Cherries

Cherries

30 Sept 2009

Celebrity Master Chef is on the tv as I'm writing this. We're all interested to see whether the celebrity chefs are any good and as appealling as the regular Master Chef contestants. I guess time will tell.

I was going through some of my photos and I've discovered many that I've not shown to you before. I took these photos when I was home in Brisbane last month. You all know of my raspberry, passionfruit and rhubarb addiction. Well I might as well confess to a mango and cherry addiction as well.

It's not cherry season here yet and our cherry season is a short one so I must admit these are not local cherries but are from Washington State. I know I should buy local but I told you, I'm addicted. What else can I say?

I can't wait until I can photograph some local cherries, but until then,

Jillian

Read more

Macadamia, Lime and Coconut Tarts

Macadamia, Lime and Coconut Tarts

28 Sept 2009

A few months ago I went on a citrus curd marathon. I had plans to make macadamia, lime and coconut tarts all those months back but didn't get the chance to make them until yesterday.

I pulled out the jar of lime curd that's been in the fridge since last July and checked that it tasted okay. It tasted fine so I placed 2 teaspoons of the curd in the base of some small pastry lined tart tins. I decided to give the almond frangipane filling a bit of a shake-up and replaced the almond meal with equal quantities of whole, raw macadamia nuts and shredded unsweetened coconut, which I ground in a food processor. I flavoured the mixture with grated lime rind, filled the tartlet shells and kept my fingers crossed as I placed the tartlets in the oven.

I made 5 little tarts and kept one for me and took the rest into work. The tangy lime curd balances the rich filling all encased in short almond pastry. The filling is different in texture from an almond frangipane filling - it's quite chewy and macaroony but good.

And the verdict? I think they were a hit,

Jillian

Read more

Friday Favourites - Dungog

Friday Favourites - Dungog

25 Sept 2009

I promised you a few more photos from my weekend away in Dungog and here they are. I'd never been to Dungog railway station before as I always drive there. I walked through the Pedalfest crowd and made my way to the station and took some photos of the almost deserted platform and surrounds.

On my way back to Farmer Andrew's House, I passed by Harriette and Boof, who along with their owner had participated in 3 Pedalfests. Their owner was on his way to sign up for Pedalfest 2010. Now that's keen.

Back home I ran around the chookyard trying to take photos of the new residents of the Chicken Hilton. Since my last visit my favourite chicken Maybelline had sadly passed away doing what she did best - laying an egg. As well as ISA Browns, the Chicken Hilton is now home to Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Rocks. The Reds and the Rocks are not keen on having their photos taken preferring to run instead. I returned to Sydney with some farm fresh eggs courtesy of "the girls". The large eggs are from the ISA Browns, whilst the small ones are from the Plymouth Rocks. The Rhode Island Reds are too busy running to lay eggs.

On my drive back to Sydney I passed by fields of very contented looking dairy cattle. I pulled over to take some photos and one or two of the cows were exceedingly interested in me and my camera.

Have a great weekend every-one,

Jillian

Read more

White Chocolate and Raspberry Cupcakes

White Chocolate and Raspberry Cupcakes

23 Sept 2009

Greetings from Sydney where we've just had the most amazing dust storm. I drove to the station through a pink dust haze which was both beautiful and kind of spooky all at the same time. I didn't have my camera with me but I'm sure there are stacks of images on the web.

Here are some photos of my latest creation. As you know by now, there are some flavours I just love like rhubarb and passionfruit. Well I also adore raspberries. Sydney is a wonderful place in which to live but not if you love raspberries. I won't tell you how much I paid for the punnet in the photos 'cos you just wouldn't believe me.



I found a recipe for the cupcakes on the Gourmet Traveller website which I heavily adapted to create the beauties below. 




I popped a few raspberries into each cupcake to cut the sweetness and to add a little surprise. I took a cupcake with me when I visited Miss B and her brother Ruin on Sunday. I had to resort to a little bribery to get the photos below - photos first, cupcake second.

I took the rest of the cupcakes into work with me on Monday but kept one at home so I could taste test it. The crushed raspberries in the icing cuts the sweetness as does the hidden raspberry in the cupcake. You could easily make these into smaller cupcakes which would be ideal for a little girl's birthday party or to serve at a baby or bridal shower tea.

Enjoy the rest of the week,

Jillian

Read more

SHOPSHOOT - The Bronte Tram

SHOPSHOOT - The Bronte Tram

21 Sept 2009

One of the film labs I use is just around the corner from the shop, The Bronte Tram. Every time I'd drive past the shop, I'd think that I really should pop in one day. One day I finally did drop by and I was charmed by what I found inside.

As you may have noticed from my photos, I really love those baby shoe lasts and The Bronte Tram was the first Sydney store in which I found them. The owner Christine has promised to put one aside for me next time they make their way into the shop. 

The day I visited, the shop was busy with people searching for that special preloved item for their home.


The store stocks indoor and outdoor furniture, china, chandeliers, mirrors, fantastic 1950's clocks, old kitchenware, baltic pine and French provincial furniture as well as some industrial antiques.

If you look really hard you can find just about anything! Christine has that special talent of arranging items so they fit together as seamless whole.

I've posted some of my favourite corners of her store.

I hope you've enjoyed my little visit to The Bronte Tram,


Jillian

Read more

Friday Favourites - Spring

Friday Favourites - Spring

18 Sept 2009

I spent last weekend in Dungog visiting Farmer Andrew. Dungog was home to Pedalfest that weekend so there were lots of cyclists pedalling up and down Dowling Street. I have to admit, somewhat shamefacedly, that I have never learned to ride a bike so instead of cycling I roamed around the garden taking photos of the spring blossoms.



I do have some photos of 2 special participants at Pedalfest - Harriette and Boof - plus photos of the new residents of the Chicken Hilton but that's for another post.



Aren't the white flowers just lovely?

Have a great weekend every-one,

Jillian

Read more