This cold, grey, drizzly autumnal day suggested that the kitchen was the only sensible place for me to be today. With the warmth and aroma that comes from oven-baking, who could possibly argue that this wasn’t the best of ideas? I’d been contemplating a softly scented Apple Crumble with an Aussie twist for a few days now and despite the weather being completely lousy for food photography, it was the perfect Apple Crumble-eating kind of day! Continue reading
The makings of a summer salad or two…
Herbs to enhance all manner of dishes…
The gorgeous garlic (Monaro Red, I think…) planted months ago with my sister-in-law AJ! xx
Lovely to have a few fruit trees finally in the garden… and a quiet place to sit on balmy evenings.
We have such unique and varied wildlife here in Australia, so this week for a change I thought I’d share a few photos at Fiesta Friday instead. These were all taken either within our own garden or while camping/holidaying not too far from home.
Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo – intelligent… animated… raucous!
Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo – so beautiful in flight
Brush-Tail Possums at night – mother and child (who really looks a little too old to be hitching a ride with Mum!)
Kookaburra – renowned for their incredible laugh
Echidna – our amazing monotreme (egg laying mammal)!
Koala – looking a little sleepy as usual
Magpie – notorious for their aggressive swooping ability in the spring
Kangaroo – ahhh, need I say more…
Kangaroo with a Joey in her pouch
Please come along and join us at Fiesta Friday #28 this week. The fabulous Saucy Gander and I have been invited back for an encore performance of co-hosting (despite due to our ridiculously glamourous Dame Edna get-up from last week).
Angie @ The Novice Gardener, who is the brainchild behind this ever-growing, dynamic online party, deserves both gratitude and admiration from us all for the effort that goes into hosting FF each and every week. I don’t know how she does it… I’m exhausted after just co-hosting for 1 week! You’re amazing Angie! Thank you for all that you do!
So to join in the fun, link your post by clicking on the colourful logo here below. Within your post, please remember to link to the FF#28 posts of ‘The Novice Gardener’, as well as to Saucy and myself (to notify us of your arrival at the party). If you’re new to Fiesta Friday, the guidelines can be perused here… Such a lot of fun and inspiration, bringing together bloggers from around the world and providing the opportunity for your post to shine and be seen.
Happy Fiesta Friday to all and a fabulous weekend!
It was the perfect evening last night for wandering amongst some of our city’s landmarks that have been lit up beautifully for Canberra’s annual ‘Enlighten’ Festival. The selection of images and artwork relate in some way to the particular buildings that they are being projected onto. Street performers entertained as we made our way between the various locations. Museums and galleries stayed open late with food, drinks and entertainment. It really was a wonderful evening out!
For a number of you who may be unaware, Canberra is in fact the Capital of Australia. Sydney is our largest city, but Canberra is where our parliamentarians debate, where you’ll find our High Court, along with our National Museums and Galleries. It is not a huge city… about 380,000 people… often feeling more like a large country town. We’ve lived in many cities over the years and if asked, I usually struggle to answer the question of “Where is home?”, however as time goes by, increasingly my answer to this is Canberra.
Street Performer (Max of ‘Dan & Max’) with her flaming hula-hoop!
Horse, Street Performer
Fountain on Fire
National Gallery | images linked to Inca Exhibition
Flames
Questacon Building
Questacon Building | Fiesta Friday!
Old Parliament House | Guys & Polls
Old Parliament House
Old Parliament House | Rudd Vs Abbott
National Library | images linked to Mapping Exhibition
Street Performer (Dan of ‘Dan & Max’)
I’m linking this post to Angie’s Fiesta Friday, particularly as one of the images projected onto the Questacon building made me think of her. There appeared to be a little Fiesta dancing and happiness going on (see the 7th photo down)! 🙂
From the tender age of three, up until about eighteen, I took part in Classical Ballet lessons. No doubt there were days when I didn’t want to attend, but for the most part I danced along quite happily, grand-jetéing and pirouetting all the way to class… Ballet books lined the shelves, tutus filled the dress-up tub and oh so much oohing and aahing was had over the national and international ballet dancers who came to perform in our local theatre. My mother bought season tickets each year for us both to attend. Mikhail Baryshnikov was my pin-up boy… until the likes of INXS, Wham and Michael J Fox took over. Ahh yes, I’m an 80’s girl after all…
So unsurprisingly, in my younger years, a pavlova would be my number one request each year for my Birthday Cake. A dessert created for the beautiful, touring Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova – what could be finer? I thank my Mum dearly for making such delicious cakes over the years and for always making whatever our hearts desired. I’ve continued that tradition with my own children and love the challenge of finding a way to make their requests come to fruition, not to mention the priceless looks of wonder and appreciation at the finished cakes.
These days pavlova makes an appearance in our house more often at Christmas and always on Australia Day (January 26th). A summer dessert, perfect for when berries and passionfruit are in season and the sun is sitting high in the sky. This year, it was a Chocolate-Chip Pavlova that adorned our Christmas Day table and tempted us to eat just that little bit more…, deliciously topped with fresh raspberries, strawberries and chocolate curls.
The recipe below is adapted slightly from a classic recipe of Stephanie Alexander‘s in her amazing tome The Cook’s Companion. I feel rather strongly that the oven temperatures she uses are too hot (for my own oven, at least…), resulting, once before, in an unfortunate-looking, browned pavlova. Never a good look… unless of course you’re making a Chocolate Pav! One of my dearest friends, Claire, made a wonderful Chocolate-Chip Pavlova a couple of years ago and ever since then, I’ve shamelessly added choc-chips to my own – thinking of her ALWAYS when I do though! xx
Pre-heat the oven to 130°C. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
Using an electric mixer, whisk the egg whites and salt until soft peaks form. Slowly add the caster sugar while continuing to whisk, until stiff peaks form. Fold in lightly the cornflour, verjuice/vinegar and the chopped chocolate.
Scoop the mixture onto the baking tray and shape into a 20cm round, flattening the top and sides.
Bake for 1½ hours and then turn the oven off, prop the door slightly ajar with a wooden spoon, leaving the pavlova shell to sit in the oven until completely cool.
When ready to serve, top the shell with whipped cream, fresh berries/seasonal fruit and a scattering of chocolate curls.
Gather & Graze 