I've moved!
At least I think I have :-)
Check me out at http://ninehundredandseventytwelverecipes.wordpress.com
Please! xxx
Showing posts with label My Darlings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Darlings. Show all posts
Friday, June 3, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Wellington
There is a saying that is world famous in New Zealand... "You can't beat Wellington on a good day."
It's true! We went to Wellington on Saturday for the Wine and Food Show, which was ok, but I don't know that we'd go again.
Wellington however, is probably my favourite place in the world. It's a compact, friendly place. And it's beautiful. This is the view from our hotel window. The tinted glass makes it look a little dark. Actually it was the most glorious autumn day - the breeze a little cool - but otherwise PERFECT
It's true! We went to Wellington on Saturday for the Wine and Food Show, which was ok, but I don't know that we'd go again.
Wellington however, is probably my favourite place in the world. It's a compact, friendly place. And it's beautiful. This is the view from our hotel window. The tinted glass makes it look a little dark. Actually it was the most glorious autumn day - the breeze a little cool - but otherwise PERFECT
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Tagged - gaaarrrgh!
Michele the Bodacious Boomer tagged me! Eeeek! Now I have to answer some questions and tag eight (8)! new people, who have not already been tagged... I'm not sure I know 8... eek, the pressure...sigh...
Ok, so...
1. Do you think you are hot?
Not unless you count the hot flushes. (Too much information? - well too bad - I didn't start this!)
2. Upload a photo that you are using right now.
Ahem, using for what exactly? There is the one I am using as a 'before' to spur on my new way of eating... and I'm showing no-one that! - no matter how much you tickle me. I've tried taking self-portraits to use as a profile shot, but I always look like an ax-murderer (don't ask me how I know what an ax-murderer looks like), so this is the photo I like most right now...
3. When was the last time you ate chicken?
Tuesday... chicken thighs wrapped in bacon... I am loving this caveman diet. For more information see www.marksdailyapple.com. It sounds crazy, but is really working :-)
4. What song/songs have you listened to lately?
Abba, greatest hits - as I exercised on my rebounder (rebounders (mini-trampolines) are perfect for me, as I have arthritis in my knee and hip since breaking my ankle in a nasty, twisty two breaks kind of way a few years ago)
5. What were you thinking while doing this?
I hate exercise, I hate exercise, I hate exercise....
6. Do you have any nicknames
I was (nick)named after a race-horse which had a name similar to mine.... and, of course, we looked alike - tall, long skinny legs, flowing auburn hair (NOT! - I've never been tall, long legged or skinny in my life!) ... but she ran like me... slowly... so we had ONE thing in common. That nickname is my password on lots of stuff - so I can't tell you.
Rick sometimes calls me Petal - but only when he can't remember my real name...
7. Tag eight blogger friends
Well I can't tag Michele... OR Susan...
Ina at http://glutenfreedelightfullydelicious.com
Sleeping Horse at http://sleepinghorse.wordpress.com
Emm at http://mydarlinglemonthyme.blogspot.com
Kim at http://keaslife.blogspot.com
Michelle at http://primaljourney.blogspot.com
Jenny at http://thebloggess.com
Tara at http://teaandcookiesblog.com
Tom at http://tallcloverfarm.com
Ok, so I cheated... some of these are people I stalk - they don't know me hardly AT ALL, but... I was struggling... really, really struggling
Who is listed at number 1?
Ina - is my much sweeter twin sister. We have the same cat, the same pots and pans... Ina lives in British Colombia, does yoga and blogs about recipes and life. She really is a MUCH nicer person that me, but I love her anyway...
Say something about #5
I don't really 'know' Michelle. She is a young New Zealander who has lost a ton of weight following a pimal/paleo diet - now she is encouraging other people to do the same thing. Check out her latest blog entry which has before and after photos of her friend's weightloss success... that will be ME soon. But without the photos... :-) Inspiring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How did you get to know #3?
Reading a magazine in my doctor's waiting room, I came to an article about Emm. Emm is a young NZ mum, now living in Perth, Australia (but we won't hold that against her). Emm writes a beautiful blog about food and life.
How about 4?
I can't remember how I found Kim. I think she probably made a comment to someone and I stalked her back to her place. We connect because we are both cat ladies. Kim has her own cats, but she still makes the effort to rescue waifs and strays. The world needs more people with Kim's kindness.
Leave a message for #6
Jenny is a rock star in the blogging world. I'm too in awe of her, to talk to her - though I have (once or twice). If anyone leaves me a comment I am so thrilled. Sometimes I even get two comments!!! Happy Dance... Jenny gets HUNDREDS of comments... on EACH post! She is awesome, and FUNNY! ... and she will never see this :-)
Have a lovey-dovey message for #2
SH you are a brave girl, sharing your journey as you cope with coeliac disease with such honesty. It isn't easy. But your learning helps me learn. You have no idea how much I look forward to your posts (and I really hope you don't stop blogging after the first year!)
Do 7 and 8 have similarities?
Both Tea and Tom are American. Both are sweethearts... both tell great stories and take great photos of their lives and surroundings...
Actually they are completely different. :-)
TAG! Your turn xxx
Ok, so...
1. Do you think you are hot?
Not unless you count the hot flushes. (Too much information? - well too bad - I didn't start this!)
2. Upload a photo that you are using right now.
Ahem, using for what exactly? There is the one I am using as a 'before' to spur on my new way of eating... and I'm showing no-one that! - no matter how much you tickle me. I've tried taking self-portraits to use as a profile shot, but I always look like an ax-murderer (don't ask me how I know what an ax-murderer looks like), so this is the photo I like most right now...
Tuesday... chicken thighs wrapped in bacon... I am loving this caveman diet. For more information see www.marksdailyapple.com. It sounds crazy, but is really working :-)
4. What song/songs have you listened to lately?
Abba, greatest hits - as I exercised on my rebounder (rebounders (mini-trampolines) are perfect for me, as I have arthritis in my knee and hip since breaking my ankle in a nasty, twisty two breaks kind of way a few years ago)
5. What were you thinking while doing this?
I hate exercise, I hate exercise, I hate exercise....
6. Do you have any nicknames
I was (nick)named after a race-horse which had a name similar to mine.... and, of course, we looked alike - tall, long skinny legs, flowing auburn hair (NOT! - I've never been tall, long legged or skinny in my life!) ... but she ran like me... slowly... so we had ONE thing in common. That nickname is my password on lots of stuff - so I can't tell you.
Rick sometimes calls me Petal - but only when he can't remember my real name...
7. Tag eight blogger friends
Well I can't tag Michele... OR Susan...
Ina at http://glutenfreedelightfullydelicious.com
Sleeping Horse at http://sleepinghorse.wordpress.com
Emm at http://mydarlinglemonthyme.blogspot.com
Kim at http://keaslife.blogspot.com
Michelle at http://primaljourney.blogspot.com
Jenny at http://thebloggess.com
Tara at http://teaandcookiesblog.com
Tom at http://tallcloverfarm.com
Ok, so I cheated... some of these are people I stalk - they don't know me hardly AT ALL, but... I was struggling... really, really struggling
Who is listed at number 1?
Ina - is my much sweeter twin sister. We have the same cat, the same pots and pans... Ina lives in British Colombia, does yoga and blogs about recipes and life. She really is a MUCH nicer person that me, but I love her anyway...
Say something about #5
I don't really 'know' Michelle. She is a young New Zealander who has lost a ton of weight following a pimal/paleo diet - now she is encouraging other people to do the same thing. Check out her latest blog entry which has before and after photos of her friend's weightloss success... that will be ME soon. But without the photos... :-) Inspiring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How did you get to know #3?
Reading a magazine in my doctor's waiting room, I came to an article about Emm. Emm is a young NZ mum, now living in Perth, Australia (but we won't hold that against her). Emm writes a beautiful blog about food and life.
How about 4?
I can't remember how I found Kim. I think she probably made a comment to someone and I stalked her back to her place. We connect because we are both cat ladies. Kim has her own cats, but she still makes the effort to rescue waifs and strays. The world needs more people with Kim's kindness.
Leave a message for #6
Jenny is a rock star in the blogging world. I'm too in awe of her, to talk to her - though I have (once or twice). If anyone leaves me a comment I am so thrilled. Sometimes I even get two comments!!! Happy Dance... Jenny gets HUNDREDS of comments... on EACH post! She is awesome, and FUNNY! ... and she will never see this :-)
Have a lovey-dovey message for #2
SH you are a brave girl, sharing your journey as you cope with coeliac disease with such honesty. It isn't easy. But your learning helps me learn. You have no idea how much I look forward to your posts (and I really hope you don't stop blogging after the first year!)
Do 7 and 8 have similarities?
Both Tea and Tom are American. Both are sweethearts... both tell great stories and take great photos of their lives and surroundings...
Actually they are completely different. :-)
TAG! Your turn xxx
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Found it!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Yum
Have you tried this yet?
I keep reading about how fabulous Coconut Oil is, so I bought some... And it is! Such a subtle flavour. Some bloggers have mentioned eating it by the spoonful - I'm not up for that - yet - but I did lick my finger and it is really good stuff. It melts in your mouth like the best Belgian chocolate and doesn't taste at all oily. I expected it to be a bit like lard, but it isn't at all.
I cooked last week's liver and bacon in it, and I made a date and chocolate and almond and coconut oil thing yesterday (I know I'm dieting, but it was one of those days). I'll do the recipe tomorrow - Yoshi has helped me eat some steak and is now asleep on my lap. It's kinda hard to blog around a cat.
I keep reading about how fabulous Coconut Oil is, so I bought some... And it is! Such a subtle flavour. Some bloggers have mentioned eating it by the spoonful - I'm not up for that - yet - but I did lick my finger and it is really good stuff. It melts in your mouth like the best Belgian chocolate and doesn't taste at all oily. I expected it to be a bit like lard, but it isn't at all.
I cooked last week's liver and bacon in it, and I made a date and chocolate and almond and coconut oil thing yesterday (I know I'm dieting, but it was one of those days). I'll do the recipe tomorrow - Yoshi has helped me eat some steak and is now asleep on my lap. It's kinda hard to blog around a cat.
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| This picture was taken in summer, but the effect is the same |
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Aila's Shortcake
Aila was my Mother-in-Law.
She was a bloody-minded, determined, stroppy old bag.
She was also an entertainer, a raconteur - with a huge fund of naughty stories. She preferred the company of men to that of women.
She called herself a good, plain cook and she made the best roast dinners ever.
She smoked like a chimney, drank whiskey and knew more rude words than I do - and she would use them at the most inappropriate times.
She was funny and often very kind. We got on very well because very early on in our relationship I decided I would never fight with an old lady. Also, because I always did exactly as I was told.
I miss her still.
Aila's Shortcake
125g butter - softened
125g sugar - I used sugar which had vanilla beans buried in it.
1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
225g flour - I am using a blend of flours recommended by Karina at http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2008/12/baking-cooking-substitutions-for-gluten.html
I used a combination of sorghum flour, buckwheat flour and tapioca starch. Karina uses xanthan gum in her blend. I don't have any (and I think they sound a bit yucky - a technical term which means... ick)
so I didn't put any in my flours mix.
Cream the butter and sugar.
Add the egg - beat
Tip in the flour and baking powder and beat again - this is a very soft dough which can easily be made with a hand-held electric beater - which is good, because I don't have a stand mixer.
Tear off four even-sized pieces of baking paper - big enough to line a pie dish.
Carefully measure three-quarters of the mixture onto one piece of baking paper..... na, just kidding! There is no 'carefully' in this recipe - just roughly 3/4.
Put another piece of the baking paper on top of the dough, then press the dough till it fits the base and sides of your pie dish. Put the paper covered dough in the fridge for 10 minutes to harden up a little.
Do the same process again, pressing the dough out to cover the top of your pie, and refrigerate that too.
Don't be too precious about getting the measurements right.
This dough is very forgiving - gaps smoodge together beautifully.
Take the dough from the fridge.
Put the base circle into your pie dish and quickly remove the top layer of baking paper.
Fill the pie with whatever you want - I used a mixture of peaches and sliced apple.
Take one piece of paper off your top piece of dough and plop it dough-side down on top of the filling.
Peel the last piece of paper off... I'm thinking as I write this, that I really don't need to be so pedantic about instructions because, frankly if you can't figure this out for yourself, you really need to be reading someone else's blog...
Skrunkle the edges over to fit the top, and don't worry about any holes that you rip in the pastry.
Sprinkle with sugar - I used sugar that I have stored in this lovely little container that we bought at a market in Vietnam. It's made of cinnamon bark and scents the sugar (the same way the vanilla beans
do)
Bake the pie at about180c or until it is golden.
Serve to a happy husband for his birthday.
This is good hot, warm or at room temperature.
Aila would often make it with jam in the middle.
She was a bloody-minded, determined, stroppy old bag.
She was also an entertainer, a raconteur - with a huge fund of naughty stories. She preferred the company of men to that of women.
She called herself a good, plain cook and she made the best roast dinners ever.
She smoked like a chimney, drank whiskey and knew more rude words than I do - and she would use them at the most inappropriate times.
She was funny and often very kind. We got on very well because very early on in our relationship I decided I would never fight with an old lady. Also, because I always did exactly as I was told.
I miss her still.
Aila's Shortcake
125g butter - softened
125g sugar - I used sugar which had vanilla beans buried in it.
1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
225g flour - I am using a blend of flours recommended by Karina at http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2008/12/baking-cooking-substitutions-for-gluten.html
I used a combination of sorghum flour, buckwheat flour and tapioca starch. Karina uses xanthan gum in her blend. I don't have any (and I think they sound a bit yucky - a technical term which means... ick)
so I didn't put any in my flours mix.
Cream the butter and sugar.
Add the egg - beat
Tip in the flour and baking powder and beat again - this is a very soft dough which can easily be made with a hand-held electric beater - which is good, because I don't have a stand mixer.
Tear off four even-sized pieces of baking paper - big enough to line a pie dish.
Carefully measure three-quarters of the mixture onto one piece of baking paper..... na, just kidding! There is no 'carefully' in this recipe - just roughly 3/4.
Put another piece of the baking paper on top of the dough, then press the dough till it fits the base and sides of your pie dish. Put the paper covered dough in the fridge for 10 minutes to harden up a little.
Do the same process again, pressing the dough out to cover the top of your pie, and refrigerate that too.
Don't be too precious about getting the measurements right.
This dough is very forgiving - gaps smoodge together beautifully.
Take the dough from the fridge.
Put the base circle into your pie dish and quickly remove the top layer of baking paper.
Fill the pie with whatever you want - I used a mixture of peaches and sliced apple.
Take one piece of paper off your top piece of dough and plop it dough-side down on top of the filling.
Peel the last piece of paper off... I'm thinking as I write this, that I really don't need to be so pedantic about instructions because, frankly if you can't figure this out for yourself, you really need to be reading someone else's blog...
Skrunkle the edges over to fit the top, and don't worry about any holes that you rip in the pastry.
Sprinkle with sugar - I used sugar that I have stored in this lovely little container that we bought at a market in Vietnam. It's made of cinnamon bark and scents the sugar (the same way the vanilla beans
do)
Bake the pie at about180c or until it is golden.
Serve to a happy husband for his birthday.
This is good hot, warm or at room temperature.
Aila would often make it with jam in the middle.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Percy
I was watching a movie recently. (Am I the last person on earth to see The Time Traveller's Wife?)
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| Eric Bana - Oh My! I heard a strange noise....snoring  MEN! |
Monday, April 11, 2011
Patience
He caught a mouse... at 2am. And he brought it home to show us. But we were asleep, so he took it into the dining room... he likes to play with his food... We heard him romping around, so we knew he'd caught something....
Then he came to bed and slept the sleep of the innocent.
In the morning, we looked for a body - or part of a body.
No sign.
Uh Oh...
Then he came to bed and slept the sleep of the innocent.
In the morning, we looked for a body - or part of a body.
No sign.
Uh Oh...
It seems, the last time he saw it ... it was underneath the refrigerator.
So he waits, poised.... patient.
It's a good thing we love him.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Lemon Posset and new friends
The very best thing about blogging is the people you meet.
The idea behind me doing this blog was that I put all my many recipes on my blog, so that I don't need to cart my recipe books and magazines around with me... The trouble with blogging is that you 'meet' people who also have recipes to share. And because they sound so good, I want to try them.
This week I made Ina's Italian Sausage Pesto Cannelloni, which I did not photograph, but which was so good! Ina is here: http://glutenfreedelightfullydelicious.com/, check out her blog, I thoroughly recommend it.
I love lemon desserts, so I was really pleased to find this one on another new friend's blog. This is from a fellow kiwi http://sleepinghorse.wordpress.com/, she made a Lemon Posset - that is rich, creamy, simple and a perfect finish to a meal. SH is a new coeliac, blogging her way through her first year of gluten-free eating. I'll be making the Posset again!
The idea behind me doing this blog was that I put all my many recipes on my blog, so that I don't need to cart my recipe books and magazines around with me... The trouble with blogging is that you 'meet' people who also have recipes to share. And because they sound so good, I want to try them.
This week I made Ina's Italian Sausage Pesto Cannelloni, which I did not photograph, but which was so good! Ina is here: http://glutenfreedelightfullydelicious.com/, check out her blog, I thoroughly recommend it.
I love lemon desserts, so I was really pleased to find this one on another new friend's blog. This is from a fellow kiwi http://sleepinghorse.wordpress.com/, she made a Lemon Posset - that is rich, creamy, simple and a perfect finish to a meal. SH is a new coeliac, blogging her way through her first year of gluten-free eating. I'll be making the Posset again!
Monday, March 28, 2011
This is why I can't change the bed.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Happy Birthday Dad!
Today is my dad's birthday. I asked him what could I get him - he asked for these biscuits... and another jar of zucchini honey :-) In NZ 'today' is Tuesday Feb 1st. The blog posts in American time...
AMARETTI BISCUITS
3 cups ground almonds
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 egg whites
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Pre-heat the oven to 150c. Line a tray with baking paper.
Mix all the ingredients together
Roll small amounts into balls and place on the tray. These biscuits don't spread when they cook, so you can put them quite close together.
Bake 20 - 30 minutes. The longer you bake them, the crunchier they become. Dad likes them to be a bit chewy in the centre.
3 cups ground almonds
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 egg whites
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Pre-heat the oven to 150c. Line a tray with baking paper.
Mix all the ingredients together
Roll small amounts into balls and place on the tray. These biscuits don't spread when they cook, so you can put them quite close together.
Bake 20 - 30 minutes. The longer you bake them, the crunchier they become. Dad likes them to be a bit chewy in the centre.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
summer? - humph!
Mid summer in NZ and it is blowing a gale where I live. I don't really mind too much - I am after all, snug and safe inside. I can't do the laundry because I murdered the washing machine on the weekend and they can't deliver a new one till tomorrow. I can't make the bed because The Big Lump is asleep. My Little Mate has made a nest in the eiderdown on the spare bed - so my boys are both safe. And I don't do to well in the heat of summer anyway, so this is a good day to make chocolate cakes - like I need an excuse!
CHOCOLATE FONDANT CUPCAKES
6 eggs - separated
150g caster sugar
200g almond meal
200g good quality dark chocolate - broken into pieces
150g unsalted butter - chopped
icing sugar to dust
Pre-heat the oven to 160c. Line a 12-hole muffin pan with paper cases and lightly grease them (I used spray-on oil)
In a large bowl, mix the egg yolks, and 1/3 cup of sugar with a spoon, to combine.
Stir in the almond meal to form a thick paste form, and then set aside.
Melt the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Don't let the bottom of the bowl touch the water. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth.
Gradually mix the chocolate into the almond mixture until well combined - don't worry if it is a bit lumpy. Set aside.
In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites with the remaining sugar until soft peaks form. In 3 batches, gently fold the meringue into the chocolate mixture, taking care to keep as much air in the mixture as possible.
Divide the mixture evenly among the paper cases. Bake 18-20 minutes until the cupcakes are firm on top, but still moist in the centre.
Serve warm, dusted with icing sugar, with shaved chocolate, with fresh strawberries...
I made these with Whittaker's 72% Dark Ghana chocolate. My Dad said he would prefer them sweeter - everyone else loved them. They keep really well too. They are moist and light.
This recipe was in delicious.magazine April 2009
CHOCOLATE FONDANT CUPCAKES
6 eggs - separated
150g caster sugar
200g almond meal
200g good quality dark chocolate - broken into pieces
150g unsalted butter - chopped
icing sugar to dust
Pre-heat the oven to 160c. Line a 12-hole muffin pan with paper cases and lightly grease them (I used spray-on oil)
In a large bowl, mix the egg yolks, and 1/3 cup of sugar with a spoon, to combine.
Stir in the almond meal to form a thick paste form, and then set aside.
Melt the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Don't let the bottom of the bowl touch the water. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth.
Gradually mix the chocolate into the almond mixture until well combined - don't worry if it is a bit lumpy. Set aside.
Divide the mixture evenly among the paper cases. Bake 18-20 minutes until the cupcakes are firm on top, but still moist in the centre.
Serve warm, dusted with icing sugar, with shaved chocolate, with fresh strawberries...
I made these with Whittaker's 72% Dark Ghana chocolate. My Dad said he would prefer them sweeter - everyone else loved them. They keep really well too. They are moist and light.
This recipe was in delicious.magazine April 2009
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| The Lump. Out of bed, but not yet awake |
Friday, January 21, 2011
Chilli Jam
This jam is delicious, and it uses some more of the tomato glut.
CHILLI JAM
2 1/2 kg tomatoes - chopped (you can skin them if you want - I don't)
70g garlic - skinned
70g fresh root ginger - skinned and sliced
3 - 4g small dried chillies - about 20
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
937ml vinegar - I use Cider
2 1/4 kg white sugar
Put tomatoes, garlic and ginger and chillies into a large pot and simmer for about 20 minutes.
Add salt, spices and vinegar and bring back to the boil.
Next add the sugar. Simmer for about an hour, stirring regularly.
Blitz the sauce in a food processor.
Return to the clean pot and simmer until a jam consistency.
Bottle.
CHILLI JAM
2 1/2 kg tomatoes - chopped (you can skin them if you want - I don't)
70g garlic - skinned
70g fresh root ginger - skinned and sliced
3 - 4g small dried chillies - about 20
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
937ml vinegar - I use Cider
2 1/4 kg white sugar
Put tomatoes, garlic and ginger and chillies into a large pot and simmer for about 20 minutes.
Add salt, spices and vinegar and bring back to the boil.
Next add the sugar. Simmer for about an hour, stirring regularly.
Blitz the sauce in a food processor.
Return to the clean pot and simmer until a jam consistency.
Bottle.
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| My little mate - Happy Birthday. 11 today. |
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