Blueberry Granita

The original recipe calls for blackberry, hence the name blackberry granita on Joy the Baker's blog.

But you know me, being rebellious like that, changing the berry type.

"Apparantly" the granita tastes like a slushy with a hint of berry, according to my sister. Well.. seeing as the whole flavour was blueberry I wouldn't be to surprised if there was a berry flavour. :/

I'm totally hooked on the series "True Blood".. so good! I usually hate all that vampire stuff, like twilight. I seriously do not get the craze that all the fans have. But True Blood on the other hand, now that is a totally different story. It's kinda like Desperate Housewives mixed with vampires.

 Totes. Hooked.

I am in love with that colour! Tha deep purply pinky puree tastes even nice then it looks. Seriously. Your in for a real treat. The crunchy ice berry crystals are SO designed for summer. Instead of ice-cream at shops, wh ydon't they sell more granita? I want a granita shop to open in every city around the world.

More icey crystals and less creamy stuff.

I love ice-cream, but c'mon, even the sight of this is enough to make you drool on a hot summers day.

Pretty much a few ingredients, a splash of lemon and a dash of sugar creates a cool fruity summery pleaser. And the bonus is, you probably have all the ingredients already in the kitchen!
 
Except that vodka that you finished on New Years Eve, you should probably buy some more of that...
 
 
Blueberry Granita
                     Adapted from Joy the Baker
 
3 cups water
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 heaping cups frozen blueberries (un-thawed)
juice of 1 lemon
2 teaspoons vodka (optional)
whipped cream (sweetened as much as you like)

Method
In a medium saucepan heat water and sugar until sugar dissolves. Add frozen blueberries and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes over medium heat. Stir to break blackberries up a bit as they cook.
Once blueberries are broken and cooked, place half of the blackberry and liquid mixture in a blender. Pulse and blend until a berries are broken down into a puree. Place a fine mesh strainer over the pot containing the other half of liquid and berries, and strain the puree into the pan. The end result is berry pieces, whole berries, blueberry liquid and the juice from the puree.
Add lime and vodka (if using). The vodka helps the mixture not freeze so solid, but is not entirely necessary.
Place mixture into a 9×13-inch pan and place in freezer. Set timer for 1 hour. After 1 hour, scrape any ice crystals that have formed towards the center of the pan. Set timer for another hour and again scrape the ice crystals towards the center of the pan.
Continue until all of the liquid has formed ice crystals.

**You can use any type of berry you want! Don't even stop there, go even further, experiment with seasonal fruits and tantalise the taste buds.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

My new year resoloutions start off with a bang. I'm totally ontop of things, on top of the game. Then March comes by, and I tend to get a little slack. By the time April comes around the corner, don't even bother asking.


I suck at keeping resoloutions and goals for myself. I never ever ever in the history of this planet gone for a jog, let alone attempted a sit up. Forget that.

But this year it's different. The tables have turned, I AM going to stick to my resoloutions this year. I'm going to live by them, and learn from them. Hahahah I can't beleive I'm saying all this, by the time Feburary says hello, I'll be exactly the same: lazy and slack.
New Years Resoloutions
1. Do well in school
2. Get a Boyfriend
3. Get fit, and finally go for a jog without breaking down after 2 minutes of running.
4. Be a healthy freak

What are your New Years resoloutions? Make sure you stick to them and don't follow in my lazy footsteps. I don't want to be the one dragging you down.


Carrot cake anyone?

I nearly would of been able to eat these healthy/scrumptious morsels, but the vanilla essence totally ruined it for me.

Urggh! Don't even ask about this picture. I absoloutley suck at putting mixture into patty pans. A simple job for an everyday baker- yet for me, totally different story. Huge globs managed to splat all over the muffin tray and onto the sides of the case, resulting in an ugly looking, but definate crowd pleaser.

Carrot Cake, you know you love it.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

- 2 Eggs

- 1 cup of grated carrot (approx. 2 large carrots)

- 1/2 tsp vanilla essence

- 3/4 cup plain flour

- 1/2 tsp bi-carb sodsa

- 1/2 tsp baking powder

- 1 cup of oil (Use any oil, I used sunflower oil)

- 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Beat together the sugar and eggs until creamy

An Apple and Rhubarb Crumble

Okay, I've got a secret to tell you. Something I haven't told you about my self.

Oooh this sounds really spooky, creepy and exciting, doesn't it!? Like I'm secretly a CIA Agent or a spy. But, sorry to crush your hopes, I'm no Jackie Chan.

I have chronic fatigue. Good enough, you're thinking. How the hell is that a 'secret'? I'll tell you.
It's actually very complicated, I am seriously tired all the time, but thats not what buggers me the most (and let me tell you, I HATE being tired).

I am very limited to what I can eat. Let me elaborate. I'm not limited. I'm verrrrrrry limited.
- I can't eat too much sugar. There goes all those desserts
- I can't eat cheese
- I cant eat meat (well, I already couldn't eat meat, because I'm vegetarian)
- I can't have ANY fruit
- I can only eat some vegetables
- And, let me just say.. when I say no exesscive sugar, I mean.. Ice-cream, Cakes, Puddings, Even Chocolate!

Kill me now.
So I've been lying to you guys because.. whenever I write 'That cheesecake post below is so creamy!'. I literally have no idea what it even tastes like. Literally. No. Idea.
I only write that stuff from feedback from friends and family. I actually have never eaten a single peice of food from this blog.

Depressing I know, do I want to eat it? HECK YES. Those crunchy Anzac biscuits reaaally hit the spot. I am seeing every doctor possible that I can, to help me eat normal food again. And when I say normal, I don't mean cheese, or salads with fancy vinigarettes.. I mean donuts, Pancakes, Cheesecakes, Puddings, Mud Pies.

Sorry I totally loaded all that rant on to you. You must be feeling my pain, and feeling sypathetic for me. Don't.
You need to indulge In a Crumble.

   Apple and Rhubarb Crumble

- 1 bunch (425g) rhubarb, cut into 2cm pieces
- 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced
- 2 tablespoons caster sugar
- finely grated rind and juice of 1 orange
- 3/4 cup self-raising flour, sifted
- 3/4 cup Healtheries Berry & Apple Bircher Muesli
- 100g butter, chilled, cubed
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup roasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Put rhubarb, apple, sugar, orange rind and juice into a rectangular ovenproof dish (26cm x 16cm). Stir until well-combined.
   
2. Combine flour and muesli in a large bowl. Add butter. Using your fingertips, rub butter into flour and muesli mixture. Stir in sugar and hazelnuts. Sprinkle over rhubarb and apple mixture.
   
3. Bake for 45 minutes or until crumble is golden brown. Serve immediately.

Caramelised Peaches

Fruit isn't really my thing. You know how people have ice-cream and fruit?

Yea.. I hate it. I can't mut enough emphasis on it.

Ew.

But I guess we're not really talking about Ice-cream and fruit, as you can see from the title of this post..so this is kinda awkward for mee.  I just wanted to make a point

Okay, a useless point.

I have often heard of caramelised figs, how they go all gooey and ooey inside, releasing a fruit burst when you bite into it. The caramelisation on top of the fruit also gives a sort of chewy taste.

Try this.

Caremelised Peaches

- 2 Medium sized very ripe peaches

- 2Tb of brown sugar

- 1/2 tsp Cinnamon powder

- 2Tb Dark rum, or Bacadardi

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius, or preheat the grill

Wash Peaches and cut into sixths. Place on a slice pan that is greased with butter.

In a small seperate bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon powder, combine and spoon over the peaches in the pan.

Be sure that all the peaches are covered with the mixture and sprinkle lightly with the rum.

Leave to marinate for 10 minuites, then grill and serve when peaches are slightly charred, and the sugar is totally caremelised.

A Very Berry Trifle

My sister's 20th birthday was on the weekend and I made a sisterly 'Bed in Breakfast' for her. I'm such a saint sometimes, I owe that much to myself.

I awoke on a early sunny Sunday morning, and started off with her standard cereal;

- Kellogs' Corn Flakes

- Or Kellogs' Crunchy nut (my sister is very fussy when it comes to food, her standards have to be met)

- Covered with a drizzly dollop of honey

That was easy. I also chopped up some banana to try and make the tray look fairly presentable, I didn't want her to think I hadn't put in much effort.

And oh, just a little note; I went to sleep at about 11 the night before. And. I. Need. My. Sleep.

I decided to go with something quick and jazzy I had seen on TV before, with frozen berries, cream and biscuits. But we didn't have any cream in the house so I just left that out and carried on with the beautiful berries and biscuits.

Easily whizzing some frozen berries and crumbling some broken biscuits might just prove to be my new found temptation.

 

Very Berry Trifle

-100g Frozen Berries (Your choice)

- 3 Tb Icing Sugar

- 1/2 cup Whipped Cream

- 100g Digestive biscuits or plain wheat biscuits

Method

Place frozen Berries and Icing sugar into a processor/blender and process. Process until liquified.

Seperatly, crush Digestive biscuits until finley crumbed and place into bottom of wine glass. Whip cream and 2 more Tablespoons of icing sugar and dollop ontop of biscuit mixture in wine glass, then ontop, pour the Berry sauce and repeat layers until the glass if full, or until desired.

-

Homemade Bread

Not everyday is great...for example, I've got 2 exams tomorrow.. negative.
I'm feeling tired and unmotivated to study... negative.
And I'm craving something sweet, even though I haven't even had dinner yet...Definate negative.

I'm stressing so badly for tomorrows exams. Chemistry and Biology. Mmm.. Biologys not too bad, but Chemistry? Kill yourself, ecspecially if your studying Organic Chemistry.
I can't even hear what the teachers saying half the time, it seems to come out in a totally different language, and when she makes eye contact with me, I just give a quick nod as if to mean that I understood everything she just said.

Which I totally didn't. Now I'm regretting not trying to understand her scientific language.. because if I didn't already say.. I'VE GOT AN EXAM TOMORROW!

To other news.. a couple of days ago I made a Cinnamon Date loaf of bread, and forgot to post, because I was studying Chemistry. Note the sarcasm.

Anyway, I'm trying to cheer myself up by listening to some Glee songs, and a few Dana Glover hits.

Yes, sad I know, I'm totally self loathing.. but what am I supposed to do?

My Chemistry teacher is going to hate me forever.
On a lighter note.. try this.

Please, do it for me and my Chemistry exam. I'm so not motivated to study.. soooo.. Facebook? Gosh I'm so slack.

The recipe will be posted soon .. but til them I'm enjoying the freedom of not having to study for exams!

Bananarama Milkshake

Do you know what Beauty and the Geek is?

No?

Only like my favrioute show ever.

It's starting in an hour and im uber excited. The countdowns already begun.

Watch it, or download it..wait that's illegal, but then again, it's totally worth it.

So is this banana milkshake. My sister drank it and said it tasted like the shop's milkshake.. I'm guessing thats a good sign, right?

57 Minutes to go 'til it starts. Get excited.

Gosh, that means I only took 3 minutes to write this post. Don't judge me, you try getting hooked on Beauty and the Geek, it's love, it's a drug... hmm quite like this bananarama milkshake..

Do try.


P.s I totally need to get a replacement of the picture at the top, talk about blurry... Don't blame me, blame that dodgy Canon camera of mine.


Bananarama Milkshake
- 4 ripe bananas
- 4 large scoops of vanilla ice-cream
- 4 cups of milk
- 1 Tb of cocoa powder (totally optional)


Method

... I think you know how this works. Chuck it all into a blender and blend 'til smooth and thick, serve immediatly.

Pancakes with a Warm Berry Sauce

How amazing does that look? I know, right? Your ready to jump into your screen and gobble up the picture? These are healthy, yummy, and delish pancakes. If I knew more words that defined 'delicious', I would put them all in this post, seriously I would.
So.. It's actually supposed to be mothers day this week Sunday, but the household that I live in things always happen on different days! (Dont ask)
Oh, Oh, wait.. I've got a explanation for this years wrong date, my Mom is actually going on a small vacation to see her parents overseas. (Last year we did mothers day a week earlier then it actually was, yea.. I think you've gathered we're not the best family with dates).
So this year we actually did Mothers Day on a Monday. (?) Sooo weird and so not the day to have it.. I know. But as soon as I cooked up these healthy morsels.. everyone just sat and munched their way through piles and piles of pancakes (literally.. my Dad had like 5!!)


Oh, and I also wanted to share my recipe box with you, I spent forever writing out all my recipes on tiny cards. I dont think you would of wanted to see my recipe book, it's a mixture of scrappy and cut-out peices of paper that happen to have recipes on them!

I made the batter the night before because (as tradition for the past 9 years) we were having breakfast in bed. And when I wake up, I am in no mood to make batter, wait for it to rest in the refridgerator and cook!, so this way I was thanking myself the night before as I was flipping pancakes on the pan at 8 in the morning.

Okay.. I think you want the recipe now.. yes? Let's do thissss.

So first, I satrted by measuring my flour and salt, and threw that into a bowl, and then I cracked 2 eggs into another bowl

I added some milk and whisked until all of it was combined

Make a well in your other bowl (your flour and salt bowl) and gradually pour in the mixture pulling the flour away from the side until you are able to really mix it until it is smooth. I also added a teaspoon of baking powder, to make the pancakes doubley fluffly and light.. all for good measure!

And from there, I just mixed it, and threw in the melted butter and put all of that into a airtight container ready for the awaiting fridge.

FAST FORWARD 12 HOURS OR SO

______________________________________________

Wake up, go to fridge, pull out pancake batter, spoon on to waiting fry pan.

Yes.. thats it!! Done, done and done. Best pancakes I have ever made.. and thats saying something!

Perfect Pancakes

- 2 cups SR flour

- 1 tsp Baking powder

- PInch of salt

- 2 eggs

- 2 cups of milk

- 1 Tb Sugar (Optional)

- 60g melted butter

Method

Sift together flour and salt baking powder and sugar (if using) in a large bowl.

In a smaller bowl beat together eggs and milk until well combined. Slowly pour in milk mixture to flour mixture whicking until no lumps are left and until a thick ribbon is formed when whisk is lifted up. Melt butter in a small saucepan and then rest for 30 mins in refidgerator, or leave in refrigerator overnight.

Spoon batter onto a medium sized fry pan, on medium heat. Wait for pancakes to bubble on the top, the outside of the pancake should be dry. Flip, for about 1 miniute. And keep going!

So then, after putting on the pancakes, I got started on my berry sauce, I adapted this recipe from 'Joy the Baker" (best blog in town!!)

I started by placing 1 and a 1/2 cups of froxen berries into a medium non-stick saucepan and ontop of that I put in 1Tb of sugar

Warm Berry Sauce

Adapted from "Joy The Baker" blog.

- 1 and a 1/2 cups frozen berries

- 1 Tb sugar

- 1/4 cup water

METHOD

Place frozen berries and sugar in a saucepan, and cook for about 5 mins. The berries would have released some liquid and the sugar will be dissovled. Keep stirring constantly, and when needed, add the water. Simmer for 10 mins stirring constantly. Serve warm ontop of pancakes with a dollop of Vanilla Ice-cream.

Date Scones

"!"

That's the little noise I make when someone mentions the words "scones". Plain, and chocolate go down well with me.. with a big giant glass of cold milk.

I'm happy.

Actually i'm ecstatic, im a scone fanatic.

My sisters on holidays at the moment from her college work, and I'm on school holidays. It's too hot to go out, my mothers away, so no car.. and the fridge is stacked with butter and milk.

Flour? Check

Oh right, there all the ingredients I need! We happened to find some dried fruit that was close to expiring waay out of it's date, so we decided to throw that in the mix aswell. why not!

We're a pretty spontaneous family like that :)

Rub it your butter in to your Self raising flour with your fingertips until it resembles bread crumbs, like this
Add some dried fruit of your choice, I decided to use dried dates and plop it into your bowl.

Add a tablespoon of sugar for your sweet tooth,

and pour in some milk until your mixture resembles a dough.. I had to do this slowly, because last time I waay over did it and ended up with like a massive dough that had been dunked in to a gallon of milk.
so, add your milk slowly because ending up how mine did last time is a utter disaster.
Transfer the date filled dough to a lightly floured surface and knead only for about 30 seconds, other wise your dough may become tough.
So, knead for a bit then roll out with a rolling pin until 2cm thick and cut with a scone cutter.

after you have used up all your dough by re-rolling and re-cutting,glaze all of your scone tops with milk using a pastry brush. Pop into the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
express cooking at its best.

    Date Scones
- 60 grams unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup dried fruit
- 1 tablespoon of caster sugar
- 2 cups Self-Raising flour
- 2/3 cup milk
Method
Preheat oven at 220c degrees celcius.
Sift flour in to a large bowl, and place butter in. Rub with your hands until fine breadcrumbs are formed, and there are no lumps of butter.
Add in your dried fruit and sugar and mix. Slowly add milk and form into a dough, using a bread and butter knife.
Place on to a lightly floured surface and roll 2 cm thick. Cut with a scone cutter and place on to prepared lined tray.
Glaze tops with milk and sprinkle with sugar (optional).
Bake for 10 minuites, and transfer to a cooling rack.
Serve with jam, cream and butter.