Tuesday 31 December 2013

How are you going with your New Year Resolutions?

New-Years-resolutions

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Cheat's Dinner Party

Cheat's Dinner Party by Carole's Chatter


I don't often do dinner parties – and when I do I have a habit of wildly over-catering.  So this time I was determined to do something easy with almost no cooking involved.

And even given that, it still took about the same amount of time as if I'd cooked something simple.  And I still had much too much food.  A work in progress!

Here's the menu:

Dinner rolls and crostinis with 2 Dips (Chimichurris on Hummus and Roasted capsicum w cashews & parmesan)


***
Peking roast duck

Peking roast duck (bought from a specialty store and chopped up by them – I bought it the day before which was a mistake – should have bought it just a couple of hours before)

Cold roast chicken


Cold roast chicken (cooked by me the day before and cut up into bits) served with rocket

Sliced tomatoes with onion and oil


Sliced tomatoes with onion and oil

Aioli Potato Bacon salad


Aioli Potato Bacon salad (from supermarket) – checked seasoning and added dill garnish

Sliced champagne ham


Sliced champagne ham (on lettuce)

Smoked salmon platter


Smoked salmon platter with olives, stuffed peppers etc

Smoked Chicken pasta salad


Smoked Chicken pasta salad (bought) with added chicken, seasoning and herbs on top

Green salad


Green salad (not strictly all green but at least made by me)

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Cheesecake – berry swirl


Cheesecake – berry swirl – bought

So would you have enjoyed the food???


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Monday 30 December 2013

Capital city of the week - Damascus

Damascus - City of Jasmine

Damascus has had its share of troubles but the word means the City of Jasmine in English

Alexander the Great


Damascus was once conquered by Alexander the Great.

Ottoman Empire Coat of Arms


Damascus was also once part of the Ottoman Empire


Damascus mosques


There are lots of mosques in Damascus

So where in the world  is Damascus?





Damascus is the capital of:



Rembrandt

The Rich Man from the Parable

So what do you know about Rembrandt.  I realised I only knew that he was an Old Master but not much more.  So I got a couple of books about him out of the library and found out some interesting stuff.

The Jewish Bride

Rembrandt was born in 1606 and died in 1669 aged 63.
He was one of 9 children – five of his siblings died while they were children.  He was born in Leiden a town on the Rhine in what is now Holland.

Saskia as Minerva, 1635 (wife)

He married well (ie into money) but was unlucky.  His first 3 children all died as babies and when his son was only 9 months old his wife died.

Rembrandt's mother 1631 etching


Even though quite famous for his painting and etchings, and with various aristocratic patrons, he managed to get into financial difficulties and went bankrupt.  When he died he was buried in an unmarked grave.

Self-Portrait 1629


Unlike many other artists of his time he kept all or almost all of his preparatory drawings.

Winter Landscape 1646


Somewhat weirdly, he did over 75 self-portraits but only 14 landscapes.  Most of his work were portraits.

Portrait of Jan Six 1654



 I hope you enjoyed seeing a few of his works!
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Sunday 29 December 2013

What makes you happy? I think these are happy colours

Make-your-own-kind-happiness

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Brined butter poached pork with fries and bok choy

Brined butter poached pork with fries and bok choy by Carole's Chatter


This dish was a completely new technique for me.  First I brined the pork by leaving it to soak in salted water overnight and then I poached it in butter – which sounds decadent I know – but actually I kept the butter afterwards and used it in a variety of dishes over the next week or so.

To poach the pork, I simply popped it into large pot and covered it with melted butter – no boiling just a gentle simmer – took less than half an hour.  I didn't sear the pork first so that is why it looks quite pale.

As you can see I served it accompanied by hand cut baked fries and bok choy.

Baked fries by Carole's Chatter


Before baking the fries I par boiled them for 5 minutes – which helps them be nice and fluffy in the middle and then the baking crisps up the outside.  To bake them I sprinkled them with salt flakes and tossed them in olive oil.

Bok choy by Carole's Chatter



The bok choy was quickly sautéed with ginger and chopped brazil nuts.  I cut the stalks up finely and gave them a couple of minutes before putting the leafy parts in.
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Saturday 28 December 2013

An oldie but still makes me smile!

wanted-good-woman-poster

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Need some extra inspiration? Try some pancakes, galettes & crepes!

Daisy Pancakes
 For your inspiration today I have chosen a few of the many fantastic pancakes in the Food on Friday: Pancakes, galettes & crepes collection. Unbelievably there were almost 200 to choose from.  To see more, go to this Pinboard.

The stunning first pic is Daisy Pancakes by Jenny Eatwell's Rhubarb & Ginger







Gram's Buttermilk Pancakes by Sugar Cookies to Peterbilts




Bacon Cheeseburger Pancakes by The Midnight Baker





Tiramisu Crepes by Tramplingrose




Scrambled Egg Breakfast Crepes by Meatless Mediterranean




Peach Galettes w Cream Cheese Filling by Welcome to Lea's Cooking

Friday 27 December 2013

It was pretty simple in those days!

Simplicity-vintage-clothes-pattern

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Food on Friday: Nuts

ON

We have an excuse to go quite "nutty" today!  Food on Friday is collecting dishes with nuts in them.  Apologies to anyone with nut allergies.

Almonds go well with – apricots, berries, cherries, chicken, chocolate, cream, dried fruit, honey, peaches, quinces, rice, trout and vanilla.

Cashews go well with – almonds, beans, cauliflower, chicken, coconut milk, cracked wheat, fish, pork and rice.

Hazelnuts go well with – almonds, chocolate, cinnamon, duck, oranges, pork and salad leaves.

Peanuts go well with – beef, chicken, chillies, coriander (cilantro), cucumber, pork, snake beans and tamarind.

Pecans go well with – bitter greens, blue cheese, cream, croutons, duck, garlic, goat's cheese, lemon juice, maple syru, molasses and quinces.

Pine nuts go well with – basil, dried currants, garlic, parmesan cheese, pasta, quail, rice, rosemary, salad leaves, silver beet and veal.

Pistachios go well with – almonds, chocolate, dried fruit, ham, honey, rice, sausages, semolina, terrines, watermelons and yoghurt.

Walnuts (not my faves) go well with – apples, bitter greens, blue cheese, celery, chocolate, cream, croutons, dates, duck, figs, garlic, goat's cheese, mussels, pears, potatoes, quinces, salad leaves and verjuice.

To add your contribution to the collection, just put your name and the name of the dish into the first Mr Linky box and then paste the url for your post into the second one.

I'll be pinning the dishes to this Pinboard.  If you pop over to it you will be able to see the collection at a glance and choose which ones you want to visit.

Happy Linking.


Thursday 26 December 2013

Do you wait for the Boxing Day sales?

Boxing-Day-Shopping-Cartoon

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Need some inspiration? Try Recipes that Kids Will Love!

Macaroni N' Cheese
 There were over 120 dishes in Food on Friday: Recipes Kids Will Love! So there is pretty much something for everyone there.  I have selected a few to show you in this post but do recommend that you pop on over to this Pinboard to see them all.

The first pic is from Feed Your Soul Too – it is, of course, Macaroni N' Cheese
  


Doughnuts Like Mother Used to Make by Favourite Old English Recipes from your Childhood









Gingerbread Man Pancakes by We-Made-That.com




Panda cupcake by Cook with Arthy Shama


  
Little Lemon Tarts  by Ask Sarah