Nanna knows how
Don’t throw out your potato peelings. I’m sure you put them aside for the compost anyway, but you have to see this to believe it, potato peel has a sort of miraculous effect in a dirty pot or pan. If you’ve tried everything and that nasty burned stain inside your best pot won’t leave – [...]
Growing tomatoes in buckets is the solution if you’re short on space or the soil isn’t good. Where I live, it’s just about solid clay. Planting tomato buckets gives you all the advantages of gardening in pots and with a 20 litre – 5 gallon bucket and you won’t have to worry about keeping your [...]
A Meal for One A really simple soup to make with ready-made vegetable stock. You may like to make your own stock but I freely confess that I rarely do this anymore. After years of hanging out over the hot stove watching stock simmer, I surrendered myself to the convenience of ready-made. These days I [...]
One of the great pleasures of my life has been introducing Jane Austen to my children. Now here’s a side of Jane that I’m going to introduce to you. Who would have thought it? Jane Austen discovering clues, sifting through evidence, unravelling nefarious plots and solving grisly murders. But, when you consider it, the same [...]
Cleaning with Lemons leaves a beautiful clean and fresh smell around the house. Freshen up your dishwasher by cutting a lemon in half and popping one or both halves in the cutlery rack. Clean and deodorise your chopping boards by rubbing them with lemon juice. Clean your windows and mirrors with 25mls of lemon juice [...]
These cheese-stuffed pears have sprung from an Ancient Roman recipe, at least I’ve served pears very like these as part of an Ancient Roman meal, as a tasty mensa secunda, the dessert. The Ancient Romans ate a lot of pears and cheese, although they would have prepared this with sheep cheese, not cow’s, and a [...]
Cath makes enough washing powder for a year for under $10. It depends on how much washing you do of course, but I reckon this should last me at least 6 months and that’s a substantial saving! Instructions to make the washing powder Ingredients: 1 bar soap, grated 1 cup washing soda (Lectric Soda) 1/2 [...]
Baked Sweet Potatoes 1. Scrub them clean and put them directly in the oven on the middle rack. The skin will develop a delicious light crunch as the sweet potato cooks. 2.Coat them in a bit of butter and sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over. Wrap in foil to hold in the juices and soften the [...]
It’s simple to make your own wool wash and then you have the added advantage of knowing exactly what’s in it. 2 cups of grated soap (I like the old fashioned Velvet) 1/2 cup methylated spirits 1 tablespoon eucalyptus oil Add all the ingredients into a jar and shake well Store in a jar with [...]
If you want to make an authentic Vietnamese pho, you’re looking at a long time in the kitchen. You will need to cook meat, and bone, in broth for up to 3 hours. After you’ve prepared everything else the time can run to 4 or 5 hours total. Don’t want to spend that long? No [...]
The popular potato soup emerges every Autumn. Warming on those cooler evenings, serve with crusty bread for a full meal. Leek and Potato Soup Ingredients 50g Butter 450g Leeks 700g Potatoes 900ml Vegetable Stock 1 tbsp Dried Rosemary 450ml Milk 2 tbsp Chopped Fresh Flat-Leaf Parsley Salt and Pepper Method Begin by preparing the vegetables, [...]
This slow cooked Kahlua Chocolate Cake is from a favourite Lunch Menu Lunch Menu Chicken breasts with lime,cider and coriander (cilantro), zesty ratatouille of seasonal vegetables followed by rich chocolate Kahlua cake. All made in the slow cooker Slow Cook Kahlua Chocolate Cake You can make gorgeous cakes in your slow cooker too. This rich [...]
This slow cooked ratatouille is from a favourite Lunch Menu Lunch Menu Chicken breasts with lime,cider and coriander (cilantro), zesty ratatouille of seasonal vegetables followed by rich chocolate Kahlua cake. All made in the slow cooker Slow Cook Ratatouille Ingredients 2 large onions 1 large eggplant 1 zucchini 2 garlic cloves 2 large green capsicums [...]
This slow cooked chicken is from a favourite Lunch Menu Lunch Menu Chicken breasts with lime,cider and coriander (cilantro), zesty ratatouille of seasonal vegetables followed by rich chocolate Kahlua cake. All made in the slow cooker Slow Cook Chicken with Cider, Lime and Coriander The chicken is only cooked for 4 hours Ingredients 4 skinless [...]
Autumn is the time for roasting vegetables. All the different varieties of potatoes and yams come into their own as the evenings chill down. But don’t forget the parsnips! Baked Parsnips Recipe 8 medium parsnips pinch of nutmeg salt and pepper to season Method Remove the tips and tails of the parsnips Boil in water [...]
Do you ever get the urge to yell “You have too many things!” to your grandchildren? It’s not worth giving way to such an urge. They won’t know what you’re talking about. They brush aside your posturing and ask for some impossible thing that they want you to get, now. It’s just pointless telling them [...]
You can get Melting Moments or Yo Yos just about anywhere but I can’t believe that you can get any better than home made. How often have you come across a dry Melting Moment? I’ve bought a stale one or two and promised myself I’d go back and complain but sometimes my fury is willing [...]
Once upon a time I made scones when anyone called around. The minute a girlfriend yoo-hooed from the front door, I turned on the stove before I answered. The scones, while perfect with a good cup of tea and excellent with coffee, aren’t the same when you’ve got a bottle of moscato or some other [...]
Yes, it’s true. The latest fad is drinking beer made from elephant poo. Seriously, what is wrong with people? The trendy young things who like coffee from civet shit are now embracing the new beer and, while discussing the head, the fullness, the colour and the after-taste, are very likely congratulating themselves on their exquisite [...]
A few days back I happened upon an advertisement for a food supplement, aimed at women of a certain age. My age, in fact. This wondrous ad, catching my attention completely, promised a delight of magical ingredients in whatever the product was (I forget the product but I remember the ad). ” …… blends harmonizing [...]
Growing tomatoes in buckets is the solution if you're short on space or the soil isn't good. Where I … [Read More...]
It was one of those mornings when I hadn't tried very hard with myself. I only wanted to pop up to … [Read More...]
One of the great pleasures of my life has been introducing Jane Austen to my children. Now here's a side of Jane that … [Read More...]
