~Cook Up with donna hay magazine......Sticky ginger marmalade Chicken~

Another delicious Cook Up has happened from donna hay magazine Issue 88 Aug/Sep 2016

These are really getting really too far between now but I'm determined to catch up!!!

Menu -  Sticky Ginger Marmalade Chicken Stir Fry
accompanied by Zucchini and a Cucumber Salad with aThai Dressing

 Chocolate and Maple Banana Cake

First up  I started the Dessert Cake preparation 

I even made my own Dulce De Leche instead of purchasing it but come to think of it I have never seen it available in our small coastal town

Recipe for Homemade Dulce De Leche by Donna Hay available here and also above blog in Pages

Condensed Milk ready to go into oven covered by foil and in a Water Bath
I don't think I left mine in long enough due to the paler colour and thickness of it compared to  Donna's but in any case it was still delicious
Also a bit hard to check as it was covered by baking paper, foil and string

As you can see Donna's version is really dark and quite thick

The Dulce De Leche is sitting atop Chocolate Ganache

My version all bottled and ready to use whenever called for

To our surprise we have successfully grown Ginger so this was used for garnishing the meal

All accompanied by Zucchini

and a Cucumber Salad with a Thai Dressing (home made) just to give it that little edge

I used Home Made Marmalade from my local Farmer's Market and boy was this so different to a commercial marmalade........the Citrus flavour was strong and I really enjoy that!!!

Above and below.......just a few versions of my Cake

And the best part........it's all Gluten Free!!!

Bon Appetit and have a great weekend......Dzintra

~Cook Up With donna hay and Irina~

Just before Christmas saw me do another Cook Up with donna hay and Irina

from donna hay magazine Issue 76 Aug/Sep 2014

Menu for the evening was

Chicken in White Wine with Lemon Potatoes (recipe over here)

Rose and Raspberry Trifles (recipe over here)

and I couldn't resist trying the

Cherry and Cardamom Pound Cake

Instead of Dry White Wine in the Chicken I used Dry Cider

The Chicken just about ready

Instead of Artichoke I used Snow Peas from our garden and some Sweet Potato

All dressed with Parmesan Cheese

and very tasty indeed!!!

The Trifle in an Eiffel Tower glass

Looking down into it

The Cake in the background

I couldn't stop at 1 Dessert to make I had to try out the Cherry and Cardamom Cake

After all it would be good for the next day's Morning Coffee, right?!

Well we couldn't resist just a little piece lol

Better get cracking as another Cook Up is waaaay overdue!!!

Bon Appetit........Dzintra

~2014~The Ones That Got Away

 Boy 2014 certainly whizzed by in a flash

Welcome 2015 and let's hope it's a peaceful year all round the world especially in light of what has been going on

I thought I would do my annual post on pics that were going to be made into blog posts but  just didn't make it

First pic is of lucerne bales for a small vegetable garden that I thought we would start up

Mr Armchair built the garden 4 storeys high out of railway sleepers

One reason is I'm tall and don't bend so well and the other is our Labrador Mimi who loves to 'garden'

Not long into it and this is what it looked like

And to keep Mr Armchair busy in February I needed a new bookcase and thought this corner was perfect

And it is........only trouble is the books keep 'growing'

In March JoJo was out with her group and she bought Mimi a collar

Only thing is it's for a puppy and Mimi is a big, boofy Labrador 

Such a sweet thought on JoJo's part

At Easter time in April I coloured some eggs in vine leaves and onion skins..........a Latvian tradition

this being the result

The egg can then be polished up with some bacon rind

In May we went to see a Miss Fisher exhibition

Miss Fisher......played by Essie Davis........ is a glamorous Lady Detective and the series is set in the 1920's in Melbourne

Read more about the series here

One of my favourite TV shows

In June I entered a giveaway by Jennifer Chiaverini and won this book The Master Quilter

One of her best I think

It was even autographed for me

To win I had to enter a question asking which character I would most like to meet out of the Elm Creek Series

My answer was Anna (the cook) so that I could cook with her for the patchworkers and then sit down and do some sewing with everybody later

I think there were about 800 entries so not bad

 In July at around 5pm there was a massive storm and I took some quick pics coming home

The colours were just stunning

In August we went out for JoJo's birthday breakfast and this is the view 

In September I bought an apron off my Friend Miss Vicki and decided to wear it whilst sewing as I get a heap of threads all over my clothes.......especially the black ones

In October I got to meet Monica McInerney who recognised my name from comments I had made to her Face book page

Such a lovely lady

 In November one evening I spilled frozen peas all over the floor (not very exciting I know)

but the next night the garlic I had fell down and landed looking like a triangle so I just had to photo it

And of course Mimi came in and cleaned up the peas

She didn't even know they were frozen as she doesn't eat she vacuums lol

Before we knew it it was Christmas again

 JoJo's programme had a Christmas get together and she was so proud that she cut the sausage and spiked it together with a tomato and a toothpick

And oh my goodness was this ever good

A Paleo Chocolate Blueberry Cake

I even made my own Nut Butter (cashews) and Paleo Chocolate

Recipe found at The Merry Maker Sisters

And to cap off New Year's Eve a pic taken off the television of the Fireworks on Sydney Harbour 

Happy 2015 everyone.........let's make it a good one

Love Dzintra

A Catch Up Week....and 'Eye News'

I've been a little quiet on the blog front lately....turns out the iPad screen is playing havoc with my eyes and giving me headaches.......not just the screen but bright light outside and glare as well...... After a trip to the Optometrist I've been prescribed new lenses with anti-glare and been advised to have breaks from it all.......so looking forward to the new specs!  Meanwhile I am visiting everybody but not commenting everywhere!

I thought a little catch up was In order

Above is some secret sewing for Chooky's SSCS (Secret Santa Christmas Swap)

The big reveal will happen after Christmas when my Partner opens her gift

Meanwhile here's JoJo snipping some Snow Peas which are doing really well

I bought some garlic and onion from the Moruya Sage Markets

And then of course some garlic fell down and looked like a spaceship

Also I spilt the frozen peas all over the floor

Went to a Carer's Lunch today at The Grapevine Cafe and had the most delicious Chicken Salad with Avocado and Grapes.  Also check out the lovely (Market) Zucchini.......such lovely shapes!!!

Underneath is a pic of a Gluten Free Fingerlime and Coconut Tart also purchased at the Markets.....totally awesome!

Better sign off now......these poor old peepers are starting to spin

Till next time......Dzintra