by Krista | Jan 5, 2012 | Fabulous Friday
It’s funny the things that make us Stronger. Braver. Wiser.
Take gardening in Australia for instance.
I grew up in a family of incredible gardeners: grandparents, aunts, Mum, brothers. Every last one of them could turn a bare patch of earth into a lush, verdant oasis in no time flat, yielding copious amounts of produce they then turned into healthy meals and jar after jar of glistening preserves.
Until I moved to Australia I assumed I hadn’t inherited that gift, mostly because I’d never actually tried. My gardening exploits consisted of weeding my Mum’s glorious plantings to earn summer vacation spending money, and growing a few wizened herbs at my water-logged, almost-no-sun apartment.
When I arrived in Australia in October, I was exhausted, sick, and utterly run down in body and spirit. Bear and my friends Katy and Ann urged me to garden, believing it would be healing for me. I knew they were probably right, but having never experienced it, I approached the task with some trepidation.
I started small with herbs and a few flowers. It felt good to dig in the earth and get soaked by accident when I forgot to attach the garden hose properly. For awhile the plants were just tiny green specks in a sea of rich black soil and then one day they started growing and all of a sudden I had basil for pesto, cilantro for curries, and mint and lemon balm for iced tea. Success there gave me courage to try some vegetables. I started with tried and true ones like beans, carrots, and cucumbers, then got brave and tried some new things like chicory, asparagus, and melons.
I definitely made some mistakes along the way. I killed a lemon tree by over-watering, lost peas and carrots by planting them in sour potting soil, and some basil by cutting it back too severely. In the past I would’ve taken those losses to heart, feeling like a failure and taking it as proof that I really shouldn’t garden. But not now.
Living on this dear ol’ farm has freed me from much self-doubt and insecurity as I’ve tackled chores and projects I’ve never attempted in my life. Sometimes my failures are a result of busyness or forgetfulness, but mostly they stem from inexperience or a lack of knowledge or simply circumstances beyond my control like weather, disease, or faulty products.
Learning these things through gardening has helped me respond so much better to trauma and mistakes in the rest of my life. Of course I still fuss at myself when I mess up, but I don’t crumple like I used to. I still get frustrated and anxious and afraid, but such dreadful feelings don’t last as long and I can laugh at myself so much easier. The best part is that learning to be kinder to myself has enabled me to be heaps more patient and understanding with others. That makes me smile.
I never imagined these lessons would be the result of sticking a few shriveled seeds into the dirt, but I’m sure glad they are.
Now I’m going to go pick some baby asparagus for an afternoon snack.
What is your favorite area of growth you’ve seen in your life lately?
by Krista | Dec 23, 2011 | Fabulous Friday
It’s nearly Christmas Eve here in Australia, and I’m taking a break from baking and cleaning to wish you a very, very Happy Christmas. 🙂
You’re probably up to your ears in Christmas baking already, but if you have a hankering for something delicious but not too sweet for breakfast over the holidays, you might want to try this Danish pastry handed down from my Danish grandmother to my Mums to me. 🙂
Tender and moist laced with the scent and flavor of almonds, it is a splendid accompaniment to a hot cup of coffee on a lazy holiday morning.
And now I must be off! Almost time to decorate my Valencia Orange Christmas tree and try my hand at an English Christmas pudding. 🙂
Much love and a big Christmasy hug to you! xo
Danish Puff
from Joy Bjorn and Ruth Bjorn
Ingredients:
1 cup butter divided in half
2 cups flour divided in half
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp cold water
1 cup boiling water
1 tsp almond flavoring
3 eggs (or 2 duck eggs)
1/2 cup sliced almond, toasted
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Cut 1/2 cup butter into 1 cup flour and salt until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add cold water and toss with fork until mixture holds together when pinched.
- Form dough into log, divide in half and press into each half onto an ungreased cookie sheet into a rectangle about 4 inches by 12 inches. (To avoid extra clean up, I cover cookie sheet with parchment paper first.) Place cookie sheets in freezer while you prepare next layer.
- Pour boiling water into small saucepan and add remaining 1/2 cup of butter. When butter melts, remove from heat and add almond flavoring.
- Stir in 1 cup of flour all at once. Beat smooth and let cool 5-10 minutes.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Remove cookie sheets from frezer and spread this mixture evely over the pastry strips.
- Bake for 15 minutes, lower heat to 400 F. and bake for an additional 30 minutes or until golden brown. Watch carefully so it does not burn.
- Remove from oven and frost while still hot as directed below.
Frosting:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 Tbsp soft butter
3 Tbsp cream
1 tsp almond extract
1/8 tsp salt
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients until smooth.
- Spoon frosting into plastic sandwich bag, scissor off one small corner to use for piping.
- Drizzle line of frosting back and forth over each pastry.
- Sprinkle with toasted almonds and serve warm or at room temperature with hot coffee.
by Krista | Dec 15, 2011 | Fabulous Friday
This month at Across the Cafe Table over at the Travel Belles we’re discussing:
If you HAD to spend the holidays away somewhere, where would you go and what would you do?
Although I’m thrilled to have a small and quiet Christmas at home in Australia this year, if I absolutely HAD to go somewhere, I’d choose England.
After visiting England for the first time in October with my friends Katy and Kate, I was smitten.
I grew up reading Brambly Hedge and John Buchan, and every year looked eagerly for the England version of my beloved Victoria magazine. I loved it before I ever went there, and I would dearly love to spend Christmas there one day.
It would be such fun to rent a big ol’ manor house with all my dear ones, or just a cozy cottage. I’d spend my days going for country walks, perusing old book stores, and having good visits over mulled wine at a cozy pub.
It would be so nice to come home at the end of a long day and read by a roaring fire, a hearty meat pie for dinner.
I’d love to enjoy a Christmas concert in a cathedral and watch a live production of “A Christmas Carol”. I think it would be just splendid to have a full blown English Christmas dinner with roast beef and Yorkshire Pudding or perhaps roast goose with a big plum pudding at the end.
And, if I was very, very lucky, we’d get a light dusting of snow, perfect for late night rambles to see village Christmas lights.
After a walk in the snow, a hot cup of tea at a nearby pub would be just the ticket.
How about you, dear ones?
If you HAD to spend the holidays away somewhere, where would you go and what would you do?
For more inspiring ideas, click here.
by Krista | Nov 3, 2011 | Fabulous Friday
Hi luvs! It’s a cloudy day in Australia, perfect for staying indoors with a mug of coffee and a few homemade cookies to keep me going.
Thank you so much for the love and support you showered on me yesterday. It meant the world to me and I wish I could hug you so tight as we celebrate hope, life and love. xo
Last weekend I had dear friends come over to teach me something I’ve been wanting to learn for ages: how to make cheese.
My friend Ann is an absolute wonder. She not only runs a farm with her hubby Neil, so also mothers five awesome kids, teaches part-time and manages the local health food store. She gives the best hugs and is an absolute wealth of information for all things related to gardening, cooking, and taking care of animals.
Ann, Jess, Lizzy and I had the best time crowded into my little kitchen as they instructed me in how to turn raw milk into ricotta, white cheese, and halloumi.
They taught me when to use rennet and when cultures would be best, how to cut and care for cheesecloth, and how to tell when cheese is ready to drain.
I think the greatest surprise in the whole process was how simple it was. One moment we had a pail full of frothy whole milk and within a few hours we had glistening white cheeses in various forms ready to eat. It was such a thrill to see those wobbly chunks of cheese and an even greater one to bite into them and find them far and away tastier than any store-bought counterpart I’ve ever tasted.
The white cheese is slightly tart – perfect for pairing with tomatoes or spreading on sandwiches.
The ricotta is divinely cream, and I’m waiting to find some peaches, figs or pears to roast to go with it.
Last night I followed Ann’s advice and coated the halloumi with sesame seeds then fried it until the seeds were a lovely golden brown. Oh. My. Goodness. It was so delicious I had to have it again for lunch today.
Halloumi is an interesting cheese in that it doesn’t melt when fried. It retains its shape and has a splendid squeaky texture that feels oh-so-toothsome when you bite it. And it goes perfectly with a nice, cold Australian beer like Hahn’s.
Now that I know how to make halloumi, I can’t wait to try even more recipes. Joumana from A Taste of Beirut and Bethany from Dirty Kitchen Secrets both have fantastic Lebanese recipes that use this marvelous cheese.
Have you ever made cheese before?
Sesame-Crusted Halloumi
Ingredients:
4 1/2″ thick slices of halloumi
3-4 Tbsp sesame seeds
drizzle of sesame oil
salt to taste
Directions:
- Dump sesame seeds onto small plate and press each side of halloumi into seeds to coat. NOTE: use a spatula to press the cheese down or all the seeds will stick to your hands.
- Heat oil in frying pan.
- Place halloumi slices in frying pan and fry 1-2 minutes on each side or until the seeds are toasted a nice golden brown.
- Serve immediately.
Halloumi Cheese Recipe
(from Ann Hill)
Ingredients:
8 litres/2 gallons of milk (fresh cows/goat/sheep milk if possible)
If you use homogenised milk you will need to use Calcium Chloride.
Rennet (amount needed depends on your brand)
2 to 50 mls Cooled boiled water
Directions:
- Heat milk to 30 degrees C/86 degrees F. Add Calcium Chloride if using.
- Add Rennet (amount depends on your brand) to the cooled water. The amount of water varies, depending on the recipe. I use about 5mls. Now add the rennet mixture to the milk. Stir for 2 mins, in an up and down motion.
- Let sit for 45 mins. I sit my pot with lid on, in the sink and fill the sink with water that is at 30 degrees.
- Cut the curd in half inch/12 mm cuts – slice the curd with the knife straight up and down from one side of the pot to the other, turn the pot 90 degrees and cut again – making a grid. Cut along the previous cuts with the knife at a 45 degree angle. Let the curds rest for 10 mins. Put the curds into a cheese cloth, keep the whey. I dip my cloth in boiling water and wring out, place into a large colander over a clean pot.
- Press the curds at 14 kgs/31pounds for 1 hour. If you don’t have a press simply wrap the curds with the cheese cloth and either place a saucer over the curds and balance a heavy weight or place the curd parcel on a clean cutting board place another board on top and balance a weight on, do this on the sink so the whey drains away.
- Re-wrap and press at 23 kgs/51pounds for 30 mins. Don’t get too worried about the weights and times, if your curds are firm you will be right.
- Remove and cut into 3 inch/7.5cm blocks or pieces.
- Bring reserved whey to 82-93 degrees C/180-199.5 degrees F and add cheese blocks. Simmer for half an hour or until the blocks rise up.
- Let cool for 20 mins and sprinkle with salt. You should use Kosher or cheese salt. Cool for another 2-4 hours.
- Halloumi cam be eaten fresh or stored in brine for 60 days.
by Krista | Oct 27, 2011 | Fabulous Friday
It was a wonderfully stormy sort of day in England when my friend Katy and I boarded a train and headed to London.
To say I was excited would be putting it mildly. Not only was I getting to ride a train in England – the land of my favorite authors, books, and landscapes – but I was going to visit places I’d only read about – Covent Garden, King’s Cross Station, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
I couldn’t believe it.
To make a good day even better, I was going to meet some dear folks for lunch including my brother Ryan (who was in town on business) and Cailin, a dear online friend Katy and I had never met in person.
It was a great day, and we were fairly giddy with anticipation.
We emerged at Covent Garden to find drizzly skies and the beaming smiles of Cailin and her husband. Isn’t it a lovely thing when people you meet online turn out to be even better in person? We got along marvelously and jabbered happily about food and travel and work and dreams.
There was a food market of some kind going on and we wandered among the stalls oohing and aahing over various foods from all sorts of countries and cultures. Before long we were craving hot drinks and a place to sit, and found the perfect visiting spot just around the corner complete with heaters and umbrellas. I ordered a pot of Earl Grey Tea and settled in for a good, long chat.
Soon we were joined by my brother, so we halted our convivial jabbering for a few minutes to order something warming. I chose a savory Quiche Lorraine that warded off the chill beautifully.
All too soon it was time to say good-bye. We hugged each other tight with promises of emails and visits in the near future, then headed off to explore the streets of London.
What city would you love to meet an old friend in?
by Krista | Oct 7, 2011 | Fabulous Friday
This morning I woke to shrieking wind and quivering window frames as a humdinger of a storm blew in to Bologna, Italy.
I pulled back my curtains and opened the windows in time to hear thunderous booms and see bursts of lightning as the skies opened and pelted the thirsty ground with much needed rain.
It was a lovely way to wake up. I wrapped a Pashmina around my shoulders and crept out to the kitchen to brew some coffee while the rest of the household slept. Soon I was back in my room, tucked under my fluffy white comforter and watching the storm with a cup of strong Italian coffee to keep me warm.
I’ve had influenza the last couple of days, and my friend Maddalena has taken such good care of me, bringing me fresh fruit, homemade minestrone soup, and letting me rest for hours on a lounge chair in her garden. After a solid ten hour sleep last night I’m feeling much better.
Bologna is Maddalena’s hometown and I have never met anyone so delighted by where they live. Exploring Bologna with her is like having your own personal tour guide, history professor, restaurant critic and best friend all rolled into one.
I can’t wait to tell you more about this place, including why it’s become one of my favorite cities in Italy. In the meantime, here are a few shots of an afternoon stroll we took through this marvelous medieval city.
Where is your favorite place to take people in your hometown?
