Thursday, May 27, 2010

slowly does it

Do you have a slow cooker? No, well, they're on sale at Audi for a ridonculously low price, it's okay I'll wait...

Got one? Excellent, prepare to have your best winter ever.

I succumbed to the slow cooker craze a few winters ago and have managed, through a lot of trial and error to learn to love this little critter. They take a bit of getting used to, but once you're used to them, beware, they'll make your life so much better you'll become addicted.

Now, firstly:

• You don't need to brown your onions, but you should. Quickly frying your onions in a little oil adds flavour to the dish, and some slow cooker dishes can lack flavour. So bang as much in as much flavour as you can I reckon. After frying off, consider browning your meat. Again, not necessary, but what's a few minutes preparation? If you're pressed for time in the morning, do this step the night before and then refrigerate. In the morning just toss everything in and go about your day.

• Deglaze your pan. Seriously, who would waste those delicious bits? After browning, throw in a little wine or stock {even water} stir all the sticky bits off the bottom and add this to your water.

• Cover your final dish with a layer of baking paper before adding the lid. This keeps the steam nice and close to your dish and stops your meat from drying out. Essential. Always do this.

• Slow cookers don't reduce sauces like oven-baked dishes do. Use less liquid, or toss your meat in flour and cook off for two minutes before adding. Another way to reduce is to remove the lid and turn up to high for 30 minutes before stirring. Sometimes I'll add a little cornflour paste if I'm so inclined.

• Season well. Adding bags of flavour is always a good idea. Meat will be lovely and tender, but I don't know if it's because it's cooked in crockery or what the story is, but sometimes stews cooked in the slow cooker can lack flavour - so always add extra.

• Brown roasts first. My fave slow cooker dish is a leg of lamb, bone in, studded with garlic and anchovies. I'll brown it first {on the bbq if it's too big for a frypan} and then place it in the slowcooker on a bed of very chunky potatoes, sweet potato and onions. Then I'll pour over 1/2 cup of white wine and cook it on low for 8 hours. Just before serving I'll gently remove the vegies {they'll be soft and smooshy} and pop them in a very hot oven for 15 minutes to brown. While this is happening the meat is resting and I'll make a gravy with the juices by adding a little stock, turning it to high and stirring. Mmmmmm.

• Choose cooking on low over high for best results.

• Stay home for your first few efforts - just to see how quickly your slow cooker works. Some of them are faster than others so 7 hours on low will cook a dish to perfection, but 8 hours is too long. Experiment and don't be afraid. Go with flavours and ingredients you love and use it for what it's good for. On a cold, dark wednesday when I get home from netball training at 5.30 I love being greeted by a steaming hot meal that only needs rice or potatoes to complete.

Enjoy!

scroll down

Okay, so this photo is taken at an unfortunate angle that makes SJP and Ferris look like wee tiny bobbleheads... but people THE SHOES. Can you see those shoes? Oh, they are far and away the prettiest shoes I've seen all day. Excuse me, I'm off to fan myself and have a cigarette...

abundance

Mmm, you know the only thing better than a baguette? A groovy old van filled with 'em. Yum. I love this image. It reminds me that even though it's STILL raining, and while I have a sinus headache that makes me want to slice off my forehead, things are good.
• My gal's gone to school with a lunchbox filled with chorizo mini quiche and a violette cupcake {oh, so good - Nigella's cupcakes are indescribably delicious} and a very wide smile.
• I have a challenging and interesting piece due tomorrow that I'm enjoying writing.
• I've finally been paid for the invoice I've been chasing since December {hurrah!}
• We're off to friends for dinner on Friday night for duck confit.
• Sitting back and thinking about the people I've been lucky enough to meet in my life, I know I've been blessed by meeting some of the world's finest.
• My French homework is complete and possibly correct!
• My fingernails are the prettiest shade of blue thanks to Orly Snowcone {from the Sweet Colour Collection - so good}.
• My skin's over its dryness and is now looking mighty fine after two weeks on Olay ProX.
• I'm having a good hairday.

Blessings? Oh I've got them in abundance and I'm very, very thankful for them.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

real ark-weather

The rain is so heavy and unrelenting - I'm thinking this here is my best option for the school pick up this afternoon. I've already cancelled netball training again this afternoon - even if by some miracle the rain stops the courts will be under a metre of water.

What's not helping is that along with the poopy weather so many people seem to be going through tough times at the moment. My heart's with everyone - just as these skies have to clear sometime, so does the misery.

I think my gal and I will bake some cupcakes this afternoon. After all, baking makes everyone feel better doesn't it?

love is all you need

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

roll out the red carpet






Loving the looks all the gals sported on the red carpet for the New York premiere of Sex and the City 2. If I had to choose a fave I'd say that SJP's Valentino has won my heart.

literary love





I'll be needing a new light for my newly redecorated home office/study. This would be apt would it not?

best dressed

Now, THIS is a frock.

new sensation

After making my roasted pork on rhubarb on Sunday night I stewed an extra stick of rhubarb with vanilla paste and a little brown sugar. I simply stirred it for about 10 minutes from time-to-time until it was mooshy and cooked and then popped it in a container. This morning I had a steaming bowl of oats and stirred a spoonful of cold rhubarb through it.

That's it, I'm addicted.

Monday, May 24, 2010

hmmmmm

I can't say I'm overly enamored of rayban-esque sunglasses on a stick.

decorating dreams

We're looking to redecorate my home-office/study. I think I'll be needing a squishy couch or chair in front of my billions of bookshelves don't you? Can't wait for new carpet to be laid - charcoal wool perhaps... Walls to be painted, and maybe a feature wall of wallpaper to go up {Laura Ashley, I'm calling your name}. A new French-inspired desk and a few pretty pictures. I'll be working in style.

like mother...

My gal came to me yesterday with a meal plan that she'd devised for the week bless her socks. She might have blue eyes and blonde hair but boy, is she her mother's daughter...

dior-licious

Shoe of the week can only be Dior today darling. If one has to live in a gilded cage it might as well have come from the house of Dior don't you think?

Sunday, May 23, 2010

shiver me timbers

Miss Marc by Marc Jacobs pirate watch. Cuteness non?

um, yum

Sorry, my camera had a flat battery {so this isn't my actual meal}, but I had to share the amazing meal we had tonight. Standing rib pork roast on a bed of rhubarb.

Oh, yes, it's as good as it sounds.

I cute two pieces of rhubarb into batons about 10cm long and lay them side-by-side in baking tray. Then I got the pork ready by scoring the crackling and rubbing in lots of olive oil and pink murray river sea salt. The oven was piping hot at 230 degrees celcius when I lay the pork on the bed of rhubarb and put it in the oven for 15 minutes. Then I turned the oven down to around 180 and cooked it for around 45 minutes till medium rare. It rested for 10 minutes then my dear one carved us a cutlet each and some crackle. The rhubarb? Caramelised and infused with a wee bit of pork flavour. The pork? Tender, succulent and the best pork roast I've ever made.

Thanks Jamie Oliver, what an idea. And thanks Farmer's Markets where I saw those lovely bunches of rhubarb that inspired my dinner. And thanks fellow pork lover Beth who also believes that too much pork is barely enough.

Oh, and I had one stick of rhubarb left over, so I stewed it with some vanilla extract and brown sugar. Guess what's gracing my porridge in the morning?

simply sunday

Don't you love a good weekend? The rain finally seems to have cleared so my friend and I are off to the Farmer's Market for breakfast {coffee, bacon and egg rolls. Mmmmm} and then off to check out Raid My Wardrobe - a vintage and pre-loved clothing market. Nice.

Dinner last night considered of perfectly crisp and melty pork belly, pate, puddings, wine and laughter. Nice combo huh?


Saturday, May 22, 2010

soggy saturday

It might be pouring down rain at the moment - with no sign of it abating, but do I look like the type of person who lets a little precipitation stand in the way of a good time? Sure, plans might need to be altered, suede shoes left to the side while the patent leather comes out. But it's all about working out what's important isn't it? The sun mightn't be shining, but that doesn't mean we can't have a sunny time?

So, your weekend - what's in store?

Friday, May 21, 2010

in your dreams

I had a dream last night that my house was robbed - but not this house, a combination of our old house in Newtown and a house I saw last night on Property Ladder {you know how things are never as they seem}. In my dream I was thrilled they didn't take my KitchenAid, thrilled they'd stolen the couch I'd quite like replaced, and not even vaguely thrilled that they'd taken my computer. Even in my sleep I felt a cold shot of fear enter my heart when I saw my computer was missing and thought to myself "You know, I really should back up my documents" {this song? why yes I am playing it again...}

So, about 45 minutes ago I was ready to do a phone interview with the second-last subject I need to speak to for a feature. I went to open the document which has the transcriptions of the other interviews I'd done and all the research - and it wasn't there. Anywhere. I frantically searched through all the files, before eventually doing a search and finding them - somewhere. Now they're saved and I'm going to properly look into backing up. Losing something so important, for an article that's due on Monday is not a good idea. Now my heartrate's returned to normal I'm going to open up Google Docs and start moving stuff around.

Phew, sweet dreams...

woo hoo, weekend approaching

So, what excitement's in stall for you this weekend? I have a deliciously girly weekend planned and I just can't wait - from tomorrow afternoon it's all things girly and glorious. Le sigh.

Gal's gone to school today, a little apprehensive after a few days off. Luckily she has a slab of that marble cake to see her through the day. I'm sure she'll be welcomed back with open arms by her friends. Despite my heavy posting and baking yesterday I actually got a fair bit done - leaving only one task on the to-do list today {work-wise - house-wise is another matter, one I'm studiously ignoring...}

My coffee machine is back from the repairers, and oh, I love it so. Really nice, honest repairman over at the Sunbeam store - so much so that I'll consider Sunbeam appliances in the future {just as I swore off Sony after a hideous experience with a very, very rude woman at their repair store - which has now closed down...}.

Now, I've got a few blogs to catch up on, a couple of emails to send, and then I'm going to get showered, out of my jammies and get into work.

Have a fabulous weekend x