New Book Smell

"Did you smell it?"  Nola asked me when I told her that I had been sent an advance copy of my book.  Did I smell my book I thought??....no I didn't.  Was I supposed to?  I didn't know that new book smelling was a thing.

I love the smell of old books, I know that's a thing.  I have piles of old books around the house, with their mostly red covers and aged yellowing paper, they smell of musty grass, faintly of vanilla, faded ink and of the many hands that have flipped the pages.  That's a smell I know and love.

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39 comments books, dreams, me, oh my giddy aunt, writing

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The things I love

Happy New Year to you!

No time for lazing around lately, but I've been doing the things I love.  Working on a big summer project, styling delicious food for a cookbook with some of my favourite people.  In the evenings, we've been scoffing peaches, spitting cherry pips and roasting plums in the oven.  There's been picnics in paddocks and trips to the farm in rattly old Percy.  Tents are pitched in the back yard and the house is full of props.

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26 comments books, family, good things, handmade, hooray, me

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My famous artichoke...

On the weekend I was so happy to get my hands on an early copy of this new book :: Hurrah!  It's always so exciting to see the end result of a project you've played a (small) part in.

This is the new Gourmet Farmer  Deli Book co written by Matthew, Ross and Nick and it is gorgeous!  Divided into chapters of dairy, meat, fish and vegetables, this book is not only a manual on how to cure, pickle, smoke and ferment, there are also the delicious recipes using these ingredients. Clotted cream, paneer, ham, smoked trout, pastrami, olives, pickled cucumbers or mustard, this book shows you how to make all your deli favourites then turn them into something extra tasty.




Of course, the best part of the book is this here artichoke.  Perfect isn't it?  And it's the one element that I am personally so very proud. Because I grew it. Yes. I. did. In my garden.  My artichoke is a centrefold. Well, featured in a chapter opening double page spread anyway.

Back in the old days, when I worked in an office in the big smoke, whenever the pressure got too much, my colleagues and I would often wish we could pack it all in, move to the county and sell artichokes by the side of the road.  Now whilst I'm yet to build a stand with an honesty box next to the driveway, you can see why my artichoke being in print is just as rewarding.

I know, I know, you'd like to run out and buy this book for its stunning artichokes alone, but there is also the beautiful photography by the very clever Alan, the lovely tactile rustic linen cover and most of all, the amazing depth of knowledge so generously shared within by three very talented chaps.

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23 comments books, garden, good things, tasmania

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Baker boys

I took a huge swag of baking books home from the library last week, looking for some buttery, floury, sweet inspiration.   Have you met Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito?  Forging new frontiers from their bakery in Brooklyn, they are the cutest sweet tooths in New York.  I've been having fun with whoopie pies and butterscotch tarts and most importantly, their famous brownie.  So moist, dense, chocolaty and totally delicious, and, had I remembered to include the recipe's vanilla and espresso powder, I reckon they'd be even better.

Across the Atlantic, you might know Yotam and Sami from London's Ottolenghi.  Their first eponymously titled cookbook is full of modern, smart recipes.  I've been baking their famous giant meringues with cinnamon and hazelnuts, my favourite among a host of other baking goodness.

A little closer to home, the hefty book of Paul Allam and David McGuinness from the landmark Bourke Street Bakery in Sydney's Surry Hills is beautifully photographed and full of recipes for the most perfect breads and pastries.   From the easy pizza dough, to the mixed berry muffins, so far, everything has worked a treat. It brings back memories of queueing for tasty sausage rolls and crusty sourdough loaves when we lived in Sydney.  A bit more practice is required, but I fully intend to nail the amazing sweet shortcrust pastry of theirs.

So many cookbooks, so many tasty things to bake, so little time.  I will be sad when I have to take this lot back to the library, and I hope the librarian doesn't notice the floury, buttery, sticky pages.

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Shack cooking

You have to make sure there are plenty of good things to eat when you're on holidays. Luckily one of my favourite things about holidays is the cooking. I like how you have to keep it simple. You've only got basic equipment and a limited pantry so you've got to be inventive. But for me, that makes it all the more relaxing.

We packed the car with delicious cheeses, olive oil, wines, jams, eggs and olives from home and stocked up on basics at the local health food store when we arrived :: strong flour, SR flour, rice, lentils, chickpeas, dried fruit and nuts, maple syrup, popcorn. Then with milk, yoghurt, butter and a sack full of spuds from the corner store we were set for a week's lazy cooking. Pancakes for breakfast, sauteed potatoes for lunch, a woodfired bbq for dinner. We baked bread or made damper every morning, ate loads of ice cream and the kids sucked on frozen orange quarters all day long.

It was pure luck that on a visit to the library before we left to stock up on books for the peeps that I came across a copy of Tessa Kiros' delightful book Apples for Jam. Despite having seen this book pop up on blogs often enough, I'd never got my hands on a copy until now.

It was the perfect book to take away on holidays, full of comforting, easy recipes that my kids just loved. Each chapter is divided by colour, red, white, orange, etc and the pages are full of cute photos, kids' drawings and Tessa's own childhood memories. Good bedside reading as well as a great cook book. I'm always looking for inspiration when it comes to cooking for the children and this book does it beautifully.

Now that dollar is looking so healthy, I might just have to get myself a copy methinks. Then I could pretend we are still on holidays. Wouldn't that be nice!

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4 comments books, good things, holidays

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Cooking and shooting

I've been super busy these past few days.

Working. On a dream job.

Shopping, testing recipes and cooking food to be photographed.

For a book. About food.

Written by a certain farmer. A gourmet one.

Delicious recipes beautifully shot by an ace photographer.

I wish I had more time to watch and learn.

But I was too busy cooking. No matter.

I did manage to snap a few quick shots.

The whole project was super fun.

S.U.P.E.R. F.U.N

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13 comments books, good things, love, me, tasmania

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Good to the grain

Amaranth, quinoa, coconut, buckwheat, spelt. Doing so much baking I've been trying to incorporate different grains into the cookery mix. Not only to add a different flavour dimension but to up the nutritional stakes. I figured this book was a good investment as a guide to the myriad of grains available. Written by a pastry chef with chapters on twelve different grains it's an in depth source of baking "healthy" treats for the peeps.

So far, my favourite recipe is the for granola bars. Totally delicious. Really chewy. I'm afraid not too many make it to the lunch box. I've played around slightly with the recipe, made it dairy free and used ingredients that I have on hand. I like to mix it up a bit you know. The original ingredients are in brackets.

Granola Bars from Good To The Grain - Kim Boyce.

120 g melted coconut oil (butter)

Dry mix

2 cups rolled oats (I used a combination of oats, rye and barley flakes)

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup cranberries (raisins)

Syrup

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon treacle or you could use golden syrup (molasses)

1 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 180. Generously grease a 9 x 9 inch baking tin

2. Melt the coconut oil in a heavy bottomed pot that will hold 2 cups of oats with ample room for stirring. Adjust the flame to medium and stir the oats for about 6 minutes. The oats need to be about two shades darker than they are raw; keep a few raw oats on the counter next to you as a reference point.

3. Pour the toasted oats into a large bowl. Wipe out the pot and set it aside to use again for the syrup. Ad 1/2 cup flaxseed meal and the cinnamon to the bowl.

4. Toss the cranberries with the remaining flaxseed meal and chop finely (tossing the two together stops the cranberries from sticking to your knife). Add to the oat mixture.

5. To make the syrup measure the honey, sugar, treacle and salt into the reserved pot. Place it over a medium flame to combine and cook the syrup until evenly boiling, about six minutes. Resist the temptation to to remove it early - boiling the syrup gives these granola bars real chew.

6. Pour the syrup over the oats making sure you use a spatula to scrape every last bit out. Then use the spatula to coat every flake with syrup. This means going over and over, tossing and scraping the oats together. Scrape the granola mixture into the prepared pan.

7. To form the bars, butter your hands and press the oats firmly and evenly into the pan.

8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. the outer edge of the granola bars should be darker than the rest and the bars should have a beautiful sheen. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Cut the contents of the pan into sixteen bars. Remove the bars from the pan and let cool before eating.

9. They can be eaten the day they are made or kept in an airtight container for up to 3 days (apparently).

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3 comments books, yum

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C is for cookie

After much practicing and fussing around to make up my own GF flour mix, the cookies from the Babycakes cookbook have finally turned out well. They are delicious - crunchy on the outside, chewy in the centre. They are sugar free, gluten free and vegan. Though you wouldn't know it. AND they contain apple sauce, flaxseeds and coconut oil. All really super good for you foods.

Which in my book means you can eat more of 'em, yes?

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7 comments books, yum

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More cake love

As soon as Gwyneth told me about Erin McKenna and her bakery BabyCakes NYC, I was entranced. I mean, who wouldn't be? Cupcakes that are actually good for you. After a little wander around the website, and taking advantage of strong Aussie dollar, I ordered her gorgeous cookbook.

You see, Erin makes (mostly) gluten free, vegan, sugar free cupcakes that apparently, rate as the best cupcake in New York. Ever. Even up against regular butter, sugar and wheat filled cupcakes. And I have to admit dear reader, that sugar, butter and too much wheat make me feel a little ill these days. And Erin's recipes, whilst differ from regular baking, are pretty easy to follow, taste sensational and don't leave you with a massive sugar crash. The cakes are so moist and tender. I'm in love. So far I've made chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, chocolate frosting and the chocolate crumb cake. And Elsa wants the Triple Chocolate Fat Pants cake for her upcoming birthday.

The book alone is worth having even if you don't bake anything, the pictures are ace and the text friendly and funny. And here's a peak at a typical day in the bakery...

Meanwhile, my camera has broken, no pics of pizza ovens, advent calendars or cute kids to share. sigh. A bit sad. I'll have to dig out pics from the vault for future posts. But despite being busy, we are taking time to breathe. How are your Christmas preparations coming along?

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1 comment books, cupcake, yum

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Tasmania's table

Super fun day yesterday. Cooking and styling for a photo shoot for a book cover. The book,Tasmania's Table highlights the amazing producers, chefs and providores around the state. It was a long day but so much fun. But of course, the best part was eating all the delicious food at the end!

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11 comments blogtoberfest, books, tasmania, yum

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Go Alice Go

A chocolate cake baked today from my new favourite book.  Doesn't ganache make a cake look gorgeous?

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8 comments books, yum

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smashing pumpkins

One of the many stories I remember from reading Barbara Kingsolver's fabulous book, Animal Vegetable Miracle, was the tale of  traveling in Italy and discovering an ugly and warty but delicious pumpkin, Marina di Chioggia. An old Italian heirloom variety.  Always one to seek out tasty heirloom varieties for my garden, I sought some seeds for myself.  No easy task, but eventually I found a supplier of the warty ones.  

Ten seeds arrived and after sowing them all, five plants survived.  What an incredible sprawling plant the pumpkin is, with massive leaves, curly tendrils and hiding under those umbrella like foliage, the odd green globe treasure.  Rabbits, possums and weeds prevented us from a massive crop, but each plant gave us at least one, if not two pumpkins, of this type called a turban.  As an immature fruit they have a smooth lime green skin and I was concerned that they'd sent the wrong seeds as there was no sign of any wartiness.  But a quick google of the words "immature marina di chioggia image" came up trumps and allayed my fears:: we were on track for some warty goodness. Thank heavens for the internet. 

They are a delicious pumpkin with a sweet golden flesh.   I'm hoping to save the seeds and plant some more next year.  But I should have some spare seeds:: would you like some?  I can't promise they will be viable but let me know if you'd like a few seeds and I can share the warty goodness. 

I think we'll try to make pumpkin gnocchi on the weekend, with brown butter, crisp sage leaves and some pecorino. I'll let you know how we go, warts and all.   

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4 comments books, garden, me, yum

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Feburary No 5

A new rhythm to our days now that Elsa is back at school.
Slow sunny mornings.
Quieter days. I like it.
Enjoying this book.
I do miss our little kitty cat though...

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1 comment books, cute, elsa, slow

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Can I join in yet?

I hope I'm not jumping the gun, over stepping the mark, breaking some blogging etiquette. But darn it, I really want to play and this week's theme is too good to resist. So before I'm added to the official Who's Playing list, I'm just going to go right ahead and start This Is...My Current Reading Material. But first I will say thank you to My Champagne Dreams for a theme very close to my heart and thanks to Angela at Three Buttons for hosting This Is.....

I love books, I have piles of books all over the house. When the AUD was at an all time high of around 98c, well, I just went crazy on Amazon, the recent free fall of our dollar has put the kaibosh on that little habit - poop.

Oh well, luckily we have an amazing library service - you can access the State Library catalogue from home, place a book on hold and get it delivered to your nearest branch. My lovely librarian thinks all I do is lounge around reading books all day, I go through so many. If only...Most of them I quickly skim through, drool over the pictures or pick and choose chapters to read. Great prize winning novels they are not. I'm just crazy about books on parenting, cooking, gardening, design and interiors. Big chunky hard covers, mmm mmmm.

So, at any one time, I might grab any one of these books for a moment's inspiration, starting from the bottom of the pile....

THINK PINK - I constantly have to have this book in my house, it's on high rotation. I'm always renewing it, or placing a hold. It's my Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies. I love the interiors but more than anything I love the gardens.
MODERN COUNTRY STYLE - this is a beautiful book full of simple contemporary photographs. There is also great pattern for a linen curtain that I want to sew, and you know me, the great craft procrastinator, so I've had to renew this too. Several times. And will keep doing so. Until the curtain is done.
JAMIE AT HOME - I bought a copy as a gift, now I'm reading the library's copy.
STYLE - Shannon's gorgeous new book
THE PERMACULTURE GARDEN - Really inspiring book.
MORO - Lots of recipes using some of my favourite ingredients, chickpeas, spinach, paprika and chorizo, so delicious.
YOU ARE YOUR CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER & THE CHILDREN'S YEAR - my two Waldorf inspired parenting bibles.
TOAST catalogues - real autumnal eye candy.
EAT YOUR HEART OUT - I'm only up to page 14 and I'm already spooked. Fascinatingly scary reading about why the food business is bad for the planet and bad for your health.
SOAP NATURALLY - I made the most amazing batch of soap from this book last year for Christmas presents, but forgot to note down the recipe. So I've borrowed it again to make some more.
Amanda's book needs no introduction. I can truthfully say it's had a profound influence on the way I approach motherhood.
LONELY PLANET HAWAII - more about that soon ;)

Next to this pile is a basket full of children's books - I'm constantly reading those of course, and hopefully instilling a love of books to my children.

And behind that is the ubiquitous Keep Calm and Carry on Poster that I bought from here. Now that's something I really do read everyday, because as a mother of two small children, at times, I really do appreciate that marvelous British stiff upper lip sentiment.

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4 comments blogtoberfest, books, game

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