11 posts tagged “cooking”
05:16 @goldie84 mac but I do have a funny accent
09:31 Grass is growing on our naturestrip, yay!
airme.us/z401f
09:34 @goldie84 uppon thinking about it, I pretty much always call it maccas...
12:37 Baking this morning airme.us/z402e
18:22 airme.us/z4040
23:08 @goldie84 ouch!
Since we are renovating our kitchen (be we don't know much about renovations so its taking a while) we are eating food that is microwaveable or BBQ'd. I had found this 'risotto' that was microwaveable the other day - you add boiling water and absorbio rice and this funny saucy sludgey stuff and you zap it for ten minutes and you do not in any way shape or form end up with mushroom risotto. So we thought to add some butter, and we put so much in it smelt like popcorn. Not that it really made it taste any better.. but stil filled us up...
We were cooking it while watching Aussie Top Gear. For those who don't know what Top Gear is, its this totally awesome motoring show. This is a rip off from the UK show, which is golden. They have some great challenges, like creating limos or boats from normal cars. One of my favourite episodes was when they went to the US and bought cars for less than it would cost them to hire cars. They drove from Miami to New Orleans (i think) and did some great things on the way..
Anyway sorry about the shittiness of this post. South Park is distracting. In this episode they have lost the internet, and is making fun of the impact the internet has had on our lives.
BLAH!
19:30 can't believe how much of a rockstar gordon ramsay is.. women were people yelling and screaming, and the crowd was huge... its crazy!!!
Show us your favorite celebrity chef.
Submitted by Connie.
21:21 Roast Kangaroo for dinner - how Aussie!
I've decided that I want to make my balcony into an edible garden in which we would actually want to spend time. Right now I used it only as a place to hang out washing, and occasionally BBQ. The only plant we have is a lime tree, which frequently gets covered in scale bugs, brought by the ants...
The balcony gets full sun between sunrise and about 10/11, depending on the season. Then it is plunged into shadow for the rest of the day...
We have had plants on our balcony before, but they have all died. However this time its going to be different. This time I'm going to try.
So here is my plan:
Find plants which will survive the conditions on my balcony, and create a nice place where D and I would like to have dinner, instead of in front of the tv every night. Since he is about to get a car, and we therefore will not be able to buy a house for the next couple of years (unless the interest rates/house prices go down), I want to try and make this work, and i'm itching to garden, any way I can.
I was thinking of finding a way to create a little bit of privacy. Even though we are on the top floor, and no one directly looks over on us, I still think it would be nice to be a little bit more hidden, which could possibly mean plants could survive a little better.
I also want to grow plants that we can then use in cooking. So ideas right now include:
- Bay Tree (Thanks RachJ on my question post)
- Chilis (Thanks Amy Jeynes on my I'm iching to start a veggie garden post)
- Herbs (Rosemary, Sage, Oregano, Thyme. Maybe even Basil, Parsley, Coriander and Mint)
- Veges (Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Spring Onions, Peas, Beans)
- Flowers (Marigold, Nasturtiums, Lavender)
I was thinking of having some sort of lattice/support that offers a little bit of privacy and allows the plants to go up it...
Also I found a cool company that sells terracotta paint, so the pots aren't all that boring terracotta colour, which might be cool.
I also need to get a new outdoor table and chairs, because the ones we have are old and you can see it. I wouldn't mind getting some old wooden furniture and sanding it back and painting it too, if I have the energy...
Does anyone have any other good ideas on what would work well on a balcony?
Ok, its a crap question i know, but anyway...
Is it old school/seventies/passé to use dried bay leaves in cooking?
my mum reckons its seventies, i think its normal... so, help me out... do you use bay leaves?
Things I want to make...
- Mali Kofta - Indian vego dish with dumplings which we always used to order at my old work cos its so good
- Spanakopita - Greek spinach and feta pie with filo pastry
- A dish my Mum used to make - Vegetable Goulash with herbed dumplings
- Bread.I bought a loaf tin, and my hot cross buns succeeded so its the next conquest
Update 12/4 - while thinking of dinner
5. Okonomiyaki - Japanese "pancake" made from cabbage and meat - very yummy
Update 16/4 - while watching food safari (Chinese)
6. Char Siu Pork
7. Salt and pepper squid
I got the recipe from here, however I used apricot jam instead of the sugar glaze...
Ingredients
- 4 cups plain flour
- 2 x 7g sachets dried yeast
- 1/4 cup caster sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons mixed spice
- pinch of salt
- 1 1/2 cups currants
- 40g butter
- 300ml milk
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
Flour paste
- 1/2 cup plain flour
- 4 to 5 tablespoons water
Glaze
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 tablespoons caster sugar
Method
- Combine flour, yeast, sugar, mixed spice, salt and currants in a large bowl. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add milk. Heat for 1 minute, or until lukewarm. Add warm milk mixture and eggs to currant mixture. Use a flat-bladed knife to mix until dough almost comes together. Use clean hands to finish mixing to form a soft dough.
- Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead for 10 minutes, or until dough is smooth. Place into a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm, draught-free place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until dough doubles in size.
- Line a large baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Punch dough down to its original size. Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Divide into 12 even portions. Shape each portion into a ball. Place balls onto lined tray, about 1cm apart. Cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm, draught-free place for 30 minutes, or until buns double in size. Preheat oven to 190°C.
- Make flour paste: Mix flour and water together in a small bowl until smooth, adding a little more water if paste is too thick. Spoon into a small snap-lock bag. Snip off 1 corner of bag. Pipe flour paste over tops of buns to form crosses. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until buns are cooked through.
- Make glaze: Place water and sugar into a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Brush warm glaze over warm hot cross buns. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes & tips
- These buns are best eaten on the day they are made. Otherwise, freeze for up to 7 days. To defrost in microwave, place 1 hot cross bun onto a sheet of paper towel. Heat, uncovered, for 45 to 50 seconds on MEDIUM-LOW (DEFROST) (30%) power. Stand for 1 minute.
