Salted caramel icecream - oh yeah!

I'm excited. I remembered that I own an icecream machine!

Next stop: Salted caramel icecream... It might be true love.

Recipe courtesy of the Kitchen Paper http://www.thekitchenpaper.com/salted-caramel-ice-cream/ for those playing at home. 

I used raw sugar, Maldon salt, thickened cream, vanilla extract.

Caramel

(sugar + heat + cream)

Eggs x 3

Cream, whole fat milk, sugar - heat

Strain milk into caramel 

Mix it, baby!

Chill the custard for a few hours, stirring regularly 

Then bung it in the icecream machine (don't buy one, borrow mine)

And now we churn!

The finished product- delicious

Lesson learnt: I over cooked the sugar at the start so ended up with a slightly burnt sugar flavour. Not terrible (I kind of liked the bitterness against the creamy sweetness). Next time I'll use white sugar so I can see more easily when it is starting to brown. 

 

You're welcome. 

X

Goat curry! Y U M

New apron (makes all the difference)

Heat 4 tablespoons sunflower oil

Add cinnamon stick? 5 bruised cardamom pods, 5 cloves and 2 bay leaves. Cook 30 secs.

Add goat. We used 4 pieces of goat scrag/neck but this recipe would work with lamb. The original recipe used lamb chopped up into even sized pieces but we just bung these in whole and hoped for the best. 

Cook for about five mins until starting to brown and add one brown onion, finely chopped along with about 2 tablespoons of garlic and ginger purée (I whazzed up about 5 garlic cloves and 2 thumb sized pieces of ginger in the food processor).

Cook for a few mins but don't let the garlic burn.

Add a good tablespoon of tomato paste, along with a teaspoon each of turmeric, coriander seeds (ground) and ground cumin. Stir and cook a couple of mins.

Mix up 125g natural yoghurt with a tablespoon of corn flour and a good teaspoon of chilli powder.

Add to the curry and stir. Add about half a litre of water - enough to cover the meat. Lid on, cook til tender. That took about 4 hours here. Remove lid and reduce to desired consistency. Pull meat from bones. 

Serve with quinoa, rice, naan, choose your own adventure!

Top with mint, coriander, yoghurt... 

Watch out for pesky cardamom pods and small bones.

Sesame greens

By request, for Miss Amanda...

4-5 Choy Sum (Chinese broccoli). I buy these in my local woollies in a packet - sometimes there are 2 large ones, other times 5 small. Use the whole pack! Pull it apart and wash well.

3 cloves garlic, finely sliced

Asparagus, snow peas, broccoli...Whatever crisp greens you have on hand

Sunflower oil

Soy sauce

Sesame seeds

Cracked pepper

1. Chop all the veg:

Today I used Chinese brocc, broad beans and asparagus. 

And here it is chopped :)

2. Heat oil in a hot wok

3. Add all of the vegetables.

4. Stir fry - keep the heat high and move the veg around - for about 2-3 mins. The leaves will wilt and give off water. You want the rest of the veg to still have a bit if crunch when you're done cooking.

5. Towards the end of the cooking time, add 1-2 teaspoons sesame seed and 1-2 tablespoons soy sauce. Mix it all around! Add (optional) pepper.

6. Serve and enjoy. I prefer to serve this in individual bowls, so when you eat it, you can slurp up all the yummy sauce and it doesn't make a mess of your plate!

Enjoy x

My weekend...

Chris recently acquired this beauty from my uncle Brent. It had been under his house for 7 years, purchased in 1980 for $110. It is a 1979 Apollo. And its a beautiful thing! The tyres stayed inflated for a couple of laps of the yard, and a squirt down the road, but are very brittle. 

Chris started tinkering with it over the weekend and got me inspired. 

Meet this old gem- the blue Repco! I have had it in the shed for about 6 months, bought at the local tip shop for $5. A nice little Sunday project!

More photos later. 

And a little run with KM this arvo... Pre-empting a big and delicious dinner at Fryers Street Food Store tonight!

Are we ready for another week...!?

Keiramoo

Two of my favourites...

....

A little post about my bestest run buddy, schnuggly fur baby, favourite girl Keira. She is so easy to love, and is most definitely in charge in our house. 

One of our favourite activities is running 'Keira's Loop' - a 7km track in the forest near our home. She runs 5 meters to every 1 of mine - for the first 6km... Then trots beside me, exhausted, for the last km home. We always run the same track, and one would expect that over time, she might have worked out how to pace for the distance?! Nope! Boom and bust is the only way!!

Her birthday is 14 August 2006, so she is  turning seven this year. This scares me a lot... I can hardly remember life without her in our family, and those seven years have flown. I hope the next seven last forever!  I truly love this mushy mud puddle obsessed pudding!!

(Snaps from Saturday's burn around Keira's Loop... Followed by the usual swim in the Goulburn to freshen up. We are both creatures of habit!)

Did I mention she likes puddles? Just a little bit ;)

BY REQUEST: Chicken and sweet corn soup

One of my favourite winter warmers. No idea what the correct recipe is, but this is what I remember from being shown by my aunt and uncle during my first year of uni. It works!

Olive oil, 1-2 tablespoons
5-6 Chicken thighs
Ginger (about 2 thumb sized pieces) very finely chopped, or grated
1 large white or brown onion - finely chopped
White wine for sloshing (and drinking while you cook if it blows your hair back)
Water
2 cans creamed corn
Soy sauce
2 eggs

Heat a olive oil in a heavy bottomed saucepan, medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs whole, brown on each side (don't cook through). Remove from the pan.

Add onion to the pan, stir and cook for about 5 minutes. Add ginger, stir and cook for a minute. Deglaze the pan with a glug of white wine, stir well. Return chicken to the pan. Add water to cover chicken. Simmer covered for 15 minutes or long enough to allow chicken to cook through.

Remove chicken from the pan and set aside to cool slightly. Add creamed corn to the pan, stir and gently simmer over low heat with lid off.

When chicken is cool enough to handle, shred/pull it apart with your hands and return to the pot.

Add pepper to taste. Add a few teaspoons of soy sauce - adjust to taste (more soy = saltier), or you may like to just add the soy when you serve it, so the eater can decide how much they want!

Whisk eggs, slowly pour into soup, stirring as you go, so the egg distributes through the soup and cooks in ribbons/strings. This will only take 30 seconds or so.

Enjoy.

BY REQUEST: Easy pumpkin soup for Jane

Requested by the lovely Jane:

Pumpkin Soup
Olive oil
Brown onion
1 garlic clove, crushed
1.5 teaspoons cumin (ground)
1.2kg butternut pumpkin
1 litre chicken or veg stock

Heat olive oil in large saucepan (heavy based if you have one). Gently cook onion for 5-6 minutes, or until translucent and golden. Add cumin and garlic, stir and cook for a minute.

Add pumpkin (peeled and coarsely chopped) to the pan. Stir, then add the stock. Simmer until pumpkin is soft, then set aside to cool.

Blitz in the blender or with a stick blender until smooth.

Serve with crunchy bread. You might like a dollop of natural yoghurt or cream on top too!

Sunday 16th June

So, the letter writing has been up and down, but I think I'm averaging about one per day. Unfortunately I have 5 postcards and a letter in my handbag that I've been carrying around for a week waiting to go near a post box. Must get that done tomorrow!

I'm thoroughly enjoying my new bike. Had another whoopsie-daisy this arvo but recovered ok. Puddles are apparently my nemesis!

Here are some snaps from this arvo's ride in Murchison VIC

Getting ready at the Hillburners

Resting at the top of a back breaking climb

Watching out for each other 

Story telling

Rehydrating...

And here is the strava link 

https://www.strava.com/activities/60625462

Success! My first letter!

I was so excited to receive a letter from my cousin Niamh today! Hooray. And on totally gorgeous stationery... With the orangutan stamp like the one from G'ma!

The system works! Share the love. Reply is on its way Niamh!

Work lunches-inspiration wanted!

Throughout the summer, I found it easy to make tasty and interesting lunches each day. Now the days are colder, salad struggles to make the grade- the quality of salad ingredients is lacking (I'm looking at you expensive but substandard avocado!), and by midday, I'm looking for something warm to fill my belly. This is today's effort- boiled eggs, salad with offending avocado, a banana, and some natural yoghurt topped with toasted almonds, cinnamon and honey.  Will be delicious... but cold!

What is your favourite winter warmer lunch? Please share! (Ideas or your lunch!)

Muddy Puddle Muddle

2nd of June, and two days into my month of letters. Penned one yesterday, and another three this evening. Off to a flying start. Hope I get some fast replies, or I may run out of friends and Grandmas!

Had a little incident with a big puddle today, while taking my new bike out for its first decent ride. Confidence is no substitute for careful line selection...

There is an Erica shaped smear in the mud coming out of the puddle. Silly girl.

My bike, finally with some proper mud on it. Officially worn in - muddy and survived a crash. Two monkeys off the back.

Ahh!! Time for a latte!

Scarf Community Winter Dinners - A social enterprise you can easily support (and it's delicious!)

Last year I wrote about Scarf Community Dinners, an awesome social enterprise supporting young people. The 2013 winter series kicks off later in June, at Top Paddock, 658 Church St, Richmond.

I encourage you to support the Scarf crew - you'll have a great night out, the opportunity to support a great venture and get behind some young people courageously blazing a trail towards a positive future. What's not to love? Book ahead... and let me know what you think!


x

Restoring order

New season: Soaking.
Weekend at home: Precious.
Peaceful night's sleep: Restoring.
Breakfast shared: Enriching.
Short drive: Karaoke.
Pilates class: Perspiration.
Creamy latte: Effective.
Supermarket basket full of vegetables: Promising.
Phone call to a friend: Planning.
Fridge clean-out: Cathartic.
Housework blitz: Equilibrium.
Letter to friend: Commitment.
Phone call from fellow marathon runner: Relate.
Visit from a friend: Chocolate.
Washing hanging from every ledge: Necessary.
Simple dinner: Satisfying.
Snoring dog: Priceless.
Tomorrow's ride: Anticipation.
Couch time: Recline.
Oklahoma: Sympathy.
Husband: Cherished.
Harry Potter: Magic.
Pillow: Imminent.

June 2013 - A month of snail mail... and connecting with what's important

My experience this week has caused me to do some reflecting, and think about what is truly important to me; in work and in life.  How often do we do that? Reconnect with what is at our core... What drives me? How do I represent myself to the world? What am I truly committed to? Why do I care so much about something, and not about the next? What is my fear holding me back from? What is possible? What is impossible... and is it, really?

Giving myself permission to examine these things was incredibly powerful for me this week. I encourage you to do the same. 

And if you're really brave... share some of it with your loved ones, friends, colleagues. You might discover a new connection, commonality, shared commitment. Try it on.

As part of my adventures this week, I reflected on the aspects of my life that I value most. For me, the most profound item on that list, is my relationships with my husband, my friends, my family, myself.

I am left asking myself - Am I true to my values in my expression of actions and words? Am I prioritising and governing my energy and resources in a way that nourishes the parts of my life that I care deeply about, and is aligned to what is truly important?

...

Last night, I returned home after 3 nights away for work, and (along with my hubby and puppy), there were two treasures waiting for me - a letter from my beloved Grandma S, and a second letter, from a much loved friend.

Receiving a handwritten letter, in a handwritten envelope is a rare gift these days.

My Grandma read my last correspondence (a postcard from Skenes Creek post marathon), then took the time to respond. To relate. She looked up my address in her book and carefully copied it to the envelope. She selected an appropriate stamp from the packet (the one with the Sumatran orangutan at Perth Zoo), and purposefully affixed it. Later, she remembered to post it, probably going out of her way.  Along with her warmly informative and interesting letter, I received the implied message - She loves me. I can tell, because she took all of that action to follow through on her commitment to our relationship. She showed me I am special to her. Just like she is to me.

The second letter, from my friend Jacqui was a response to a letter I wrote the day we returned home from Skenes Ck. My letter was full of self-indulgent crowing about my achievements. Jacqui's response was much more modest, full of all the things that are important in her life at this time.  Reading her news, rather than hearing it, enabled me to be a more attentive listener - just absorbing all that she wanted to tell me, she wasn't rushed, I wasn't finishing her sentences, or applying my own interpretations and filters to what she was saying. And I get to read it again whenever I want.

I feel that the simple, intentional and mindful act of writing a letter is seriously underrated. It sends a message of care and consideration. It says, I want to share my thoughts, experiences and feelings with you... but I don't want to interrupt you. I want you to hear these things in your time. And respond in your time.

We are staying connected. These letters are adding interest to my days and value to our relationships.  I'm responsible for keeping the conversation going with Grandma and with Jacqui. I can see they are committed to the same.

So... for every day for the month of June, I commit to writing at least one letter to someone that is important to me - the kind that requires a stamp, or at least an envelope. And I started a day early, with three cards sent this morning. Go team!

Cathedral Range Escape

This afternoon we returned home from a relaxing, picturesque and delicious weekend in the Cathedral Ranges. A weekend away with my wonderful in-laws - celebrating some belated birthdays, and clocking up a few hours of R&R... something we all needed.
 
We stayed in 'the hideaway' at Elite Stays, off Cathedral Lane near Taggerty. http://www.elitestays.com.au/index.htm . The website really doesn't do this place justice. After looking at a few bed & breakfasts nearby, we thought Elite looked like good value and decided to give it a go.
 
Chris and I arrived after dark on Friday night. Jen and Garry were already settled in, the fire was roaring and the cottage enveloped us in its comfort. The owners have done a beautiful job of furnishing the two bedroom, two bathroom cottage. The huge master bedroom had separate bath (the deep, water up to your neck kind) and a king sized bed. The second bedroom, albeit much smaller has breathtaking views of the cathedral ranges, which you can admire from the crisp, white linen-dressed, queen sized bed.

A bay window in the second bedroom, and another in the living area provide
gorgeous views, and a quiet place to sit and contemplate one's navel.


 The cottage has wooden floors throughout, a very well equipped kitchen, including coffee machine... and pretty much every window frames amazing views of the ranges and surrounds.

This is the view I enjoyed while cooking breakfast on Saturday morning

 

 (taken from the living room window on Saturday morning)

 

Our source of warmth. In the background, the outdoor dining area (for warmer days).

The property has a family of sheep, being overlooked by a gorgeous alpaca (Jenny getting aquainted with the menagerie in the photos below).

 

The original excuse for the trip was a fly fishing guided tour for the boys - they spent the entire day on Saturday walking upstream on Goulburn river tributaries. No fish biting unfortunately, but a day improving their skills, bonding and whatever else men do while fishing!

 

Meanwhile, back in the cottage, Jenny and I enjoyed a day of reading by the fire, and a walk in the foothills. We also had a quick drive in to Alexandra (apparently the whole town shuts down at 1pm - so get in early!) On the way back from Alex we went looking for Clearstream Olives (signposted on the road to Thornton) ... we found the address, but there was no sign of a shop. Bit of a shame. We ate cake instead. There may have been a little nana-nap in there somewhere too.

For dinner on Saturday night, we ventured about 15km from base, to Rennie's restaurant in Acheron. Run by the incredibly talented artist and cook, Marian Rennie. We have tried Rennie's once before - about a year ago, and remember it was outstanding - great food and wine. So, confident we'd get a yummy meal, I booked us a table for Saturday night.

 

When we arrived, we were seated, then Marian came to our table and explained how things work - "We have no menu, I just feed you... sound ok?". Heck yes. Spontaneous adventurism! And boy did she feed us! As each dish was delivered to the table, it came with Marian gracefully and proudly introducing the dish, and explaining how it was prepared - answering questions and adding value to our culinary experience. She also checked in with us during each course, to seek feedback and make sure we were enjoying every mouthful.  (We were).

 

We started with drinks and a tasting plate, adorned in delicious house-made/cured/marinated morsels including salmon gravlax, marinated fetta, feijoa with roasted tiny tomatoes and relish, meat pastries, marinated mushrooms (enoki and something else - these were really special), bread just out of the oven, awesome and interesting dips... and so on!

 

Second course was rare beef salad... Marian explained she had marinated it for 2-3 days in herbs and spices, then quickly seared the outside. The salad contained roquette, figs, beef, a delicious raita, pomegranate jewels, coriander, kaffir lime leaf. Seriously the best thing I have eaten in a long time. Fresh, light, satisfying. I want the recipe.

 

A surprising treat came before third course - a browse in the gallery behind the main building, exhibiting a local artist's (Robert Young) work. Clever, detailed pieces all telling a story. Open until early June.

 

 

We sipped our wine and enjoyed the display, picking out our favourites and chuckling at Mr Young's cleverness!

 

Back in the warmth of the restaurant, we got stuck into third course - baby chicken roasted with rosemary, fennel and cumquats. Yum. We had two between the four of us - and picked the bones clean. More pomegranate too I think.

By this stage, we were stuffed full, but couldn't bear to turn down dessert after the joys of the previous courses (FOMO - fear of missing out!)... and we weren't disappointed.

Mini lemon tarts, turkish delight, home made chocolates, baked cheesecake with persian fairy floss topped with stewed cumquat and pistachio,  pavlova, and finally pears poached in saffron, cardamom and white wine. More yum. Really stuffed now. Need to undo the top button full. The bill (no menu, no ideas of cost... risky, yes) came to around eighty bucks a head, including drinks. Damn good value for 4 courses of extraordinary food. A memorable night. We'll be back. Might even take some photos next time!

Stumbled back home, carrying our bulging guts, and rolled into bed for an easy 10 hours of zzz's!

After breakfast, the boys went fishing for a few hours, Jen read about 4000 pages of her book and I went back to sleep (my excuse is that I ran 45km last Sunday!). Wrangled a much appreciated late check-out at 12.30pm, and had a quick stop at the Dairy Cafe in Alexandra for lunch, before heading our separate ways for home.

Almost ready for another busy and fun week...