Lunch in Russell

We were in Russell last week on our day off and decided to lunch again at our favourite place - the Duke of Marlborough Hotel. They weren't as busy as they normally are in Spring but at least they had quite a few customers. Regions here are still bordered off so the only people mostly visiting would be fellow Northlanders.

I ordered a grilled Hapuka (fish) with blanched asparagus and a type of layered potato/kumara cake - so yummy!

B ordered hot chips with a burger but I think his eyes were bigger than his tummy because he had trouble finishing.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, Tuesday Treasures, Through my lens, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

Eating healthy

Over the last month or so I have been trying to make a really big effort in eating more healthy especially while we were in lockdown, last thing I wanted to do was get bored and eat rubbish. Sometimes I do alot of baking for the boys so it's easy to pick at bits and pieces, before I know it I've eaten more than I wanted to in the first place. I googled some healthier recipes and came up with 3 - above is homemade chicken ramen noodle soup. Recipe here.

This one is a vegetable crustless quiche, I think I just added whatever I had in the fridge to this one. Recipe here. 

 The last one was Zucchini Fritters made with chickpea flour instead of basic white flour as I have a tiny gluten intolerance thing going on. Recipe here. 

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, Tuesday Treasures, Through my lens, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

In the octopus's garden

Kind of like a Beatles song right? Across the road from our apartment is a group of shops and first in that block is a small cafe called The Octopus's Garden. It looks small and quaint but invitingly cosy when I run past it most mornings. I checked out the menu online and from an article I found in the NZ Herald the pulled pork tacos look ultra yummy.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.

Black Stag Deli - Scrumptious Mangawhai Food

I just have to share a great report about these guys who are local to Mangawhai where I live. Every Saturday morning they are at the Mangawhai markets in the village selling the most delicious smelling food such as sausages, venison, doner kebab and other such feasts. This photo is from when they were at the new year's day gala, many people line up to buy their goodies...I intend to finally check them out this weekend :-)

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What to do in Mangawhai on winter days

It's been so stormy and mucky here that we've virtually been stuck inside. Today at last the rain stopped and the teens and I were able to drive down to Mangawhai village for a visit to Bennetts Chocolatier. Each season they change their displays and they have some lovely chocolate for sale. We like the 2nds box!

Better eating and winter rainbows

You know what it's like when you get to the point where you need to go food shopping and there's not alot in the cupboards? Well after searching for a recipe so I could do some baking for the teens lunches I found this recipe for Chocolate Muffins (recipe here).  They turned out well risen and yummy.

Other updates are my daughter has been asked to her senior school ball by her new boyfriend, who is lovely and just like her so we have been looking for a ball dress. because I"m on a tight budget I've got to be careful financially but we've found one which is almost kind of Victorian Steampunk-ish and SO her. We have it on our watchlist at the moment so here's hoping it's going to be ours.

Annnnd I just love winter! Perfect time to keep warm and cosy inside while storms and bad weather are going on outside. Last week the youngest had a doctor's appointment and we drove home in the pelting rain. Here's a shot I took once the rain had stopped:

I just love rainbows - the colours are so vibrant! Have a great week everyone.

Indian Spice Lounge Takeaways in Wellsford

There's a new kid in town - The Spice Lounge Indian food takeaways in Wellsford. Every time I walk past I can smell the most tantalizing smells - I've heard good reports about this place too!

Great food, great coffee - Ginger Cafe, Warkworth

This morning was one of those lazy Saturdays where I enjoyed time with a good friend.  They make great coffees with a real oomph to them and lovely food.

It's the Ginger Cafe in Warkworth, north of Auckland. Despite it being a busy little eatery all the waiting staff are friendly and happy to help. This is definitely one of my favourite places!

Lyall's Cafe - Omaha - A perfect Spring view

A while ago the teens and I ate dinner at Lyall's Cafe in Omaha - they make lovely pub/cafe style food. Fish n chips, hotdogs, burgers, desserts etc made in a lovely atmosphere with a lovely view of Omaha beach.

Retro renovation at Harvest Cafe - Mangawhai

The teens went for our weekly cafe visit this morning, this time we tried a local place called "harvest cafe" here in Mangawhai Heads. They renovated the place a while back, it's taken us until now to go and check it out. Last time we went was quite some time ago for dinner. They seem to have fixed it up in a retro type of way with ornaments, chairs, tables, signs etc. Coffee and hot chips were just as good and were a welcome treat on this rainy Spring day!

Bacon n Egg Burgers in Wellsford

If you want something fattening for lunch welcome to these takeaways in Wellsford where you can buy all sorts of fried food including Bacon n Egg Burgers (as the sign says). Not my type of food thankfully...