Wednesday morning tea platter offering yesterday. Developed a new recipe for the purpose (nothing I like to do better). It's an Apricot and Blueberry Kuchen. It has a coconut/lime, buttery shortcrust base. This was topped with preserved apricot halves and blueberries - set in a baked creamy egg custard (infused with fresh lime). I've had … Continue reading Apricot and Blueberry Kuchen

Early yesterday afternoon friends rang to say they were dropping in for a visit. "Only for a cup of tea though." they said. "Nothing to eat. We're on a pre-Christmas diet, only eating protein and fats, certainly no carbs." Come here and not have a little to eat? Unthinkable, couldn't bear the thought. So here … Continue reading No-Pastry Egg and Bacon tarts

Just one litre of lovely rich north-west coast milk left - the last of what we brought back from Stanley. It was by now of course very close to its use-by date so just made it into a small batch of ricotta. I think I might take it a step further to make ricotta salata. … Continue reading Beautiful creamery milk = ricotta

We've spent a few days in beautiful Stanley during the past week. The culmination was the Circular Head Show (where I did some judging of Preserves). I was also invited to assist Josh Perry from Perry's Quality Meats in the stage area. Extremely talented young man - all day he good-humouredly baked and cooked like … Continue reading Beautiful township of Stanley and Circular Head Show

Happiness is .... on our way home today finding Cracknell Tomatoes at Granton is open again. I was able to buy a 10kg box of sauce tomatoes (there was barely a blemish on any of them). Never mind the sauce - tomorrow I will begin to semi-dry them in the oven beneath the wood heater. … Continue reading Tomatoes ahoy!!!

Just another day on the farm here. Old Tom's mood is improving considerably thank goodness. The cat mint has grown astronomically over the past few days. You can see the look of bliss as Tom cuddles into it. He actually wraps his paws around the stems and breathes in the minty aroma. I guess if … Continue reading Farm Menagerie in part

Here is the much-requested recipe for my Orange Butter Bars. Orange Butter Bars  3 eggs 1½ cups sugar Grated rind 3 oranges 3 cups self raising flour 1 tablespoon custard powder 1 cup milk ½ cup orange juice 125g butter, melted Orange icing 3 cups icing sugar Grated rind 1 large orange 2 teaspoons melted … Continue reading Orange Butter Bars Recipe

Two sets of non-identical twins. Sauerkraut pizzas - one vegetarian, the other with a touch of salami, topped with sour cream, paprika and fresh parsley (the latter taught to me by two lovely northern Italian girls). Anzacs - with time to make only one batch and with the usual dispute over preference for chewy or … Continue reading Food twins

On December 10th I will be doing some cooking at Ronald McDonald House in Hobart. In recent times, through the experience of a beautiful young family, I’ve become aware of just how incredibly invaluable the house is to so many. The aim of the cooking that day is to prepare meals that can be frozen … Continue reading Any donations please?

Saturday was quite a productive day. Much of the afternoon was spent bottling rhubarb. We call it 3 garden rhubarb as it literally did come from three separate "homes", only one of them ours. Then there were Morello cherries, frozen, a gift from a friend. They make sensational cordial syrup, not so inclined to gel … Continue reading Bottling rhubarb and making cherry preserves