In the middle of this week, something exciting and wonderful occurred: I welcomed Selma to my home 🙂
Selma lives in South London; I live in Milton Keynes; that means that we live about 66 miles apart. I am north of London, right in the middle of England, in fact, Milton Keynes in the most land locked place in the UK being the furthest point from any water (interesting fact for you there!!). The 10 miles across London, being the busy city that it is, in my direction probably take as long to travel, if not longer, than the rest of the 50 odd miles! So I was very honoured that Selma made the journey to come and see me, to visit my world, see my kitchen and meet my Bob, and for me to be able to make her lunch 🙂 🙂 🙂 yay!!!!
I’m afraid we were very remiss and took no photos of ourselves and not many of the food, we were far too busy talking, but I did take some shots of some of the leftovers of one dish to show you. Selma and I have met up three times before though, so you can see past photos! I made Selma some of my favourites: fresh homous, sweet potato, tahini and harissa dip; chermoula spiced butternut squash homous; a new aubergine dip with tahini, cumin and pomegranate molasses; tahini sauce; cauliflower pan cooked with my fresh harissa; and a bowl of quinoa studded with knibbed pistachios, roasted slivered almonds, roasted pine nuts, roasted pumpkin seeds and dried barberries.
Yum!!!! It was as tasty as it was colourful.
As is my way, I viewed the leftover homous and quinoa dish and wondered what would happen if I merged them? So I did.
I put them in my NutriBullet, with a little water and whizzed it all up!
The outcome was good, and the flavours were totally new. The barberries provided a lot of the colour and flavour; they are a little bit sweet and a little bit sharp. And I kept some of the quinoa mix back and stirred it through as well and kept some of the crunch and texture.
It gave the dip a new consistency and flavour and packed it with serious protein and good fats!!
So, next time you have leftovers consider whizzing them up all together with some lemon juice and tahini, and see what you get 🙂
I am taking this along to this week’s Fiesta Friday, co hosted this week by the lovely Jhuls and a newbie co host, Effie. Do pop along and join the fun and see the vast arrays of recipes for yourself – you’ll never need a cookbook ever again! Have a great weekend xx
Delicious food – and what lovely company (I met Selma for the first time last week! *waves*)
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I know, I heard 🙂 you lucky ladies!!!
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*waves back* Jane, it was so good to meet you at last!! Can’t stop thinking about the food we had – just spectacular!
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And I’m meeting her on Monday!!! Yaay!! Pity you can’t make it Elaine!!!😔
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I know, I’m sorry xx
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Looking forward to it, Fari!
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Oh, how lovely that Selma met many bloggers now. That is so sweet of you to prepare lunch, Elaine, and Selma is so sweet to go to your place. And I am sure Bob was delighted to meet her, too. 😀 Thanks for sharing your moment with Selma and happy FF. xx
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Thank you sweetheart xx enjoy co hosting xx
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How wonderful for you ladies! There are so many virtual friends I would love to meet! Your lunch was beautiful to look at and sounds delicious.
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Thank you so much, we are very lucky that we are close enough to meet xx
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That is so great that Selma came to your home! How fun!
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I know! It was lovely x
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Why oh why was I not following your blog?
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I don’t know…why weren’t you?? 😉
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That sounds like so much fun, but I can’t believe y’all didn’t take a picture. Also, I love the colorfulness of this dish! Happy FF and have a fabulous weekend. 🙂
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I know, we were far too busy talking and laughing!! And we’ve taken lots of pictures every other time we’ve met up 🙂
Thank you x
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That sounds so much fun- your lunch looks delicious…. 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
Chitra, can you please email me? Email address at the very bottom of my intro page x
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Elaine – have sent an email. Await to hear from you
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Thank you x
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You ladies are lucky to be getting involved with some great field trips both to London and your home. The dish looks so striking and colorful.
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Thank you 🙂
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Loretta – we almost met last summer! Hope we can actually meet the next time you are in the UK x
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Selma, I will be in the UK sometime this summer…..can we repeat the cancelled Winchester meet-up? 🙂 I haven’t booked my tickets yet, but will let you know when I have.
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Loretta, that would be great. Just email me once you have your dates and we can work it out from there.
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I am so happy for you guys to have shared some good times together.
The food looks really colorful and gorgeous Elaine!
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Thank you 🙂 xx
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How lucky for you Elaine, that you get to meet up with Selma! It sounds like you have so much fun when you get together! And you share so much wonderful food! These dishes are so colourful and delicious. What a beautiful treat! 😀
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Thank you 🙂 we are very lucky that we are close enough to meet….and that we get on so well!!! I loved making food for her, so lovely to share it 🙂 x
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That’s wonderful and I’m sure you had a fantastic day together. The food looks yummy. xx
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Thank you xx
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The colors are stunning and your creations sound so inviting. Good job!
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Thank you 🙂
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How fun! I love meeting up with other bloggers!!!
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🙂 xx
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Wonderful combination of flavours.
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I’m very happy for the both of you, Elaine (hi there, Selma !): you must have had a super time !
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We did xx
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🙂
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Hello there – how are you? Hope you have been keeping well!
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I have, beautiful Selma – but my ageing brain is currently being put to the test as I re-learn old and complex software …
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Hi Elaine – wow didn’t realise you lived in Milton Keynes. I moved to Northampton from Yorkshire 12 years ago and spent 4 years there before moving to Oz…..now I feel I know your world more than your gorgeous recipes……laura
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Oh wow! That’s so cool 🙂 I live North of MK, in the little village of Haversham, very close to Northampton x
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Sounds like a lovely day!! I love the look of that quinoa xxxx
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Thank you, it was xx
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Elaine, it was so lovely see your part of the world – it’s hard to believe that just ½ an hour from the mad hustle and bustle of London lies the serenity of the English countryside. I adored meeting Bob – he is such a good boy and loved sitting in your kitchen which is just fabulous and full of such gorgeous ingredients! Lunch was utterly delicious – I loved all your dips, especially the aubergine one and loved the quinoa and the cauliflower. It was wonderful to see you again – thank you so much for having me!!
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Thank you for all of your lovely words, it was an absolute pleasure to welcome you and make food for you 🙂 it’s so lovely every time we meet up xxx
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Oh, so jealous! You have kindly invited me down to one of your “ladies lunches” (for want of a better phrase!) and I was so bummed to have to turn it down. It sounds like you two had a marvellous time. PS, I LOVE barberries, too. I just eat them out of the bag, forgetting that they aren’t the cheapest things in the world. lol 😉
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You, my lovely, have an open invitation! Any time you’re travelling down the country’s just let me know 🙂
And yes, totally agree about dried barberries, I like them because they aren’t too sweet. And if you buy them in the right place, not too costly either 😉 £1.69 for 125g bag in Shepherds Bush x
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Wow, that looks so delicious! Great recipe, I love new tastes. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you 🙂
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Hmmm I’m thinking if I should move to London or around, since it looks like almost everybody lives there! Anyone who wants to visit Luxembourg? 😀 and Bob is more than welcome to come over too! I saw the pictures on the IG, and the food looks yummy- great company, great food, what else would you like? I’m happy for both of you, it’s always so nice to make new friends. I hope your week is going well xx
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Yes, come to London!!!!
Thank you, my lovely, I will let my husband know we need to visit Luxembourg 🙂 xxx
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Love the color combo.. Healthy and tasty bowl
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Every time I read you two got together, I feel warm in my heart of envy. 🙂
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I know what you mean, I feel that when I read about other bloggers meeting up xx
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Amazing and colorful food and lovely company – main keys to have a great lunch! 🙂 I also love adding nuts and berries to quinoa or rice. 🙂
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Thank you so much 🙂
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I think it’s very sweet that you guys meet up and share some food and laughs! And thank you for the photos that you did take – your quinoa with nuts and barberries looks amazing, colourful and very tasty. Thanks for sharing with FF#65!
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Thank you so much for reading and for your kind words 🙂 we are very lucky that we can meet x
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Amazing colours, makes the dish look all the more enticing! AND I have learnt a new fact about Milton Keynes… 😉 Sounds like you two had a great time. Let the virtual and physical worlds meet! 🙂
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Yay!!! Thank you xx
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Lovely food…great pics!!!
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So lovely you’re able to get together with fellow foodie friends! 🙂
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Aaw…my two favorite people together!! ❤
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xxxx
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Pingback: The gift of Selma.. | foodbod
Thanks for sharing this post with us.
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🙂 x
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