Home away from Home

A visit to Bowen & the Snake

First off we would like to apologize for it being a while since we posted anything. Truth be told, there hasn't been much to write home about as life has gotten into a nice routine. Siyani has continued to work at Avis which he is enjoying very much and we have been living at Emma & Andrews since we first began house sitting for them just before the holidays.The routine has been good but hasn't left much time for adventure or even just visits, especially when Siyani gets called in on his days off which resulted in a 12 day straight work period. We did however manage a quick trip up to Bowen to see my other family, the Williams. Funny enough that is moms maiden name so it really is like family. The video below is a snapshot of the 5000 acre farm and the Bruce Highway back to Mackay. It was also the start of some interesting rain, which is featured near the end of the video. 

Back at Emma & Andrews is something I like to forget lives in the garage. Andrews pet snake. I hate snakes, they freak me out and this other video I think is good reason why. Emma had to feed her and suggested we video it so everyone can see the snake feed. I stayed in the kitchen for most of it, seeing as how even writing this is giving me shivers, don't ask how I managed to edit the video. So enjoy the snake feed and we promise to update sooner rather then later next time around. 

Also, I was going to put music or something over top of all the talking, but hearing what everyone was saying is so more interesting, you can hear me nagging CC about it actually recording, Emma talking about the snake and the boys Cooper and Dexter asking questions. Snakes still freak me right out, but its a kinda cool video.

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.

 

Simple Pleasures

A Bunch of Little Aussie things for One BIG Post

Life for the last while has been pretty basic, nothing to out of the ordinary to write home about. Siyani works detailing cars for Avis out at the airport and I go in service, clean the unit and bake. Every now and then though a little something interesting does happen. 

For example:

Siyanis first Aussie spider. 

While not as big as others here, it was the first one Siyani saw. Almost a right of passage for living in Australia seeing your first of many and most of the time bigger spiders.

Iced Coffee: Espresso, Milk, Ice Cream, Whip Cream and Chocolate Shavings.

What I should have gotten was a picture of Siyanis face when this came to the table. We went out when Sam and Deb Clements where in town driving through after Deb's son Alecs wedding. We hit the coffee club and I just ordered for Siyani. I had been dying to get him one of these since we landed but had not yet had the opportunity. His exact words when this was out in front of him were "that's not coffee, that's dessert." The Aussies know how to do Iced Coffee right. 

While pizza is not purely an Aussie thing, being here has allowed me more time to try out recipes. This wonderful creation was my attempt at something Aussies don't have. Perogies.....to be more exact perogie pizza, like what Boston Pizza makes. It turned out really good, and was almost a baby. Let me explain. Back home we used to get together with Taija, Rowan, Shaun and Gina and order pizza from the take and bake shop Papa Murphy. They weigh your pizza after it is made, and one time after doing one of the make-your-own we were told it weighed 6.5 pounds. We of course marveled at the fact that we had just created a pizza that weighed as much as a new born baby. Now every time after we make pizza it usually comes up about whether or not we just made a baby.

Finally, something I really enjoy while being in Australia. Making pumpkin pie and sharing it with the Aussies. The hardest part of making pumpkin pie in Oz Land is not the varied recipe I have to do for the pastry or even the true essence of "from scratch" for the pumpkin pie filling which includes peeling, boiling and pureeing, it is convincing the people to even try a piece. Pumpkin here is either an entree side or a scone, not a pie. Once you get them to taste it though, it is generally a big hit. For the encounter shown above we were invited out to a BBQ with a group from the congregation, as a back up I also took some pumpkin roll. The Aussies ate it up, literally, right down to licking the plate clean. 

Simple Pleasures......Aussie Style!

Finally A Video

YAY I Did It!!!! I made a video. 

I have been teaching myself to edit videos while we have been here. I don't have the most advanced program in the world, which is probably a good thing, seeing as how it took me this long on an easy program. This video is from when Siyani and I first arrived. It starts with us in Brisbane airport, shows the beach just down from Taija and Rowan's unit and gives you an idea of what we have been living in for the past 5 weeks. I know the song is corny but I needed something Aussie and I figured Waltzing Matilda didn't really fit. 

Enjoy the video. 

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"