Earl-Grey Vanilla-Bean Cookies

Soft. Chewy. Natural sweetened. Caramelly.  Crumbly. Tasy. Healthy. Wholesome. Vanilla-y. Early-grey-y. Okay so the last ‘adjective’ is a bit of a mouthful, but I mean Earl-grey vanilla-bean cookies...a double hyphenated recipe has gotta be good.... 

Absolutely loving my new copy of the infamous ‘Monday’s Café’ cook book, but being in India for the past 6 weeks lent very little time to explore Eleanor Ozich‘s beautiful recipes. Home at last, and a dedicated earl-grey tea drinker, these were top of my list.

Healthy, natural sweetened and wholesome, yet deliciously moreish these cookies are pretty awesome, especially with a glass of cold soy/almond milk.

Although, high in nutrients and high in fiber I found these cookies went even more perfectly broken into a bowl of muesli, topped with softened dates and Greek yoghurt for a slightly more special start to the day. I mean who doesn’t love eating baking for breakfast…? Crazy people, that’s who.

These cookies are free of saturated fats, processed sugars and all those nasty things our body doesn’t really enjoy, why should you care? Well not only does it mean guiltless delicious cookies that fuel your body, it also means a recipe that is so ridiculously simple, even a dad could make it.

100g butter or coconut oil, melted

60ml milk or coconut milk

2 cups amaranth flakes

2 tbsp earl grey tea leaves

1 1/4 cups coconut sugar

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 cups rice flour

2 free range eggs

1 tsp baking soda

a pinch of sea salt

Preheat the oven to 180 C, line a baking tray with paper.

Add all ingredients in to a large mixing bowl, and mix until well combined. (yeah.. that’s literally it…)

Place heaped tablespoons of the mixture on to the prepared tray about 4 cm apart.  Using your hands, flatten each cookie in half.  Bake for around 10-12 minutes, or until nice and golden.

Leave to cool. Makes approximately 20 cookies.

Cafe Adventures: Goodness Gracious

Goodness Gracious! Yet another bagelry has decided to grace the Auckland Café scene, and there are most certainly no complaints here as finally the humble bagel is gaining the kiwi recognition that it deserves. Brainchild of Greg Cornes, the already Popular Goodness Gracious café came about after Cornes did a short-term stint across the ditch in Melbourne cafes, where he first had the idea.

8.30am Tuesday driving down the Eden Terrace I was dreading the task of hunting down a park along the packed street that wasn’t too long a hike from this shoe-box café. GG had me before I even walked through the door with the free 5-car car-park located right outside. So.Much.Win. You go GG, you know how to woo a busy Auckland Foodie.

Of course the only thing that impresses more than free parking is a café design that is sharp, well executed and full of character. Regardless of it's narrow and long room layout, GG delivered an minimalistic, hip and stylized space with glossed white tile walls, grey concrete floors and urban brick/metal detailing. Definitely a place where you want to occupy for the afternoon, sipping on their salted caramel smoothies while breakfasting, lunching and dinnering on golden rings of doughey goodness.

Not feeling the need to be super fancy with flavor combinations, GG’s bagels proved to remind us that the classic combinations are classic for a reason, they’re damn good. Although there are some new, exciting fillings for the adventurous bagel lovers. Craig went straight for ‘The Classic’, coming out with generous creamy layer of lemon infused cream cheese, packed in with light pink salmon and a sprinkle of capers.

I instead went for the other old favourite, the BLAT. Golden crispy toasted sesame seed bagel, slathered in copious amounts of  sweet tomato relish and savoury garlic aioli. Overstuffed with hunks of butter-like avocado, ribbons of warm bacon and delicate leaves of wild rocket. This is the sort of bagel that needs your full and undivided attention, a bagel that silences any doubts of disbelievers who think “yeah bagels are alllright I guess, I don’t see the big fuss’… “Hush” says the mighty BLAT in all its delicious glory. Not wanting to make any threats, but a certain popular Bagel café better watch its back.

Leaving just past 9, the café became quietly busy with a small crowd of customers patiently milling outside, waiting for those little cups of caffeine that gave their Tuesday permission to begin.

So, if free parking, awesome designed cafes with good music, attentive friendly staff and delicious bagels overstuffed with fresh fillings sounds like your jam then give GG a visit. If it's not your jam, I seriously advice you take the next 2 hours to quietly reflect on your life priorities.

Happy Tuesday, may your week be filled with productivity and good coffee!