Rain, Shoes and Yummy Stuff

Rain, Rain go away come again........once we leave!

So what happens In February/March in Australia? I can tell you it has nothing to do with hot sunny days at the beach, no it is the opposite in fact. RAIN!!! Lots of rain, so much rain the drainage system outside the house looks more like a geyser and the back retaining wall looks like a really cool fountain. The kids across the street seem to love it as they set up what appears to be a permanent slip and slide on their front lawn. To be honest I am a little jealous, as I have fond memories of large black plastic soaked in water and dish soap at Grandma Fricke's in Smithers.  Now we had real fun on that thing as the trick was to stop before the end for two reasons, a) if you were going to fast you got grass burned cause the plastic ended but you kept going and b) there was a barbed wire fence at the end, so after grass burns was a potential for a little more hurt. So the rain continues and we soldier on, yes it is a fight to enjoy being in a whole different country when all it does is rain for weeks on end. (As a side point, that last statement was drenched in sarcasm in my head).

Rain isn't such a bad thing, it makes stuff green and all that other positive stuff. What I really love about the rain is it gives me even more of a reason to be in the kitchen. Now I must apologize as I made one of the best tasting things ever but I did not take a picture of it. I have the recipe to share but alas nothing to actually show you. Mostly cause I forgot and also kinda because CC loved them so much he ate them before I could think to get a picture. So what is this awesomeness you ask? Cookie Dough Truffles. Now there are two recipes one for Chocolate Chip and one for Oreo. Personally I loved the Oreo ones the most and they are the easiest but the Chocolate Chip one is nice to have when you just feel like eating cooking dough. I found these on StumbleUpon, my favorite button to push. 

Now I did remember to get a picture of the oh so yummy Apple Cinnamon Rolls I made. These were made on a whim due to having bought a bunch of apples then getting sick for two weeks that they weren't crunchy enough for me to just straight up eat but not bad enough to condone chucking.  Oh they were good, like really very awesomely good. So you have that recipe to, so easy for a base roll that you really can add any fruit combo you like. It comes with a cream cheese frosting, but this time around they were so sweet it just didn't need it. 

Finally to my new shoes. This is important, just saying everyone, a shoe update is always news. Especially when they are the cutest orange wedges. I'm not gonna talk to much about these, I will let the pictures do the talking, aren't they just the best though. 

To everyone I apologize once again for not having more regular updates, this time though is due to both Siyani and I being horribly ill with whatever disease all you jealous people sent our way. Ok we don't really blame you but it was curious that so many back home were sick right around the same time we were as well. Just saying, (Trina I know it was you) we forgive WHOEVER made us ill. Now that things are back to fairly normal, we should have more regular updates, that and some exciting stuff is coming up. Love you all. 

Meg and CC

Recipes

 

Apple Cinnamon Rolls

3 teaspoons dry yeast

1 cup warm milk

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup melted butter

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

4 cups flour

Mix all ingredients until a smooth ball forms. Leave in warm place until double in size then roll it out to 1/2 cm thick. Fill with cinnamon mixture

1 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons cinnamon

1/2 cup melted butter

Once the filling is spread on place chopped and peeled apple in the center leaving space around the edges. Roll, cut and place in greased pan. Sprinkle leftover filling on top and place a small butter chunk on each roll. bake for 10 to 15 min. at 375. 

Original recipe found at bestrecipes.com.au

Movies, Tea & Bunk Beds

Movie Night 

While staying at Andrew and Emma's we had Taija and Rowan over. I made a couple of pizzas and we watched Wild Wild West on TV. Movie nights seemed to happen frequently with Taija and Rowan, on another occasion we watch the Bourne Legacy (still not sure how I feel about that one) after my attempt to have everyone watch Step Up Revolution failed. On this particular night Taija was feeling a bit girly which I love cause girly means painting nails and Taija always does a bang up job. I got purple with silver OPI shatter on top and a jewel on each ring finger. Even Rowan got in on the fun with some pink and black detailing on his nails. Siyani didn't get a chance, I think after the spa incident where he got a pedicure that included black polish he is a bit wary of my reactions to his polished nails. 

Afternoon Tea

For a while now I have been wanting to have the sisters from the West Congregation over. It is one of the best ways to get to know people, so I organized to have them over for a Sunday afternoon. This also gave me a great excuse to bake some more.It was a great afternoon filled with nice conversation and yummy food. I am really enjoying the congregation here, West is small, only about 50 people but they are being very warm and kind to Siyani and I. 

Bunk Beds

After the sisters left Taija stayed and we had Rowan come over cause there is no one more qualified to finish off goodies. Of course my efforts continue to get him "soooo fat" so it worked out well that he came over. Andrew also arrived home that evening and had the boys new bunk bed with him. As the house was full of "men" they put it together. Well Rowan and Andrew put it together, Siyani did dishes and Taija and I drank beer and sangria while playing with transformers. Also I made sure to have picture proof that a) men do read directions and b) they also do dishes. 

Andrew reading the instructions and Rowan helping while Taija and I drink and CC does dishes

Love to everyone and their should be a post very soon about our visit to the farm because I hope to very soon go visit Dale and Cheryl in Bowen. 

Baking Day

This is what happens when you leave me alone in a nice kitchen!

We have been house sitting for the last week and have until the 10th of January here. Andrew and Emma are friends of Rowan and in turn that is how I am friends with them. They have a house they just built and very graciously invited Siyani and I off our couch and into their home while they visit family in Brisbane. 

The nice thing about new houses is new kitchens and we all know how much I love kitchens. On Wednesday Siyani went to help the brothers dig trenches at the Kingdom Hall as they are laying power lines for lighting in the lower parking lot. This left me on our 2nd day in the house alone with the kitchen, and boy did I do some damage. 

Brownies

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Vanilla Cupcakes

Sticky Date Pudding

and Impossible Pie

Impossible pie is awesome, the easiest dessert and perfect for last minuet guests and get togethers. No method, no complicated ingredients and no real skill needed to make this mouthwatering yummyness. I first had Impossible Pie on my first visit to Australia and enjoy making it when I really get stuck into baking. So here it is, Impossible Pie, make some right now, it is so good. 

Impossible Pie

4 eggs

1/2 cup melted butter

1/2 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1 cup coconut

2 cups milk

2 tablespoons vanilla

Mix all this together in a bowl, put into a deep baking dish and bake for 1 hour at 330*. 

Impossible pie creates its own crunchy crust, soft custard inside and pie like bottom. 

Check the other yummies I made as well.

 

Aussie Delight-Vanilla Slice

Vanilla Slice

I enjoy making desserts as anyone who actually knows me can attest to. One of my favorite "Aussie" desserts is Vanilla Slice. I call it an Aussie dessert because Australia is where I first was introduced to this divine treat and Australia is where I make it most often. Enjoy the pictures and maybe take whack at making this yourself. The best part of making this in Australia is the passion fruit icing, because I can get passion fruit here. It is so delicious and very light. Creamy custard between flaky pastry topped with a tart fruit and sugar. 

• Ingredients

• 2 sheets (25cm x 25cm) ready rolled frozen puff pastry, thawed
• Melted butter, to grease
•  (3 cups) milk
•  (1 1/2 cups) thickened cream
• 8 egg yolks
•  (1 cup) caster sugar
•  (1/3 cup) plain flour
• (1/4 cup) cornflour
• 50g butter, chopped
• 2 tsp vanilla essence
•  (1 1/2 cups) pure icing sugar, sifted
• 2 tbs canned passionfruit in syrup
  
  
  
  
  Preheat oven to 220°C. Line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Place 1 pastry sheet onto each lined tray. Bake in preheated oven, swapping trays halfway through cooking, for 20 minutes or until pastry puffs and browns. Remove from the oven. Cover pastry with a clean tea towel and use your hands to gently push the pastry down to flatten. Set aside for 15 minutes to cool.
  Brush  square pan with butter to lightly grease. Line base and sides with foil. Place 1 pastry sheet, flat-side down, in base of prepared pan.
  Meanwhile, heat milk and cream in a heavy-based saucepan over medium heat until mixture just comes to the boil. Combine egg yolks, sugar, flour and cornflour in a heatproof bowl. Whisk until thick and pale. Gradually stir hot milk mixture into egg mixture. Place in a clean saucepan over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 5 minutes or until custard comes to the boil and thickens. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla essence until combined. Pour over pastry and place remaining pastry flat-side (unpressed side) up on top. Place in fridge for 1 hour or until custard sets.
  Place icing sugar and passion fruit in large bowl and stir until smooth and glossy. Turn slice out onto a large chopping board and remove the foil. Spread icing over the top of the slice with the back of a spoon. Set aside for 20 minutes or until icing is set. Use a serrated knife to cut the vanilla slice into 16 pieces.Recipe from http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/12569/vanilla+slice+with+passionfruit+icing 
  Enjoy, it really is so very yummy and as Rowan says every time he sees it in the fridge "I'm gonna get sooo fat" which translated means "Ohhhh Yummy" 
  

  

  Siyani enjoying his first taste of Vanilla Slice

  
  

A little Music a lot of Baking

Music Makes the Food Better

This evening is Cruise Night. Every Thursday night Taija and the other import car owners get together to talk shop and drive around. Siyani is now the proud owner of an import so he took his new Skyline out tonight with Taija and Rowan. I stayed home for two reasons. 1) I was invited to a lunch tomorrow with some of the other sisters in the congregation and wanted to make something nice to take. 2) I feel a little out of place with  all these knowledgeable car people as the best thing I can offer is an "oohh pretty" if someone pops the hood of there car. 

So I stayed home to bake 2 pumpkin rolls and 1 orange poppy seed cake. Seeing as I was by myself I put on Jango and went to the Broadway Show-tunes Channel. I was having such a ball singing along I just had to share some of the songs that played. Also I felt this was an appropriate time to share a quick belief. 

The Right Music Makes Food Taste Better.

Why? Because the right music puts you in the best mood and when you are happy pure love goes into cooking or baking and how can anything be bad when it is made with pure love. 

Enjoy the musical selection, emphasis on the "musical" 

Mmm.....Kangaroo

CC and the Kangaroo

Not long after being in Australia I was informed that I was about to enjoy a meal uniquely Australia, Kangaroo. It is a lean meat that has a hint of sweetness to it, because it is cooked for a shorter amount of time than beef it does not get tough at all. The bottle you see positioned behind the plate is Bundaberg Ginger Beer ( think a nice Ginger Ale ) so far since being here I have consumed a number of bottles. I myself quite enjoyed the taste of Kangaroo but I can see why some would find the taste hard to adjust to. 

Simple Pleasures

The Frothier the Better

 It is amazing how life in it's simplest forms can change in an instant. 

October 1st hit and it was the like the weather knew "time to be cooler" and in a moment the need for warm sweaters, boots and glow plugging the car (because we drive a diesel) was upon us. 

I love fall, I love the feel of fall and I am very happy to get one month of it before we leave for Australia. 

T-minus 29 days and counting

My favorite love of all when it comes to this time of year boils down to one awesome food. Pumpkin!!!! And I will be sharing some amazing pumpkin recipes before we leave.  

This post though is about something entirely non pumpkin related, a new love that steams from two old ones. Eggnog and Tea. 

While on a business meeting at a local cafe I pondered over the menu items trying to decide what I wanted to drink. To my dismay they did not have a pumpkin spice latte so I fell back on a drink I had not indulged in for some time, a London Fog. Steamed milk, vanilla syrup and Earl Grey Tea, a perfect substitute for the very fall day we were experiencing. 

Later that evening while at home a desire for another London Fog prompted ingenuity. One of our wedding gifts was this cool milk steamer/frother. Easy to use and two settings for either hot or cold. I dug this out of a box as I had already packed it away, this just shows how much I needed a frothy drink. As I was about to froth the milk I realized that adding just sugar wouldn't have the desired sweetness or flavor that vanilla syrup adds, and then inspiration, I had Eggnog in the fridge how perfect. Add that to Lady Grey tea with some cinnamon on top and WOW. 

Since Tuesday I have been making this every morning, lunch and night. It's a new addiction. The addiction continues to my totally gigantic cup as well, which is what I use for my evening indulgence. Drink this while eating fresh popcorn with M&M's on top and it is movie night perfection. I like to mix it up, so the M&M's usually consist of Peanut, Peanut Butter and Cherry all on top the popcorn at the same time. 

It's what I love about fall, that change in the air, the crispness of it all and the amazing things we create from life's simple pleasures.

A Foodie Adventure: Five Guys Burgers and Fries

A Great Food Update

 

 

Thursday September 20th Siyani and I decided to head up to West Kelowna (although I still call it Westbank) to look at buying a laptop for our trip to Australia. We stopped in at Future Shop and after an hour of looking and two sales people, CC was still having trouble committing to the piece of technology.
 

Thankfully for me deciding on a computer is harder for him then committing to me for the rest our lives. Buying a laptop, tough choice, asking a girl to marry you, no problem.
 

All joking aside, I was getting tired and pretty hungry so we decided to split a burger at this place across the parking lot. Five Guys Burger and Fries. We have driven past this place a number of times and always commented on we should we try it out.

 

Now that we have less than 6 weeks left in the country, we are trying to "do" more and not just say "one day". I am so glad that we tried this place out. Not only was the food amazing, like burgers don't taste like this anymore amazing, but the staff were beyond awesome.

Let’s start with the food. The burger was huge, it fed both me and CC. The taste was everything you would imagine a classic diner burger to taste like. It wasn't this miss-mash of flavor, they put their burgers together so well you actually taste each element working together. Again the size, like I said, it fed both me and CC and we were full after. Talk about portion overload (but in the best way) and it continues throughout the whole experience. We also ordered fries, but you don't just get fries here, you get a wide range of choices and we went with the Cajun flavor. I watched the girl pack up our bag and thought she was making a mistake, not only did she put our container of fries in, but then she filled the bag with the rest of the basket. I almost couldn't find the burger under all the fries. That’s what you get at Five Guys, every time you get a whole basket of fries.

 

Now to the experience, I don't think we have ever had so much fun at one place (except for the time at Montana's Cookhouse where they gave the boys helmets with antlers and they almost started a head-butting competition). CC and I walked in and were deciding on which burger to get, I said "Why don't we get the Bacon Cheese Burger with everything" and CC replied with "You want both A-1 and BBQ sauce". I shot him an eye roll and said "No, when you order "loaded" it comes with all the black lettered stuff, the red letters are extra free ones you can add." The guy waiting to take our order laughed and said "You know the menu better than most, you could take my job."

I offered to input our order into the till and he said if I could figure it out I had a job. So I leaned forward, he turned the till towards me and I put it in. After working at McDonald's and Tim Horton's, tills aren't a very big mystery to me but the guy was still impressed and offered me a job twice more, while another guy said I was so good he was going for his break. The rest of the night went awesome, we laughed with them and really enjoyed our food.

 

The biggest thing that impressed me though was how every time a customer left someone always remembered to say "Thanks, have a great night" Not a single person left without hearing those words.

 

Great Staff, Great food, Best Burger experience in Westbank.

 

Oh ya, on the other side of this post, CC finally did decide on a laptop. Now we have a Sony Vaio. Nice, easy to use, lightweight, perfect for our big adventure.