Jan 20 2013

Endeavour Beer

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Apple

So it’s a new year, lots of things I want to get done and goals to reach. Not because it’s a new year, I’ve had these goals for a while of course but its the cool thing to do to reiterate them at this time.

The usual one is focus more on my blog. But while fitting in work, study and other hobbies I’m not sure on the expiry dates of these goals.

So to start of the new year, my first post will feature Endeavour Beer. Just before the Christmas Break the lovely people at The Trish Nicol Agency sent me a couple of Endeavour Beers to try.

Now I’m definitely more of a wine person, or a cocktail person, or schnapps. But that’s mainly because I haven’t come across a beer that doesn’t just taste like liquid yeast in a bottle to me.

Que Endeavour Beer – 2011 Reserve Amber Ale:

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Dec 31 2012

Cook With Jamie: Best Shortbread in the World

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Apple

Up until early 2012 I had never had shortbread before. Honest truth.

When all the other kids were sampling their grandmother’s homemade shortbread, you know the type – in the family for years and the recipe is a secret which will be handed down the generations. Well while this was happening in other households I was most likely eating some sort of junk food, nothing memorable.

24 years down the track and I’ve not only tried my first ever shortbread but I’ve cooked it too. So you’re probably thinking something along the lines of, ‘well she’s only had the one shortbread so how can she possibly know if its the best or not’

Good call. I like to share though and my Axey and his family enjoyed every last piece. I personally think its a beautiful recipe and so easy to make that I recommend everyone to chuck out the horrible store bought stuff you have leftover from Christmas and whip this batch up. You won’t regret it!

*As with all other posts relating to the Cook With Jamie cookbook, I have not posted the recipe. I fully support great recipes and wish to encourage people to buy the book.

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Nov 24 2012

Sydney Food Blogger Xmas Picnic 2012

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Apple

Its the most…wonderful time; of the year!!

Ah Christmas, what better way to start the season than a massive get together of food bloggers.

This was only my second Syd Food Blogger event but it was nice to see some familiar faces, and meet lots of new ones! I think the count was around 100 people!

I really only took photos at the start. I got a little caught up in all the food and mingling, but don’t fret. I know there will be plenty of other posts to check out.

Now I’m not sure who created this, but it looks amazing. I’ve always wanted to try the printing in the sponge but have been to worried how it would turn out.

But its so cute! and festive!

These. Look. Delicious. I didn’t get a chance to try them, they disappeared rather quickly!

This! This is so awesome! and thoughtful! The lovely Sara & Josh from Belly Rumbles. The little packets were filled with shortbread, which I may have already enjoyed and shared with my other half. Yummo!

Cookie dough. Cookie dough and anything is a winning but this, THIS! Was like a dream come true. Plus having it with a piece of apple made you ‘feel’ like it wasn’t as bad for you, Bonus!

Must get this recipe from the gorgeous Christine from Cooking Crusade.

Red Velvet cake sandwiches. They looked so rich and moist. Didn’t get around to eatting this one, wish I had!

Beautiful Jasmine Tea Creme Brulee Tarts from Excuse Me Waiter. The pastry on this was perfect, and the filling was so smooth and not too sweet.

Simon from Simon Food Favourites brought along an epic pop up bar (I can’t stand the every day use of the word ‘epic’, but it totally applies here!) consisting of three awesome cocktails.

I’d never tried Gin before so its a bit of a biased opinion, but the Hendrick’s Gin and Tonic was delicious! With a slice of cucumber it was the perfect thing for such a hot day.

The Spread.

Ok so, we’ve got some cute little sandwiches down the bottom left. Turkey and cranberry was really nice and great in between the sweet food.

Umm, over the right middle. You can’t see very well but there’s some home made milky chewy lolly things. Tasted like sweetened condensed milk and coconut. Awesome!

Ooo in the middle, in the small chinese takeaway containers is Thai Beef Salad. Made by Food is our Religion. I had this first and it was really nice and refreshing!

Oh and the bottle over the right, is Lychee Iced Tea by Simon from The Heart of Food. This was so refreshing, definitely making this and taking it to work!

What else did I get a chance to try….oooo on the red plate over the right side, Eggs with avocado and bacon. Best. Combination. Ever. I’m not sure who made this but I want the recipe!

SO MASSIVELY CUTE! These were by Gucci & Gyoza, the imagination here is so inspiring!

Rice paper rolls. I think they disappeared in the time it just took me to type rice paper rolls. They looked so yummy!

I believe this was a dark and white chocolate cake, could have been mud cake? It looks too pretty to cut!

And the wonderful Chocolatesuze! Doing her quick thank you for coming-look at all the food-dig in before everyone grabbed their cameras and snap snap snapped away!

Ugh such a good day, so much food. And the Kris Kringle – which was a great and evil thing to be a part of. So many stealing gifts back and forth!

Wonderful start to the Christmas season, thank you Helen from Grab you Fork and Suze from Chocolatesuze for organising such a great time.

Thank you to everyone for their glorious, glorious food! Look forward to the next event!

Oh, and the gingerbread men were mine! You can find the recipe I used here at Exclusively Foods. Note though, I added like…double the amount of spices!

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Oct 29 2012

New: Baker’s Delight Lemon & Cream Cheese {Giveaway!}

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Apple

Good Monday to you all! I hope you’re all trying to make your Monday a positive one!

If I were you I’d get on down to your nearest Baker’s Delight and pick up one of their new lemon and cream cheese scrolls, or their shareable lemon and cream cheese swirl.

Certain to make your Monday better.

The kind people at Keep Left sent me a sample of the new range, which I am so grateful for. I am a huge fan of Baker’s Delight!

But even though I received it free, my opinions won’t be swayed.

Unfortunately for me, the day the samples rocked up I was home sick. So it wasn’t the best day for a taste test anything. I could still smell them though which made it very hard to resit till the following day.

I wasn’t 100% better the following day, but I had more of my taste buds working. Thankfully the buns kept their freshness pretty well.

How is the perfect way to enjoy these?

With friends or family and a nice pot of tea. Simple and satisfying.

The taste?

I loved the icing on the top, probably because I have a huge sweet tooth. The bun itself was lovely and fresh, we think there was a hint of lemon through it but for my personal preference I would have loved some lemon zest through the dough to give a bit of zing to counter the sweetness of the icing. It could have been my cold not letting the full flavours come through though so I will have to try these again to double check!

And if you have some left over after dinner, try chucking together an easy bread and butter pudding for dessert.

I made one using a single lemon and cream cheese scroll and it was the perfect amount. Added some extra lemon zest and mwah! beautiful!

One last thing! Of course!

If you’d like to win one of three $10 gift certificates for Baker’s Delight, all you have to do is comment! First three to comment on this post will be winners. Get in fast!

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Oct 22 2012

Cuppa Tea for your Troubles, Ma’am?

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Apple

I’m a tea person. I was a tea person before I had my first cup of coffee.

I had jars of tea with different flavours that I collected when I was a kid. From strawberry and mango to earl grey. I loved the stuff.

These days I’m quite fond of my evening cup of English Breakfast or Peppermint tea, so when I received an email from the lovely people at UnionMedia asking if I would like to sample some of their Nature’s Cuppa tea my instant response was hell yes!

Little did I realise, their sample pack is HUGE! I mean, I love tea and all but this is going to take me a while to get through. Not that I’m complaining trust me!

So we’ve got chai tea, earl grey, green tea, english breakfast, ceylon tea, peppermint, loose leaf ceylon tea and freeze dried coffee. All organic.

I’m a sucker for a cuppa english breakfast with a bikkie after my dinner at night. I find it nice and calming. My usual choice is Twinnings which I find beautifully smooth and great with a dash of honey.

I’m afraid this isn’t going to be just a one post “review” on Nature’s Cuppa tea range, and let me be honest that my opinion is no way changed by the fact it was a free sample. But I love tea, good tea, and I plan on using it in as many ways as I can think of.

I’ve so far only tried the english breakfast tea. It’s quite different to the Twinnings brand, can’t quite put my finger on it. It has more of a….depth than the Twinnings one – which is nice!

I was going to try the peppermint tea first. However it had been a very long day at work and I fought with the foil packaging – and the foil packaging won. (yes, I could have just got off my arse and fetched a pair of scissors but I’m stubborn) I’m still yet to try it!

And coming up next – Coffee Spice Cake!

I made up a recipe, so proud of myself. Using the freeze dried coffee from Nature’s Cuppa, tuned out great! And I shall be posting that soon for everyone!

Do you enjoy a nice cuppa? Are you more of a traditional earl grey or a daring chai?