New year - new me?

Here I was. Sitting on the beach on New Years Day with a Pure Blonde and the Power of One when I stumbled across the fact that I am 25, traveled, fairly educated, single and a reasonable cook.  I think I am pretty, sort of funny a little bit frumpy according to a miscellaneous dating site… and my grandfather.  But I do not seem to be at my happiest.

There was one thing on that beach that I avoided to think about until I returned back to Canberra to begin the new year – I hate my job. Well, I don’t hate my job. I have a great boss, awesome colleagues, a nice collection of Veronica Maine suits and an array of free parking. Sounds ideal huh?

Well – aside from the constant finance debacles (I am HORRIBLE at finances), late LATE nights, constant f*ups, continual trembling, nervous breakdowns and the never ending weight gain from the staff buffet – I love my job, it’s just dandy.

I once watched a You Tube video that was posted by a friend of a friend (yes, I was stalking) called The Holstee Manifesto: Lifecycle Video (http://holstee.com/manifest). It inspired me to open my eyes, put the packet of ANZAC cookies down and get better at life. I sincerely recommend you watch it, or just take a bit of a looksie at the poster above.

Christmas Eve resolution #1 – Get happy or Get out

So, here I am – taking a personal day to figure it out, step up and face the facts that I am not happy in my job….. I have enrolled in a part time Child Services diploma.
They laughed at me when I took the literacy test and I advised that I have a degree in Communication / Journalism. Ha!

Banana Leaf, Canberra City

I know this restaurant has its shizzle together, it event told me on the windows. I have strolled past all these years without engorging in anything but a coffee or two with public servant friends.

So, when my father visited a few weeks ago, I thought I would take him here, because my housemate N highly recommended it.

N is half sri lankan, she only moved in a few months ago. She’s very friendly, tidy and a grand foodie – much like myself.  We discuss all things food, how it tastes, what it looks like, how it feels, and most importantly – where it is.

This sri lankan inspired Australian restaurant is N’s favorite in town and, although I am a huge fuss pot when it comes to spice (I know - I am annoying). I was determined to find a little nice-ness to the spice-ness.

My father and I had an hour to spare whilst waiting to go and see Dylan Moran at the theatre (he’s that miserable Irishman who gets drunk and carries on about things I also get annoyed about) so, It was only fitting that I purchased two tickets and invited Daddy-dearest for some Father’s Day dining and company.

It was Saturday evening, so as you could imagine the restaurant was packed full – like a fancy Salvo’s bag. Yes, we should have made a booking but having made a fast decision to attend this particular joint, we just rocked up. They eagerly found us a table right at the door and handed us some menus, with honest smiles.

Dad was pleased because they had Tooheys Old, something that Canberra seemed to had forgotten about all those years ago.
He had a beer and I had a local glass of red wine, which was absolutely divine (name to follow).

We began with sharing the Octopus A-Lanka (Sri Lankan spice infused and char-grilled, served with chilli mayonnaise on a bed of salad) $17.80. It was served as an entrée, but could be eaten as a snack or a very light meal. The spices were subtle, but enough for me. The octopus was grilled so pleasantly that you could bight right through without a second go.

We followed with rotti $6.00, Lamb Cutlets (A trio of grilled lamb cutlets with mint and red wine reduction served with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables) $28.80 and Wattleseed Mussels (Mussels cooked in macadamia and olive oil with birds’ eye chilies, Spanish onion and garlic, served with wattleseed mayonnaise) $26.90.

The rotti was probably the best I have had in Canberra. Light, flaky and moist. We were thrilled to have such a generous serving.

The Lamb Cutlets were a true Aussie inspired dish which is what I was not expecting, the lamb was tender, generous and welcoming the vegetables were cooked perfectly (not overdone, and not raw) and the red wine reduction was perfect.

However, the Wattleseed Mussels were the meal of the evening. Lovely. About a dozen or so mussels, immaculately plated with the mayonnaise on the side for perfect reach, delicately marinated with chilli. I certainly enjoyed grabbing them off Dad’s plate, pushing them through my lips and waiting for the sizzle.

Dylan was also pretty reasonable that evening.

- - -
U2/ 240 -250 City Walk
Canberra City 2601
Contact
Ph: 6248 5522
Opening Hours
Monday - Saturday
10.00am -10.00pm
Closed Sunday

Southern Italy

 

This evening when I was cooking up a chicken, creamy pasta dish for my friend M, it reminded me of southern Italy.

It actually reminded me of the American girls who I met on a three day tour of the south of this edible country. These girls wore bikinis everywhere, to the beach, to the post office and to a little coastal town where they were referred to as prostitutes. Silly.

Prostitutes or no prostitutes, we were staying in bungalows in Sorrento in the south of Italy. The weather was warm, the people were passionate and I hadn't yet figured out the difference between Buon Giorno and Buona Sera, this was quickly learnt when a taxi driver yelled at me “Mumma Mia Bella, it’sa night, no? Buona Sera!”
We were rolling down the Amalfi coastline when we stumbled across one of the most beautiful views. It was stunning, and accompanied by a lovely fruit shop on one of the world famous deadly bends. It is immensely bendy down that road.

The view was breathtaking, early and light, gorgeous mountains and houses for miles, picturesque. We stopped off at a little town called Rivello. Our tour guide, who happened to be a little bit annoying with the suggestions popped another suggestion of “the best restaurant in Rivello.” We kindly declined and became lost in amongst the white buildings and elegant balconies.

The prostitutes, Jess, Isabella and myself found a lovely little hidden restaurant around a bend, up some stairs and down an alleyway. The local waiters were thrilled to have some tourists – they even perched themselves on a stool closer to our table and played the accordion. Although they were probably taking the piss, Italian style – this was such a romantic occasion for us girls, we felt very authentic.
They quickly dropped a bottle of cold vino, which I quickly had become addicted to in Italy (cold, red, fizzy wine). They also rushed over some traditional Italian bread.

I ordered seafood, because these parts were famous for it. The dish came out and it was something of a Eat Pray Love meal. I certainly fell for it the minute it arrived. The fresh seafood smell made it’s way drifting through my nostrils into my stomach. Prawns, scallops and mussels graced my plate with freshly cut pasta, Neapolitan sauce with just enough parsley. This was by far the most enchanting Pescatore Fettuccini I had ever had. The pasta –

OH, THE PASTA!  It was just so divine. Plain, tasty, tender but bitable strands of delicate, flowers on my tounge. I tried to make it when I arrived home but I was not successful. But, there is always tomorrow. At that moment, of eating that remarkable dish, I knew I was in Italy.

A travel introduction

I have just come back from two whole months of gallivanting around Europe.

I took a 20kg backpack and boarded a flight to London via Dubai.
For a travel virgin – it was absolutely delightful. I have made horrible mistakes, and grown hopefully wiser from them. I keep telling people that the only reason I went to the toilet the whole time, was to fit more food in – and it’s true. I ate, and ate, and ate and ate. I keep swapping my favorites, changing my preferences and mixing up my memories but I can assure you that I was delighted with each and every meal I indulged in. Europe is certainly a full sack of food and flavor, something that I had never experienced. Something delightfully new!

The story of almost the best:
It was on my last evening in Dublin (well, my last evening abroad) when I guess it hit me that I was coming home. I was seated in an elaborate pub, a corner bench was my seat.
I had washed my hair for the first time in 5 days, bought a new outfit and a new book so I was feeling pretty darn flash.

There was an elderly man in the corner of the small pub sitting on a stool, strumming a guitar.
He was signing popular Irish songs. I could tell this because the locals in the next room would suddenly stand, sing so loud that great Aunty Deborah on the North Shore in Sydney would hear and swing their Guinness high in the sky to the rhythm of the song. Just like Australia really.

As the gent dropped down my pigs foot I gasped, because it was mighty large (as the Irish would say) he laughed to himself and advised me that I didn’t think it was that big.

I spent two hours sitting on that seat, in the corner of the candle lit pub trying to eat every last bit of food
that they brought to me. I washed it all down with a Heineken. The pigs trotter was pink, pointy and my gosh it was delicious. The honey baked piece of lump was staring at me, waiting for me to open my mouth and devour, (something that all the food seemed to do to me in Europe) my first mouthful was surprising but not overwhelming. I had never thought eating an animal’s foot could have been such a sensual experience. If I could compare it to a baked ham I would, with hints of pepper and apple swimming in the carrot and mashed potato puree.

When he brought out the Irish stew as the following course I thought I had better visit the toilet once again to make myself get it down the wind pipe.  The Irish stew was not surprisingly the best I’d ever had. It was so
familiar with its chunks of lamb, tender vegetables and tasty rich stock. Just cooked so tenderly, brilliant.

When he took my plate away I smiled and said “That was bloody brilliant,” he was excited that I was not American and bought me another pint (I only stomached half).

I loved Ireland, I loved everything about it. Except the weather, that was crap.

-    The food was great
-    The fashion was great
-    The country was great
-    The city was great
-    The people were fecking great (it is an Irish thing)

So, here I introduce a new label into this blog – travel. Welcome and enjoy.

The worst coffee in Canberra

I had an appointment last Friday. It was approximately 1000hrs.
Between 1005hrs and 1025hrs I managed to burn my tounge twice, gag then ask for a jug of cold milk - and it was still too hot to drink.

My appointment, in a swanky government building was just three doors down from the busy cafe that made the worst coffee I have ever had.

I often drink up to three cups of coffee a day (well, today I did). That is 1,092 coffees a year - if you exclude the Gloria Jeans weekend splurge. I hate maths - it made me nervous just doing that sum. I hate maths so much that it makes my palms sweat, forehead dizzy and almost two hours to complete the deathly pace report at my work every Tuesday afternoon. In saying that, I love coffee, I love coffee that much that I would actually take the time to add up how many coffees hit my delightfully pink tongue each year.

I went to the dentist the other day nervous as hell because I thought he would take one look at my yellow tinted teeth and advise me to lay the off the lattes. Luckily, I am impressional brusher and don't have to worry too much, phew!

Now, I don't think I am that fussy with my coffee. I understand that people are busy, and that sometimes they don't have time to fluff the milk extra smooth, add a flower to the head or stir the bubbles away. However, I am adamant in believing that every coffee needs to be at least a pleasent experience (even if it tastes a little over-brewed). A nice latte is something that you should look forward too.... something that warms your hands up on a winters morning before a big exam, something that lifts your eyelids after a big night on the town, something that whispers "it's going to be a lovely day" when you're approached by an angry chef at the communal coffee machine.

Coffee must always be a friend, and this time - it was definitely a foe.

What has made me so angry about this coffee is that about three years ago I had a similar experience... at the same cafe. Clearly, nothing has changed.
Somewhere between Uni Pub and the National Convention Centre there is an untrained barista (or a broken machine) making horrible coffees for the Public Servants of this town. This is just unacceptable, Canberra is the public service capital and with that comes the obligation to make decent coffees.

Thank you horrible coffee, you've made me appreciate my trusty push and pour cappuccino a lot more. And it is free, even better.

Country muffins**

There is one type of muffin that I make where I do not need a recipe.

I do not need a measuring cup.
I do not need a beater.

I got home from work tonight - all buzzed and flussed from a busy day (and maybe all hyped up on sugar from the Easter chocolate in the communial bowl in the office.) I thought I would that I would whip up some of my country muffins for the office tomorrow. Not because I was hungry, or because I wanted to impress, just because I was in the mood for some therapeutic baking - and stirring. And stirring I did.

My grandmother loves these muffins, because they are so simple. You can freeze them, heat them and then eat them all up!

I like to call them country because they look so lovely, soft and simple once iced and plated.

Country muffins

1 half orange or half a lemon
1 1/2 sup SR flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup of butter, melted
1/4 cup of milk
1 egg

Grind half the orange or lemon rind and add to 'dry ingredients'
Add all dry ingredients into a large bowl and then add wet ingredients, including orange or lemon juice.
Stir well with a wooden spoon until smooth.

Add to muffin cases.

Bake in pre heated oven @ 180 degrees for approximately 15 minutes.

Cover with plain icing sugar - add the other half of orange rind to the mixture and some extra for the top.

Canberra has a bubbling wine industry, and it's only an hour drive - max.

With working in such an established hotel, we are often taken on lovely, long field trips - to let us enjoy the serenity for the day.
Next month, we are heading to Phillip for ice skating!!

This month, we all boarded a plush bus (with fancy leather seats) and headed towards Murrumbateman to experience the wonderfulness of wine.

I had heard of wine tours and was thinking it was going to be a horrible experience. I'm no wine connoisseur on the best of days, and after living at university for three years I despise any white wine in a cask or bottle however, this was a beautiful, educational, relaxing day. Highly recommended to everyone.

By 1030am, I had tasted nine different wines and had a very entertaining wine presentation by Rob Howell at Jeir Creek. His passion for the wine industry is well groomed and he certainly presented one of the finest sense of humors around. We were in awe by Rob's inspiring stories of his wine, family, and of course - his Lamborghini tractor.

We visited three different wineries and stopped at Poachers Pantry for lunch (an urgent must). The Pantry is an absolute delight, buzzing with young families, couples and Canberra socialites. On the day we visited, the pantry was experiencing a power outage, how rustic. Despite the outage, the thirty of us waited patiently for our meals which were delightfully presented and tasted delicious. The antipasto platters (pictured) were my favorite indulgent for the day. [Insert - I absolutely loved the smoked meats on the platter, and the drool-worthy salmon spread. Yum]

After lunch, my colleagues and I spent an hour or two lying in the sun, on the grass at the Pantry. It was just such a relaxing venue, the whole experience was just so relaxing.

*If you're interested in a tour I would suggest booking in advance, and having a group of 15 or more people for private demonstration like Rob did for us. Head to: http://www.thepoachersway.com.au/ to begin your Canberra wine-schmoozing tour.

Next stop: Lake George wineries.

A valentines pudding...

It's not very often in Canberra that I find out late about a famous dish that everyone has been talking about....

It was Valentines day and the couples were out in bloom. Sitting leisurely around all the fancy restaurants, sipping their wine and gazing lustrously into each others eyes, yuck.

I had been invited out on a girl date by my colleague K for valentines day. She is also newly single. Our mate S also totted along for the entertainment because her hubby was working late.
We started off at Diamont for a couple of bevvies (the quirky cocktail lounge is definetly something you must se if you've never been *both parlour and the internal ones). Being expert hospitality geneiouses, we like to check our all the hotels in town - and then judge them very critically, because their employees are probably doing the same thing in our hotel bar.

We then headed to Rydges for the main course, slow and steady we were served and dropped free champagne (which won my vote). I had gnocchi, *because I also love to test out the opposition, and it was tender, supple, tasty and fresh.

It was a fair while before we decided where to have dessert. We were thinking of the Pancake parlour or Essence when K announced Cream for a delicious chocolate pudding. S and K both spoke about this pudding as if I should have known. I could feel my eyes rolling in harsh judgment as I have never been a big fan of the restaurant.

As the dish was plonked down in front of me by the charming attendant, I still thought it was nothing that special. I pushed my spoon through the muffin-like pudding and was delightfully surprised as I witnessed the internal gooey, chocolate heaven sauce running all over my plate.

The pudding was absolutely divine. And the hot chocolate also went down nicely. The pudding was that delicious that the waiter had asked me if I was OK - I must have looked that surprised!!

After my dessert I sent a text to my friend, she advised me that she already knew of such a sensational pudding and had yet to try it...

Who needs a valentine, when you can have a chocolate pudding at Cream...

Eden Mussels**

With having grown up on the Far South Coast I am quite fussy when it comes to good seafood.
I believe that there is good battered fish and chips at most seaside towns however, not nearly as good mussels, prawns and oysters.

I must admit that I enjoy the Woolworths Salmon and Hokey cooked in foil in the oven and sprinkled with lemon. However, it always feels odd when my kitchen smells like fish, and I am nowhere near the ocean. My stomach turns a little just of the thought.

Three weeks at the coast was filled with walks along the beach, short shorts and of course, food. My grandmother makes the most scrumptious roasts I have ever eaten and my pop makes the most hearty of stews. I love to put on dinner parties for them when I come to visit. I love making simple food so special.

This trip I made the famous Eden Mussels even more delicious with a white wine broth.

My grandparents gasped that it had been the best feed all year.

Eden Mussels with a garlic and white wine broth

1 kg black mussels - uncooked and beard removed (They don't have to be from Eden, they are only in my opinion, the best in Australia)
1/2 kg peeled, raw prawns
1 large cup white wine (I used nan's special Sav Blanc)
1 large cup boiling water
2 garlic cloves - crushed
butter and olive oil

Place a large pan on the stove - high heat.
Add butter, garlic and olive oil - brown
Add prawns and sear.
Add wine and water.
Add the mussels and stir constantly for a few minutes.

When the mussels open, they are cooked.

Turn heat to very low and let simmer for at least 10 minutes, should the liquid dissolve add a little more wine or water to keep the broth.

Tip 1 - you can add bacon or sausages to the dish, I think both would work a treat.
Tip 2 - Any mussels that do not open - do not eat, these could be potentially rotten.
Tip 3 - Serve with crusty garlic bread, this is the secret to slurping up the lovey broth.

Taze, Canberra city

There is a new Mediterranean restaurant in town.

Like most Saturday lunches, H and I were on the hunt or something moorish, something to inspire, something that was different.

I had not noticed this restaurant before, it looked like a busy morning coffee stop cafe where it was located, hidden in a cluster of public servant buildings - waiting patiently for me to stroll in bearing a arm full of fresh dry cleaning and shoes twinkling with leather polish. It was pleasantly, not a cafe.

Once we had read the menu and decided this was it - they lead us to the back of the restaurant. To my surprise the spacious, ethnic Indian inspired decor got my taste buds wondering. I was excited by the gourmet pides that graced the menu, and happily thrilled by the modern Australian-ness Chicken fillet and Beef steak burgers that were on offer.

I ordered a coffee as usual, she stuck with water as usual. I was immediately impressed by the fast service of my coffee, they could tell it had been a long night wining and dining guests at the Hotel. I was not after anything fancy, just a Latte and it was perfect.

We ordered to share traditional Zucchini fritters (more than generous size, light, fluffy and very tasty) followed by a selection of Karadesli (Prawn) and Tavuklu (Chicken) pides. I could not flaw the presentation, stunning. The pides were just as welcoming as the rest. The pides were on a slimmer bread to usual, which was a nice surprise. I picked mine up with my fingers and enjoyed it a little bit more.

The attendant offered a 'doggy bag' but we ate the whole lot - too good to pack up!

- -

Shop 4, ATO Building
21 Genge St, Canberra City 2601
Ph: (02) 6262 6601
Fax: (02) 6262 6605

A little lucky story...

I feel like GOD had lined us all up on his very large belt and patted some of us on the head.

The ones that got patted are the people who are lucky. The lucky ones of course, don’t realize it until they are told by someone like me, that they are lucky.

I think I have been quite lucky in my own way. Lucky with a mysterious luck!

I also believe that lucky comes in a few different descriptions, sizes and with a few disadvantages:

1. Standard lucky

2. Mysterious lucky

3. Not that lucky

When I was a child I never won pass the parcel. I remember being at a boy’s birthday party when I was five and loosing faith in luck when the newspaper wrapped horse figurine set was won by a boy with bucked teeth called Nicky. Nicky possessed standard luck at this time – the sort of luck you can grasp with your hands and feel the rough plastic horse tail with your finger tips.

Nicky was a jerk, still probably is. Last I heard of that lucky boy his parents were going through a divorce, he dropped out of school and started drugs alas, his teeth are very likely still bucked.

I have always had nice teeth – I think this is mysterious luck, or just good genes.

Have I ever told you that my brother is my accountant? I think I am lucky for this because I was asked to leave year 11 math’s class and never come back – I left.

Two years ago, I compiled my ‘tax stuff’ and handed it to my brother for a refund. He advised that there would be a wait as he was busy with work ‘tax stuff’ around that time of year.

When I ended my four and a half year relationship with G – a few months later, I wanted to change my life, but had no money to do it. One quiet March evening I was pondering away at allhomes.com just to see what was out there and an add caught my fancy. I attended the interview and the girls were great! I was considering not eating for a month to afford double rent just incase - $3,000.00 appeared in my account. Brother lucky!

Don’t think that I am standard lucky, because I certainly am not! I was never allowed yogo, cordial or coke. I had a single mother so I never was lucky enough to go traveling overseas on my parents wealth, experience shopping sprees or go to the movies often.

I was never six foot, naturally blonde (over the age of 10), great at a particular sport – or had a stunning figure.

I never have, and probably never will win on gambling honestly, I only enjoy the races for $7.00 glasses of champagne and heels.

I’ve been lucky in many other personal ways however, I’ve been the most lucky because I have been very unlucky.

I began to write this thinking I am unlucky. I don’t believe that is the way that luck works.

I think you're given luck in small doses - and to be cliche, it depends on how you use it!

the heavenly chocolate fondants****

When you are feeling 'down and out' nothing replaces sadness better like the softness, gooeyness, tastiness, richness and happiness of... chocolate.

And this month, has been one of these months. Hence, the no postings. Sorry :(

Now, I had never even heard of these I must admit. I was terrified that Gary from Masterchef was going to whip me up in a surge of anger if I had gotten this wrong. The amount of times they spoke about this food drove me mad, I was sick of hearing about them.

My friend Sandra was visiting for dinner, over a year ago. I asked her what she felt like and she said something chocolate. I gritted my teeth and sadly placed the golden syrup back on my cupboard shelf. I thought that if everybody else in the world was talking about fondants at the moment - I could take it on, after all what could go so wrong???!! I hit Google and within seconds - found the recipe.

Sandra couldn't make it in the end so Emma (my old housemate) and I boiled the kettle, re heated the vegetarian pasties and indulged in the 'heavenly' fondant, a memory I will never forget.
As Emma's eyes rolled back into her head, she thanked me for taking a risk, for making such a scary dessert, and for Sandra not turning up. Bless her.

200 grams of butter
200 grams of good-quality chocolate (I like to mix dark and milk - and to get a bit extra just incase)
200 grams of plain flour - sifted
4 eggs and 4 egg yolks

Pre heat your oven to 180 degrees.
Grease your pudding moulds (I prefer to use a muffin tin with muffin cases just because I cheat, but other people use individual pudding moulds which are also handy, jut grease very well.)

Melt butter and chocolate together, you can do this over the stove or in the microwave - whatever you prefer. Remove from heat and sit to cool.

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the flour slowly and beat. Add the chocolate into the mixture slowly, insuring no bubbles are formed (mixing should get rid of the bubbles).
Spoon or pour the mixture into moulds, and chill in a freezer for about 2 hours.
Cook in the over for 10-15 minutes (you can tell they are ready when they have a muffin-like top hardness).

*If you are taking them somewhere to impress - I always like to bake an extra couple just to make sure they are good 2 go.

The little chocolate pudding**

I live in a house with 3 little women (4 including myself).
As I am writing this post, L sits on the couch next to me, giggling girlie into the phone chomping on some pop tarts and ice cream.

I also have a confession, I was never an ice cream child - however, now I am. I LOVE ice cream (cookies and cream flavour).

It was the transition from no ice cream - to alot of ice cream at once that did it to me. I am now an ice cream fanatic.
Last night, I drifted to slumber thinking of smashing up cookies, covering them in caramel, and then smooshing them into vanilla ice cream. Did I? No, I am not that ridiculous.

I cooked a pudding - A 12 minute pudding. It is delicious, something that gives you that 'junk food fix' when you're in a hurry, and hungry. Us being ladies, enjoy a quick chocolate, ice cream fix - so this recipe, is the most requested pudding in my house.

Chocolate Self saucing pudding - in 12 minutes.
1/2 cup of melted butter
1½ cups self raising flour
1 cup caster sugar
¼ cup cocoa
¾ cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
1/3 cup cocoa, extra
2 cups boiling water

In a large bowl mix the melted butter, add flour, sugar and cocoa, milk and vanilla, mix well until the mixture looks like a thick brown cake mixture.
Cover with brown sugar and cocoa.
Cover with boiling water and cook on high for 12 minutes
Serve with ice cream (cookies and cream I prefer.)

A Mostly Muddy Brownie****

I have been thinking about a recipe....

I honestly feel as if I have been cheating on my cream cheese brownies with another. I am going to tell the truth and admit that yes, this recipe was stolen from Nan's most recent addition of The Australian Woman's Weekly.
I was at home for the weekend visiting my grandparents when I started to flick through the pages of this magazine - and there it was. Mississippi mud cake. I know that my title is different.... and that I have called them brownies but, for me - lately I have been on a brownie mission.

I have been trying to bake the most delicious brownie of them all. I have also introduced a panel of judges...
1. Housemates - 4 girls who 'just love baking'
2. Workmates - I like to call it 'competitive baking'

Anyways - back to the recipe. I did not realize at the time that Mississippi mud cake requires 2 crutial differences whisky and coffee ~ Probably the two ingredients that define the Mississippi-ness of the recipe.

So, I claim that yes, I stole the picture, most of the ingredients and certainly the method however, if you know me - you will know that I am a little bit of a rebel in the kitchen - and did it my way.

250g butter, chopped 150g dark eating chocolate, chopped
2 cups (440g) white sugar
1/2 cup of butter
1 cup (250ml) hot water
1⁄3 cup (80ml) whisky - I took this out
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules - I dissolve this in hot water first
1½ cups (225g) plain flour
¼ cup (35g) self-raising flour
¼ cup (25g) cocoa powder
2 eggs, beaten lightly
cocoa powder or icing sugar, for serving

Preheat oven to 160°C (140°C fan-forced). Prepare a deep slice tin. Combine the butter, chocolate, sugar, water, and coffee mix in a medium saucepan; stir over low heat until mixture is smooth, cool. Stir in sifted flours and cocoa, then eggs. Pour into pan; bake for about 1 hour 15 minutes. Stand for 10 minutes; turn onto wire rack to cool. Serve dusted with icing sugar or a chocolate icing mix.

Today is the first day of Autumn

I have always thought that Autumn does not exist in Canberra. I have always just agreed with myself that Canberra skips the delightfulness of slowly turning chilly, tingling winds and the beginning of beenies. In fact, I think Canberra forgets Autumn even exists and just jumps straight to - freezing. However, I am looking some what forward to Mochas.

As I dragged myself out of bed this morning I popped on something I hadn't in almost a year. I wrapped my dressing gown around my shoulders, pulled on my slippers, and there as I looked in to my mirror was a familiar look - cold.

It's time to make a batch of pasties, put on the kettle and read a great book once again.

So tonight, I needed something to warm me up. Something delish.

About four months ago whilst I was strolling through the kitchen to take the meals to table number nine I spotted it, there on the bench, past he pass and on a pile of tools for cooking. Tom's recipe book.

By the way, I am not just a waitress any more - I got promoted.

So, the chef behind the pass let me photo copy a couple of his recipes.

He is gone, many months ago, one of the familiar tunes of the Hotel industry. I find myself constantly making new friends, and then seeing them leave... be it back to Sydney for uni - or back to Columbia because their Visa expired.

This recipe is an international favorite, even if it was proudly handed over from a fellow Canberran chef. It's still amazing, with every bite there is a hint of Thia.... and Chili.

Chicken Phad Thia - with an Aussie twist

A little tip: Do not go into a Chinese supermarket for this stuff, because you can't speak Chinese. Canberran Supermarkets are equipped quite nicely with Asian goodies.

300gms thick rice noodles, cooked and drained
2 1/2 tables spoons of peanut oil (I use Canola oil because I'm a little bit lazy,)
1/2 teaspoon of shrimp paste (It really does make the world go round)
3 red chilies, chopped how you like them
2 x chicken breasts - chopped
3 green onions (I just use average brown ones)
2 eggs - beaten
1/3 cup fish sauce
1/3 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 cups beansprouts
1/4 cup coriander
1/4 cup sliced garlic cloves (I just used chives)

Cook pasta in boiling water, drain and cover with oil.
Cook Egg like an omelet and remove. Slice into thin pieces
Add oil to pan when cool and add shrimp paste. Cook for one minute on low heat. Add the chicken, chili and cook for about 3 minutes - or until golden brown. Add noodles, onions, fish sauce, lime and sugar. Cook for about 5 minutes or until fully cooked through.

Place in dish for serving, sprinkle with coriander and peanuts.

Serves roughly 4 people.