~Cook Up with donna hay and *Irina*~

Chorizo Sausage cooking for another Cook Up
from donna hay magazine Issue 74 April/May 2014

Menu tonight is (all gluten free)

Cheat's Beef and Chorizo Stew with Creamy Polenta

(Comfort in a bowl)

and

Chocolate Meringue Cake

Oh my goodness........how tasty was this

It's sure to be on our menu again!!!

Fair Trade Organic Dark Chocolate 70% purchased from Rustic Pantry

just out of the oven

with meringue on

The recipe says

This cake is supposed to look rustic and uneven,

don't be alarmed if it cracks or collapses a little

And it did crack!!!

this is how it cooked up

Oh wow,   S P L E N D I D 

It's very hard to find a gluten free chocolate cake that is moist 

but this one takes the cake!!!

I think I might even make it for Birthday Cakes and Celebrations

so yummy!!!

Recipe for the Chocolate Meringue Cake over here

I try and use organic/free range food whenever possible

A lot of our veggies and meat and fish are purchased from the SAGE

 (Sustainable Agriculture and Gardening Eurobodalla) Farmer's Markets

which also won a delicious magazine award for 

2014 Outstanding Farmer's Market

Congratulations Everyone at the Markets......You Guys Rock

Irina has joined me in these Cook-Ups

She has also just cooked from the same issue and to see her delicious fare pop on over here

Anyone want to join in with us?

Just cook something up from the latest issue and blog it......easy peasy!!!

Bon Appetit......Dzintra xo

Cook up with Vicki and Donna Hay (No 15)...Spiced Lemon Chicken, Creamed Corn Polenta and Sticky Date Pudding

My latest Cook Up with Vicki from Donna Hay magazine...

Menu was...Spiced Lemon Chicken

Creamed Corn Polenta

Sticky Date Pudding (adapted using gluten free self raising flour and rapadura sugar)

Creamed Corn Polenta from this issue...

Sticky Date Pudding from this issue...

Rapadura Sugar and Butter melting...

Pudding cooked...

Texture and colour using the Rapadura...I don't think the colour is much different to using other sugars...

The sauce was delicious...topped with a 'blob' of cream...YUM YUM YUM!!!

Especially since I can rarely buy Sticky Date Pudding gluten free even though it is all over the place in cafes and restaurants!!!

And I've purchased a new pattern...

couldn't resist this as I just loved those deep colours...

but no way will I be starting this right now...

I'm working on my Partner Annie's Swap hosted by Lisa...

Better get cracking...it's due soon...Dzintra 

~Cook Up With Vicki No 8~

Another cook up with Vicki has just happened...this time all sorts of things kept happening...

especially the pics which are not too clear...rather blurry but hey...it all tasted good...

And that's the main thing...right!!!

The menu from the latest edition of Donna Hay magazine...August/September 2010...

We had...
Spiced Lamb Cutlets with Carrot and Sesame Salad
Polenta Crusted Potatoes
Asparagus with Almond Butter
Raspberry Trifle
and while I was on a roll I made a Chocolate Ganache Tart...

Beautiful tender cutlets...

Polenta Crusted Potatoes...

Almonds toasting...

My newest Gluten Free find...Sweet Shortcrust Pastry from The Pastry Pantry ...

I sprinkled cocoa onto the pastry...

Chocolate all set...

Madeira Cake made with gluten free flour...

Cake rounds into bottom of dessert dish...

Berries atop...I used raspberries and black cherries...

Another round of cake on top...

Pour on custard...add whipped cream and toasted almonds and I'm in Trifle Heaven!!!

(Blurry) Spiced Lamb Cutlets with Carrot and Sesame Salad...

Mr Armchair's contribution when he saw it was a cook up dinner!!!

And here's Cheers across cyberspace to Vicki and Hubby!!!

Anyone who would like to join us it's easy...

Just cook something up from the latest Donna Hay mag and blog it!!!

Now I'm off to rehearsals all weekend for Cabaret!!!

Bon Appetit and Happy Stitching!!!

~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!!!