“Oh, you smell delicious! What’ve you been baking today?” “Roasted strawberries and rhubarb for a mascarpone ice cream. Lemon tart pastry, mint meringues, sun-dried tomato rolls, honey cake.” Brianne Moore Hey, Lovelies. A friend has her birthday on Sunday. I’ve invited her over to share a meal and, of course, because it is her birthday […]
Not Blogging, Baking!
“Bake with love…” Manuela Kjeilen Hey, Lovelies. It’s just the two of us here at home, and because we have been self-isolating Ben has been taking our baking into town to distribute any surplus of the recipes I’ve been trying because we’re not having visitors right now. We’ve always shared my cooking – savoury or […]
Best Easy Chocolate Mudcake Recipe
“He showed the words ‘chocolate cake’ to a group of Americans and recorded their word associations. ‘Guilt’ was the top response. If that strikes you as unexceptional, consider the response of French eaters to the same prompt: ‘celebration’.” ~ Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto A friend on the other side of the world […]
Ginger Cookie Ice-Cream Sandwich Recipe
“…stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot oftener, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more and cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. ” ~ Robert J. Hastings You’ll love these tasty ice-cream treats. They are easy enough for the kids to […]
Easy Puff Pastry Quiche
“Lunch makes me feel a bit better.” ~ Suzanne Collins Recently my friend Carly and I popped in to her parents’ house for lunch, and then a tour of her mum’s garden. Jewel made a lovely salad with fresh greens from her vegetable patch, and I took over a simple quiche that I’d whipped up […]
Tropical Pie Recipe
“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl And so, the moment of truth… Does the Tropical Pie of my childhood still measure up? *Nicole laughs gleefully and claps her hands* Darn tootin’ right it does! The pie has a crunchy toasted coconut crust, […]
Why This Psychic Blogs About Cooking!
“No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, the wisdom of cookbook writers.” ~ Laurie Colwin “If you are careful,’ Garp wrote, ‘if you use good ingredients, and you don’t take any shortcuts, […]
My Big Promotion
“Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have Immortal longings in me.” ~ William Shakespeare “A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in.” ~ Frederick The Great Yes, it’s true. I have been promoted! A position of great tradition and, dare I say it, possibility. The sort of opportunity […]
Easy Strawberry and Mulberry Teacake Recipe with Berry Compote
“You’ve got this life and while you’ve got it, you’d better kiss like you only have one moment, try to hold someone’s hand like you will never get another chance to, look into people’s eyes like they’re the last you’ll ever see, watch someone sleeping like there’s no time left, jump if you feel like […]
Easy Spinach and Ricotta Pie – Gluten Free
“I’m strong to the finish when I eats me spinach!” ~ Popeye the Sailor Man Who doesn’t love an easy meal? My misbehaving eye was banished to the naughty corner yesterday so I was cooking with my pirate patch on. Even one-eyed I still managed to whip this up with little effort, proving that ANYONE can […]
Easy Date Loaf Recipe
“No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, the wisdom of cookbook writers.” ~ Laurie Colwin Our farm is a social place. The pace of life is slower here, and people have time […]
No-Bake Yummy Slice Recipe
“When all else fails, take a vacation.” ~ Betty Williams It’s school holidays here in Queensland, and this it the perfect easy slice to make. In fact this recipe is so easy that the kids will have a batch of these whipped up faster than you can say “you’ll like this – it has chocolate in […]
Nicole’s Fruit Slice Recipe
“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.” ~ Tom Stoppard This week’s offering for my ‘Slice Extravaganza’ series – recipes taken from the hallowed Family Recipe Book – is known simply as ‘Nicole’s Fruit Slice’. Why? When I was a little girl it was my absolute favourite, and I never tired of it. […]
Chocolate Covered Coconut Slice Recipe
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” ~ Charles M. Schulz Chocolate and coconut is a heavenly combination, and this particular slice recipe delivers! It is quite light in texture, so it’s not rich and it’s not too sweet – a crisp biscuit base, a fluffy coconut centre and […]
Nana’s Passionfruit Slice Recipe
“Cooking is not about being the best or most perfect cook, but rather it is about sharing the table with family and friends.” ~ Skye Gyngell, My Favorite Ingredients This is an old recipe that my Nana copied out from her friend Dulcie, after a successful ‘War Wives Luncheon’ during World War Two. At least that […]
Easy Apple and Cinnamon Bundt Cake Recipe
I love this easy cake. It takes five minutes to make, and is a favourite for morning or afternoon tea, or as a simple warm dessert. It’s a moist, light vanilla cake with a caramel-ly soft apple topping and a mouth-watering crust of cinnamon sugar. Even if you’re not a cake maker I encourage you […]
Heavenly Blueberry Crumble Slice Recipe
It’s bucketing down here at the farm again, and there’s not much for me to do but sleep, cook or sit on the verandah sipping tea. We still have no power here after the big Australia Day Weekend Wet, but Ben has fired up the generator for a while and my biscuit tins are empty […]
Happy Birthday, Mum!
It’s my mum’s birthday today. I can’t pop in and see her, take her flowers or make her a cake because she’s visiting with my brother down in Tasmania. (And yes, they are all safe from the fires, thank you!) So instead I thought I’d take a moment to say thank you to my mum […]
Rhubarb Cream Puff Recipe
When you’re in a hurry, but still want something fabulous for dessert, this is it! There is no particular skill required, and the beauty of this recipe is that you can use any seasonal stewed fruit if you can’t get rhubarb! Ingredients to Serve Four: one bunch of rhubarb, 2 apples, sugar, one cup or 300ml […]
Simple Baked Camenbert Recipe
“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” ~ C. S. Lewis Our little farmhouse is as popular as any Byron Bay bed and breakfast come weekends,especially on Market Weekends! I’m returning home this morning, after a very big […]
Nana’s Pikelet Recipe and a Few Good Yarns
Find yourself a cup of tea; the teapot is behind you. Now tell me about hundreds of things. ~Saki Pikelets are a bit of an institution round here, especially for morning or afternoon tea. For those of you not in the know, pikelets are like fluffy little pancakes – very tasty with a cup of […]
Marga’s Orange Syrup Cake Recipe
We’re picking the last of our organic oranges before the heat of summer sets in, and I know a perfect way to use some of them up: my maternal grandmother’s orange syrup cake recipe. Marga gave this recipe to me when I held my first proper dinner party – a rural affair at my college […]
Lemon Delicious Pudding Recipe
My Meyer Lemon tree is dripping with ripe fruit right now, and this pudding is a perfect way to use some of them up. The pudding is served warm, and is light enough to be enjoyed all year round. If you are lucky enough to have any left over it is also tasty eaten cold! […]
Roast Carrot and Pine Nut Salad
This is a delicious salad that can fill you up on its own, or that makes a beautiful side for other dishes. I’ve made this with baked carrots, but you could also use baked parsnip or sweet potato for equally tasty results. Hint: If you are prone to nibbling on the baked vegetables prior to […]
Best Easy Stewed Rhubarb Recipe
As much as I am grateful for gratitude (and my 30 Day Gratitude Challenge) I am also currently very grateful for rhubarb – and I don’t think I can last another 2 weeks without some sort of food post. So here it is – Blissful Best Rhubarb! Ingredients: fresh rhubarb, raw sugar, lemon Method: Wash […]
Cheesy Grilled Mushrooms Recipe
I love this recipe. You can make it in five minutes flat, and it works as a breakfast, lunch or dinner solution! If you’re a vegan you can omit the cheese, or use a cheese substitute. It’s also a great gluten and carb free alternative to pizza, but tastes every bit as good. Ingredients: Flat […]
Easy Lemon Curd ~ Lemon Butter Recipe
When life gives you lemons? Be grateful and get into the kitchen! It’s my favourite home-produce time of year – the Meyer Lemon tree in my back yard is groaning under the weight of ripening fruit. Be prepared for plenty of lemon-y recipes over the next few months. Most Australians call this recipe Lemon Butter, […]
Bread and Butter Pudding Recipe
In a recent post My ‘One Lovely Blog’ Award, I confessed that one of the fascinating facts about me is that I can make a meal out of nothing. Well, almost nothing. That talent came in handy last night when friends dropped by unexpectedly, at dinner time. Of course I invited them to stay. It’s […]
Easy Farmhouse Frittata Recipe
It’s cold here at the farm this morning, as Australia slides towards winter. There’s work to be done, and it’s raining and utterly miserable outside. A warm breakfast for the workers is in order, before they go to out to rebuild the cattle yards and fence the back paddock. With a full basket of fresh […]
Cheesy Mexican Bake with Home-made Coleslaw
All my clients and friends keep telling me they want to eat better but have no time to cook! In response to this I’ve decided to post some quick-to-prepare recipes that will allow you to eat well, and get food on the table fast, with a mimimum of fuss. This recipe is embarrassingly easy and […]
What does Happiness look like to you?
In our age of overwork, stress, social isolation, time pressure and exhaustion, it is increasingly important to know what fills you back up again, what makes you smile, what brings joy and happiness into your life. What does happiness look like to you? If you don’t know, make it your mission to find out, and […]
Easy Baked Custard Recipe AND a Free Kitten!
Today an old family recipe worth cherishing, and the latest instalment on life at my farm. This baked custard recipe was my grandmother’s, although my grandfather liked to boast that he perfected it! It always reminds me of the love and care he had for my grandmother – he was never a man to be […]
Cherry Ripe Slice Recipe
We’ve got a party to go to on the weekend – a neighbour’s son is turning eighteen! Like most parties in the country, people will be coming from near and far, and there will be quite a crowd to feed. I’m taking along a huge tray of of these delicious Cherry Ripe Slices and another big […]
Easy Banana Cake Recipe
This is the first cake I ever learned to bake. It has a rich banana flavour, and is a firm favourite in our household. The recipe came from my Nana’s neighbour, Mrs Mac, who showed me how to make this in her kitchen and then let me proudly take the results home with me. I […]
Vegan Recipe Bonanza!
Hi everyone! I’m inviting you to participate in a Virtual Vegan Potluck, hosted by the wonderful blogger an unrefined vegan on May 12, 2012. Mark your diaries now! I’ll be contributing one of my favourite recipes, and I’m looking forward to adding a whole pile of new ones to my repertoire. No matter what your eating […]
ANZAC Biscuits – Nana’s Traditional Recipe
Tomorrow is ANZAC DAY in Australia, so I’ve been baking up a storm. Of course, I think we may be the only country in the world where one of our most important national holidays celebrates a great war time defeat. But that’s another story, best told tomorrow. My Nana was given this recipe by her […]
Healthy Apple Crumble Recipe
Apple crumble has been a family favourite in our house for years. Now Autumn has arrived in Australia all the new season apples leave us spoilt for choice, and they taste positively delicious baked into a dessert. I’ve modified this recipe so that it is gluten-free, sugar-free and so that it can also be dairy […]
Marshmallow Recipe – Perfect for Easter
Homemade marshmallow is the yummiest, fluffiest thing. Easy and inexpensive too. The recipe will make the sort of standard coconut-covered marshmallows most people know, but it can also be used in moulds to make cool shapes. At Easter, marshmallow eggs or bunnies are very appropriate, and make delicious gifts. This Easter I’m making quite a […]
Five-Minute Fudge Recipe
I have always been an old fashioned, hard-core, boil ’em up kind of fudge maker. This makes great fudge, but it’s fiddly and I have spent many hours testing my batches to get them from ‘soft ball stage’ to ‘hard ball stage’- where I can drop a spoonful of mixture on a cold saucer and be […]
Easy Moist Boiled Fruit-Cake Recipe
With Easter coming up I shall have a houseful of people to feed. My easy Boiled Fruitcake is a wonderful treat to serve with a cup of tea, or heated as a dessert with fresh cream, custard or ice-cream. Even non-cooks can make this cake! I love this recipe because I can whip it up […]
Everybody needs a place to call home, or, my little farm and what it means to me
One’s home is like a delicious piece of pie you order in a restaurant on a country road one cozy evening – the best piece of pie you have ever eaten in your life – and can never find again. After you leave home, you may find yourself feeling homesick, even if you have a […]
A Cup of Tea and Comfort…
Living and working as a psychic can be quite draining, although I love what I do. It’s not dissimilar to any other ‘caring’ profession, where you are totally focused on the needs of others, in a way that leaves little time for yourself. I’ve learned that the best way to avoid burnout for me is […]
Easy Lemonade Scone Recipe – for when friends drop by!
I call this recipe my ‘Hurry-Up Scones’. I have much fancier recipes that call for delicate hands, careful measuring and so forth. But I don’t have time for that today. The phone has rung, friends are on their way, and my cake tin is woefully empty. Hurry-Up Scones to the rescue! Here’s the basic recipe: […]