peanut butter on a salad wrap

A trend which begun around12 years ago in a little country town south west of Victoria was chicken and salad wraps with lashings of peanut butter.

Yuk! You might say... Before being a martyr you must first try this truly ingenious idea - an award winning CASTERTON wrap!

love amie x

something new but not quite right...

Have you travelled to Asia?

Then you would be an expert in the kitschy packaged food products they produce!

Shayne, a colleague knows how much we love to sample new things so he meandered into the kitchen with 'something new,' a chocolate bar with ginseng! A crispy rice centre with a thin milk chocolate coating. The flavour was pure 'ginseng' and not much else and the aroma speaks pungency...

Not quite my cup of tea.

love amie x

Christmas Lunch

We don't just cook we eat and love to do just that...
Eating out at Agape in a new little Organic restaurant hidden amongst the scatty and kitschy shops of Botany Rd with colleagues. 

Agape is a diamond in the rough if you feel like a troop to Botany.

Merry Christmas,

love amie x

a little bit of putt putt...

Sickly sweet and decadently moist this white chocolate mud cake can make a perfect hole in one surprise.

The putting princess or pro in your life will adore you for this delight as you do them...

To decorate: green food dye & coconut (grass), brown sugar (bunker), tooth pick and flag (flag post), green and golf ball (fondant icing with green food dye), trees (obstacles). 

love amie x

Survival of the fittest!

I knew that I learnt something from all my years of studying biology 'Survival of the fittest', was on my mind.

Life can be tough and hurt sometimes like falling off a bike!

So when times get tough I get moving, literally. Bike riding, running, golf, surfing safaris, scuba diving, cooking classes and whatever else my inquisitive nature can take on.

My first bike riding trip in Sydney was not all smooth sailing, I did make it. Finally arriving sweaty and dusty from an hour long ride!

At my destination and what a relief, as the day passed by my juvenile enthusiasm slowly waned. When into my inbox pops an after work surfing invite. The thought of missing that incredible feeling of jumping into the surf for smelly old 'ride to work clothes' screwed up my nose. I searched high and low for a lift back to Bondi.

To no avail I was destined to ride home, sore bottom and all. I jumped onto my lovely truck bike and headed home along the coast. The route home seemed easier perhaps it was the help of a guide!

My motto or mantra for today - If at first you don't succeed then try and try (and try and try) again!

love amie x

cooking classes

Life's a feast cooking classes are just that; you are invited into the comfy and relaxed home of self taught cook Gail. A vivacious and passionate woman who has made her career life work in an area she is heavily passionate in, a true inspiration.
4 simple and delicious recipes are demonstrated with all hands on deck to help out and then eaten together with a vino or two all over the course of 4 hours.
To visit Gail and her lovely lush, green abode go to http://www.lifesafeast.com.au/ and chat to Gail about the type of cooking experience you would like!

love amie x

3 girls, $4.50 for bread and a surf board is all you need...

Hitting the road for some time out was high on the agenda for the weekend.

After roughly packing the car (girl-style) with 3 tiny gal pals, 2 surf boards, clothes and kinis the tiny dollar car was bulging at the seams.

First stop before the gentle flowing girli chit chat was to take full flight were for supplies from the best bakery going, Organic Republic at 7 ways in Bondi. A friendly and delicious place that supplies myself and the Bondi locals with the best bread on the market in Sydney. Say hi to 'MUZ' or as some call him the 'muzzenater' the main man who will introduce you to whoever else is in the bakery at the time. A 'warm' convivial place to eat or sip coffee even when its cold out! Spelt scones are my Achilles heel and the flavours change daily to my delight; peach or raspberry, blueberry and lemon. My very own little sweet surprise treat!

Back to the car and as Dr.Seuss says 'onwards and upwards, your mountain (or in our case our wave) is waiting!' St Huberts Island was the destination, local seafood and fresh seasonal salads with bucket loads of white wine to wash it all down was high on our agenda. Driving out of the chaos that screams SYDNEY, we arrive to a spot that is lush, our own personal holiday island, house on the water, boat and a pool! We dine Alfresco on Terrigal prawns and the weather is humming whilst we are buzzing.

More sand than people is the central coast style unlike the usual over-crowded Bondi beach. The waves were elusive and never quite right, but onwards and upwards we persisted with central coast nothingness that kept us alive.

At home now is fine all tucked up in bed, but that relaxed coastal feeling is slowly dying...

Cars racing past and kids on the street, that quiet north place feels almost a dream.

take care and good night,

love amie x

a touch of comfort

An afternoon out amongst colleagues was spent at a favourite lunch, shopping and experience spot that is Fratelli Fresh. Hidden in the backstreets of Waterloo this beautiful open produce institution provides a very special experience to all. 

We ate bread and butter pudding (mums favourite) and chocolate truffles, which were rich and delicious (just make sure the room is cool, so the chocolate doesn't melt in your hands too much!).

love amie x

im off to a cooking class at Fratelli

Check it....
The first Tuesday of every month after 9am you can call Fratelli and head along to their free cooking classes! Yum Yum...
I will blog some photos and the recipes tomorrow of what we cooked.

http://www.fratellifresh.com.au/

love amie x

Italiano in Bali

Eating good quality Italian fare is one of my favourite things to do. 

So as the saying goes - 'When in Rome' or Bali in this case that was just what we did.

Jumping out of a cab along Seminyaks restaurant strip we stroll into a restaurant with a warm and vibrant buzz, a large rectangular bar is the feature of the room, with dining both indoors or if you prefer, al fresco amongst the tiny dot tree lights.

Pan fried gnocchi is a highly notable recipe choice and $5.00 for a main meal this is one place that wont suck your bank balance dry. The wine is fine and the iconic giant sized strawberry daiquiris are a must to try and a challenge if you can finish them.

bon appetite

love amie x

time for a cup of tea...

Tea can cure a lot of things; anxiety, sleep deprivation and thirst. It can bring friends together to share laughs and tears. 

If only the medicine for love and life could be remedied with a simple 'cuppa'.

love amie x

An apple a day eaten another way...

'An apple a day keeps the doctor away', so the saying goes but if it's eaten another way then does this theory still apply?
Try these 'healthier' apple and muesli muffins for breakfast, a quick snack and as a lunch box filler for the kids.
The humble Apple is well known around the globe not only as a tart and at times sweet fruit it is also the name of Coldplays Chris Martin and actress Gwenyth Paltrow's baby girl; Apple.
The French do classics delightfully and their Apple Tarte Tatin is a favourtie, the Dutch adore their Spiced Apple crumble cake. If you are an Aussie as I am then you may have similar memories of this delightful ball of flavour as I do...
Stewed granny smith Apples served with vanilla ice-cream or custard or Apple sauce coupled with roast pork is simple and fond memory! For a serving of apple try these little Apple and muesli muffins, freeze and remove for school lunches or when your friends pop in next.

APPLE & MUESLI MUFFINS
prep 10-15 minutes
cooking 18-20 minutes
makes 12 lovely muffins

the ingredients
¼ cup/60ml vegetable oil
2 x 60g eggs
½ cup (125g) dark brown sugar
½ cup (125ml) milk
2 apples, peeled, grated
1 cup (150g) self raising flour
¼ cup muesli
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 apple, thinly sliced, optional

a little fun
Pre-heat oven to 180ºC.
Combine oil, eggs, brown sugar and milk in a large bowl.
Beat for 2-3 minutes or until smooth and creamy.
Add apples and continue to mix until just combined.
Add flour, muesli, baking powder and cinnamon and fold the ingredients until just combined. Do not over mix.
Line a 12 cup muffin pan with muffin cases and spoon mixture evenly between cups. Top with apple slices.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown and cooked in the centre.

Tip
For a healthier muffin, replace self raising flour with wholemeal self raising flour.

love amie x

a baguette on the go...

A quick walk at lunch saw us (Cassi and I) bypass the local Asian bakery in Botany shops! In need of a little sustenance we grabbed a baguette for $2 and headed back to work already envisaging a recipe for this crisp bargain baguette.
With 2 eggs already pre-boiled and cooling in their pot awaiting our arrival we decided on an Asian inspired recipe!

Asian-style egg and shallot rolls
feeds: 2 hungry ladies for a late lunch
cost: under $5

the ingredients
2 x 60g eggs
1 tablespoon whole egg mayonnaise
2 shallots, washed, peeled & thinly sliced

1 cucumber, sliced length ways

4 sprigs fresh coriander

a little fun
Place eggs in a small saucepan and fill with cold water until 3/4 full. Bring water to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately run eggs under cold water. Set aside in water to cool.
Peel and then using a fork mash the eggs in a small bowl, add mayonnaise and shallots and mix through.
Slice baguette in half and layer cucumber, coriander and egg mix top with baguette half, slice and serve.

cucumber salad -deliciously light and fresh like a spring morning!
1-2 cucumber, de-seeded, chopped
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt

a little fun
Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl.
Serve with a sprinkling of sesame seeds for a summery and light salad.

This little salad was borrowed from Tessi, she came into the Test Kitchen in search of sesame oil and vinegar and we fell in love with the simplicity and deliciousness of this recipe. YUM!

love amie x

The Shop

A teeny tiny slice of Melbourne in Sydney, The Shop is a hole in the wall haven hidden in the rickety backstreets of Bondi. Away from the hustle and bustle where the tourists roam and the untold Bondi story is awaiting to be told. This is a quieter and more relaxed side of Bondi, which is nice to experience. A mix of local arty folk, cruisy but cool dressed beachy gals is the style but basically anything goes in Bondi as you will learn! This is a cosy cafe by day serving breakfast muesli trifles, BLT's on super soft bread, lush sandwiches filled with poached chicken or hams are partnered with a selection of jams, pickles and cheese's. A comforting spot to frequent alone or in company for their award winning sanga's. By mid afternoon through to the night this tiny dot turns into a svelte wine bar with a tantalising selection of wines written up on an over sized wall mirror. Rich Burgundy and wood make this cafe/wine bar a cosy and warm place to rest your legs and catch up with friends or your lover...

 If you are indulging the cheese plate to share has a little bit of everything; soft creamy brie, quince paste, aged Cheddar served alongside crisp crackers and toasted bread soaked in olive oil. A perfect Friday night accompaniment to a vino to bring in the weekend.

The Shop, Curlewis St. Bondi Beach

love amie x

Karma, Karma, Karma, Karma, Karma Kandara

For the ultimate indulgence when visiting the isle of Bali, Karma Kandara is an ultra delish and luxurious resort. For a slither of this luxury living without the expense you can still visit the restaurant, Di Mare and enjoy the outdoor bars; Temple Bar and Nammos Beach Club are eye catching and uber cool. Situated on the south most coast of Bali, you will be welcomed by breathtaking views overlooking the sparkling Indian ocean waters below and the warmly lit skies beyond.

Arriving from a 45 minute taxi ride partly along a rough dirt track, like a sliding door we are dropped into a serene environment and one you rarely see in every day Bali life. Strolling lazily through the maze like walls of white cobbled rocks we excitedly anticipate our arrival. Far from being disappointed it holds up to everything and much more of what we dreamed of.
We are quickly escorted to an outside elevator and from here travel down the rocky terrain 100 meters to Nammos Beach Club, the only way to arrive at this secluded and quaint beach bar. Sipping luscious cocktails beach side as the sun slowly sets, is calming but sadly you cannot see the sun from this point but the skies transform magically into a million brilliant shades of the rainbow.
Dressed to impress on a deserted beach with a family and a handful of other visitors enjoying this rare quiet side of Bali.
The food has a strong Mediterranean kick and if you didn't know better you would almost think you were in the Mediterranean. Fresh coastal flavours with a preference for seafood is the menu's style. Warm service and cool wine finish of the evening with a smile before we climb back into our pre-ordered taxi and head back to bustling Bali, as we know it!

love amie x

Spring morning juice

Waking to a freshly squeezed orange juice yesterday morning was a lovely way to start the day stepping out with a spring in my step.
Living with only a tiny dot of a kitchen can be slightly pressing and at times we find ourselves set back in time a little without the space for mod cons and stylish new appliances. A single white porcelain juicer is how we like to style.
Three oranges should be plenty for a morning juice for 2. A great tip is to place the oranges in the refrigerator overnight so your juice is not only fresh but cool!

love amie x

KU DE TA bar and restaurant

Heading off to Bali for the first time, slightly naive with visions of drinking dirt cheap cocktails from kitschy westernised establishments overlooking the beach and wearing a fluorescent hibiscus sun dress... But my dream was quickly squished with the realisation of the ultra uber chic; bar, cafe and restaurant culture that is on the rise in this famous Aussie getaway.

Steering clear of the Bintang singlet and Billabong short wearing strip shopping that screams Kuta. We perused another side of Bali where the cocktails flow freely and people dress like super stars. We found class and a nice credit debt to boot! The cheap and nasty cocktails in my dreams seemed like a distant memory and rather quickly I was jolted back to reality when the first cocktail cost $20 a pop! Pinching myself, was I still in Australia or had I bypassed the cheap cocktails of my Bali dreams and given them up cowardly to taste the familiarity of home and drink in a new hip bar and of course pay for it.


Ku De Ta is this fresh and delicious establishment on Seminyak's beachfront, a larger than life style bar that bubbles with pretentious ego's. It is a fantastic place to people watch and if you enjoy good food and wine, the menu is divine. New Zealand, Australian (Hugo's) trained chef has yanked Bali's dining scene to even higher heights. In the humid heat opt for a salad or two and the truffle and champagne linguine for main. There is a healthy wine list so make sure you have a bank balance to match as you won't be leaving this fine establishment for less than $100 per head for a main with a shared salad and a bottle of vino.

Most foodies will agree that you visit a place like this for the dining experience and that is what you receive; good enough service, fabulous food, worthy wine and an atmosphere to match.

For something slightly less pretentious the view from the front cushioned lined wooden bench seats is breathtaking and this is a cheaper way to experience the bar scene. Our second food visit was a choice from the bar menu; delicious gourmet pizzas, crispy calamari and yummy sharing plates all served atop wooden chopping boards. The gentle hub bub of foreigners chit chat is meditating as you watch the sun set slowly changing into a million different hues of yellow orange and pink.
The irony of sipping $20 cocktails whilst Balinese beggars in front are negotiating prices for their 'hand made' ware with the patrons who give them the time of day is uncanny. My tummy started to squirm and not just from the slight excess of alcohol being consumed. Perhaps I am more like my mother than I thought, a slight push over when it comes to beggars and especially when they are children. They chatted to us in hope of a quick and satisfying sale and one guy purchased a carved wooden box for 10,000 rupiah.

That is the Bali my folks talk of and the Bali I see today, they thrive on people like us, tourists to sell their ornate wooden boxes or whatever their expertise, its for their livelihood so we tell ourselves.
love amie x

www.kudeta.net/

Gertrude & Alice

My favourite book shop in Bondi...

If you're feeling the need for a soul warmer than this comfortable second hand book store is you're perfect choice. They have all types of books from old poetry, philosophy, fiction & non-fiction and my absolute favourite the cooking section... Many hours have been lost immersed in book looking in this overcrowded but cosy book store.

A warm drink of coffee, tea, chai or chocolate is a must, perhaps try this little hot spot alone as you're company may become slightly bored of your constant wandering eye (over the books that is!).

Wholesome and hearty meals are divinely dishy; vegetarian Mexican burritos are Moorish laden with buttery guac and creamy sour cream, vegetable soups for the spirit and sweets galore adorn the glass cabinet. For the early bird the breakfast crumble is oh so sweet.

I cannot remember a day I have visited this delightful little spot without a new book in hand.

You can find Gertrude and Alice on Hall St. Bondi :-)

amie x

Friand frenzy - Chocolatey Orange Friands

Gooey pieces of velvety melt in your mouth dark chocolate couples magically with punchy orange in these 'to die for' Choc Orange Friands. It is truly a match made in heaven.

preparation: 10 minutes
cooking: 20 minutes
makes: 12 friands

the ingredients
200g icing sugar
110g plain flour
140g almond meal
3 oranges, zested
100g dark chocolate, finely chopped
200g butter, melted and cooled
6 egg whites, lightly beaten

lets have some fun
Preheat the oven to 180ºC/160ºC fan forced for fifteen minutes.
In a medium bowl, combine sugar, flour, almond meal, orange zest, half the chocolate, butter and egg whites. Mix well until all ingredients are combined.Spoon the mixture evenly between the 12 cups and sprinkle with remaining chocolate.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
Remove from oven and allow cool in the muffin pan before inverting.
Dust with icing sugar and serve.

love amie x

Cinnamon Friands

Try these friendly 'friands' for your girly pals this spring, they are a lovely lunchbox addition or an extra sweet treat for mothers group!

Friands are slightly more dense and moist with a lovely sweet flavour compared to their cousin, the muffin. Traditionally made with a combination of plain flour, almond meal and icing sugar blended with egg white's and butter.

I accidentally used cinnamon sugar instead of cinnamon, which gave the friands a slightly crisper top (due to the sugar), if you prefer cinnamon then this will also lend itself well in this recipe.

Cinnamon Friands

takes: 10 minutes

cooking: 20 minutes

makes: 12 aromatic friands

the ingredients

200g icing sugar

110g plain flour

140g ground almond meal

2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar

200g butter, melted and cooled

6 egg whites, lightly beaten

lets have some fun

Preheat the oven to 180ºC/160ºC fan forced for fifteen minutes.In a medium bowl, combine sugar, flour, almond meal, cinnamon, butter and egg whites. Mix well until all ingredients are combined.

Spoon the mixture evenly between the 12 cup friand tray.
Bake for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from oven and allow cool in the muffin tray before inverting.
Dust with icing sugar and serve.

Omit cinnamon and add 1 cup of raspberries

love amie x

Whisk or a whip

Julia Child introduced whisks (or whips, as she called them) to American kitchens in the 1960s. A multi-tasking utensil that can aerate, emulsify, deglaze, and mix. Yet anyone who's shopped for a whisk recently, could be forgiven for their confusion of finding a good whisk, an overwhelming array of designs are available these days. Balloon, Flat, Twirl, French and Ball whisks all shaped specifically to suit a certain method of cooking.

A favourite recipe we like to cook at home especially when the funds run low is eggs, any which way; omelette's, frittata, scrambled, boiled, poached or baked. The humble egg is a versatile and highly nutritious ingredient and a minute meal maker to satiate your appetite. The trick to cooking fabulous eggs it to not overcook them as they become rubbery and start to secrete water (syneresis). Cook them until they are almost cooked then remove them instantly from the heat as they will continue to cook slightly for a further more. Looks like it's an Omelette for dinner tonight.

serves: 1 hungry & tired lady quickly

takes : 5 minutes from prep to cooking

the ingredients

1 knob of butter (1-2 teaspoons)

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

20 ml water or milk

Salt and pepper, to taste

lets have some fun

Pre-heat a small 22cm non-stick fry pan over a medium heat for 2 minutes. Add butter and stir until almost melted. Add combined eggs and water, allow to cook for 30 seconds. Using a silicone spatula stir the eggs gently or alternatively move the pan backwards and forwards to allow the uncooked egg space to start cooking. Cook for a further minute or until the omelette is almost cooked but still slightly soft on top. Fold one half of the omelette over onto the other half. Slide the omelette gently out of the pan and onto a plate, season to taste.

Serve with fresh slices of bread and chopped parsley

love amie x

Strawberry

Summery Strawberries are highly recognised for their unique triangular shaped red fruit. This sweet little parcel is at its best when picked fresh and in season. Nutritionally speaking strawberries add a tasty dose of Vitamin C, Folate, flavinoids and dietary fiber to your diet, with less than 200 kJ per cup, a healthy snack anytime of the day.
Strawberries are a true delight when summer roles around especially served alongside ice-cream, cream or yogurt they easily turn 'simple into special' with; cheesecakes, puddings, chocolate and sponge cake.
Strawberries when dried lend themselves lovely to a favourite recipe, the Florentine.
Home made jams and preserves make a lovely addition to a ladies brunch, afternoon tea or a special present that money simply cannot buy.
Strawberries are best when grown in well drained soil the most recognized variant possessing over-sized rounded green leaves and small white and yellow flowers.

love amie x

For more inspiring recipes, Rhubarb and strawberry marble pudding click here: http://amieherring.blogspot.com/2009/06/rhubarb-strawberry-marble-pudding-stove.html

Lumberjack 'love heart' cakes

I love turning a recipe into something slightly more fun and creative. In honour of my mums favourite cake, the Lumberjack, I have made individual little love heart cake's.
The perfect sweet accompaniment to an afternoon tea with friends.









Lumberjack Cake recipe
prep: 10 minutes
cooking: 1 hour
makes: 1 round cake or about 12 love hearts
the ingredients

2 granny smith apples, peeled, finely grated

1 cup (160g) dates, pitted

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1 cup boiling water

125g butter, cubed

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 1/2 cups (225g) plain flour

topping

60g butter

1-2 tablespoons milk

1 cup (60g) shredded coconut

½ cup brown sugar

lets have some fun

Pre-heat oven to 160 C for 15 minutes.

Place apple, dates and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl, pour over boiling water ans stir. Cover and set aside to cool.

Beat butter and sugar until creamy, slowly add egg and vanilla, mix until combined.

Fold through flour and apple mixture, alternatively, until combined.

Pour into a 20cm cake pan lined with baking paper. Bake for 40 minutes.

Topping: Melt butter in a saucepan, add remaining ingredients, stir until combined, set aside.

Remove cake from oven and pour over topping. Bake for a further 15 minutes.

For 'love heart cakes: Cut out love heart's from cooled & cooked cake, using a love heart cookie cutter. Place on platter and dust with icing sugar.

Serve with cream or ice cream.

tiny tip

Replace dried dates with figs

love amie x

Zucchini WHO?

Is this another forgotten vegetable?

Named either Courgette or Zucchini depending on your code, this long green or gold vegetable may look slightly on the boring side but it offers an array of recipes and delicious surprises in the beginning of these warmer months filled with entertaining and fuss-free eating.
Grated, zucchini can be used in savoury slices, chocolate cakes and even muffins. Zucchini’s can be cooked in a variety of cooking methods including; steaming, fried, boiled, simmered, stuffed, grilled and even barbecued for a great vegetarian option. Zucchinis are a somewhat bland tasting food and so will capture the flavours from other foods they are cooked with.
The zucchini is an extremely low energy yielding food that has a substantial amount of dietary folate, magnesium and Vitamin A for good health so eat your greens next time your mum insists.

Store in the chiller section of your refrigerator for up to 3 days, zucchinis are prone to chill bruising, which you will see as inverted little welts on the skin.
TIP - If you are lucky enough to grow your own zucchini if you have the space make sure you keep the flowers, which grow from the end of the zucchini. Wash and pat dry each flower, make a quick batter of flour, soda and salt. Stuff each flower with a mixture of ricotta, Parmesan and mixed herbs, dip the stuffed flower into the batter and fry for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and place on absorbent paper. Serve immediately.
This recipe reminds me of my other sister, Joanna. Each time I visit without a doubt she will have this in her refrigerator or be making a fresh batch. We learnt this simple recipe from our mother and I suspect this is one of Joanna's favourite's.

Buy firm zucchini free from blemishes at your local supermarkets or if you are lucky like Joanna, use freshly picked zucchinis. Which she grows in her large apartment-sized vegetable patch. Pick zucchinis when the flowers are blooming or about to or when they are 20cm in length as this is when they are at their best.

This slice recipe makes a perfect lunchbox companion and easy picnic food.

For bub x

Zucchini slice

makes 1 slice tray

prep 10 minutes

cooking 35 minutes

the ingredients

2 teaspoons oil

1 onion, chopped

4 rashers, rind less bacon, chopped

5 eggs, lightly beaten

3/4 cup plain flour

3-4 zucchinis, washed, grated

1 cup tasty cheese, grated

lets have some fun

Pre-heat oven to 180 C for fifteen minutes.

Heat oil in a non-stick fry pan over medium heat. Add onion and bacon, cook for 5 minutes or until softened and slightly brown. Remove onion mixture from the pan and set aside on absorbent paper.

In a medium bowl combine eggs, flour, zucchini and cheese, stir through onion mixture and pour into a slice pan lined with baking paper. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Slice and serve hot or cold.

love amie x

Traditions -Terrific tiramisu

My sister's love to cook just as much as I do or at times sometimes more. We grew up helping pick or some might say we were stealing our favourite; Pa's peas fresh from his beloved garden! Squatting in between the lengthy rows of voluptuous vegetables, giggling and laughing. Each eyeing the others tiny pea harvest, making sure one sister didn't have more than their fare share. Opening the sweet little pod in hope of finding lots of tiny green dot like peas, then straight to the cheeks. Looking back I think Pa had a cheeky suspicion of what was going on but he never said so... Our passion and love of cooking has stemmed from the healthy education we were surrounded by when growing up. Old fashioned country-style living, we knew no other way.
To this day we still share recipes weekly and one recipe I learnt whilst working in a biscuit factory with Italians was Tiramisu, which my sister recently requested.

For Kate x

Tiramisu - the traditional way

makes:1 large tray of Tiramisu

chill:at least 6 hours

the ingredients
6 eggs, separated
100g caster sugar
1/4 cup rum
500g Marscapone, softened
1 pkt (500g) Sponge finger biscuits

1 cup coffee, peculated - may need a little more

100g dark chocolate, grated

lets have some fun
Beat egg yolks and sugar until smooth & creamy.
In a separate bowl beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Add rum to egg whites and gently fold through. Set aside.
Add marscapone to the egg yolk mixture and beat until smooth. Fold the egg white mixture into the marscapone mixture until combined.
Dip sponge fingers into coffee, lay sponge fingers in a single layer in the base of a pudding dish (5-cup capacity). Spoon half the marscapone mixture evenly onto the sponge fingers and smooth out. Repeat with another layer of biscuits and finish with marscapone. Add grated chocolate or sifted cocoa. Cover and place in the refrigerator overnight.

love amie x