This feature takes Lhyme to Australia where young singer-songwriter, Ella Hartwig, attends uni and pursues her creative dreams in music. Australian Tuna Mornay is the perfect nod to Ella’s home and Aussie roots. Check out the recipe below!

Ella Hartwig hails from Cooktown, a small, remote town in Far North Queensland, Australia, with no street lights. Ella’s small town had a music class and a piano teacher for a couple of years, but it was still very isolated, with no one else deeply involved in the music scene. Two years ago, determined to pursue her dreams and record her album, she moved 2,000 kilometers away to Brisbane, even though she didn’t know anyone there. She packed up all her belongings and music gear, stayed with extended family in a retirement village for a month, and then found a place to rent. Music has been a part of Ella’s life from an early age as Ella began writing songs at the age of 11. She was later recognized for her songwriting talent when she was nominated for two Queensland Music Awards for songs she wrote at the age of 13. Ella released her first song at 15 years old and an EP at 16. Since then, she has continued to release singles. Now 21, she’s well known for her tracks Can’t Ask You To Stay and Staged Reality, both written when she was just 13. In November 2023, she released her first single, Western Star, off her upcoming album “Take Me South” and she plans to keep releasing singles in the coming months, aiming to gain traction in the music scene in Australia. The move from her small town to Brisbane was a pivotal step, similar to the dramatic shifts often depicted in movies when someone relocates from a small town to a big city like New York. Following the move, Ella has been working hard to build her network and create a buzz around her name, navigating the challenges of the business side of the music industry.

A country folk artist with ambitious goals to take her music abroad, and perhaps one day even make her way to Nashville. Her sound is shaped by influences like Missy Higgins, Taylor Swift’s poetic style, and fellow folk artists Noah Kahan and Sam Fender. Overall her music leans towards the upbeat side, reminiscent of Vance Joy’s lively and funky style. Her songs incorporate a mix of instruments like banjo and trumpet, with some tracks even venturing into pop territory, creating a unique blend of country folk. Each track on her album is distinct, reflecting her diverse influences.

Lately, Ella has been heavily involved in managing every aspect of her album release, a process that has been both challenging and rewarding as she juggles cranking out new music and handling all the marketing on her own. She’s done an impressive job navigating these complexities. After working on the album for about a year and a half, she’s now ready to release it, with plans to tour Australia, including stops in New South Wales and all over Queensland. She’s also been on a roll with three festival weekends back-to-back, and she’s excited about the momentum. Focusing on networking and pushing her album, Ella’s main goals are centered around the four pillars of writing, recording, releasing, and performing. These four pillars are at the core of her artistic journey. Ella is also eager to collaborate with artists not just in Australia, but around the world.

So what’s next for Ella Hartwig? Ella hopes to collaborate with other artists, not just work solo, particularly after the release of her upcoming album, “Take Me South”, which is all about self-discovery. She’s built a strong network in Brisbane, where she’s recognized by musicians in nearly every bar she walks into and vice versa. Despite the challenges and urges to give up at times, she’s come a long way. She wants to encourage others to follow their passions even if they’re from a tiny place where no one else is pursuing similar dreams.

Ella has a saying, “Although not everyone comes from a small town, everyone comes from somewhere”. She recognizes that while not everyone comes from a small town, everyone faces challenges and self-doubt on their journey. Her mother taught her to be adaptable, a lesson that has helped her navigate and overcome many of life’s challenges as she pursued her dreams. Growing up in a national park with her mum and dad, who caught crocodiles with Steve Irwin, and living with a bull in the front yard and a snack in the house, Ella always strives to challenge herself and keep pushing forward, much like the adventurous spirit often associated with Australia. Be sure to follow Ella Hartwig on IG at the link below and check out all her new music!

Follow Ella Hartwig Music on IG

When it comes to food, Ella Hartwig has a nostalgic love for her grandmother’s Latvian meatball soup, but her all-time favorite dish is a tuna mornay bake, a staple in Australian households, especially on busy nights. This dish can be topped with cornflakes, breadcrumbs, panko crumbs, or stuffing mix. Tuna Mornay is the Australian equivalent of an American tuna casserole, and it is one of Ella’s absolute favorites. She also has a passion for sun-dried tomatoes and Mediterranean-style dishes with pesto, mushrooms, gnocchi, and pasta, especially when paired with a rich, creamy tomato sauce. Recently, Ella has been going through a bit of a peanut butter phase, particularly enjoying peanut butter (PB) muesli bars from Aldi, which reignited her love for PB. Ella is also a big fan of ice cream and chocolate, particularly milk chocolate, and desserts. For a comforting meal, she loves a good veggie sandwich made with toasted rustic bread, red onion, tomatoes, spinach, and a slice of grass-fed Australian cheddar cheese.

Inspired by Ella’s love for tuna mornay, I decided to give it a try myself and was met with rave reviews at home for a weeknight dinner option. This classic Australian comfort dish that’s similar to an American tuna casserole typically consists of canned tuna mixed with a creamy, cheesy white sauce and cooked pasta. It is topped with breadcrumbs, panko crumbs, crushed cornflakes, or even stuffing mix, and baked until golden and bubbly. This dish won’t disappoint. Check out the recipe below!

Tuna Mornay Recipe

Ingredients for Tuna Mornay

4 -.5oz cans of tuna in olive oil (you can use tuna in water but oil is best)
1 lb. pasta of choice (I used spiral pasta but penne & elbow macaroni work as well)
3 tablespoons grass-fed butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen peas
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
4 cups whole milk
2 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon Organic Roasted Chicken Base
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
3 cups Mozzarella Provolone mix cheese, shredded

Ingredients for Stuffing Crunchy Topping

1 package of dry stuffing mixes like Stove Top (flavor of choice) or Panko crumbs
2 tablespoons grass-fed butter, melted
Chives for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F
Cook pasta according to the packet directions minus 1 minute. Drain the pasta and add it to a cast iron pan or baking dish. Set aside.
Melt butter and add minced garlic in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Add flour to the melted butter mixture. Continuously whisking, gradually pour in milk one cup at a time and whisk until well mixed with flour-butter mixture.
Add onion powder and garlic powder to the milk mixture and whisk until the mixture thickens for about 5 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.
Remove from heat and stir in grated parmesan cheese.
Add tuna to the pasta.
Add peas and corn to the pasta.
Pour the white sauce mix over the pasta in the cast iron pan or baking dish. Mix everything well until thoroughly incorporated.
Mix the melted butter and stuffing mix in a small mixing bowl.
Sprinkle the tuna pasta mixture with stuffing mix and mixed cheese. Bake for 20 minutes until the topping is golden brown and bubbly.
Garnish with chives. Enjoy!