daydreaming in aqua...

pear and banana cake

I just made this cake using this recipe by omitting the apple and walnuts and adding a
mashed banana and a diced pear..very yummy and a great way to use up over-ripe fruit

it's not just about the chocolate...

Just pulled these from the oven, and Rhiannon glazed them in some warm apricot
jam (my cheat version of glaze)..the house smells amazing..yum! "D

Favourite 4: Cinnamon Scrolls

I was given this recipe from a friend a few years back and definitely a family favourite! It's
originally for a Breville bread-maker, it works fine with a couple of minor adjustments in
our 10yo Panasonic machine.. ..I guarantee, you won't be able to stop at just one! :D

Sweetness..

Jam shortbread..from my new favourite cookbook :D

Favourite 3: Coffee Cake

Scrummy and very easy to make...perfect for a quick afternoon tea.. The recipe is
from the lovely Mel's blog ~ Day to Day..and lot more where that came from too..
I have the feeling I've blogged about this cake before..oh well it's worth repeating :p

Jem's muffins

While Miss R's at a party this afternoon, Jem has just made some banana muffins..
She tried this recipe from our favourite recipe website Taste.. Considering that don't
have the usual fat content (no butter or oil) they're really good.. Jem did add a
handful of dark choc chips though, which helps in the yummy dept.  We did tweak
the recipe a bit so I'll add our version to the rhs soon. Enjoy the rest of your
 weekend it's a holiday here tomorrow for Regatta Day which is a bonus! :D Gx

Favourite 2: Honey Chilli Chicken

Last night's dinner..served with thin egg noodles :D

Honey Chilli Chicken
Adapted from The Great Chicken Cookbook (Australian Women's Weekly)

1 tbs peanut oil
1kg organic, free-range chicken tenderloins, thinly sliced
2 tsp minced ginger
1 tbs sweet chilli sauce
1 red capsicum, sliced
1 carrot, julienne
bunch green round beans, sliced
1 tsp cornflour
1 tbs soy sauce
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup honey
4 spring onions (scallions) sliced

Heat the oil and cook chicken, chilli and ginger in 2 batches until browned, set aside
Cook capsicum, carrot and beans until just tender (like mine crunchy still)
Blend cornflour with soy sauce in small jug and stir in juice and honey
Return chicken to wok with honey mixture
Cook, stirring, until mixture boils and thickens
Sprinkle with spring onions just before serving

Favourite: Cherry & Almond Tart

One of our absolute favourite desserts is this cherry and almond tart.
For the last 2 years we have enjoyed it on Christmas Day in place of plum pudding.
We use our preserved kentish cherries..and if we can beat the birds to the tree,
there is usually enough bottled up to make 3-4 tarts..spaced through the year



The recipe comes from my favourite and most used cookbook.. from Stephanie Alexander



 

The store bought frozen shortcrust sheets work fine if you don't feel like making your own
SInce this pastry was quite thin I only blind-baked for 15 mins at about 180 deg C



here's Jem spreading the almond paste over the cherries



and the finishing touches before baking..we got a little excited and brushed the syrup on
before baking..it didn't matter though..still tasted beaut!



Can't wait for the next one..Easter me thinks! :D

Daily Bread II

Rhiannon had been begging me to make cornbread for ages..she adores it, I love it fresh
but usually find it a little dry the next day. I couldn't find my usual recipe so tried this one
instead..on my favourite recipe database..it had a lovely light and moist consistency and
remained fresher longer too.  I didn't have any chilli on hand and instead of using the
buttermilk,  used 1/2 C of plain yoghurt and 1 C skim milk. Can't wait to make again :D

New Favourites

I've been listening to this song by Irish band The Script lately,  I really love his voice..
reminds me a little of another favourite Sting and on the high notes, Jeff Buckley
and overall they sound a bit like Maroon Five, what a combination :D



Blog hopping last night, I found this recipe at tiny happy. I added dried apricot ~ yum!
I'm thinking next time I'll try some ginger and dates.Do you have any new favourites? Gx