Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. Saying Hello, Lovelies! Back in my student days, I lived in share-houses. We pooled our money to pay the rent, to buy food, and to pay for expenses. Share houses guaranteed you a social life, and household duties could be shared. Hooray! Or […]
Easy Fried Plantains Recipe
‘Plantains? Cook ’em up and you can’t go wrong. We’ll tell you how. They go with everything, love.’ Neville Singh Hello, Lovelies, You’ll probably know that one of my favourite places on a Friday is the Mullumbimby Farmers Markets, and it was here that I was first convinced to give Plantains a go, thanks to […]
Things to be thankful for…
“Take time daily to reflect on how much you have. It may not be all that you want but remember someone somewhere is dreaming to have what you have.” ~Germany Kent This morning I’m counting my Blessings. Such a simple thing to do, and it always makes me feel richer. I like to count them […]
A Day At the Farm
“I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.” ~ Emma Goldman I slept in yesterday. Til nearly eight am. Pure luxury! I’ve had a month of restless nights thanks to Lyme disease, so to sleep so deeply and completely was bliss. Our farm is a hive of activity right now. […]
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, […]
A Very Good Day!
“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It’s probably the most important thing in a person.” ~ Audrey Hepburn What a wonderful weekend it has turned out to be. Good friends have come to stay at our […]
Things that make my heart glad!
“Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.” ~ Samuel Johnson, The Idler; Poems The New Year is almost here! As part of my sacred promise to live a heart-centred year in 2014, I am aiming to make sure I fill my days with more of the simple things that make my heart […]
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 […]
Getting ready for a bumper harvest!
“Care less for your harvest than for how it is shared and your life will have meaning and your heart will have peace.” ~ Kent Nerburn The picture at the top of the page is part of a stand of Bunya Pines along one of the fences at our farm. Each year the pines produce giant […]
The Magic of a Cup of Tea
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” ~ Mother Teresa There are a few things that have helped me to feel human again in the past twenty-four hours after days of being wretchedly ill. Such simple things, but they nurtured me, body and soul: a long […]
Easy Easter Treats to Make
“Easter tells us that life is to be interpreted not simply in terms of things but in terms of ideals.” ~ Charles M. Crowe Hooray. After a huge 14 hours of sleep I have woken feeling revived, optimistic and ready to cook! We have a CWA Fundraising Cake Stall in Bangalow tomorrow morning, and I […]
Getting My Hands on My Inheritance!
“Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations.” ~ Henry David Thoreau In a quiet corner of an organic cafe somewhere in Brisbane yesterday, history was made. My mother (that’s her hands in the top of the picture above – like me she’s quite camera shy!) finally lent me […]
Coconut, Ginger and Cardamom Rice Pudding Recipe – Vegan
Because my Power Word for 2013 is HEALTH, I’ve been modifying a few of my favourite recipes. This creamy-sweet rice pudding has the added lusciousness of Indian spices, and is entirely dairy, gluten and cane-sugar free. And it’s vegan to boot, for those of you who are lovers of plant-based diets. It can be eaten […]
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 […]
What Real Food Looks Like…
On Saturday morning at the crack of dawn my husband and I went into Lismore, a small country town about 25 minutes drive from our farm. We needed to buy some hay for our weaner calves, and there was a truckload of bales for sale at the showgrounds, which is also home to the Lismore […]
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 […]
Things to be thankful for…
“The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles” This morning I’m counting my Blessings. Such a simple thing to do, and it always makes me feel richer. I like to count them off on my fingers – a tangible act, and a way of really anchoring their truth in […]
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 […]
Slow-Cooked Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe
It’s been a cold, wet week at my farm. One of my favourite easy dinners in this sort of weather is home-cooked spaghetti bolognese. When we come in from the paddocks at the end of the day, all muddy and cold, there’s nothing better than a hot shower to warm back up, and then a […]
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 […]
Walnut and Basil Pesto & Pasta Recipe
My summer garden plantings are coming to an end, and I have more fresh basil than I know what to do with. The rabbits, possums and wallabies don’t like it much, and have left plenty for me – while they nibble my kale, parsley and coriander into oblivion! This pesto recipe is such an easy […]
Virtual Vegan Potluck – Creamy Satay Hotpot Recipe
Welcome to the Virtual Vegan Potluck: bringing vegan food bloggers together to share a virtual potluck, linked by a blog circle – and our love of cooking, eating and sharing. Participating bloggers will be posting recipes – from appetizers to desserts. Many Blessings to Annie from the wonderful blog an unrefined vegan for bringing us […]
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 […]
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 […]
Self Nurture in a Bowl – Easy Miso Soup
When I’m tired, or busy writing and don’t want to take too long away from the flow of words, I turn to miso soup. I can eat this stuff breakfast, lunch, dinner and all meals in between! My soup is never a hard and fast recipe – rather it’s a technique that lets you add […]
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: […]
Spicy Calamari Stir Fry Recipe
I find cooking to be one of the most grounding and nurturing activities in my sometimes crazy life. This is a fantastically easy and tasty recipe that works equally well for squid/calamari, firm white fish fillets, tofu, chicken or pork. Pair it with a white wine, beer or a smoky tea. And please think about […]
Coconut and Jam Slice Recipe & Country Funerals
Our town had a funeral this week. This is the sort of funeral I don’t mind – an old lady, well-loved, dying of old age after a full life. Country funerals are always well attended, and country people are big eaters, so there needs to be plenty of food at the wake, especially for the […]
Baba Ganoush Dip Recipe – Easy!
One of the things I love about living on a farm is being able to walk out into the garden, take a few ingredients, and turn them into fresh fast food. Today I’m making Baba Ganoush – a garlicky middle eastern eggplant dip, from today’s harvest. There is an eggplant bush hidden at the back of […]