All posts tagged: recipes

Morning Sunshine

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Breakfast is one of those meals where we all do something different! Grab a coffee, some cereal, maybe a piece of fruit on the run. Even skip it!  It was the custom in Italy to call into a corner bar, stand and grab a quick espresso and maybe a pastry and head off to work. Here in Australia it’s anything from coffee, toast and vegemite to a cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon and baked beans. I was an oatmeal and yoghurt girl, fresh fruit or toast and vegemite…things are a changing. Bread hasn’t been in my daily diet for approximately three weeks…so of course because I love the texture of bread, I had to research a little and find a non grain substitute. Now, the look of this bread might seem a little bland, but it has a wonderful ‘nutty’ texture, but hey not very exciting for the morning…how about a little boost of sunshine! Slices of ‘no grain’ bread made into delicious french toast. Soaked in two eggs for 2/3 minutes then fry in …

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, …

Angel Powder Puffs

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Hello All, This is an incredibly easy recipe,which can be whipped up in minutes, baked in 3 minutes, and then filled in no time, for a very impressive dessert. These are called Angel Powder Puffs. They’re so light and fluffy and literally melt in your mouth, even in one bite size. Not hard to make, I whipped them up this afternoon for a afternoon school break up treat. This recipe has been adapted from my local towns ‘Family Favourites’ Kindergarten Apex Cookbook. It was compiled by a couple of trained Home Science Teachers who compiled family proven recipes from the local ladies of the township, hoping to successfully raise funds from the selling of this cookbook to improve facilities at the existing Kindergarten. This cookbook has been on my families cookbook shelf for a while and consists of easy, no fuss and fail proof recipes…and the soiled sheets of this cookbook proves that many a recipe has been tried over and over again. However, a quick phone call to my Mum, to check on the …

Springtime’s Laughter

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  Dear Friends, With the changing seasons, some of us are ready to snuggle in front of fires and candles, Autumn leaves, warm hearty soups and woolen jumpers. Others are ready to bounce into the joyous season of Spring, blossoms and new sunny days after a very long Winter.I’m joining in the Celebration of Spring- A Return to Loveliness. The Victoria magazine has been part of my life since 1997, and looking back on many volumes the Spring April issue read like a pleasant opened rose with it’s petals softly falling and every petal a new inspiration and influence to how I could recall the new Spring days.Back issues and more information can be found here. If we listen carefully, we can hear the music of Springtime’s laughter. The tittering of tiny blossom buds, fresh green leaves that seem to giggle in the breeze, the chatter of tiny flowers, the twittering of newborn birds, rose buds that smile in the suns rays. A rebirth of growth within our garden, and enchanting Spring, a newborn season. …

St. Valentines Day

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Happy St. Valentines Day to you all. Cherished memories of those we love and care for. A special day to show how we’re feeling towards the person we love and adore. Any token big or small is welcomed today. Special charms, roses, flowers, cards, candlelit dinners, kisses, hugs even a smile. What did you do today for that special someone? It’s the time of the year, to celebrate with red. Today I showed a little love by sharing these cute cupcakes. The simplest of ingredients with fine detailing of hearts. And to my special someone… I wrote your name in the sand,                                 but the waves washed it away. I wrote your name in the sky,                                 but the wind blew it away. I wrote it in my heart                                  and that’s where it will stay….   All my love, … have a wonderful day friends, Yvette…x

Pear and Prune Tarte Tatin

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This month’s fruit in full season are pears. Delicious, good for you and a whole lot of nutrition in a sweet juicy package.A good source of vitamin C, fiber and only 100 calories (raw) per serving. Sodium free, fat free, and cholesterol free. This particular variety I used for this recipe was the Concorde pear,they’re a golden yellow, green colour and great for any type of cooking and baking. They’re firm in texture with a delicate vanilla taste. When cut they don’t turn brown so are great added to  fresh salads and when cooked at high temperatures don’t disintegrate into a sugary mass.   I really should have made this recipe long before now, I can’t remember an easier dessert with a fantastic visual impact, and I assure you one to try. A delicious mouthful of syrupy sweet pear and prunes on a delicate crust of puff pastry, light and flaky… Read on for the recipe…

Pumpkin and Walnut Damper

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Each and every season has its colour palate and Autumn is no exception. Vivacious oranges and reds, yellows and burnt ambers… With all these wonderful warming hues, I couldn’t resist buying some fresh butternut pumpkin and making this recipe of pumpkin and walnut damper. Read on for the recipe…

#3 Butterscotch Pudding

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Handwritten Recipes This recipe was handwritten and sent to me from one of my dear special friends.We’ve known each other from college boarding school days and have kept in touch since then. I have to admit I was a fish out of water with this recipe as I’d never before made a self saucing  pudding…what’s the right dish to use? what should the sauce look like before pouring on top of the pudding mixture?… …but trusting my friend, knowing she had made the effort to write down this recipe and send it over the seas… I continue on her directions… …continuing every five minutes checking the oven, I was thrilled at the result.This is absolutely mouthwatering and I’ll admit it I went back for seconds.Read on for the recipe…

In pursuit of the slug…

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My friends you can scream run,run, run but snails are just slow! For some there is the night ritual with torch in hand to find and get rid of  these “little” creatures munching on lettuce, cabbages and other veggies ,and finding them on the delicate foliage of freshly planted flowers. However, from the south to north of Italy there are over 400 fairs and festivals where the main attraction is indulging in the “delicate” eating of snails. We too take part in this ceremony, and not once but twice this year we’ve enjoyed with friends a dinner of snails and Prosecco. These “boys” have been friends forever…and each dinner was a race to see how many they could find and later eat…this round fifty snails. However the traditional cook was my sister in law. Who has made her mark as the all round top chef in cooking these slippery little suckers. Her recipe is the traditional “ Lumache alle bourgiognonne” Snails cooked in butter,breadcrumbs and a variety of fresh herbs, parsley,sage,thyme. To be able to …

Whistle Stop Cafè –no fried green tomatoes!

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I’m sure everyone thinks of the Whistle Stop Cafè and Fanny Flagg in her country overalls making famous -  fried green tomatoes. But I’m not frying green tomatoes today instead conserving them under oil. One of my Nonna’s recipes. An image comes to mind of when I was little…helping my Nonna pick green tomatoes ready for conserving under oil…I remember how I use to sit at the farms laminated kitchen table and watch my Nonna prepare jars and jars of green tomatoes.I instantly think of this image every year when the gardens full of tomato bushes with their plentiful supply of juicy plump tomatoes. So sneaking out to grab a few green tomatoes, I’m on the run to get them pickled and undercover before anyone notices…   Recipe: Preserved Green Tomatoes 1 kg of green firm tomatoes 1 cup white vinegar 1 cup of water fine table salt estimated guess 300ml of olive oil depending on jar size. 1 garlic clove oregano and fennel seeds   Slice the green tomatoes into thin slices,layering and salting …