Cook Up......Christmas 2016

Phew, this post has been a long time coming!!!

Back to Christmas 2016 saw my Son and I bottle some Dill Cucumbers the Latvijan way

All cut and ready to go

DS was keen to learn how to do this and quickly jammed the cucumbers into the jars

I thought I would start off a Sourdough batter for some Bread

Having learnt that if Dough is proved for a minimum of roughly 12 hours the Gluten in the process breaks right down......Perfect for Gluten Intolerants like me

More information over here 

It's all about slowing it right down like in the old days before mass baking where now bread can be made in an hour!!!

I'm all for Slow Food

I gave mine an 18 hour rise

Out of the oven

And tasted sooooo good......and no reaction!!!

From donna hay magazine Issue 90 Dec/Jan 2017 

I made an Apple Cider, Mustard and Sage Glaze for our Ham which DS had started outside

Recipe available here 

Glaze

The Ham over the Spit

Daughter and Grand Daughter by the Spit

Finally ready and oh so succulent

The meal

 

Whilst on a roll I made some Mixed Spice and Raspberry Loaves 

I used Gluten Free Flour so not as risen as using regular flour

Quite yummy too as I love Raspberries!!!

From donna hay Fresh & Light Issue 6

 Raw Choc-Hazelnut Raspberry Tart before Chocolate Mousse Topping



All done now

And for about 5 years I've been wanting to make a German Stollen using a Gluten Free recipe
A Gluten Free recipe over here 

and it was worth the wait!!! 

That did me in for a few weeks so it was all easy meals from then on!!!

Bon Appetie......Dzintra

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

~Bah Humbug Swap~

I recently joined in The No Fuss Swappers 'Bah Humbug' Swap

This entailed sending a Mug Rug, a Mug to match,  and a treat all wrapped in a Christmasey Fat 1/4

The Mug Rug

I had recently ordered and received cloth labels with my name on it and thought Susan's Mug Rug would be the first item to receive one!!!

Mug chosen by JoJo at Rick Rutherford's country shoppe in the Blue Mountains

A treat was added

 and it's all ready to go!!!

Opening day was 13 December......

Meanwhile my Swap Gift was from Helen all safely arrived above

The little card

Fat 1/4 off

and all is revealed!!!

Thank You Helen.......lovely gifts and my Mug certainly has been given a work out over the last few days!!!

And Thank You Girls over at No Fuss Swappers for running these delightful Swaps!!!