~Cook Up with donna hay magazine......Sticky ginger marmalade Chicken~

Another delicious Cook Up has happened from donna hay magazine Issue 88 Aug/Sep 2016

These are really getting really too far between now but I'm determined to catch up!!!

Menu -  Sticky Ginger Marmalade Chicken Stir Fry
accompanied by Zucchini and a Cucumber Salad with aThai Dressing

 Chocolate and Maple Banana Cake

First up  I started the Dessert Cake preparation 

I even made my own Dulce De Leche instead of purchasing it but come to think of it I have never seen it available in our small coastal town

Recipe for Homemade Dulce De Leche by Donna Hay available here and also above blog in Pages

Condensed Milk ready to go into oven covered by foil and in a Water Bath
I don't think I left mine in long enough due to the paler colour and thickness of it compared to  Donna's but in any case it was still delicious
Also a bit hard to check as it was covered by baking paper, foil and string

As you can see Donna's version is really dark and quite thick

The Dulce De Leche is sitting atop Chocolate Ganache

My version all bottled and ready to use whenever called for

To our surprise we have successfully grown Ginger so this was used for garnishing the meal

All accompanied by Zucchini

and a Cucumber Salad with a Thai Dressing (home made) just to give it that little edge

I used Home Made Marmalade from my local Farmer's Market and boy was this so different to a commercial marmalade........the Citrus flavour was strong and I really enjoy that!!!

Above and below.......just a few versions of my Cake

And the best part........it's all Gluten Free!!!

Bon Appetit and have a great weekend......Dzintra

~Cook Up for my Dad~

It's been ages since I've done a Cook Up

This time I did one last night for my dear Dad/mīļš Papiņš

 who is no longer here on Earth with us

It just felt the right thing to do and complete with a Birthday Cake to boot

But first, and very important...which Apron to use

Just this week I received this apron from Trish who recently went over to Provence, France

I already had bought one from there but of course I needed another lol

I also used a Tea Towel with Provence embroidered on it that I purchased whilst over there

Thanks so much Trish......much appreciated!!!

I chose the brown one to use on this Cook Up

My Menu from donna hay magazine Issue 87 Jun/July 2016

(this is why I needed the Quince Paste Annette (no blog))!

Pork and Sauerkraut Meatballs with Quince Glaze 

Savoy Colcannon

Marble Chai Bundt Cake with Maple Syrup

Mr Armchair set the Wine scene

Adding Sauerkraut to the Meatballs gave a real depth of flavour

Next time I'd like to double the Glaze......it was delicious

I'm a bit like Manu Fieldel (French Chef in Australia) and love my Glazes/Sauces lol

The Meatballs here with the Colcannon

Colcannon (Irish: cál ceannann, meaning "white-headed cabbage") is a traditional Irish dish mainly consisting of mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage. It is also the name of a song about the dish.

(from Wikipedia)

In this dish I used Savoy Cabbage, Leek and Pure Jersey Cream from Tilba

And here is part of the verse.......

Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?

With the greens and scallions mingled like a picture in a dream.........

(Wikipedia)

It was very delicious.......together a lovely tasty combination

I ground up Spices for Chai Tea to put into the Cake

And here 'tis

Happy Birthday mils Papins/loving Dad

And to top it off.......Warm Maple Syrup

Also ideal to have with some Cream, Custard or even Ice Cream if you so wish

Recipe for Marble Chai Bundt Cake with Maple Syrup over here

And to keep it all real

Mr Armchair as I sat down took a photo

no make up, no hair neatly done lol!!!!

Lab Apptit......Bon Appetit

Dzintra xo

~Cook Up with donna hay and Irina~

Cook Up with donna hay and Irina from donna hay magazine Issue 78 Dec/Jan 2015

Menu tonight was Sticky Chilli Ribs with Coconut and Cabbage Slaw

Sticky Date Meringue Cake

Free Range Pork in mixture of Ginger, Garlic, Chilli, Honey and Lime Juice

Out of the oven and looking crackling good too!!!!!!

Recipe for Sticky Chilli Ribs with Coconut and Cabbage Slaw here

Sticky Date Meringue Cake

and sliced.

It was such a hot night here that this meal was just perfect!!!!

Irina also participates in the cook up from time-to-time

To see what she has been making go over here

Bon Appetit......Dzintra xo

~Cook Up with Donna hay and Irina~

Phew, it's taken sooo long for me to get this post up

A cook up with donna hay magazine Issue 77 Oct/Nov 2014

As seems to be the case recently I couldn't decide which Dessert to make so of course I made both and we had them over the next few nights

The Menu ~all adapted for Gluten Free

Parmesan-Crusted Fish with Zucchini Salad

Lemon, Honey and Almond Cake

Peach and Vanilla Sorbet

First things first........prepare Dessert

Soaked Lemon Peel in base of cake pan for the Cake.

and ta da after not long at all the meal is all ready

nice and easy especially since it was a very warm night at the time

The fish was nice and light and the salad was lovely and tasty with no need for any starch

The salad was comprised basically of Zucchini and Baby Spinach leaves with a Zesty Dressing

The Sorbet hit the spot for the evening

The cake was excellent the next day and perfect with coffee

Here 'tis sitting atop JoJo's Wiggles Tray

And unbeknownst to me Mr Armchair took a snap whilst cooking one evening lol

Bon Appetit......Dzintra 

~Cook Up With donna hay and Irina~

Just before Christmas saw me do another Cook Up with donna hay and Irina

from donna hay magazine Issue 76 Aug/Sep 2014

Menu for the evening was

Chicken in White Wine with Lemon Potatoes (recipe over here)

Rose and Raspberry Trifles (recipe over here)

and I couldn't resist trying the

Cherry and Cardamom Pound Cake

Instead of Dry White Wine in the Chicken I used Dry Cider

The Chicken just about ready

Instead of Artichoke I used Snow Peas from our garden and some Sweet Potato

All dressed with Parmesan Cheese

and very tasty indeed!!!

The Trifle in an Eiffel Tower glass

Looking down into it

The Cake in the background

I couldn't stop at 1 Dessert to make I had to try out the Cherry and Cardamom Cake

After all it would be good for the next day's Morning Coffee, right?!

Well we couldn't resist just a little piece lol

Better get cracking as another Cook Up is waaaay overdue!!!

Bon Appetit........Dzintra