Narooma Oyster Festival!!!

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to be able to attend the Narooma Oyster Festival...

A little booklet of oyster recipes I purchased...

There were various stalls...and Mr Dolce Vita purchased some Gluten Free Rocky Road for me...delicious!!!

Treasures Onion Marmalade and Chilli Jam...when we purchased these a Protea came with them...

Tastings...

Some of the selection...

Natural Oysters...

Kilpatrick...

Garlic Butter...Mornay and Kilpatrick Oysters...

Downed with a glass of wine from Tilba Valley Wines...

There were cooking demonstrations by the Royal Australian Navy...

Rick Stein's wine was available to taste along with...

(Charantay) Sausages prepared by Rick's Head Chef Julian Lloyd at Bannister's Restaurant...

'Fruits of the Sea'...a wonderful dish of seafood prepared by Julian...

And to top it all off Oysters Natural with (Charantay) Sausages on Seaweed!!!
A wonderful day and I'm looking forward to see what next year has to offer...

For more pics on the Festival go over to Queen of the Armchair (my other blog)!!!

The Mantle at TAFE...Rememberance Day 2009...11 November

Here I am catching up with end of 2009 cooking meals at TAFE (Technical and Further Education)...

this will be my last post on cooking meals at TAFE as the course is now over...

and next week I will graduate YIPPEE!!!!

Nearly 2 years worth...along with theory...

I'm so pleased to have made it!!!

Looking back I have surprised myself...

I didn't realize the work this course would entain...

Having just done our Sea Change (we were here 7 months when I thought I would do this)...

Bringing up a Daughter with a disability...

Surgery and re-cuperating in between and now finally...officially a Graduand!!!

I have now confidence in tackling recipes at home...

have bought some beautiful cook books...

and look forward to practicing more here at home...

along with Cook Ups with Vicki at my other blog Queen of the Armchair!!!

Here's a look at the board for the final time with the menu on it...

Preparation of Zucchini Moulds...

Leek and other greens...

Zucchini Moulds with Mushrooms served with a White Wine Sauce...

Salmon Fish Cakes...

Thai Beef Salad...

Steak and Kidney Pie with Garlic Mash and Vegetables...

Filled Chicken Breast with Pasties and Leek...

Trout Meuniere with Vegetables...

Apple Fritters with Apricot Sauce and Anglais...

Strawberry Bavarois...

Bread and Butter Pudding...

Sable Shortbread out of the oven...

ready for Petit Fours!!!

Meanwhile, I was given Sable Shortbread to make...

Carrot Cake...

and Australia's favourite...Anzac Biscuits!!!

This blog was set up 12 months ago...a year after my course started to record my classes...I wish I had of set it up at the start of the course...

I did post some of the course up at Queen of the Armchair...TAFE under labels (from memory)...

Not sure which direction I will go now...

perhaps record some of the food I cook at home here...

books I come across...

and aprons that I love to wear...

even food places I visit!!!

Also thinking of doing a Julie & Julia here...

Cooking from a Celebrity Chef's cook book and challenging myself and then blogging the outcome...

I'll see how I go...

Meanwhile it's off to Graduation for me on Tuesday evening...

Bon Appetit...Dzintra

My Favourite Slice!!!

Last week in the all rain that we were having JoJo and I decided to make a slice...

from this magazine that I have just discovered...
I did adapt it a little...

I used gluten free flour instead of plain flour...and it worked a treat!!!

Instead of mixed dried fruit I substituted currants and diced apricot... (cause that's what was on hand)!!!
So here is my version of Mixed Spice Slice with Lemon Icing...

All in the oven...

Spreading the icing...

Here it is cut...see the apricots...mmmm, very tasty!!!

Mixed Spice Slice with Lemon Icing

Makes 18

1 and a 1/2 C (225g) Plain Flour/gluten free
2 t mixed spice
1t bicarbonate of soda
1C (190g) mixed dried fruit...(currants/chopped apricots my version)
3/4C (165g) caster sugar
1C (250ml) milk
120g butter (melted)
ground cinnamon, to dust

LEMON ICING

90g butter

1C (160g) icing sugar mixture

1 T lemon juice

• Preheat oven to 180c or 160c fan
• Grease 30cm x 20cm lamington pan
• Sift together flour, mixed spice and bicarb
• Stir in fruit and sugar
• Make a well in centre of dry ingredients and pour in milk and melted butter, stir to combine
• Spoon mix into prepared pan
• Bake 30m until a skewer inserted comes out clean
• Cool in pan for 5m before turning out onto a wire rack
• For icing, beat butter until creamy
• Add icing sugar and lemon juice alternately...starting and finishing with icing sugar
• Beat till light and fluffy
• Spread over cooled slice and dust with cinnamon

A wonderfully easy slice...Bon Appetit!!!

Cook Up With Vicki Recipes

I recently participated in a Cook Up With Vicki from the December/January issue of the Donna Hay magazine...

We do this Cook-Up from every magazine issue and then blog it...

Anyone who would like to join us is most welcome...

just cook something from the latest issue and blog it!!!

Prawns with Lime Mayonnaise...

Sage and Prosciutto Corn Cakes...

Tray Roasted Vegetables...

Greens with Crispy Sage Butter...

My latest new read...Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard

And to top off the dinner and the new read Hubby's contribution to the meal!!!

Recipes follow for...

Prawns with Lime Mayonnaise
Greens with Crispy Sage Butter
Tray Roasted Vegetables

PRAWNS WITH LIME MAYONNAISE (Serves 8)

2 1/2 C (750g) whole-egg mayonnaise

2/3 C (160ml) lime juice

2/3 C (125ml) sea salt flakes

1/3C finely grated lime rind

48 cooked prawns, peeled, tails intact

• Place mayo and lime juice in a bowl and mix well to combine. Set aside



• Place salt and lime rind in a bowl and mix well to combine



• Serve the prawns with the lime mayo and lime salt for dipping.

GREENS WITH CRISPY SAGE BUTTER

• 700g green beans, trimmed



• 4 bunches broccolini, trimmed



• 150g salted butter, chopped



• 1 bunch sage, leaves picked



• sea salt and cracked black pepper



• Cook beans and broccolini in a large saucepan of salted boiling water for 2 m or until tender



• Drain and refresh under running cold water. Set aside



• Place butter in a frying pan over medium heat and stir until melted



• Add sage leaves and cook 3-4m or until crispy



• Add beans, broccolini, sea salt and pepper and toss until warmed through



• Arrange on a serving plate and spoon over sage butter to serve

Serves 8

TRAY ROASTED VEGETABLES

• 1 butternut pumpkin



• 1k chat (baby) potatoes, halved



• 2 bunches baby beetroot, trimmed and halved



• 12 pickling onions, peeled



• 2 bunches baby carrots, trimmed and peeled



• 1 head garlic, cloves separated



• 2 pieces lemon rind



• 1 bunch thyme



• olive oil



• sea salt and cracked black pepper



• Pre-heat oven to 220c (425f)



• Divide the pumpkin, potato, beetroot, onions, carrots, garlic, lemon thyme, oil, salt and pepper between 2 large trays and toss to combine



• Roast for 30 m or until tender and golden



• Serves 8

This dish is absolutely delicious and the standout for me...yummmm!!!

For the full meal hop on over to my other blog Queen of the Armchair

Bon Appetit...Dzintra

TAFE - The Mantle Restaurant 28 October 2009

Hello to all my readers and welcome in 2010!!!

I'm still in 2009 here with this course...just a couple of more posts remaining for the year and my course will be over!!!

The photos are taken on the run here in the College Training Kitchen/Restaurant...

the pics here are a bit blurry but thought I had better put them in as a record of my course...

Above is the whiteboard and the meals Chef has chosen for today...

I am on Dessert tonight and have been allocated the Lemon Cheesecake...

But first here's a little look at part of the TAFE pantry shelves...
thought I'd grab this opportunity as I had my phone on me!!!

Celery being prepared...

Lemons for the Cheesecake...

Toasted sliced breadstick...

And just for fun...plates to be used have to be chosen...washed, dried and stacked ready for service...

Roasted Butternut Pumpkin Soup...this was absolutely delicious...
I think due to the pumpkin being roasted beforehand!!!

A firm favourite...
Homemade Pork Boudin on Rocket Salad...

Chicken and Avocado Salad...

Tournedos of Chicken Chasseur...

Atlantic Salmon Cutlet on Mashed Potatoes...

Braised Lamb Shanks...

Lemon Cheesecake...

Meringue with Fresh Fruits...

Oh so blurry...Raspberry Bavarois...

Creme Caramel...

Blurry...Petit Fours...

Now it's back to Queen of the Armchair for me...Bon Appetit everybody, Dzintra