In My Kitchen - November 2015

Phew!  I am still recovering from a very hectic October.  Busy busy busy, and then some.  Thankfully November has started off very nicely, even though the terrifying thought that it is only 7 weeks till Xmas has my heart palpitating.  (And it will be even closer by the time you read this). 

I bought this in Canberra whilst there for the Food Bloggers' Conference  

Hopefully I will learn some great tricks and tips when I get around to reading this.  (I still have a couple of other books on blogging and styling that I haven't read yet - naughty me).

really tart and sweet

Bought this at the Capital Region Farmers' Market, after a cooking demo.  This is a really wonderful vinegar; a bit tart, a bit sweet, and just marvellously plummy.  I have used it several times already - on salads, and baked salmon.

a lovely grassy olive oil  

Yep, got this in Canberra too with the gift vouchers we were given. Thank you so much Farmers' Market!  I love this oil; it is grassy but not bitter as some are, and it is buttery but not too much.

I love garlic and I love smoked foods AND it's organic - win win  

There is something about smoked foods that really appeals to me. This is a great condiment in all sorts of dishes, so the little grinder has been getting a workout since we got home.

in our goody bag   

As some fellow bloggers know, I have a thing about wooden spoons so this was a nice surprise in our Conference goody bag. Now residing happily with the other spoons in my utensils jug.

another gift 

We were very spoiled at the Conference.  Another gift, filled with healthy recipes which I am planning on giving a go soon.  Thanks MerryMaker Sisters, for the book and the inspiring talk.

(almost) in my kitchen   

While we were in Canberra, we managed to sneak a visit in to the National Dinosaur Museum.  Naturally I could not resist this beauteous baby.  I love the quartz-y bits in the middle.  The fossil collection is ever-growing.

  

huuuge tea towel 

Poachers Pantry were sponsors, and gave us a humongous tea towel.  Soooo useful. And they make the best smoked duck I have ever eaten. (and no one paid me to say that). :=)

another tea towel 

Mr P. and I flew to Sydney before going to Canberra.  Mr P. loves the movie Matilda, so I bought tickets to see the musical while we were down there.  Neither of us are fond of musicals usually, but this was a fun night, and really well done.  So I bought the tea towel!

such moreish popcorn 

We drove down to the Twilight Market at Raby Bay the week before Halloween to catch up with the friendly fudge lady Marisia. Her popcorn is a real treat, and doesn't last very long in my kitchen.

October was a hectic, amazing and exhausting month.  So many big things happening all around the same time.  I met great people and did lots of fun, new things.  Did I mention I was a tour guide during Brisbane Open House, much to my surprise!

Join in everybody with Celia from Fig Jam & Lime Cordial, to take a gander into global kitchens.  You will find so much to see and learn there.

My Sunday Photo - 8 November 2015

Imperial Stormtrooper on the move  

Yesterday while doing a bit of shopping at the shopping centre, we had a close encounter (oops, different movie) with a stormtrooper of a fabulous kind.  I have a feeling that there was actually a lady stormtrooper under this gear as s/he was very slight.  Obviously they have equal rights on the Death Star:=)

Hemingway Cafe - Review

Hemingway?  Hmm, yes I have read one or 2 of his books.  But I prefer delving into the works of his amazing spouse Martha Gellhorn.  Ernest was her middle husband of 3. She was a travel writer, novelist and journalist, and one of the first female war correspondents.  Definitely one of my heroines.  (Nicole Kidman played her in a recent movie, too.)

Moving right along folks to a recent lunch we had at Hemingway's (formerly Sip Cafe). It was a Public Holiday, so we were a wee bit worried that nothing would be open.  But thankfully there were quite a few places awaiting the hungry hordes.  (Naughty naughty! Labour Day should be a holiday for all, I reckon).  

Hemingway has the usual suspects: toasty, bready, eggy dishes. They also had some more interesting items on the menu like muesli, fruit loaf and a chia and coconut pudding on offer.  The Public Holiday specials included zucchini fritters, a dish of meatballs, and bubble and squeak so definitely some variants there. 

espresso Iced Deliciousness $6.50  ($7.50 on the menu)   

You could have either espresso or dark chocolate sauce in this.  I asked for both.  They asked did I mean mocha?  I was confused - what else is mocha but chocolate and coffee flavours together?  I got both, and yes clearly I did want mocha. :=)

mixed berry smoothie $6.50 ($7.50 on the menu)   

Mr P. went for the zucchini fritters special.  He liked this dish.  It was fresh and full of flavour; and the beetroot relish was a winner. His only caveat was the somewhat overwhelming amount of dill in the fritters, and on the plate.

zucchini fritters w/- haloumi, fetta, beetroot relish + poached egg $18 ($20.70 on the menu) 

 Yep I know - there I was saying how great it was to see something different on the menu and I choose eggs benny with salmon.  What a cliché, you are saying.   Tough, I say:=)  That's what my stomach clamoured for.   

Atlantic Eggs Benedict with salmon $15.50 ($17.80 on the menu)    

Here are the things I didn't really like about my lunch: the muffin thingy was too sweet. (Not sure where this horrible idea of having sweet bread/buns in a savoury dish came from, but please stop it now everyone!).  I found the balsamic syrup/glaze also just way too sweet.  Sorry to say it didn't add anything to the dish.  The salmon was a generous serve, so no complaints there.

The café is in a pleasant area of Teneriffe in an old woolstore. Beautiful plumage! No, I mean bricks.  (sorry non-Monty Python fans).  The street is tree-lined which adds greenery and coolth (yes this is a real word) to the atmosphere.  Slightly higher chairs would be lovely though.  I feel like a child peering over the adults' table sometimes.

(The price difference on the menu was due to the Public Holiday surcharge which increased the price we paid for these meals).  

      

such beauteous brickwork    

a charming bit of pyrography on the tabletops 

Hemingway Café
54 Vernon Tce., Teneriffe
Ph: 3257 1799

 

Salted White Chocolate Ice Cream - Halloween Style

icecream in a skull - why not?

Mr P. adores white chocolate (I keep telling him it isn't really chocolate), and would eat buckets at a time if we had it in the house.  Probably because I am lactose-intolerant, I find it a bit too much like dairy, and struggle with the whole concept.  For me, it has to be hard and dark - like my men:=)  Oops, did I say that?

So now you will be asking: "so why are you making white chocolate ice cream?"  'Cos it is Halloween and I am going to serve it in little heads with blood clots (cherries) and blood (dark choc sauce).  We did this last year, and our guests loved it.  And of course, to make Mr P. very happy.

This is based on Nigella's easy-peasy icecream recipes in her book Nigellissima.  I have just changed the flavours for my Halloween skulls special.


ingredients:

200g. white chocolate (the real stuff)
300mls thickened cream
50g. icing sugar
90mls chocolate cream liqueur (your choice - I used Mozart)
50mls condensed milk
3/4 tsp sea salt flakes

Method:

Zap the white chocolate in the microwave for about 60 seconds - keep an eye on it as it can burn

Stir gently till all melted, and cool for about 5 mins.

Whip the cream, icing sugar and liqueur in a medium bowl till you have soft peaks

Gently fold the chocolate mixture and the cream together

Add the condensed milk and salt, and mix in to the cream 

You will have an unctuous, creamy mixture that tastes damn fine. So whack it into a container with a lid and freeze for several hours or overnight.  Or spoon it into skulls or ghoul heads for Halloween!
(I sprinkled a few extra salt flakes on top of each one).  

condensed milk in a tube - what could be better?   

talk about unctuous - yep I will!  

swirly creamy chocolatey - my knees are a-trembling   

they're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky.....    

My Sunday Photo 01 November 2015

our mannequin doing her Halloween thing   

Last night we had a Halloween movie night in the carport.  Our mannequin (her name is Persia) was on sentry duty at the front stairs to keep out the ferals.  She gave all our guests a fright every time they turned around.  Wow, what a night.  It is amazing how quickly Halloween has become a huge thing in Australia.  We like it as it brings the neighbourhood together.  Happy Halloween everybody!

Eat Drink Blog - Canberra 2015

Canberra you were calling my name this month.  And so I heeded the call, along with about 75 other keen food and drink bloggers. We pulled on our best (loosest) clobber and made our way to the annual conference celebrating food, drink and blogging.  I enjoyed finally meeting some of the bloggers I have been following in virtual life.  And I was inspired by the plenitude of like-minded souls, all of us eager to throw ourselves into a food and blog frenzy.

the view from our lovely room at the QT Hotel    

Mr P. and I had driven from Sydney (after flying from Brisbane), and were very happy to get up to our room with a view (and the most fabulous bed).  Thank you QT for looking after all the bloggers staying here for the conference.


Friday night the beginning of our Canberra food journey started with a bang at The Hamlet in Braddon.  This is (and I quote) " a space for makers, foodies and local creatives".  Mm I don't know about that; I just know that there was masses of amazing food provided by the vans which have everything from Peruvian street food to milkshakes, hotdogs and pizza.  ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr welcomed us (briefly) to Canberra. 

so much scrumptious food here - thanks to all the sponsors  

We ate, we drank, we stumbled down the street to indulge again. My group toddled off to Frugii Dessert Laboratory, where we stuffed in more food and heard from John the owner.  He explained about the cacao pod, and how chocolate is made.  Who the heck first thought of roasting up a cocoa bean anyway?  

fantastic flavours: John waxing lyrical and the stunningly ugly cacao pods plus beans 

Next, we waddled along to Hopscotch Bar where we were served cocktails comprising rosé with a G&T (or other flavours) icy pole stuck inside.  I have to tell you this was not really my thing. When I tell you I am a bourbon drinker, you will understand.  Also, the clientele was extremely hip, so I felt a teensy bit out of the demographic.  Phew, those bouncers were scary!  Thank you Hopscotch regardless:=)

what else do bloggers do except take a snap?   

There were a couple of other events after this - whiskey and food at Marble and Grain, plus drinks at Lucky's Speakeasy, but by this time I was knackered and went off to my oh so comfy bed. 

Next day was the meat of the conference sandwich.  First off we headed to the Farmers' Market, and a cooking demo by CIT.  Oh check out that croquembouche, people!  We were given a couple of gift cards to spend at the Market which I happily spent on olive oil and smoked garlic.  I loved the fresh produce in its beautiful piles.

those éclairs had me drooling

I was not the only delegate keen to hear Matthew Evans tell us about his life and times as a chef, food critic then Gourmet Farmer. He was followed by Wendy Johnson on restaurant reviews, which I found really useful.  Next came a talk by Todd Wright about SEO and social media; followed by Tess Godkin with food styling, and lastly smart phone photography and videography by Alice Lau.  

the speakers were full of enthusiasm and helpful hints  

What can I say about dinner?  We glammed up and came back for a sumptuous meal at A. Baker, the hip and happening eatery at New Acton.  What a brilliant evening this was.  Delectable food and wine, and a chance to get to know the other delegates and the speakers better.   

happy little delegates smiling for the camera  

(Thank goodness for those lanyards!  Lots of surreptitious peering went on during the weekend, so we could check out which lovely blogger's company we were in).    

  

I don't normally eat pork belly or lamb but here I ate both!  sooo good      

Sunday we were up early again, and off to Nishi Gallery for a panel discussion about full-time blogging.  Carly Jacobs wowed us with her enthusiasm and love of lists:=)  (Me too, me too).  She gave us lots of tips about how to get organised and fit blogging in with our busy lives.  The MerryMaker Sisters were vibrant and energetic, and gave us an insight into how to change your life, and how to self-publish your book.  Thank you Emma and Carla for the copy of your book!    

Merrymaker Sisters

Carly

We then split up to go to the various venues for lunch, (and sadly would not see each other again).  I jumped on the bus for Two before Ten in Aranda.  This is a cafe and coffee roasting house.  I am not sure what happened here, but they did not seem to be organised for our visit.  We sat around for a long while, then had a very hurried look at the roasting process.  A quick lunch was provided then it was on the bus again.  But thanks for the coffee beans!

before the roasting

some roasted beans; so much darker now   

 

What an exhilarating and exhausting weekend.  Thanks so much to the wonderful EDB committee and all the amazing sponsors.  

And just to end off and for no reason at all, here is a photo of Black Mountain Tower.

Coffee, Walnut, Hazelnut Cake

can you ever have too much coffee?  

I have been hunting around for a really good coffee and walnut cake recipe, and I think I may have found it.  This one is by Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers, the ladies of the River Cafe in London.  I love that this cake has a real coffee hit to it, unlike some wimpy versions you come across.  And it is full of walnuts and hazelnuts, so you have a bit of crunch as well.    

I am joining in with The Cookbook Guru Book Club, which this month is delving into The River Cafe Cookbook by the above mentioned ladies.  Sadly, Rose Gray died in 2010 so Ruth is at the helm solo.  It looks like there are many splendid recipes in this book, worth a good delving.:=)  


ingredients:

3 vanilla beans
240g. walnuts
240g. hazelnuts
5 tbs instant coffee + 2 tbs boiling water
380g. unsalted butter, softened at room temp.
380g. caster sugar - I used raw caster
5 large eggs - around 60g. each
100g. plain flour
1 tsp baking powder


Method:

Set your oven to 170C/325F

Grease a 25cm cake tin with butter and tip some plain flour around it to coat the tin (I only had a 23cm springform tin so I used that)

Shake out the excess flour; you may want to line the tin with baking paper but if using a springform tin, don't bother

Zap the vanilla beans in a small processor or chop finely

Zap the walnuts into small pieces (no need to clean the processor)

Roast the hazelnuts in the pre-heated oven for about 10 mins

Let them cool, then rub them to get rid of the skins (don't worry if you have some skin left on)

Now zap these in the processor to a fine meal/powder

Dissolve the coffee in the boiling water; stir and leave to cool

Grab a large mixing bowl, throw in the butter and sugar and beat till light and creamy

Fold in both nuts and the vanilla beans

Beat the eggs into the batter one at a time (or cheat and throw in 2 at a time)

Fold in the sifted flour and baking powder

Stir in the cooled coffee

Pour/spoon into the prepared tin

Bake for one and a quarter hours

Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then onto a cake rack to cool right down

Sift on some icing sugar if you wish

Because this is a UK recipe, I used UK tablespoons which are 17.75mls according to Mr. Google, unlike Aussie ones of 20 mls. Well let's be honest, I got as close to that as I could without fussing around.  So basically I just chucked in a couple of extra teaspoons after using 15mls tablespoons which seem to be the only ones you can buy these days.  

ingredients ready to go  

just beat it, beat it  

luscious swirly coffee nutty batter   

yep I know - it looks a bit suss, like peanut butter or worse:=)   

   beaauuutiful nutty batter ready for the oven     

(Guess what my doodles are this time!)