Tea Cake

I have had this cake recipe sitting in my recipe box for 3 years with the intent of making it. 2 nights ago

finally did and was not disappointed. Cake came out the oven and it cooled...about 5 mins later 3/4 of it

was gone. This is such an easy recipe and you need things that should already be in the house. I  would

recommend having this with coffee or tea and it is simple enough to whip up when someone is coming 

over suddenly. I also like this cake because it is not sweet. 

Carrot and Spiced Tea Cake

Ingredients

65g butter, softened

            
1/2 cup caster sugar

            
1 egg

            
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

            
1 cup self-raising flour, sifted

            
1/3 cup milk

            
1 medium carrot, peeled, grated

            
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

            
1 teaspoon ground ginger

            
Butter, to serve

Cinnamon topping

            
10g butter, melted

            
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

            
2 teaspoons caster sugar

Method

1.     
Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced oven. Prepare loaf tin.

2.     
Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar, egg and vanilla together for 2 minutes. Stir in half the flour, then half the milk. Repeat with remaining flour and milk, adding carrot, cinnamon and ginger.

3.     Spoon mixture into prepared pan. Level top.

4.     
Bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

5.     Stand in pan for 5 minutes. Turn, top-side up, onto a wire rack.

6.     Make topping: Combine cinnamon and sugar in a bowl. Brush hot cake with butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon mixture. Cool. Serve.

Escape for a day...

I went to the island for the day with my parents when they visited this week. My day in pics (taken from my view).

 It was a wonderful getaway. It was exciting to find the sea grass so close to shore again. I have posted a few of the wallabies because they were the highlight of the day. No matter how many times you feed rock wallabies it is still amazing. I love watching them bound and stretch.

Moroccan Carrot & Orange Salad

For afternoon tea I took myself to the backyard to watch the Rosellas, Lorikeets and Bower Birds. It was lovely. I decided to make something special for my break. Moroccan Carrot & Orange Salad. I really enjoyed the citric and cinnamon combination mixed in with the crunch of pine nuts. So many textures! The dressing is to die for over the carrots. Next time I will be more heavy handed with the dressing I think :) I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.  Photos to come once I find my camera cord.

Moroccan Carrot & Orange Salad

Prep Time: 5 mins

Serves: 4

Ingredients

450g carrots, peeled

2 large oranges peeled and cut into segments (reserve any spare juice)

1/3 cup rasins/sultanas 

1 tsp grounded cinnamon

2 tsp roasted pine nuts

Dressing- 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice, pinch of sugar

Method

1. Grate carrots into serving bowl

2.Combine oil, lemon juice, sugar and any spare orange juice in a separate bowl.

3. Toss orange segments with carrots and stir in the raisins and cinnamon.  

4. Pour over dressing and scatter pine nuts just before serving.

Pumpkin and Red Onion Muffins

Mmmmm...I love these. Especially the coriander. I have been meaning to post this recipe for the past 2 weeks but sadly have been bogged down with work and a nasty bug. :( But, I am back :) So I hope you enjoy this lovely savoury recpie. Pop me a message and tell me how you go.

Pumpkin and Red Onion Muffins

Makes: 12

Prep Time: 25 mins

Cook time: 50 mins

Ingredients

550g pumpkin

1 red onion diced

5 tablespoons olive oil

275g self raising flour

50g cornmeal

15g chopped fresh coriander

1/2 teaspoon celery salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

3 eggs, beaten

150ml milk

Method

1. Line a 12 section muffin tray with paper muffin cases. Cut the pumpkin into small dice, discarding seeds/skin. You should have about 350g flesh. Spread out on a roasting tray with onion and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Roast in preheated oven 220⁰C for 30-40mins. Leave to cool.

2. Mix together flour, cornmeal, coriander, celery salt and baking powder in a bowl. Whisk together the eggs, milk and remaining oil with a fork in a small bowl. 

3. Stir the cooled pumpkin and onion into the dry ingredient. Add the egg mixture and mix until just combined. Divide muffin mixture between paper cases.

4. Bake in oven for 20 mins or until risen and just firm. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve warm or cold. 

Chicken Milano from ladyb

I love SWAPBOT! Just in case you hadn't caught that vibe from this blog. I am just getting back into it all after the wedding and after wedding recovery (imagine sitting on the couch doing NOTHING). One of my many Swapbot addictions is swapping recipes. It is so interesting to see how food is created across the globe. I have received some wonderful dishes and many have entered my monthly mmmm whats for tea. This is one such recpie. A BIG thanks for ladyb for this yummy simple recipe.

Chicken Milano

Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain rice
- 2 skinless chicken breast (1 1/2 inch cubes)
-2 tbsp butter
- 1 med. onion
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tin tomato soup
- 6 fresh sliced mushrooms OR 1 jar sliced mushroom
- 2 medium zucchini (slice)
- 1/2tsp basil
-1/8 tsp chilli powder

Method
1. Prepare rice as label directed.
2. In large skillet over medium heat in hot butter, cook onion and garlic until tender. Add chicken and brown on all sides.
3. Stir in soup and remaining ingredients. Over high heat, bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Serve by spooning mixture over rice in a deep platter.

Wedding Day Professional Photos

A big thank you needs to go to Roy Leigh from Zen Images for these amazing images from our special day. Here are his other wedding albums. This is but a snippet of the amazing photos he took on the day, it was hard to choose. Our wedding took place in the beautiful council park Palmetum and our reception took place at Reef HQ.

Chocolate Walnut Cupcakes

I have been using this recipe on and off for the past few years. I love the soft fluffiness of the cupcake with the crunch of the chopped nuts. Enjoy for a bit of crunch on your chocolate cupcakes. This is also lovely to have with coffee after a LONG work day. 

Chocolate Walnut Cupcakes

Ingredients

150g lightly salted butter

150g caster sugar

175g self raising flour

1 cup chopped walnuts

3 eggs

3 tbs baking cocoa

1 tsp vanilla essence

Spare chopped walnuts (to top cupcakes)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180⁰ prepare cupcake tray.

2. Combine butter, sugar, eggs, flour, cocoa and vanilla essence in a bowl. Mix with a hand held mixer until light and fluffy.

3. Gently fold through walnuts. Spoon into cupcake tray. Sprinkle with spare chopped walnuts.

4. Cook for 20-25 mins. Remove from oven and allow to cool on rack.