Sushi

The girls and I made some this morning. Jessica wanted to take some to kinder for lunch. She got lots of oohs and aahs. I love sushi - but since we moved I haven't found a favourite place yet - I'm just not out at lunchtime much these days.

Ella thought it was good too - minus the nori of course!

Chocolate tarts

I had people coming for dinner last night. I made a simple creamy bolognese style pasta bake for main course. For dessert I really wanted to do something that involved melting chocolate, but didn't really have time to do much. In the end I grabbed some pastry tart shells from the supermarket, made a ganache with a combination of milk and dark chocolate and added some Kahlua.

Quick dusting of cocoa powder and some whipped cream on the side - yum! Quick and easy dessert. And there's some ganache leftover. Lucky me!

I love my breadmaker

Tomato focaccia. About 7 minutes prep time, then I just have to be organised to start it going early enough. Prep time includes slicing the tomatoes. And the smell while it cooks - mmmmmmm. This time it came out lovely and soft - it sometimes comes out a bit on the dry side. I make pizza bases in my bread maker all the time, too. Definitely worth the investment.

Choc malt slice

Made it again. Still just as good as the first time. For the sake of my arteries, had to give some away - good way to make friends!

Cookies n cream

I had some condensed milk left over from making choc malt slice, so I found a recipe for cookies 'n' cream icecream. The girls and I made it this morning. It was the first time I have made icecream. It turned out pretty well, I have to say, given that it was done without an icecream maker so it only got churned once. The recipe said to use Bailey's but I didn't have any so I made some kiddy style and some with Kahlua.

1 cup sweetened condensed milk
600mL cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
150g chocolate biscuits
2 tbs Baileys (or liqueur of your choice)

Beat 1st 3 ingredients on high for about 7 minutes until very thick.
Break up chocolate biscuits, add liqueur if using. Stir in carefully to cream mixture.
Put in freezer-proof container, freeze for at least 3 hours.

Tasted pretty good. But then, most things taste pretty good if you add liqueur :-)

Caramelised onion

A delicious, highly under-rated food. Ella, who at 6 months is finding all food an adventure, gave it a 5 star rating. Big smiles :-)

Lavender's blue, dilly dilly

I have always loved lavender as a flower and for its scent, but I have only lately begun to appreciate it for its culinary potential. I have had as a kid lavender rock and lavender fudge, but I am discovering that it's so much more versatile than that.

For my birthday afternoon tea a month ago, I made lavender shortbread. It was dusted with the most delicious lavender sugar, made by whizzing up dried lavender and caster sugar into this heady grey powder that filled the room with perfume. There was sugar left over, so I have kept it for a special cake or pudding.

Tonight I was cooking rump steak, and I rubbed it with dried lavender flowers crushed with the mortar and pestle and mixed with a bit of ground black pepper. The result was very good - subtle, but added a lovely depth of flavour to the meat. It really is a herb that works with savoury as well as sweet. I'm keen to explore more.