Next up in my 2014 Holiday Gift Guide series… ideas to make any hostess smile. Some people entertain with ease, others love hosting but can never quite relax. Either way, a thoughtful hostess gift is a simple way to say "thank you for the invite, we're so glad we could be here". While any of these gifts would make the recipient smile as-is, an extra little something (say a cake in the dome or a bouquet in the jug) is the perfect way to add an extra personal touch. ** In an effort to support … [Read more...]
Exploring Southern Queensland Country: Pie, Wine, Cheese and Bushwalking in the Granite Belt
You'd be forgiven for thinking that Queensland, with its copious expanses of white sand, blue water, and miles upon miles of coastline was little other than a nearly never-ending summer... Not that there's anything wrong with miles of beaches, but the north eastern corner of Australia is a huge and diverse area, and only a few hours inland from Brisbane and the Gold Coast are rolling hills, farms and seasonal weather patterns -- who knew?! In early September I was asked to travel around … [Read more...]
Strawberry & Blood Orange Frozen Margarita
There I go again, making summery, freezing cold treats in the dead of winter. Ironically this delectable beverage is, well other than the frozen bit, entirely seasonal. You see while strawberries are ripe for the picking (pun entirely intended) in NSW during late spring and early summer, they roll out of tropical Queensland by the tonne all winter long. They are sweeter and juicer and less expensive now, even being shipped a state down, than they are coming from only an hour or two away … [Read more...]
An Apple a Day in Bilpin, NSW
Summers are spent squinting through sparkling sunshine, letting the nectar of soft stonefruit drip and sizzle on the pavement, relishing the rich summer bounty with pies and salsas and unadorned fruit. But well before autumn comes knocking in Sydney, while we are all still savouring days at the beach and endless twilight evenings, there are signs heralding the imminent change in seasons. Slowly and surely the warmth of summer is replaced by the crisp snap of autumn and with it, the crisp snap … [Read more...]
Vegan Creamy Mushroom & Kale Soup
Another one to work my way through the archives. Made and shot in July last year to go with the Gluten Free Quinoa Cornbread, then promptly filed away -- until now. It is after all getting cooler again in Sydney and that can mean only one thing, soup season has arrived. I did originally have this post titled Magical Mushroom Soup -- now wouldn't that be a tease of a thing to do? Of course it is the soup that is magical rather than magical mushrooms (ahem) being used for soup. Apologies to … [Read more...]
Vanilla Amaranth Crumb Crust – Gluten-Free & Vegan
A quick post for a quick crust. One that is crumbly without crumbling biscuits. Buttery without any butter. Pressed with no pressure (too far? probably) and so fragrant and more-ish you'll want to use it for every pie you make ever again (I do love a bold assumption). As a side note this crust was photographed a couple hours before the fully assembled pie -- smack-bang in the middle of a make-the-morning-dark-as-night thunderstorm. The pics have been adjusted within an inch of … [Read more...]
Smokey Beer & Onion BBQ Sauce
Another one from the archives, this sauce was made and photographed as part of that Texas-inspired BBQ Brisket feast back in December. ------ BBQ Sauce makes everything better, simple as that. Eggs? Better with sauce. Tacos? Better with sauce. Burgers? Better with sauce. But most importantly, smoked brisket is most certainly better with a side of rich and fragrant BBQ Sauce for dipping and drizzling. This version is a bit thinner than your more traditional BBQ Sauce, more suited to … [Read more...]
