Saturday, November 21, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
132/365 - Ok! So I really need to stop playing with my food!
Today I made cupcakes from a book given to me by my mother in the 1970s. I remember eating these cupcakes when I came home from school. My Mum is still a great cook at the age of 80...just like her Mum was before her.
Recipe from "The Margaret Fulton Cookbook" - first published 1968.
Cup Cakes
If cupcakes are to be iced/frosted and sooth tops are required, back in moderately hot oven (375 F/190C). For peaked tops (necessary for butterfly cakes) increase heat by 25 F/5 C and place the cakes in the hottest part of the oven.
4oz/125 g butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 eggs
2 cups self raising flour
pinch salt
2/3 cup milk
Place the paper cases in cupcake tins. Set oven to moderately hot: 375 F/190 C.
Cream butter. Gradually add sugar and beat until light and reamy. Add vanilla. Add eggs gradually and beat well after each addition. Sift flour and salt 3 times and fold lightly into creamed mixture alternately with milk to make a smooth dropping consistency. Spoon into cases/pans. Bake for approx. 15 minutes. Cool. Frost.
To make butterfly cakes: Cut a circle from top of each cake, fill with a spoonful of sweetened, whipped cream and place circle, cut into two, in butterfly-wing fasion on top. Dust with icing sugar.
Recipe from "The Margaret Fulton Cookbook" - first published 1968.
Cup Cakes
If cupcakes are to be iced/frosted and sooth tops are required, back in moderately hot oven (375 F/190C). For peaked tops (necessary for butterfly cakes) increase heat by 25 F/5 C and place the cakes in the hottest part of the oven.
4oz/125 g butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 eggs
2 cups self raising flour
pinch salt
2/3 cup milk
Place the paper cases in cupcake tins. Set oven to moderately hot: 375 F/190 C.
Cream butter. Gradually add sugar and beat until light and reamy. Add vanilla. Add eggs gradually and beat well after each addition. Sift flour and salt 3 times and fold lightly into creamed mixture alternately with milk to make a smooth dropping consistency. Spoon into cases/pans. Bake for approx. 15 minutes. Cool. Frost.
To make butterfly cakes: Cut a circle from top of each cake, fill with a spoonful of sweetened, whipped cream and place circle, cut into two, in butterfly-wing fasion on top. Dust with icing sugar.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
My Mum - (MSH - 1 in 1,000,000!)
I think I'm very lucky to still have my Mum to share the good, the bad (and sometimes the ugly) things that happen in my life. I think sometimes we take for granted what we have.
My Mum-in-law passed away 2 years ago. She battled cancer for 10 years and at the end was a wisened little old woman - a shell of her former self. Sometimes when we visited her we'd take her a McDonalds Oz Burger (like an old fashioned hamburger with meat, lettuce, tomato & sauce - nothing fancy). She thought this was a real treat and we'd cut it up and she'd devour it with relish! We often wondered how she'd get through it as her appetite was very poor - but she would.
Late yesterday afternoon, on Mother's Day, we went to the lawn cemetery with a bunch of flowers, a picnic rug and a McDonalds burger. We spread the rug and sat down - the two meat-eaters in the family shared the burger and we talked & laughed about the good times we had with Grandma. I'm not sure what other people visiting the cemetery thought but I know that Grandma would have loved that visit.
We miss her.
My Mum-in-law passed away 2 years ago. She battled cancer for 10 years and at the end was a wisened little old woman - a shell of her former self. Sometimes when we visited her we'd take her a McDonalds Oz Burger (like an old fashioned hamburger with meat, lettuce, tomato & sauce - nothing fancy). She thought this was a real treat and we'd cut it up and she'd devour it with relish! We often wondered how she'd get through it as her appetite was very poor - but she would.
Late yesterday afternoon, on Mother's Day, we went to the lawn cemetery with a bunch of flowers, a picnic rug and a McDonalds burger. We spread the rug and sat down - the two meat-eaters in the family shared the burger and we talked & laughed about the good times we had with Grandma. I'm not sure what other people visiting the cemetery thought but I know that Grandma would have loved that visit.
We miss her.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
The colour of taste
Pumpkin and Red Lentil Soup from "The Really Useful Ultimate Student Vegetarian Cook Book" by Helen Aitken
1/2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 long red chilli, seeded & chopped
1/2 onion finely chopped
250g butternut pumpkin
175g orange sweet potato chopped
750m vegetable stock
60g red lentils
1/2 tbsp tahini
red chilli extra to garnish.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, add the chilli and onion and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the onion is soft. Reduce the heat to low, add the pumpkin and sweet potato and cook, covered, for 8 minutes stirring occasionally.
Increase the heat to high add the stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Add the red lentils and cook, covered, for 7 minutes, or until tender.
Process the soup in batches in a blender or food processor, add the tahini and blend until smooth. Return to the saucepan and gently heat until warmed through. Garnish with chilli.
Note: I'm not a big fan of tahini so I don't use as much. I also season with a pinch of maldon salt and a grind of pepper...if it needs a little more flavour, a pinch of curry powder is nice.
Enjoy!
1/2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 long red chilli, seeded & chopped
1/2 onion finely chopped
250g butternut pumpkin
175g orange sweet potato chopped
750m vegetable stock
60g red lentils
1/2 tbsp tahini
red chilli extra to garnish.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, add the chilli and onion and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the onion is soft. Reduce the heat to low, add the pumpkin and sweet potato and cook, covered, for 8 minutes stirring occasionally.
Increase the heat to high add the stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Add the red lentils and cook, covered, for 7 minutes, or until tender.
Process the soup in batches in a blender or food processor, add the tahini and blend until smooth. Return to the saucepan and gently heat until warmed through. Garnish with chilli.
Note: I'm not a big fan of tahini so I don't use as much. I also season with a pinch of maldon salt and a grind of pepper...if it needs a little more flavour, a pinch of curry powder is nice.
Enjoy!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Mini lemon on a teaspoon
The day after ANZAC day and there's a fierce, bitter southerly blowing. Autumn has arrived! The grass is covered in white confetti - the petals from my icebergs have blown off in the wind.
Every day I have 2 walks around my garden. The first in the morning we call the 'coffee walk' and in the afternoon the walk is often a 'wine/beer/g&t' walk. I live on just over an acre and the garden has little nooks and crannies to explore - I never tire of it.
This morning the old lemon tree down by the creek gave me my '365 project' idea ... a mature lemon tiny enough to fit into a teaspoon.
I'm not happy with my processing but it's still cute.
Every day I have 2 walks around my garden. The first in the morning we call the 'coffee walk' and in the afternoon the walk is often a 'wine/beer/g&t' walk. I live on just over an acre and the garden has little nooks and crannies to explore - I never tire of it.
This morning the old lemon tree down by the creek gave me my '365 project' idea ... a mature lemon tiny enough to fit into a teaspoon.
I'm not happy with my processing but it's still cute.
Monday, April 6, 2009
96/365 - to the rescue...
Really busy week so I was wrapped to find this guy snuggled in a towel on the deck. He was very quiet and easy to photograph until I got too close for comfort and it ran off.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
70/365 - Cheap frills
Some days you're just stuck for a photo opportunity...like today...until I took the washing in! The 365 project can be a challenge at times, especially after a long day at work.
Friday, February 20, 2009
43/365 - Frangipani in the rain
Took this photo in the rain about a week ago. It was so refreshing after the hot weather. My brother flew to Victoria today to help with the fires. More rain due here tomorrow.
February Scavenger Hunt - Knee
So this is another experiment with my ghetto light-box. I made the light box from a you-tube tute...cardboard wine box, white tissue paper, sticky tape. I'm quite happy with the effect. I do need to make a bigger one however. A couple of good lights would help as well. Lots of fun.
I didn't want to take a picture of my own knee for this entry in the February Scavenger Hunt (Knee) so my trusty wooden drawing Mannequin came to the rescue with his beautiful wooden knee. One comment suggested it would make a good ad for a knee replacement!
Fun.
I didn't want to take a picture of my own knee for this entry in the February Scavenger Hunt (Knee) so my trusty wooden drawing Mannequin came to the rescue with his beautiful wooden knee. One comment suggested it would make a good ad for a knee replacement!
Fun.
Siam Tulip
Friday at home. Feeling guilty because I didn't make it to the gym BUT I did start the day with a coffee with my friend Megan at Cantina. Then a visit to my favourite florist, Carrie, who had these amazing Siam Tulips in her cooler. I couldn't resist. Such beautiful colours and the lower part of the flower is so interesting...each part almost has a life of it's own. Some look like little aliens waiting to emerge.
The flowers are natives of Thailand and a member of the ginger family.
Sarah amused us tonight with a performance of her 3 dancing styles: hip hop, contemporary ballet and jazz...all done with her crazy touch of humour. If only she'd let me video her. I'm sure her children would appreciate it in years to come. She had Helen and I in hysterics. She actually dances quite well...when she's serious.
The flowers are natives of Thailand and a member of the ginger family.
Sarah amused us tonight with a performance of her 3 dancing styles: hip hop, contemporary ballet and jazz...all done with her crazy touch of humour. If only she'd let me video her. I'm sure her children would appreciate it in years to come. She had Helen and I in hysterics. She actually dances quite well...when she's serious.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
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