Can you tell I don't live in the City anymore?

Country living really is a wonderful thing. You see things that you never get to see living in a big city. This is one of them. When we took the kids to the Townsville show, it was an eye opener. It was a day of family and down to earth fun. Duck racing and Duck fashion parades...............................................what the!!!!!!!!

The man who owns the ducks took it all very seriously. He stated that he has a very nice old lady who designs the ducks outfits for him. He said, he gets ideas for their outfits, out and about, in shop windows. He comes home and describes them to the lovely old lady. She in turn then makes their gorgeous little outfits and Walla, you have a duck fashion parade.

It was extremely funny and quite entertaining. The pictures really do explain themselves. The kids found it fascinating. Enjoy the pics!

For Tony by request - something easy :)

My Boss Tony asked me the other day to make something on my blog that he could make. So here it is, Peach & Mango Chicken Curry with Coconut Rice and Cooling Yogurt. You can make this Tony, it's easy and you can make it as hot as you want.

This is David's favourite curry that I make and we like it hot. You can see all the beads of sweat come off his forehead as he is eating it. Looks like he has been in a Sauna. Just the way he likes it. This really is a very simple curry, you can adjust the heat and I will tell you how to in the recipe.

My kids love it :)

Ingredients

1. 1 Kilo of Chicken Thigh Fillets, sliced (don't be tempted to use chicken breast, it's not the same)


2. 410 gram tin of Peaches, in syrup (reserve syrup)


3. 410 gram tin of sliced Mangoes, in syrup (reserve syrup)


4. 2 x large red onions, sliced thickly into half moons


5. 2 x large cloves of Garlic, chopped


6. 400ml tin of Coconut Cream


7. 2 tablespoons of Curry Powder


8. A knob of Butter


9. A splash of Peanut Oil, or Olive Oil

Once all of your ingredients are handy and set to go, this really only takes 15 minutes to cook. I put my rice on first. We have a rice cooker and it is fabulous. They are not very expensive and they make rice perfectly every time and it is easy. The only change I make to my rice when cooking it is to add a generous amount of either shredded coconut or flaked coconut. Don't use dessicated, trust me. If you make your rice in a saucepan using the absorption method you do exactly the same thing, just add the coconut before you start cooking it.

Now for the curry. Start by using a large heavy based saucepan, chuck in a good splash of oil and your onions and give them a fry for 2 minutes or so, then add your garlic and fry for another minute. Then add your chicken with your knob of butter and brown. Once the chicken has browned, add your curry powder. (if you don't want the curry to be to hot, just add a tablespoon and a half) Stir the curry powder in well. Then just add your reserved syrup, peaches, mangoes and coconut cream. Bring to the boil and allow to simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce will thicken up, as in the photos above. Once your rice is cooked give it a good stir through before you serve. The coconut likes to float to the top during the cooking process.

We serve with Papadums which I just fry very quickly in a fry pan filled half way with canola oil. For the yogurt to dollop on top, just mix lemon juice to taste with Greek Yogurt. I also like to serve mine with a bowl of fresh chopped hot red chillies. I told you, we like it hot!

So Tony I hope this is easy enough for you and I am sure you are going to love it. Enjoy your move to Melbourne and I will miss you very much :(

Vietnamese Transparent Pork & Prawn Rolls with Bean Sauce

I would have to say Vietnamese food is one of my favourites cuisines. It is so fresh, so inviting and so yummy. I love these pork and prawn rolls. Lots of ingredients, lots of flavour, a little fiddly to make but absolutely worth it.
Firstly you need rice paper. You can pick it up pretty much at most supermarkets. I buy mine at the Asian supermarket.
Firstly you make the bean sauce. Very simple to do. Empty out the contents of one jar of Hoi Sin Sauce into a saucepan, then fill the jar with two thirds water, shake it about to get out the remainder of the Hoi Sin and pour into the sauce pan. Then add one large tablespoon of peanut butter. Bring to a simmer stirring all the time. Once everything has combined into a smooth thick glossy sauce, take off the heat and refrigerate covered until it is nicely chilled.

Char Sui Pork is your next main ingredient. Slice it into about 5 ml slices ready to put into your rolls.

You will need about 500 grams of lovely fresh prawns. Peel and devein if you wish. I don't unless they have sand in them. You can tell if they do have sand in them, if your like me and eat every third one that you peel ;) You will also need a small bag of bean shoots and some shredded iceberg lettuce.


The vermicelli noodles are next. Ignore what the packet says and throw them into a pot of boiling water for only two minutes. Strain and allow to cool in a covered bowl.

You will need some blanched peanuts, about 100 grams. I find you can only really get them at Asian supermarkets. Don't use presalted roasted peanuts, it's not the same. Roast them yourself and don't add salt to them. Give them a good bash with your mortar and pestle. These are used to top your lovely bean sauce.
Now that all your ingredients are cooled down and everything is spread out ready for assembly. Pop the kettle on. In a bowl half fill with boiling water. Dip your rice paper into the water and turn it round so that the whole circle of rice paper has been submerged in the hot water. Watch your fingers. I know that the packets on both the rice paper and the rice noodles say to soak in cold water but this is not the way the Vietnamese do it. The noodles and the rice paper become to wet and slippery. It makes assembly very difficult with your fillings slipping all over the shop and your rolls not sealing properly.
Lay out your rice paper on a cutting board. Place noodles, a piece of pork, a prawn or two, some bean shoots and three or four fresh mint leaves. Fold over just like making spring rolls.

Serve with your gorgeous bean sauce, topped with peanuts and your done. Allow three per person. These are very filling. They are very deceptive. They swell in your tummy.



There so fresh and so low in fat, without feeling like your eating something that is low fat. You can make them with chicken, my kids love them with chicken. They are great finger food and once you try them you will be totally addicted like we are. Hope you like them and my step by step photos?

Cheers Amelita

7 Food Facts

The lovely Miss Margot from Coffee & Vanilla had tagged me a while ago to answer 7 Food Facts about myself. Due to the plague in my house I had totally forgotten about it. Sorry Margot. So here it is finally. I would like to tag in turn a couple of my favourite bloggers Uncaring Bear, Little Miss Moi and finally Duncan from Syrup & Tang.

1. I am a totally messy cook. Without my Dave I would be stuffed. Example above of my true messy style. Also my kitchen is to small. I need a bigger one so I can make even more mess.
2. I hate, hate, just hate, any bread over a day old. If it hasn't been baked that day, it's only use to me is either toast or homemade bread crumbs. Coming from a very poor family, I came to appreciate very fresh bread when we had it. I am scarred for life!
3. Offal, can't eat it, won't touch it, I run in the other direction, it just gives me the willys and turns my stomach.
4. I have turned my children into food snobs. Simply the best is only good enough for them. They are truly food critics and make life impossible for anyone who cooks for them. What have I done? I didn't do it on purpose. Ben is constantly giving me advice on what I should have done and how I can do it better next time. Cheeky monkey!
5. I am allergic to Broccoli and Cauliflower, well not really, that's just what I tell everyone because I detest them.
6. I love expensive fancy ingredients. Some women have shoes, some women love clothes, I have my oils and weird ingredients. Does anyone know where I might be able to buy a Truffle in Townsville? I am just hanging to buy one.
7. Lastly, Food is what gives a home a heart, it brings people together, it makes you feel content, it creates fabulous childhood memories or nightmares, it creates comfort and a house that revolves around a kitchen is just satisfying. Food and Family are my life, and my world. I show my family how much I love them by producing meals that everyone enjoys and everyone talks about. I feel like I am giving them my heart and soul when I cook. It is a gift that will keep on giving for the rest of my life.
   

Playing Wtih Flavours - Asian Style Roast Beef

I have been wanting to do an Asian Flavoured Roast Beef for a while and on the weekend was the perfect time to just throw caution to the wind and just chuck lots of my favourite Asian flavours together. It was a success. I marinated a 900 gram Rib Fillet roast for about 6 hours. I drained away the marinade. Reserve the marinade. I then seared it for two minutes all over with a little olive oil in a nice heavy based fry pan. I baked it in the oven for 45 Min's on 180 degrees and then gave it a good half an hour to rest covered in tin foil. While the roast was resting. I put the drained marinade into a large heavy based saucepan with 500 mils of beef stock. I reduced it on a high simmer for about 15-20 Min's, until it reduced by two thirds. Taste for seasoning. Slice your beef across the grain and serve with the lucious, rich, sweet sauce. To accompany, some snow peas and sugar snap peas in a really hot wok for 2-3 Min's with a knob of butter, a splash of sesame oil and a good sprinkling of salt. You want them bright green and still crisp in the centre. I made some cous cous, tossed through some toasted slivered almonds and lots of juicy sultanas with a good seasoning of salt and pepper. The result was superb. Lovely fresh flavours, all on one plate. The beef was the star of the show with simple, fresh, but not over powering flavours on the side. I am really proud of this one.



The Marinade/Sauce

• 2 tbs Chinese Cooking Wine
• 3 tbs Sweet Soy Sauce (Kecap Manis)
• 2 tbs Raspberry Vinegar
• 2 tbs Soft Palm Sugar
• 2 tsp Five Spice Powder
• 2 Whole Star Anise
• 1 Cinnamon Stick
• 1 tsp Ground Lemon Grass
• 1 tbs Sesame Oil
• 3 Large Garlic Gloves, sliced
• 500 mls Beef Stock

The Sky Is Falling! Help - The Sky Is Falling!

My Computer is dead!

How can this be? I am having a total meltdown. It really has spat the chewy this time. Normally I just cross my fingers and hope like the buggery its all going to be OK, but not this time. So my posts will be limited for a little while. I will be taking my computer to the nearest emergency department tomorrow for a full check up and recovery plan. Stay tuned..............Cross your fingers for me.

I feel so lost................................ :(

Banana Nut Wellingtons

OK, so I have a fascination at the moment with Wellington style food. First I made a Beef Wellington, tonight I have made Banana Nut Wellingtons and soon I will be delving into the Seafood World of Wellingtons. I love Puff Pastry and no I don't make my own, but I would like to sometime. Making Puff Pastry scares me ohooooooohohhhooooo, no, really it does, something about all the folding over and over again with butter. I will get there though.So tonight there are six kids in the house, one of them asleep. The others are nagging at me, come on Mum make dessert. So this is what I came up with. Really it is just putting a few things together. Cut up Cavendish bananas, dark chocolate melts, puff pastry, some beaten egg and flaked almonds. What could be simpler than that? Huh I tell you Easy Peasy!

All you have to do is put a few Cavendish banana slices in the middle of a square piece of pastry , just add on top about 6 large chocolate melts, fold it up into a parcels, with beaten egg to hold things together. Brush the tops with more beaten egg, sprinkle with flaked almonds and bake for 15 Min's or until golden brown on 210 degrees. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and your there. Easyiness!!!!!! Delicious, just be careful, the banana will be steaming hot, don't want to burn those taste buds. The melted chocolate just oozes out with the banana mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Crispy Pastry mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Ice Cream mmmmmmmmmmmmmm Crunchy Almonds mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Oh Yeah!!!!

Blueberry Cream Cheese Filled Chocolate Brownies

OK................. so this is my new creation. Blueberry Cream Cheese Filled Chocolate Brownies. Yummo!!!!!! They are moist and rich, with that gorgeous tang of blueberry heaven. Enjoy!!!!

Ingredients for the Brownie Part

• 125 grams of Butter
• 250 grams of Dark Chocolate
• 2 cups of Sugar
• 2 teaspoons of Vanilla Extract
• 4 large Eggs
• 1 1/2 cups of Plain Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of Salt

Ingredients for the Cream Cheese Filling Part

• 375 grams of Cream Cheese Softened
• 1/2 cup of Sugar
• 2 teaspoons of Vanilla Extract
• 1 large Egg
• 1/2 tub of frozen Blueberries

Make the Cream Cheese filling first. Blend the cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla extract in a free standing mixer until smooth and creamy. Then add half the blueberries and blend some more. This should break the blueberries down a bit and start oozing out the juices, so that you get that luscious purple colour. When that is done, stir through the remaining blueberries so that they stay whole in the mix. Add more blueberries at this stage if you wish, I did. Set mix aside.

To make the brownie mix. Blend eggs, sugar and vanilla extract in a free standing mixture until light and fluffy. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the chocolate, stir over a low heat until smooth and glossy. Beat chocolate butter mixture into the egg mixture. Lastly stir in the flour and salt. You should have a gorgeous sweet chocolate mixture.

Next it is all about the layering. Put half the chocolate mixture into a lined slice pan and spread out evenly. Then add all your cream cheese filling across the top of the chocolate mixture, spread that out to make a nice even layer. Then add the last of the chocolate mixture on top. Spread out evenly. Don't panic if you find the cream cheese filling is mixing a little with the chocolate mixture. Then bake in an oven for 40 minutes. Turn off the oven and allow them to cool completely in the oven. Lastly dust with some icing sugar and your done. They are really yummy.

I hope you guys enjoy them, we did.