Dec. 4, 2006 - What's new on my cookbook shelf!
I love cookbooks. I reaaaally love cookbooks!
I thought I'd share with you the three latest purchases that have me impatiently awaiting our move across country in the new couple of weeks. I can't wait to set up my new kitchen and delve into new culinary adventures!
My 12yo daughter vanished yesterday with "Kitchen Garden Cooking", returning later to declare this was her "favourite!" cookbook. Once we settle in January we'll get to work on a new veggie and herb garden, and I can let her loose with the book to cook to heart's delight. The author, Stephanie Alexander, is an amazing lady. If you've not heard of her Kitchen Garden Foundation, then I suggest you have a look here. What a wonderful gift to give back to children!
I am yet to open the "Dough" book - choosing rather to savour it over a sweet capuccino at my favourite cafe later in the week.
The "Low GI Vegetarian Cookbook" is excellent, especially in the way so much information is taught about the vegetarian diet. With special attention paid to babies, children and teenagers, I will be handing this book over to my 12yo daughter as well.
Another book I have 'waiting' is Jamie Oliver's "Cook With Jamie". Unfortunately it is wrapped and under the Christmas tree, so my hours of perusing will have to wait until after Christmas. The acquisition of the latest Jamie Oliver cookbook is a tradition I set up with my husband years ago. He never knew what to buy me for Christmas (hates shopping, you see!) so I gave him a perpetual gift idea and so far he's never missed a Christmas. (The fact that I buy it and give it to him to give back to me is beside the point)
14yo son is my co-fan when it comes to Mr Oliver's cooking. We have been known to veg out for hours watching the aforementioned J.O. on video and dvd. This time of culinary rapture is quickly followed by a surge of activity in the kitchen, much to the delight of the other waiting palates in our home.
I love to cook. I think you guessed that by now. ;-)
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Dec. 3, 2006 - Cathedral Cookies
12yo daughter spent the afternoon baking Cathedral Cookies - or you may know them as Stained Glass Windows. Whichever name they go by, they are yummy!!
They have been on our to-do list for many Christmas' past, but the heat of summer takes its toll and we decide to wait until next year. Well, this year finally became next year!
A few people had told us that the boiled lollies (candy) in the centre becomes so hard that it can almost break teeth, but ours ended up fine. Phew!
We used "00" Italian flour in our recipe - the kind you use to make pasta - and it made the shortbread so smooth it melts in the mouth. I may try using this flour in cakes and muffins in the future to see the difference in texture. I'll keep you posted on that one.
What have you baked for this Christmas? Care to share your recipe?
Cathedral Cookies
200g butter
3/4 cup caster sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/2 cups plain flour
1/3 cup crushed green boiled lollies
1/3 cup crushed red boiled lollies
1/3 cup crushed yellow boiled lollies
Preheat oven to 180C (375F)
Beat butter and sugar until light and creamy
Add egg, beat thoroughly
Add essence and milk, mix.
Transfer to large metal bowl.
Add sifted flour and baking powder, fold through gently, until just combined.
Knead dough on floured surface for about 1 minute, or until smooth - divide into two balls, cover with plastic wrap and leave in refrigerator for 1 hour.
Roll dough out to 1/8th inch thick, then use a fluted pastry wheel to cut into rectangles.
Lay baking paper on trays before placing rectangles.
Cut shapes out of the centre of each rectangle (roll up the excess dough from the shapes and re-roll for more rectangles) and fill to level with crushed boiled lollies.
Bake for about 15 minutes. Leave on trays until nearly cooled and lolly centres have hardened.
Enjoy!!
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Dec. 1, 2006 - The spices of Christmas!
I love Christmas cooking! It's such a shame that most of Australia swelters through the Christmas season, because we don't really embrace the baking of seasonal delights the way those in the northern hemisphere do. One day we hope to enjoy a 'white Christmas' in Europe, but for now we'll do the best we can with sunshine, beaches and flies for inspiration. ;-)
Gingerbread is something that I could eat any 'ol time, but it's especially nice this Chrismas because my daughter took the baton from me and made them herself. She made stars, trees, gingerbread men, angels, and - kangaroos! After decorating, she wrapped them in red and green cellophane, popped in a home-made card, and added a twist of green, red and gold ribbon. They looked spectacular! Friends and neighbours will become the recipients of her creativity this Christmas, but a lot of the gingerbread also went to her 14 yo brother - he discovered a whole new food group!
This is a great gingerbread recipe, plus you get to see the making of a gingerbread house. Those in the US probably cannot buy Golden Syrup, but you can replace it with unsulphured molasses.
Next year we'll make the house - and then we'll hide it from the 14yo!
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Nov. 24, 2006 - The humble chickpea....have you made friends yet??
I've found that most people either love or hate chickpeas. Up until four years ago you would have found me in the latter group.
However, strange things happen as you get older - you find the things that previously caused you to gag no longer hold that power. A tentative sample of someone's home-made hummous made me forgive the humble chickpea for its years of taunting distaste, and a desire to make my own took hold.
After perfecting my own recipe, hummous was served as a regular condiment at our family table - though sadly, it was only I who indulged in the creamy ambrosia. My family were still back in 'gagland' when it came to anything chickpea related.
Years passed, and occasionally I would offer my hummous again, with the hope of one day winning over the gang. Perseverance paid off. A few months back my newly vegetarian daughter took the plunge, and 'voila!' - success!! She was hooked, and I was happy....at least for now. I am not giving up on the men yet.
We love our hummous with lentil patties, so below I've given the recipe for both.
HUMMOUS
400g can organic chick peas, drained (or soak dried chickpeas overnight)
200g tub natural yoghurt
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 clove crushed garlic
1 teaspoon sesame oil
small handful of parsley (or fresh coriander leaves for a change)
Throw everything into a food processor, and process until almost smooth.
Refrigerate immediately if you're not going to use it all straight away.
LENTIL PATTIES
1 cup dried lentils
2 cups water to boil
1 tablespoon miso
Bring the lot to boil and simmer until soft.
Cool slightly, then pour mixture into a large mixing bowl.
Add :
1 tablespoon soya sauce
1 egg
1 teaspoon mixed herbs
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 tablespoon honey
1 clove crushed garlic
4 tablespoons breadcrumbs
1 grated carrot
1 grated potato
1 grated onion
¼ cup sesame seeds
¼ cup sunflower kernels
Mix the all ingredients well. If the mixture seems too wet, add more breadcrumbs.
Form into patties, and shallow fry in olive oil until golden brown.
Serve topped with fresh hummous, and a crisp side salad!
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Nov. 20, 2006 - Halloumi, here I come!
Yesterday a friend took me out for lunch. Our family are moving half way across the country in January, so it was lovely to have time together with a fellow homeschooler for a relaxed meal before we left. It was especially nice because we could chat 'uninterrupted' for a change.
Even though we've lived in Alice Springs for 10 months now, we'd only been out for dinner once - and that was not exactly a meal I'd like to have again.
What a difference this lunch was! We went to a lovely cafe style restaurant that I often drive by on my way into town. It was 40C (100+F) outside so we took refuge in the cool interior, leaving the outdoor tables to those who enjoy the dry desert heat.
As a recent vegetarian convert I was interested to see what they had on offer for the meatless diner. Quite a lot, as it turned out!
I ordered the Roasted Pumpkin & Fried Halloumi Salad. I'd never tasted halloumi before, but it was certainly on my list of foods to try before I turned 50...and after my meal I wondered *why* I'd waited so long to indulge!?
This salad is now on my top 10 list of favourite meals! I've even asked my husband out for dinner next week so that I can tantalise my tastebuds one more time before we leave town!
I'll do my best to give you a rough recipe....let me know if you try it, okay?
Roasted Pumpkin & Fried Halloumi Salad
* 1" cubes of golden roasted pumpkin
* thin slices of halloumi cheese, pan fried until golden
* fresh rocket
* sliced sun dried tomatoes
* toasted pine nuts
Toss together, and lay upon plates.
Drizzle well with a good quality balsamic syrup! YUM!!
(You can make balsalmic syrup by bringing a cup or two of balsamic vinegar to the boil, then simmer until it is reduced by half)
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Nov. 18, 2006 - In praise of pesto!
Years ago I watched a young Jamie Oliver knead by hand the most luscious fettucine I'd ever seen.
As my mouth watered, and my frustrated culinary attuned mind worked on sourcing a good pasta machine, he followed his pasta triumph with a heady, aromatic basil pesto. It looked so easy that I headed out the door to ravage my carefully tended pots of basil in order to try it for myself.
I made it. I was in love.
Pesto is a family favourite now, and something that needs to be made in
~~ginormous!~~~~
proportions in order to keep everyone happy for a day or so. Since that first batch we have found many different ways to enjoy our pesto (though we still looove it with pasta!).
Creativity in the kitchen is something that I was born with, and something that brings me a great deal of satisfaction. I found a new challenge this year, though, and it is because of that I decided to start this new blog.
Earlier this year my 12yo daughter and I became vegetarians. That decision meant studying our nutritional requirements (especially with a near-teenager) as well as the planning, sourcing, purchasing and serving of our food - especially when the males of the household are unyielding carnivores!
Meat used to be the centre of our meal, and I planned the side dishes to compliment it. These days I get so caught up in the yummy vegetarian meals that I sometimes forget to throw on some meat for the men. 
Thank goodness they can't cook - they are very forgiving of me.
Maybe one day they'll go veggie too........(and parsnips just might fly!)
So, here on my blog I'm going to share my kitchen. Hope you'll come sit at our table one day - truly! In the meantime why don't you make some pesto?
Pesto
In a food processor throw in a good bunch of fresh basil (about two cupfulls), 1/2 cup lightly toasted pine nuts, 1/2 clove of garlic, 1/2 cup frshly grated parmesan cheese, and juice of 1/2 lemon.
Process for a minute or so, then slowly drizzle in 1/2 cup of good olive oil.
If you're not going to use it straight away pop it in a jar and cover with a thin layer of olive oil - then put it in the fridge.
But *beware*! It is most addictive.
