Wooh! It is the weekend. This weekend we also have the added bonus of having Anzac Day fall on a Monday – bring on the long weekend. Usually we take a long drive somewhere and we all know how taxing drives can be. You need to crank up the music and have snacks on hand to survive. We usually buy all sorts of junk food to fuel us. Yes, yes I know it is bad for us but really the muesli bars sold at supermarkets are not any better not to mention expensive! But for our trip this time I wanted to bring something healthy. We have been doing so well with eating at home and loading up on healthy food for the last few weeks it seems a waste to stop the habit.
So I decided that I shall make my own granola bars.
Hello everyone! Work has been crazy busy lately with the number of cases compounding every passing day. I have recently started baking again and often bring it to the office to share. Many of my colleagues are gluten free so I have been trying out more gluten free recipes. While going through my recipe arsenal I came across this friand recipe I tried during Christmas. Friands are little almond cakes that taste absolutely exquisite but cost a fortune at cafes. I admit, I never got around to blogging about it because I felt that they were a bit too dense. But I have now tweaked the recipe and am happy to report that I will never buy another friand in the cafe again.
Happy New Year everyone! Can you believe we are in 2016 already? The last year has really gone by in a blur. In fact I have yet to come up with any New Year resolutions…perhaps I will just stick to the same ones as I have every year:
Get a job (this used to be ‘do well in school’ but since I’ve graduated…).
Be happy and grateful for what I have.
Exercise more.
Lead a healthier lifestyle.
Oh, perhaps I will add in a fifth resolution this year – to write more frequently here on The Chai Ninja. Now that the resolutions are done and dusted lets get down to business.
Spring is well and truly here in good old NZ. As the weather gets warmer I tend to crave less hearty meals. Yummy stews are swapped for salads and cheesy potato mash turns into crispy wedges. Besides the amazing weather, Spring also brings about a whole range of veges and fruits! One of these veges is the mighty Asparagus ! As you can see I quite like asparagus. Any asparagus lovers out there who feel the same joy I do?! It is such a versatile vegetable and full of beneficial nutrients.
To make full use of the asparagus season I have been using them in everything. I make stir-fry with them, bake them, grill them and most recently , I started using them in salads. It is a great addition to any salad dish because it adds texture and a nice sweet flavour. My absolute favourite salad is potato salad; which is also probably the fattest ever salad once you add in the bacon and mayo . So in an effort to reduce the fat factor I made some swaps and omitted the bacon. I usually pair this with my easy roast chicken for a simple meal. Try it out and let me know how you get on!
Peel potatoes, cut into cubes (around 2cm) and boil in pot of boiling water till cooked. Refer to note.
When potatoes are cooked, drain and run under cold water. Shake off excess water, place in a bowl and set aside.
Clean asparagus stalks, cut into sections about 2cm in length. Set aside.
Bring a pot of water to boil and blanch asparagus sections. Strain and run blanched asparagus under cold water.
Shake excess water off blanched asparagus and add to the same bowl as potatoes.
Cover the bowl and place in fridge till potatoes and asparagus are chilled.
Mix yogurt, mayonnaise, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper together in a bowl till smooth. Wrap and set aside.
When potatoes and asparagus are sufficiently chilled, remove from fridge.
Finely slice spring onions and add to the bowl of potatoes.
Add the mayonnaise mixture to the bowl of potatoes. Mix well.
Serve.
Notes
Be careful not to overcook the potatoes! You still want them firm but cooked through.You don't want them to break, so as soon as you are able to easily pierce through them. They are ready.
Feel free to add bacon, surimi or sausage pieces! I just omitted it to make this a lighter dish.
– bring on the long weekend. Usually we take a long drive somewhere and we all know how taxing drives can be. You need to crank up the music and have snacks on hand to survive. We usually buy all sorts of junk food to fuel us. Yes, yes I know it is bad for us but really the muesli bars sold at supermarkets are not any better not to mention expensive! But for our trip this time I wanted to bring something healthy. We have been doing so well with eating at home and loading up on healthy food for the last few weeks it seems a waste to stop the habit. 
! As you can see I quite like asparagus. Any asparagus lovers out there who feel the same joy I do?! It is such a versatile vegetable and full of beneficial nutrients. 
. So in an effort to reduce the fat factor I made some swaps and omitted the bacon. I usually pair this with my 