Homemade seedy granola

I've eaten Dorset Cereals muesli for over 4 years and recently have switched to Lovedean granola. But my man pointed out Lovedean was over 30% fat spoiling my new breakfast fav. I also want to get my 2.5 year old to eat something other than plain oats with milk or a banana smoothie for breakfast. Generally anything with sultanas is a hit.

I'm very particular about my granola. I don't like too much dried fruit, especially cranberries, preferring to add my own fresh fruit, and I do like lots of seeds and not too many nuts.

After playing around until it looked right, this is the recipe I came up with. And it's good! Master R thinks it's great too. Although he does pick out all the sultanas and give the rest to me. We'll stick to smoothies for him for a while.

Seedy Granola

4 cups oats

1/2 slivered almonds

1 cup dessicated coconut

2 cups mixed seeds (Neal's Yard salad sprinkle)

1 cup maple syrup

1 cup sultanas (raisins)

Preheat oven to 180C (350F).

Mix all ingredients except sultanas. Spread out on a large baking tray. Place in oven and brown for 1 to 1 1/4 hours turning every 15 minutes until it is nicely browned.

Add sultanas. Serve topped with yoghurt and fresh berries.

Carnival cooking

Yesterday was my sons' nursery carnival. Each parent was asked to bring a plate of food from their country. Since I have two boys and we're Australian/German I thought it was only fair that I make two dishes.

The Australian contribution was going to be Lamingtons but I ran out of time so made up the cute little mini cupcakes instead. The parents ate them all before the teachers had a chance to hand them out to the kids. All 120 went within an hour (mind you I might have eaten a dozen before delivering them...).

My man is German. We spend a lot of time there an in Austria at our flat and luckily I love the rich food. I've tried buying German cookbooks and attempting to translate them but the problem is that I can't find the right ingredients here. Sometimes I can find them in Polish shops, but it's just so hard. Then I found Modern German Food by Roz Denny. I've made a couple of things from it and can actually find everything in need on Ocado.

I decided to make Reibekuchen mi Katenspeck un Kaese - potato pancakes with katenspeck (bacon) and cheese. It seems like a good idea as I peeled the potatoes and then I realised that I gave away my food processor when I left the US because it wouldn't work here. I then had to grate 2.5kgs of potatoes by hand! These little pancakes took me 2 hours to make. Luckily my little Master T slept then whole time. But hardly a productive way to spend 2 precious baby-free hours.

The result was worth it. These little pancakes were delicious and a couple of German mums commented on how good they were. The man's verdict? Nice but too fatty - from the man who loves pork crackling!

Cracking the Victoria sponge

I can't explain why but I've been truly afraid of baking a Victoria sponge. I've baked since I could talk but never a sponge. My maternal grandma and great grandma were both famous for their sponges, as they're called in Australia. Both used a slightly different recipe one with 4 eggs, the other with 3. One with custard powder, one without. My mother prefers the less eggy recipe of my great grandma (which is the Fielder's sponge off the cornflour packet) so this is the one I chose to tackle first.

With a brunch invitation last weekend it was time to attempt this baking triumph. Stupidly I started at around 10pm the night before. I followed the recipe beating all eggs perfectly, lining and flouring the tin. I put the mix in the oven and held my breath for 17 minutes.

Initially I was not disappointed, the cake had risen perfectly and was beautifully even. But it quickly sank in the middle. I admitted defeat, texted my mum saying it was all over. We'd be eating a fruit platter tomorrow. But to my surprise, and delight, the next morning I unwrapped the tea towel and underneath was a beautifully flat sponge! I carefully cut it in half, spread the lower half with strawberry jam and whipped (a bit over whipped sadly) fresh cream, and then topped with more cream and fresh British strawberries. It really was good and my friends really appreciated it. Silly I know, but I kind of feel that I've accomplished the ultimate goal of a baker since my pavlovas are damn good too.

Of course I'll share the recipe with you! Here's the Fielder's Famous Sponge recipe here. Enjoy!

My new toy

In a quest to make perfectly decorated cupcakes I purchased a squeezy bag type cake icing kit. The very first time I used it the bag split and I was in the middle of making cupcakes for Master R's birthday party at nursery. I was very peeved to say the least. I kept researching and found this cake and biscuit (cookie) gun type decorator. I'd read mixed reviews on Amazon but decided to give it a try.

These mini cupcakes were the first attempt. These are bite sized cupcake wrappers and a bit of a pain to spoon all the mix into them. Problem solved - add the mixture into the gun with the largest nozzle and squeeze it in. Icing them took a bit of practise and most of these were done one handed with squirmy Master T on my hip. But the decorator is really easy to use and user friendly.

Included in the set is a set of biscuit molds. I couldn't quite get the concept of them until I actually used them. They are little metal plates with cutouts which create different shapes as you squeeze the biscuit mix through creating "press cookies". I used this recipe but I didn't put the egg white on top.

It was so much fun! The cookies are really small and thin. I overcooked the first lot as you can see in the picture. They're a bit brown for my liking. They only need 6 minutes in the oven.

They are a lovely little biscuit and very elegant looking for gifts. Next time I make them I'll halve the recipe (it yields 8 dozen! I was sick of the sight of them and so were our neighbours) and make little hearts which I'll half dip in chocolate.

Super quick homemade ice cream

Source: Unholylab

Most of you know that I'm an ice cream addict. I've tried so hard to stay away from it recently because I know that I can't stop until I eat the whole tub! I just keep thinking of all that sugar and fat going through my milk into Master T. But today I felt like some ice cream and I recalled a quick recipe that my mother used to make. It's super quick and super easy. It's also low fat, and doesn't contain any of the nasties that commercial brands contain.

All you do is freeze a tin of low fat evaporated milk. Allow to soften slightly, add a 300ml tub of low fat double cream, approx. 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tsp natural vanilla essence and whip with a hand mixer but not too much - you don't want whipped cream. Freeze. Once frozen allow to soften slightly and then whip again. I just used a fork and then froze again until firm and ate! The more you freeze and then whip the fluffier it becomes but I found just the once was fine.

Just omit the vanilla and add any flavour. I'm going to grate some dark chocolate and add cocoa. Can't wait!

Yummy quick meal - Pesto Pasta

Source: Peas.org

Just wanted to share this fantastic dish with you. I just made it for lunch and it was a hit. It includes all Master R's favorite foods, peas, sausages, pasta, cheese and tomatoes and is quick to throw together. Despite the sausages it feels healthy and virtuous. Enjoy!

Pesto Pasta

Ding dinners with a difference

Source: Savvymom

Since I've made the decision not to have a fulltime nanny something had to slip. And it's my diet. My diet has been crap lately. I'm lucky if I can grab a slice of toast and protect it that from Master R's greedy fingers.

So I signed up for Pure Package meal delivery service. I get 3 meals a day plus two snacks. The food is all fresh and I'm really enjoying having meals ready to just rip off the cover and scoff. Only the evening meal requires heating. The portions are huge, sometimes too big. But I feel virtuous knowing that I'm getting the required fruit and veg. If I go out for lunch I just give Mr M the meal I've missed.

The only issue is that sometimes I just feel like a slice of buttery raisin and fennel toast and a cup of tea. And that's exactly what I'm having for dinner tonight. Bon appetit!

Tuesday is bake day

Source: The Australian

Master R is obsessed with cooking. He stands up on his little stool next to the bench and insists on mixing and of course eating. An idea I stole from another wonderful blog is to have a cookie of the week. The mama blogger lets one of her 3 children choose a cookie and they bake it together. With no classes on a Tuesday it has become bake day. I'll try to post what we've baked and share the recipe.

These are an old favorite passed down from my grandma. ANZAC biscuits* were developed to send to the Australian and New Zealand Army Core while serving in Gallipoli.

*Biscuits are not savory like in the US but are just the British word for cookies.


ANZAC biscuits
1 cup plain flour
1 cup dessicated coconut
1 cup oats
1 cup dark sugar
125g butter
2 tbs golden syrup (you can find this in some stores around Battery Park)
1 tsp bicarb soda

Preheat oven to 180C/350?F. Combine all dry ingredients. Melt butter and golden syrup and add to the dry ingredients along with bicarb soda dissolved in 2 tablespoons of boiling water. Mix well and using a teaspoon form into balls - careful they really expand. Bake for about 10 minutes until golden.

How not to entertain your toddler

Master R loves cooking. He's actually really good at helping me in the kitchen. He gets up on his step at the bench and mixes, measures and pours. He gets so excited about it! I made a big error yesterday though. Forgetting that toddlers need instant gratification and don't understand the word "wait" I thought he'd enjoy some jelly*.

He had so much fun stirring and stirring. I was very anxious about the hot water. But the problem started when he just didn't get the bit where it needs to set in the fridge. We had massive tantrums and tears. It took ages for him to forget about it and stop opening the fridge.

You should have seen his face that evening when I gave him some jelly! He was really excited to see how it had set and wobbled.

Today we baked a scrumptious orange cake together. A much better idea - he can lick the bowl and spoon then in 45 minutes eat a slice of cake. Later he got to make the icing and lick the bowl again! (Must post the recipe for the cake we baked. It's an orange cake made with 2 full oranges - skin, pips and all! Yummy!)

*Sorry I don't know the American word for jelly but I think you call jam jelly? I'm sure you'll understand what I mean from the picture.

Two delicious adult main courses

I really hope Mr M doesn't get used to this but the past couple of nights I've really outdone myself in the kitchen.

In NYC I was a big FreshDirect.com shopper and here I swear by Ocado.com - very similar as far as quality. What I love most is the recipes section where you can add all the ingredients directly into your shopping bag. Such a time saver! I tend to add a couple every time I shop. Most are just OK but these two were delicious!

Source: Ocado.com

Sunday night was the Beetroot Rosti with Smoked Trout. Normally we're not big fish eaters but I'm really trying to add more to our diets. These seemed like a quick and easy dish for a Sunday night when I don't really feel like cooking. It was really yummy and even Mr M wanted seconds after initially screwing up his nose at the smoked trout. The true test was the next day when Master R picked out all the fish and threw away the rosti. Mr M and I actually discussed it the night before and were 100% certain that he'd eat the rosti and throw the fish. Such a little carnivore.

Source: Ocado.com

Monday night (and leftovers Tuesday - hurrah!) was the Blanquette du Veau. However here in the UK it's really difficult to get veal as people don't think it's PC so I substituted with sirloin. I was running a little behind so I ended up simmering the meat and veg for 1 1/2 hours but I don't think it made much of a difference.

This meal was one of the top 5 I've ever made. I served it with mashed potato and it was truly devine. I just finished my leftovers now and I wish I'd made more. It was well worth the slaving in the kitchen that's required. It would also be a good crockpot/slow cooker recipe (Mama V, I hope you're using mine!). Just throw it all in and set to low and 6 hours later it's done.

Master R also loved it and ate all the veggies and meat! He also watched me peel, steam and mash the potatos continually saying "tato, tato, tato". So sweet!

Tricking kids to eat veggies

Fruit is no problem. Master R devours half a punnet of strawberries on the way home from the supermarket and stands screaming and pointing at the fridge for blueberries. But veggies are another story. He loves meat (really loves meat!), rice, pasta, bread, oats you name it but I do struggle to get him to eat even a cherry tomato. I worry that he's not getting enough vitamins and minerals and constantly think of ways to add veggies to things without him knowing.

For example his favourite meal is penne bolognaise. He scoffs down the mince like he was starving. So last time I made it as well as the onion, garlic, mushrooms and tomatoes I normally add I also grated a couple carrots and finely chopped a capsicum/pepper. The carrot was incredible. It just disintegrates down to nothing and you can't taste it. The capsicum/pepper made it a bit sour so I won't add that in the future.

I was thinking of other ideas today when I remembered this old favorite my mother used to make for us kids - corn fritters. We loved them and would smother them in tomato sauce/ketchup and gobble them up. The corn is so nice and sweet that your kiddies will think they're eating sweets. They're rather healthy too if you cook them in just a little oil in a non-stick pan.

Corn Fritters
1 cup unbleached flour (you could also use wholewheat)
1tsp baking powder
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
1tsp vegetable oil
1 cup corn kernels (I just cooked some frozen corn)

Mix all ingredients except corn until smooth, add corn. Heat non stick pan with a little oil or butter. Fry in batches.

Yum, yum. I made up a batch this afternoon (shown above) and ate a couple for an afternoon snack.

Now the issue of hiding veggies in your cooking is hotly contested. I discovered this when I nearly bought Jessica Seinfeld's book Deceptively Delicious. A few dieticians/nutritionists (can't find the links now) were saying how bad it was to hide vegetables in food because kids don't learn to eat them. Instead you should allow them to see what they're eating and learn to love them. I wonder how many of them were just jealous of Jessica's success? Her book was bound to be a success given who she is! Of course Oprah would endorse it. She's Mrs Jerry Seinfeld afterall.

I can see the point though. If they don't like carrots and don't know they're actually eating them in my bolognaise how will they know they're eating them? So I didn't buy Jessica's book but I think I have my own solution. I'll hide veggies in things half the time and give them to him openly the other half. Eventually he'll learn to love them as much as I do - well that's the plan anyway.

Weaning mama

Source: Childbirth Connection

Sunday morning Master R awakes at his usual time of 6:30am and starts calling out "mama!". I stumble into his room semi awake and bring him back to our bed, bring down the strap of my nighty and put my breast to his mouth. Nothing unusual yet. But then instead of suckling ferociously as usual he chomped on me and started screaming! I tried again and nothing. He was refusing the breast.

I took him to the kitchen and poured milk into his sippy cup, returned to bed and he gulped it down in less than a minute, returned to bed and slept for another hour. He might have been content, I was devastated.

While I know that now I'm pregnant weaning was inevitable. I had just imagined switching from one baby to the next. I really enjoyed those morning feeds and cuddles. But Master R has had the final say on this matter, as usual!

Don't Brits eat ice cream???

Source: Haagen-Dazs

I can't believe this. I've looked in three different Tescos and 2 Sainsburys, 2 M&Ss ("we don't even have a freezer") and multiple little newsagents/food stores and I CAN'T FIND ICE CREAM!!!

Two years ago when I lived in London I could buy it, although not in the variety of flavours offered in New York. Now I can't buy it for love or money. And it's all that I really crave as I head into my second semester. What is better than sitting on the sofa watching late night TV and eating a pint, yes a whole pint, of ice cream? Hmm I can't think of much.

I do eat healthy 90% of the time but enjoy my little indulgences in moderation. 1 pint really is in moderation. Just don't look at the calories on the back!

A friend in Notting Hill can buy it at her local supermarket so I'll visit her later in the week and buy a few to keep me going for the next month.

It's tea time!

Google kindly email me notifications of all blogs and websites that link to Brittique. I check them all and enjoy discovering new blogs who have discovered Brittique. Recently a blogger had linked to the new Emma Cook collection and commented on all the items she wanted.

When I read through the blog though it was not just on fashion but a starvation journal. This poor, troubled girl dairied everything she ate (or didn't) while other disturbed people congratulated her on only eating 1 tablespoon of ice cream, half an apple and litres and litres of black coffee a day followed by hours at the gym. Of course she'd have major slipups - her body was starving! - and she would punish herself by eating less and exercising more.

The blogger's thinspiration was the many images of catwalk models with their skeletal figures plodding down the runways. The fashion industry has a responsibility and I hope all the press of the size zero model doesn't quiet down and more is done to promote a healthy image.

I'm doing my bit. I'm working at my desk with a a fresh warm slice of my homemade banana cake with a weak, black Earl Grey tea. Here's to the fashionistas who eat!