All posts filed under: In the kitchen

Soup Kitchen -Tomato & Lentil

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Lentils are the most inexpensive source of protein, but my oh! my, they are delicious in this tomato soup. I love a rich, tasty soup, and with the colder weather it sure warms up the insides, low in calories, and packed with flavour. I’ve been following the New Slimmer Mediterranean Diet by Harry Papas, I can only imagine how wonderful it would be to call into Maria’s and Eleni’s Taverna ( Harry’s Mum and Aunties Restaurant) in Fiscardo on Cefalonia Island in Greece, where some of these recipes are on their menu, sit by the bluest of seas surrounded by mountains, and enjoy the company of Greece. “Studies continue to show that following a Mediterranean – style diet, which incorporates the traditional foods of the Mediterranean regions of Greece and parts of France and Italy, is beneficial to our health on a number of levels. From lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke,to warding off cognitive impairment as well as Type2 diabetes, cancer, and even obesity. …it was primarily plant based grains, lean protein …

Sweet Blessings

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A beautiful  Sunday, and Happy Mothers Day. I made a special cake for my sister today to celebrate Mother’s Day with the family. A Vanilla Strawberry Buttercake. Its the first time I’ve used this giant cupcake tin, so a little trial and error, but some great results. And some wonderful ideas for future baking were discussed by us girls….  A Mothers Blessing Thank you, Holy Father, for Your special gift of mothers; for the example of Your unconditional love they share with their children. Thank You for the mother who lets her child know without doubt he or she is loved, and for the child who returns that love. Lord, today we pray You will protect and guide mothers everywhere; that You will grant them Your wisdom in loving and teaching their children. Today, may children everywhere remember the warm caresses and whispers in the night; the tears dried and Band-Aids, the peach cobbler, the laughter; and the blood curdling scream, ‘No!’ at the brink of danger. Thank You for the mothers who played with …

Beeted Chocolate Fudge Cake

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The crisp cool mornings have arrived with the changing colours of our trees, and the early evening smoke clouds from chimney tops from warm lit fires. Autumn is here, and with it beautiful Autumn vegetables. Pumpkins, Squash, Parsnips and beautiful, beautiful Beetroot. I bought this beautiful bunch of beetroot from our local Organic Grocer, such wonderful fresh produce, this bunch cost AUS $3.50, and I used it for a couple of dishes. My first idea was to make that gorgeous magenta rich Bosch soup, but I didn’t have too many green flags on that one..so I thought I might be a little sneaky and make a chocolate fudge cake..everyone loves chocolate! I had seen red velvet cupcakes before made with beetroot, lower in calories and beetroot gives the mixture a smoother, moist texture. Scouting through many wonderful new and exciting beetroot dishes, I found this one from the ‘girls’ from the BBC program ‘Cook yourself Thin’, I have adapted it due to the amount of coffee in it, not good for the smaller generation. It …

Amaryllis in Blueberry

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Amaryllis in Blueberry ***** (excellent) by Christina Meldrum “In Meldrum’s intoxicating first adult novel (after 2010’s Madapple) a family undertakes West African missionary work only to find its members profoundly transformed. Polish-American pathologist Dick Slepy lives with his bohemian wife, Christina “Seena,” in Danish Landing, Mich. They have four daughters, each following the other by two years. There’s pretty Mary Grace, now 18. Mary Catherine is “always-obedient” and pious, whereas Mary Tessa is a “trouble-maker-in-training,” and the precocious Amaryllis, their youngest at 11, is an “emotional synesthete,” who tastes, smells, and otherwise “consumes” the pain, rage, love, or joy of others, and is suspiciously dark-featured. Fearing that his wife is having an affair, Dick seeks the council of his local priest, Father Amadi, who suggests the Slepys take a mission to West Africa to help his nephew, Mawuli, run an aid organization. They go, but the mission is anything but the salve Dick had hoped for, and one event after another…shove the family into deep crisis. With every chapter, Meldrum jumps viewpoints and shifts time …

Easter Revisited #1

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What better way to spend the afternoon with the warm sunlight reflecting off the windows, and surrounded by pastels, feathers, eggs, nests and mouth watering chocolate sweets. I found this old English china, not your usual fine, elegant designs and motifs. Plain, no designs, no gold trims, no embossing, just plain, hardly any markings.J EG. Meakin Glamour Celeste, Glamour Jade. But I couldn’t resist taking a few photos and making the cups and sauces, plates and bowls come alive with radiant pastel colours and charm. Perfect for an afternoon tea. What better way then to celebrate Easter with all these soft pastel colours. Egg Blue, Sunshine Yellow, Fairy Floss pink and Glamour jade. But to me they are all treasures, just because of their pastel colours. The plates and cups blend into a beautiful calm and playful group of colour – p a s t e l s. Another special treat for Easter, chocolate coated bunnies. This recipe is so much fun, just for the little ones. Another easy recipe for Mum to make and …

Chocolate Rocky Road Eggs

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I know, aren’t they cute! And great fun to make for the children as a special Easter chickadee treat! Chocolate eggs filled with delicious home made rocky road.Chocolate,marshmallows,nuts and glazed cherries. Recipe: Chocolate Rocky Road Eggs 1 carton (14 eggs) chocolate hollow eggs 1 packet of glazed cherries (coarsely chopped) 1/2 packed of mini marshmallows 1/2 packet pistachios (coarsely chopped) 100g milk chocolate (melted) 2 cherry ripe bars 1/2 cup of shredded coconut 1 packet sugar coated Easter eggs Yellow and Black tubes of coloured icing Preparation: Firstly gently cut the chocolate Easter eggs in half. If eggs break put aside for the melting process. Melt 50g of milk chocolate, working quickly, place a dollop of chocolate on baking paper on a tray, place the half chocolate cup into the chocolate making a base for the chocolate cup. Refrigerate chocolate cups until mixture is ready. Melt the remaining chocolate in a bowl over boiling water on a medium heat, add the cherry ripe bars, and when melted stir in the rest of the ingredients: mini …

The Violets Of March

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The Violets of March **** (Good Read) by Sarah Jio I’m linking to Jain at Food for Thought and Mary at Home is Where the Boat is, please go and check out their book review, and if you’re interested in reading and baking this is a diverse way to create..just email these lovely ladies for the years book list to join in. Now to this fabulous book… This book is a mix of romance, love, secrets and family history. A book that has you hooked from the beginning, and one that I read over a weekend. Soaking up the romance of young love, and intrigued by making my own endings, and hoping for the happy one.This book was captivating. This book is about Emily who is trying to find herself, and by visiting her  great Aunt, she falls under the magical spray on Bainbridge Island, to not only find new love but solve the secret mystery within her family. “Mix a love story, history and a mystery and what takes root? The Violets of March, …

Layered Macadamia White Chocolate Slice

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This little slice looks divine, tastes not too sweet, but somehow takes a little longer in the time department, so set the morning free to spoon and swirl in the kitchen. Just to get it right! Because it’s a little winner… It’s full of all those ‘yummy’ ingredients,coconut, treacle, butter, chocolate and the decadence of nuts, the macadamia Follow me for the recipe…

Marshmallow Velvet Cake

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Hello Lovelies, I’ve really missed these times of creating in the kitchen, and believe it, this is my first recipe of the year. A wonderful ‘fluffy’ start to the countdown to our most chocolaty time of the year – Easter. My mind is whirling with recipes and creative threads for Easter, and time allowing I hope to show you a few in the upcoming days and weeks…It’s not long so that means for us here in the southern hemisphere our first holiday break. And I’m so looking forward to it! Marshmallow red velvet cake, smothered in mascarpone frosting, half with coconut and the other with mini white marshmallows. Served with Arabic coffee. This truly is a luscious moist velvet cake recipe…