I've just landed in Hobart! It has been raining for most of today and there's a strong wind.
Behind Hobart there's snow on Mount Wellington and I am excited because tomorrow I head to the Agrarian Kitchen! The weather rarely puts a dampener on my mood and today is no exception.
I've got warm clothes (maximum of 12° tomorrow) and I won't be waking at dawn with the children!
How's the serenity?!
Saturday, September 29, 2012
strawberry hazelnut torte
I remember the excitement of knowing my grandparents were coming to visit us from Canberra as children. We were always spoilt with attention and food. Good food.
In my grandmother's basket she'd usually have:
* a fresh loaf (or two) of genuine Italian bread - ciabatta.
* a roast chook from the supermarket to have on the bread. That was gold for us. I loved the stuffing.
* avocados to have on the sandwiches too.
* containers of her frozen mulligatawny soup, lamb curry & bouillabaisse soup for our freezer for when my parents didn't feel like cooking. There was no home delivery where we lived and we couldn't have afforded it if there was.
* meat: a lamb roast to be cooked.
* nougat.
* homemade cupcakes with and without sultanas.
* fruit mince tarts (I wasn't keen on these).
* one of her famous fruit cakes drenched in brandy (or petrol as she once slipped up to my mother).
I also remember her bringing me an ice cream cake for one birthday. I will never forget the luminous pink ice cream.
Another treat of my grandmother's was my absolute favourite, strawberry hazelnut torte.
The thing about having pets is that you need them to be checked regularly when you're away so we asked our dear neighbours if they'd mind feeding the chooks, collecting the eggs and minding the guinea pigs when we headed down to the FSC a month ago. Our neighbours are simply wonderful.
When we returned i had bought them a few small things from our travels but I was contemplating making them something when I flashed on the hazelnut torte from my childhood. I texted my grandmother who promptly emailed me (yes, email, and she's 75!) the recipe. Now I should note at this stage that although its my tendency to digress from a recipe I didn't because I wanted that authentic childhood memory to flood back. My mum later suggested that you can squish berries in booze and put them in the middle layer. I guess tinned dark cherries would work well too.
So here it is and here are some pics from my attempt. I made it a few days later for a dinner party and it was just as good as I remembered it. I should add a disclaimer here. On Day #2 it's still pretty damn good... The problem is making sure it lasts to Day #2!
STRAWBERRY HAZELNUT TORTE
5 egg whites
1 & 1/4 cup castor sugar
4 & 1/2 ozs ground hazelnuts
few drops vinegar
2 tablespoons black coffee (cooled)
Filling:
1 punnet strawberries
1/2 pint whipped cream
6 ozs cooking chocolate
3 tablespoons water
Beat egg whites with salt until stiff; gradually add sugar; beat until mixture is meringue consistency. Fold in remaining ingredients. Spread in two greased and butter-paper-lined 8 inch sandwich tins. Bake in moderate oven for approximately 35 minutes. Cool.
In a saucepan melt the chocolate with the water on a low heat. Place a layer of meringue on serving plate. Spread with a thin layer of chocolate spread. Spread 3/4 inch layer of cream over chocolate. Top with layer of sliced strawberries. Place second layer of meringue on strawberry layer, spread with remaining chocolate mixture. Top with remaining cream, and decorate with remaining strawberries.
In my grandmother's basket she'd usually have:
* a fresh loaf (or two) of genuine Italian bread - ciabatta.
* a roast chook from the supermarket to have on the bread. That was gold for us. I loved the stuffing.
* avocados to have on the sandwiches too.
* containers of her frozen mulligatawny soup, lamb curry & bouillabaisse soup for our freezer for when my parents didn't feel like cooking. There was no home delivery where we lived and we couldn't have afforded it if there was.
* meat: a lamb roast to be cooked.
* nougat.
* homemade cupcakes with and without sultanas.
* fruit mince tarts (I wasn't keen on these).
* one of her famous fruit cakes drenched in brandy (or petrol as she once slipped up to my mother).
I also remember her bringing me an ice cream cake for one birthday. I will never forget the luminous pink ice cream.
Another treat of my grandmother's was my absolute favourite, strawberry hazelnut torte.
The thing about having pets is that you need them to be checked regularly when you're away so we asked our dear neighbours if they'd mind feeding the chooks, collecting the eggs and minding the guinea pigs when we headed down to the FSC a month ago. Our neighbours are simply wonderful.
When we returned i had bought them a few small things from our travels but I was contemplating making them something when I flashed on the hazelnut torte from my childhood. I texted my grandmother who promptly emailed me (yes, email, and she's 75!) the recipe. Now I should note at this stage that although its my tendency to digress from a recipe I didn't because I wanted that authentic childhood memory to flood back. My mum later suggested that you can squish berries in booze and put them in the middle layer. I guess tinned dark cherries would work well too.
So here it is and here are some pics from my attempt. I made it a few days later for a dinner party and it was just as good as I remembered it. I should add a disclaimer here. On Day #2 it's still pretty damn good... The problem is making sure it lasts to Day #2!
STRAWBERRY HAZELNUT TORTE
5 egg whites
1 & 1/4 cup castor sugar
4 & 1/2 ozs ground hazelnuts
few drops vinegar
2 tablespoons black coffee (cooled)
Filling:
1 punnet strawberries
1/2 pint whipped cream
6 ozs cooking chocolate
3 tablespoons water
Beat egg whites with salt until stiff; gradually add sugar; beat until mixture is meringue consistency. Fold in remaining ingredients. Spread in two greased and butter-paper-lined 8 inch sandwich tins. Bake in moderate oven for approximately 35 minutes. Cool.
In a saucepan melt the chocolate with the water on a low heat. Place a layer of meringue on serving plate. Spread with a thin layer of chocolate spread. Spread 3/4 inch layer of cream over chocolate. Top with layer of sliced strawberries. Place second layer of meringue on strawberry layer, spread with remaining chocolate mixture. Top with remaining cream, and decorate with remaining strawberries.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
dawn
If you're up at dawn you may as well enjoy it!
My kids have been waking early (daylight savings where are you?!) for the past two weeks!! Argh!
It's been made worse in that we've been staying with family. I must say that I am looking forward to being back in our own beds! Fingers crossed that gets me a sleep in (at least until 6am!)
My kids have been waking early (daylight savings where are you?!) for the past two weeks!! Argh!
It's been made worse in that we've been staying with family. I must say that I am looking forward to being back in our own beds! Fingers crossed that gets me a sleep in (at least until 6am!)
Monday, September 24, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
the agrarian way
I may well be the most excited person alive this morning! After five weeks away on a course for work (back on weekends) J suggested I might like to have the October long weekend to myself. He didn't have to say that twice.
I immediately started research. Yoga retreat. No. Spa resort type thing. No. Sewing workshop. No. Maybe a cooking school! Yes!!! I had remembered that on Matthew Evans' Gourmet Farmer show on SBS last week* he featured The Agrarian Kitchen in Tasmania. Their website showed that the Saturday class was all full so I called the lovely Severine and with a wait list of four I thought it fairly unlikely I get to learn about the agrarian way.....
If you haven't got plans for next weekend and you would consider a class at The Agrarian Kitchen make sure you give them a buzz. I'll be sure to report back about the day.... and the weekend away sans children.
"An agrarian mind begins with the love of fields and ramifies in good farming, good cooking & good eating." Wendell Berry
* Gourmet Farmer Episode 5: this would have had to be one of the most compelling pieces on food tv ever. Matthew Evans had two guests who demonstrated, what they believed to be, the most humane way to kill a chook to eat. It is not for the faint hearted but I would challenge every meat-eater to watch it. I think we have such a disconnect with our food and where it comes from. For a while after watching I felt I should become vegetarian but I guess choosing to stick to a diet with meat I can conjure up the image of the chicken when I do eat meat and really appreciate the sacrifice the animal has made.
Interestingly I was watching Gourmet Farmer with my grandmother and after the women's demonstrations and moments prior to Matthew Evans beheading one of his own chooks (with such a sober look on his face) my grandmother quickly changed channels. She didn't want to watch another chook losing its head. Flicking through the channels she came to Jamie Oliver carving up a steak and I could see her relax as she settled down to watch. I did comment that a cow did make the same sacrifice (in much worse conditions) before he arrived on Jamie Oliver's chopping board.
I immediately started research. Yoga retreat. No. Spa resort type thing. No. Sewing workshop. No. Maybe a cooking school! Yes!!! I had remembered that on Matthew Evans' Gourmet Farmer show on SBS last week* he featured The Agrarian Kitchen in Tasmania. Their website showed that the Saturday class was all full so I called the lovely Severine and with a wait list of four I thought it fairly unlikely I get to learn about the agrarian way.....
A little while later I had a call on my mobile from Severine saying that if she got the numbers she'd run a Sunday class and wondered if I'd be interested! Needless to say I raced off to book flights and sort out accommodation with friends in Hobart.
Another bonus is that I have accommodation with friends, they are going to lend me their car and I have booked flights using points. I only have to come up with the cost of the cooking class for my weekend away to be complete... And pretty guilt-free.
Another bonus is that I have accommodation with friends, they are going to lend me their car and I have booked flights using points. I only have to come up with the cost of the cooking class for my weekend away to be complete... And pretty guilt-free.
If you haven't got plans for next weekend and you would consider a class at The Agrarian Kitchen make sure you give them a buzz. I'll be sure to report back about the day.... and the weekend away sans children.
"An agrarian mind begins with the love of fields and ramifies in good farming, good cooking & good eating." Wendell Berry
* Gourmet Farmer Episode 5: this would have had to be one of the most compelling pieces on food tv ever. Matthew Evans had two guests who demonstrated, what they believed to be, the most humane way to kill a chook to eat. It is not for the faint hearted but I would challenge every meat-eater to watch it. I think we have such a disconnect with our food and where it comes from. For a while after watching I felt I should become vegetarian but I guess choosing to stick to a diet with meat I can conjure up the image of the chicken when I do eat meat and really appreciate the sacrifice the animal has made.
Interestingly I was watching Gourmet Farmer with my grandmother and after the women's demonstrations and moments prior to Matthew Evans beheading one of his own chooks (with such a sober look on his face) my grandmother quickly changed channels. She didn't want to watch another chook losing its head. Flicking through the channels she came to Jamie Oliver carving up a steak and I could see her relax as she settled down to watch. I did comment that a cow did make the same sacrifice (in much worse conditions) before he arrived on Jamie Oliver's chopping board.
Friday, September 21, 2012
rice paper rolls
My favourite rice paper fillings:
• marinated* and shallow fried organic (not silken) tofu
• julienne carrot, red capsicum, deseeded cucumber
• small handful of cooked rice noodles
• rinsed mint leaves
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
* Marinate (20 mins will do) in 3 Tbsp good organic soya sauce e.g. Tamari; knob grated ginger; clove grated garlic; half a small chilli sliced; a big squeeze of wasabi [the heat will disappear once cooked] and; a lug of sesame oil.
• marinated* and shallow fried organic (not silken) tofu
• julienne carrot, red capsicum, deseeded cucumber
• small handful of cooked rice noodles
• rinsed mint leaves
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
* Marinate (20 mins will do) in 3 Tbsp good organic soya sauce e.g. Tamari; knob grated ginger; clove grated garlic; half a small chilli sliced; a big squeeze of wasabi [the heat will disappear once cooked] and; a lug of sesame oil.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
in five words
I like to mix my blog up from time-to-time. It's probably just who I am really. I can't eat the same meal more than twice a week if there's something different on offer. Until I realised I could take leftovers I found my school lunches very uninspiring. I always dress the kids in different outfits and not because they want to. I could never run the same run more than twice. I get bored with too much routine. I think it may be that I know there are other options- different flavours, different clothes and fabrics, differents views to be seen - and I don't want to miss out on any of them!
So from time-to-time you'll notice my header pic or my layout change. My aim is always to keep it interesting and capture something of what my blog is about and what I've been up to. I spend time trying to get it right, making it appealing to the eye. I also regularly research how other bloggers present their musings.
Tonight I've change the description of my blog. I just can't think of a word to describe 'getting a bargain.' I'll have to work on that one!
So from time-to-time you'll notice my header pic or my layout change. My aim is always to keep it interesting and capture something of what my blog is about and what I've been up to. I spend time trying to get it right, making it appealing to the eye. I also regularly research how other bloggers present their musings.
Tonight I've change the description of my blog. I just can't think of a word to describe 'getting a bargain.' I'll have to work on that one!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
road trip
Once again we have escaped the busyness of Sydney for the simple life of the Far South Coast of NSW where most of my family live.
My girlfriend, who grew up about an hour from me, but whom I went to high school with had also planned to head home. There is something quite rebellious about organising a road trip in your thirties. We took both our daughters and they were remarkable little travellers. The endless popcorn, crackers, fruit and all organic health food we could muster up certainly helped!
We kept ourselves happy by making a stop at my favourite vegetarian cafe, Pilgrims, and fabric shop, My Patch Fabrics, in Milton.
My Patch has recently moved to a much larger premises which has given them room to conduct sewing workshops on site. My girlfriend had to set herself a $ limit before we entered the door! Needless to say we both came away with a bag each of fat quarters and other materials for inspiration. (Yes... inspiration!) watch this space and don't forget My Patch is online.
Two more of our school friends work in Milton so we met them for lunch nearby at Pilgrims. Pilgrims was predictable... divine and offering such a menu that's hard to choose from. I had a tofu burger wrap with salad (see below). A friend had the quiche with piles of salad (think sprouts, a slab of feta, olives).
My girlfriend, who grew up about an hour from me, but whom I went to high school with had also planned to head home. There is something quite rebellious about organising a road trip in your thirties. We took both our daughters and they were remarkable little travellers. The endless popcorn, crackers, fruit and all organic health food we could muster up certainly helped!
We kept ourselves happy by making a stop at my favourite vegetarian cafe, Pilgrims, and fabric shop, My Patch Fabrics, in Milton.
My Patch has recently moved to a much larger premises which has given them room to conduct sewing workshops on site. My girlfriend had to set herself a $ limit before we entered the door! Needless to say we both came away with a bag each of fat quarters and other materials for inspiration. (Yes... inspiration!) watch this space and don't forget My Patch is online.
Two more of our school friends work in Milton so we met them for lunch nearby at Pilgrims. Pilgrims was predictable... divine and offering such a menu that's hard to choose from. I had a tofu burger wrap with salad (see below). A friend had the quiche with piles of salad (think sprouts, a slab of feta, olives).
Sunday, September 16, 2012
knit (crochet) wear
Don't you love this crocheted poncho. It took a bot of convincing to get P to keep it on but I managed to distract her with food and she wore it today. It's an op-shop score that Mum found years after I would have fitted into it. Mum dug it up out of her collection of great things!
Saturday, September 15, 2012
spring cleaning
Has anybody else been struck by the spring cleaning bug?
Here's the result of a mornings cleaning. It was easier than I remember it being
and the result is satisfying. Like all cleaning....
Let's see how it long it stays this tidy!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
pikelets for breaky
Once a week (at least) I make the kids their favourite breaky - pikelets - which they especially love when they colour them. Blue this week.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
finding art revisited
Remember our finding art excursion in March? I'd always promised B we'd return to the Art Gallery of NSW when Picasso had concluded. I was flabbergasted when we walked in to the Australian artists exhibit and B suddenly called out "there's one!" and then "and another one!" And so they were!! We found the originals of four more paintings from B's books.
If you do head to the gallery be sure to detour down the hill towards the train line. For years we've pointed out Brett Whiteley's almost once (aka matchsticks). It was impressive to see the icons close up.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
destination flavour & rake
If you're currently reading this blog be sure to switch over the SBS for Destination Flavour. I would be negligent if I didn't remind my readers to catch Episode One, Season 2 of Rake featuring Richard Roxborough on ABC at 20:30.
If you missed Season 1 of Rake here's a taster! I am sure you can get it from ABC Shops. It's one of those very clever Australian dramas that surfaces every few years.... leaving you wanting more!
Did anyone catch Season One and is hanging out as much as me?!
If you missed Season 1 of Rake here's a taster! I am sure you can get it from ABC Shops. It's one of those very clever Australian dramas that surfaces every few years.... leaving you wanting more!
Did anyone catch Season One and is hanging out as much as me?!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
destination flavour
If you haven't already caught it be sure to check out Destination Flavour on SBS on Thursday evenings make sure you do. You can catch the episodes for 30 days (or so) on their website. I am keen to try their recipes!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
yoga mat bag continued 2
I do think it's incredible that you can create a three dimensional useable product from a length of material. I am very pleased with the outcome of this sewing project. The lovely Kristie from Sewing Lessons Sydney helped me to get from this to the finished product. Every time I pick up my yoga mat bag I feel a sense of achievement and, most importantly, motivated to do yoga and Pilates.
If you do wish to make a yoga mat bag like mine Google 'Amy Butler Nigella Yoga Bag.' if you are a beginner sewer like me it may take you some time to wrap your head around the wordy instructions.
Oh... And if you're feeling adventurous like I did you can fold the open end of the bag down, creating a. 'tunnel' (I'm certain that the technical term) to add a drawstring. You might even like to do your very own button hole (my second ever since the first one was practising for this one!) to feed the cord through!
If you do wish to make a yoga mat bag like mine Google 'Amy Butler Nigella Yoga Bag.' if you are a beginner sewer like me it may take you some time to wrap your head around the wordy instructions.
Oh... And if you're feeling adventurous like I did you can fold the open end of the bag down, creating a. 'tunnel' (I'm certain that the technical term) to add a drawstring. You might even like to do your very own button hole (my second ever since the first one was practising for this one!) to feed the cord through!
Sunday, September 2, 2012
banana muffins
Oooh yum! We tried and tested and liked a new banana muffin recipe today. I think the combo of sweetness from the brown sugar, honey, banana and blueberries (thrown in for good measure) might have been the reason they were SO good... and popular. One each just wasn't enough but I do like the fact that the punters (i.e. family) were left wanting more!
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