Eat Eat

The winner of the State Fair cookbook and tea towel is the lovely Radostin! Congratulations. Send me your info to cornmotherne at yahoo dot com and I'll have them on the way to you. Thanks everyone for entering.

What can I say? The house has a South-West facing front door. Great light for photos but a terrible squinting hazard. I always look like I'm about to scream at some kids to get off my lawn (which I would  if there were any kids on my lawn). I need to work on turning that squint into more of a snarl. Ah well, that's this week's project sorted.  I tried something different recently. These are canellini beans from a tin that I drained, patted dry, and fried in a few tablespoons of olive oil. Apparently everyone on the internet has been doing this for ages, but I'm slow to a fad. They do get browned and a bit crispy which is fun. I served it with chard because everyone else does, and I lack imagination??. Anyway, if you're looking to try something like this there are hundreds of variations on it out there though I believe the original recipe came from 101 Cookbooks.   This nifty recipe is my invention. Make curried rice with some fried onions and sultanas... ...then fil...

As promised, I'll be posting some of Danny's winning recipes from time to time. Don't forget to enter your comment on the fair post for a chance to win a Sate Fair cookbook and tea towel. Here's a few to get you started.  Beehive Honey Layer Cake If you don't have a beehive layer cake pan (sideways layers anyway) you can bake this in two 9 or 10 inch tins or a bundt pan. You Will Need: 1 1/2 cups honey 1 cup strong, brewed tea 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind 2 3/4 cup flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1/4 teaspoon allspice 1/4 teaspoon salt 4 large eggs 1/4 cup corn oil 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 cup granulated sugar Glaze: 1/2 cup honey 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon salt Icing: 4 cups icing sugar and enough water to make a thick paste. Royal icing bees: 1 pasteurized egg white Enough icing sugar to make a pipe-able icing Food coloring Make these well ahead and store in a dry place. I...

 We hadn't visited an apple orchard for the past few years as the harvest had been terrible for one reason or another. This year was different though, and the trees were full of perfect apples-it almost  makes you wonder if  they're using a new fertiliser, or planted more blight resistant trees or if they just resorted to luring a Scottish policeman to the orchard  had some good luck this year. Er...whatever they're doing, it seems to be working! I guess I could ask one of the people that work here, though they're all dressed as woodland animals today for some odd reason. We made it out alive  home with about twenty pounds of apples, so we'll be enjoying a number of interesting dishes over the next couple weeks. I made a red onion and apple relish to go with black bean tacos tonight. I have my glow-in-the-dark Halloween sign up. I adore Halloween. Dressing up and eating candy-what's not to like?! I know it is more than a month away, so I'm going slow with t...

It must be Autumn if the KoKoKnits blouse is making an appearance.  Nothing says, "Autumn" like a brown, leaf print fabric. The brown pleated skirt is also seeing a first wear since last winter. I haven't properly started unpacking cool weather clothes as we can continue to get warm days well into October, but a few pieces were within easy reach. My sense is we're in for an early winter, but I'm basing that on worsening arthritis symptoms, and my fingers and toes turning blue. You may prefer meteorological data. This brown and blue check polyester jacket was purchased a few years ago, but rarely worn. It has a pleat at the back giving it a swing effect, but for some reason, I don't like it on me. It isn't too big or small, and the sleeves seem okay, but for some reason I feel like I'm wearing my grandmother's 70's slipcovers when I try this jacket on.  It might look better with a pair of denim flares. This time of year I'm cobbling together...

 As autumn approaches I'm feeling slightly wardrobe challenged. It is still too warm for knits and woolens, but summer dresses feel foolish when the leaves are turning and the afternoon light is glinting off the drying corn in that way it does around the start of September. My brain is thinking, "Kilt" but my internal thermostat is thinking, "Menopause." If I wore even the lightest wool right now, I'd surely die. Evenings are another story-by the time I drag Danny out for our evening stroll around the campus, I need a light jacket. Last night I needed my long raincoat to cut the chill. Autumn is definitely coming, but in the daylight hours we're still pretending it is summer. No point wishing the warmth away-we'll have plenty of winter ahead of us.  I'm having a metallic trousers moment, having bought three pair in the last month. I think these will look lovely with a white cashmere poloneck in the dead of winter, but today I'm wearing them w...