Graduation...and a Dinner Invite!!!

I started this blog off while attending TAFE to show some of the meals we were making whilst there...so I thought it fitting to post up the Graduation that I recently attended...

Here's the clobber I wore weekly...

and my Certificate...YAY!!!

On the evening Mr Dolce Vita (DH) brought me a gorgeous bunch of flowers to celebrate...

and I bought myself a new little Eiffel Tower handbag for the occassion!!!

Sign greeting us at the Club...

Tourism and Hospitality table for the students...

One of our teachers, Deb...insisted on a photo for the blog!!!

Unfortunately I've missed out on a photo here which was one of Lynn ...

Lynn together with Rob run a B & B (Bed and Breakfast) called Saltwater located at beautiful Narooma and they invited us to Dinner the following weekend...
Above is a pic on the way to their place...

The very scenic Wagona Inlet

Entrance to the B & B...

The 100 year old home has been extensively renovated...

Our drop dead gorgeous view over dinner...

Towards the back...

A cheeseplate together with red wine...

One of my favourite dishes...Roasted Pork Belly...

A delicious Dessert...Honey Panna Cotta with Cinnamon Yogurt Cream.. to top it all off on this very warm evening!!!
Thank you Lynn and Rob...we thoroughly enjoyed our evening with you both and hope to catch up another time!!!

Gluten Free Scones!!!

Here are a couple of nearly new signs I have bought...

along with some cutters...

I thought...what could be quick to make...

and came up with good ol' scones...
substituting self raising gluten free flour for regular flour to see how they would turn out...
I can't remember the last time I had a scone!!!

All ready for the oven...

Baked...

and ready for jam and cream!!!
Just perfect for morning tea!!!
I'll have to wait a while now to make anything with the oven...

looking at replacing our oven as it has finally given up!!!

Let's see what happens...

Have ordered myself a birthday cake for the weekend...

Gluten Free White Chocolate and Fig soaked in Cointrea...

I'm really looking forward to this!!!

A Refreshing Lemonade for our Indian Summer!!!

We were lucky enough to have been given some Lemonade Limes recently...

something I had not heard of...

and easy to turn into a Lemonade!!!

Not knowing which was the best 'squeezer' to use...

I settled upon this glass one...

Just perfect!!!

Squeeze...add some sugar...soda water, I used mineral water..., a twist of lime and some Lemon Balm...

and wow, this you beaut home made Lemonade!!!

Thank you Caroline for these Lemonade Limes...just perfect for our Indian Summer!!!

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!!!