cooking

I have debated putting recipes on this blog for a while, but decided I wanted to keep this just for sewing and the like. So I started a new blog just for cooking....come on over if you want. The Diffident Chef...

Read more here about the Madhur Jaffrey project - one of my 2010 goals. For an index of recipes, click here. When your refrigerator is *overflowing* with vegetables, sometimes, you just have to spend some time and cook it all. And this is what I spent most of yesterday doing, sigh. On the plus side though, I've easily enough food for...

Read more here about the Madhur Jaffrey project - one of my 2010 goals. For an index of recipes, click here. I've either made Dong Chimi (White Radish Water Kimchee) - or I've made a bottle of salmonella-infested paste, waiting to kill me. Dong Chimi (White Radish Water Kimchee) - August 29, 2010 Ok, I'm being dramatic. I tasted some a...

Cook Clean Craft shows how to create box pleats.  These inverted pleats are a nice addition to curtains, skirts, or even purses.  Go to the tutorial to find out how to make one. [photo from Cook …...

There's been some cooking going on over at our house this week. Lucy loves helping in the kitchen so we made these cakes for Cake Day at Charlotte's school. They are really yummy and moist. The recipe is from here (you have to scroll down a little). We also made these cheese and bacon rounds. I got the recipe from an...

how cute are these paper crane cupcake toppers? I am thinking I will make them for the school fete – I have to bake anyway… Similar Posts: from the archives: pencil toppers | tutorial: felt dessert picks/pencil toppers | yummy pincushions | Amigurumi Cupcake | handmade love #1 | Share and Enjoy:...

Read more here about the Madhur Jaffrey project - one of my 2010 goals. For an index of recipes, click here. To paraphrase Karen : It's a cat's kitchen... I just cook in it. See something? Here's who was hidden behind the dishes. I had my back turned for 3 seconds, I swear. Biscuit is quick to make mischief. Oh, the...

look at this yummy bread. oh.so.good. i've not been making enough bread lately. i do hate buying bread. be it from the shops in a plastic bag (eeekkkkk hate that) or from the bakery in a paper bag (a much better option than plastic, and i can take my own paper bag to reuse. but the " gourmet " bakeries around...

Read more here about the Madhur Jaffrey project - one of my 2010 goals. For an index of recipes, click here. I got *no* sewing done this weekend, and won't have any time during the week either, which is annoying! However, I did hit up the farmer's market near my parents, and in an effort to use up groceries before they...

Last Thursday I arrived home to a lovely and heart felt present from Cathie waiting for me. It was all just so nice and so very generous and it did actually finally get me into the kitchen. I will admit Chef and Busy did most of the cooking but I helped and took pictures. Cathie sent us some gorgeous cup cake...

I'm loving the challenge of producing a present a week till Christmas with Deb of Works in Progress. I've got a very satisfying little stockpile now, and the latest addition is this chef's hat and apron for our Little French Friend, aged 3, who loves both dressing up and cooking. I'm glad I've finally made this chef's hat using Curly Pops'...

Read more here about the Madhur Jaffrey project - one of my 2010 goals. For an index of recipes, click here. While I *refuse* to sew for other people, I really enjoy cooking for other people. Plus, my parents were going to bring me some sewing patterns, so I told them to stay and eat dinner with me. Easy cooking, this!...

Well of course I can't show you all of what I'm making as this is for a swap but I'm pretty sure my partner doesn't read my blog. It's just that there is not a lot I can show you at the moment as it is all TOP SECRET stuff ! I have some big things in the works and I...

Before the kids arrived, I loved to cook. I would spend a large majority of my day planning dinners (read - boring job and lots of time at a computer). After work, I would swing by the market, get the produce and get home to cook. I enjoyed the whole process. Enter children and cooking unfortunately has become just another 'job'....

Doesn't quite have the same ring - does it? Oh well - this was my idea and now it's time to follow through. Even if I have to do it on a different day. cooking - I don't love to do it, but I love cookbooks and putting a nice meal together. I especially enjoy getting in the kitchen when we...

I can tell you one thing - I'm certainly not bored with summer cooking and eating. Surprisingly, I haven't tired of zucchini yet. I could eat it grilled with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and red chili every day, though I think tonight we'll grate one of our giant zucchinis and turn it into Egg Foo Yung. We've got gobs...

My apologies for all those with hands up for leftover cake. Yesterday marked the last day of the mid-year celebratory season and the baking of the Mr’s requested coffee and walnut birthday concoction. The smallest is up to the eyeballs in some snotty lergy involving a long-range spluttering cough. By the time she was up to some preparatory mixing of icing,...

Thank you, truly, for all of your very kind comments on the studio (and on the booklist, and everything else around here [or lack thereof — I've been so busy!] lately). I read all of them, of course (and so......

Read more here about the Madhur Jaffrey project - one of my 2010 goals. For an index of recipes, click here. I try to preserve my Monday nights and stay at home. It typically gives me a chance to cook some, clean some, and sew some. Yesterday however, we had a mini-party to celebrate a friend's birthday. It was a wine...

I had dinner at The Bazaar last Saturday.  It was a great dinner despite the fact that I had some weird stomach issues going on.  But after waiting for 1.5 months for a reservation at a reasonable time, I was not going to let a little stomach bug keep me away.  You can enjoy just [...]...

Well after chicken pie took half the day to prepare last week, I am going back to making new recipes on weekends. And in keeping with this strategy, last night I made pioneer woman's simple perfect enchiladas. Honestly, it's like she has written her cookbook for retro daddy. Anything I make from her book, retro daddy devours and I won't tell...

I've been trying lots of new recipes lately as retro daddy gets a little bit sick of the same old, same old. The most popular I've tried so far most definitely has to be pioneer woman's meatloaf (from her cookbook) with creamy mashed potato (these potatoes have butter, cream cheese and cream and are sooooooooooooo good). The recipe did two meals...

My Mom took a fall early last week and landed herself in the hospital with another new hip. She is in Florida and I'm not....so I am relying on family members to keep me updated on her condition. In my house, when I pick up the phone my little ones instantly need me. Does that happen to anyone else or only...

I've been baking, using my favourite ingredient. Yummy wool felt! I love felt food. Last year for the birthdays of my nieces and fairy goddaughter (three birthdays in 12 days) I made felt tarts. This year I wanted to enjoy the relaxation of hand sewing in front of the telly again, but make it a little different. So I started by...

This morning marks day 3 of being a vegetarian. So far I have felt pretty good. I have had a few moments that I felt a little weird (light headed and foggy), but overall it's been a good experience. After reading a few of the comments from the last post I realised that I wasn't super clear about our "diet plan...

Last month I had a birthday, so when I saw my brother on the weekend I received a birthday present! Yay! (I LOVE getting presents!) Being a big Masterchef fan, I have been looking at this book and wondering whether to buy it... now I don't have to ;) It has lots of classic homestyle recipes in it - just my...

At the organic market on the weekend I got some lovely looking rainbow chard (or silverbeet, I'm not actually sure if they are the same or different, but ours had rainbow stems). We decided to make chard + feta pie, which of course is very yummy, but also quite simple to make. I made mine very simply - and both the...

Being very budget-conscious, and particularly moreso now we've moved house, I'm looking at ways to economise. To tighten our belts. I'm looking for inspirational (and cheap) recipes that are family friendly. Family friendly is key because I do not want to be whipping up 74 different meals each night. On the weekend Matt and I bandied together to cook Tessa Kiros'...

Back in March, I boldly declared my meal planning intentions as a way of helping my family to nurture sustainable, responsible eating habits. With two small children, one extremely fussy and limited in his food choices, I was seeking a way to streamline our meals, our shopping, and our time. My hope was to avoid food waste, minimize time in the...

Cook Clean Craft shares a tutorial showing how to refashion a pair of men’s pants into a much smaller version for toddlers.  This is a great idea for pants with holes or stains further down in the legs.  Get the how-to. [photo…...