In the kitchen: the winter edition

Thistles and Kiwis

It has been really cold here the past couple of days. At least today, the sun has been shining which always makes the day feel bright and cheerful. Comfort and cosy eating have been on the cards this week in keeping with this winter season and our impending move.

Treacle scones

Way back in 2014, I wrote in this blog about treacle scones. For me, treacle scones are associated with the colder months of the year, when you just want to curl up with a good book or film, a pot of tea, and a warm scone with lashings of butter. I love scones anyway, so this was a perfect excuse to make these again.

Treacle (black molasses) was something that always seemed to be in the cupboard as a child. My brother used to make treacle sandwiches (white bread, butter and treacle), and my mum would use it to make treacle pudding for Sunday lunch dessert. Actually….it has been years since I made a traditional steamed pudding, so that might well be on the cards in the next few weeks.

Verdict: tasted perfect, could have risen a bit more.

Soup

Nothing beats a good soup in the middle of winter, and today I made this sausage and cannellini bean soup, inspired by this sausage, cannellini bean and cavolo nero soup from Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s Around the Table. I had a bit of leek that needed to be used up, substituted tinned beans (for time and to reduce my pantry pre moving), used a tin of tomatoes (because who would use fresh tomatoes in a soup at this time of year) and silverbeet as I have a big bunch in the fridge.

It isn’t really the sort of soup where you need a recipe as such, but it is always good to get inspiration, such as adding a sprinkle of parmesan on the top.

Verdict: 10/10 for a perfect dish for a cold evening.

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.

You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com or lofgren@thistlesandkiwis.com

Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

25 Comments

  1. I think recipes are there for inspiration. Ingredients called for are often not available and I have become adept as substitution – the results are mostly delicious. Your photographs are eye-catching!

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  4. I love your posts and how much you share! I was wondering, do you ever get snow there? How cold do your temps drop? I have never known a winter without snow (sometimes too much – hahaha). Thank you!

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  7. Yum (scones & soup!) And thank you for explaining treacle. I know it’s leapt into metaphor, but I didn’t know exactly what it was or how it was/is used. Now I have serving suggestions and a glimpse of the can! (Love the old-fashioned label.) Fun.

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      1. Wait, what?? Here in the States, we sing “Round and round the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel. The monkey said it was all in fun. Pop goes the weasel.” Your version is poetically superior because is has a real rhyme — and it’s so interesting!

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        1. Gosh I didn’t know that! I had always been led to understand that the words are based on Cockney slang – a monkey is 500 pounds and weasel I think was an old word for a coat.

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  11. I don’t think I actually know what treacle tastes like – I wonder if it is very similar to molasses. Your soup looks spectacular – more stew, really. Something I would love to eat even though it isn’t chilly in the least here.

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