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Saturday, January 12, 2013

BLAT




It was lunch time and I was feeling rather ravenous so you can imagine my disappointment when I opened the fridge to find it was virtually empty (we are planning to do the shopping this afternoon...). I did manage to find two tomatoes, some bacon and a pile of dough which was left over from the pizza dough I made the other night.

Thankfully we have lettuce growing the garden and Kevin had picked our baby zucchini so we had enough for a decent sandwich at least. BLAT (bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich) perhaps? I think so...







Now off to do the grocery shopping...Happy Saturday everyone.   

For pizza dough recipe click here.   


Thursday, January 10, 2013

Pear and Ginger Cake

I love any city that doesn't have wind blowing all the time. So pretty much any city that isn't Wellington. I've lived in Wellington longer enough to call myself  a Wellingtonian and whilst I am proud to be one, I will never enjoy or like wind. There's something annoying about being blasted into my car when I go to hop in it and that constant wind swept look I seem to have day after day. Ahhh Wellington, or should I say Newlands? which seems to be the windiest suburb in Wellington. I obviously know how to pick the good locations. Thankfully for me, food makes even the windiest day tolerable. The types of food depends on the day and what I feel like, but all in all, food soothes my angst towards the wind, and angst towards anything for that matter. 

This particular windy day, the only thing that it going to make me happy is pear and ginger cake. I love everything about pear and ginger together and this cake makes the cut for a blustery, cold and bitter day. 

I'd suggest you try making this on the next windy day you have to soothe your soul. If you're in Wellington, this will be needed often.



Pear and Ginger Cake

First:

 Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line the base of a 22cm springform cake tin with baking paper.


Cream butter, brown sugar and maple syrup until light and fluffy. Gradually add the beaten eggs a small amount at a time to avoid the mixture curdling.


Dissolve baking soda in the milk



Sift flour, baking powder and ground ginger into the creamed mixture alternately with the milk, mixing carefully until combined. 




Spoon mixture into prepared tin.



Peel and slice two pears.



Then arrange over the mixture, overlapping a little to ensure that the whole cake will remain covered once cooked.  


Bake at 180 degrees for 40 - 50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted to the cake. 
  


Wait for the cake to cool and slice. Serve with custard, maple glaze, yoghurt or what ever tickles your fancy.


It truly does make all the wind in the world seem okay....


Pear and Ginger Cake

Ingredients

  • 150g butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup soft brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • eggs, beaten
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 ripe pears

  • Method

     Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line the base of a 22cm springform cake tin with baking paper.

     Cream butter, brown sugar and maple syrup until light and fluffy. Gradually add the beaten eggs a small amount at a time to avoid the mixture curdling.

     Dissolve baking soda in the milk. Sift flour, baking powder and ground ginger into the creamed mixture, alternately with the milk, mixing carefully until combined. Spoon mixture into prepared tin. Place the sliced pears on top of the cake.

    Bake for 40-45 minutes until cooked. A skewer inserted into the middle of the cake will come out clean. Place cake on a cooling rack for 15 minutes. Remove from the cake tin.

     Serve warm with custard, cream or ice cream.
- From 'Food in a minute' 


Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Summer time = Easy Living

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you all had a swell time over the silly season. It seems strange that it's been and gone, but I guess time flies when you're having fun and enjoying the niceties that summer brings (berries, berries berries...). 

My Christmas was spent at my parents house with siblings, in-laws,  nieces, nephews, my nana, and friends. It was busy day filled with good food, tennis and 'adventure walks' (the best kind) with my nieces. 



How did you spend your Christmas? Did you go overboard on the berries like we did? I think my mum spent close to $100 on berries this year. And we ate them all. This gives you an idea how important berries are in my family. 

Long may summer last.

2013, may you be filled with glorious food and lots of it.