A feast to bring in 2011

Good day! How are you liking 2011 so far? I think it is quite good. Back to work tomorrow so my views may change, however, for now, I thought I would share my NYE feast.

You may recall the menu. Well, I started to prepare in the morning, making our desserts which were both cold. The chocolate mousse was first. Straight into the fridge!


Then, I made the Green Apple Granita. It was such a simple recipe. I don't have an icecream maker, so I simply froze the mixture in icecube trays and then whizzed them with my hand-held kitchen whizz. Here are the apples simmering in the sugar and juice.

Cold things done, I started on the first dish on the menu, the Tomato Soup. I made it from a recipe in the book Movida Rustica, a Spanish cookbook from the Melbourne restaurant. J's Dad gave it to me for Christmas last year. The soup needed to simmer for quite a while on the stove so I got it going early. Please note my blatant exhibitionism of my new kitchen spoons from Beehive Kitchenware!


Soup done, it was time for little things. Making the sauce for the fish dish, cooking the buttery leeks (another recipe from Movida Rustica), getting out all the plates for the different dishes. Here is Jon preparing his ceviche, with all our plates ready for action.

Then, after a brief pause for some sustenance, we tackled the trickiest part of the day: deboning a spatchcock for the ballotine. A ballotine is simply a fancy French word for a roll of deboned, stuffed meat. We watched this absolutely awesome and amazing video tutorial with Jacques Pepin, and it was actually really fun! Once deboned, I stuffed the spatchcock with a carrot poached in stock, chives, and bacon. Here I am wrapping it tightly in clingwrap, ready for poaching!

So! Into the fridge for the ballotine, and it was time to set the table and chill the wine. This photo shows our sashimi course, which I bought from the fantastic Claudios at the Sydney Fish Market.

I must apologise: from here on in, we were enjoying the meal so much that the photos are few and far between. We did snap a quick one of the vegetable course. Yummo vinagered carrots and the smooth and buttery leeks, and fresh radish.

I have to say that I am quite sad that by far the best course of the night - the Pan Seared Snapper with Corn Puree, Roasted Shallots, Chorizo and Basil - does not have any pictures. It looked and tasted absolutely amazing. I highly recommend you try it if you are looking for a fish dish to impress!

The spatchcock ballotine was absolutely delicious also - even though the preparation was a bit of a disaster. After feeling super proud about deboning and rolling so well, my cling-wrapped friend burst in the simmering water, and so poached without his covering. I thought that would be the end of the flavour, but we fished him out, and pan fried him to finish off the cooking. He was totally fine - and ended up looking very much like my inspiration photograph from Not Quite Nigella's dining experience at Astral restaurant.

After the ballotine came the delicious eye fillet with mash and artichokes, and then, after a brief sojourn to see the fireworks down the road, we came home to enjoy our granita and chocolate mousse in the New Year. And then, an epic washing up session later, there we were in 2011!

How did you spend your New Year? Any cooking adventures planned for 2011?

Last post for 2010!

Well, it's about that time. Only a few hours left until we start a New Year. What are you doing to celebrate? J and I thought we would keep it quiet this year, and are cooking a fancy degustation dinner at home. I have been preparing food since yesterday, and I am excited to sit down to dine tonight! Here is the menu:



Doesn't it sound delicious! I can't wait to eat it. The first post of next year will have some pictures and recipes.

Have a lovely New Year everyone, and a joyful 2011.

Giving in to Temptation

I have been wanting to buy these measuring spoons from Beehive Kitchenware for SOOOOO long. Years, even. So I finally did. Merry Christmas to me!

Yum.

I am about to head off on tour again with work, for a few months.

This is what I will miss most: special dinners with The Betrothed.




This particular dinner was Fish Tacos, a specialty of the Mexican state of Baja California (where he is from). Delicious.

Trying out new toys

Hello everyone!

Between engagement parties, travelling to Brisbane with work, and moving house, I have been a bit absent. My apologies! We are now somewhat settled in our new home, with internet connected, bookshelves stacked, and towels folded in the linen cupboard.

So it is a good time to share with you a meal created in one of our engagement presents, a lovely Le Creuset casserole.

Before: vegetables and herbs ready to saute before adding meat, wine, and tomatoes. It was a Jamie Oliver recipe for a beef shin stew.

After three hours of simmering away in the oven, imagine the smell in the house! ... and when I lifted the lid:Delicious!

Simple

We finally got our beachy day yesterday. As anyone in Sydney will know, it was HOT yesterday. I got sunburnt. Naughty. But you know how going to the beach leaves you feeling refreshed, light, and quite health-ful and alive? That's what I most enjoyed. And so it was fitting that we had a super fresh, cool, and delicious dinner to complement our day.

Roast Beetroot, Button Squash and Rocket Salad

I roasted a fresh beetroot, diced, in a little bit of olive oil, salt and pepper. Added some button squash near the end. Then in a little pan I made some caramelised onions and then fried some chopped bacon. When everything was nicely refrigerated, I combined rocket, the beets and squash, the onion and bacon, some corn kernels, and a healthy measure of fresh dill with a little dressing of balsamic vinegar with a smidge of olive oil. Delicious!

This was just something I made up as I perused the fruit market produce. I used dill because I am a dillaholic, but chives, basil or other fresh leafy herbs would work too. Sweet potato would also be nice instead of the beet, and I was being good so didn't have cheese, though a fetta, haloumi or bocconcini would have been great.

I am a bit of a fan of yummy salads this summer. What's your favourite?

Handmade gifts: keeping the tradition going

Ever since I was a young girl, I have enjoyed giving my grandparents a handmade Christmas gift. Obviously, when I was young, the creativity stopped at nothing. Painted calendars, handtowels edged with fabric, lavender sachets, markers for the vegetable garden - I loved making them and my grandparents always loved receiving them.

As I have gotten older and busier in my very grown-up life I have let the handmade side slide a little in my gift-giving. Last year I made shortbread, which received rave reviews. But it was kind of cheating in the handmade stakes.

Anyway, this year, they have just purchased an outdoor setting for their backyard. So I found a nice melamine tray and some yummy biccies so they can enjoy their tea outside. But something was missing, and today I have had a brainwave of creativity! I am faaaairly confident they won't come spying and read this post, so here is the handmade component of this year's present: some coasters for their mugs.


The back is non-slip so they can sit on the tray without sliding around. I machine embroidered the teacups, and the middle has a little piece of wadding for heat protection.

I am pretty pleased with them! I hope they like them and enjoy an afternoon tea in the backyard.

For the love of Pie

This pic borrowed from http://signsaysopen.blogspot.com

When I was in Melbourne recently, I couldn't resist visiting one of my favourite shops: Wilkins and Kent. From the website, it looks just like a furniture shop, and indeed they do sell some gorgeous custom made furniture. But they also sell beautiful handcrafted and thoughtfully chosen things, including some lovely products from fellow Australian Etsy sellers, like Able and Game and The Rabbit and the Duck. Kitchen, garden, decorative and functional, I am in love with most of their stock.

This pic borrowed from Flickr

This time, I walked away with a fantastic pie dish by Riess, a classic Austrian cookware company. I wish I could have afforded the whole range. See how pretty they look on the shelf? And this is the one I chose:

...now I just have to decide what to make in it! Any suggestions?

Kitchen Town

Some of you will know that I am planning a trip to Japan next March. One of my top must-see places is Kappabashi - "Kitchen Town" in Tokyo. It is basically a street full of wonderful food-related shops. Lacquerware, noodle bowls, knives, linens, and all sorts of yummy goodness. One of the more quirky shops is a "fake food" shop, selling plastic meals for restaurants to display in their windows. I can't wait to buy some plastic sushi.

A Lazy Saturday Breakfast

As the sun comes up on a calm Saturday morning, and as the end of a frantic week is gratefully waved goodbye, I have but one thought in my head:

Bacon and Egg Pie.

And not only is it as easy as falling off a log, it tastes seriously good. This recipe makes 4 individuals:

3 rashers of bacon
4 eggs
1/2 a large onion, chopped
1 Tomato
6 sheets filo pastry
Butter, melted
70g tin of sweetcorn
4 tablespoons grated tasty cheese
Dash of milk
Nutmeg
Pepper
Salt

Chop the bacon roughly and fry in a pan until crispy. Place in a small mixing bowl. Fry the onions in the same pan, and add to bowl with corn. Brush each pastry sheet with butter, and cut into 3 pieces. Layer 4 pieces of pastry into each individual pie dish, arranging the edges roughly. Break the eggs into the bowl with bacon, onion and corn. Add a good shake of nutmeg, salt and pepper, a dash of milk, and most of the cheese. Stir well and divide into the 4 pie dishes (it should only be about half full - the egg will rise as it cooks). Top with thin slices of tomato, and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake in a 200 degree oven for 15-20 minutes, or until egg is cooked and pastry is browned.

Ladies and Gents, it's time for...

Such a lovely bunch this week! And reasonably priced too... and even in my initials! What more can a girl ask for?Joyce Decorative Wood Candle Holder by Jeanpelle
Custom Cross Stitch and Resin Initial Brooch by Hokey
Veggie Print by Stockton
Set of 6 vintage Jelly Jars by Vintage73

Roll up, roll up, it's...

This week, I've gone with classic white, black and red. I absolutely adore this swimsuit, it took me half an hour to choose which plates to put on here, I'm in love with these cute bird notecards and I REALLY need a new pair of red shoes after ruining my pair of patent leather mary janes on the weekend (whilst dancing at The Presets, thanks for asking.)


Maillot One Piece Swimsuit with Chevron Stripes by LaDramaQueen
Raspberry Serenade set of 6 plates from AtelierBB
Hello Ladies Signed Fine Art Photograph by AliciaBock
A Little Bird Told Me... notecard set from JHelene

Wishlist Wednesday

Man, this week is mental. What I really wish for is more time, a car, a cleaning lady, and a magical cookbook so I can produce good, healthy meals in 2 minutes (that's all I have to spare, whilst my iron heats up).

Vintage alarm clock / apple green from Bichoboi

Toy Racing Car from VintageStarrBeads

How Famous Chefs Use Marshmallows from SugarandMeringue

1950s Electrolux Vacuum Cleaner Booklet from ArtPhotoGirl

*DISCLAIMER* In no way or form am I championing marshmallows as healthy.

Wishlist Wednesday

You would not believe how tempted I am to buy all 4 of my choices this week. Quite literally, my mouse is hovered over the "pay now" button. Ahh to be rich and carefree. Hmm... I am pretty carefree I suppose. Well, to be rich then.

Boardwalk Sneaker House Shoes by ElephantandChickpea

Three Wee Wood Scoops by GoodWoodDogs

Birch Forest Clutch by PocketCarnival

Sailor Suit by FablesbyBarrie

Back in the Kitchen

It has been quite a while since I have written about anything food-related. In fact, many of my new followers wouldn't even know about Experimental Cooking Night - a weekly event where I pull out an as-yet untried recipe and see if it is worthy of either repetition (if it is from a cookbook we own) or of being added to my personal only-the-best-of-the-best cookbook, if it is a cutting from a magazine or similar.

So, seeing as I received a few natty little gadgets over the Christmas/Birthday season (see: cornish blue mortar and pestle, garlic grater, ceramic juicer, giant mother of a chopping board) I decided to pull out the old apron and do some experimenting.

It's a Jamie Oliver recipe I'm whipping up here - from his Cook With Jamie book. I've made a couple of things from this book so far, as has the man, and we've been quite pleased with the results. This pork is especially delicious. We serve it with a spanish rice (with beans, roasted capsicum, onion and oregano) and corn on the cob. Yummy.

Lazy Sunday

...I wish! Today is Designated Packing Day, as we get ready for our journey north to Sydney. For such a little flat we sure have amassed a lot of stuff. Well, I have. Ok, the fabric box has turned into a fabric very-large-bag. I can't help myself! So many cute fabrics crying out to be dresses or shorts. I am very excited about a vintage piece I found last week, which closely resembles a licquorice allsort. Fantastic! I'm still deciding what to make out of it... any ideas?

Meanwhile I have been dreaming of my new kitchen in Sydney (not that I have one yet, but I've heard it's good to visualise. Heehee). This is what I would like in it:

A set of gorgeous Pyrex mixing bowls from atouchofvintage

These to-die-for canisters from BazarBcuz (if the Australian dollar wasn't so sad, they would be MINE!)

Cute cute cute teatowel from Kraken

And what kitchen is complete without a fabulous rolling pin, from sirkus.