Showing posts with label recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recipes. Show all posts

Friday, 21 November 2014

Crunchy Peanut Butter Biscuits (GF) and Coffee Lovers Baby Cakes from Jo Seagar's Latest Book - Jo Seagar Bakes


 
My fondest memories of baking were watching my Nan make her famous Cherry and Almond cake. In fact, I can distinctly remember the delightful aroma that would drift throughout her cottage. Kiwi Chef/Baker, Jo Seagar acknowledges that "cooking is a learnt skill not an instinctive art". It is those times watching our mother, grandmother or aunt baking that we will have learnt important skills for our own success. However, what if we didn't have that opportunity, Jo has pondered on this and decided it was time to share her knowledge and the knowledge of those who have gone before her to help make us successful bakers through her new book, Jo Seagar Bakes.

Monday, 27 October 2014

Weekly Inspiration - Recipes, DIY Homeware and Black and White Kitchens

1. Izy's Swedish Chocolate Cake from the Vanilla Bean Blog...Recipe here

A collection of inspiration: recipes, DIY homeware and some black and white kitchens. You will find a quick link to the recipes and tutorials at the end of this post.

Friday, 18 July 2014

Comfort Foods - Creamy Polenta & Mushrooms or Chili Sweet Potato? Oh! and not forgetting something sweet - All Gluten Free

I am sitting at my desk shivering, I have 3 layers on, including thermals, the heat pump is blowing away in the living room but unfortunately the heat does not seem to be making its way through to my office. I am in definite need of body warming, comfort food and after spending some time on Pinterest, I have found a few winners.

Friday, 9 May 2014

This Weeks Inspiration found in Sweet Living Magazine - Crafts, DIY, Recipes & More




Jane Wrigglesworth is an editor, crafter and grower of herbs and cut flowers and gets an 'A+' from me for multi tasking. Jane writes several monthly columns including NZ Gardener magazine and other publications and also runs Plain Jane Media. Jane is also the mind behind 'Sweet Living', a free on-line magazine featuring recipes, hand made creations, decorating ideas and much more. I subscribe to Sweet Living so was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from Jane yesterday to say they had mentioned Lee Caroline in their '5 Websites they ♥', so thank you Jane, I feel honoured. I flipped through the latest magazine and found lots of great ideas... I am definitely attempting their chocolate espresso lemon tarts and will download some of their free printables.

Tuesday, 14 January 2014

A Light Brunch - Sweetcorn Fritters (Gluten Free Option) - 5 minutes to prepare & cook

I promised that when I purchased my DSLR camera, I would feature some recipes that focus on gluten free. I want to take recipe's that we know and love such as these sweetcorn fritters, and provide a gluten free option. This recipe was easily adapted by simply swapping the plain wheat flour in the original recipe for a gluten free packet mix. I used Orgran gluten free flour bought at the local supermarket. You will find pre-mixed flour for baking (gluten free) at either your supermarket or health store. This simple recipe includes 5 handy ingredients and took only 5 minutes to make these crisp, golden fritters as an easy brunch, lunch or snack. If you are not gluten free then simply substitute plain flour.  




Sweetcorn Fritters
 Ingredients: (Makes 12 medium portions)

1 egg
1 cup of flour (gluten free pre-mixed from the supermarket or health store, I used Orgran)
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup of milk
1 tin of corn kernels
pinch of salt & pepper

Method:
  • Sift dry ingredients into a large bowl
  • Make a well in the centre and break in one large egg
  • Add 1 cup of milk (you can use slim milk for less calories) and mix until ingredients are well combined.
  • Drain one can of sweetcorn kernels and mix the kernels into the batter mixture
  • Season with salt and pepper
  • Heat some Rice bran oil  in a frying pan (I prefer this oil as it crisps up and doesn't soak in as much as other oils, plus its healthy)
  • Make sure your oil is piping  hot then drop your batter mix in large tablespoonfuls into your oil
  • Fry until golden brown on both sides, they should be easy to flip with a spatula. If they appear to break, then they are not cooked long enough so don't flip yet. The right temperature and crispness will make them easy to flip and become golden brown.

Tips:
  • If you make the fritters much smaller dropping heaped teaspoons rather than heaped tablespoons they make easy nibbles at a party. You can top them with a little cream cheese as they are just as nice served cold
  • Rice bran oil is great for shallow frying and produces crisp results
  • I serve with a little fruit chutney on the side
  • When you have mixed your batter you can drop in some grated cheese for extra bite
  • Make sure they are golden brown and slightly crisp at the edges



I am keen to feature more recipes and suddenly had an epiphany when I looked at these photos, something a neighbour once told me about photographing food. He was a professional food photographer with a studio at the back of his house. A bonus of being his neighbour, was that he often used to bring around the spoils of a days work, huge chocolate cakes and giant muffins. Food photographers actually cheat a little when photographing and I want to try out one of these little tricks next time I photograph a recipe. I am such a pedantic, perfectionist, always striving for 'better' and I want to be able to publish images that make people desire to pin them to Pinterest. It will be some time yet before I achieve the stylish photo's I long for, although I am really happy of the ones I took of my little Schnoodle, Poppy.


Lee oxo

Sharing this recipe with the following blog parties:


Saturday, 14 December 2013

Iced Gingerbread Cookies - Simple Recipe & Icing Tutorial

I am trying to cram in as many Christmas posts as I can with time desperately running out. It is 10.30pm and I have just finished icing my gingerbread cookies, I would certainly not win an award for my attempt but having discovered a fabulous video tutorial, which has revolutionised my skills, I am quite proud of my results. No longer do I need to mess around with different sized nozzles and plastic piping bags creating a sticky mess. This easy icing bag and nozzle is made out of a single piece of baking paper. I am sure seasoned icers already use this method, however if you are new to this skill, you will find the video invaluable. I have embedded the video at the end of this post.




Ginger Bread Cookies (makes 17 medium to large cookies)
Double the recipe for larger amounts.

Ingredients:
125g butter
3 and a half tablespoons of golden syrup
100g Muscovado sugar
300g plain flour
2 tsp ground ginger 
1 tsp baking soda
large flat baking sheet

Icing:

1 packet of Royal icing powder mix (white) 


Instructions:
  • Melt your butter, sugar and golden syrup together in a pot
  • Heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius (392 Fahrenheit)
  • Sift flour, ginger and baking powder
  • Add melted mixture to dry ingredients
  • Stir well until it forms a stiff ball (if too sticky, add some more flour)
  • Roll out the dough to a thickness of around 1cm directly onto the baking sheet
  • cut out your shapes, retain the excess dough to make a second batch
  • leave an allowance between cookies so they do not spread into each other
  • Make a hole near the top with a skewer or similar, make it a little larger than you will need as the cookie dough may spread slightly
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes
  • Remove from oven, should be slightly browner at the edges. Allow to cool then remove to cool further on a cookie rack
  • When cookies are completely cooled down, mix your icing by directions on packet (see video for texture and recipe if required)
  • Make your icing bag by folding a piece of baking paper as per video, make sure you roll the paper into a fine point, achieving a fine hole for piping (around 2mm)
  • Cut off excess paper at the top and spoon your icing inside (make sure it is well into the lower half of the bag). Fold across the top as per video to form a seal and help push the icing down
  • Pipe your cookies and allow them to dry before threading some twine or ribbon for hanging on a tree


Hints & Tips:
  • If the mixture sticks to the rolling pin you can place a sheet of baking paper over the top and roll on top of this. I actually just added a little more flour to the mixture.
  • This mixture can be used to make a gingerbread house but you will need to double the mixture
  • Do not place uncooked cookies too close to each other as they can spread a little
  • Adding silver balls to the icing can create a pretty look
  • Squeeze slowly and steadily when icing, constant pressure is important in neat piping
  • These cookies make great hostess gifts if you wrap them in cellophane and tie with a pretty ribbon (black & white gingham looks great)




If you want to make some more Holiday candy's you may enjoy this easy tutorial for

Enjoy

Lee oxo

Sharing this post with the following link parties;

Friday, 11 January 2013

Inspiration Week 1, 2013 - Interior Ideas/DIY, Recipes & More

Christmas and New Year is finally over and it's back to the drawing board, so to speak. Currently I'm spending time working between the blog and preparing my mothers house for sale. I can't start my art again until I have sold my mothers house, there is just too much going on, although I have lots of beautiful Peony Images, and itching to get started. I haven't featured my regular weekly inspiration post since Christmas, so I have spent time the past few days looking for fabulous ideas to share with you and really pleased with the ones I've found. 

Once you have finished reading, you will find the links for the featured recipes and DIY instructions at the end of the post.
Ideas with wallpaper from Farrow and Ball, see   see instructions plus more ideas 

Fabulous stencilled curtains by Rhoda from Southern Hospitality. Simple step by step tutorial ...  read more.


An ingenious idea for creating some light reflecting beauty by using mirror tiles...see this amazing bedroom makeover at Bella Tucker ..... read more

Cranberry & Pistachio Nougat from Cooking Melangery my latest food blog discovery with the most delightful recipes and images... see recipe & read more


and for those of us sweltering in the Southern hemisphere and currently experiencing excessive heat ...

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice cream from Simply Reem...recipe here

A few simple styling ideas for Spring/Summer entertaining ...








I don't know about you, but my mouth is watering right now, It'  just so hot here in Auckland and I'm definitely in need of an ice cream. Maybe I will cheat a little and head down to our Movenpick store by the beach. However, I most definitely will be making some strawberry cheesecake ice cream to try out on my boys over the weekend, (My big boys who have left home, often drop in when they are hungry).

We hope you've enjoyed this weeks inspiration.

Quick links:

Sharing this post with:


Friday, 21 December 2012

Christmas Mince Pies - Quick & Easy Bite Size Version Of These Sweet Treats

English mince pies (the Christmas ones) have had a long tradition in New Zealand as well as England and, I'm  hoping now to persuade my worldwide audience to give them a try, I'm sure you will love them and hopefully make it part of your Christmas tradition.  

My mince pies are mini bite size versions and I'm totally cheating today by using some store bought frozen pre-rolled pastry and of course some ready made fruit mince. I am not sure if it's available in the USA, if not, there is a great recipe for fruit mince at  Delia On Line but it is so much easier to buy and it's a "rare" cook that doesn't use the store bought mince (Delia exempt of course). I did find jars of my favourite, Robertson's Classic Mincemeat to purchase on line.

My guests this year are going to have a little parcel of these tarts on the Christmas dinner table. My two sons love them and usually I'm having to top up the platter every few minutes. I normally make around 4 dozen to have on hand when guests pop  in. In fact, I have actually made 4 dozen this past week and with sons passing through and drinks at neighbours,  they have already disappeared!


I've put together some step by step photos for you and a simple recipe using store bought ingredients:





  • 1 jar of Fruit Mince, I like Robertson's Classic Mincemeat available from your Supermarket or on line.
  • 1 packet of frozen short crust pastry (or sweet crust Pastry) of make your own  shortcrust pastry
  • Icing sugar for dusting.
  • Mini muffin tins  2" diameter and 3/4" deep approximately (5cm diameter x 2 3/4cm deep) These are like mini muffin pans and usually come with 12 in each.
  • Star cutter 1 1/4 " or 3cm from point to point.
  • Round fluted cutter 2 1/4 " or 6cm.

Method:

  • Roll your pastry to the desired thickness, thin enough so that they crisp but not so thin they will break when placing the pastry circles into the tins or removing them.
  • Lightly grease your patty tins with margarine, not butter.
  • Using the round cutter, cut enough circles to fill each tin ( 1 jar of fruit mince usually makes about 3-4 dozen of these bite size tarts.(well two bites to be precise).
  • Place your circles down into the mini muffin pans, press gently.
  • Place about 1 teaspoonful of the fruit mincemeat mixture into each tart, you want them to be about 3/4 full. Do not fill too much or they will overflow and it will  make it harder to remove them from their tins.
  • Roll out some more pastry and cut your stars out. I like the pastry to be a little bit thicker so the stars sit nicely on the top.
  • Place your stars in the centre of each filled tart, just let them sit there, do not push it down as you don't want to get the fruit mince to spill onto the stars (perfectionist that I am).
  • Brush the top of the pastry stars with a little milk (not essential but helps to give it a golden colour)
  • Bake at 180-200 degrees (approx 375 Fahrenheit) (or recommended temperature on pastry packet) for approximately 10 mins until the pastry is golden. (check after 10 mins to see if golden, if not cook a little longer).
  • Remove from oven, allow to cool in their tins then remove tarts.
  • Place tarts on a work surface and dust the tops with icing sugar lightly (make sure they are cooled down)
  • You can then move them onto your platter or wrap with cellophane and tie with ribbon or alternatively place in little boxes as  gifts.

Chefs Tips:  


Make a double batch and freeze them.
You can also make the pies in slightly larger pans and serve them warm, fresh from the oven with cream or vanilla ice cream as a desert...Yum, Yum!




Bon Appetite!

Sharing this post with :






Tuesday, 11 December 2012

Christmas Inspiration - Interiors, Recipes, Crafts & More

I love Christmas, not only for its sentiments but as an artist with a passion for interior design, I can let my creative side free. I usually decorate my interior, exterior, tables, food and mantel, and more often than not, fall short of time to have it finished by Christmas. This week I've been drawing on inspiration around the blogasphere and  have found some gorgeous interiors, lovely recipes and some fun ideas to inspire myself and my readers...

This gorgeous living room belongs to Deserae at Peeking thru the sunflowers


2


3


4

Yummy Peppermint Kahlua Truffle Bark from Bakers Royale, hop over for the recipe.

5
Make these sweet little felt trees below - Step by step instructions over at Love Grows Wild

6

It's not too late to count down the last few weeks to Christmas with these easy calendar ideas...

7

8

For more inspiration, grab a coffee, sit down and relax with the latest Heart Home Winter issue - 150 pages packed with gift ideas, recipes, interiors and more...


Images via : 1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8

My elegant but nature inspired mantelpiece featured in my last post, if you missed this post you can see images "here"


We hope you have a great week

Sharing this post with:





Thursday, 29 November 2012

Inspiration Week 13 - Interiors, Recipes, Calendar & More

Well, were in the lead up to Christmas, only 28 days to go, I have said it before, and I will say it again, where has this year gone!  This Christmas will be a sad time for me not having my mum for the first time, I still  want it to be a  festive and enjoyable occasion for my family and friends as I know it's what she would want. I'm planning a really pretty Christmas tablescape using vintage items inherited from my mum, you will get a sneak peek next week.

I'm also excited to launch sponsorship on my site with a fabulous introductory offer so whether your a small  store, a larger business or a blogger, please see my Advertising/ Sponsorship page for more details.

This week's inspiration will be the last "non festive" post with the next few weeks inspiration full of  Christmas ideas. This week we start with a couple of yummy recipes from Lemons & Anchovies.

Cranberry Bars with Chocolate Shortbread crust from Lemons & Anchovies, this Yummy, gooey  slice is absolutely delicious. See "here" for the recipe.

A flour free ultra rich chocolate cake, great for those of us that are gluten free.

Now for something different...I recently discovered a website called "My Owl Barn", owned by Shivani. As an owl lover Shivani has collaborated a beautiful 2013 owl calendar of artwork contributed by well known artists from around the world. I've picked out a few of my favourite owls to share with you. However, you can view more images, read about this inspiring idea and download the 2013 calendar at Shivani's website, My Owl Barn.
These are just four of 43 different owl pictures you can choose from. Either download the complete calendar or pick your owl and month and download individually.  Click "here" to choose your owl and download. It would be nice to also visit the artists sites, I have added a link beneath their work.

White interiors that caught my eye...










Images Sources 12|3|4|5


Use your colour and design skills to create your own trend colours for 2013 using Benjamin Moore's Colour collection and Olio Board and be in with a chance to win one of four passes to Tobi Fairley's Design camps...  


top
Dot
Enter the Tobi Fairely and Benjamin Moore 2013 Color Trend Contest and you could win one of four passes to Tobi’s Design Camps as well as one of four Paint Prize Packs from Benjamin Moore. Simply design a space showcasing what you feel the trending colors will be for 2013 using Benjamin Moore’s Color collection.
Dot
Enter



We hope you've enjoyed this weeks inspiration, if you missed wk 12 you can catch up "here".

I look forward to sharing next weeks Christmas inspiration with you.



Sharing with: