chocolate hazelnut spread: Nutella

Homemade nutella. Why bother? Because it was damn delicious and MUCH healthier than store bought. Well, healthier!

I used the Quirky Cooking Thermomix recipe and a sneaky teaspoon at night might just be enough for dessert (just don't tell the kids!)

chocolate hazelnut spread
quirky cooking

"Note: First you should toast your hazelnuts in the oven and rub off the skins with a tea towel. If you don't have time or can't be bothered, you can use the raw hazelnuts, the flavour will just be a bit less nutty.

1. Grind in Thermomix on speed 9 for 10 seconds:

- 90g Rapadura sugar

2. Add and grind on speed 9 for 10 seconds:

- 60g hazelnuts (toasted or raw)

3. Then add and grind again for 10 seconds:
- 50g good quality, dairy free dark chocolate (70-85% cocoa organic chocolate, or Quirky Cooking's recipe), broken into pieces

 4. Add remaining ingredients and heat for 6 minutes, 60 degrees, speed 3:

- 20g cacao powder (or good quality cocoa)

- 100g rice/almond milk

- 70g coconut oil, coconut butter, ghee (recipe below) or butter

5. Place in a sterilized jar and keep in fridge for up to 21 days (not that it will last that long!!!)

To make your own ghee, just cook butter for 7-10 mins at 60 degrees, speed 1; cool, scrape off milk solids and discard, and carefully scoop ghee into another container, discarding any milk solids at the bottom of the container."

may blossom's notes  

* Firstly, it doesn't hurt to double this recipe. When you go to the trouble of roasting and peeling the hazelnuts you may as well. Doubled, the recipe makes two small jars full.

* My organic hazelnuts were from Honest to Goodness. You can order online but they also frequent a few markets around Sydney. 

* I had to use Lindt chocolate, 80% cocoa. 

* Soy milk is a fine substitute for rice/almond milk.

* I used coconut oil and I love the depth of flavour it adds.
* Chocolate hazelnut spread is gorgeous on pikelets!

And these faces are the proof that the spread has the seal of approval in our household!

Castlecrag bush walk

You don't have to be in the bush to feel like you're in the bush. Just a 15 minute drive from Sydney's CBD is Castlecrag. As the name suggests it has its very own castle, although, according to Wikipedia, "Castlecrag was originally planned by Walter Burley Griffin, who named the suburb after a towering crag of rock overlooking Middle Harbour, known locally as Edinburgh Castle." Of course our son was most interested in the suburb's actual castle so we whizzed past the privately owned 'castle' which was once a !

I love this about Sydney. There are so many nooks and crannies to explore - urban and bush. I know we'll never ever see them all. I always wonder what Sydney must have been like before British settlement. Fortunately there are many parts of Sydney which have been preserved. If irresponsible dog owners would just keep their dogs out of these parts we could see these areas retaining native wildlife long in to the future.

There are a number of walks in the Castlecrag area but we chose to do the Harold Reid Walk.The walk runs along the oyster-clad foreshore under casuarinas (sheoaks) and among Xanthorea Australis' (grass trees). The day of our walk there was a light sprinkling of rain which massaged the nostrils with fresh bush scent. Bliss!

It was an easy walk for kids and included a good amount of 'rock climbing' for the more adventurous kids. What's a bush walk without a cake break? A little leftover Persian love cake did the treat!

Persian love cake

Persian love cake was the recipe of the day (or was it month?) on the Thermomix recipe community a few weeks back and I printed it out. If you're not a TM user don't stop reading now. I have found an alternative recipe!

Coincidentally Greens Refectory was selling it by the slice on my trip to Melbourne which reminded me I'd wanted to make it. Today we're heading out for afternoon tea - on a friend's 30ft yacht. (I'm hoping the cake keeps the kids away from the sides of the boat?!)

This is the non-TM recipe from Gourmet Traveller:

ingredients

•  360 gm (3 cups) almond meal
• 220 gm (1 cup) raw sugar
• 220 gm (1 cup) brown sugar
• 120 gm unsalted butter, softened
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 250 gm Greek-style yoghurt, plus extra to serve
• 1 tbsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 45 gm (¼ cup) pistachios, coarsely chopped

method

• Preheat oven to 180C. Combine almond meal, sugars, butter and 1 tsp salt in a bowl, then rub with fingertips until coarse crumbs form. Spoon half the mixture into a lightly buttered and baking paper-lined 26cm-diameter springform pan, gently pressing to evenly cover base.

• Add egg, yoghurt and nutmeg to remaining crumble mixture and beat with a wooden spoon until smooth and creamy. Pour over prepared base, smooth top, scatter pistachios around edge and bake until golden (30-35 minutes.) Cool completely in pan on a wire rack to room temperature, then serve with extra yoghurt. The cake will keep in an airtight container for up to a week.

The TM version takes a fraction of the time to make. If you can manage FRESHLY ground nutmeg I think this is definitely preferable!

ingredients
1 whole nutmeg
45 g pistachios
360 g almonds
220 g raw sugar
220 g brown sugar
120 g unsalted butter
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
250 g Greek style yoghurt , plus extra for serving

preparation

1. Preheat oven to 170C

2. Line and butter a 26cm spring form pan.

3. Place nutmeg into mixing bowl and grind 12 sec/speed 9. Set aside.

4. Place pistachios into mixing bowl and, with dial set to closed lid position, coarsely chop by pulsing withTurbo 3 times.Set aside.

5. Place almonds into mixing bowl and mill for 6 sec/speed 9.

6. Add sugars, butter and salt and mix 15 sec/speed 5, using spatula to assist if necessary.

7. Put half of the mixture into prepared pan and gently press down using tablespoon to form a base.

 

 

8. Add eggs and nutmeg to remaining mixture and mix 10 sec/speed 3, using spatula to assist.

9. Add yoghurt and mix 10 sec/Reverse/speed 3. Pour onto base.

10. Scatter edges with pistachios and bake 45 - 60 minutes until set in centre and firm to the touch.
Cool completely before serving with extra yoghurt.

blogs to read

Before you read this post I'd like to let you know that I've joined Facebook as May Blossom. You can search me as you would 'friends' and like the page. I'll include these blog posts and other bits n pieces that I find interesting from day-to-day. Come on over and find me!
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I've come across a few blogs lately (and added them to the list on the left hand side of this blog)

I met Persephone Nicholas at a freelance journalist presentation this week. She struck me, firstly, as very lovely, and secondly, very talented. I love a good blog and reading... and writing. My long (long) term  goal is to collate the bits and pieces of the writing I've done over the years, which cover a whole bunch of experiences, and publish them. After listening to Perspehone (and the other authors) speak I realised I was a step closer to committing myself to doing it. Check out this blog:

http://thebookorme.blogspot.com.au/

The Cook Republic is a divine example of food porn. The food looks delicious and the photos celebrate everything yummy about food!

http://www.cookrepublic.com/

Mamacino (you can also find the page on Facebook) is a mix of (mostly healthy) food and experiences. I love following conversations about recipes and food.

http://mamacino.wordpress.com/

The Vanilla Bean Blog is all sorts of  gorgeous. It's (obviously) foodie and kiddie and all sorts of homely things.

http://thevanillabeanblog.com/


Oh and Local is Lovely! which is a celebration of local yummy goodness!!

http://www.local-lovely.com/
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I love reading and I love keeping up to date with 'things' that are happening. Reading blogs is one way that I have been able to feel 'in touch' with the wide world from the comfort of my home - particularly when our children were first born and had their day sleeps at home. As you'd imagine I also love to read my recipe books, the stories behind recipes and, of course, the recipes themselves.

These days, between home duties, and chores I do manage to read snippets of blogs and discussions on Facebook, and gain inspiration too. I find it hard to retain focus on a novel (the storyline and characters), for example, if I have to 'flit' in and out of the book across the day/week.

I usually save my novel reading until the evening, before I go to sleep and the earler I go to bed, the more time I have to read. I wake up feeling resfreshed, well rested, and have given myself a bonus reading session. *sigh*

I think I'll be in bed early tonight!

Happy reading!

mummy's time-out: Melbourne

Trams are very handy in Melbourne but I managed to get myself 'lost' one morning - heading towards the city's docklands and away from Northcote where I'd planned to be. I jumped in a cab to rectify my mistake which meant when I met up with an old friend (I witnessed his birth!) and we had time to have brekky at Red Door Corner Store (crumpets and french toast - yum!) and ride (on the bike he lent me) to Terra Madre. 

I am so pleased I had the time to visit. Terra Madre has the most extensive range of organic produce I've ever seen - from grains and spices, to fresh fruit and veg, to chocolate, cheeses and cosmetics. I could have spent all day in there but I left with only three packages - fresh cacao beans (pictured), sumac (needed for za'atar) and organic chocolate with coconut pieces (for a treat).

From Northcote I rode to Smith street where I met up with another friend from high school - who I hadn't seen since! It was such a luxury to finish a conversation (something that is difficult with children). 

What is a break without a massage or relaxation session? The Japanese Bathhouse was recommended by another friend and I noticed it in Melbourne's Time Out too. You could easily ride (or drive) straight past the entrance in the alley way and miss it. Once inside it is a haven for relaxation. It took a while but once I quietened my mind I found my quiet space too. For $76 I had use of the bath, the sauna, and a half-hour shiatsu massage (which was over far too quickly!)

We used to go to gigs fairly regularly before children but those days have dwindled since we have to factor in the cost of a babysitter and the effects of late nights so I deliberately planned my weekend away to coincide with Graceland which is a low-key event featuring about 8 musicians in semi-acoustic performances in a creative warehouse space.

$10 covered the entry fee, music from 3pm until late and a beer or cider (on tap). Sydney rd is just around the corner with a surplus of good food. At this point I was counting down my meals (three) in Melbourne so it wasn't worth wasting it with anything but goodness!

You can buy any number of gourmet salads and pastries (think chorizo and haloumi) or one of a dozen cakes at Greens Refectory - take away or sit down. So I took my take-away spinach and feta pastry, salads and a slice each of gluten free chocolate cake and Persian love cake and ate dinner with my friend to the tunes of some great artists from the Melbourne music scene. Very relaxing indeed.

 

mummy's time-out: Melbourne

Melbourne must be best known for its narrow lane ways - full of life - and its food.

I heard (from good authority) that Melbourne food is kind of separated by suburb according to cuisine. Richmond is best know for the dozens of Vietnamese restuarants and shops.

Thanh Nga Nine is a favourite of friends who've travelled through Vietnam as well so it made sense to meet there for dinner. I wasn't paying all that much attention to the food because we were too busy catching up but it was good! We ate Banh Xeo (the traditional way) and it was perfectly accompanied by mint and lettuce.

It was such a hassle embuggerance treat to be able to choose a place to eat for every meal while I was away - and know I'd finish it and didn't have to share with anyone! I was only disappointed that there are only three (main) meals in a day and I wasn't staying for longer.

Melbourne is also known for the cold and rain and the weekend had both those in equal measure but it didn't matter. I had packed my gumboots (wellingtons) in preparation and it was a 15 minute walk (including a short tram ride) from La Villetta to Slow Poke Espresso on Brunswick st. At first I couldn't find the cafe. I knew it was a hole in the wall) but I was busy googling it when I heard the unmistakable 'tap tap' of espresso making. I swung around to find the cafe was hidden by a curtain of condensation on their front window and once I stepped inside it was easy to see why. It was warm and inviting! "Crazy weather!" I hear a local exclaim.

Brekky at Slow Poke was the house baked beans with herbs and feta served on chunks of grainy bread. These tasty morsels weren't from a can - they were nutty and firm and delicious! Just in case my two piccolos and brekky hadn't warmed me enough a raging fire made extra certain that no one could complain about the cold!

Once you've warmed by the coffee or brekky or the fire or all of these things a walk up Brunswick street is definitely recommended!

mummy's time-out: Melbourne

Everyone needs time out, right? Parenting is a 24/7 job and I know I function a whole lot better if I have some me time. In fact - the amount of me time is directly proportionate to the more functional I am! No - really - I do take those opportunities when I can so when J remarked that there was a free flight that needed to be redeemed before it expired I was the one who put my hand up for the flight.  Yep, the ultimate - taking one for the team. I was still nursing a heavy cold when I arrived in Melbourne but being able to sleep as long as I wanted and focus on my own recovery (rather than the sick kids I'd left behind) helped.

This was my weekend. Child-free. Mummy's time out.

These next few posts aren't supposed to make you jealous (though I can't garatee that you won't be) but they are supposed to inspire you to take your me moment. As soon as possible.

I'd arrived in Melbourne an hour and a half earlier. Having eaten breakfast at the airport some four and a half hours beforehand I was famished. All I could think about was food but, first things always have to come first, so I caught the shuttle into the city, the tram to my accommodation and checked in at La Villetta in Carlton.

It was an easy fifteen walk from my accommodation to Small Victories and the moment I stepped in to the warmth of the restaurant I knew I was in the right place. It was getting close to 2:30pm but lunch was still being served so I went with the slow cooked lamb cooked served with dukkah, roasted chickpeas, ewes feta, coriander and parsley. My heavy cold was still lingering so an apple, beetroot, celery, ginger, orange and carrot juice was the perfect accompaniment.  

This was a memorable meal: hearty, melt-in-your-mouth goodness at its best and it hit the spot. 

The plan was to see some live music at night (and I needed to be prepared) so I took myself back to La Villetta for an afternoon nap. It's the little things that you can do when you're away - that you can't do when you're on duty with children!

lonsdale street roasters, braddon

The verdict: love it! Though our kids raced around and around and around. We're not into giving them the iphone so next time we'll be taking a wad of paper and some pencils so we can enjoy the caffeine nectar.

no 'has beans' here

Thanks to the beautiful autumn we're experiencing in Sydney, and the few days of rain last week, I've harvested this lot from the bean and snow peas I planted from seed a couple of months ago. According to this Veggie Guide app from Gardening Australia the beans may be around for a little longer. There are plenty of flowers on the snow peas too so I'm hoping these warm temps and a bit of rain help with crop.

 Tonight these will accompany a very simple pasta bake and feed six of us.