food glorious food

Some of the places we went – Melbourne (2)

Posted on July 30, 2012July 29, 2012 by bekswhoknits

This is the second post where I try and make you all jealous about my Melbourne holiday.
We flew in on the red eye getting into Melbourne at 6am on Friday morning.
After leaving out luggage at the hotel (we stayed at the Marriott Hotel where we had an excellent stay), we went out in search of breakfast, whilst awaiting a txt to say our room was ready.

In the end we upgraded to a king size room and we caught up on some sleep having not got any on the plane.

After we were rested we went wandering.

We caught up with some friends over some awesome dumplings, but bland honey chicken fromEmpress of China.

We had a drink at Coopers Inn, trunk,and watched the football at Young and Jackson .

Saturday was all about football.
We went to the MCG to watch Hawthorn play Collingwood. We wanted Hawthorn to win, and they put on a very impressive display. Our hangovers made walking up 36 stairs to get to our seats a little harrowing, I had visions of falling and plummeting to my death but I’m still here. After the football we walked around the MCG, taking photos with The great Shane Warne and Dennis Lillee and promising to be back for the finals.

While we were watching a game live, the Gentleman friend’s team was also putting on a commanding display, so the group had 2 wins under their belt. Unfortunately Port vs Melbourne was going to mean someone in the group was disappointed (but it wasn’t me!) By the end of the day me, my boy, and my bestie’s teams had all won!

We also won $360 at Crown Casino. After going there to watch the Port v Melbourne game, finding out that the sports bar was closed and watching the game in a cafe, we ended up at a jazz bar.
After the music stopped, we migrated to a tv so the Mr could watch the golf. As we were on our way out he put one bet on Roulette. Well 17 (Stewart Dew or Bernie Vince depending on who you talk to) came up and we walked away amazed at our good luck.

Once our taxi driver got us home safely (after nearly colliding with an ambulance, getting lost, having a hysterical phone conversation, and singing Beyonce’s All The Single Ladies), we ordered cheesecake, pizza, and beer.

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lets talk!
tweet tweet ~ ravelry ~ email me

A moment of genius

Posted on July 17, 2012July 16, 2012 by bekswhoknits

My rissole recipe, but instead of breadcrumbs crushed potato crisps.

It’s never going to win a weight watchers recipe contest, but it was very tasty. Rissoles taste better the next day in a sandwich, but that’s if they last that long.

basic rissoles
Put all these ingredients in a bowl
500g mince, 1 egg, 1 slice bread soaked in water, 1 diced onion, 1 squeeze of BBQ sauce, salt & pepper
Get squelchy and mix all together, hands work great.
(always make sure that you prepare the breadcrumbs/crushed potato crisps before you start mixing. It makes it easier)

Make into patty shapes. Coat in crushed potato crisps.

Put into fridge for about half an hour.

Give to the gentleman friend to cook on the barbecue. (I’m hopeless at pan frying these.)

~~~
lets talk!
tweet tweet ~ ravelry ~ email me

Peanut butter cookies

Posted on June 26, 2012June 26, 2012 by bekswhoknits

My sweet tooth has been playing up recently.

It’s getting to the point where I’m snacking on chocolate at 2:30 (on the dot!) most afternoons.
And I’m buying chocolate from the many multitudes of fundraising chockies in the lunchroom.

So I thought I’d bake something.

There’s a cozy casserole heating up the kitchen, and now there’s some peanut butter biscuits.

I love this recipe. It’s 4 ingredients. Which are probably all in your cupboard right now.

Which makes this a great recipe to pull out when you have visitors on their way over, or when you want something quick to make while you have a casserole in the oven.

Go forth – bake!!

(and if you’re in the Perth area, Col Panna has a giveaway on at the moment – check it out!)

Just another boring weekend

Posted on June 25, 2012June 25, 2012 by bekswhoknits

But that was just why I wanted.

I rediscovered Enid Blyton and spent Saturday reading the entire St Clare’s series.
As a result, smashing and cracking as adjectives have crept into my vocabulary.

I also watched this wonderful famous five parody.

I rediscovered tumblr thanks to the new iPhone app. Hello wasted hour’s of looking at doctor who tags.
find me here

I also finished my first item for my etsy store!!!

That’s the really exciting one.
I also failed at making a sponge cake. I turned it out and it was still liquid in the middle even though it was brown on the outside. It got tipped back into the pan and back into the oven. Needless to say it was very flat.
Even the whipped cream on top didn’t whip.
But they say practice makes perfect. I may just try again.

Cozy stews and Nanna blankets.

Posted on June 12, 2012June 11, 2012 by bekswhoknits

If there’s on theme that has kept cropping up in the last week it’s cozy.

I have an appreciation for all the seasons. Sometimes I think that we should have 1 month of each and that would solve all my problems.

The first month of every season is the best. In summer you start to wear pretty floral dresses without tights, and the heat is warm and inviting. By the time February comes round, the 40 degree days seem longer and the nights aren’t balmy they’re just exhaustingly hot.
We’re just beginning winter and so the jackets and hoodies are out of the cupboard. And everything is cozy. In two months time my bones will be cold and no amount of wooly socks, hot casseroles or squishy cowls will warm me up.

Well maybe this casserole might.

I really was impressed with myself.

the ingredients
500gm diced lamb
1/4 cup flour
1 diced onion
400gm tin chopped tomatoes
1 cup beef stock
1 cup beer
1 cup diced mushrooms
1 tbl spoon gravy powder
Dash worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper

the recipe
Fry the onions and garlic in olive oil. Once cooked put in casserole dish. (note: if your casserole dish doesn’t fit in the oven with other trays in, take them out now)

Brown the lamb in the same pot. Add flour and cook the flour a bit.
Once that’s brown, add the beer and beef stock. Bring to the boil.

Chop the mushrooms and put in the casserole dish.
Add the tin of tomatoes, worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
Add the boiling lamb mixture and stir.
Add some herbs if you like (I added dried oregano and fresh rosemary)

Put in a 220 degree oven with the lid on.

Cook for 1 hour 30. While this is cooking make the dumplings.
Put the dumplings in the casserole at 1hr30 and cook for another 30 minutes with the lid off.

the dumplings
1 cup self raising flour
60gms cubed butter
1/2 cup grated cheese (Mmm Colby)
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup milk

Rub the butter and flour together to make breadcrumbs. Then add the cheese and oats. Slowly add the milk until the mixture just combines.

Roll into even balls and place on top of casserole.

Wait for casserole to heat up the entire house and make it smell delicious.

Serve with potato bake and fresh green beans.

Await praise from boyfriend who helps himself to seconds.
Try and not lick the plate in front of said boyfriend.

Ahh the beginning of winter when the casseroles are cozy and the Nanna blankets are just warm enough.

(my 10 stitch blanket is coming along nicely btw)

While you’re up, can you make me pancakes??

Posted on June 9, 2012June 9, 2012 by bekswhoknits

Sometimes you just want to spend all weekend on the couch with a heat pack. Only taking the occasional break to eat pancakes standing up in the kitchen.

And then play around with phonto whilst trying to ignore the fact that you’re a woman and your ovaries hate you.
I’m being very over dramatic, but I have my period and it hurts. Pancakes help.

And I made some mix for later. It’s not as good as using fresh ingredients, but it’s worth the convenience of being able to not worry about having milk and eggs in the cupboard.

Here’s to a lazy Saturday.

Cooking with lavender – pancakes

Posted on May 22, 2012June 4, 2012 by bekswhoknits

I have a lovely lavender plant in my garden. It’s one of the few plants that survived me.
We don’t get many hours of sunlight, but it thrives in the shade.

But after visiting Bridgetown and all the lavender inspired soaps, and oils I’ve been thinking about how I can get more use out of it.

Currently we use it as a mosquito repellant, there’s always some hanging on our outside light.
I’m a mosquito magnet and I notice the difference.
I’ve tried those yellow mosquito lights but they don’t do anything.

Unfortunately I really don’t like the smell of lavender. My hay fever reacts badly to it, and it reminds me of old lady potpourri. So I’m not likely to have it inside the house.
I enjoy citrus fragrances a lot more and the only time my house smells of flowers it’s not by my choice.
But I did a bit of research which is opening my eyes to cooking with lavender.

There’s a chocolate lavender cake which I really want to try, but unfortunately couldn’t get the oven to light.
So instead I made the lavender sugar syrup by itself. Then Instead of putting it on an invisible chocolate cake, I put it on pancakes.

Inspired by that I made a lavender compound butter to go with it as well.
Absolutely delicious.

bek’s pantry pancakes

This is the ‘day before the food shopping’ pancakes, when you have run out of milk, eggs, and can’t be bothered popping to the shops just for that.
So I always have powdered eggs and powdered milk in the pantry. They don’t get used that often, but they’re good to take camping, and for when laziness strikes. Of course you can use 1 egg and 1 cup of milk but it really tastes pretty good for powder. I find it also makes it easier to get all the lumps out.

the ingredients
1 cup plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tablespoon egg powder
1/2 cup milk powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup water

the method
Mix all the dry ingredients together.
Add the water and mix until there are no lumps.
Add more water if necessary.

I always make it in a Pyrex jug, just because that way I can save on washing up.

lavender sugar syrup
the ingredients
1 cup of water
1 cup of sugar
1 sprig of lavender

the method
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan.
Bring to the boil.
Keep boiling until the sauce thickens.
Take off the heat and once it has cooled slightly (because it will be very hot), pour it through a sieve, and serve.

lavender compound butter
This was a whim. But melted on the pancakes it was a whim that payed off.

the ingredients
butter
Lavender (cut into small pieces)
Lemon zest
Lemon juice

the method
Mix it all together.

It really comes down to eyeballing it, particularly when you only want a little bit.

I’m really not an authority on cooking pancakes. In fact I’m shocking at it. So bad that I’ve bought a crepe maker into my arsenal. It always heats to the right temperature and because it’s non-stick I don’t get those first pancake blues, where the first pancake is soaked in butter.
I do love my crepe maker.

I’m now going to be looking for more ways to use lavender in my cooking.

Warm soup belly

Posted on May 8, 2012May 8, 2012 by bekswhoknits

Call me a saucy minx, but I have a strategy when it comes to making soup.
Well I have to. Whenever I suggest soup for dinner, the manly half of the relationship kicks up a fuss “soup for dinner?? That’s not going to be enough. I’m a manly man, I need man-food!”
Well maybe not those exact words, but that’s how I hear it.

Well my secret phrase is “I’ll make you something else in a minute”.
By the time he finishes his soup, he’ll have warm soup belly, be all full up, and forget that you were meant to cook them something else.

Of course if you suggest a manly soup the men-folk will be satisfied that their masculinity isn’t compromised.

Last week’s minestrone (recipe from not all tea and scones was very manly. You can’t get more masculine than chunks of steak, and potato.

However after looking through my bare cupboards (I’ll do the food shopping this week I swear), all I could come up with was potato soup. Not even potato with steak, just plain potato.

So I pulled out the whole “I’ll make you something else if you’re still hungry”. Sure enough, after a hearty bowl of soup I had a very content man with warm soup belly.

(of course I’m not the first to discuss manly soup)

The actual soup was really basic. It took what I had in the cupboard, threw it into a pot, and boiled until it all squishy and ready to be blended.
You really could use whatever is on hand, but this is what I used.

The Ingredients
8 potatoes (peeled and cubed)
3 cloves garlic
2 onions
2 carrots (grated)
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp cumin
2 cups beef stock
2 cups frozen peas

The Recipe
Brown the onion and garlic in olive oil.
Once brown add the coriander and cumin.
Add the grated carrot and let that soften.
Add the potatoes, the stock, and enough water to just cover it.

Bring to the boil and then leave to simmer until the potatoes fall apart with a fork.
Add the peas and bring back to the boil.
Turn off the heat and leave until it’s cool enough to blend.

Serve with greek yoghurt and cheese.

Bridgetown adventures with Hipstamatic (and food)

Posted on May 3, 2012May 3, 2012 by bekswhoknits

This is a picture heavy post.

Can you tell I’m missing being on holidays??

These are adventures at Ford House (which i thought was a little overrated, but everyone else oohed and aahed over everything. I thought the grounds were really pretty and went to town with hipstamatic).

There’s also the caravan covered in newspaper print that was camped next to us.

And the fish pie from the Cidery. We had a pretty awesome taste of some ciders (they make them all on site), and some handcrafted beers (which were yummy) before a tasting plate and a main meal. Their salmon pate was divine. By the end we were liking it with our fingers.

Really missing camping now.

Continue reading Bridgetown adventures with Hipstamatic (and food)

Bridgetown Adventures (pt 2) Nannup

Posted on May 1, 2012May 1, 2012 by bekswhoknits

I love going through photos after a holiday. I can reminisce and think about the good times. But also so close to the event I can remember all the things we said we’d do better next time.

Next camping trip we are not taking as much food.
This will be great as its one less thing for me to plan, but it’s also means spending money on local produce and wasting less food.

I don’t know why we hadn’t thought like this sooner.

And we have another place on the ‘to stay’ list. We did a day trip to Nannup and it was lovely. Full of little churches, interesting craft stores, and a good pub.
In fact the beef and gravy roll was a highlight. It came the day after I had burnt my mouth quite severely on a very hot honey carrot (to the point where it peeled most of the skin off and is now blistering 6 days later), but it just hit the spot I could eat it without too much pain.
Nannup was very pretty and I’d like to spend a little more time there in future.