Nella Mia Cucina ~ In My Kitchen

Crostata di lamponi ~ Raspberry tart

A few years ago I was asked what my hobbies were and, sadly, I was lost for an answer. Nothing I liked to do, other than read, seemed worthy of being called a hobby. As I have grown and matured I have discovered more about myself and I can quite happily say that food is definitely one of my hobbies. I love food and I love trying food from different countries, preferably in that country, but anywhere will do. Travel is another hobby and I have added photography to my list as well. 

Now travel is not something I can achieve whenever I want, but food and photography can both be found in my kitchen. I have been consumed by all things Italian lately and, inspired by Silvia Colloca's blog, her recipe books (coincidentally full of amazing photos of Italy as well as recipes) and her television series recently seen on the ABC, we have had some Italian heaven on our plates!

Invotini di melanzane con ricotta e spinaci ~ Stuffed eggplant rolls with ricotta and spinach

Now, I'm not wandering between to aisles of fresh produce at the Campo de' Fiori or sipping cappuccinos in the Piazza Navona. Nor am I marvelling at the stained glass windows at Il Duomo but one day I will, and I might just know what I am ordering from those Italian menus if I keep practising in my kitchen until then...

from Made in Italy with Slivia Colloca

looks like the picture in the book!
(made by my husband and daughter)

What is your favourite cuisine? Is it a family recipe or one you have perfected?

Happy eating, or cooking, or both!

Kate xx

Fire and Flour 2016

I felt a bit like Charlie Bucket opening a Willy Wonka's chocolate bar and finding a golden ticket when I received the invitation to 'The Shady Baker' , otherwise known as Jane's annual Fire and Flour Day.

I get so excited about this day. I am not a natural baker or cook. My garden does not have an abundance of produce and I devote much more of my time to my passion, Early Childhood Education, than I do to food, growing, making and creating. This being said, Fire and Flour day incorporates all the things I truly enjoy. There is beautiful food that we get to make, bake and cook while learning from Jane herself. There is beautiful produce grown to eat on the day or to take home from the swap table. There are friends and, in my case, family to catch up with and enjoy the company of and every year there are new friends to meet and make. There may even be a cheeky red or two!

This year we arrived to the sight of a long trestle table in the paddock, ready for feasting. There was a big fire to congregate around, an absolute must at an outdoor event in July, and there was a coffee van! Yes a coffee van. Summa and Nathan were busy firing up the coffee machine, ready to share their mobile barista skills with us for morning tea. Jane has the BEST friends!

Throughout the day we talked bread, made zeppole and pita bread, watched Mr Shady Baker work his magic with hot coals, hot oil and naked dough, ate the fruits of our labour and shared lunch together. Once replete, the children joined those not deep in conversation for some crafting with Sophie. She wove her magic with yarn to show us how to make God's eyes and experimented with some natural dying. We topped this off with an affogato from Uncle Frankie and a sweet treat made by Nina from The Nutty Baker,  who was visiting from Sydney.

Waiting for us before our departure was the swap table where everyone had contributed something from their garden, kitchen or craft room. We were all excited to see what others had brought and chose from garden cuttings, preserves, things lovingly stitched or crocheted, oranges, lemons and quinces, seedlings and many more treasures to take home. There is a real spirit of sharing and generosity surrounding the swap table and every time I enjoy someones stewed quinces and homemade marmalade in the weeks after it brings a smile to my face.

Goodbyes mingled with thank you's, "See you next year" and exclamations of how we have known each other through social media and now we know each other in 'Real Life'. I went home, happy to have once again spent time with my Fire and Flour family and excited to have made new friends I might get to see this time next year.

Kate xx

adagio

I love it when everything takes on a slower pace, when there is time to play, time to create, time to just be. I treasure the summer holidays...

I hope there is some 'adagio' in your week too.

Kate x

Linking with My Little Boys for Wordless Wednesday

Apple Harvest

It is a rather grand blog post title, I know but I have harvested our apple crop for 2015 and I am excited. Our crop this year is double that of last year. Yes! A whole six apples.

Giddy with excitement, I promised my family an apple treat using our beautiful pink lady apples from our back yard. One of my favourite recipe books, "The Country Table" from the Australian Women's Weekly was dusted off and my peeler was put to work.

My house smells amazing and apple crumble is on the menu tonight! I can't wait. I will be waiting in eager anticipation for our apple crop next year. Who knows what it will bring.

Flour, eggs and a little sparkle

The rhythm of the house has changed this week. Master B is far, far away, on a school excursion so Miss B is Queen of the house for the week.

One of Queen B's favourite pass times is baking so today she took advantage of her Mother-in-waiting's full attention and she indulged...

Is there anyone in your house who has a passion for baking? I am definitely going to nurture this interest as I fully encourage and support the baking (and eating) of cake!

Kate xx


I am linking with Wordless Wednesday over at My Little Drummer Boys

A Chocolate Guinness Celebration

One of Nigella Lawson's books 'Feast' is all about food that celebrates life and nothing says celebration to me like her Chocolate Guinness Cake!

Look at that chocolatey, bubbly goodness!

I have often looked at this recipe and it has been on my ever growing list of things I'd like to try but this week I was inspired by the beautiful pictures of this very cake shared by Emma on her blog, She Sows Seeds. I put Guinness on my shopping list, dusted off my Nigella recipe book and got to work.



Chocolate Guinness Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cake:
250ml Guinness
250g unsalted butter
75g cocoa powder
400g caster sugar
3/4 cup or 142 ml sour cream
2 large eggs
1 tbsp vanilla essence
275g plain flour
2 1/2 tsps bicarb soda

Topping:
300g cream cheese
1 cup icing sugar
125ml cream

Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Combine Guinness and butter in a saucepan, heat until butter is melted then whisk in the cocoa and sugar. Set aside.
Beat the sour cream, eggs and vanilla together, fold in the flour and bicarb. Combine with the Guinness mixture and whisk then pour into a greased or lined spring-form cake tin. Bake in oven for 45 minutes to an hour, until a skewer comes out clean from the centre and the cake springs back when touched.
Cool the cake on a wire rack, still in the pan. Whip the cream cheese, sieve over the icing sugar gradually and beat it in too. Add in the cream and beat. Spread generously on your cake (and don't forget to lick the beaters!)

My house smells fantastic and everyone is waiting with eager anticipation for the first slice! I must confess that my cake sunk in the middle a little but this just means there is a generous amount of the cream cheese topping which should make up for any structural shortcomings!

Nigella goes on about this cake looking like a pint of Guinness with the rich darkness of the cake and the pale icing on top looking like the frothy head. What do you think?

Are you inspired by reading about what others are cooking or their foodie pics?

Kate x

Linking with Alicia at One Mother Hen

Made with love...

It seems to be inescapable that Christmas is a lot about the presents. Let's face it, even the wise men brought gifts to Bethlehem. I think a gift made with love is a special thing to receive and so once again I have embraced this and been busy.

As you may have read in a previous post here, I have been busy crocheting star decorations which some of my lovely friends and family have received. I have also been baking and reacquainting myself with my poor, neglected sewing machine.

These cute Santa biscuits are Vanilla Butter Biscuits and are destined for teachers and some special little people this year. This is such an easy recipe which can be used for stamping pictures like this or cutting into shapes.

There is a tradition I started when I had my children and have carried on to extend to two special friends as well as my nieces and nephew. Each child now has one of these beautiful Santa sacks to put out on Christmas Eve. I will admit to being a little slack as my children (the oldest in the extended family) have got bigger and busier and I have begun to work more and sew less. These last two sacks are twelve months a little overdue but they are now completed * and the count is up to nine! I know that they will be under various family Christmas trees for years to come but I wonder how many more are on the cards?

*I must make mention of the fact I had help this time. Thank you Mum for sharing your Christmas material stash and sewing the squares together, ready for me to weave my magic!

Wishing my blogging friends a very merry Christmas full of magic and fun.

Kate x

Banana Bread

There seemed to be an awful lot of bananas in the fruit bowl this week and many of them were slightly past their best which was not making them any more enticing! The family have been consuming them with gusto until now but something in the air must have changed this week...

 

 

Dearest Daughter suggested banana bread (that being the only form in which she can be convinced to consume a banana) so to work we went.

My sister-in-law shared a fabulous recipe with me a few years ago and even though I am not well known for my baking skills this recipe is always a winner.

The house was awash with the smell of baking banana bread and the kitchen was full of hungry volunteers to test. As usual the results were spectacular.

The lunchboxes the next day were that bit more exciting and the banana bread did not last much past afternoon tea time!

I guess I will have to buy some more bananas now...to not eat so they are just right for banana bread!

Do you have to pack lunches or do you bake treats for morning and afternoon tea? What is a favourite in your house or do you have baking disasters too?