~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

~Cook Up with donna hay and Irina~

I recently did another cook up from the donna hay magazine Issue 75 Jun/July 2014

Menu from the magazine was

Crispy Pork Belly with Cider Pickled Pears

Whole Spice Roasted Cauliflower

Kale Chips

Lemon and Goat's Yoghurt Cake

and I added Roast Potato

I use all Organic and Free Range if it all possible (and it mainly is)

All my meals are gluten free

Cauliflower in White Wine, Chicken Stock and Spices

and after Roasting

Kale Chips

The Pork

Next door's Lemons which I had frozen

And the cake (all gluten free) sprinkled with Thyme

And of course I forgot to put the Kale on for the photo

During the evening Mr Armchair took a photo unbeknownst to me lol

Recipes 

(Crumbed Pork with Apple and Potato Mash and) Kale Chips

Lemon and Goat's Yogurt Cake

The lovely Irina from America has joined me in the Cook Ups.......check her blog over here

I am 2 issues behind so I better get cracking!!!

Bon Appetit.......Dzintra

~Cook Up with Donna Hay (19)...new Ice Cream Maker and Stitching Update~

I can't believe I've done it again......I've injured my knee again so have been taking it really easy these last few days......Again I am so thankful that Mr Armchair was able to be around to take care of JoJo (and me) while I rested my leg.  He is back at work today and I'm hobbling around here......

Just as well that last week I did a Cook Up from donna hay magazine Issue 65 Oct/Nov 2012

Irina has joined me and Vicki in doing a Cook Up from donna's magazine

The menu was ~Sticky Black Pepper Pork (with a Cucumber and Bean Sprout Salad) and Basic Lemon Tart~

Recipe for Sticky Black Pepper Pork over here

Recipe for Tart over here

Sticky Black Pepper Pork with Salad of Cucumbers, Bean Sprouts, Mint Leaves and Coriander

Lemon Wedges to serve and some Baked Potatoes in Foil

mmmm, very delicious

Lemon Tart setting 

Sliced with a Mint Leaf from the garden

together with Vanilla Ice Cream made with a new ice cream maker Mr Armchair bought for me

JoJo has dairy issues and I have gluten issues so we had been talking about this for a while and what a surprise it was to finally receive one

I experimented with the ice cream mix and used Almond Milk instead of Cow's Milk 

and Rapadura Sugar instead of Caster Sugar and the result was delicious lending itself to the addition of    coffee which I will add another time

Because the only process that rapadura undergoes is the evaporation of liquid, it retains far more vitamins and minerals than refined white sugar. Specifically, rapadura is high in iron, which is essential to the blood oxygenation. Rapadura is also high in silica, potassium, calcium and magnesium in comparison with other sugar alternatives. 

(source over here)

A lovely soft and mellow colour......

And on the stitching front not a lot happening although I have started a little 10" Zippered Pouch after seeing Susan do a few

Tutorial over here

The fabric is Etchings by Moda

How gorgeous is this.................with Eiffel Tower and all

Beautiful writing

I've cut it out and started but waiting till I can bend my knee a little more at the machine!!

Till next time......Dzintra xo

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

A Gardener's Journal...Block D and Passionfruit Slice...

Moving along here with my Gardener's Journal quilt that I am doing on the Stitch-a-long hosted by Chookyblue...

Finally, Block D...this one seemed to take forever...especially with the corn!!!

I'm using what I have...particularly any fabrics that I purchased from Anni...

however last week I purchased a fat 1/4 that I thought I could use...

I have used it to the right of the corn... (the blue one) 

Mr Armchair picked up that it was different to the others...

 but I think it's going to stay...

I'll see how it looks later on down the track...

And all stitched up to the other block...

Now it's onto Block E...

Meanwhile, over at Innerpickle I saw a really easy recipe for Passionfruit Slice...

lemon zest all ready to go in...

into the oven...

cooling off...

Simply delicious!!! 

For the recipe go to My Dolce Vita over here,

delicious for passionfruit fans, guaranteed...and best of all...nice'neasy!!!

Bon Appetit, Dzintra