Joolz & Kirby cook dinner...

Of course, we had to do a Maggie dish...

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We chose her chicken with figs, honey and vinegar...

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Accompanied by braised kipfler potatoes...

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I portioned a free range chicken then added it to the baking dish with all the other goodies - red onion, figs, lemon thyme, rosemary, cinnamon, verjuice, vinegar, honey and chicken stock...

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It looked great before it was cooked!

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Just before serving, I drained off the pan juices and reduced them, to pour over the sticky chicken...

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Yum!

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Kirby made a salad...

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Family dinner - the best kind!

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Dessert was also a triumph!  Very easy mini baked cheesecakes...

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The biscuit base is pressed into patty pans then the filling goes in (cream cheese, 1 egg, caster sugar, lemon juice and cream)...

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Bake then cool then refrigerate until needed ...

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And et voila! Very decadent and deceiving! I thought I could knock two of them off but one was plenty...

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A wine for the cook!

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Food coma for Brianna!

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Today we will explore the region, checking out Maggie's Farm shop and some wineries. Then tonight it is Gus and Breeza's turn to cook dinner. Entree and main plus our cheesecakes again for dessert. Bring it!

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Cheers - Joolz xx
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 

Orchard House, Nuriootpa...

 

On Saturday, we headed to the Barossa Valley with our girls to spend the weekend at Maggie Beer's Orchard House...

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The house with views over the orchard.

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We explored this beautiful house...big squishy beds with soft linen sheets...
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The long passage runs the length of the house...

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The kitchen is a cooks paradise...

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Under the marble bench there are all manner of electric appliances for our use...

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Rustic table and chairs ...

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Fresh flowers to welcome us...

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Wow, the bank of ovens, warmers and microwave is amazing. Fully integrated coffee machine too. Espresso anyone?
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Breakfast supplies plus bacon, eggs and mushrooms in the fridge...

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Comfy couches for book reading, knitting or sitting with a wine...

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The TV room with slow combustion fire and TV (we watched Pretty Woman)...

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More lovely fresh flowers...

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Out back, there are two bbq's and tubs filled with herbs for picking...

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It is a beautiful property.  We made dinner and dessert and had a great first night.

Cheers - Joolz xx

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

Nothing happening...

My throw rug is still progressing - quite a lit can be achieved in 30 minute bursts...

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It's cold. Every day it is 11-12C and this winter is dragging. I love winter but I am sick of these low temps. Our winter is usually around 15C but that cold snap of a few weeks back just hasn't left us.  Add to that the mundane of the working week and it is no wonder I have nothing to say.  By the time I shop for a few things, its nearly dark when I get home.

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We are heading away for a mini break so there is that to look forward to but it won't be any warmer than here.  This weekend will be fun as the girls will be with us. Stay tuned!

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Cheers - Joolz xx

 

Crusty white loaf...

I have been itching to try my cane bannetons that I first saw on http://shadybaker.blogspot.com.au

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I purchased them from

 https://sourdough.com/shop

I had seen pictures of these forms and had always thought they were made of clay but in fact they are cane.

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Before use, the bannetons need to be conditioned.  Using a spray bottle of water, lightly spray the inside then dust with a bit of flour then tip out the excess...

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Now it is ready to use.  Next time, I'll repeat the process so there is always a film of flour on it.

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I made my dough (after pulling a clanger with the first batch - I couldn't work out why the dough wasn't coming together in my mixer - it was so dry! Maybe it was something to do with the fact I had left out 200mls of water). Anyway, the next batch was good.

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After 45 minutes rising...

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I tipped it out onto kitchen paper and let it rise a further 25 mintes while my dutch oven heated up in a 230C oven...

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I plopped it in and put the lid on...

30 minutes in that hot oven...

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After 30 minutes, now leave the lid off and bake another 15 minutes...
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....and ta dah!

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A lovely loaf...

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Now, where's the butter and Vegemite??

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Cheers - Joolz xx

 

 

 
 

Sunday morning catch up...

It's been a long week! A cold, busy, can't wait for Friday week! Thank God It's Friday!
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My junk food of choice when I dine alone is Macaroni Cheese Deluxe - my guilty pleasure!

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My sister, Leanne had her birthday yesterday so I made Melting Moments to have at afternoon tea.

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They turned out perfectly...

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When I went to find something for dinner, I noticed the butcher in Woolies was reducing packs of meat.  I hung back a bit then when he'd finished, I snapped up these 2 packs of lamb shanks - out at half price!

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This my own recipe for Moroccan lamb shanks - 1 onion, carrot and stick of celery, diced; a can of diced tomatoes, 1 cup of water, 250gms medjool dates and then sprinkle with 2-3 tblspn moroccan spice mix and the same of brown sugar. Season with salt and pepper.  I set my slow-cooker on low at 2pm and crossed my fingers....

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When I got home at 7pm, Gus had the potatoes on steaming for mash and I did some peas.  It was delicious, sweet and spicy.  I'll be making that recipe again!

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So here we are and it's Sunday again.  I hope to make bread this afternoon, using my new banettons that I bought. I'll show you them later....

Cheers - Joolz xx