Polkadots and Chopsticks

It’s Really Really Hard to Make Baguettes At Home

March 2nd, 2012

It’s really really hard to make baguettes at home, did you know? Earlier this week on My Kitchen Rules we witnessed how hard it is.

Peter & Gary. QLD Team. Served up an entree of Balmain Bugs in a garlic butter sauce with baguette. They destroyed the beautiful balmain bugs by overcooking them and drenching them with way too much garlic. Plated up with STORE BOUGHT BAGUETTE! Not even a good fancy baguette like Morpeth Sourdough. Plain old store bought baguette.

It's alive!!..

Somebody should have sent Peter and Gary a link to this Traditional baguette recipe on Chewwise, or this recipe on Group Recipes, or here at King Arthur Flour.

Silky smooth dough

There are a million and one varied recipes from authentic to easy and quick. Something in me just couldn’t believe they didn’t make their own bread, the self-proclaimed french experts. It angered something deep inside me – awoke the hulk within!

And I want to make it clear. I’m no bread baker. I also appreciate bread bakers who make amazing bread and I understand its a skill that takes a lot of time and practise to perfect. However… still…store bought baguettes?

So, I set myself a task after work last night and made baguettes at home! I wouldn’t say that mine were traditional or the most authentic. Because they weren’t. At all. But easy, fast and homemade they definitely were.

Frankly I would have preferred homemade bread then store bought baguettes, even if Manu decided the homemade bread wasn’t close enough to a real baguette its the effort and care that went into it that matters the most. I would have marked them down for it. I wouldn’t be ok with store bought baguette if it was on the menu at a restaurant so it shouldn’t have been ok for them.

I used a recipe I found on A Sweet Pea Chef with a few small tweaks. Turned out beautifully. Not quite as “baguette” like as I was hoping for but hey, it was my first go!

Yummy Fresh Bread! And I feel rather a lot calmer about the whole Peter-Gary-Baguette-issue

Happy Friday All!

Posted in Categories: baked > easy > mkr > Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

Chicken Karaage At Home

February 28th, 2012

Crispy little morsels of flavour packed chicken. You definitely should try it.

Its crispy like KFC chicken but without the gut loads of extra fat and unknown ingredients, and a lot better flavour.

Plus its the best way to get a crispy chicken hit when your allergic to KFC.

Dead serious. I’m actually allergic to KFC chicken. Not the chips – so it’s not the oil they cook it in. Just something to do with the chicken.

Never found out what exactly because they wouldn’t give me any details when I enquired as to what ingredients they use. Concerning!

Needless to say I’ve stuck to Chicken Karaage ever since, lol.

I’ve tried Chicken Karaage at a bunch of different places along the Northern Beaches and they all seem a bit bland. Without having been to Japan myself I can’t confirm traditionally how strong the flavours should be but I make mine so you can recognise all the flavours without having to stop and think about it.

Like many of the recipes I cook this dish is quick and simple to prepare.

Karaage is a Japanese dish but its easier than cooking hamburgers if you ask me! Plus the flavours aren’t exotic so you could get away with serving this to people who are a little afraid of new foods.

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Posted in Categories: chicken > easy > japanese > Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Pancake Day: Chocolate & Blueberry Crepe Cake

February 21st, 2012

According to the great almighty Wikipedia, Pancake day or Shrove Tuesday is linked to Easter. Traditionally known as the day for eating pancakes before Lent. There are all sorts of crazy things that go on to celebrate this day, like pancake races. You know those egg on a spoon races you did as a kid? It’s like that. But with a pan. And a pancake. I hope they get to eat it at the end!

I’m not religious in the least but a day for eating pancakes? I’m so there! I urge everyone to go out today and find pancakes! Eat lots of pancakes!!

There is nothing that my work colleagues love more than chocolate. If I’m baking something to bring in to share, the request is always chocolate.

So chocolate crêpe cake for pancake day it is! Yay!

Now I’ve been attempting the age-old “I’m going to eat healthier” goal. So I added some fruit. Hey its a start right?

Chocolate ~~Crepe~~ Thin Pancake Stack-Like-Cake

For the crepes:

Recipe found here! Taste.com is such a great resource for a quick solution!

For the filling:

2 x punnets blueberries

125g extra light cream cheese

1 x tsp fresh lemon juice

- Blend together in a mixing bowl until well combined.

And a bit of chocolate ganache for good measure!

Step one. Put crêpe down. Step two. Spread on ganache. Step three. Put crêpe on top. Step Four. Layer of blueberry mixture.

Repeat from Step one! Top with fresh blueberries!

Simple, delicious and slightly healthier then the other option of chocolate on chocolate with extra chocolate lol!

Are you going to hunt down some super pancakes today? I’d love to hear about them, if you’ve found some secret treasures during your day!

Peace out!

Tags: cake, pancake day
Posted in Categories: cake > dessert > easy | 4 Comments »

Shabu Shabu

February 7th, 2012

Oh this week has been so long. And it’s only Tuesday!

We had a couple of guests for the weekend though, my Axey’s sister and her boyfriend crashed for a couple of nights before they flew out to Thailand for their holiday. Lucky things!

I like to introduce people to new foods so we dined on Japanese Shabu Shabu. Couple of mishaps, I burnt three of my fingers putting the noodles into the electric wok (which I thought was off.) Made things a bit difficult to eat with one hang covered in aloe vera, ice and tea towels!

Dinner was a success though. Great tasting food that everyone can cook to their liking and socialize at the same time. Best thing about it – it stops you from eating too fast! Such a westerner problem.

For four people with leftovers for two the next day:

2 x packets of thin sliced beef. I’m not sure on the exact weight as they were from the asian grocer in Dee Why, Mao Sheng (opposite Woolworths)

3 x finely chopped shallots

1 x roughly chopped leek

1/2 x packet of Soyco Japanese flavoured Tofu

1 x 400g can of bean sprouts (you can use fresh or canned, personally I actually prefer canned)

1/2 x packet of Enokitake (long, thin white mushrooms. Can be found in the fridge section at asian grocers)

2/3 x packet of Hikaru soba noodles, these can be purchased from Coles and Woolies

For the broth:

2 x sheets of dried kombu (I believe this can be bought from Coles and Woolies now as well, at least in Sydney in the asian section. Otherwise asian grocers will have it)

2 x litres of water

1 x teaspoon white miso paste

1 x teaspoon soy sauce

2 x tablespoon sake

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Posted in Categories: beef > dinner > easy > japanese | 3 Comments »

Okonomiyaki

January 31st, 2012

Okonomiyaki. Just saying the word makes me smile.
Known as a “Japanese pizza or pancake” its my favourite dish to whip up quickly on a weekday for dinner.
A layer of crunchy cabbage cooked in a light batter, topped with bacon, shallots and Chinese sausage. Smothered in Bulldog sauce and a little bit of Kewpie mayo. Yummo!

Oh and can’t forget the fried shallots! Sprinkle them everywhere!!

The recipe I work from is here at Okonomiyaki World. It’s a great site showing variations on the batter, toppings and healthier substitutes for ingredients.

Making it a short one today. Rather distracted with gaming and books! Currently reading the third book in the Game Of Thrones series, which is awesome! Taking a bit of time to play some old school Guild Wars and Age of Empires II. Don’t judge me! They’re classics!

But to the topic at hand. Okonomiyaki. Awesomely easy to pronounce – unlike the english language, what you see is what you get! And awesomely easy to make!

Whip it up next time you entertain and your guests will think you’ve worked yourself to the bone to make such a great meal lol.

Peace out all! Have a great day!

P.S – My awesome Axey has published his new apps on the Android market! So proud! Check it out for your tablet or phone.

The cat one is awesome addictive fun, especially fun to anyone who has seen the eHarmony cat lover video!