Good stuff - the food edition

I've been keeping an eye out for some nice-looking reusable produce bags and found these cute ones from a new-to-me Australian brand called Sustomi.  When we shop together, Tony often laughs at the impractical lengths I'll go to in order to avoid bagging my fruit and veg (picture apples almost rolling away at the register). I've ordered the 3-pack polka dot mesh set to avoid future embarrassment.

A post shared by Heidi - Apples Under My Bed (@heidiapples) on Oct 2, 2017 at 2:14am PDT

I am slowly working my way through the archives of Heidi's food blog Apples Under My Bed. So far I've made the stovetop granola (so clever and perfect for the warmer months), and I've been snacking on peanut butter filled medjool dates, inspired by her Instagram account. Lately I've been gravitating towards really personal writing and cooking, and more whole foods too. Heidi's blog delivers all three with heart.

Soon I'm planning to try Pinch of Yum's 30-minute marsala paste recipe, which I've seen a few times on Heidi's Instagram stories. It could be me but I love watching other people making their weekday dinners in real time :)

I was very curious about the Simple Fare cookbook after sampling the dark chocolate olive oil cake recipe several weeks ago. A found a copy at Kinokuniya Sydney (they have a cookbook sale on at the moment!), and it's easily one of the most beautiful cookbooks I own. It's quite a tall book, with glossy magazine-like pages and beautiful design.

Despite this, the recipes are achievable and everyday - with a tiny bit of decadence. The banana bread has hidden chunks of dark chocolate, a crunchy cinnamon sugar top and is served with creme fraiche and a pinch of salt! I made it for a recent hike and have tried the slow cooked coconut oats with honeycomb too. If you live in a different hemisphere, the Fall/Winter edition came out last week.

A post shared by Jeanine Donofrio / Love&Lemons (@loveandlemons) on Mar 20, 2016 at 8:00am PDT

I've been making lots of pesto lately using greens other than basil while we wait for summer to arrive. We keep a jar in the fridge to cheer up sandwiches and mix into scrambled eggs or green beans. This coriander and pepita pesto is a recent favourite, I'm not sure how it can be so delicious and cheese-less at the same time. Joy the Baker also has a great spinach version in her latest cookbook, there's a similar version here, and another from the Love and Lemons blog.

Lastly, I've been at home sick this last week, so there's been a lot of time to read and rest. I downloaded a stack of new magazines from the library (all free!). I sampled Slow Living and read the latest issue of Bon Appetit in one sitting. It's such a fun food magazine that's full of inspiration, good humour and very practical tips. I'd love to make the cover menu - classic spaghetti and meatballs served with a big salad and cheesy garlic bread.

I also started listening to their podcast, Bon Appetit Foodcast, starting with this episode about Chinese food in America. Late last year Adam Rapoport, the magazine's editor-in-chief, spoke about food media and politics in this episode of Radio Cherry Bombe. I really admired what he had to say, and love that the magazine is so culturally diverse in the people and food that it features.

P.S - I'm also tempted to order a copy of Peddlar Journal, a new indie food magazine by Hetty McKinnon of Arthur Street Kitchen.