFEE. The US isn't known for it's Aussie-standard coffee. Or so I thought!

My coffee order is tres-complex, hubby however, depending on WWWH will order, macchiato, espresso, or cortado (like a 3/4 latte).

After three months in New York, I think I have a fairly comprehensive list of where I'm happy to drink (and order) my coffee.

OST
Location: 441 East 12th Street
It's a great place for a weekend-paper-read...and did I mention the Nutella biscuits!

THINK
Locations: 
248 Mercer Street
1 Bleecker Street 
73 8th Avenue 
123 4th Avenue 
730 Broadway (inside NYU bookstore)
Don't dis the chain! For a "chain-like" company I always feel a sense of home-coffee when I leave.

RUBY'S 
Location: 219 B Mulberry Street
Ok so I'm cheating a little, this cafe is owned by Aussies, but I can't resist! They serve a latte in a glass and they have vegemite toast on the menu.

BOWERY COFFEE
Location: 89 E Houston Street
Another cafe that serves latte's in a glass. Great coffee and it's only a stones throw away from my apartment - how could I go wrong?

MUD
Location: 307 9th Street 
I have to thank my sister-in-law. Having previously lived in NYC, and close by to our new apartment. MUD was her local and a "must-try."

BLUE BOTTLE
Locations:
450 West 15th Street 
1 Rockefeller Plaza, Concourse Level, Suite D
102 Franklin Street
160 Berry Street, Brooklyn
I can't take the credit for this, Tracy my BFF found them in San Fran (she used to live in Australia) and knew that it was up to my standards.

GROUNDED
Location: 28 Jane Street 
I'll be honest, I couldn't order my coffee when I saw the Nutella Latte on the menu!

88 ORCHARD
Location: 88 Orchard Street
It's a cozy locale in the LES. With a great menu to match the coffee. Plus free Wi-Fi.

71 IRVING PLACE 
Location: 71 Irving Place 
When I first moved to New York we lived around the corner. I spent many hours there, on my own, but never felt lonely. The Oatmeal with fruit is a perfect match to their iced coffee.

GASOLINE ALLEY COFFEE
Location: 331 Lafayette Street
Coffee served in a mason jar - wins everytime! Hubby and I stumbled on it while exploring our new hood and we haven't regretted it since!

BLUEBIRD CAFE
Location: 74 East 1st Street 
Originally set up by a Melbournian, its serves a mean latte (also in a glass)! Their granola and yoghurt is the perfect balance between sweet and tart.

TOBY'S ESTATE
Location: 125 North 6th Street, Brooklyn 
Yes another Aussie company has made its way over to the US shores. If you're an Aussie and feeling a little homesick, the coffee is the same, and they have Tim Tams!

IRIS CAFE
Location: 20 Columbia Place, Brooklyn
A cute cafe in amongst the terraces of Brooklyn Heights, this is a great breakfast lunch hang out. Thanks to Lauren Farmer for the intro to this place.

VINEAPPLE
Location: 71 Pineapple Street, Brooklyn
Another Lauren Farmer intro...the peppermint latte was delish, and we enjoyed many hours of "work" sitting at the tables, surrounded by chalkboard walls. Perfection.

MISSING MY WINDOW

While staying warm indoors in New York. I've been thinking about the warmth of Sydney and the beautiful window in the apartment there. So here are a few snaps I thought I'd share.

Sending love from New York to all my Sydneysiders.

QUICK & EASY DINNERS PART 1

OK! So what was supposed to be a 10 day trip back to Sydney, was extended thanks to Sandy the superstorm. We're now back in NYC, with power and hot-water.

After 2 months alone in New York, it was time to have our first international guests! My Mr's cousins from Amsterdam. They are both at university and living out of home, and couldn't wait to spend the week in New York with their cousin and to finally taste my food, rather than just drooling over instagram pictures. (The meal that I prepared for them will be coming in the next few days.)

This recipe however, is for Mu, she's living with eight (yes that's eight) girls in Utrecht and was desperate for some quick, cheap and easy dinner ideas. Looking through my past dinners, I realised almost all of them were done post-work, & post grocery shop.

So without further blabbing - I give you my Sabich recipe. Well maybe a little more blabber, to give the origin. One theory is Sabich comes from the Arabic word "sabach", which means morning, as the ingredients are typical of a Middle Eastern breakfast. The other is that it's an acronym in Hebrew Salad (סלט), Egg (ביצה), More Eggplant (יותר חציל).

Whatever the origin - it's delish and a great option for dinner - not to mention HEALTHY!

Ingredients: (this amount will be perfect for 2-3 dinners and lunches)
1 pkt Lebanese bread (you can use either wholemeal or white)
6 x hard boiled eggs, cut in quarters
2 x eggplant, cut into chips (skin on)
2 tbs olive oil
1-2 tsp Moroccan spices (depending on how spicy you like it)
1 x quarter red cabbage, sliced
3 tbs white vinegar
1/2 tsp caster sugar
3 x pickles, halved
3 x tomatoes, sliced (you can use any that are in season)
2 x Lebanese cucumbers, thinly sliced
Hummus (one of my favourite brands is Yalla)
Flat leaf parsley to garnish
Harrisa, optional

Method:
To cook the eggplant:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 220 degrees, fan forced.
2. Place the eggplant on a line baking tray.
3. Drizzle the olive oil over the eggplant, it doesn't have to completely cover the slice, just a little will do.
4. Sprinkle over the spices & place in the oven for 30-40 minutes, depending on your oven and the size of the eggplant. Take them out when they are a little dark around the edges, but still a little soft in the middle. 

Cut up the veggies while the eggplant is in the oven. 

To cook the cabbage: 

1. Put the cabbage, vinegar and sugar in a medium size pot. 
2. Cook on a medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes. 
3. When the cabbage is slightly opaque it's ready. 

To construct a Sabich:

1. Place a slice of Lebanese bread on your plate.
2. Spread out a spoon (or two) full of hummus length-ways down the middle of the bread.
3. Add a teaspoon of Harrisa if you like an extra kick of spice.
4. Grab the grilled eggplant and place a 4 or 5 pieces, running length-ways on top of the hummus.
5. Repeat with the cabbage, pickles, tomatoes, cucumber, egg, & parlsey - you can use as much or little as you like, but remember it has to roll up. 
6. To ensure the wrap seals, add some extra hummus in the middle. 
7. Fold up the bottom & close in the two sides. 

HINT: the best way to keep it wrapped up, keep on eating and don't put it down :)

PRESENTATION: If you're having people over, serve up the ingredients in different bowls. People can help themselves to what they like.

Also, I have to thank my brother-in-law, who introduced us to the Sabich in Israel, was the perfect pre-flight snack.