Mushhhhhies.......

Just a quick one; here is mixed mushrooms on bruschetta I made for Mr Undomestic Goddess and I for breakfast a couple of weekends ago. It had swiss brown, dried porcinis and dried yellow chanterelles.

Picnic!

A couple of weekends ago I prepared a picnic feast for some friends and Mr Undomestic Goddess did a very half-hearted job of helping me. Here is my menu

Cheese platter
Antipasto platter
Asparagus Salad
Pumpkin, rocket, walnut, parmesan and red onion salad
potato salad
brined roast chicken with my Dad's stuffing
hand cut leg ham
pavlova
ginger and pear tea cake same recipe as posted previously
Copious amounts of wine and mineral water (very hot day!)

Mr Undomestic Goddess was very mean and wouldn't help and I ran out of time to take photos!!

I managed to get one of the asparagus salad (steamed then refreshed asparagus, caramalized red onion, pine nuts, olive oil and balsamic as dressing and salt and pepper)

And one of the antipasto, though I didn't really make this!!

This was not for the picnic, it was a chocolate cake with almonds I made for a workmates birthday.

More soon when I am less tired!

Ahoy there!

Arrrr ye landlubbers, tis time to tell yer of the secrets of Brining!

Ok enough unwarranted pirate-speak! I am a brining newbie but it makes food awesome!!! I started off brining chicken breasts then poaching them and then moved on to pork cutlets (brined then pan-fried) then roast chicken and pork. Have you every wondered why pork and chicken breasts in restaurants are finely textured and amazingly moist and then when you cook them at home they can be tough and stringy?? Brining my friend. I know it sounds weird but try it and you won't go back! I haven't tried other meats, apparently you can do it but I'm not entirely sure and I don't really like touching raw red meat if I can help it. I just think that poultry and pork lend themselves to it much better.

For my brining mix I use 1/3 cup salt, 1/3 cup sugar (usually just raw sugar) and add 2 cups of boiling water and stir until dissolved. Then add 2 cups cold water and let the brine cool down before adding the meat. I also add some herbs spices etc. I have a great lemon myrtle spice mix but you could do anything really or just leave it plain.

Then if you are using pork steaks/cutlets or chicken breasts soak for 1-2 hours at least, but I usually soak for 8 hours. Try to cover the meat entirely in brine and not have any air. (This is where ziploc bags are your friend) If it is a chicken or piece of pork for roasting go for 24-48 hours. Then cook as desired.

Apparently you can also use other liquids like wine or juice or add vinegar or something but everything I have read says to be careful as the meat can go to mush if you use an acidic brining solution, maybe reduce the time by half. Actually I have no clue, maybe experiment and let me know so I can start brining in booze without trepidation!

Well thats it! Get to it, start brining! And then seriously tell me how good it is!

Cheap Thrills Part 2

Boistered by my previous attempt at op-shopping I announced to my work collegues that I was going to find some cheap cute plates to brighten up our morning/afternoon teas. Previously we had been using paper plates or paper towels. Yes I know, not very environmentally friendly or classy! At Salvation Army Store in Phillip I found these for $2 each. So cute and dainty!



I love roses!

I was also going to bring in this plate to have as a work cake plate, but decided I couldn't give it up. I love that it is a little faded and worn. Someone has obviously served a lot of cake on it!!! It was $3. It will visit work from time to time as I am pretty much the only one who bakes which doesn't bother me as:

a) I love to bake

b) I really dont need to eat all the fruits of my labour

c) Everyone is really appreciative (even if my attempts are not very successful) and I can bask in the praise ;)

Onwards to St Vinnies in Phillip where I found these egg cups. Bring back nice egg cups I say!!

I only bought 2 as Mr Undomestic Goddess wont eat boiled eggs (and doesn't like to be reminded what eggs actually are....ovum anyone?)

How sweet and delicate is the design? So cute! They were $1 each.

I also got this scarf in a sheer chiffon silk for $2. I love the colours though it won't match anything I own. I am thinking of using it as a tablecloth over a plain white one??? Any thoughts?

On to Salvation Army Weston creek where I picked up this jaunty nautical (jauntical?) scarf for $1!! (But I gave a donation as well)

There were also a couple of trios (saucer, plate cup) there but they weren't in great condition and I wasn't fussed over the pattern. They were $10; tell em they're dreaming (uh-oh, Im getting cheap...)

Last stop St Vinnies Dickson where I got this quiche/flan/pie dish thingy for $5. I have been wanting to buy one for a while but haven't got around to it. Very old-school design and colour!!

I also got some little plain glass short stemmed dessert dish things which were a bit boring but I will feature them when I have made something to go in them.

Last of all, the best thing of the day was this necklace. Cool glam 70s/80s aesthetic?? It appears unworn as the tag was still on and informed me it was made by Barcs of Australia and was triple rhodium plated (did they find out that rhodium gives you cancer?? What the hell... it looks fantastic!)

I feel I need a power suit or a cocktail frock a la opening credits of Young and the Restless complete with giant hair (and a wind machine).

$10 for this little gem. (it is styled against the back of my trivial pursuit board. I am all for improvisation!)

Bye for now,

Undomestic Goddess

These are a few of my favourite things (for the moment)

Sorry, the title was just so I could pull together some random things.

Pears: I have been eating at least a pear a day for the last couple of weeks. William Bartlett pears are cheap, good and in season at the moment. I have never really been into pears, apples or nashis, yes, but not pears. Also different fruit must have a time, place, variety and ripeness and no weird brown bits. E.g. I will eat fuji, sundowner and gala apples and they may be eaten whole. Green apples, nashis and pears (only bartlett so far) must be quartered and cored. Bananas (cavendish only) must be slightly under-ripe. Strawberries are more exciting to buy than to eat, ditto grapes, there are always some in my fridge, festering slowly. Anyway, back to the topic at hand.

I decided I would do some baking with the pears. I cooked 2 pears with some soft brown sugar, a little butter, powdered ginger, crystallised ginger and mixed spice. (sorry, I am crap at measuring things... go all out with the quantities!) I cooked it until it was all caramel-ly and soft. Then I let it cool as I made the following cake and folded the pear mix through at the end

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/13581/cinnamon+tea+cake

When done I brushed it with melted butter and sprinkled with a mix of caster sugar, mixed spice and extra ground ginger.

The end result was amazing!!!! It tasted like a gingery doghnut with chunks of pears. Could have actually been more pear-y so next time I will try 3 to 4 pears. I will definitely make this again soon!

Another thing I like at the moment is this pasta: super quick, fresh and yummy. Literally made in less than 10 minutes.

I call it "Awesome Tuna Pasta for One (sexy lady)"

Put saucepan of salted water on to boil.

Tear up a couple of fresh lasagne sheets (I use the latina ones they are thin and when they cook are soft and lovely. 2 of these is enough for 1 person. )

Throw pasta into pot when boiling and cook for 4 minutes (time from when pasta comes back to the boil) While it is boiling keep going with the other preperation.

Open tin of tuna in oil (sirena brand is yummy, don't use the stuff in brine it tastes like old fishtank water, also, the oil is good for you and you drain off most of it anyway, don't make me tell you again not to use the stuff in brine or even worse in springwater: YUK)

Roughly chop a big handfull of flat leaf parsley.

Toast a tablespoon or two of pine nuts (I do this in the microwave)

Zest a medium lemon.

When pasta is done drain and throw in tuna, parsley and a little olive oil and squeeze the entire lemon into it (trust me, its not too much lemon go crazy with it!)

Put back onto burner until the excess water and lemon has evaporated and the pasta is heated through. Add salt and pepper.

Put into a bowl and sprinkle with pinenuts and lemon zest. Yummy. I like it beacause all the lemon cuts through the tuna and you still get the texture of the tuna but with a far milder taste.

**********************************************************************************

WARNING: Not food related!!!

I recently found this bracelet that I bought last year at the British Museum gift shop (best tourist destination gift shop I have ever been in!) and I had to have it. It is more creamy toned in real life. (I should have shown either more or less of my hand in this photo as it looks like a strange puffy stump)

The bracelet has 8 different metal panel thing each with a different design.

I am making an effort to wear more of my statement jewellery as I have a lot of it but am a bit lazy to put it on.

I am also making an effort to have fresh flowers in the house. I really think it is a fairly low cost way to spoil yourself and brighten your day. Lillies are not my favourite flower: a bit boring and conventional but they are long lasting and relatively inexpensive. These lasted 2 weeks.

I had some tulips a couple of weeks ago when the weather was cooler and they lasted a full week and were gorgeous. Such a great colour. It is getting a bit warm for them now thought.

Well that's it for this evening. I have to go now and watch Man vs Wild (SBS 8.30pm monday)with Bear Grylls (yes, that is his name) an ex British SAS guy who likes to scale mountains with no gear, wrestle snakes, eat scorpionsdrink the liquid from elephant poos and generally be very manly in the outdoors. Sorry Mr Undomestic Goddess, but if I was stuck in the wilderness I would choose Bear Grylls over you. But I love you anyway!

Nighty-night!

Cheap Thrills Part 1 - or how a material girl (almost) overcame her fear of op-shops

I was feeling brave last Tuesday (Melbourne cup day, which was a public holiday for me) and decided to make my way to Queanbeyan (Queanbehole for those in the know) which is ahem... a rather working class satellite town to Canberra across the border in NSW . I have been reading a few fashion blogs of late and seeing some fantastic vintage/thrifted frocks and accessories....

I also found a communal blog dedicated to op-shopping around canberra and they gave a few hints on op-shopping such as be nice to staff (I always am because retail can be thankless, also many of these guys are volunteers so of course I will be nice!) and wear clean underwear because you may be burst into in a dressing room. I nearly fell off my chair reading this. Who needs to be told to wear clean underwear?? People frequenting op-shops perhaps, scary thought. Perhaps the poster actually wanted us to wear clean non-skimpy underwear, which indeed is a good idea if you are trying on clothes. Here is the link to the blog anyway, and afterwards back on track with my own personal journey...

http://act-opshopping.blogspot.com/


First of all I went to Anglicare...

Gorgeous paisley scarves. $3 each. No tags, not sure if they are silk or not (they felt and ironed like it) but they were both in great condition and no marks, loose threads etc.

Pleated Skirt $4 . I love this lightweight skirt, amazing pleats, perfect condition. I would assume early-mid 80s?? It is not a great length, mid calf exactly where my legs are chunkiest, YUK! But I dropped it off for alterations to get it to just on the botton of my knees. Alterations cost $21..., so five times more than the skirt... But all things considered, $25 for a fantastic one of a kind summer skirt... I can't wait to get it back!

Close up of the pattern. Cool huh?

I ordered this brooch from forever 21 online a few days ago. Especially to wear with the skirt. Oops, not so frugal now. Must stop buying stuff!!

Anyway, back to my op-shopping adventure...I went to the Salvation Army store next...

Loving this amber cut glass jug, such a great colour. It didn't have a price on it and the lady gave it to me for free! (but I put some money in the donation box because I felt bad...)

It went well with these flowers, I have no idea what variety they are but they are pretty long lasting, they are a week old here and we have had some warm weather. I bought some stocks at the same time and they only lasted a couple of days but smelled gorgeous.

These I did pay for. $8. Total. Crazy. (for the little dishes, the jewellery I already had) Gave them a quick soak in a diluted bleach solution and they came up really well. They are definitely too light for crystal but the glass is in good condition and I am just using them to organise my jewellery. Pretty happy with that!

Well that was an end to my adventure. Also it wasn't smelly like I expected. I am really sensitive to smells and Mr Undomestic Goddess frequently drags me to antique shops and second hand book shops and both of these can smell a little musty and weird. (So I blame him for my fears for taking me on dodgy outings) Also I don't like the smell of old people coats (naphthalene/moth balls). But both op shops I went to were very clean and non smelly and all the stuff was very clean as well. For those of you who are still a bit iffy I will give you some pros and cons based on my oh so limited experience of 1 hours op shopping.

Pro

Environmental: self explanetary. There is already so much crap in the world. Not only are we saving all the production energy we are also minimising land fill etc.

Economical: Hello, the stuff is cheap.

Social: Supporting charity while shopping? Can it get any better?

Con
Time: It is time consuming going through the stuff.

Range: I do realise that op-shops just get what people donate and it is nigh impossible to go op-shopping with a particular thing in mind. But I was hoping to see some nice/quirky vintage stuff. Pretty much all the clothes were chain store brands (everything from tempt and supre to Cue, Witchery and French Connection) from the last 10 years. The clothes were in good condition, but didn't interest me. Although it would provide a good retail alternative for those on a limited income, which is the main purpose of op-shops.... um should this be a pro?? What I'm getting at is that it is hard to find amazing vintage clothing in op-shops, unless you know when the deliveries come in, you have a good eye and lots of time. I think I will have to try some vintage boutiques next time I'm in Sydney.

Overall it was fun, and I found some nice things. Go in with a big smile and an open mind.

I will post a part 2 soon, with stuff I bought this weekend!

Sweet treats and recent eats...

On sunday I did a fair bit of cooking... I made some sweet treats for a care package for my darling. It included some raspberry slice, chocolate almond fudge and some rocky road but I only took a photo of the raspberry coconut slice.

I also made some tapioca in coconut milk (which I have made previously so didn't photograph) some pumpkin soup (ditto) and some savoury muffins. This time I used a different recipe and it was AMAZING!

Corn and Bacon Muffins (adapted with a few tweaks from a woman's weekly recipe)

1 310g tin creamed corn

1/2 cup skim milk

2 eggs

2 cups SR flour (or equivalent in plain + baking soda)

140g short cut bacon

1 cup low fat grated cheese

Couple of shallots, chopped finely

salt and pepper to taste

1 tbsp dijon mustard

Preheat oven to 200 deg

Whisk corn, eggs and milk until combined.

Mix everything else in until just combined.

Stick in muffin tins .

Cook for 15-20 minutes until brown on top.

Take out of oven and let cool in the tin for a bit.

Eat one. Eat another. Marvel at the moistness and yumminess. Eat another one then put them away so they cannot be seen....

I froze some and stuck a couple in the fridge as well and buzzed in the microwave they were great. They were really moist even after a couple of days, Im guessing because of all the creamed corn.

Lamb sausages, broccolini and white bean mash. Made the puree in my food mill, will have to post a piccie soon !

Chilli con carne and homemade guacomole. Coriander on top. Apparently some people really really hate coriander both the taste and smell. To some people it tastes like soap. Very strange. I love coriander with mexican, asian and indian food but I agree that the smell is quite pungent!

Back soon,

Undomestic Goddess