Saturday, June 17, 2017

Zucchini waffles and the gentrification of the zucchini fritter

A couple of weekends ago I pulled out the last of the zucchini plants as winter has definitely arrived.

 I thought I should have done this a couple of weeks earlier but to my surprise I still had a couple of zucchini wilfully hanging onto their glorious summer.
May 2017

While many talk about a zucchini glut, an abundance of zucchinis should really be thought of as a privilege. Earlier this year there was a shortage of zucchinis (courgettes) in the UK sparking the #courgettecrisis. I suspect this was heavily due to it being winter and another reminder that natural champions seasonal eating.

 The zucchini is a powerhouse of versatility and adds a beautiful moistness to these waffles, aka gentrified zucchini fritters.

 Seriously there is nothing hipsters love more than an appliance based food item with a craft beer delivered by drone, lamington jaffle anyone?

Zucchini waffles
Ingredients - make about 2 large waffles
  • 1 medium zucchini 200g
  • 1 small red onion finely diced
  • 85g self raising flour
  • 125ml milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 50g feta, crumbled
  • 50g cheddar, crumbled 
  • 2 tbsp chopped mint
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Method
  • Grate the zucchini into a bowl lined with a clean tea towel
  • Gather up the edges of the tea towel and squeeze out excess liquid
  • Add all ingredient to a mixing bowl and combine
  • Heat waffle iron and spray with oil
  • Spoon half the mix into the waffle iron  (depending on the size of your waffle maker)
  • Cook for about 6 minutes (always wise to check out your own machine's instructions)
Optional serve with poached eggs and garnish with thinly sliced red onions, basil, parsley, mint and more fetta. My secret weapon is a drizzle of agrumato a lime olive oil.
Home grown beauties
Fine dice of red onion and reserve some for garnish 
Love a good all in one recipe
You don't want to over fill it....
These are a moist waffle not dry and crisp
I took inspiration from My Year without Meat by Richard Cornish after seeing the zucchini fritter recipe. 
I recommend everyone give this book a read for more insight into where our food comes from. 
Who doesn't love egg porn???


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Sunday, May 7, 2017

Chow Down to Eurovision 2017- #CelebrateDeliciously Poppy seed biscuits



добрий вечір dobryy vechir Kyiv this is Melbourne calling and I'm sorry that this year I am coming to you via the satellite. 

 But firstly I must say thank you very much, it was a truly really wonderful show to be celebrating diversity for everyone (as required by law if you are Eurovision communicating via satellite) 

 For the past 2 years I have been front and centre, microphone in hand on the Eurovision red carpet. This year I'm going to celebrate diversity by doing something different and going back to my Eurovision roots of the lounge room at 5am. Don't panic I will be back in the bubble next year!


While #CelebrateDiversity is a brilliant motto and Eurovision slogan there is always room to make it a little more on brand so.....#CelebrateDeliciously


Celebrate Deliciously Poppy Seed Biscuits Makes about 16-18
Ingredients
  • 125g butter
  • 125g caster sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
  • 240g plain flour
  • 25g poppy seeds
Method
  • Cream butter and sugar till pale 
  • Add egg and vanilla and beat for 1 minute
  • Add sifted flour and poppy seeds and stir with a spoon till mix forms a dough
  • Give a gentle knead to make sure it is all combined
  • Wrap in plastic wrap and leave in the fridge for 30-60 mins
  • Remove from fridge and give a gentle knead
  • Roll out to about 4-5mm in thickness
  • Cut out shapes (I used a 9cm round cutter) and place on a lined baking tray
  • Bake for 15 minutes
  • Cool on wire rack




Image via eurovision.tv

When it comes to decorating this is where we will really celebrate diversity and let the imagination go wild....aka I don't think I have the skill/patience to replicate each of the beads perfectly
This is a guide to everything you'll need for the decorating rather than a step by step instructions. 

What you will need to decorate

  • Fondant icing
  • Royal icing
  • Corn syrup
  • Vodka
  • Corn flour to stop fondant sticking, works better than icing sugar
  • Paint brush for the glaze 
  • Piping bag
  • And whatever decorating cutters or molds, piping nozzles you have

Roll out the blue/black fondant to about 3mm thick and use the same cutter as the biscuits to cut out circles
Roll out red fondant, cut the shapes you want and use a little corn syrup as glue
Use corn syrup to glue the fondant to the biscuit
A mix of 1part corn syrup to 1 part vodka can be used to glaze the finished biscuits 
There is a bit of waste with this method but I like the effect

 For Fondant Icing (sorry Mary Berry I bought the fondant from a shop....gasp)
  • 200g blue fondant 
  • 100g white fondant (or just buy red)
  • Black food colour
  • Red food colour
  • Gloves!!!
  • Pure icing sugar
Method
Wearing gloves kneed blue fondant with a few drops of black to achieve the blue black bead base colour (I did this in the stand mixer with dough hook but still gloves as the colour will stain your fingers)
You may need to add a touch more icing sugar to maintain firmness of fondant depending on how much colour you added

 Royal Icing (I hand raised the chicken that laid the egg....am I forgiven Mary?)
  • 250g pure icing sugar
  • 1 large egg white
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice
  • Red food colour
Method
  • Sift icing sugar into a mixing bowl (ain't nobody got time for lumps)
  • Add egg white and lemon juice
  • Beat with electric mixer to forms soft peaks
  • Add drops of food colour and beat till desired colour is achieved
End of nozzle and tube cutter
Circles from above with thicker rolled fondant
Zig zag silicone mold 

Piped royal icing

This is a stencil with royal icing, not quite part of the original beads but it's your biscuit so your rules!

With over 100 Eurovision themed recipes in the 3 years of Chow Down to Eurovision and themed cakes I'm sure there is something for any Eurovision party.
Chow Down to Eurovision 2013
Chow Down to Eurovision 2014
Chow Down to Eurovision 2015
Chow Down to Eurovision 2016 
Dami Im answering the call with cake 


Who do you think will take the Eurovision crown this year?? 

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Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Strawberry and black pepper cake



I created this cake for episode 12 of Refreshments Provided, our cake episode, we had three cakes!

 With a few punnets of strawberries in the fridge I wanted an interesting flavour combo that was not only different but delicious. 

 Initially trying balsamic vinegar which I found to acidic I opted for black pepper.

 Thankfully Carly was quite impressed with this cake during the episode and I really like the combination of the sweet fruit and the warmth from the pepper.

 Strawberry and black pepper cake
Ingredients
  • 500g strawberries
  • 2 tbsp cracked black pepper 
  • 240g caster sugar
  • 4 large eggs ( 4 from my girls delivers about 277g)
  • 250ml milk
  • 180g unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
  • 400g self raising flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
Method
  • Preheat oven to 180°C
  • Line a 23cm springform cake tin with baking paper
  • Top and half the strawberries and add to a bowl
  • Add 20g of caster sugar and 1tsp of black pepper to the strawberries
  • Line the base of the cake tin with strawberries cut side up
  • Roughly chop any remaining strawberries and add to the flour
  • Add remaining sugar and eggs to large mixing bowl
  • Beat with electric beaters till thick and fluffy about 5 minutes
  • Add milk, cooled melted butter, flour, baking powder, vanilla and remaining black pepper
  • Beat till combined
  • Gently pour over the strawberries into the cake tin
  • Bake at 180°C for 55-60 minutes
  • Leave in the cake tin to cool for 10 minutes
  • Gently remove from cake tin and cool on a wire rack, strawberry side up
  • Lightly dust with icing sugar and serve








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Providing refreshments rhubarb and ginger cake


We all know how much I love a project (just the one?) so for the past few months I've been having great fun on a new venture with my mate Carly Findlay.

Refreshments Provided is a podcast where Carly and I get to talk about pop culture, what we've been streaming or reading and what's been happening in our kitchens.

While the conversation always comes back to food we also tackle some of life's more meaty subjects as we try to make sense of it all or just accept that sometime we don't have a clue.

We have had the occasional guest ranging from "Candice" our first guest who asked us for directions to the toilet to theatre producer Kath Duncan and media personality Osher Günsberg.

Each episode as well as catching up on the goss we of course have a delicious refreshment provided....I wonder how long it will be till people discover this whole project is just an excuse for Carly and I to catch up and eat! 

I'd love to hear what you think of the show.


 iTunes Button (via NiftyButtons.com)







This cake is the cover art of the podcast and is a great combination of sweet, tart and sharp (possibly just like the podcast) 

 Rhubarb and ginger cake
Ingredients
  • 250g softened unsalted butter
  • 225g golden caster sugar
  • 250g self raising flour
  • 1tsp ground ginger
  • 1tsp baking powder
  • 4 large eggs
  • 100g glace/crystalised ginger roughly chopped  (plus extra to garnish)
  • 250g stewed rhubarb*
Method
  • Preheat oven to 180°C
  • This is an all in one mix
  • Add all ingredients except the ginger and rhubarb to a large mixing bowl
  • Beat together to combine for a couple of minutes
  • Stir in rhubarb and ginger
  • Add batter to lined cake tin
  • Bake at 180°C for 55-60 minutes
  • Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes
  • Completely cool on a wire rack
  • Cover with icing and extra ginger
Cream cheese icing
Ingredients
  • 250g cream cheese (full fat)
  • 200g icing sugar
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
Method
  • Beat together till smooth and not grainy (can be 20 minutes so a stand mixer is a good friend)
*I stew a bunch of rhubarb cut into 5cm chunks with about 1tbs of sugar and juice of 1 lemon in a fry pan over medium heat for about 10 minutes. 
There will be some left over for breakfast with yogurt.
Carly isn't a fan of icing which just means I get her's!!!

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Sunday, November 20, 2016

Kids love balloons and blood orange and almond biscuits


A few months ago (remember I told you how behind I am) I had the pleasure of being on Chris Holland's podcast Kids Love Balloons.


Chris is a huge Eurovision fan and was the standby jury member for Australia in 2015. He has also had Julia Zemiro and Nina (Carbon 2011) on the podcast so you can imagine just how excited I was to be amongst that level of Eurovision royalty. (I keep wondering who cancelled??)

The focus of the podcast is a simple question "what makes you happy?" and the conversation goes from there. 
Chris has a great way of just letting you talk/ramble that all the talking points you'd thought of in the car just go out the window. 

The second part of the podcast has each guest discusing three songs that make them happy and to Chris' disappointment I didn't add any Eurovision! Madness I know!

The ever growing playlist of joy is a total joy and will have you going "oh yes I love that song" more than once as guests adds their songs. 

My contributions were Italian pop, 80's girl power and the perfect inspiration for any dance audition! 







The day we recorded this interview was also the first day my mate Carly Findlay and I recorded the first episode of Refreshments Provided so it was great to see how Chris worked.

In the episode I did give Chris the scoop that there was going to be a Chow Down to Junior Eurovision and I was hoping to be in Malta, well sometimes life just gets in the way. The good news is I may have started Chow Down to Eurovision 2017....243 countries what am I thinking?

Please check out Kids Love Balloons, my favourite episodes are Julia Zemiro and Nina (obviously), as well as Lelia Gurruwiwi and Osamah Sami. The latest episode with Joan Korblith gave a great insight into the workings of radio in the USA in the 70's.

Being the obsessed baker I am I made some biscuits to take to the recording, you should never go anywhere empty handed. 


Blood orange and almond biscuits (makes about 40)
Ingredients
  • 2 blood oranges
  • 200g unsalted butter
  • 200g caster sugar
  • 75g slivered almonds lightly toasted and chopped 
  • 450g self raising flour
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 1 cup icing sugar
Method
  • Zest the 2 oranges
  • Cream butter, sugar and zest together
  • Add almonds, flour and milk
  • Mix together
  • Turn onto the bench and knead lightly for a minute till it comes together smoothly
  • Shape into a square log
  • Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes
  • Preheat oven to 200°C
  • Slice into 1cm thick slices and place on a lined baking tray
  • Bake for 12 minutes (10 if you like a softer biscuit)
  • Allow to cool on a wire rack
  • Make icing by beating icing sugar with a knob of butter and the juice of 1 blood orange (a tbsp at a time)
  • Pipe into whatever designs make you happy!


















I had to add a final clip that is just pure joy Manic by Michael Sembello, I'm sure it will make you happy!






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Friday, November 18, 2016

Let's Get Technical Great British Bake Off 2016 - Royal week Final

Well we finally made it to the final bake and post of #let's_get_technical for 2016!
Is it just me or do things take much longer as we get older......(or do I just take on too many projects??)

I'll be honest I was a bit disappointed when they announced that the technical challenge for the Great British Bake was going to be a Victoria Sandwich.....again???

The weird and wonderful unfamiliar bakes is what makes the technical challenge so much fun but I understand when the old vicky sponge made another appearance. This technical challenge really was the exam after the weeks (years) of study. Had I been paying enough attention to bake a cake just from my brain?

And drum roll please, it appears I can! Thanks to the many series of British and international bake offs I think I have learnt enough about cake that without a recipe I can wing it.

I look back to that day years ago I turned up to channel 9 with an olive and parmesan loaf and a trio of chocolate tarts to audition for a show I'd never heard of.....if only I knew then what I know now.

Thank you Bake Off for teaching me to bake.
























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Saturday, November 5, 2016

Let's Get Technical Great British Bake Off 2016 - Pâtisserie week


Week 9 saw the bake I was most excited to try from this series of The Great British Bake off.
The savarin a yeast raised chantilly cream topped and fruit adorned beauty did not disappoint.

 No spoilers but I think I nailed this bake even if I do have to judge myself and will even be presenting a savarin for the christmas table this year. 



I think that should read savarin! 



















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