A WEEK IN MEALS #1

Happy easter everyone!

you might have noticed that lately I have been introducing a lot of new categories, I'm sorry if this confused you as much as it confuses me, but I promise in the end it will be a bit more organised. and don't worry I will still be posting just normal recipes a few times a week. 
this category however is something I've been wanting to do for quite a while, first I thought I'd just do a food diary kind of thing, but really what's the point in telling you what I had to eat when you can't see a picture. and also this way, it would get me to take pictures more often which is good aswell.

so in my "my week in meals" category I want to show you what I had to eat over the last week. I will be posting it every sunday (fingers crossed!) and a week will start with either the sunday before that or the monday, depending what time I get to post on the sunday. I really hope what I'm saying makes sense. sometimes there might be days missing but I'll try and take a picture of what I eat every day.
also, if I've posted recipes to some of the things on here, I'll of course link them with the pictures. and if any of you would like to see a recipe post about any of the things I've eaten, just let me know in the comments and then it will be up as soon as possible.
also if some of the things weren't made by me but in a restaurant I'll link the restaurant if I can.

so without any further ado (because that hasn't been enough huh?), here's week number one:

something simple, linguine with basil pesto, fresh basil leaves and parmesan cheese.

oh and my giant tea mug filled with yummy apple tea.

for lunch I had some more pasta with pesto aswell as one of my greek salads (here)

and just something to make me feel like it's spring when it's not, baguette with tomato and mozzarella, it always works.

yes it gets dark really early still, not anymore though now since the clocks have gone forward (reminder!) but a bit of roasted chicken breast with veg and rice can always cheer me up. and even more greek salad (here)

I promise this wasn't the only thing I had that day but I just can't seem to find a picture of anything else. another baguette with mozzarella, tomato and fresh basil leaves, yum!

can you see the snow outside? depressing right? I needed some serious cheering up, thankfully I had my beloved salad with pumpkin seed oil, tomatoes and garlic to accompany those tortellini with spinach and ricotta.

on friday I had a lovely day with my dad, and this was the perfect austrian meal to finish it off. thank you dad for some traditional cheese, sausage and bread. yum!

(we did go out for a meal that day aswell which will be posted soon)

I hope you enjoyed my first weekly meal post, let me know what your favourite out of these is and if you would like me to do any recipes on them. 

I hope you had a lovely week aswell!

Magdalena.

what I do #1: EASTER PREPARATION

So this year I was in charge of getting everything ready for easter. my mum spent the last two weeks in brazil and I made it my goal to get everything ready for when she got back. 
I actually really enjoyed it, I had a little help from my dad aswell who took me to the chicken farm to pick up some eggs and things like that. but I have to say I did quite well.

also I have been watching the eggslive thing on the channel 4 website, the ducks are my favourites! you can still watch some hatch here if you fancy it. (I'm not being paid to say that, I just think they're cute)

there will be a whole post about easter in Austria coming up after all the celebrations. aswell as a recipe post for my hot cross buns. but for now I thought I'd share some pictures of my preparation with you.

let me know what you have been doing to prepare for easter!


Magdalena.

Easter Giveaway

hey everyone, 

if you follow me on twitter or anywhere, you'll know that I have recently got to 5000 pageviews (and also quite a few followers here and there!) 
and I know that it's not a lot for most bloggers but since I'm only doing this as a hobby, it means a lot to me and I thought a giveaway would be the best way to thank everyone who has been supporting me and giving me feedback (I'm looking at you fellow foodbloggers).
and since it's easter I thought this would be the perfect time for a food related giveaway, with all those sweet little things around. 
I got some easter things together for you, most of them are pretty austrian (obviously not all by austrian brands, but just what I can get over here) since I thought maybe you would like something you can't get wherever you are, I will try and do another givaway with some british things once I'm back in the UK, for all my friends 
who aren't in the UK. of course you can still enter this if you're austrian since I know a lot of you probably are, but maybe you'll want to wait for the british one.

So here's what you can win!

1. Zotter Chocolate: easter bunnies everywhere? 
"smooth mointain milk chocolate filled with strawberry jelly"

Zotter is one of my favourite chocolates, they produce them all in their factory in the south of styria and it's all fair trade, definitely a lovely treat. 

2. Lindt: "Happy Easter" Tin 
one mini gold bunny, 4 mini lindor eggs

we all love the lindt easter bunnies, you can find one of them inside this lovely tin alongside some other sweets

3. Manner: Easter Bunnies
milk chocolate bunnies with hazelnut cream

4. Pink Easter Egg Dye

maybe too late for this year, but next year you can have lovely pink eggs for easter and make them yourself!
(the winner will receive professionally translated instructions in english since they are only in german on the pack)

5. Lindt: Strawberry Cheesecake Chocolate Stick
not exactly easter-y but I saw it in the shop and wanted one and I thought it would be mean not to share it with you since I think it's new aswell. it says nice to meet you too, isn't that cute?! 

there will be one winner who will receive all those lovely easter things.

here's what you have to do to enter! 

• follow me on twitter here
• or 
• like my facebook page here 

what you can do for extra entries

• follow my blog on bloglovin' here 
• follow me on GFC
• follow me on hellocotton here
• tweet about the givaway saying: I have just entered @lullabyforpies givaway to win some lovely easter treats. enter here http://lullabyforpies.blogspot.com/2013/03/easter-giveaway.html
   #foodbloggers #happyeaster
• share the link on facebook saying: I have just entered @Lullaby For Pies giveaway to win some lovely easter treats. http://lullabyforpies.blogspot.co.at/2013/03/easter-giveaway.html

all you have to do is comment with the following
simply copy and add all your details, leave the others blank.

Name:

E-Mail:

Twitter:

Facebook Name:

Bloglovin' Name:

GFC Name:

Facebook Name:

Hellocotton Name:

Tweet Link:

this givaway will run from the 29th march until the 5th april (midnight GMT), anyone in Europe including UK and Ireland can enter. :)
I will draw the winner shortly after and announce it on my twitter @lullabyforpies and contact the winner via e-mail aswell.

also, a little disclaimer:
all of these things have been bought with my own money and I am not being paid to feature them or mention any brands, I simply chose some things I really like myself because I just wanted to thank everyone.

entried will only be accepted if you're an actual person.

good luck!

Magdalena.

TAG #1: What I Never Did Before Blogging

Today I read this post by A Bit of This and That and she tagged everyone who would also like to do a "what I never did before blogging" post. I really liked the idea and thought I would give it a go.
Obviously her blog is a beauty blog and mine isn't but it's about blogging in general and I found it very interesting to see what has actually changed since I started blogging last summer.

definitely go and check out her "what I never did before blogging" beauty edition post here.

What did I never do before I started blogging?

1.

before I started blogging I never made people wait for their food because I had to take a picture first. also I never really took pictures of what I was eating when I went out for a meal, I do every time now and I try not to care if people look at me weird.

at La Crêperie de Sophie here

2.

I didn't make as much of an effort arranging my food. of course I like it to look nice but when I just cook for myself I don't bother that much. but ever since I started blogging I always try and make my food look nice for the pictures and I enjoy it.

Chicken Korma here

Banana Chocolate Chip Cake here

3.

I definitely got more creative when it comes to food ever since I started blogging. I always loved trying new things and making recipes up myself but it's definitely more of a regular thing now and a lot of them actually go quite well.

4.

Also, I started taking my camera everywhere just in case I might eat something that's worth photographing. The camera on my phone definitely isn't good enough for things like that.

5.

Since I started blogging I started to bake a lot more. I still love savoury things and cooking more than cakes and things (I know my blog is called Lullaby For Pies, but that's a different story) but I actually really enjoy baking now and I've found a way to be creative when doing it.

Summer-y Peach Cake here

6.

I got a lot more into social media and that kind of thing, I have a facebook page and I'm on twitter and all those things which is just interesting to experience.

7.

I have met so many lovely people since I started blogging, and I love getting great feedback. I love telling people about products and places I love and it's so great to see when people enjoy that. most bloggers are so lovely and it's great to experience that.

Sooo that's all I can think of, it was definitely a lot of fun thinking of these things and I also tag all of my lovely blogger friends and everyone who wants to do it to do a post aswell. and definitely go check out the original post I linked before. if you do a post let me know in the comments.

Magdalena.

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Favourites #2: GREEK SALAD

I admit this is not a very spectacular favourite, but as a mentioned in my intro (here) not all of my favourites will be very gourmet or anything. they are just things that I love and most of the time there's a little story behind it. there definitely is one to this favourite.

My parents have been taking me to greece ever since I was born, I was born in january and were in greece sometime in the summer and we always used to go back every year and when I was older I went with my dad and I loved it. I've always loved it and it makes me kind of sad thinking that I haven't been for quite a while just because there have been so many other things happening over the summer, so I really hope I'll be able to go back with him sometime soon. I really miss greek food. and there are some things that you just can't make yourself.

but luckily there are some things you can make yourself, and this traditional greek salad most definitely is one of the best examples. me and my mum always make this at least once a week when it starts getting warmer outside. we'll have it with some baguette and enjoy the lovely weather. I just love everything about this salad, it's so simple and it can be a meal by itself or a lovely side if you're having a bbq. and it will always remind me of the lovely days in greece and the lovely sunny days in austria with my mum.

Greek Salad

for one small bowl

1/2 cucumber
1 onion
3-4 tomatoes
1 green pepper
100 g feta cheese
vinegar
olive oil
salt

simply chop up the veg into bite sized chunks,
I always start with the onions and then work my
way through the peppers, cucumbers and lastly
the tomatoes, simply because they leave all
their juice on the board.

then I mix the veg with oil, vinegar and salt.

I then cut up the feta cheese and arrange it
on top nicely. that's what they do in greece
aswell, but if you want to mix it in you can,
but be aware that it will break and stuff.
so if you want it to look pretty, put it on top.

you can then garnish it with some dried or fresh
oregano.

enjoy with some bread or by itself or as a side
and with your favourite summer drink of choice.

Magdalena. xx

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Eating Out: CUP&CAKE BAKERY - ST. DAVID'S DAY SPECIAL

I've left it until really late to actually write this post but it's something I've been looking forward to for a while because it's just kind of special to me. As I already mentioned in a previous post I was in cardiff for St. David's Day and it was just so nice, even the weather wasn't too bad and I was just so happy to be there for it this year. I literally only missed it by a day last year because I had to go back to school. Thank you university for giving me a longer break.

We went into town and saw the parade and everything, and of course for every kind of celebration there is always a lot of food everywhere and there were loads of local things which I absolutely adore. So yeah there was a lot and unfortunately I couldn't try it all. But we did end up buying these lovely cupcakes and I am so glad we did. I'm never too sure about cupcakes, I love the way they look but a lot of the time it stops there. they looks really nice but don't really taste like too much or mainly just sweet. But these ones were from a lovely local bakery called Cup&Cake Bakery so I thought well, they must do good cupcakes, and I wasn't wrong!

Since it was St. David's Day it was quite obvious which ones we were going to get. but let me just say that I can't wait to try some more of their creations.

So there's the I <3 Cardiff Cupcake, a very nice design and I just fell in love with it the minute I saw it, but the taste definitely doesn't disappoint either.
It's a lovely vanilla icing but it's not that sickly vanilla you get in yellow vanilla ice cream, I don't like artificial vanilla because you can always tell. they used real vanilla and I absolutely love real vanilla. also it wasn't too sweet and a very nice texture.
Then it had a nice chocolate base which was probably the exact chocolate taste that I love, I do love the occasional brownie but in general I don't want it too heavy, especially with icing on top aswell, so this was absolutely lovely. and it had chocolate bits in it aswell! yum!

Moving on to this beauty, a Welshcake Cupcake. doesn't that sound amazing?! well it is!
ok so for those of you who don't know what a welshcake is, it's a little thing which is just amazing, it's made from flour, raisins, butter, sugar and that stuff, then grilled on a bakestone and best enjoyed hot (I will do a post about my absolute favourite place to get them from soon!). so this cupcake was basically a tribute to this welsh loveliness. and it was equally lovely.
first of all it had this little welshcake on top which was just so cute and it was good aswell. the icing was cinnamon buttercream and well, I love cinnamon everything so that was just amazing, it wasn't too overpowering or anything either, just a lovely hint of spice. the base is kind of difficult to describe since I'm probably not going to do it justice but it was kind of vanilla-y but not only vanilla, it was a lovely consistency and the only way I can really describe it is it was what it would be like if a welshcake decided to be a cupcake for the day, some kind of mutation, right it's getting too sciency here. but it was just lovely and simple but not plain at all! definitely a treat I'd have again if I get the chance to.

I definitely loved both of these cupcakes and I can't wait to try out some more by the cup&cake bakery. I recommend you check out their website here and they are also on facebook (here) and twitter (here). Especially if you are in Wales because I think it's so great to know how many amazing things you can get and to support lovely local place like this one. 

Magdalena. xx

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(if you're on facebook, take a look at my page since I will be doing a givaway on there soon)



a huge thank you again to Geraint Photography for the lovely images

Favourites #1: INTRO

Obviously there are a lot of things I like when it comes to food. I am not really that kind of person who's list of things they don't like is longer than their list of things they love. in fact I don't even have a list of things I don't particularly like. I grew up trying everything and I am still trying new things now and if you asked me what's some food you don't like, I doubt I would be able to answer.

But like everyone I do have those things that I just love, those things that I always go back to because they remind me of wonderful moments and wonderful people. 

Some are family traditions (even though we don't have a lot of them) and some are just things I've discovered for myself. most of them are rather simple than anything complicated or difficult to make I'd say.

So I thought of this category to share some of my absolute favourite things with you aswell as a little story why I love them so much and what they mean to me.

for those of you who prefer to just look at the recipes that's absolutely fine, but if you want to know a bit more about me and my food that would be great too.

My first favourites post will be up on monday but I have quite a few in mind so there will most definitely be a lot more every now and then. 

also I would just like to mention that I am planning on doing a little givaway when I reach 100 followers on facebook so please like my facebook page here if you like my blog. thank you lovelies.

Magdalena. xx

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what are your favourites and why? tell me in the comments!

Best Basics #3: GNOCCHI

Gnocchi are something I have loved my whole life. but it's also one of those things that I don't eat a lot. I sort of forget they exist for a few months and then either my mum brings some home or I see some in the shop and think "oh, yeah, I forgot you were there!"
But they are certainly something lovely and easy and something you can do so many things with.

So we are all used to buying them in the supermarket just because it's easy and well, you can get them there so why bother making them right? Well not quite.
I know not everyone all the time has the time to make everything themselves, but sometimes it's just so worth it because all you food lovers will agree with me that it just tastes so much better and also works out cheaper in the end which is important to everyone but especially for a student like me.

I think a lot of people are not even too sure about what gnocchi actually are, well I talked to some of my friends and they said that so it has to be true. but all they really are are little potato dumplings of loveliness. and they really are as simple as it sounds. all you need are cooked potatoes, a masher (or a fork), an egg and flour and salt. done.
the other day I had some cooked potatoes left over and all I literally did was mash them up and mix it all together, no recipe no anything. so I thought this would be a perfect thing to share with you guys, if I can do it without a recipe it really can't be that difficult right? so there you go.

Gnocchi
for two
4 big potatoes/8 small potatoes
1-2 eggs
flour
salt

ok so you can cook the potatoes the night before
you make the gnocchi (which I would recommend
doing) or you cook them and then leave them
to cool because you don't want to be mixing them
with the egg while they're still hot.

once they are cold, peel them and mash them,
then add the egg and mash again.

now this is the part where you have to be a little
patient. I'm talking seconds though.
take the flour and add a bit at a time while
mashing it all together with your fork.
you want the dough to be an even consistency
but not overly dry either, but believe me you'll
know when it's right.
(it's when it isn't too sticky anymore and starts
staying together in a ball rather than sticking
to the sides of your bowl)

that's the moment when you take some flour
put it on your worktops and roll the dough
out into a few long sausage shaped things.

you can now get the water ready to cook them.

then all you do is cut them into little pieces about
1 cm in length. once the water is boiling just
put them all in (try and seperate them so they don't
all stick together). once they swim on the top of the
water rather than diving around you'll know they're
done!

I will also be doing at least two more posts showing you some recipe ideas and what you can do with your gnocchi after they have been cooked. something really simple aswell as something a bit more fancy if you will.

also if you fancy something else that you can easily make yourself. why not check out my homemade pizza dough recipe (here) and my pizza sauce recipe (here).

Have you made gnocchi before? and what are your favourite homemade treats that are worth taking a bit longer?

Magdalena. xx

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Liebster Blog Award

as you can probably guess this is not my usual recipe post or talking about food. but since Sara from My Finnish Delights has presented me with the Liebster Blog Award I thought this would be worth doing a different kind of post.

so as far as I understand this Blog Award is not an actual award awarded by a jury or such, it is an award bloggers can give to other bloggers and a way to recommend blogs you like to your readers. liebster is german for favourite (it is when it comes to things like blogs, if you use it for a person it's more of a darling kind of thing) so it just shows your appreciation for other blogs and I think it's a nice gesture.

also it gives you the chance to get to know me a bit better. not that I'm very interesting but why not ey.



The Rules

1. Post 11 random facts about yourself
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to
3. Choose 11 bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link to them in your post
4. Tell them about the award
5. No tag-backs



11 Random Facts About Me

1. I am from Austria and I don't like skiing or mountains.

2. spring is my favourite season

3. my favourite flowers are roses and daffodils

4. I love football and I support Manchester United and my home team is Sturm Graz

5. I currently study Molecular Biology

6. one day I want to grow my own vegetables like we did when I was a child

7. I prefer to cook by myself because it relaxes me

8. my all time favourite tv show is Friends

9. I really want a dog 

10. I really wish I could make amazing looking cakes

11. I love languages and I speak german, english and french but I want to learn more

11 Questions

1. Why did you decide to start blogging?

because I have been creating recipes ever since I started cooking and I wanted to share them and my passion for good food.

2. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

the lovely feedback you get and to meet people who love food as much as I do.

3. What would you do if you won the lottery?

sounds boring, but pay for university and then go out for a lovely meal.

4. What are you reading at the moment?

a january issue of Nature and The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge 

5. What is your favourite food?

I don't really have a favourite meal because I love trying new things, but something I probably eat three times a week in different variations is rice, couldn't live without it.

6. What is your best exercise tips?

I am incredibly lazy when it comes to exercising so I don't have any tips, I really want to play football though.

7. What is your favourite place to visit?

London. love it, will always love it.

8. What do you do when you want to relax?

drink tea and listen to the nature podcast.

9. Do you prefer the city or the countryside?

I prefer living in the city, but growing up in the countryside was one of the best things ever.

10. What do you always bring with you when you travel?

a magazine/book to read on the plane.

11. What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you?

I don't really think there have been too many strange things to be honest.

My 11 Questions

1. What do you love most about your blog?

2. What is the one ingredient you couldn't live without?

3. What kind of music do you like?

4. What country would you most like to travel to?

5. How many languages do you speak and which?

6. What is your favourite ice cream flavour?

7. Do you prefer Cupcakes or Muffins?

8. Do you prefer sweet or savoury?

9. What is your favourite Magazine?

10. What is your favourite place in the world?

11. Name one blog post you'd really love to do and why.

The Blogs I've Chosen

Tramp Student

Just Me, Leah

Little Paper Swans


The Cake Hunter

Claire Bakes

Mad About Baking

Planet Bake Life

Polka Dot Dreams

Food And Such Things

Land Of The Baking Bun

Clara Martin

Millenium_Store



So if I mentioned you you can answer my questions and everything if you want to, of course you don't have to. check out all the lovely blogs above because that's what this thing is about. was fun doing it and actually not easy to think about all those random facts and questions so it was a challenge but I enjoyed going it. I'll be back with a recipe post really soon.


Magdalena. xx