~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~

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 (No 21) with Donna Hay and ~Irina~

Above is a pic of the parsley fresh from the garden that I used in my Cook Up

from donna hay magazine Issue 67 Feb/March 2013

Potato Crisp, Fennel and Prawn Salad with Mustard and Cayenne Dressing

the wine

I have to admit this is the first time I have actually bought a fennel bulb and cooked with it

and what a surprise it was......Mr Armchair and JoJo agreed we'll have to have it more often

And tah-dah all finished

A lovely light dish which is easy to make and put together plus a perfect one for warm evenings

I think we'll have to have this one again come Summertime!

I look forward to your next Cook Up Irina and seeing what you choose!!!
Anyone else who wants to join us just drop me an email
All you have to do is cook one dish from donna's magazine and blog it

And to all the Mums out there

* HA P P Y   M O T H E R' S    DAY   F O R  S U N D A Y *

 I hope your family spoils you and that you have a lovely relaxing day 

and of course something nice to eat!!!

Bon Appetit......Dzintra xo

~Cook Up with Donna Hay (No 17) Red Wine Braised Beef Cheeks with Paris Mash...and Mindy's Chocolate Mousse Tart~

Last week I did another Cook Up from the donna hay magazine Issue 63 June/July 2012

Menu was Red Wine Braised Beef Cheeks with Paris Mash

I've never cooked Beef Cheeks before but they were oh so melt in the mouth tender...and cheap too!!!

Lovely thyme in the casserole...red wine...beef stock amongst other ingredients

The Parish Mash was sooooo smooth, creamy and silky

The pic above shows the dish without parsley

And we had freshly ground trio of peppercorns on ours!

We also enjoyed some Bodalla Dairy Sage and Saltbush cheese...

We all enjoy watching MasterChef  here and JoJo occassionally gets the magazine for me on one of her shopping programmes

This time I thought I would try Mindy's Chocolate Mousse Tart for Dessert

I used White Wings Gluten Free Flour for the pastry

Mr Armchair had seen this pack of Orgran Gluten Substitute and bought it for me

I've never made gluten free pastry so added the substitute to the flour and the result was that the pastry was not brittle and didn't break easily

Now I'll have to play around with it a little more

Orange Caramel on the Tart

I asked Mr Armchair to go out into the backyard (in the dark) and come back with a few mint leaves for the top as we had no basil...

He came back with Lemon Balm but hey, it still tasted good!!!

Served with Mascarpone

A delicious, delicious meal

and I don't know how Mindy made this Tart in the time allocated!!!!!!!!

Mindy's Chocolate Mousse Tart recipe over here

Irina has decided to join Vicki and I in doing a Cook Up from each issue of donna hay magazine

If anyone else would like to join us just let me know and I can put you up on my sidebar

No pressure......just cook something out of each issue and blog it!!

Bon Appetit......Dzintra

Christmas 2011...and Sea Mist

Christmas Eve morning arrived and when looking down the street I saw a mist rising up the hill to our place...and it smelt so 'salty'...

Meanwhile Mr Armchair came back from town and said we have to go down to the beach and have a look at the this Seamist!!!

Maybe you can't see it too well but it was awesome...

I'd never seen this before...but then again we have only been here 4 years...

It had a freshness about it as well...

People swimming in it...

and you could still see through it all...

It was rather magical looking down to it, but probably not for the seafarers...

Meanwhile from this Australian Good Food Magazine I made a Christmas pudding...

I used Rapadura sugar instead of white sugar...hence the caramel colour...

All good with custard on the day!!!

Mr Armchair cleaned the yard up a bit ant it looked lovely in the bright sunshine...

'Little jewels' in the water bath...

A lovely blue hydrangea...

I also made a Fruit Cake...

fruit cake is not generally a Latvian tradition but JoJo loves it, as do I...

All wrapped waiting to cut into it...

Looking at the bay window...

A candle for Christmas Eve...JoJo very excited by now...

Potatoes ready to prepare for Potato Roesti...

together with some barbequed lamb...

a nice easy dinner before the big day!!!

JoJo still getting very excited by now...

At her day programme she made some sweets...

The tree...

Opening gifts...

JoJo loves Volkswagens and I had to buy her this table and chairs when I saw it...

Very happy here...

Just after the table was bought I saw a pattern for a cushion with a Combi on it and had to buy it for her...then I made the cushion for her...

more of this in OPAM (one project a month) in another post...

And dig this, Gluten Free Mince Pies...

The it was off to our Daughter Jacqueline's place...

here she is with her DH Bill and 2 littles, Ryan and Lidija...

Jacqueline now for about the 5th year in a row has made a gingerbread house...

I think it's tradition now!!!

Mr Armchair's Brothers and their Mother...

And for the first time in his 5 years Ryan wanted to choose and give Christmas gifts...

I scored star cookie cutters...

And Lidija wanted to join in too...

here I received 2 nail polishes (she likes nail polish) and a golden olive eye shadow...

All just perfect...thank you so much Ryan and Lidi...all so very special!!!

By evening Lidija had had it...

Seeing I have a new sewing machine Jacqueline has my nearly new other machine...

and the Prints Charming book...

and she says next year everyone is getting sewn presents...

Bring it on!!!!!!!

I seem to be posting every day here...just squeezing in the last for 2011 for my blog book...

If I haven't gotten back to you thank you everyone for coming round and

leaving your lovely comments...I appreciate every single one of them!!!