2016......the ones that got away

Welcome 2017......let's hope this year doesn't fly by like the last one!!!

I like to do a catch up post in January of the previous years' photos that just didn't make it on to the blog for one reason or another.....

To kick off January I had a go a making some Mozarella Cheese and it turned out really well

We were all really happy with it!

Just need more practice at making smooth round balls!

February sees me going up the Hill to the National Gallery Canberra 

to view Australian Artist Tom Robert's Exhibition

Oh my how stunning it was!

Artwork is 'The Golden Fleece' painted at Newstead North Station, near Inverell, New South Wales and Sydney 1894

Oil on Canvas......purchased 1894

My Friend has a Tapestry of this and it is just beautiful

The further away you stand from it the further into the Shed you go!

I made this little cushion 10 years ago for my Sister and finally took a photo of it

It's being used as a little brooch holder

Original design by Cathy Penton

April sees me off to a Book Signing with Fleur McDonald and Josephine Moon
Fleur writes about Rural Fiction and Jo writes Foodie Fiction
Pic here with Fleur but the one with Josephine has vanished and luckily it did make it to Instagram at the time.
 Im having Lots of trouble here with the photos......
Blogger won't talk to my Photo Library here and I think the Photo Library keeps changing the photos around!

In May we were still getting Cherry Tomaotes from our garden

In June I was lucky enough to win this Book hosted by Gail Pan Designs

Thank You Gail!

In July I was the first to finish a Book Challenge hosted by our local Bookshop

August sees JoJo's Birthday......the day she waits all year for

Here she is with a John Farnham cake

In September I was reminiscing about my Paris trip and how I scored a visit into the Kitchen of 

Alain Ducasses's Jules Verne Restaurant in the Eiffel Tower

Oh my....................

In October I went to Manu Fieldel's Book Signing

Here I am with him......sigh

November saw Mr Armchair cook a meal from a recipe

Beef Sirloin Steak with Rocket Salad and Balsamic Onions

Very delicious too!

And Christmas December 2016 saw a Spit in the Backyard

Here we have JoJo's Sister Jacqueline and her little one Lidija

So ends a quick trip through 2016

Wishing everyone a Happy, Content and Peaceful 2017

Dzintra xo

~A Respite Weekend For Us.......and Chooky's Christmas Swap~

This weekend we had organised a much looked forward to respite for JoJo

We thought we'd have a day trip down the coast

We started off at the Blue Earth Cafe for coffee/lemon myrtle tea and lunch

We ended up at the beautiful seaside port of Bermagui where Billy Connolly filmed part of the film The Man Who Sued God

We had Fish 'n Chips here and saw a fishing boat come in.

This morning I made (gluten free) Choc Chip Muffins with Choc Chips that were organic from 

The Rustic Pantry

This afternoon I did a little on my Tilda Club Pin Cushion

 and to finish off we went for a beach walk in the late afternoon and saw the sun catching the waves

 and on the beach grass

'round the corner this piece of gum!

A lovely relaxing weekend just being 'us' and tasting the 'normal' world

We could come and go as we please

Sit for as long as we wanted without having to jump up and down

We even walked together and held hands on the beach

Something we don't normally do as one of us has to be with JoJo!!!

All in all a lovely weekend........

I have joined Chookyblue's Secret Santa Christmas Swap this year and looking forward to receiving news of who my partner is!!!

Thank you to everyone who comes over and reads my humble little blog and comments on it

I truly do appreciate it and do try sincerely to get back to everybody

Hope your weekend was a good one

Here's to another week........Dzintra xo

~Cooking with JoJo's Day Programme (1)...Quinoa~

Recently I went to JoJo's Day Programme and did a cooking class with the clients

Above is a pic of the Middle Eastern Bean Patties with Yogurt and Mint Sauce we all made

Here are Angie and Alan......very keen to have lunch

they sat at their places not long after we arrived and patiently waited!!!

Eddie was a very keen worker

Renae......one of the care workers on the day

and now posing with JoJo

The patties all lined up ready to go

Trying to do a 'cheffy' pose here whilst thinking how would Matt Moran do this LOL

From left to right here.......Alan, Adam, Angie, JoJo, Mieke and me

A very successful lunch and I'm back again tomorrow to do another one......this time a Chicken Laksa

Before trying this with the gang I did a practice run at home

The Patties are from Cooking with Quinoa by Rena Patten

Quinoa - pronounced keen-wah - is a grain, but not just any grain. It is considered to be almost a complete food. It is very high in protein, full of vitamins, gluten- and wheat-free, cholesterol-free and usually organic. And it is simply delicious. This title shows you many different ways to use quinoa.

We have just discovered quinoa in our house and love it

These patties have become a firm favourite with us!!!

Uncooked Patties

Cooking

Served with Broccoli and a simple salad

* R E C I P E*

Makes 8-10....you could even get 15 patties.......they are a really good size

Gluten Free, Vegetarian and for Dairy Free omit Yogurt

~ 1/2C quinoa grain, rinsed and drained

1C water

2 x 400g cans red kidney beans - rinsed and drained

3 cloves garlic, grated

4 shallots or spring onions, finely sliced

1t ground cumin

1/2 - 1t chilli powder

3T chopped coriander

1 egg

salt to taste

2T olive oil

YOGURT MINT SALSA

~1/2C Greek Yogurt

1T finely chopped mint

1t extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

METHOD

Place quinoa in small saucepan with the water.  Bring to boil then reduce heat, cover and simmer 10m until all water is absorbed.  Remove from heat and cool.

Coarsely mash kidney beans with fork or potato masher.  

Add cooked quinoa, garlic, shallots, cumin, chilli, coriander and egg.

Season with salt and mix until all ingredients are well combined.

Divide mixture into 8 or 10....but it will do 15 smaller ones and shape into round patties.

Heat olive oil over medium heat in pan.  Add patties and cook until golden on both sides, aprox 3-4 m each side.

To make the salsa mix together yogurt, mint, oil and season as desired.

Serve the patties with the yogurt mint salsa and a garden salad.

A yummy meal highly recommended.....

Bon Appetit......Dzintra

~A Gardener's Journal......Block H...and Dinner to Celebrate~

I'm nearly there...

Presenting Block H of A Gardener's Journal by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched

I am part of Stitch-a-long hosted by Chookyblue for this quilt

Woo Hoo one to go.........and I'm excited!!!!!

Violet Wreath

Seed Packets

All together in the block

And waiting for Block I to join in to the rest of this beautiful quilt!!!!!

So after photographing the block I thought this was worth a special meal

I used Donna Hay's 50th issue birthday edition

and chose Veal Cutlets with Sherry Mushrooms and Giant Yorkshire Pudding

I had done this meal in a Cook Up before over here

I'm not a big mushroom fan but I have recently discovered Swiss Brown mushrooms and love them!!!

Yorkshire Pudding all cooked

Mr Armchair, JoJo and I think we should have this pudd more often!!!

Together with vegies a great meal on a cold night....

and I like a lot of sauce!!!

I thought I would include the recipe for Yorkshire Pudding...this one is a gluten free one and is adapted from the donna hay magazine

~  3/4C gluten free plain flour
~1/4t sea salt
~ 2 eggs
~ 2/3C milk
~ 2/3C water
~ 2 T oil...I used coconut oil which made for a very interesting flavour

Oven 220c
18cm round cake pan
Cook 25-30m
Serves 4-6

~  Place flour, salt, eggs milk and water in bowl and whisk to combine
~  Set aside for 30m
~  Pour oil into cake tin and heat in oven for 5m
~  Pour batter into tin and cook for 25-30m or until puffed and golden
~  Serve immediately

Some gluten free pastry from Rick's Pantry

Together with some Pampas Pastry

Topped with Strawberries and Cream......pure indulgence!!!

Bon Appetit......and Happy Stitching ~Dzintra~

Cook Up With Donna Hay No 13...Chicken and Lemongrass Laksa...Lemon Meringue Chocolate Cake!!!

Another Cook Up with Vicki has happened here...

This time from the Oct/Nov 2011 10th birthday edition of Donna Hay magazine......

Menu is......

Chicken and Lemongrass Laksa......

Lemon Meringue Chocolate Cake......

Laksa......delicious!!!

I used gluten free flour.....cut the cake part out leaving a hole.....

Filled with Lemon Curd...

and topped with Meringue Icing......

I have never had anything like this before....

it was pretty amazing.....

the chocolate......the lemon......and the meringue all together.....YUMMMM!!!

And here's JoJo together with me helping cut the dessert......

she was pretty keen to try it at this stage!!!

Until next time, which I hope won't be too long......Bon Appetit......Dzintra