A Lovely Thought

The 'Girls' next door didn't know I have been unwell.  Nor did they know I had been craving Cake. 

They DID know that DH had been 'quietly' bringing their Bins in ever since they moved in to the back Unit.

And Yesterday they appeared on the front doorstep with a Fresh out of the Oven Home Baked Loaf of Banana Bread.

To say 'Thank You'.

It is a long story but the smell of Overripe Bananas and me - Don't get on too well.  So I avoid cooked Banana anything...

I had just been reading an article about challenging your "Norm" and "Breaking free from a routine built for endurance rather than enjoyment".

So today - Considering this was a Gift from Thankful Hearts.  

It was not the day to say 

"I don't eat Banana Bread"





The article I had been reading concluded with 
"choose the unknown ... And sometimes, just sometimes, it’s absolutely delicious."

Link to Article Referenced: 

Losing My Joy

I have a New Toy

Last December we went on a Mystery Picnic where one of our Picnic Items was "Fresh Squeezed Juice" and my heart sank, because...

Back in the 70's my Mother got a Juicer and made us drink concoctions that were 40% Juice and 60% Foam and they were NOT nice.

I am happy to say that our "Picnic Juice" was VERY nice and we started noticing and using DIY Juicers in our Hotels at Breakfast.

We came home and forgot about the Juice of our Holidays - Until I saw an Advert for a machine that ticked all my boxes and some. 

So we bought one.

It came with some accessories that I probably won't use 

(I am even less fond of Smoothies and prefer to make my own Sorbet) but then, I didn't buy this model for the accessories.

As far as the Juice is concerned... It is pretty impressive.

I am not quite ready for Kale and Cucumber but I can now understand what People see in Tomato Juice!

* * *

FYI:

Kuvings EVO Evolution Cold Pressed Juicer in Red. 

Lockdown - Stage 4

Six Weeks of Stage 4 Restrictions came in place on the 2nd August at 6:00 pm.

We got an 8:00 pm to 5:00 am Curfew and a few other fun things too - like face masks and no sitting in a Cafe for Coffee. These things we can work with.

Not being able to Travel or even "Go for a Drive" is a bit disappointing as I have a new car and time to go places - But they too will still be there when this is over.

Holidays may be cancelled but we can revisit those we have already enjoyed!

I am currently Scrap-booking my way thorough South Australia.  

It has taken me TWO WEEKS of solid work to get just TWO DAYS into the Album!

There are Folk who when they think of South Australia only think of It's Capitol City Adelaide and the surrounding Hills and Wine Regions. 

We spent 3 days in Adelaide before moving on to explore as much of the State as we could in 20 days!

Picking up the Project - We had just taken a Shortcut across Spencer Gulf and landed on The Eyre Peninsula.

A mere 161 km of very straight highway away from our next overnight Stop at Port Lincoln. 

With Three in the Backseat all with recently acquired Learner Permits...

It was the perfect opportunity to get in the required 120 hours of tuition. 

We even added a couple extra rows to the "Required Experience" in their Logs!

From Port Lincoln we travelled 170 km West to Elliston - The Map says it takes 1:45 hrs.  

It actually took us NINE! 

After all Getting from Point A to Point B in the quickest possible time was not the purpose of the Adventure!

According to our records we actually travelled 253 km that day and stopped at no less that 7 different "Points of Interest" all requiring a Page of their Own from the many photographs taken on 4 different Cameras - Of which NONE were set on the Correct Time Zone!

I am Going to need a Bigger Scrapbook!

The Rest of July ...

has been taken up with some Quality Time in the Kitchen.

I have finally conquered my Nemesis which is Pastry!

All I needed was the right instructions and I was making Lime Tarts with Italian Meringue and Candied Citrus, Pumpkin Pie - Aussie Style and Blood Orange Tarts.

I also learnt to make Singapore Orchids at a Special Cake Decorating weekend with Guest Demonstrator Helen Dissell.

I am looking forward to her visit next year, when we are planning on doing an entire workshop on just colouring flowers.

While looking for something in the Pantry I came to realise I have too much Honey left over from last year's flow - so I made a large batch of German Gingerbread which barely dented my supply.

And - of course - July sees us at the 'Business End' of Masterchef Australia.  

This year we have been treated to some wonderful contestants and I couldn't resist making Sashi's Apple Pie with Cinnamon Ice cream (of course my version is Lactose Free.)

The recipe is available on the Masterchef website. It was surprisingly easy to make and the Ice cream was SO velvety smooth.

And with the leftover Apples - I turned them into Apple Crisps by dehydrating them in the Oven when I had finished the days baking.  

They took less time to disappear than to make, but isn't that the case with most things?

Well, that just about catches me up with July. Apart from today, which saw me heading to the Airport to collect a special visitor, who just happened to time her trip from TX-USA in time for Quilt Showcase!

 

The Last Two weeks . . .

I have been VERY unwell.

Vanilla Cup Cakes and Honey Joys

But, When You are Sick -
To tempt you to Eat, You are entitled to indulge in Whatever you fancy.

And when I am Sick -

I Crave Cake!

The problem in OUR household is -
I had to make them myself!


It was only a Packet Mix, but when I had finished - I was too tired to eat them!!!!
Oh well, If I am Lucky, and I can Hide some - They will Keep.

Welcome to Autumn - And Now for some Marmalade

No - I Don't have a bumper crop of Oranges to use up.

No, this was a request from DS#2.  And as any Mother (no matter how old you are) knows, it is VERY difficult to refuse a request from Big Brown Eyes especially when it comes with "I know we can buy some, But YOURS is SO much better ...."

OK - One HALF batch of Orange Marmalade coming up.
My Old Recipe says to cut the Oranges very thin and cover with water - Leave Overnight.
Also - take any seeds and barely cover them with water and also soak overnight.

The next morning and - for me, preferably before anyone wakes up! - it is just Into the Jam Pot with the Oranges and Water.

Bring to the Boil and Simmer (covered) until the Rind is Soft.
Depending on your fruit - about 45 minutes should do it.

Measure the Fruit Mixture
and allow ONE cup of Sugar
to each Cup of Fruit Mixture.

Put it all back into your Pan with the drained water from the Seeds
(Throw the seeds out).

Stir to dissolve the Sugar until it comes to the Boil and then Boil - Uncovered this time - for about 20 minutes or until the Marmalade Jells when tested.

Pour into Hot sterilised Jam Jars.

Take care when doing this as it IS molten Sugar Syrup and will burn you badly if you spill it on your hands.

(It is also a good idea to make sure there are no pets you happen to be pet-sitting around at the time...
Spike knows not to get under my feet in the Kitchen but the DDIL's Cat? - Not so sure...)

Seal the Jars when Cold...

Three Oranges gave us 3 Jars PLUS one decorative Jam Pot - for today's breakfast table.

Very Tasty and More than enough to satisfy a craving.

Wedding Cake Part 5 - Am I having Fun yet?

This morning I sat at the Kitchen table in Prayer and Contemplation of the day ahead.

I needed all the help I could get!
I Prayed for Clarity of thought and no "unnecessary distractions".

And when I finished I wrote a list,

On my list at the bottom was "Enjoy yourself - this is Supposed to be fun!"
I laid the soft fall matting behind the bench and got started....

Well I got started AFTER washing all the storage containers that I had to put the cakes into once they were baked.

I have lost track of how may times I filled the sink and washed the bowls and beaters and tea cups.
("Stay Hydrated"
was also on the list).

I learnt NOT to turn your back on the mixer if you are trying a new attachment (smaller bowl).
At least this was only a batch of Vanilla cupcakes to ward off the raiding party who wanted 'samples'.

(Sorry folks this is an order - NOT for tasting!)

I Mixed batch after batch of Chocolate Mud Cake.

[I used to LOVE making Mud Cakes as a child and baking them on the roof of the Shed, but then that was when they weren't a "Thing" and were actually made out of Mud!]

And Just as the last lid went on the last container....

Emergency Sirens came wailing into the street
Our 'troubled' neighbour up the road finally set fire to his house.


Well - at least the distraction was AFTER I had packed up for the night!
In the end there was not much damage and we had a nice 'catch-up' with the Neighbours while watching the Firefighters.

Tomorrow - Assemble and Ice!

Lactose Free Ice Cream anyone?

I have mentioned in other posts that we have a member of the family who is Lactose Intolerant and that the one thing he misses the most is decent Ice Cream.

So, once upon a time, I bought a Compressor Ice-cream machine (so I didn't have to pre-freeze the canister) and tried to make his favourite dessert.

Over the years these efforts have been a bit 'hit and miss'...

But with every failure there is learning -

and as my DD said to me the other day "I have just learnt 200 ways NOT to do something!"


Finding a REALLY good recipe that you can adapt is also an advantage.

As is the range of good quality Lactose Free products that are now available

I don't bother making plain Vanilla anymore as we have an awesome commercial Vanilla Ice cream readily available in the supermarket.

So when I had left over Cream from another recipe - the only question that had to be asked was "What Flavour?"

Choc - Mint please?

Done!

The recipe says "Keeps for 3 days"....
Um....
Not around here it didn't!


While the machine was out I also made a beautiful Chai Spiced flavour and served it with warm Apple Crumble - YUM!

The Great Christmas Eve BBQ dinner test drive...

Christmas in Australia is in the middle of Summer and this year we are expecting a hot 30º C. So the 'traditional' Northern Hemisphere hearty meal is not really appropriate.

Freshly caught Tasmanian Salmon and large Prawns looked so enticing at the supermarket today I thought it would be an idea to give our new-ish BBQ a test run for a Seafood dinner this year.

Heat up the Webber, add some potatoes and close the lid.

This sounds like MY kind of Christmas Dinner - no heating up the Kitchen or the lingering aroma of food long after the dishes are done.

While that was cooking, I sauteed some Zucchini and Carrot ribbons in Butter and threw in some Pomegranate seeds for a bit of Christmas colour.

And the verdict?
The Salmon was perfect and would cook it this way again,
the prawns went in too soon so unfortunately they were a bit overcooked and in future, I would serve boiled potatoes - but then, this IS why it was a 'test run' after all!

Now... What's for Dessert?

Winter Solstice - a perfect day to bake.

And when I thought I was finished, we went for a coffee. 

I commented I had been baking, and the waitress replied she could cook 

but not bake as all her baking was lumpy...... 

So I thought why not? Let's share a recipe!

No Fail - Lumps are OK - Pretty Easy Cookies*

1. Gather your ingredients

125 g Butter
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Caster (or White) Sugar
1 Egg
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
1 Cup Self Raising Flour
3/4 Cup Plain Flour

1 tsp Baking powder
1 Cup Chocolate Chips

2. Preheat your oven to 160 deg. C

3. Melt butter in a saucepan over a medium (not full blast) heat - or in the microwave.
When it is almost fully melted turn off the heat - it will continue to melt.
Allow it to cool slightly.

4. Put your Brown and White Sugars into a bowl.
Pour melted butter over.

Add Vanilla Essence
(here or in step 6 - it really doesn't matter)

5. The recipe says ...
Stir until sugar is mostly dissolved.

6. Lightly beat the Egg with a fork
Then Stir into the Sugar mixture.

Note: The sugar won't actually 'dissolve' in a warm butter mix.
So - it should look like this . >>>

7. A strainer makes the Best Sieve ever..

And in the interest of not having too much to wash up afterwards....
I just sift straight into the mix...

But the recipe says...

8. Sift Flours and Baking Powder together in a small bowl and then gradually mix into the Sugar mixture until combined.

Either way works!

9.  Stir through Chocolate Chips.
But, I have run out of this ingredient - so a quick check in the pantry found lots that I could substitute.

Maybe not EVERYTHING! ...
How did those cat treats end up on my bench?.....   SPIKE?

*I did actually sneak a sachet of extra fibre in at this stage as an afterthought (shhh... - don't tell them!...) but in future I would take out a spoonful of flour and add it at point 8.

10. Here is my "Secret Weapon" - My Grandmother used to call it a Penny Scoop and so that is what I call it!

It is a very small Ice-cream scoop which is just the right size to measure Cookie dough.

But if you don't have one of those-
Do your own thing - Any method of portioning dough is OK

And I also never "line" my cookie trays -
Just grease with a little smear of butter and we are good to go!

11.  Bake in the pre-heated Oven for 12 minutes or until golden.
Make sure you don't forget them (one batch I left in too long were almost burnt!)

You can pat them down with a slide while they are still hot if you don't want them too 'puffy'.

12. Remove from oven and allow to stay on the trays for 3 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
(IF they last that long!)

Place in a brown paper bag and give to anyone who knocks on the door while you are baking!

 Seriously! It actually did happen TWICE yesterday!!

* I didn't 'invent' this recipe - The original recipe can be found HERE at allrecipes.com.au