Warm and Tasty Teriyaki Pork Buns

The other day I came across a recipe for Chinese Pork Buns. They looked so good that I wanted to try them straight away. Alas, this was not meant to be as I didn't have the ingredients for them. What I did have was the ingredients for Teriyaki Pork Buns, so I changed the recipe and went with what I had on hand.  I am so glad I did, as they were delicious - filling and hot when it was cold outside. You must try these and they are so easy to make!

Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons dried yeast into a bowl with 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 cup of warm water. Leave in a warmish place till frothy. Sift 2 1/2 cups of flour and 1 teaspoon of salt together in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add 1 tablespoon of butter or oil (peanut is best) and yeast mixture. (I used my food processor and wizzed it up to form a dough or you can do it by hand if you don't have a FP)  Kneed dough approx 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover and let sit in a warm place until double the size. 

Mix 500g finely diced pork, 1 onion and 1/2 cup of finely diced broccoli in a fry pan and and cook until meat is cooked and onions are translucent. Add 1 cup of teriyaki sauce (you can buy this at any supermarket) and stir until combined and take off the heat.

Now for the buns, place the dough onto a floured surface and kneed for 5 minutes. Divide the dough into 7-10 even pieces and roll each one into a circle. Place a teaspoon of the filling in each one. Gather the edges around the filling and twist at the top making sure it is secure. Then all that's left is to put your buns on a square of greaseproof paper and chuck them into a steamer for 10-15 minutes.

See, how easy is that! Not only can you make them with the above filling, but I also made some bolognese and cheese ones as well. Create any type of filling your heart desires and give them a go.

Please make these and enjoy.

Written by Tarran J

Book Review - Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I gave this book five stars because it was a very enthralling book. I loved the story of Agnes and I really wanted to find out what what actually happened that fateful night. If you are looking for a fast paced book then look elsewhere. The draw to this book is not the adventure but the gradual unveiling of the truth behind the murders. I loved how the family Agnes was placed with interacted with her. Hannah has written a beautiful book and captures the essence of this time and place. You just about feel the cold snow, smell the dung fires and fell your belly hunger from not eating.

Hannah has drawn from real life sources and while a few characters are fictional, most of these people existed and lived how Hannah described. A very interesting read and I couldn't put it down. I am very keen to read Hannah's next book when it is written and released.

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Collins Booksellers Edwardstown Online Store

My bookshop now has an online store. So many wonderful books and products are on there and will be added in the future.

Go check it out!

http://collins-booksellers-edwardstown.myshopify.com/

Garden Treasures

Garden Treasures 

There are so many things that we usually chuck out that we can recycle or upcycle again, especially in the garden. These are some of the things that I use in my veggie and herb gardens. 

1) Toilet roll inserts – Those seemingly useless rolls that get chucked away when we change the toilet roll are fantastic for protecting seedlings. Just cut a toilet roll in half and bury it half way where you are planting then just pop a few seeds in the roll and fill roll loosely with dirt.

2) Pop Sticks – Great for marking out what vegetables are what. Just write on the sticks (after you’ve washed them) and stick it in the ground.

3) 1lt Milk Cartons – These are great for the greenhouse. Cut a milk carton in half and put a few holes in the bottom. Fill with potting mix (or garden dirt) and plant your seeds. When seeds are ready to transplant to garden you can just cut the carton and voila. The top of the milk carton can be used like the toilet roll inserts.

4) Egg Cartons – These can also be used to help seedlings sprout and they have the added benefit of just tearing away and you can plant them in the garden without damaging the roots.

5) Old cans – Just clean cans and drill a few small holes in the bottom. These can be used for gardens that are small or apartments.

There are more things that can be recycled/upcycled, you just have to use your imagination and the world will be your gardening oyster. 

           

Book Review - Reboot - Amy Tintera

Reboot by Amy Tintera
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A brilliant take on the zombie literature but with a twist.

This series is a duo. The first book ' Reboot' is due for release in Australia, June 2013.

After a virus and then war decimated the world, the surviours are rules by a organisation called HARC ( Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation) Food is scarce and so is medical treatment. When people die, if they have had the virus or even sometimes you hadn't, you may come back to life as a Reboot. The main character Wren is 178 - meaning she was dead for 178 minutes before she rebooted. This makes her one of the strongest Reboots in Austin. When you come back as a Reboot, you are stronger, faster, able to heal from wounds that would normally kill you and they are less emotional. The longer you were dead means the more powerful you become. Wren takes a chance on Callum a 22, and this starts a change inside her. She begins to question events that start to happen when the scientists start playing God with the Reboots.

A fantastic twist on the zombie genre as we get to read a story that isn't mindless killing (yet) and we get to see a different side to the undead. I am NOT a fan of zombies, I can not stand them. Saying that, I really enjoyed this book and am keen to see where the author takes it.

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Book Review - Pretty Girl Thirteen by Liz Coley

Pretty Girl Thirteen by Liz Coley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was both horrifying and fascinating. You really feel for Angie as she struggles to come to terms with alter egos that were made to help her survive her kidnapping. Not only do we see Angie grow, we see her dark depths and just how to human mind will go to cope with ordeals.

A very interesting read and i think this book will stay on with me for a very long time as I struggle myself to process what Angie went through. I have a little girl and this book really hit home about what some humans are like.

I believe that this book is not a young teenage book even though the character was 13 at the start of the book. It feels like a dark novel a 17+ would be able to cope with. Very intense and I really couldn't put it down!

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Hot Cross Buns - Awesome Style

Every time I've attempted to bake hot cross buns - they haven't turned out. I had nearly given up till I came across this recipe by author Michael Pryor. Michael writes fantastic novels for young adults, if you haven't read anything of his, check him out!! 

 

Anyways, I came across this recipe and it being Easter and all - decided to make them.

It is a bit time consuming, but then all good things are. These worked out perfectly!!! Soft and moist in the center, slightly crispy on the outside. Filled with a good dollop of real butter, they make a very tasty snack. I have eaten 3 1/2 so far (my daughter scored the other half) 

I did change the recipe a tiny bit to suit my tastes.

Ingredients

750g good bread flour. (I used ordinary plain flour)

100g butter, softened.

1 egg yolk.

2 tspn ground cinnamon.

1 tspn ginger, powdered

1 tspn ground nutmeg.

1 tspn ground allspice.

100g brown sugar.

Pinch salt.

2 sachets dried yeast.

2 cups of warm (not too warm) water. (I used 1 3/4 water 1/4 milk)

*If you want fruit in them, the add 2 cups*

Method

1) Mix together the flour, spices, salt, sugar, yeast, (fruit - if using) in a big bowl. Rub the butter through the flour/spice/yeast/fruit mixture till crumbly.

2) Mix water and egg yolk together and gradually add to the flour while mixing.

3) Combine everything together until it comes together. The mixture should start to come away from the sides of the bowl though you may need to add a little more flour at this stage.

4) Turn the mixture ball out onto a floured bench and knead for about ten minutes. The dough will begin to be shiny and elastic.

5) Wash out the bowl you used earlier and grease it with butter. Put the dough back in and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Leave to rise. This will take a couple of hours, the dough should have doubled in size.Then punch the dough down and knead it a little.

6) Divide the dough in half. Take each half and form into twelve balls.

7) To bake the buns, put them into a slightly greased baking tin and leave the buns to rise. Let them double in size this will be about an hour.

8) Make a batter of flour and water, pop into a piping bag and paint crosses on the buns. ( I used a glad bag with the tip cut off)

9) Cook in a 200C degree oven for 25 minutes.

As Mr Pryor suggests

Serve with butter, not margarine, for best effect.

Seriously, these are worth the time to make them! Go give them a try!!

Tasty Tuna and Corn Muffins

Sorry I haven't written anything for awhile everyone. I have been a touch busy the last few weeks. Now I am back and will continue to post about my culinary adventures.

I made awesome muffins today. They were tuna and corn and they were so quick and easy to make. I found the basic recipe from the insert of the Adelaide Advertiser, then I added my own touches :D

Muffin Base

2 cups self raising flour

1/2 cups of shredded cheese

125g melted butter

1 cup of milk

1 egg

1 small can of tuna

1 small can of creamed corn

Salt and pepper

Tbsp soy sauce

Method:

Mix everything together and make sure not to over blend. It is perfectly okay to have lumps in the mixture. Spoon into muffin tins/muffin paper cups and bake at 180C for 20 minutes.

Seriously, why are you still read?? Go and bake my pretties :D :D

Written by Tarran J

Best Blogs Comp 2013

 Hi all, I have entered my blog into the Asutralian Writer's Centre Best Blogs Comp for 2013. Can you please vote for it!!

Thank you :D
http://www.writerscentre.com.au/bloggingcomp/index.html

Tomato Chutney

Last month I made Tomato Chutney and now it is nearly ready! I am so excited to see how it tastes :D Has anyone else made their own Chutney and how did it turn out?

Book Review: Finishing School #1 Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Set 25 years before the parasol protectorate we see some of our familiar characters (in their younger forms) and we meet new people. Well written and just as funny as the previous series, we meet Sophronia Temminnick. She is a fourteen year old girl who is not very lady like, so her mother sends her off to finishing school. Only it's not like any old finishing school - it is an espionage school. I loved it and can't wait for the second one to come out.

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Homemade Bacon and Cheese Pull Apart

Today has been a day for baking. I found a recipe on a blog called Food Wanderings in Asia (a seriously fantastic blog) that made a awesome looking pull apart, so I decided to give it a go. Only I didn't have an Italian Loaf Roll and I couldn't be bothered going up to the shop, I made my own.

The bread roll turned out beautifully. In fact, I think it is the best handmade bread (I didn't use the breadmaker) I have ever made.

Now the recipe I got from Food Wanderings, I have changed a bit but it is still the basic recipe. I have linked the blog up on the first paragraph.

Here is the recipe for the pull apart.

1 Italian loaf, about 12 inches long 

Half a cup butter, melted

2 Tbsp olive oil

3 tsp minced onion

2-3 cloves garlic, grated

1 tbsp dijon mustard

1 bacon rasher, chopped finely

1 cup grated cheese

Preheat the oven to 200.C

Fry off the onion, garlic and bacon till just cooked then mix the melted butter, olive oil, onion, garlic, dijon mustard and bacon in a bowl. 

Cut the bread into cubes with X slices without cutting all the way through the bottom crust. 

Pour the butter-onion garlic mixture carefully into those cracks using a small spoon and over the top of the bread. Then fill the cracks with the grated cheese.

Wrap the entire loaf with foil, sealing the sides properly and bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove from the oven and unwrap, let cool down for 5 minutes before eating.

Written by Tarran J

The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society by Darien Gee

The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society by Darien Gee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a gentle read. I loved this book. The town of Avalon has its ups and downs and we follow the lives of 5-7 core people in the book. Each one is effected by the Avalon Scrapbook Society. A witty, emotional and very moving story. It brought a tear to my eyes a few times. You get to see how one person can effect so many people without knowing it and how we can grow as a human but interacting with others.

I would highly recommend this book and if you love scrapbooking (as I do) you will find inspiration it's pages. I know I have!!

I want to now read the Friendship Bread by Darien Gee which is set in Avalon as well.

View all my reviews

Best Citrus Icecream you will eat!

Last night I made the best ice cream I have done in ages. It was creamy, zingy and melt in your mouth. With a pleasant after taste to boot!! My recipe is so very easy to make and it only has 3-4 ingredients!!! You definitely have to try this ice cream.

Citrus Ice-Cream

Ingredients:

1 lemon

2 oranges

1 can of condensed milk

500g thickened cream

Method:

Juice the lemon and oranges. (If you want a stronger flavour grate a little of the peel and add that)

Whip the thickened cream until the cream has stiff peaks. Add the condensed milk to juice and cream and mix well. Put in an ice cream machine and let it do it's magic. The put mixture into a container and pop into the freezer to set.

There you have it! Easy, tasty and so smooth you will never go back. This type of recipe can be adapted for all types of flavours so experiment and let me know how it goes!!!

Fine Cooking Comfort Food: 200 Delicious Recipes for Soul-Warming Meals by Fine Cooking Magazine

Fine Cooking Comfort Food: 200 Delicious Recipes for Soul-Warming Meals by Fine Cooking Magazine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are some fantastic recipes that are so tasty in this book. I hate it when you buy a cookbook and only use 1 recipe. Well with this one you will find more than one you'll want to try.

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The World in Your Lunch box by Claire Eamer

The World in Your Lunch box by Claire Eamer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very interesting history on food. Kids will love to learn where some of their favourite foods come from and why they are called the things they are. Set out in a weekly planning style, you see science, history and recipes for 3-4 different food each day. This is one cook/history book for kids to look out for in Feburary.

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Iced Forged by Gail Z Martin

Ice Forged by Gail Z. Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. You get grabbed right from the start when you are confronted with why Blaine gets sent to Velant. You cheer him on but feel sorry for him at the same time. The characters were well written and the storyline was excellent. I finished this in two days and when I got to the end I was like omg, I have to wait to see what happens next!!!! All the elements of a good story are portrayed and you get to like and dislike characters.

A must read for fantasy fans or anyone who likes a great adventure!!

Book 2 is going to be epic!

View all my reviews

The Arcana Chronicles, #1 Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was really suprised by this book. I thought that it was just another of those teen romances with the supernatural thrown in as aan after thought. I was wrong! It has a strong storyline, strong hero's/heroines. At first the heroine is a bit ditzy but she pulls through but the time the poo hits the fan. The end of the world has come and the heroine has been having visions about it for years only to be told she is crazy. There is a war going on and the tarot arcana come into play and that's when it gets really good.

Dark, action driven and gritty. I look forward to book 2 coming out. Definatly read this series!

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Book Review - KGI series by Maya Banks

I have been reading a fair bit lately what with the trains being down and having to catch an hour long bus ride to get to work. Here are my reviews on Maya Bank's new KGI books/novellas.

Shades of Gray by Maya Banks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book nearly brought me to tears a few times, in fact it did. The is a well written book and finally shows us a side of PJ that we have never seen before. After a mission goes to hell, PJ quits KGI and goes hunting for revenge. I loved how this one shows that the darker side of human emotions can be tempered with the lighter side. A throughly good read and I am finding that this series is always suprising me. Each book doesn't seem to be the same story diferent characters like some of this genre. Also, all the heroines are NOT virgins. I'm not sure if that bothers anyone else but in some series they are all virgins who are 25+ in age.... not very realistic. Highly recommeded series.

View all my reviews Softly at Sunrise by Maya Banks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great little novella wrapping up Rachel and Ethan's story. Set when PJ goes awol in Shades of Grey it shows us how that couple has come along and that the damage done to Rachel is slowly being healed. Also, Rachel has come out stronger for it as she tackles a day from hell at work.

View all my reviews

I really enjoy this series and get all fan girl when a new one comes out. If you like Lora Leigh then you will love this series. 

Book Review - Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don't like zombies. Just stating that before I begin.

I don't like zombie but this book was really good. It starts off a bit oddly for me then somewhere, I am not sure where, you get hooked. I was on page 83 the night I started reading this book and was falling asleep but not wanting to stop. R is very dry at the start and you see the changes affecting after meeting Julie. M is a central character who you aren't sure you like. All the character's are well thought out and I loved the premise of the story but some points of the story didn't click for me. All in all, I really enojyed reading this book and would highly recommend it.

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Lactation Cookies

I have noticed lately a dip in my milk supply, so I started researching lactation cookies. These are what I came up with. They are so nice!!! Not only can I eat them to boost supply, but also anyone can too. My Little A loves them. 

Here is the recipe:

1cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons flaxseed meal

3 tablespoons of water
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

4 tablespoons brewer's yeast
3 cup rolled oats
1 cup chocolate chips

Soak the flaxseed in the water for a few minutes to soften.
Mix butter and sugar together then add the eggs, flaxseed and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and combine together. 

Drop on the cookie sheet and press gently with a fork.

Cook for 10-12 minutes at 190 degrees Celsius.

Written by Tarran J

Delicious Zucchini and Corn Fritters

These fritters were absoulutley fantastic!! I adapted a recipe I found on Taste.com.au

Ingredients:

• 1 tin creamed corn 
• 1 large zucchini, grated
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 onion, grated 
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups self-raising flour
• 1 cup grated cheese
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tspn worstershire sauce
• handful of bacon peices

Method:

1. Whisk together the corn, cheese, onion, worstershire sauce, bacon, zucchini, eggs and milk. Gradually stir in the sifted flour, salt and pepper then stir till combined.
2. Heat a little oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Using a tablespoon, place heaped spoonfuls of the mixture in the pan and cook in batches. ( I used my pancake maker which was brilliant) 
   
   
   Note: The fritters may seem undercooked inside, but it's the cheese that makes them seem like that.
    

 

Baking Day! Pizza Scrolls, Orange Cordial and Chicken Ravioli

Today has been busy! 

My Little A is teething and has been very clingy and whingy today but we still got quite a few baking projects done and in the freezer. First off we made orange and mango cordial from scratch. Omg, it is so much better than the store bought ones - and I know what is in it.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

2 cups of orange juice, freshly squeezed

1 mango, de fleshed and processed

2 teaspoons of citric acid

3 cups water

1 cup of caster sugar

Method:

Place all ingredients into the pot and bring to the boil. Let it simmer for 10 minutes and the water level drops a little. Then strain into heatproof bottles and place it into the fridge. I have used 1/3 cup of cordial to 3/4 cup water as I don't like my cordial too sweet.

Next project was the pizza scrolls. Now I cheated on these, I purchased store bought pastry and used those instead of making pastry for my scrolls.

Ingredients:

1 zucchini

1/2 capsicum

2 mushrooms, large

2 sheets of puff pastry

1/2 can of tomato paste

1 onion

1 cup grated cheese (use a hand grater or already grated cheese)

Method:

Place all the ingredients apart from cheese, pastry and tomato paste into the food processor (use the grater blade) and process. Wait for your pastry to defrost slightly then spread the tomato paste. Add the fillings and roll till you have a cigar shaped object. Using a knife, slice into desired thickness and put onto a greased tray. Bake for 15-20 minutes in a preheated oven set at 180 degrees C

For the chicken ravioli I used won ton wrappers instead of pasta. This gives them a really nice texture and flavour. 

Ingredients:

1 chicken fillet ( or 500g chicken mince)

1 capsicum

1 onion

1 zucchini

1 packet of won ton wrappers

1 can of chopped tomato's

Method:

Place chicken fillet, capsicum, onion, zucchini into a food processor and whizz until combined. Use the quad blade. Place half of the mince mixture into pan. Then separate the won ton wrappers and brush with water. Place other half of mince filling onto wrapper and place another wrapper on top covering the bottom one. Continue in this vein until you have as many won ton's you need. Steam or boil the won ton's until cooked through.

Cook the mince in the pan and stir through the chopped tomato's. Salt and pepper to taste. Spread over ravioli and serve with grated cheese. Enjoy!

Double Chocolate Pancakes

My pancake maker has seen vigorous use since I received it for Christmas. Little A loves her pancakes and you can make just about any type. Now last week I posted a blog about choc chip pancakes and they are seriously delish!! These ones take it a little further and I have doubled the quantity of batter as I found it wasn't enough to fill hungry bellies.

        Ingredients:

• 2 cups self raising flour
• 3/4 cup choc chips
• pinch salt
• 1 teaspoon bicarb soda
• 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 egg
• 1 cup milk with 1teaspoon vinegar/lemon juice
• 15gm butter, melted
• 1/2 cup chocolate powder  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1. Method:
2. Sift flour, chocolate powder, salt and bicarb into a bowl. Make a well in the centre and add sugar, egg, milk, vanilla, choc chips and melted butter. 
3. Stir mix until it is a smooth batter, adding more milk if very thick
4. Spoon mixture into the pan/ pancake maker to make 6cm round pikelets. 

  What are your favourite pancake flavours?

Brilliant Thai Chicken & Marinated Beef *Sausage Rolls*

Sausage rolls - I think most Australians have grown up eating pies and sausage rolls and we have had mostly two choices, Balfours and Villi's. While these two companies are good, homemade is always best. This is a highly adaptable food. You can make them plain or fancy them up. They don't have to be boring anymore or even made of sausage...  

There are a varity of different ingredients you can add to flavour your pastries. Here are two of my favourites.

Thai Chicken

Ingredients:

500g of chicken mince or 1 chicken fillet (if using food processor)

1 onion, finely chopped

2 slices of bread

1/4 cup sweet chilli sauce

1/2 cup corriander leaves

1 tbsp brown suagr

1 tbsp worstershire sauce

1 tbsp sweet sherry

1/2 tsp salt

3 sheets of puff pastry 

1 tbsp milk

Method:

1. Pre heat oven 190 degrees C. Put bread into a bowl of water to soak. Let stand for a few minutes then drain the water and squeeze bread till excess water has gone. Adding bread to the mixture will help prevent the meat from shrinking too much.
2. Place bread into a large bowl or food processor (use Quad Blade). Add mince, onion, chilli, worstershire sauce, sweet sherry, salt, sugar and coriander. Stir/pulse until well-combined.
3. Place a sheet of pastry on a flat surface. Place mince mixture down the long edge of pastry. Brush edges with cold water. Carefully roll to form a long sausage shape. Cut each into four small sausage rolls. With back of knife, flatten rolls slightly at 1cm intervals and score. Brush with milk. Repeat with remaining pastry and mince mixture.
4. Place onto greased baking trays. ( I wouldn't recommend baking paper as they stick hardcore to the paper.) Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden and cooked through.

Marinated Beef

 2 pieces of marinated steak

1 onion, finely chopped

2 slices of bread

1 cup of diced pumpkin

1 cup of diced capsicum

1/2 cup diced mushrooms

1 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp worstershire sauce

1 tbsp sweet sherry

1/2 tsp salt

3 sheets of puff pastry 

1 tbsp milk

Use the method stated for the Thai Chicken rolls and enjoy. If you don't have a food processor, ask the butcher to mince the meat for you or get some marinate powder from the butcher and buy some beef mince and just mix it together.

See, you can add just about any type of meat and veg and you know what has gone into making your *sausage rolls*

My other favourites are pork and apple, italian sausage.

Happy New Year!!

I hope everyone has had a safe and happy New Year's Eve and will have a prosperous 2013!!!!