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Monthly Archives: December 2011

Having guests tonight?

31 Saturday Dec 2011

Posted by Jane's Adventures in Dinner in sparkly candied nuts

≈ 2 Comments

We really like a low key New Year’s Eve.  I know it isn’t exciting but my husband dj’d for many years and with my time in the restaurant industry we tend to want to just hunker down.  This year we’re having friends (who also have small children) over for appetizers and to ring in the 2012 with lots of bubbles.  That calls for something sparkly and special (like Edward Cullen special and sparkly).
This recipe has a few ingredients that are not of the regular sort but it is a special night.
I’ve got in mind an East Indian inspired toasted nuts and I can even send a jar of them with my father-in-law who flys out to Florida today.
I want yellows and spice with smokiness and salt.  Here’s how I’ll get what I am really in the mood for.
I started with five cups of almonds and walnuts and toasted them in the oven.  While they were toasted I mixed 1 cup of water and 2 cups of sugar.  I let this boil until it reached the hard crack stage.
Then came my spices:  2 T. of tumeric, 1 T. madras curry powder, 3 T. roughly crushed pink peppercorns, 1 tsp. allspice, 3 T. fennel seeds, 2 tsp. smoked sea salt and 1 tsp. Worstershire sauce.
Toss in the toasted nuts.

Add the bubbly sugar syrup.  Keep in mind that this will not make a happy New Year if you souch this bubbly sugar in anyway.

Turn out onto a silcone lined pan (or use parchment).

Now for the super special part!
I have a cache of edible, gold leaf.  What else says New Year’s more than gold?
Just pat on top and mix.

As small one would say, “Tada!”

I love hearing from you. Leave a comment-make my day.

It doesn’t have to be gourmet to be great :-)

30 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by Jane's Adventures in Dinner in cheese and rice casserole

≈ 2 Comments

This is one of the two weeks out of the year that my organic, delivery ‘guy’ goes on holidays.  I miss him but it is also an amazing time for me to use up a lot of vegetables etc. that may have otherwise languished in the fridge.  This casserole is perfect to use up whatever combination that you’d like to but one of the things that I like the most about it is that it is totally, unabashedly NOT gourmet.  This is homey food at its finest.
Take 3 1/2 cups of chopped, mixed vegetables.  You could even use frozen if you’d really like.
Have your favourite, kitchen toddler mix: 1 1/2 tsp of dried basil, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 2 cups of yogurt and pepper to taste.
Add in:  2 eggs, 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar and 1/4 cup of bacon bits (you can leave these out or add canned tuna or cooked lentils or chopped chicken…).
Toss in your vegetables.
Combine 3 cups of cooked rice-I’ve got brown rice here but other times I’ve also used basmati, quinoa or just regular white rice.  I haven’t tried it before BUT I’m thinking that a nice egg noodle would be good in here too.
Pour into a buttered lasagne pan, top with croutons (don’t have any? Just used cracker crumbs or buttered, cubes of bread) and finish with another 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar.
Place in a moderate oven (330) until bubbly (about 1/2 hour)-in the meantime, colour with the kitchen toddler.
Serve with some cut-up cucumbers that are lightly salted and peppered.
I love hearing from you. Leave a comment-make my day.

A save and a save

29 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by Jane's Adventures in Dinner in lemon and candied ginger cake

≈ 1 Comment

Happy, happy day. 
I’m very much enjoying school holidays and have even gotten a few extra runs in so make up for all those extra treats I’ve been having. 
To reward my exercise…
I had egg yolks in the freezer from making my Baked Alaska’s and was wanting a nice simple cake for dinner tonight.  One of my favourite flavour combinations is ginger and lemon so here is what I came up with.
Cream; 1 cup butter with 1 1/2 cups of white sugar.
Add in the 8 egg yolks you saved from making meringues.  Beat in 3/4 cups milk and 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla.
Stir in 1/4 cup of chopped, candied ginger and the zest from one lemon.
Fold in: 2 cups flour and 2 tsp. baking powder.
Pour into a buttered bundt ban and bake at 330 for 30 minutes (or until a knife comes out cleanly).

Grrrr…realise that your bundt pan is now ready to be binned. 
Dim the lights, cover the whole thing with blueberries and enjoy dessert.
I love hearing from you. Leave a comment-make my day.

Pin’Inspiring :-)

28 Wednesday Dec 2011

Posted by Jane's Adventures in Dinner in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Hope everybody had an amazing holiday and are now starting to get ready for the New Year.  I loved last week’s party and can’t wait to see what you come-up with this week.  I’ve already trolled Pinterest to find some ideas for my New Year’s party (low key with lots of hot Indian food) and look forward to adding your ideas to my boards in the next coupld of days.

Three projects that especially caught my eye:
sweetswansongs got cosy and upcycled a sweater into handwarmers

icantstopcrafting made luscious citrus scrub

and jackspratwife made a gorgeous tutu that my wee one would have a riot in

Would love if you grabbed a feature button and watch this space in the next two months for a total revamp of buttons and blog.  It’s almost a new year and I feel antsy for a few changes.

Now clever, clever folks you know what to do but if you’re new here here’s the 411

1) link your great projects
2) follow myself and ArtsyGirl
3) grab a button from myself and ArtsyGirl
4) link to an exact post and not your general blog url
5) let’s just focus on; photography, recipes and crafts and not giveaways or businesses
6) have a fab time exploring other people’s great ideas, leave lots of comments and meet someone new
7) tell a friend so they can join on in

Ready to be Pin’Inspired? I know that I am.

I love hearing from you. Leave a comment-make my day.
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