Manna from heaven: cooking for the people you love
by Rachel Grisewood. Published by Allen and Unwin, Australia November 2009.

Loving how earthy and friendly this book is. The photographs are on the rustic side of styled with some sweet ‘crayon’ drawn illos to add to that family flavour of this book.

Rachel Griselwood is a london born london trained chef who moved to Australia – working and traveling – living the good life that Australia has to offer before setting down with her ‘Manna from Heaven’ bakery and treat shop in Sydney. However this book is all about cooking for family – her first love – the great feeling you get from nurturing and tending to your loved ones – we all know about that don’t we.

This gloriously big book, is full of satisfying family friendly fare – Each chapter takes you on a different journey in Rachels life – she takes us on a discovery tour with her first mouth watering treats that she baked out of her home kitchen to the lovely tartlettes [pdf download to recipe for tomato tart] she developed for trendy sydney delis to her big batches of Indian chutneys she made to sell.

There is a journey through her kitchen – with a story behind her favourite baking trays and tins – her favourite egg recipe to cook in her favourite red frying pan. The dinner party journey – the perfect fare for dinner with friends, dinner with family, her daughters favourite flat bread recipe, her best friends love of prawns, foods that trigger memories of her lost loved ones. A sentimental cook book – with a story behind each and every dish. But you don’t have to read it all – flicking back and forth through the book lands you on pages filled with lemon polenta cup cakes [pdf recipe download], a leaning tower of pisa sponge cake filled with cream and chocolate and raspberries.

There is a recipe in here that reminds me of my childhood – memories of farmers wives kitchens with soft creamy butterfly cakes – oh heaven …

Lemon Butterfly Cakes
recipe:
125g butter (room temperature – slightly softened)
180g caster sugar
185g plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
grated lemon zest (1 lemons worth)

Slice the rounded top of each of the cakes – making a slight indentation in the cake – and cut this top in half to make the wings. Dollop a little of the mock cream [or as I have done - use real whipped cream] place the little wings on top and dust with powdered sugar.

These are so light and tempting and delicious – too too yummy

Big Book of Verse for Aussie Kids

Jim Haynes. Allen and Unwin, Paperback, 389 pages

The Big Book of Verse is a fun book to read with Liam (my almost 4 year old). He enjoys the imagery, but he wishes there were some pictures in there… The poems are fun to hear, and fun to read, and already resonate with his ideas of the world.

This book is probably better suited for slightly older kids, there are many poems in here that we just have to skip over. I think it would be perfect for my niece and nephew (7 and 9) – and fantastic for in the classroom.

We read this one tonight, and it was probably his favourite. He asked me lots of questions though “What’s ‘gooze’?”
What hippos do by Anonymous

What can put a smile on a hippo’s dial?
What can make him run for a hundred mile?
No, it’s not a party with a paper hat
Or a cake and caramel that make him fat.

I’ll tell you
Just what hippos do…

They, ooze and gooze
They never get the blues
They wade in the water
Without any shoes.

I’m telling you
That’s what hippos do…

Allen and Unwin have agreed to send 3 of my readers (Australian only) a copy of this book. So please write in the comments your favourite kids author and books, contest will be open for 7 days – please use a real email address.

I made this angel food cake using a martha stewart cook book (here is a recipe online) – this is an amazing cake – it used 12 egg whites – and as we have our own chooks who are laying like crazy at the moment – I have been looking for a cake just like this. And yes it really is that white – just gorgeous – no egg yolks or butter in it to make it a creamy colour. – it has a sort of soft spongy texture and it sweet and light tasting. We like it with lemon curd or just on its own. It stays moist for a few days if kept covered.

recipe:
1 cup plain flour
1 1/2 cups caster sugar
12 egg whites (save the yolks for the lemon butter)
1 tablespoon warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven (325 fahrenheit or 160 celcius)
Sift the flour and half of the sugar together 5 times – keep it in the sifter as you will sift it into the mixture at the end as well.

Beat together the 12 egg whites with the warm water for a minute until just foamy, add in the salt, cream of tartar and vanilla and beat on medium speed until soft peaks form, (3 min). Then continue beating while adding in the other half of the sugar slowly. Beat on high for a 2 more mins until stiff and glossy.

Sift the flour/sugar mixture into the egg white in six parts, gently folding with a rubber spatula after each addition.

Gently dollop the batter into a 10-inch tube pan, smooth over and run your spatula through the batter to release bubbles. Bake for about 40 mins – until golden and springs back when touched. Let cool for an hour before running a knife around the edges to loosen it from the pan.

Lemon butter (curd)

This is Stephanie Alexander’s lemon curd recipe – I have tripled it here to use up all those egg yolks left over from the angel food cake.

recipe
12 egg yolks
2 cups castor sugar
180g unsalted butter (about 1 1/2 sticks butter)
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
300 ml lemon juice (about 1 1/2 cups)

This recipe makes about 3-4 medium sized jars of lemon curd. So first of all find your jars and lids and wash them – then sterilise them by filling them with boiling water.

This recipe really couldn’t be easier – the hardest bit is zesting the lemons – then it comes together so quickly – it will be ready before you know it.

Then zest and juice your lemons (about 5 lemons).

Whisk egg yolks and sugar until well combined but not frothy.

Tip egg/sugar mixture into a heavy-based non-reactive saucepan, add the butter, zest and juice.
Stirring constantly, bring to simmering point over a medium-high heat (about five minutes).
As soon as bubbles appear, remove from heat, still stirring. Allow to cool. Transfer to sterilised jars and seal.

Lemon curd / butter is perfect on scones, pancakes, pikelets, toast and bread. Or you can get fancy and make little tartlettes and top with whipped cream or meringue, or serve with the delicious angel food cake – or add to vanilla custard and turn into icecream – really the uses are endless!

Here is a recipe for my favourite breakfast muffins – super quick to make – eat them warm straight from the oven – send your kids to school with a full tummy and lots of energy for the day.

Semolina breakfast muffins

In a bowl mix 1 cup of finely ground semolina with 2 cups of milk (can substitute powdered milk and water), and 1 tablespoon of butter, and cook in the microwave for 3-4 mins stopping and stirring to prevent lumps. (don’t forget to turn on the oven – pre-heat to medium).

Add to this warm cooked semolina porridge – 2 beaten eggs, 2 dessertspoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, pinch of salt and 1 cup self raising flour (or if using plain flour add 2 teaspoons baking powder). Mix till goopy but not too thick – must be able to drop off the spoon – if too thick add a little more milk, if too runny add a little more flour.

Prepare muffin trays with paper muffin liners (spray with oil spray if worried about muffins sticking to inside of paper) – fill muffin liners to 3/4 – mixture should make 12 muffins.

Cook on medium heat for 15-20 mins – until golden brown on the top … eat warm

OPTIONAL – poke a couple of milk chocolate chips into the middle of each muffin before baking for a sweet surprise for the kids.

ALTERNATIVE – I have also made this very successfully using oatmeal porridge as a base instead of semolina porridge

With quite a lot of eggs and kids home for the holidays – I have been scanning for some inspiration. So I made up a batch of Stephanie Alexander’s lemon curd with lemons from a neighbours tree. With this lemon curd you can spread it on toast – homemade pikelets, with cream on sponge cake and pavlova (more uses for using up fresh eggs).

Speaking of scanning for inspiration – while looking at my fave food blogs I came across this semolina pudding with raspberry topping, I made it last night for dinner with varying success. I loved it – just that perfect amount of creaminess and berry sweetness. The boy had it without berries and loved the vanilla creaminess, the hubby loved it too and the daughter just liked the berries on top. It sure is hard to please everyone – so just please yourself and make this (I had the leftover pot for breakfast and it was devine cold).

by Kathreen Ricketson of whipup.net

The Way Back Home

Oliver Jeffers (Illustrator). HarperCollins Children’s Books 2008, Paperback, 32 pages, $4.26

This is one of the nicest kids books I have read. The pictures are beautiful, the story is beautiful. It is great. You really must read this. Am I gushing??

When I read this book, Liam and I were both captivated. The story is superbly told, and the pictures make it really special. Liam (my three year old) loves looking at the pictures and talking about what is going on. The story itself has some twists which is surprising in a picture book.

Pictures The book is almost too nice to give to the kids. Liam enjoys looking through it by himself too.

Story The story is fun to read and we have read it now quite a few times.

Adults reaction My wife and I both love this book. It has a very special quality

Kids reaction Liam really enjoys it. We haven’t given it a go with Henry (my 1 year old) yet.

Overall Awesome. Buy it.

Originally posted at whipup.net on 4th of July

School holidays are soon to be upon us – or are already in some parts of the world – for me its winter and for others its summer. Whatever season though – if you have kids you will need to think of some activities to keep them occupied. Here are my top 10 activities for kids to do in the holidays. These are things that 6 year olds and up can do without a lot of supervision – although there will always be questions and chatter. And best of all these activities are bound to keep them occupied for longer than an hour.

1. Reading and drawing takes up a lot of my kids time and I like to enable this by providing interesting drawing materials – nice pencils, fancy crayons, and lovely books.

2. I love sewing and usually my kids like to have a go if they think it looks fun – my daughter especially is into making her own clothes and with my recent sewing machine acquisition I was able to pass on my old machine to her. Why not let your kids experiment with making some costumes or dressing up the family cat.

3. Felting is another fun family craft – we went through a bit of a felting craze for a while – and the kids loved it – why not let them try needle felting or making some simple felt balls even felted soap – such a lot of messy clean fun.

4. Playing shop is a major favourite activity in our house – give them some materials to really make it authentic. Collect empty food packaging, cardboard boxes – they can even make their own currency.

5. puppets, masks and other dressup / theatrical opportunities can last all day. My kids are now directing their own movies using the digital camera. Hilarious.

6. Playdough has always been popular in our house – we make it ourselves and playing with warm fresh playdough is so tactile and nice. We have graduated slightly from this and now the kids beg me to let them play with real dough so they can bake funny shaped cookies and then eat them.

7. Paper crafts are also popular – give kids some recycled paper, scissors and glue and just sit back and watch. If you want to direct them or give them some creative ideas – try making flowers, boats, paper dolls and a doll house to go with.

8. The shower curtain playmat is a great idea – we do a papier mache version – making cubby houses and pretend houses – whatever your skill level as a parent – getting your kids to use their imagination and crafty skills will keep them happily busy for hours -

9. A yarn craze has entered our house – with competitions running for the longest finger knitting. We are doing 1 finger knitting, whole hand finger knitting, French knitting and are about to move onto bigger loom knitting projects.

10. Getting outdoors – this is a must no matter what the whether. Collecting leaves, stones and bits of bark to make things with later – try rock painting, bark boats and nature collage. So many possibilities.

When I am looking after the boys, I am always looking for things to do. I make sure I prepare for these adventures with plenty of fruit, sandwiches, crackers and drinks. My boys are big fruititarians. The first time I was stuck somewhere with a hungry 1 year old, I decided to never do that again.

Go to the Melbourne Zoo

My boys love this – always something different to see – I like to mix it up and spend quality time with a couple of different animals in a different part of the zoo each time – Liams favourite at the moment is the tigers. We have just recently been spending some time with the the Great Apes too. They are a lot of fun to watch. With an annual family pass this makes return visits to the zoo very economical, and a lot less stressful. I don’t feel like we need to see everything to get the value for our pass.

Melbourne Museum

We always start with the forest exhibit here. They love it. It is clearly a sign that we need to do more camping… After the forest, my boys love the interactive kids area here. It is extremely popular with stay at home mums and gets very busy on school holidays. Its a really good, safe and interesting place for the kids to explore while you meet your friends for coffee. And is interesting for adults too – the kids area is fabulous, but so are some of the other areas – especially the bugs – with its live ant and cockroach farms – what more could kids possibly want – great for rainy days too – and the 96 tram stops right out front.

Tram ride to St Kilda

My boys love riding the tram so heading out to st kilda for the day is pretty fun. once you get past the tourist coffee shops and head to the boulevard, the beach, the sand the open spaces for the kids to run and feel the wind in their face. Also the st kilda luna park is pretty exciting for them – there are rides for all age groups – its free to go in – you just pay for the rides you want – from the old fashioned merry-go-round to the pretty hairy rickety old roller coaster with views over the sea.

A bike ride along the Merri Creek trail

This is such a beautiful path, and is really a lot of fun to ride along. We ride with a bike trailer, which is occasionally a bit awkward as there are some quite narrow spots. But, there are some great things to see for boys. Our favourite spot is Coburg Lake, which is this beautiful little valley nestled on one side by a cliff and the lake, and on the other by a steep wooded slope. They really love playing with the ducks and running away from the geese (closely supervised, I am really not sure about those geese…) And there is a great little playground too.

Swimming at the pool

Coming into summer, we have just started occasionally swimming at the pool in nice weather, and we have also signed up for weekly swimming lessons. I am quite excited about that. When we are at the pool, Liam loves to walk around and do splashing and show me how he does his favourite thing. Henry mostly likes me to hold him and to help him float along (but not on his back!). After an hour of being in the pool, they are both exhausted and ready for lunch.

If you have any other things that they like to do around your city with your kids, I would love to hear about them in the comments.

101 Ways You Can Help Save the Planet Before You’re 12!

Joanne O’Sullivan. Lark Books 2009, Paperback, 144 pages, $6.90

This is fun interactive and colourful book aimed and kids and parents with a curiosity for helping the environment. With simplified facts and stats, lots of online resources and practical advice, this book is relevant and useful. Both my kids were interested in some of the ideas presented and liked the look of the various projects they could get stuck into (such as making a solar oven).

Kids are naturally curious and intelligent and aware, they ask questions and notice their surrounding, they are not yet jaded by impossibilities instead they are full of what is possible. They love to recycle, to go camping, to time their showers, to grow vegetables, make their own soap, keep a worm farm – these are all activities that are in the book and that will fuel your kids imaginations while teaching them about the environment.

Fantastic book – as an adult I also really appreciated the larger font, the fun photos, the short and to the point explanations – all perfect for this age group.

Book review by Kathreen Ricketson of whipup.net

Published in Australia by Allend and Unwin

A beautiful graphic novel suitable for older teens and adults. It considers some big picture ideas, of relationships, art and expectations. The Silence explores these ideas through beautifully rendered black and white drawings and bubble conversations between the characters – a couple on the road in search of the ultimate piece of art and the artist who created it. The author has a powerful ability to convey emotion and mood through his imagery and invariably leaves the reader with more questions than answers.

Book review by Kathreen Ricketson of whipup.net