Sooo, most of the time, although there is always a healthy rant waiting just around the corner, things here are generally covered in cocoa powder and sprinkled with glittery, shiny stuff. Well, the truth is that I've been a bit, scattered, lately. The daily grind seems to be getting the better of me and my little corner of the interwebz is taking the brunt of the resultant neglect... It started somewhere around February or March when my laptop [that had not been backed up since November] died … [Read more...]
Perfect Apple Crumble Pie
I love Pie, it's as simple as that. Crust I can take or leave - unless it's chocolate or graham cracker and attached to Cheesecake but that is another dream for another day - but Pie filling, yes please. Custard, cream, fruit, whatever, they're all fair game. Needless to say, I was quite happy when we chose 'Sweet as Pie' for our June Sweet Adventures Blog Hop. I'm not sure if you remember my Crazy Pink Pie from a few months back but shortly after making that one I went even more out … [Read more...]
Lemon Curd – rules and bending the rules
Lemon Curd is one of those recipes that everyone has a spin - and an opinion - on. You should use whole eggs, you must only use egg yolks. You must adhere to x ratios of sugar to juice to make it very sweet, you must keep it tart. Use more butter, use less butter - mix it in before, mix it in at the end. Cook in a saucepan, cook over a double boiler. Strain the juice, strain the cooked curd. And on and on it goes. The versatility once made is as varied as the list of recipe options. Fill … [Read more...]
Peach Pie Porridge
Back in January I posted those lovely Loaded Oats for the New Year and declared that I was going to attempt to share more real food and less desserts. Yeah, that lasted about a week. In an attempt to get back to real food I bring you a second porridge recipe for the second month of the year. It's only pretending a little bit to be dessert. The stone fruit this summer has been lovely and this treat was inspired by peach crumble and peach pie and peach cake, then all wrapped up in oats and … [Read more...]
Pink (I may not tell you what is in this) Pie
As I stood in my kitchen the other day I surveyed the goodies I'd been collecting from various markets. The erubescent beets and the ambrosial mango winked at at each other from across the bench-top. I resisted at first. But I was in a mood. I blame it on the purple carrots. I found some organic ones a few weeks back. I made pie with them. It was just a test, a quick experiment to see how it went. I'm in love. I've been on the hunt for more purple carrots ever since. I've just missed them at … [Read more...]
Almond and Cornmeal Pie Crust
When confronted with something as fabulous as Spiced Cherry Pie filling it is quite easy to go right ahead and eat it straight from a baking dish with a spoon. And while that is an amazingly appealing proposition, sometimes you need your pie filling restrained into a festive shape. Like say, a heart for a Lupercalia celebration - heehee. I've mentioned before that I'm not a fan of pie crust. This is a completely different animal all together. A little bit crunchy, a little bit nutty, rich … [Read more...]
Spiced Cherry Pie for Valentine’s Day, or not.
I've never been a fan of Valentine's Day. The idea of a holiday that instills in an entire culture that there is one best day of the year to proclaim your love? Ludicrous. One day to give flowers and chocolate and jewelery? Rubbish. One day on which you are less somehow because you are not partnered up? Insanity. I want romance because the sun is shining, or jewelery because the moon is full, or chocolate because it is Sunday afternoon, not because the greeting card companies say so. … [Read more...]
