Another green smoothie and my favourite Japanese illustrator

Good morning! How is it Wednesday already? Time really does fly (on a jet plane) but today, I ain’t complaining because in exactly 23 days, my sister and brother-in-law are coming to visit me in JAPAN (not that I’m counting or anything). I’ll be honest, I’m rather homesick.. I miss Christchurch. I miss the atmosphere of the Riccarton Bush Farmers’ market, I miss C1s vegetarian sliders, I miss Cafe Valentino and my CV family and I even miss my stupid dog’s (sorry, my SISTER’s stupid dog’s) non-stop barking. Oh and my friends and my mama and my papa as well.

I have two things for you on this gloriously cold Winter day:

First, another green-smoothie recipe:
1 banana
1 kiwi
handful of kale
handful of spinach
3/4 cup of water


Notice the fruit sticker.

Next, my favourite Japanese illustrator:
Mitsuie Yusaku

Someone once said, good art is that which reflects a little or a lottle of yourself. Well, actually I just said that but I’m sure someone once said the equivalent. I first came across Mitsuie’s work in an adorable stationary shop at Osaka station and his illustration (below) of a lady with a top bun writing on a large desk with an open drawer and a hot cup of tea by her side instantly reminded me of myself. In other words, I could relate. That’s the whole point of art isn’t it?

Below are a few of my favourites but if you’d like to see more of Mitsuie’s work and consequently, a piece of yourself in his illustrations, visit Mitsuie’s website by clicking his name.

Avocado and Spinach Smoothie Bowl

It’s now fall in Japan. Fall. A new addition to my English vocabulary after being forced to teach American-English here. Any who, fall has kindly turned up the cozy dial on full blast and I just can’t handle it (in a good way). It is my most favourite season. I want to be under a blanket with a smoothie bowl and a good book by my side, forever. Hibernation. How very appropriate in my neck of the woods (another bear was spotted in the village yesterday) and it wasn’t Emma (pictured below).

1/4 avocado
1 banana
bunch of fresh spinach
3/4 cup of non-dairy milk (I used 100% soy)

A simple green smoothie

1/2 large banana
1 green kiwi
bunch of fresh spinach
1/2 cup filtered water

Persian-inspired spinach loaf

Housebound and food-obsessed. Can’t stop baking! Don’t worry I’m not eating everything (seriously) but instead sharing with my wonderful neighbours, friends and colleagues. Yes, I’m sooo lovely.

This savoury loaf is super easy to prepare and tastes/reminds me of a childhood and typical Persian dip: mast o seer (literally: yoghurt and garlic). It’s deliciously fragrant of yoghurt, garlic, turmeric and cumin. Mmmmm I feel I’m back at home with my mama when I’m having it.

3 free range eggs
1/2 cup of yoghurt (you can use dairy-free if you wish)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large grated carrot
1 clove of garlic (mashed)
200grams spinach (roughly chopped)
1 1/2 cups of wholemeal flour (or any GF variety will do)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt and black pepper
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp of cumin

topping:
1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds

Start mixing ingredients together, one by one, in above order.

Pour into a greased or lined loaf tin

Top with pumpkin seeds and a sprinkle of black pepper then bake for 45-50 min at 180C.

Enjoy warm 5 minutes after taking it out of the oven.

popeye smoothie

1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup frozen mango
a big handful of organic spinach

Blend all ingredients together and reap the goodness!

PS I poured a civilised glass for the above photo then I took my straw to the blender and sucked out the rest hehehe living alone isn’t that bad after all!