The Violets Of March

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Yvette

The Violets of March **** (Good Read)

Sarah Jio

I’m linking to Jain at Food for Thought and Mary at Home is Where the Boat is, please go and check out their book review, and if you’re interested in reading and baking this is a diverse way to create..just email these lovely ladies for the years book list to join in.

Now to this fabulous book…

This book is a mix of romance, love, secrets and family history. A book that has you hooked from the beginning, and one that I read over a weekend. Soaking up the romance of young love, and intrigued by making my own endings, and hoping for the happy one.This book was captivating. This book is about Emily who is trying to find herself, and by visiting her great Aunt, she falls under the magical spray on Bainbridge Island, to not only find new love but solve the secret mystery within her family.

“Mix a love story, history and a mystery and what takes root? The Violets of March, a novel that reminds us how the past comes back to haunt us, and packs great surprises along the way.” Jodi Picoult, author of Sing You Home and House Rules.

In her twenties, Emily Wilson was on top of the world: she had a bestselling novel, a husband plucked from the pages of GQ, and a one-way ticket to happily ever after. Nearly a decade later, the tide has turned on Emily’s good fortune. So when her great-aunt Bee invites her to spend the month of March on Bainbridge Island in Washington State. Emily accepts, longing to be healed by the sea. Researching her next book, Emily discovers a red velvet diary, dated 1943, whose contents reveal startling connections to her own life.

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Angel Powder Puffs

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Yvette

Hello All,

This is an incredibly easy recipe,which can be whipped up in minutes, baked in 3 minutes, and then filled in no time, for a very impressive dessert. These are called Angel Powder Puffs.

They’re so light and fluffy and literally melt in your mouth, even in one bite size. Not hard to make, I whipped them up this afternoon for a afternoon school break up treat.

This recipe has been adapted from my local towns ‘Family Favourites’ Kindergarten Apex Cookbook. It was compiled by a couple of trained Home Science Teachers who compiled family proven recipes from the local ladies of the township, hoping to successfully raise funds from the selling of this cookbook to improve facilities at the existing Kindergarten. This cookbook has been on my families cookbook shelf for a while and consists of easy, no fuss and fail proof recipes…and the soiled sheets of this cookbook proves that many a recipe has been tried over and over again.

However, a quick phone call to my Mum, to check on the process, didn’t go astray!

Read on for details of this recipe…

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Springtime’s Laughter

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Yvette

Dear Friends,

With the changing seasons, some of us are ready to snuggle in front of fires and candles, Autumn leaves, warm hearty soups and woolen jumpers.

Others are ready to bounce into the joyous season of Spring, blossoms and new sunny days after a very long Winter.I’m joining in the Celebration of Spring- A Return to Loveliness.

The Victoria magazine has been part of my life since 1997, and looking back on many volumes the Spring April issue read like a pleasant opened rose with it’s petals softly falling and every petal a new inspiration and influence to how I could recall the new Spring days.Back issues and more information can be found here.

If we listen carefully, we can hear the music of Springtime’s laughter. The tittering of tiny blossom buds, fresh green leaves that seem to giggle in the breeze, the chatter of tiny flowers, the twittering of newborn birds, rose buds that smile in the suns rays. A rebirth of growth within our garden, and enchanting Spring, a newborn season.

Read on to experience my touch of Spring…

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St. Valentines Day

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Yvette

Happy St. Valentines Day to you all.

Cherished memories of those we love and care for. A special day to show how we’re feeling towards the person we love and adore. Any token big or small is welcomed today. Special charms, roses, flowers, cards, candlelit dinners, kisses, hugs even a smile. What did you do today for that special someone?

It’s the time of the year, to celebrate with red.

Today I showed a little love by sharing these cute cupcakes.

The simplest of ingredients with fine detailing of hearts.

And to my special someone…

I wrote your name in the sand,

but the waves washed it away.

I wrote your name in the sky,

but the wind blew it away.

I wrote it in my heart

and that’s where it will stay….

All my love,

… have a wonderful day friends,

Yvette…x

Pear and Prune Tarte Tatin

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Yvette

This month’s fruit in full season are pears. Delicious, good for you and a whole lot of nutrition in a sweet juicy package.A good source of vitamin C, fiber and only 100 calories (raw) per serving. Sodium free, fat free, and cholesterol free. This particular variety I used for this recipe was the Concorde pear,they’re a golden yellow, green colour and great for any type of cooking and baking. They’re firm in texture with a delicate vanilla taste. When cut they don’t turn brown so are great added to fresh salads and when cooked at high temperatures don’t disintegrate into a sugary mass.

I really should have made this recipe long before now, I can’t remember an easier dessert with a fantastic visual impact, and I assure you one to try. A delicious mouthful of syrupy sweet pear and prunes on a delicate crust of puff pastry, light and flaky…

Read on for the recipe…

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Pumpkin and Walnut Damper

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Yvette

Each and every season has its colour palate and Autumn is no exception. Vivacious oranges and reds, yellows and burnt ambers…

With all these wonderful warming hues, I couldn’t resist buying some fresh butternut pumpkin and making this recipe of pumpkin and walnut damper.

Read on for the recipe…

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#3 Butterscotch Pudding

Posted on September 19, 2010 by Yvette

Handwritten Recipes

This recipe was handwritten and sent to me from one of my dear special friends.We’ve known each

other from college boarding school days and have kept in touch since then.

I have to admit I was a fish out of water with this recipe as I’d never before made a self saucing

pudding…what’s the right dish to use? what should the sauce look like before pouring on top of

the pudding mixture?…

…but trusting my friend, knowing she had made the effort to write down this recipe and send it

over the seas… I continue on her directions…

…continuing every five minutes checking the oven, I was thrilled at the result.This is absolutely

mouthwatering and I’ll admit it I went back for seconds.Read on for the recipe…

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In pursuit of the slug…

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Yvette

My friends you can scream run,run, run but snails are just slow!

For some there is the night ritual with torch in hand to find and get rid of these “little” creatures munching on lettuce, cabbages and other veggies ,and finding them on the delicate foliage of freshly planted flowers.

However, from the south to north of Italy there are over 400 fairs and festivals where the main attraction is indulging in the “delicate” eating of snails.

We too take part in this ceremony, and not once but twice this year we’ve enjoyed with friends a dinner of snails and Prosecco.

These “boys” have been friends forever…and each dinner was a race to see how many they could find and later eat…this round fifty snails.

However the traditional cook was my sister in law. Who has made her mark as the all round top chef in cooking these slippery little suckers.

Her recipe is the traditional “ Lumache alle bourgiognonne” Snails cooked in butter,breadcrumbs and a variety of fresh herbs, parsley,sage,thyme.

To be able to enjoy snails with secured calmness ( as the slugs can contain harmful substances) it’s necessary to complete the cleaning process. It takes time and patience but secures the enjoyment of the rich flavour, of each snail. The cleaning process takes from 4-5 days, boiling them in salted water and vinegar, changing the water and repeating the process 2 or 3 times. Then boiling the snails for at least 2 hours in a pressure cooker. At this stage they can be frozen. If not there are many traditional recipes or even a few new ones.

What concentration!

Some of the recipes with snails are fried snails with cornmeal (polenta), soup of snails (very creamy),ravioli of snails and tagliolini (pasta) with a fried snail sauce,kebabs of snails with a herb dressing,the more traditional herb crusted and baked in butter (alla borgognona) which we enjoy and finally snails baked with a tomato and herb sauce.

So don’t think only of the French but also the Italians who enjoy eating snails…

Yvette…x

Whistle Stop Cafè –no fried green tomatoes!

Posted on July 18, 2010 by Yvette

I’m sure everyone thinks of the Whistle Stop Cafè and Fanny Flagg in her country overalls making famous - fried green tomatoes. But I’m not frying green tomatoes today instead conserving them under oil. One of my Nonna’s recipes.

An image comes to mind of when I was little…helping my Nonna pick green tomatoes ready for conserving under oil…I remember how I use to sit at the farms laminated kitchen table and watch my Nonna prepare jars and jars of green tomatoes.I instantly think of this image every year when the gardens full of tomato bushes with their plentiful supply of juicy plump tomatoes. So sneaking out to grab a few green tomatoes, I’m on the run to get them pickled and undercover before anyone notices…

Recipe: Preserved Green Tomatoes

1 kg of green firm tomatoes

1 cup white vinegar

1 cup of water

fine table salt

estimated guess 300ml of olive oil depending on jar size.

1 garlic clove

oregano and fennel seeds

Slice the green tomatoes into thin slices,layering and salting them,place in a colander to drain.

Place a plate and something heavy on them , (a few cans of peas will do fine) and leave in sink overnight.

The next day, bring to the boil 1 cup of water and 1 cup of white vinegar.

Turn off heat, when this mixture has cooled a little… the fun begins.

Place the sliced green tomatoes,a few at a time into this liquid, leave for a few minutes, place on a kitchen tea towel to dry. Make sure the tomatoes are dry as water can deteriorate the conserve.

Then in sterilized glass jars layer the green tomatoes with a sprinkle of oregano, fennel seeds, and thinly sliced garlic.Layering to the top and pressing down,so that they’re packed in tightly…clearing all air bubbles.Leave the jars over night,opened,but covered,the next morning check the level of oil at the rim of the jar…you may need to add more oil.Close tightly the lid and leave in a cool, dark place.

After a few weeks, this method of conserving , leaves the green tomatoes softened, to be accompanied with fresh bread and a cheese platter,or even an oven roasted pork roll.

It’s a traditional method of conserving green tomatoes, and one that you should try…

Enjoy!

Rose Petal Pink

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Yvette

Pink is part of my world. You won’t find any pink in my wardrobe apart from a newly purchased pair of pink pearl earrings…on the good advise from a friend. You’ll however find pink, not lollipop pink more like antique rose pink in my house… rose frosted glassware,freshly cut pink roses,scatted pink rose petals, rose colored champagne, rose cake tins and the list goes on.

However,my childhood memories are lollipop pink. The strawberry pink milkshakes and ice creams, marshmallows and hundreds and thousands. Going to the local fair hand in hand with my Nonno (grandfather) to buy pink fairy floss and maybe you remember those dollies on sticks, antique looking with plastic painted hair,wanting to choose first, the one in the pink dress. I remember my mother dressing me in a Sundays best pink crochet dress and funny enough my 21st birthday party was all pink with hand painted rose invitations, so yes pink is part of my world.

Why all this talk about pink…Today I received a lovely pink award…it’s pretty and pink…and a wonderful pink gift…don’t you agree!

With heartfelt thanks to the kindness of Amanda who nominated me for this award.She is truly a gifted and creative poet, her words, beautiful images and songs always send a message and leaves me within a longing minute of reflection and pure harmony. You are talented my friend.x

Now on receiving this award, there are some pink rules to follow, they’re not too hard to follow..here they are:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award…thanks again Amanda

2.Share 7 things about yourself…a bit of a challenge but here goes…

*I’m true to my star sign, June born, Cancer…a family,home loving person.My life evolves around my “home”.Organized down to the last detail.

*I love entertaining in my home,friends gathering for a home cooked meal, sharing their loves, life and laughter with a good glass of wine.Nothing better!

*I stand out…I’m a red/blonde,blue eyed,pale skin and freckled Aussie living in Italy.

*My heart was captured by a gentle Italian man and life’s an adventure living in his homeland…That’s Amore!

*I love old photographs,every photo has a hidden story,white linen – first things to pack in my suitcase,cooking and creative hands.

*A country bumpkin,at an early age went to boarding school in the city…finished school went off to study, graduating in Graphic Design.

*Last one…My dream one day is to own my own B & B, capturing home comforts on foreign soil and sharing my love of Italy, for now I love my blogging time, meeting new talented friends and sharing the little things that mean so much to me…

All done lets continue with the pink rules…

3.Pass the award along to: I chose 7 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason.

4.Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know all about the award

Here are my nominations for this lovely pink award

Celia, who is one talented cook,sharing her love of cooking and baking skills and urban living.A great story teller…check out her chooks!Makes you feel at home…

Brydie,a creative home-style girl who shares her love of food and family stories, beautiful photo’s, a real gem.

Cathy, an aussie living in Italy, sharing her love of her “little” Italy with a touch of Oz always thrown in.

Diane,Spoon & Chair…a precise account of her kitchen and garden…a home makers blog…

Lorenza,A taste of my life…a young cook, who is eager to capture new styles and tastes in her cooking…writes in her mother language Italian,and sometimes takes the challenge of translating into English…a real achiever…

Phatfoodie,just love her creative writings on home cooked food…every recipe tells a story… a real charming blog…

Wendy,a vegetarian cook/baker, a new found blog,…a real bakers delight!

So my friends have a look at these fantastic cooks and their blogs,they’re all worthy of this pink award… and enjoy!