While having agriculture at its core, the Royal Canberra Show has broadened over the years to reflect more entertainment, educational features and exhibitions, ensuring that there is a vibrant mix of "city meeting country" and "country meeting city". Allow me please to introduce my friend, fellow cook and food blogger, Jane Smith a.k.a. The Shady Baker. Jane lives with her husband, Terry, and their young family on a sheep property in Western New South Wales. Jane and Terry are both fourth generation sheep farmers and their main family business is in wool, beef and lamb production. On the property, sheep are slaughtered and prepared by Terry for the family's own consumption, while Jane has a keen interest in baking bread and growing fruit and vegetables. I'm delighted that Jane has agreed share her method for roast lamb served with summer vegetables, hummus and sourdough rolls with us, just in time for the weekend. So, let's take a drive out into the country with Jane and Terry, and enjoy a baked dinner with them. Read more about Jane and her love of food at her lovely blog. Affogato [a-fa-ga-to]: Noun. A delicious beverage comprising a large scoop of premium quality vanilla bean ice cream with a freshly extracted shot of espresso coffee poured over it. On our travels here and there, Peter and I will often seek out cafes on a quest for good coffee. My caffè of choice is a double shot macchiato with a splash of extra milk. There are times, however, when I'm craving an affogato. More often than not, Peter will order me an affogato, but (dependent on the cafe and our location) there are occasions when he says 'Don't be silly, they're not going to know what that is here!'. My somewhat indignant response to this is usually, 'Well then, I'll explain to them how easy it is to make one.'
I've been terribly fond of cherries all of my life and consider myself fortunate to have been able to devour many a bowlful (with gusto, I might add) over the last five decades! Regular readers of Good Things will know that Peter and I indulged in a cherry adventure in Young, New South Wales during the weekend of the annual Cherry Festival. Australian growers had reported a bumper season and I was keen for Peter to experience cherry picking, a delicious pastime that I'd shared with my children when they were little. Needless to say, Peter loved it too! Despite having a bellyful of cherries and cherry wine, we were also on the hunt for a really good cherry pie.
In my kitchen this month are some superb figs purchased from Guiseppe and Magdalena di Cerbo, who travel to Canberra from Berri every Saturday to sell their fresh produce. Peter and I enjoy eating them fresh from the hand, as they are so good, they never seem to last long enough to make it into my cooking!
Among the many highlights of the National Multicultural Festival are the numerous Middle-Eastern stalls and the morsels of exotic food and drink they have on offer. As Peter and I made our way through the crowds, we came upon a stall hosted by The Cultural Section of The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Canberra. The gentleman on the stall handed us a cup of exquisite iced water that he referred to as 'Persian limon'. Having just devoured a platter of Greek lamb, octopus and fetta-laced salad, this beverage was the perfect thirst quencher on a searing hot afternoon. As more and more people gathered around there was no time for photographs, nor did I manage to ask the fellow his name. But I did quickly ask what was in his drink.
Sunday at our place was a relaxed tracksuit, newspapers and blueberry hotcakes kinda day. We'd both been a little unwell through the week and, although some (kind) invitations had come our way, we declined politely and relished in having a day indoors all to ourselves.
I believe there's not enough down time these days and it's little wonder that so many people are tired much of the time, myself included. It's all crazy busy and go, go, go. Of course, it's fun to get out, socialise, see friends, meet new people and do things; but it's also ever so fine and dandy to simply kick back and have a pyjama day. Tonight I will bruise |
Welcome...Üdvözölöm
Cooking and writing have been a lifelong passion. Join me as I share with you my favourite recipes; postcards and morsels from my travels; conversations with cookery writers and chefs; and news on food, cookbooks and cooking. - Liz Posmyk
All
NB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
|