Melbourne in B+W

I love the look of black and white photography but seem to have difficulty editing my photos into black and white. I shoot what catches my eye, and it is often the colours which grab my attention. So I thought I'd do somethng a little different and try my hand at B+W street photography from my time in Melbourne last weekend. They break all the rules of good photography, but I love them. I hope you do too.

This weekend, how about challenging yourself to shoot something just a little bit different. Who knows, you might find yourself a whole new genre you just love to dabble in!

xxx

Melbourne Christmas Cheer

This time last year I was excitedly putting the last remaining traveling necessities in my suitcase and dreaming of a white Christmas. I didn't get a white Christmas, but I had just the most amazing time soaking up a northern hemisphere Christmas wandering the streets of Manhattan. That city really knows how to put on Christmas! I loved the cold, being bundled up in scarves, beanies and gloves, taking photos of so much Christmas cheer.

So when I decided to meet a friend in Melbourne last weekend for a girly shopping weekend, I had no idea that I would be transported back to NYC, right in our own backyard. I've only been to Melbourne one other time. It was in winter, and I ran a half marathon. It was grey, cold and beautiful. The weather wasn't actually all that different this time around! Gotta love Melbourne!

It was the energy, the bustling, busy excitement that was seen in both adults and kids, that reminded me so much of NY. Wandering around at night time, when the city comes alive. Shops adorned with twinkling lights and promises of Christmas bargains. Street vendors selling their wares. Carolers caroling. The only thing missing were chestnuts roasting and about 10kg in clothing layers.

I had such a wonderful time soaking it all in.
If you ever get a chance, spend a long weekend in Melbourne at Christmas time.

Merry Christmas. I hope you have a happy and holy day.
Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season.

xxx

A trip down memory lane...

Have you ever looked back over your Facebook timeline? I had the opportunity to last night ( read, I was procrastinating sleep) and I realised something. I may not have bought a new car, had a bub, gotten married or done a million-and-one other amazing things that my Facebook friends have done. I may not be the best photographer, or the best cook, or even the best friend, but I have had an amazing couple of years.

I know fb posts usually lean towards the positive end of the emotion spectrum, but it found though my posts a fair share of rants and grumbles. I found pictures of wonderful friends, of magical weddings, and of fantastic once-in-a-lifetime experiences. I was reminded of so many little moments that I had found important enough at the time to document and share with (let's be honest) a bunch of strangers (and a few friends!!).

But the thing that struck me the most (yes, I am aware I started a sentence and paragraph with a conjunction) was the way my time line really did encompass me. I know that seems intuitive (some of you are slapping your heads saying 'duh' right now) but bear with me...

...in the olden days people used to quilt using any scrap of fabric; And the quilt used to take on the history of the one by whom it was created. The green patch in the right corner came from a favourite childhood dress, while the red patch was from little Tommy's overalls, which lost both knees due to the rough and tumble play of a male toddler....well in a voyeuristic way, trawling through my timeline felt a bit like that.

So I guess it shouldn't really surprise me that my Facebook page was so "me" but it did. And you know what else? I like me :-) I like the gumby, triathlete-want-to-be, annoying-wedding-guest-who-insists-on-taking-copious-photos, 10km-running, wildlife-kid-and-flower photographing, tea-addicted, yoga-attempting, crocheting, fringe-sporting me. I'm not everyone's cup of tea, but that's ok.

I encourage you all to take a trip down memory lane and have a look through your timeline some time. You may just be a bit surprised...and encouraged xxx

Apple, Walnut and Sultana loaf

This may just be my favourite 'go to' recipe. So simple, so quick, so tasty, and so amenable to being changed!

I love this recipe.
You can even convince yourself that it is healthy. It is, after all, predominantly fruit :-)

I found this when I was in NZ, in one of their fabulous cooking mags. They had a section called 'you asked for it', and in it, they published a recipe that a reader had requested, from a cafe or restaurant. This comes from Shadehouse Cafe in Rotorua. I never got to go to taste the real thing, so I have no idea how close this recipe is to the original, but it doesn't bother me, coz I love this one!

Best enjoyed with a cup of tea.
Bon appetit!

Shadehouse Cafe's Apple, Walnut and Sultana Loaf

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups peeled, cored and diced apple (I used 1 apple and 1 pear in this one)
1 cup brown sugar
100g butter, melted (I used dairy free spread)
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 1/2 cups flour (I used 1 cup wholemeal and 1/2 cup white, coz I ran out of wholemeal, but you can definitely use all wholemeal. I suspect it would be too crumbly if you use gluten free, but I wonder what half gluten free, half almond meal would be like...hmmm, something to try for next time!)
1/4 teaspoon salt (I actually forgot this)
1/2 teaspoon each of baking powder and ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon each cinnamon and baking soda
1/2 cup of sultanas and 1/2 cup walnuts
icing sugar for dusting

And this is where the fun starts. That is the original recipe. I change it up depending on my mood.
Now, I"m a more is more kinda girl. I usually add more nutmeg, and cinnamon and add a good heaped (um....tablespoon) ground ginger. I also add chopped Buderum ginger pieces if I add ginger to the spice mix. I usually add sultanas and walnuts, but have subbed dates before. I almost always add vanilla as well.

Instructions
Preheat oven to 180deg C. Lightly grease a loaf pan (this makes you feel even more virtuous. Its almost a healthy bread if it is in this shape!)
Combine apple, brown sugar, egg and melted butter and mix well.
Add dry ingredients and sultanas/walnuts etc and mix well. It will be really quite chunky. It is best to sift, especially if you're baking soda is a little lumpy. Believe me, biting into a lump of baking soda really ruins the whole experience.
Bake for 40-50 mins or until a skewer comes out clean. My oven is about 40 mins.
Cool, then turn onto a cake rack. Dust with icing sugar ( I must admit, I don't think I've ever done this!)

It is so yummy warm or cold.
It apparently stores for a few days in an airtight container. I have never challenged it :-)

Roast vegetable stack with chickpea salsa

I love quick, simple and healthy food. With all the fad diets out there, I think the basics of health are being forgotten. It is fairly simple:
- get sufficient rest
- drink plenty of water
- exercise intentionally
- eat fresh food with minimal processed food
- portion control
- keep a positive attitude
- all things in moderation - don't deprive yourself...we all know those binge moments!

That is a topic for another blog on another day - I will get off my soap box momentarily.
This was lunch today. I've made it previously, a slight variation on the theme, but I love that it was just as tasty with alternate ingredients. You can just use what you have available, and it is super simple to make, and super tasty to eat!

Roast vegetable stack with chickpea salsa

Ingredients

Eggplant - cut into 5-10mm slices
Pumpkin - cut into 5-10mm slices
Large flat mushroom (or equivalent)
Chickpeas - I used tinned but you could use soaked
Tomatoes - cut into small cubed
Corn - either tinned or corn on the cob (cooked) (the astute observer may note I don't have corn in this version - it is good with or without... I just forgot it this time)
Beetroot -  cubed
Avocado - cubed
Rocket or baby spinach leaves
herbs to taste - I had parsley but you could use any fresh light herb
Oil - I used Ricebran oil but you can use a good quality extravirgin olive oil too
Salt and pepper to taste
Goats cheese, or feta, if you are not vegan
Lirah apple balsamic (or your favorite balsamic vinegar)

Place vegetable slices in a baking tray and drizzle with oil and salt and pepper to taste. Roast until soft.
Mix chickpeas, tomatoes, corn, beetroot, avocado and green leaves together to make a salsa.

Stack alternate layers of roast vegetables and salsa together.
Add cheese at this point if you are going to (the goats cheese is amazing with this combination!)
Drizzle with a little balsamic vinegar.
Bon appetit!

Healthy, quick and super tasty. 
Enjoy!

xxx

P.S. You can get the caramelised apple balsamic here. You won't be sorry. I'm not a huge balsamic fan, but I LOVE this product. I also have the ginger balsamic...looking forward to trying it on a dessert sometime soon....

Stollen

I've wanted to make this for ages. I quite like a good piece of stollen, and I'm always looking for fun new recipes to make. This was fun! Feeding the yeast, kneading the dough, letting it rest and all the rest of the enjoyment that is bread making. The only thing that was missing was marzipan, and even then it wasn't really necessary. It was lovely with a cup of tea after a long week at work and a lovely way to herald in the Christmas food season.

Just remember to leave yourself enough time to make it.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons yeast
2 teaspoon white sugar, plus 1/3 cup
2/3 cup milk - I used almond milk - lukewarm
3 cups plain flour
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
100 g butter, melted - I used dairy free spread
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup currants
1/2 cup mixed peel
1/2 cup slivered almonds - I used almond meal
Icing sugar to dust

Combine milk, yeast and sugar and sit until frothy (10 mins). Mix the flour, sugar and spice together and make a well. Add the wet ingredients and the yeast mix. Combine into a dough, then knead for 10 minutes until dough is elastic and smooth. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm area and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Roll dough out to 2 cm and then sprinkle with fruit and almond mix. Lightly knead to combine. Roll out in an oval shape and then roll into a log. This is where I would spread it with marzipan next time. Bake for 30 minutes at 180 degrees or until sounds hollow when tapped. Spring kle with icing sugar and serve.

Merry Christmas!
Xxx

Hummingbird cake

Yummy yum yum yum.
I've just finished scoffing this piece :-) I couldn't help it!

It is also gluten free and dairy free, and it is made of so much fruit it has to be healthy, right???
Next time you're looking for a classy tea-time treat and want to venture off the chocolate pathway (shock!) give this a try. You won't be sorry***


***unless you do not like or are allergic to bananas, pineapple or walnuts, then, you may be :-)

Gluten free, dairy free Hummingbird cake

Ingredients

250g gluten free flour (SRF or plain)
(2 teaspoons GF baking powder if using plain flour like I did)
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander (yes, I know, I was surprised too)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
270g brown sugar
440g crushed pineapple, drained
50g dessicated coconut
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
2 eggs
250ml (1 cup) oil (I used rice bran oil)

Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Grease and line a round cake tin.
Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the pineapple, bananas, walnuts, eggs and oil and combine.
Pour into pre-greased tin and bake until golden brown and skewer comes out clean (original recipe recommends 40 minutes; mine oven took 60 minutes).
Cool and then enjoy how you wish - I like mine as is with a mug of Japanese cherry green tea. You can ice it with cream cheese icing if you would prefer it dairy-fied.

(1 tub philadelphia cream cheese, icing sugar (GF), lemon juice - I did not measure any quantities, just mix in little bits of each until it tastes as you like it. I prefer mine less sweet so I don't add tons of icing sugar (maybe 1/2 cup??) and two (minimally enthusiastic) squeezes of a lemon half. But go mad...experiment!)

Enjoy!

xxx