~Cook Up With Donna Hay (No 18) ...Vicki...and Irina~porcini and mixed mushroom risotto and ~Pirates of Penzance~

First of all a lovely welcome to Irina who has joined me in doing Cook Ups from Donna Hay magazine

We cook something from the latest issue of the magazine and then blog it.....easy peasy

Anyone can join so just drop me a line if you are interested

Menu from Issue 64 Aug/Sept 2012

Porcini and Mixed Mushroom Risotto ~very similar recipe over here

Strawberry, Mascarpone and Almond Tray Tart

Chocolate Butterscotch Truffles with Almond Praline

Salted Dark Chocolate Truffles......because I couldn't resist

Basic Chocolate Truffle recipe over here

The Risotto......you can't see the Mushrooms really well as I went a bit crazy with the Baby Spinach Leaves and Parmesan Cheese.......but wow, was it delicious

I used Porcini......Portobello......Swiss Brown and Baby Mushrooms

I used a Gluten Free Pastry from Rick's Pantry available at Coles

Salted Chocolate Truffles.....not as smooth looking as Donna's......but nice and salty

And the Butterscotch Truffles......delicious with a glass of Butterscotch Schnappes

A very, very tasty meal and a seal of approval for the Salted Chocolate from Mr Armchair

Only 2 weeks to go until The Bay Theatre Players production of Gilbert & Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance opens

I'm part of the Chorus of Police and we have been rehearsing since May

Sunday is our first full dress rehearsal and then after that it's 3 times a week till Curtain Up

So not much stitching will be happening here at a guess but I will try and fit some in Chooky

Till next time......Happy Stitching and Bon Appetit

~Tarantara......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 14...Pork Belly with Garlic, Caramelized Onion and Quince Sauce...

Another delicious Cook Up with Vicki  has happened here from Donna Hay magazine Issue 60 Dec/Jan 2012...

Menu tonight is:

Spiced Carrot Dip

Pork Belly with Garlic, Caramelized Onion and Quince Sauce

Roasted Baby Vegetable Salad

Mini Strawberry Tarte Tatins

Cumin and coriander seeds roasting for dip...

Add carrots, cayenne pepper, honey and chicken stock...

and the most delicious dip is ready after a little while...yummy...

The recipe called for malt vinegar (not gluten free) so after some research for a substitute I bought Red Wine Vinegar...

Pork Belly ready for oven...with our thyme on it...

And out of the oven...

Roasted vegies...beetroot, parsnip, carrot and kipfler potatoes...

There was even a heart shaped potato!!!

This meal was full of flavour...we thoroughly enjoyed it!!!

Patchwork placemats and table runner bought at my local Needlework Group...

These were made by a lady who cannot sew anymore...

Butter, sugar, water and vanilla bean for dessert...

Strawberry Tarte Tatin out of the oven...

recipe for these over here...

looks a bit of a jumble but this sure packed a punch...so very very tasty!!!

Now I'm looking forward to the next Cook Up...

Bon Appetit......Dzintra

A Gardener's Journal Block C done...followed by a treat!!!

After what seemed like taking ages...

Block C of a Gardeners Journal is done!!!

I have used the same colours for the stitcheries as Anni has done...

Block C all joined up...

I'm thinking I'm going to use the blue paisley (I love paisley...there is a lot of it in this quilt) for the inner border...I don't have enough of the red for the outer border...

and I probably will use the blue floral for the binding...

but this could all change!!!

To see more Gardener's Journal quilts go over here...

I think some strawberries and chocolate are in order after all that!!!

Happy Stitching...Dzintra

~Cook Up With Vicki...No 7~

Boy what a busy time it's been here...but in a very nice way...

JoJo's birthday last weekend...the Event Of The Year in this house LOL!!!

The Craft Fair...family down for a visit...Mr Armchair home for a week...

and rehearsals are under way for our local Amateur Theatre's production of Cabaret!!!

Meanwhile...I have had the best fun doing another cook up with Vicki!!!

Above are the aprons...one for me and one for DG...along with matching tea towel and pot holder...how cute are these!!!

But first, Mr Armchair brought home some cheese...the one on the left is D'Affinois Brie and the other one a Sage Derby...just delicious, especially with a glass of red!!!

This Cook Up from the June/July issue of Donna Hay magazine...

Tonight the menu was...Herbed Polenta Chips...Creamy Cauliflower Soup and Pear and Ricotta Tarts!!!

First I fried a little cauliflower for the garnish on the soup...

The Polenta Chips...very very popular!!!

Together with the soup...the pic should be turned around but I couldn't get to do it!!!

And the most exciting part...I found this Gluten and Wheat Free pastry at the supermarket...I haven't had pastry for quite a while now and was very excited to see it!!!

I simply adore pears especially when cooked...here they are atop the pastry and ricotta!!!

Into the nearly new oven...

All ready...I couldn't stop taking pics of the pears!!!

One version with a strawberry over the ice cream...

And another just with icing sugar...

With srawberries...

And again with ice cream!!!
Very very moorish...especially on these cold nights...

and even more so seeing I haven't had pastry for ages!!!
Off now to make a batch of Cauliflower Soup...

and perhaps over the weekend maybe put some batting and backing to my A Christmas Wish quilt...

Have a great weekend...Happy Cooking...Happy Stitching and

and Bon Appetit!!!