payment in kind

Tags

baking, blueberry, blueberry and penut butter muffin, friends, home baked, muffin, payment in kind, thank you

For a while now I have been thinking about building a storage space for the logs for the fire and with space being such a big issue I just knew I needed help, and someone who had a few saws and other useful tools. So yesterday morning a lovely friend of mine came over to take a closer look at my tiny back yard and see if my idea would work.

It was a wet and miserable morning, rain bucketing down in big heavy drops but we both braved the weather and took a closer look, measuring tape in hand. Now my friend with all the carpentry tools will help me build a small log storage hutch and my log will be safely stacked and dry come the winter.

To show my thanks for him taking the time out of his busy day I had baked blueberry and peanut butter muffins which we enjoyed over a cup of coffee (him) and tea (me) and lots of chat: payment in kind – for a kind deed.

an issue when you home baked blueberry and peanut butter muffin – a yummy thank you

creating kale chips

Tags

baking, carb-free, cheat, cooking, eating, food, healthy eating, kale, kale chips, vitamins

Even the busiest person has to eat and since eating alone can been alone can be a little lonely I decided to invite my wonderful artist friend Dragana over for dinner last night.

A roast chicken and some salad was the obvious choice for me. After all, while the chicken happily cooks in the oven you can do other things, only a bit of basting now and then. As a salad lover (and knowing that Dragana always loves my homemade dressing) chopping up, dicing and mixing whatever salady stuff I find in my fridge into a concoction of healthyness is something I do most nights anyway.

However my guest has decided to go carb-free for a while, so any rice, pasta, potato or even carrot side serving was out. Not wanting to give up on something a little crispy I decided to make some kale chips, something I haven’t done in a while but always find yummy.

An additional bonus – kale is one of those super foods that is high in vitamin K, A & C followed by lots of manganese, fiber, calcium and a whole slue of other healthy qualities. And while of course it’s always best to steam vegetables, drizzling them with oil, salt and spices and letting them bake in the oven isn’t a bad option either.

So, if you want to try it yourself, just make sure you tear up the kale leaves into manageable sizes (cooks more evenly), get rid of any big stems (they end up tasting like sticks) and wash them. Once dry (I lie them out on a towel and dab to make sure all the water is gone), sprinkle with oil and spice (I put oil, about a tablespoon full, into my hand and massage the oil into the leaves, I do the same with the spices), put into the oven for about 10 at 150 degrees, toss once, back in for another 5-10 minutes.

The results are crispy, not burnt and really yummy!

before the oven

yummy crispiness after the oven

Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

Tags

baking, cake, change, photography, photos, Weekly Photo Challenge, Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

Today I decided to bake a cake – I had a few plums, some eggs, flour, butter and sugar so off I went. The change from ingredients to cake took less than an hour! Sadly the plums must have not been ripe as they turned bitter while backing them. A lesson lernt – sometimes you just have to eat around the bitter parts of life and enjoy the sweets ones.

baking coconut macaroons

Tags

baking, coconut, coconut macaroons, cooking, food, macaroons, sweets

I woke up this morning with the unusual urge to bake some macaroons – no reason why and I haven’t a clue where the idea came from. Over breakfast I pondered my sweet desire and decided to give in to it.

With the radio entertaining me with some old hits I whipped the egg-white into frenzy and sieved the powder-sugar in, a hint of lemon and lots of coconut later I was left with a sugary, white batter – like a cloud in a bowl.

As I spooned little fluffy pillows onto the  baking tray I decided to pop to a friend for a cup of tea and share my morning munchies. And the rest – well I will offer them to the lovely mechanic around the corner – my boot won’t unlock so maybe we can exchange some goodies!

a little darker then I like – but yummy none the less

 

Beatles cake

Tags

All You Need Is Love, baking, cake design, cake makers, cake making, cakes, Purple Feather Cake Designs, Sweet Magazine, The Beatles

A lovely friend of mine is an cake-maker and a few weeks ago he asked me to take photos of a creation he made for an Australian/New Zealand cake makers magazine called Sweet Magazine.

Of course I said yes and while I don’t have any experience in taking photos of culinary delights I gave it a go. The theme was The Beatles and we had a lot of fun, even it was quite tricky, taking photos of his floating Submarine.

If you want to see more more of my talented friends cakes here is a link to see his edible creations on his facebook page: Purple Feather Cake Designs

chatting chicks

Tags

baking, cup cakes, cupcakes, dessert, food, friends, hen party, party, recipe, recipes, romantic notions

A friend of mine is getting married next week and even though I am , thankfully, not  a bridesmaid I have somehow been roped in to helping out. One of my jobs was to help out with her hens, a quite lingerie party, so  I baked some cup-cakes.
As the numbers were fewer than she thought our venue fell through so we ended up in a church-hall without wine. As there was plenty of fruit and cheese  the night out turned into a ‘lunch-eque’ gathering, all the chicks chatting and crumbling crackers while the bride-to-be unpacked  beautiful knickers and bras. This low-key event was exactly what the bride had wanted and that was the main goal.

It was very obvious that every hen in the room had a loving attitude towards the bride-to-be but somehow the festivities did fall a little flat. It may have been the sudden change of venue, or the non-atmospheric room, maybe it was the lack of music or that most of us didn’t really know each other but I couldn’t help but feel a little sad that this supposedly joyous event turned into a bit of a bland bash.After all aren’t celebrations meant to be filled with laughter and fun, not serious advice and friendly nods, aren’t you meant to get excited about the adventure that lies ahead?

But then maybe as a still seeking single I have too many romantic notions about how I think these things should be, or maybe a few cupcakes and crackers just don’t say “party” to me.

PS: The recipe for these delicious cupcakes couldn’t be any simpler. Heat the oven at 200 degrees. For 12 just mix 125g of butter/margerine with 125g of caster sugar. Add in 2 large eggs (I normally add an extra one for more fluff) and beat till nice and creamy. Then add 125g of self-raising flour into the mix (if you sieve the flour the batter becomes really smooth, and if you don’t have self-raising just add 1 tablespoon of backing powder). For a little extra smoothness and taste add 1 tablespoon of vanilla (or any other flavour) and 2 tablespoons of milk (I sometimes use yogurt it gives it a little extra cream). Then just fill your cupcake forms with equal amounts of batter and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. For the icing mix 2 cups of powdered sugar (icing sugar) with 2 tabelspoons of butter /margerine, add in 2 tabelspoons of milk and 1/2 a tabelspoon of vanilla (or any other flavour). If you want to colour it just add as many drops of food-colouring as you like.  just make sure that the cupcakes are completely cold  before you ice them.

banana-bread contentment

Tags

backing, baking, banana bread, contentment, counting my blessings, happiness, moment of happiness, photography, psychology, quotes

There is nothing quite like the smell and taste of freshly baked goods. A warm doughiness filling your home with sweet smells and spices and flavours melting on your tongue and in your belly.  I always feel content when savouring that first bite of oven-fresh loveliness, a pure moment of happiness.

Because today is Sunday and I had time I indulged in a little baking and am now joyously munching some fresh banana-bread. The crust may be a little dark but the inside is perfectly moist and crumbly, the taste of banana, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla creating a symphony of flavours in my mouth.  And while I watch the rain fall I can’t help but relish this absolute feeling of contentment.

It is not a feeling I often have but over the last few weeks it has been creeping in every now and then. Fleeting seconds of counting my blessings, smiling at the promises that lie ahead and enjoying being in the now.

After the last two years (and many more before them) of struggle and loss, I am happy where I am right now. I am enjoying my freedom over the summer, savouring lazy days, meeting friends and trying new things. Of course many of my good intentions have fallen by the wayside, for now, but it doesn’t seem to matter. After all the summer still stretches out before me filled with adventures and unknown gifts.

This doesn’t mean I don’t still have my lonely moments or don’t fret over big and little things. And yes, I still have unfulfilled hopes and dreams, know my limits and limitations and can’t seem to shake my singeldoomness (not a word I know, but I assure you it is a feeling). But for someone who is trying to be more mindful, these twinkling spells of contentment are a great success.

With that in mind I think I’ll have another slice of banana-bread contentment and leave you with a quote:

Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have

just yum

of baking and other things

Tags

baking, chocolate eggs, food, happy, new paint, paint brushes, quotes, restaurants

After a lovely day spent with friends, good food and lounging in front of an open fire, today feels more subdued, tranquil even. The street is quite, no cars filled with people rushing off to church, family visits or other trips, no kids squabbling over chocolate eggs and even the pigeons that normally ‘gurr’ seem to have lost their voices.

My morning has been peaceful and relaxed, I spend a luxurious amount of time lingering over a cup of tea and a book. Very opposed to yesterday where my morning was filled with family chats and baking an Easter loaf.

But somehow I feel energised, excited about the day that feels filled with promise. And I can’t help but think about the German saying “In der Ruhe liegt die Kraft” (There is power in tranquility). Although I am a little unsure of what that may really mean, or how it may express itself, I am willing to wait and see.

And so far it has worked out well, I have managed to make my bed,  put on a wash, hang it up, clean my floors and even write this blog without breaking a sweat or feeling it was work.  Inspired by all this  “doing” I think I will  bake another loaf just for myself and maybe even break in the new paint brushes I bought last week in an attempt to reignite my passion for painting. But before I do any of that I have a little project I have been meaning to do for a while now and think today is the perfect day to take a few minutes to do it, let my energy create a little something new.

Like that wonderful Moody Blues song Higher and Higher puts it so well:

Climb to tranquility, finding it’s real worth, conceiving the heavens flourishing on earth

a home baked eater loaf

tonights the night

Tags

baking, cooking, etta james, food, miscellaneous, pot luck, random, stormy weathers, Superheros, taste buds, thoughts

A few weeks ago two neighbours and myself organized a street BBQ. We made up flyers, posted them and then due to weather changed the date. So tonight is the night and looking up at the sky seeing clouds flit by I can only hope the sun stays out and decides to give us a lovely dry summery evening.

Because it’s a bit of a pot-luck I still have to get some preparations done so while I sit here and type I have dough rising waiting to be made into bread, chops marinating in the fridge  and I am about to get the mixer out to make some muffins for a bit of sweet after all the meat.

With my apron fixed with a bow at my middle, my curly mad hair up in a bun and flour adorning my face, hands and yes clothes as I do always manage to miss my still pristine piny, I look like a domestic superhero, Culinaria springs to mind and taste buds.

My superpowers seem to be extreme multitasking, as I whisk, kneed and measure all at the same time, my taste-buds are enhanced as I can taste even the smallest trace of cumin (e-ugh) and ginger (yucky) but love hints of rosemary, thyme, aniseed and basil, and then there is that sixth sense of knowing when the dough is ready, the pavlova done and the souffle risen to perfection.

So while I let my alter ego Culinaria create tasty delights I can’t help but sing and dance along to Etta James today and hope that her heartbreaking rendition of Stormy Weathers doesn’t become a reality tonight and force us all to huddle up indoors or under umbrellas.