Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Fettucine Bolognaise from scratch...

I use many pasta sauces when making quick bolognaise sauces but when I make it myself, it really does taste that much better. It is a quick meal that can be constructed at 4.30pm and left to simmer away until needed - the longer the better as flavours develop.
~
In a heavy based pan, saute one onion and a large clove of garlic in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Just sweat it off so the garlic doesn't burn.
~
Next, add 500gms good beef mince (mine was very lean so you don't need to drain off fat) and break down the chunks as it browns...
~
I use this large metal fork to mash down the mince into small, even pieces...smelling goood now!

~
Toss in some fresh, chopped mushrooms (you could also add grated zucchini and carrot or pumpkin) ...
~
Now add in the saucy bits - a can of tomato puree...
~
... a can of chopped tomatoes (these Italian ones were .89c/can) ...
~
Two tablespoons of tomato paste...
~
Sprinkle in a large teaspoon of beef stock powder...
~
Season with salt and cracked pepper to taste (your choice) ...
~
I always add sugar to take the bite off the tomato, about 2 teaspoons...
~
Throw in chopped basil and thyme (I used fresh but dried is just as good) - now let it simmer for 30 minutes with the lid on over very low heat - you can add a little water if it looks a but dry but mine was okay.
~
Now get your pasta on and cook al dente - I used fettucine but spaghetti is good or any pasta noodle (your choice). Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and drizzle with a little olive oil - this stops it clumping. I put a couple of big spoonfuls of the sauce in with the pasta, dish out into serving bowls then top with more sauce and grated parmesan (or cheddar) cheese ...
~
I made my own garlic bread using the bruschetta bread and some garlic butter I had in the fridge - 5 minutes in a hot oven and it was ready to go.
~
Delicious!
~
Have a lovely day - it's only about 9C here at the moment but it's a sun shiney day after a heavy fog this morning. I have pics to share later.
~
Cheers - Joolz

Sunday, June 26, 2011

A lazy weekend...

The weeks are spinning by so quickly - it's Monday morning then it seems 3 minutes later it's Friday night, knock off work....
We had tacos for dinner - strips of steak stir-fried with the taco seasoning and all the trimmings. I like the crunchy taco shells, the other like torillas.
~
Yum!
~
Angus took to the MasterChef magazine and produced this yummy Thai Green Curry with prawns last night for dinner. Note the fancy lime wedges and fresh parsley? - I think I should send in an application for him for next years show! Will bookmark that recipe!
~
Here's a fun fact - being the 26th June, it is now exactly 6 months (182 days) until Christmas! Check out the bottom of my blog page if you don't believe me!
Get outta town! (to quote Franc from Father of the Bride) Holy shizzle - half the year's gone!
Okay, I'm rambling - time to go grab a wine and watch Dancing with the Stars then MasterChef. Angus is cooking a Beef Rib Roast with roast vegetables (out of a Women's Weekly book) for dinner. What a treasure!
~
Cheers - Joolz

Friday, June 24, 2011

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Wills & Kate...



I don't think this looks like Prince William & Catherine at all!
I just got one of these 20 cent pieces today.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Yummy Olive Oil Chocolate Cake & Happy Birthday!

Outback Tania mentioned this cake on her blog (she got the recipe from A Farmers Wife at Life in the Country) so I thought I'd give it a whirl seeing as it is Angus' birthday today. It is tradition at our business that the 'birthday girl or boy' must bring a cake in for 'smoko' (tea break), so I whipped it up last night.
~
It made a lovely high cake and this morning when I cut it up, it was so moist! A very easy recipe that will become my 'go to' cake for sure! I just whipped up some chocolate frosting with icing sugar, cocoa, a knob of butter and a little milk.
~
Cake, anyone?
~
Wishing my dear Angus a Happy Birthday - don't work too hard - but I know you already do!
We are just having a quiet night in, chicken pasta for dinner with a few wines and TV after.
~
Cheers - Joolz

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Wild, winter weather...

We awoke to the sound of hail hitting the roof at 6am. We are in for another cold day (11C I believe)...
~
With all the wild weather we had last night, the wind knocked over my garden gnome and smashed him to smithereens!
~
This is tree has been snapped off at the base (never liked it anyway - he he!)
~
My standard roses are in need of their winter pruning - one day soon!
~
Potted colour...
~
We have had 23 mls of rain in the 24 hours to 9am and it is currently 9C. I wonder what I can create for dinner that will be nice and warming, will have to google some recipes I think.
~
Cheers - Joolz

Monday, June 20, 2011

Brrr... baby, it's cold outside!

It is truly a winter's day here today. It is blowing a gale, straight off the Southern Ocean, everything is getting whipped around and the rain is pelting down. It is currently 13C.
~
Pity I have to go to work, I'd much rather hunker down and do some quiet stitching or reading. The office waits for no man!
~
Stay warm,

Joolz

Sunday, June 19, 2011

A missing moggie and pot-roasted pork...

Our mogster, Bonnie hadn't been seen since Friday. I was pondering this, this afternoon and said to Gus - I don't suppose she is out in the big shed? Sure enough, she was. He lifted the roller door and she shot out like greased lightening! Poor thing hadn't had anything to eat since Friday night! She scoffed down a serve of Whisker's casserole and some dry food then took off out of our garage. I don't think she wants to be locked in tonight!
~
This was dinner on Thursday night - Chicken Enchiladas a la Joolz.
~
We have had a very lazy weekend. We were going to go 'glamping' in Ruby this weekend, over in Victoria but the weather just couldn't get me enthused to spend 2 nights at a camping spot, where there is nothing but a 'long drop' toilet. Once we pitch the tent off Ruby we cannot go for a drive anywhere so if the weather is bad, we are confined to the small tent. Had the weather been fine, we could go fishing in the reservoir there or just walk for miles and sit by the camp fire. I think we made the right choice to stay home - all our gear would be muddy and wet and that is hard to clean and get dry in this weather. Next free weekend with fine weather, we will be off!
~
Angus is cooking Manu Feildel's Pot-roasted Pork with Prunes for dinner - this is the plated up dish.
~
Cheers - Joolz

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Pretty skies and some winter warmers....

I completely forgot to check out the lunar eclipse that was taking place this morning (between 5am and 6.30am I think) but I did zip out after 7am and got these pics. I couldn't see the moon at all...
~
Such beautiful colours in the sky...
~
Tuesday night dinner was Garlic Beef & Red Pepper stir fry which we all enjoyed...
~
Followed, rather naughtily, by this Chocolate Pudding... from the Women's Weekly Old fashioned Favourites book.
~
60gms butter
1/2 cup milk
1 tspn vanilla essence or extract
3/4 cup caster sugar
1 cup SR flour
1 heaped tablespoon cocoa powder
~
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 heaped tablespoon cocoa powder
2 cups of boiling water and a knob of butter
~
1. Combine butter and milk in a large saucepan, stir until butter has melted. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and caster sugar, then sifted flour and cocoa. Just use a wooden spoon to mix.
~
2. Spread mixture into a greased overproof dish (6-8 cup capacity). Combine brown sugar and cocoa in a small bowl then sprinkle this over the batter. Drop small bits of the knob of butter over this then carefully pour over the boiling water.
~
3. Bake in moderate over (180C) for 40 minutes - sauce with sink under the pudding and thicken. Serve with vanilla icecream or whipped cream.
~
We had a dinner guest last night so I did Kylie Kwong's Radical Roast Chicken and it was great. A one pot dish so there wasn't much clean up. I do feel that the cooking times are a bit short so allow longer to get the bird cooked properly. It has lots of cloves of garlic and shallots roasted in amongst the vegetables and boy, did the house reek this morning!
~
... and because the other pudding was such a hit, I made this Butterscotch Pudding from Taste.com - very easy (stir it up with a wooden spoon, no beaters required) and delicious! I made this before I started on the chicken so then all we had to do was zap each serve in the microwave.
~
We have a freezing cold wind whipping through today so Bri rugged up with scarf, gloves and leggings under her tights plus socks! It's nearly 9am and it's only 7.4C! Even I will have to 'layer-up' today - I don't wear much more than one layer during our winter but that wind is coming straight from Antarctica!
~
Stay warm... or cool... where ever you are in this world!
~
Joolz

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Seeing the beauty...

It was a very chilly, very foggy morning this morning...
~
~
The spiders had been out doing their work...
~
Such fine webs...
~
The winter sun, low in the sky...
~
~
~
The promise of blue skies once the fog melts away.
~
Have a lovely day, won't you?
~
Cheers - Joolz