novel34

I picked up a couple of bags of nice looking naval oranges at the shops the other day, and after eating as many as we wanted to eat fresh, I decided to make something delicious and yet unusual with them. I had in mind to make a crumble . . . and why not? We use all sorts of fruits to make tasty crumbles with . . . apples, pears, rhubarb, plums, blueberries, gooseberries and so on . . . why not oranges? Juicy and sweet, I thought they'd make a fabulous crumble . . . Especially with a buttery crispy topping shot full of flaked coconut. Oranges and coconut . . . ambrosia! I was going to add some macadamia nuts to the topping as well . . . but alas, I had none in the cupboard. Do try it if you want though. I'd add about 1/2 cup chopped nuts. It would be a fabulous addition I think! Each mouthful of this was sweetly orangy, buttery crispy and moreishly scrummy! I dare to say it's quite healthy as well as there is not a lot of fat in it really. Oranges . . . chock full of ...

  Risotto doesn't always have to be a savory dish.  It can just as easily be a sweet and delious type of  pudding.  Something like this Vanilla Risotto here today.  People can be a little put off and afraid of making risotto . . .fearing that it is a bit too complicate or time consuming, but it really isn't. It does require constant attention however, but so long as you stay with it and do what the recipe says, you will always be rewarded at the end with something quite silky and delicious, with just a tiny bit of bite. This risotto is not overly sweet . . . the only sweetening being a bit of honey . . . it's nicely flavoured with vanilla . . . and just a hint of ground cinnamon and ground cardamom.  Warm sweet spices that go so well with both vanilla and pears . . .   Oh yes . . . the pears.  Oven roasted until just tender and then peeled . . . the oven roasting bringing out their natural sweetness.   Tender and sweet, sitting in an o...

  I do so like to spoil the missionaries whenever we have them over for tea.   Usually I try to give them a little taste of home (if they are from North America).  I don't normally do roast dinners, because I figure they get enough of them each week, as most people who have the missionaries in for tea will try to give them a pretty decent meal.  With me they get that, but with a North American twist. I usually try to make them a delicious pudding as well.  I also try not to serve them the same thing twice.  I wouldn't want them to think I am a one hit wonder!  Yes, they do get spoiled in our house, but how can I not, when what they do is such a wonderful thing! Yesterday when we had one set of the Elders over I made these delicious Lemon Curd Self Saucing Puddings.  I love lemon anything, and I always assume everyone else does too.  And if Lemon Curd is involved, I love it even more!  (I have a really super recipe here. ) The Todds...

       There is something just so wonderfully warm  and comforting about a steamed pudding (dessert).  They are so homey, just like a warm hug from a much beloved Gran. I don't know what it is about them . . . stodgy, yes . . . filling, yes . . . simple, yes . . . there is nothing complicated or fancy about them, but somehow they always come across really well.  They are a bit like the country cousin at a city ball . . . you can't help but really warm to them and want to spend time with them, even though there are much fancier puds to be had.     Somehow I ended up with an outrageous amount of marmalade in my larder.  The Toddster LOVES marmalade on his toast.  I like it too, but not as much as he does.  If I see it on offer I will pick up a jar.  I have yet to make my own, but perhaps this winter I will give it a go.  We'll see.   Sooooo  . . . anyways, I have ended up with something li...