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Sunday, 19 April 2015
Thursday, 16 April 2015
The Liebster Award
Mmm it seems the Liebster award can be a wee bit controversial, contentious even - how fascinating, who knew? I had only recently heard of this award thanks to Rachel from Rachel's Kitchen NZ (sorry Rachel for my slackness in getting to this) and very recently to Fiona from Tiffin Bite Sized Food Adventures.
It seems the rules have metamorphosed over time; that you can ask several questions or ten; invite anything from 3 to 11 other bloggers to get involved, or just ignore the whole thing altogether!
Apparently it can be seen as an annoying chain letter, giving nervous people a shiver down their spine in case they keel over angst-ridden through the terrible wrenching decision whether to reply or not. Also in case the God of chain letters decides to smite them with his/her mighty sword due to non-response. My tardy lack of attention is due to sheer slackness (and a little bit of ill-health). So I decided to jump in with my answers, and because I didn't get around to answering Rachel's questions earlier, I will astonish and overwhelm you with answers to both Rachel and Fiona! :))
Here we have Fiona's questions:
Everyone has had a kitchen nightmare. Tell us about one of yours.
Hosting Christmas lunch one day and cooking a roast chicken meal with the lot. Taking it out of the oven, placing it on the sloping kitchen bench and having the whole dish slide elegantly to the floor, dumping our lunch all over the place. I rescued it, blew off the dirt and carried on. Nobody knew! Oh yes I think that was the same Christmas that we were given bottles of rum, vodka, whiskey etc as presents. We went out for a bit leaving the lounge room window open, and came home to an empty sideboard. They had stolen the lot!
And here we have 10 questions for my chosen victims:
1. Who living or dead would you share your last meal with?
2. What would you eat for your last supper?
3. What sort of food do you cook/eat the most?
4. Fave author?
5. Fave cookbook author?
6. What was your mum's best dish?
7. Your mum's worst dish?
8. Your dad's best (or worst) dish?
9. What is the weirdest place you have eaten a meal?
10. And finally the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?
Victims (hhrrrmmph I mean chosen ones!) :
1. Anu from Easy Bites Online
2. Jem from Lost in Utensils
3. Dee from OnTheMove-in the Galley
So go to it ladies, but only if you wish. Just answer these questions, make up some more of your own and pass it on (or not!) to as many or as few fellow bloggers as you wish. Otherwise, happily ignore the whole shebang! I don't think the God of chain-letters has sharpened his/her sword lately. :)
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It seems the rules have metamorphosed over time; that you can ask several questions or ten; invite anything from 3 to 11 other bloggers to get involved, or just ignore the whole thing altogether!
Apparently it can be seen as an annoying chain letter, giving nervous people a shiver down their spine in case they keel over angst-ridden through the terrible wrenching decision whether to reply or not. Also in case the God of chain letters decides to smite them with his/her mighty sword due to non-response. My tardy lack of attention is due to sheer slackness (and a little bit of ill-health). So I decided to jump in with my answers, and because I didn't get around to answering Rachel's questions earlier, I will astonish and overwhelm you with answers to both Rachel and Fiona! :))
Here we have Fiona's questions:
Everyone has had a kitchen nightmare. Tell us about one of yours.
Hosting Christmas lunch one day and cooking a roast chicken meal with the lot. Taking it out of the oven, placing it on the sloping kitchen bench and having the whole dish slide elegantly to the floor, dumping our lunch all over the place. I rescued it, blew off the dirt and carried on. Nobody knew! Oh yes I think that was the same Christmas that we were given bottles of rum, vodka, whiskey etc as presents. We went out for a bit leaving the lounge room window open, and came home to an empty sideboard. They had stolen the lot!
Sweet or Salty? Salty
- not that my friends and family would believe that as I am known as a bit of a
dessert queen and chocomaniac but it is true!
What do you think about kale, macarons, salted caramel and
pork belly? Are they all they are cracked up to be? Eek to all of those. Sorry folks I don't like any of them! That's not to say I won't eat them; I eat
whatever is put in front of me (we were brought up in the days of - if you
don't eat it now you get it for breakfast) but I would not choose these items
of my own free will. Give the kale to
the cows or sheep I say!
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| (author Evelyn Simak-public domain) |
What’s on the menu on Sunday nights? baked beans on toast or boiled eggs;
basically anything DIY.
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| (author Marie-Lan Nguyen public domain) |
What ingredient are you mad for at the moment and can’t get
enough of to eat or cook with? my home-grown and preserved olives.
What was the first dish you learned to cook? bechamel or white sauce as we knew it:) (is that a dish?) and roast dinners.
If you were teaching a new cook, what would be the first
dish you would teach them? white
sauce! You can learn a lot from that,
like not being scared of trying to make something that many people say is
difficult - folks it ain't hard to make!
What’s the best meal you’ve enjoyed in the past year? an early dinner at a good friend's place with lovely friends and wonderful, simple, tasty food.
Nigella Lawson or Delia Smith or Maggie Beer? Nigella for sure though I do adore Delia and
Maggie but I have pawed over more recipes and made more dishes from Nigella's
books than any other.
Old or new, big or small, what’s your favourite kitchen
tool, implement or appliance? oh no so
many - how to choose? my cook's knife,
my food processor, my Champagne cork puller, my silicone spatula, my citrus
squeezer, my measuring spoons and cups - oh ok a great knife is essential so
that one:) but I forgot my whisk, and my olive spoon and my Laguiole knife and ...
Okay now we turn our minds to Rachel's questions:
Sweet or
Savoury? savoury
Beach or
Snow? snow
Most
memorable meal – where, when and what was the occasion (if you can tell)? so many of these but a really wondrous meal was breakfast in Yosemite National Park after starving the night before due to not having any evening wear as this was obligatory at dinner (in a National Park?!) We sat looking out at sequoia trees, eating bacon and eggs with maple syrup and inhaling coffee.
A childhood
food memory? eating tinned quinces or rather not eating them and getting them for breakfast the next day
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| (author GeorgianRecipes.net - public domain) |
Apart from
the essentials what is your favourite piece of kitchen equipment or gadget? my cute citrus squeezer.
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| I have a bigger orange one too but it only fits lemons really:) |
Your
favourite novel? Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett
Your
favourite cookbook or books – if you have more than one? Feast by Nigella Lawson
Your
favourite ingredient? lemon juice
Your least
favourite food? Weeds i.e. rocket, lettuce, sprouts, anything green and leafy and weedy
What piece
of equipment or gadget do you have in your kitchen that you never use? the Corkcicle -though I have just had a look at the box now and it actually sounds really useful. I may have to try it!
So there you have it; now you know a leeetle bit more about me, like it or not:)
And here we have 10 questions for my chosen victims:
1. Who living or dead would you share your last meal with?
2. What would you eat for your last supper?
3. What sort of food do you cook/eat the most?
4. Fave author?
5. Fave cookbook author?
6. What was your mum's best dish?
7. Your mum's worst dish?
8. Your dad's best (or worst) dish?
9. What is the weirdest place you have eaten a meal?
10. And finally the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?
Victims (hhrrrmmph I mean chosen ones!) :
1. Anu from Easy Bites Online
2. Jem from Lost in Utensils
3. Dee from OnTheMove-in the Galley
So go to it ladies, but only if you wish. Just answer these questions, make up some more of your own and pass it on (or not!) to as many or as few fellow bloggers as you wish. Otherwise, happily ignore the whole shebang! I don't think the God of chain-letters has sharpened his/her sword lately. :)
Tuesday, 14 April 2015
Willow & Spoon - cafe review
Easter was busy and full of food, fun and family and need I say heaps of chocolate. We had a nephew up from Canberra, a sister down from far North Queensland, and a family friend up from Tasmania, along with the usual suspects. Sis-in-law who lives in Buderim invited everybody up for an Easter roast lamb, plus a squillion desserts and chocolate eggs. We staggered home that night after a walk at the beach, to dive into bed dinnerless suffering a chocolate coma. Monday meant more food and chocolate. Tuesday dawned and we decided to hit a local cafe that I had wanted to try for a while. As if we needed to eat again!, but brunch was calling so we headed down to Willow & Spoon for a feed. This cafe moved last July to a new location, on a fairly busy road in the inner northern suburbs. This might make you think - oh dear, noise, traffic, eek! but no, there is a big backyard that has a lovely atmosphere. It almost feels like you are sitting in a friend's place, ready for a BBQ. Four of us wandered down there, before the lad from Canberra headed to the airport for his trip home. (We think he is a spy, but he ain't saying.)
Sorry folks that I have no other photos as my 3 fellow diners chose the same dish! Very thoughtless of their food blogger relative :) Anyway, I can tell you we all enjoyed our meals though I have to say the sweet potato foam (huh?) overpowered the zucchini and corn fritters to the extent that I could really only taste sweet potato. And even though I love sweet things, this was way too sweet for me as a breakfast dish. I am a bit stunned about the price of the Amigo come to think of it - $25 for basically eggs and bacon and a few bits and bobs. Maybe it's just me (and Mr Pickings), but when are cafes and restaurants going to dump the whole wooden serving board idea? I just want a proper plate! Vegans, vegos, and gluten nay-sayers are all looked after here. Staff are friendly and you sit in quirky surrounds. They have won awards the last couple of years for Best Cafe so are obviously doing something right. Well worth a wander down:)
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| this greets you at the front counter - they read my mind |
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| the menu is attached to a vinyl record (Simon Gallaher tee hee) |
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| Mr Pickings waiting to order - look at the gorgeous flower-covered tree to the left |
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| this curtain is so fabulous; hiding a multitude of sins perhaps? (joke) |
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| such a pretty blue cup for the leaf tea $4 |
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| yay coffee! need coffee! $3.90 |
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| The Amigo $25 (smashed avocado extra $3) |
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| another view of the Amigo |
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| Amaize $17.50 (bacon extra $5) |
Sorry folks that I have no other photos as my 3 fellow diners chose the same dish! Very thoughtless of their food blogger relative :) Anyway, I can tell you we all enjoyed our meals though I have to say the sweet potato foam (huh?) overpowered the zucchini and corn fritters to the extent that I could really only taste sweet potato. And even though I love sweet things, this was way too sweet for me as a breakfast dish. I am a bit stunned about the price of the Amigo come to think of it - $25 for basically eggs and bacon and a few bits and bobs. Maybe it's just me (and Mr Pickings), but when are cafes and restaurants going to dump the whole wooden serving board idea? I just want a proper plate! Vegans, vegos, and gluten nay-sayers are all looked after here. Staff are friendly and you sit in quirky surrounds. They have won awards the last couple of years for Best Cafe so are obviously doing something right. Well worth a wander down:)
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| this is a bit scary actually! - just at the front of the cafe |
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| looking in from the footpath |
Thursday, 9 April 2015
Fish Smothered with Onion Jam
And smothered it is! This recipe calls for 900 grams of onions, cooked up into a luscious onion jam, heaped on top of white fish fillets, then baked in the oven. It is a spicy and flavoursome dish, and I think not for the faint-hearted. We loved it! Once again, I am joining with other intrepid food bloggers in The Cookbook Guru bookclub to suss out this month's star book - The Food of Morocco by Paula Wolfert. It is full of interesting recipes, with lots of flavour and colour. I had thought of tackling a chicken dish but this one just leapt out at me. I loved the thought of onion jam, and I am keen on fish so this was just the ticket. I hadn't read the recipe right through before I started to cook so I am afraid to say the guests had to wait to be fed for rather longer than I had anticipated. Oh well there was plenty of wine so maybe that's why the photos are a bit wonky! I suggest getting an early start on the onion jam, and making sure the fish is marinating in the salt well ahead of dinnertime:)
It went really well with a spiced couscous side dish, though you could try rice or quinoa if you need a gluten-free accompaniment.
ingredients:
4 firm white fish fillets = approx 750 g. (I used red throat emperor; the fishmonger said barramundi would be good too)
2-3 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup olive oil
900g. red onions - chopped into thick slices
2 tbs saffron water (I put about 10 strands of saffron into 2 tbs boiling water)
1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper
1 + 3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
big pinch ground ginger
3 tbs honey
1/3 cup sultanas
juice of 1/2 lemon or 1 lime
large handful of parsley sprigs
3 tbs water
1 lemon quartered, for serving (optional)
method:
Sprinkle the salt over both sides of the fish
Cover and leave in the fridge for at least an hour
Get on with the onion jam by heating the oil, then adding the onion slices, saffron water, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger into the pan
Stir, cover with a lid and leave to simmer gently for about 30 mins, stirring occasionally
Add the honey and sultanas and keep simmering for another 15 mins till soft and glossy
Check the seasoning, and add more salt and pepper if desired
Add the lemon or lime juice, and set aside uncovered
Pre heat the oven to 200C
Spread some more olive oil on the base of a baking dish (approx 27 cm x 30 cm)
Add the parsley sprigs and the water
Lay the fish fillets on the parsley
Spread the onion jam over the fish and bake for 10 mins
Turn off the oven and leave the door ajar for 20 mins
Serve with lemon wedges and couscous
This will happily feed 4 people. (We had leftovers). Paula did not specify how much salt to use on the fish fillets so I madly, merrily kept throwing on little spoons of salt on both sides of the fillets. Oh my, this was rather salty I have to say. So I suggest 2-3 tsp, but take care, and use whatever amount you think will suit your tastes
I reckon you could smother other things with this jam; chicken maybe or vegetables. But a little goes a long way, as it is a strongly spiced and floral-scented spread. Really delicious for those who have a bent for strong flavours.
It went really well with a spiced couscous side dish, though you could try rice or quinoa if you need a gluten-free accompaniment.
ingredients:
4 firm white fish fillets = approx 750 g. (I used red throat emperor; the fishmonger said barramundi would be good too)
2-3 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup olive oil
900g. red onions - chopped into thick slices
2 tbs saffron water (I put about 10 strands of saffron into 2 tbs boiling water)
1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper
1 + 3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
big pinch ground ginger
3 tbs honey
1/3 cup sultanas
juice of 1/2 lemon or 1 lime
large handful of parsley sprigs
3 tbs water
1 lemon quartered, for serving (optional)
method:
Sprinkle the salt over both sides of the fish
Cover and leave in the fridge for at least an hour
Get on with the onion jam by heating the oil, then adding the onion slices, saffron water, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger into the pan
Stir, cover with a lid and leave to simmer gently for about 30 mins, stirring occasionally
Add the honey and sultanas and keep simmering for another 15 mins till soft and glossy
Check the seasoning, and add more salt and pepper if desired
Add the lemon or lime juice, and set aside uncovered
Pre heat the oven to 200C
Spread some more olive oil on the base of a baking dish (approx 27 cm x 30 cm)
Add the parsley sprigs and the water
Lay the fish fillets on the parsley
Spread the onion jam over the fish and bake for 10 mins
Turn off the oven and leave the door ajar for 20 mins
Serve with lemon wedges and couscous
This will happily feed 4 people. (We had leftovers). Paula did not specify how much salt to use on the fish fillets so I madly, merrily kept throwing on little spoons of salt on both sides of the fillets. Oh my, this was rather salty I have to say. So I suggest 2-3 tsp, but take care, and use whatever amount you think will suit your tastes
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| salting the fillets |
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| turn over and salt the other side before covering and refrigerating for an hour or so |
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| Mr Pickings slicing onions for the jam |
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| stirring a beautiful panful of onions |
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| adding the cinnamon and other spices |
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| in go the sultanas and the gorgeous local rooftop honey - so floral |
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| olive oil, parsley and water on the base of the baking dish |
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| laying down the fillets |
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| spooning on the luscious onion jam |
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| out of the oven |
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| serving with spicy couscous |
I reckon you could smother other things with this jam; chicken maybe or vegetables. But a little goes a long way, as it is a strongly spiced and floral-scented spread. Really delicious for those who have a bent for strong flavours.
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
Chocolate Chelsea Buns for Easter
Yep Chelsea buns for Easter. I took a quick squizz at a few recipes online and in cookbooks, but it was all yeasty stuff, waiting for hours to prove, lots of kneading and so on. Nope I thought, not for me on Easter Saturday morning. But Chelsea buns - oh yes - so quick and easy and delicious. And just pile on the chocolate and you are set for Easter. So I grabbed my flour and spices and brown sugar and sultanas and began to bake my buns. Making these always brings back wonderful memories of staying in Philadelphia over the Holiday period which in the USA means from Halloween to New Year's Day. Our Quaker friends took us to a fabulous concert where the audience would bring home-baked goods and sell them in the interval. I think it was for a Christmas charity but I can't be sure:) I had made some massive Chelsea buns which were gobbled up by the locals. I think they thought they were some exotic beastie, instead of just being a fruity bun/scone. Nevertheless, they were a great success! This version is from an old Women's Weekly cookbook (aren't they the best?) with a few adaptations to give a bit of Easter cheer.
ingredients:
3 cups self raising flour
1/2 tsp salt
45g butter
1 cup milk
Filling:
80g butter
1/3 cup + 1 tbs brown sugar
1/2 cup sultanas
1/2 cup currants
80g chocolate melts/chips (90g if you really love chocolate)
60g mixed peel
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp mixed spice
Glaze:
1 tbs water
1 tbs sugar
1 tbs marmalade
Method:
Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl
Rub in the butter with your fingers so you end up with a sandy mixture
Stir the milk into the mix till you have a firm dough (I needed extra milk as I had old flour)
Grab your ruler here if needs be:) and roll it out to a nice oblong of 30cm x 23cm
Brown sugar and butter go into a small bowl - beat together till creamy
Slather this over your lovely oblong of dough
Now the fruit, choc chips, peel and spices are cast evenly over the dough
Roll this fat little baby up lengthwise
Cut into 10 equal slices and squish them into a round 23cm cake tin which has been lightly buttered
Bake at 180C for 25-30 mins till golden
Just before the buns are cooked, make the glaze by heating the 3 ingredients over a low heat till melted
Brush or pour the glaze over the hot buns when they come out of the oven
Eat with heaps of butter either warm or cold
ingredients:
3 cups self raising flour
1/2 tsp salt
45g butter
1 cup milk
Filling:
80g butter
1/3 cup + 1 tbs brown sugar
1/2 cup sultanas
1/2 cup currants
80g chocolate melts/chips (90g if you really love chocolate)
60g mixed peel
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp mixed spice
Glaze:
1 tbs water
1 tbs sugar
1 tbs marmalade
Method:
Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl
Rub in the butter with your fingers so you end up with a sandy mixture
Stir the milk into the mix till you have a firm dough (I needed extra milk as I had old flour)
Grab your ruler here if needs be:) and roll it out to a nice oblong of 30cm x 23cm
Brown sugar and butter go into a small bowl - beat together till creamy
Slather this over your lovely oblong of dough
Now the fruit, choc chips, peel and spices are cast evenly over the dough
Roll this fat little baby up lengthwise
Cut into 10 equal slices and squish them into a round 23cm cake tin which has been lightly buttered
Bake at 180C for 25-30 mins till golden
Just before the buns are cooked, make the glaze by heating the 3 ingredients over a low heat till melted
Brush or pour the glaze over the hot buns when they come out of the oven
Eat with heaps of butter either warm or cold
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| gather the ingredients |
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| sift the flour and salt |
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| bash out your dough into a nice oblong |
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| creaming the butter and brown sugar |
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| ready to go on the dough |
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| spread evenly over the dough |
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| lots of chocolate here |
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| covering the dough with fruit and spices |
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| Mr Pickings divvying up and cutting the buns (he is the designer after all) |
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| making the glaze |
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| smelling great |
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| loads of butter - yum! |
Sunday, 5 April 2015
Thursday, 2 April 2015
In My Kitchen April 2015
What was in my kitchen last month? Not much, folks! I have been sick for over 2 weeks, and my energy levels have sunk to rock bottom. What a sad little possum I have been:( I am just starting to come out of it though, so hopefully I will have a lot more to share next month. But I did get hold of a few things, and I managed to get a few things done, so here is my meagre show and tell! Skip along to Celia's blog Fig Jam & Lime Cordial for plenty of pleasurable peeks into global kitchens full of interesting and amazing things.
I preserved our olives which come but once a decade! Very rare to get a crop so I was very pleased to have enough to brine up and shove into jars. Happy eating I hope:) I hope that everyone else has had a more productive month than I have and look forward to sharing more next month.
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| Toasted Earth tumbler made by our friend Brooke; saucer hand-crafted by a local wood turner |
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| lime green fold-up cutting board - check out the little bird on the top |
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| another mug also made by our friend Brooke at Red Door Studio |
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| looking forward to perusing this one |
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| bottling the olives from our tree |
I preserved our olives which come but once a decade! Very rare to get a crop so I was very pleased to have enough to brine up and shove into jars. Happy eating I hope:) I hope that everyone else has had a more productive month than I have and look forward to sharing more next month.
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