Middle Eastern Orange and Almond Cake with Orange Syrup and Mint Sugar

Oranges were bountiful this winter, and we are very fortunate to have access to a beautiful orange tree. Now that I am retired, I have time to freeze the oranges and use later in cakes, desserts etc. Oranges freeze very well.

Apple Crumble

This is my original Apple Crumble recipe which I have been told by my family not to mess with. I know I will be cooking this for the family over the Christmas period sometime, so here it is for easy reference everyone.

Fruit

4-6 Granny Smith cooking apples
1-2 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup water

Fruit Variations
Rhubarb and apple
Tinned apple
Pie peaches
Stewed dried apricots

Crumble

1 cup plain flour (refined or wholemeal is preferable)
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons coconut
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon Rolled oats (use a little bit less flour)

Let's cook

1.  Peel and core apples and slice thinly.
2. Place in a saucepan with water and simmer gently until soft. Add sugar to taste and stir to dissolve.
3. Allow to cool then pour into a pie dish, keeping back excess juice.
4. Place flour in a bowl then rub in butter with the fingertips.
5. Add sugar, coconut, rolled oats and cinnamon and mix well until good crumbly consistency.
6. Sprinkle lightly on top of apples.
7. Bake in a moderate oven until lightly browned on top.
8. Serve hot or cold with boiled custard .

(I like doing steps 4 and 5 by hand, however you could use the food processor.)

What do you think?

Summer camelia

In my kitchen, the first perfect camelia flower of the season just picked this morning, and what a magnificent fragrance. I wish I could bottle that perfume.

Yummy Simple Homemade Boiled Egg Custard

It is tradition at Christmas time for us to serve this boiled custard in the background, with the Christmas Plum Pudding. However, it can be served at anytime with any dessert which is complimented by a custard. This is great comfort food.

Ma Ma's Christmas (Economical) Plum Pudding

This is the best Christmas Plum Pudding I have ever tasted. When my Mum passed on 5 years ago, I took on the family responsibility of cooking the Christmas pudding with some trepidation, however it turned out well, came out of the pudding bowl beautifully, and has remained on the Christmas menu ever since.

Hope's Scotch Pancakes

This was my Mum's recipe and never failed. We often had them for tea on a Sunday night with lemon juice and sugar, which we thought was a real treat back then.

Let's cook:

Mix together 1 1/2 cups flour and 2 teaspoons cream of tartar. Beat together 1 egg and 1/2 cup sugar.

Mix in 1 cup sweet milk, in which 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda has been dissolved. Add to flour.

Drop in small quantities on a greased girdle.

(This is straight from my Mum's recipe book.)

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate (Oprah Winfrey)

Das Neumann Haus Museum and cafe at Laidley

Visited Laidley in the Lockyer Valley on our way to Toowoomba for a 60th birthday party and discovered the Das Neumann Haus Museum. What a nice surprise when travelling, to be able to buy a tasty lunch of quiche and salad and an excellent coffee for just $10 each. It is only open Thursday to Sunday though as the museum is promoted as the main attraction. The museum reflects the very interesting story of the Neumann family in Laidley since 1893,  where Mr Neumann made violins, church furniture and grandfather clocks. many of which are still in the area.

If you are there when the museum is closed, never mind, as the Laidley Florist Ristique Rose Tea Rooms, whilst closed on Sunday when we were there, looked absolutely delightful through the French doors with a well stocked cake cabinet to die for. The beautiful French inspired decor is unexpected in a small valley town.