This blog is all about me......I come here for respite in between caring for JoJo (our Daughter who has Special Needs)......I am addicted to starting new projects......I am becoming a fabric-a-holic... I love to try out recipes... take a beach walk and breathe in that salty blue air......love to have coffee...sip a glass of champagne......read a book......I am Queen of the Armchair and am inspired by all the wonderful blogs out there!!!

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Christmas in June With A Cook Up With Donna Hay No 23




We recently had our Christmas in July dinner in June as I am in a Melodrama every weekend at Gold Rush Colony
JoJo brought out her cardboard Christmas tree
I put on the DVD with an open fire playing on the tv



JoJo bought bon-bons in January specifically for this


Menu is from donna hay magazine Issue 68 April/May 2013

Basic Meatloaf with a Twist
Mixed Mushroom and Almond Milk Risotto with Crispy Sage
Sauerkraut (from Issue 62 April/May 2012)
Dark Chocolate Coconut Cheesecakes with Pomegranate Syrup



I started by making the bases for the cheesecakes 
how excellent were these......all gluten free made with 
shredded coconut......sugar......egg whites and melted butter
I think I will make these more often!!!



Next I lined the baking dish in preparation for the pork and veal mince with prosciutto
The recipe specified pancetta but the butcher had run out of this 
When doing a Cook Up I try and stay as close to the recipe and ingredients as I can
Bacon would also work just as well with this



The mince just about covered
Mr Armchair suggested this pic as he liked the look of what was happening!!!



The mince all covered now and ready for the oven



I then started the sauerkraut



The meatloaf out of the oven
It looked absolutely delicious!!!


Sliced meatloaf


and the meal all together now
That risotto must be the creamiest risotto I have ever tasted!!!



I bought 'real' organic chocolate from Rustic Pantry (no additives.....read gluten LOL) chunks for the cheesecakes below


and boy were they good
Light too made with the addition of cream cheese and ricotta



I just love pomegranate seeds




I did make the syrup but turned away from it whilst cooking......


But wait there's more
A gluten free fruit cake by a lovely lady from Braidwood that was delivered to me after Christmas so I put it away for our mid year Christmas dinner
This cake was not a heavy cake and honestly you couldn't tell that it was gluten free
It was just delicious
Thank you so much Trish for this unexpected delivery!!!



JoJo was happy with fruit cake and goat's milk custard (she's dairy free) while we enjoyed the cheesecakes and had the fruit cake the next evening


And to top it all off a joke from one of the bon bons

Why did the golfer wear an extra pair of trousers?

Answer:  In case he got a hole in one!!!  

I like the jokes from bon bons even though they are silly they are a lot of fun!!!

Bon Appetit......Dzintra

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

what fun and they all look so yummy i need to go through her books as i have 500gms of ricotta cheese and i dont know what to make with it,lol.xx

Fiona said...

That meal looks just fantastic....
Hugz

Domesblissity said...

Everything looks absolutely gorgeous Dzintra, especially that meatloaf. Goodness me, delicious!

Anne xx

RitaGri said...

Pilnīgi pareizi, kas gan Ziemassvētki bez skābiem kāpostiem, bez cūciņas šņukurīša!

Susan said...

It looks like a sumptuous feast....well done.

Sue said...

Delicious dinner, I love Donna Hay's recipes too.

Bev C said...

Hello Dzintra,

What a lovely evening you had, it all sounds warm and cosy with the fire in the background and the delicious meal.
Happy Christmas in July Jojo.

Bev.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

WOW. I've been away in California for an entire week and it really is great to be back home in my own bed, and to visit my favorite blogs. Oh Dzintra, you always have the best recipes to savour!!!! BIG HUGS MY DEAR! Anita

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Oh my friend, it truly is WONDERFUL to be back home in my own bed, on my own turf, with my husband and friends. AND IN BLOGLAND AGAIN! Anita

DAWNIE said...

Oh such yumminess is making me hungry

Anita said...

It looks like you had a wonderful time. Love the Christmas tree and the yummy food.
Cheers, Anita.

Palomasea said...

Christmas in July, how fun my dear!!!
I hope the weather is mild....
And I am salivating looking at this gorgeous meal! Everything turned out so amazing, Dzintra!
I picked up the magazine two days ago...can't wait to get started!!

Thank you so much for peeking at my post...wish you could pop right over for a walk in that park... :)
Sending you much love, sweet friend!
Big hugs,
- Irina

Anonymous said...

Love everything you've been doing lately xx

Rachaeldaisy said...

What a perfect Christmas in July!! A Christmas tree and a delicious feast. And to top it off a funny cracker joke.

Nat Palaskas said...

Merry Xmas in July to you too. I forgot all about it. The cook up look yummy as always. Will have to steal some of the recipe of you - Hugs Nat

Welcome To My World

Hello, my name is Dzintra Ingrid ... have been known as Ingrid and since our Sea Change I have started to use Dzintra ... pronounced without the D ... (but still known as Ingrid, I know, it's confusing ...)

Welcome to my world ... a journal of our Sea Change ... Mum to three wonderful children ... bringing up a daughter with a disability and seeing life through her eyes ... being a new Nanna ... photos ... inspiring quotes ... taking on a cookery course ... the odd recipe ... and trying to get some stitching done amongst all this ...