winosandfoodies

I Heart You - #9

I HEART MANGO

......and

Rose Petal and Chocolate Black Sesame seed Valentine from Alessandra

Heart of Pasta from Jeanne at Between Hemispheres

Project 365 - Week 8

Week 8 of Project 365 complete. You can see all photos at winosandfoodies-Project 365 or at my Flickr account.

Mango Ginger Dessert Recipe

Over the weekend, the plan was to make the Mango Refrigerator Cake  featured on  New Asian Cuisine.  Along the way, somehow  it morphed into something totally different. It doesn't look as stunning as the original but the taste was sensational.

For something a little different serve it as a deconstructed dessert.

MANGO GINGER DESSERT

1 large ripe mango, peeled and sliced

6 sponge fingers

1 cup ginger beer

250 grams mascarpone

100 ml of thickened cream

1 cup icing sugar

1/4 cup of sliced candied ginger

METHOD

Blend mascarpone and cream together. Add icing sugar and mix until all lumps are gone. Fold in the ginger.

Break or slice sponge fingers into small pieces and dip in the ginger beer. Place in the bottom of a glass.

Top with some of the cream mixture.

Add mango slices to top.

Serve. This amount will make enough for 6 people. 

The photos I took over the weekend were a disaster so these were a couple I quickly snapped today before we ate the last two.

Don't forget to purchase your ticket in the H2OPE For Haiti raffle.

Hope For Haiti Raffle

Would you like to win this book?

You can by making a donation for the H2OPE for Haiti raffle organised by Jeanne at Cooksister. 

I have donated the book UNDERSTANDING CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHY by Bryan Peterson.

Suitable for photographers, this book shows how to capture subjects in innovative fresh ways - from animals and plants, to objects found in the kitchen, the supermarket, even the local tip. It offers information on equipment, exposure, light and composition.

The following links will tell you the background to  H2OPE for Haiti and how you can help by purchasing a raffle ticket. The code for this prize is HFH09

1.    A full  list of the prizes.

2.     How you can donate and purchase a raffle ticket.

3.    The charity that will benefit from this raffle.

4.    The cost of each raffle ticket is approx GBP6.50 (approx US$10, AU$11)

5.    All information about the raffle  is available at Cooksister.

Thank you for your support. The raffle runs from 21 - 28 February. How many tickets would you like?

Protecting Your Images

There was a time when when you could leave your house unlocked and know no one would enter and steal your possessions.  Things change and now most of us lock our houses to protect our possessions.

There was a time when you could leave your car unlocked on the street and know it would still be there when you got back. Things change and now you not only lock your car, you install an alarm.

There was a time when you could post a photo on your blog and know no one would steal  it. Things change and now you need to protect your images from the thieves.  It doesn't matter how much you bitch about it, you won't change the behaviour of the thieves who steal your images. You need to find a way to make it difficult for them to take something that doesn't belong to them.

Here are a few links with some suggestions of how you can protect your images.

About.com

Go Daddy

Digital Photography School

But as they say the only way to stop an image being used without your permission is not to put it on the internet in the first place.

I Heart You - #8

...and you know I love my books. Which book is this you are wondering? It is a book I bought for myself at Christmas - The New Portuguese Table by David Leite. Bryan's maternal grandmother was Portuguese. Sadly I never had the opportunity to discuss food with her.

Nite Swimming posted these dear little heart boxes.

Project 365 - week 7 round up

Week 7 playing with effects complete.  Onto week 8, I don't have a theme in mind yet.

Pancake Tuesday Recipe

 

It is that time of the year again. Known in religious circles as Shrove Tuesday, it is the eve of Lent.

Pancakes are made to use up all your guilty pleasures, including butter, flour, milk, and eggs - the ingredients of pancakes.

We added a little maple syrup to ours today.

...and a little more till it ran over the sides of the plate.

My favourite Robert Carrier crepe recipe.

Ingredients
75g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 medium eggs
30 ml melted butter
150ml milk

Method
Sift flour and salt into bowl.
Beat eggs, stir into flour mixture with butter.
Add milk.
Strain, stand for 2 hours.

Then cook. You do know how to cook pancakes don't you?

ENJOY!!!!

I Heart You - # 7

Bleeding Heart

There are hearts all over the internet this week for Valentines day.

Diced Heart from my friend Rosemary.

 
I Heart Cookies from the sweetie  Chris at Mel Cotte

 ..and from Kristen at Dine and Dish ...a Heart amongst Chocolates

The Sunshine Award

Kat, who writes about her life in Japan at  Our Adventures in Japan has awarded me the  Sunshine Award . Please drop by her blog to see the 11 other bloggers who also received Sunshine Awards. Thank you Kat.

Project 365 - Week 6 Round Up

Week 6 of my Project 365 is complete.  I have used an effect in Picassa to achieve the high lighted colour. The photos can be viewed individually at my Project 365 blog.

This coming week I'll be exploring more of the effects in Photoshop.

Things To Say To your Children

Today I was looking  through boxes for a photo when I  came across this Good Parent Litany. The paper is old and yellow, and I remember cutting it from a magazine when my boys were tiny. With so many new babies born to food bloggers recently, and more    on the way, I thought some parents out there might find it strikes a cord.

Say to your children

I love you.

I'll take care of you.

You're special to me.

I want you.

You can trust me.

I'll always be here for you.

It's not what you do, but who you are that I love.

You don't have to be afraid anymore.

My love will make you well.

I'm proud of you.

You can trust your inner voice

Sometimes I'll say no to you and that's because I love you.

I thought I'd share these photos.  Why is it so hard to get two kids posing perfectly for the one photo. I can't believe Bryan and I were so young....with my '80's hairdo and Bryans '80's moustache.

Grasshopper Dinner for Brisbane Food Bloggers

No, there were no grasshoppers on the menu. Last night Todd, at Grasshopper,  kindly hosted a dinner for Brisbane Food bloggers. Our part was to enjoy the food, meet other food bloggers and make a donation to the The Little Lantern Foundation.

I should have known everyone would take their big cameras to a food blogger dinner.  I was the odd one out with my tiny point and shoot. Here are a few photos of the evening - the people, the food and the chef.

Always check the dessert before starting the night. That way you'll know to save room for the last course.

THE PEOPLE

Seated opposite me, Mel and Julia.  Mei Yen popped down from the other end of the table for a chat. I'm looking forward to meeting up with her on Thursday.

Sarah playing with Haikel's very big camera.

on my right...Haikel

THE FOOD

Sashumi of yellowtail kingfish with ponzu vinaigrette and tomato salsa

Beef tataki with potato salad, quail egg and lemon vinaigrette

Japanese scallop with duck ma hor, crisp prosciutto, daikon and wasabi puree

lime and chili sorbet with chili/lemon zest sherbet...hothothot

Lamb cutlet with prawn mousse, sweet potato and wasabi mash, soy beans and lamb jus gras

Slow braised beef cheek cooked for 6 hours in Vietnamese style aromatic stock with coriander and chili polenta cake and baby vegetables. An amazing dish where the meat was so tender it just fell apart.

Coconut and white  parfait infused with kaffir lime leaves, served with berry consomme and basil seeds. There is a secret surprise in this dessert. But you'll have to go to Grasshopper to find it. I would spoil it if I told you what it was.

THE CHEF

.....and finally...... the master of the evening Head Chef Minh Le with our host Todd from Grasshopper. Follow Todd on Twitter at @lovegrasshopper to get updates on what's happening at Grasshopper.

Visit Eat Drink + Be Kerry for more photos. You'll see Bryan and I right down the end of the table.

....  and meemuncher  for her impressions.

More from Sarah at iatebrisbane.

DISCLAIMER: This is not a review, just my impressions of a great meal with a group of new friends. We were not asked for anything in return apart from a donation to  the Little Lantern Foundation. 

grasshopper * 36 Vernon Terrace *  Teneriffe * Brisbane * phone (07) 3252 8622

I Heart You #6

Fruit Mince Heart Tart

and isn't this beautiful from Sarah

Project 365 - week 5 round up

35 days = week 5 complete. To see original photos visit my Project 365 blog.

Have You Seen Today's Courier Mail?

"Cos I'm in it. I'm the featured home cook in their brand new Taste magazine section.  I'm pretty chuffed to be in a magazine with my favourite Masterchef judge, Matt.

We were up early this morning as I wanted to get some sunrise photos for my  Project 365  blog. So early,  by the time we had walked back from the beach the newsagent wasn't even open. I hope we didn't look too needy  standing outside  waiting for them to open to buy our Courier Mail.

The lemon tart in the photo is from The French Kitchen by Joanne Harris and Fran Warde. I love this particular lemon tart recipe as it doesn't require blind baking the pastry first.

UPDATE: Here is a copy of the article. (click to enlarge)