Rum Balls

10 Dec 2012 Leave a Comment

by Emma in Recipes Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… well, the only Christmas-y thing we have done is make Rum Balls. Christmas day this year will be spent in Mozambique with my dad camping. So we are forgoing the tree, decorations & presents, and instead going exploring and camping. Just like we did when I was a kid. We are going to go snorkelling and eat seafood on the beach until we are so full we have to roll back to our campsite. I’m finally going to learn to scuba dive too.

But there is one tradition in our family that we couldn’t pass up. The making of and gorging on rum balls is a staple part of my families diet all through December. For as long as I can remember rum balls were made in quantities large enough to feed several neighbourhoods. Wrapped in cellophane and spread out to teachers, co-workers, friends and family as gifts, they were our family contribution to Christmas spirit.

So arriving in Johannesburg with a bottle of original Bundy Rum (my sisters Christmas present to my dad) and a bottle of limited edition Dark Oak Bundy Rum (my Christmas present to my dad), the first thing my dad said was “now we can make some rum balls”. And either my sister and I should have communicated better on our choices of gifts not to double up, or we know our dad so well that the only acceptable gift was as much Bundy Rum as I could carry into the country. I am going with the later, as there is nothing worse than living in another country and not having access to your favourite foods or drinks from home. Plus, through mine and my sister’s sensational ability to know just what dad would want, we were now able to make rum balls.

And our family Christmas tradition can live on, even if it is in another country.

Ingredients

Ingredients

Rum Balls

250g Weetbix

1 can of condensed milk

1 cup of cocoa

1 cup of shredded coconut

1 1/2 tablespoons of rum (although this is really flexible, so add what you want to suit your own taste)

extra coconut for rolling.

Method

Crush Weetbix in a mixing bowl. Stir in cocoa and coconut. Add condensed milk and rum. Using your hands combine mixture, then roll into small bite size balls. Roll in extra coconut. Place in fridge to cool. Then eat!!

Rum balls... & the benefits of being the one making them

Rum balls… & the benefits of being the one making them

 

The Panorama Route

25 Aug 2012 3 Comments

by Emma in Travel Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

South Africa usually invokes images of sweeping savannah bushveld, the ‘Big 5’, or on a political front, Nelson Mandela. But, South Africa is a country made up of much more than the wild life or violent past of apartheid. It’s a landscape steeped in history that is entwined with the spectacular views. The Panorama Route, nestled in the North East of the country, is a 285 km drive starting from the Western side of Kruger National Park, near the Orpen Gate and ending in the town of Sabie. It’s a drive that showcases dramatic scenery. From colourful mineral rich mountains, to waterfalls plunging from pool to pool, and valleys developed from the shifting fault lines over time, pushing the land higher into the sky.

Taking a tourist drive anywhere in Africa has never been high on my to-do list. African roads are generally appalling, nothing more than oversized sidewalks scattered with crater-like potholes. The South African government, along with the local communities on the route, have injected money into maintaining the roads, as well as facilities and services in a bid to entice local and international travellers to their stunning part of the world.

Standing on the edge of the rock plateau, I look out over the sweeping vista of the Blyde River Canyon and Three Rondavels (named for their resemblance to the traditional South African thatched roof hut). I can’t help but pause and wonder at the beauty before me, hidden so thoroughly from sight on the winding drive up through the range only moments ago.

Following on from the Blyde River Canyon, is the tourist stop of Bourke’s Luck Potholes. And there are a lot of tourists, with an information centre on the history of the area, monkeys running through the Braai (BBQ) and picnic area, and local handicraft stalls. The stallholders are friendly and happy to barter over prices of carved wooden or stone animals, beaded jewellery, fabrics, and prints.

There is one more stop to make, before my growling stomach announces it’s time to head to Graskop for a feed. Another panoramic view from the Wander View free lookout spot, or God’s Window, around the corner, with a tourist fee to enter. Both provide spectacular views across the ranges, perfect for posing in front of the camera for that, “I’m on top of the world” kind of photo.

Graskop is a bustling little town made for tourism. I’m thinking with my stomach though. So it’s straight to Harrie’s Pancakes, an institution in South Africa. In peak season, you have to ring and book a table in advance, due to the residents of Johannesburg escaping the city on a weekend getaway, and all going to Harrie’s to eat.

I’ve ordered the banana and cinnamon filled pancake with ice cream. Next door, is Chocolate, Shautany Chocolatiers, a decadent indulgence for my sweet tooth and an entrée to my pancake main. I test out the Macadamia covered Belgian chocolates, tempted by the nuts grown locally alongside the Panorama Route in the multitude of orchards. My pancake arrives, ice cream oozing onto the plate, and for a moment I can’t decide which is better: The food or the scenery I’ve driven through so far?

The Panorama Route well and truly lived up to its name.

 

 

Sushi!!

05 Jul 2012 Leave a Comment

by Emma in Bucket List Tags: , , , ,

#10 on my 2012 Bucket List was to learn to make Sushi. Tonight I fulfilled that goal.

Today at lunch I wandered up to the supermarket and picked up all the things I would need to make some sushi. Nori paper, soy sauce, wasabi, chicken and veggies. I already had rice and avocado at home and Dad & I decided to use ingredients we would both like.

Pretty stoked with my efforts for my first attempt at making sushi! They didn’t fall apart when picked them up and most importantly they tasted awesome!

A stroll down Bourke St

30 May 2012 Leave a Comment

by Emma in Travel Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It could be any other street in inner city Sydney. But Bourke St, between Dank St in Waterloo and Foveaux St in Surrey Hills is full of history, food and interesting sites everywhere you look. I took a stroll along Bourke St on my way into the city and was surprised at what I found…

Original Police Station

Bourke St Public School

Bourke St Public School Boys entrance

Bourke St Public School Girls entrance

Cafe seating soaking up the warm sunshine

Boulangerie – if you can, try the Chorizo, Potato and Leek soup with a wedge of fresh crusty bread for lunch

The Book Kitchen

 

2012 Really Late Bucket List

21 May 2012 2 Comments

by Emma in Inspiration, Travel Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I guess it’s better late than never. Making a Bucket List of all the things I’d like to do this year. It’s been easy putting one together. After sitting in front of my laptop all weekend typing assignments and with two weeks to go until the end of university for the semester, my mind easily wanders to the fun things I’d like to achieve in 2012.

So my bucket list for the rest of 2012:

1. Complete a 30 day Yoga challenge.

2. Watch the turtles hatch at Mon Repos.

3. Go to Tanzania (this is a cheat add-on to the list, because it is a new country I know I am going to visit soon).

4. Road trip all summer following wakeboard competitions and just generally hanging out in the sun and water.

5. Spend my 30th birthday on the beach chilling out with family and friends.

6. Do a remedial massage course.

7. Read a book written in Spanish and not understand a word of it (but try looking things up and see what they mean).

8. Learn to scuba dive.

9. Try a pole dancing class or circus acrobatics class.

10. Teach myself to make sushi.

I think in between university that’s a good list to aim to achieve in 2012. Now to stick the list to my fridge so that I am reminded of all the things I want to do with myself this year!

 

 

 

Clichéd USA

18 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment

by Emma in Travel Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Every country has its list of things or places tourists must see and do.  In Asia its eating unidentifiable foods and visiting temples.  In Africa it’s going on Safari to see the Big 5 game animals.  In England it’s visiting Buckingham Palace and attempting to make the guards laugh.  These things have grown to become the clichéd check list of tourists.  Clichéd because they are so popular or because of their representation of normality to the culture and country being visited.

Arriving in America, I had one such list of places I had to visit.  These were not the usual tourist haunts as described in all the online guides or suggested by my American hosts.  These were places that I wasn’t familiar with physically at home, but knew of them through TV and movies.  Fast food, takeaways, shops and restaurants.  The staples of any community anywhere in the world.  Especially America, where the super chain/department store originated and the names associated with these types of stores are famous the world over.

And so my clichéd USA travel list was fulfilled in two short weeks as I shopped and ate my way through American popular culture…

1. WAL-MART

If there is one place you visit whilst in America, make sure it’s Wal-Mart.  The store that caters to everything you could need at super cheap prices.  Go to see the guns and ammunition on sale in the aisle over from the pet food or audio & TV’s.  Stay to watch people being people.

2. In-n-Out Burgers

In-n-out, in-n-out, that’s what a hamburgers all about.  With a catchy little jingle like that it’s no wonder drunk and not so drunk people keep going back to this joint for burgers.  After a few drinks at a bar or over a game of pool, when late night hunger sets in or to curb the effects of  alcohol, it’s the first place you think of because the song gets stuck in your head so easily.

3. J C Penney

Shoes, clothes, make-up, accessories, kitchen ware, perfumes, home wares, it’s all right here at J C Penney.  Although it’s not the only department store chain on the list.  In ascending order of price and exclusivity of brands J C Penney is at the bottom, stepping up a notch is Macy’s, followed by Bloomingdale’s and at the top of the hierarchy is Nordstrom.  These four places contribute greatly to the reason why so many tourists arrive in America with one suit case and leave with two.  The greatest thing about clothes shopping in the States, is that all the clothes on end of season sale in America, are the clothes needed as we come into season in Australia.  So if you are on the opposite hemisphere to the USA there are even more bargains to be had.

Digging into a bucket of crabs at Joe's Crab Shack

4. Joe’s Crab Shack

Where else do they give you a giant bib to wear while eating and it’s socially acceptable to wear a t-shirt with the slogan “Got Crabs?”… Joe’s Crab Shack that’s where.  This American seafood restaurant chain serves up buckets full of crabs for diners to dig apart with special utensils.  Be prepared to make a mess of yourself while eating and to enjoy every bit of it.

Giant cakes at Costco

5. Costco

The supermarket for giants… or just the giant-sized supermarket.  Costco takes grocery shopping to a whole new level, where everything is bought in bulk or in an extra-large size.  Hungry and out of money?  Head to Costco in the middle of the day to try out the samples on offer throughout the store.  Samples equate to normal sized portions in this store of gigantic servings.

6. Hooters

This politically incorrect restaurant is a definite must see.  From the bubbly, fluro orange hot pant clad waitresses to the famous chicken wings it’s a dining experience that must be tried out once while in America. The chicken wings, in your choice of hotness, along with ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce are a meal in themselves.  And another excuse to get messy devouring your way through a plate of these.  We went to the Hooters restaurant in Las Vegas, which claimed to have waitresses with the largest Hooters of any of the Hooters franchises.  This claim provided us with plenty to do while waiting for our chicken wings to arrive, as we scanned all the waitresses to assess the validity of the claim.  Regardless of whether your female or male Hooters is the ultimate must see on the clichéd USA tour list.

Eating Australia’s Coat of Arms

16 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment

by Emma in 365 Day Challenge, Food Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Last night I enjoyed a tasty meal at a restaurant serving up all Australian dishes.  Here’s a quick photo essay to take you through my all Australian meal…

Appetiser: Red Claw Yabbie with Tarragon jus and Fennel cream

Entrée: Crocodile with fig salad

Entrée: Tasmanian Possum

Entrée: Tuna sashimi

Main: Kangaroo fillet

Main: Emu fillet

Main: Rabbit

Dessert: Pumpkin and lemon myrtle tartlet

Dessert: Apple and anisata pie

Bavarian Beer Garden

26 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by Emma in 365 Day Challenge Tags: , , , , , , , ,

To get an authentic experience of a culture with its food and traditions, you have to travel to that place, right?  Unless the culture, food and traditions come to you.  This past weekend my Uncle, Aunt and Cousin, who are visiting from Germany, brought a little taste of their life to our family here.  Granted it’s never going to be the same having a Bavarian Beer Garden lunch in 27 C weather, compared to having it in an actual beer garden in Germany, surrounded by the rolling green hills and snow.  But, for me it was better as a heap of my family were all in the one place eating a feast, drinking beer, laughing and enjoying each others company.  I wouldn’t have gotten that part of the experience if I were in Germany.

Bavaria, a state in south-east Germany, is a place full of traditions.  They place great value on their food and drink, with many speciality dishes served at festivals and special occasions, as well as local Beer Gardens, along with the standard 1 litre of beer.  Our Bavarian feast included traditional pretzels and german bread with an assortment of toppings, including chives and butter or a cheese dip.  Other tasty treats we enjoyed were salted white radishes, wiener schnitzel, currywurst, german potato salad all washed down with german wheat beer.

We all ate until we could barely move.  Which in my family is not a new tradition, but the different food was an opening to discover more about a culture we knew very little about.  To embrace a significant part of my relatives lives and incorporate aspects of it into our family.

 

 

Banana Bread

23 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by Emma in Food, Recipes Tags: , , ,

It is Banana Bread day somewhere in the world.  To celebrate I’ll be baking banana bread later today.  Banana bread is a gorgeous snack, especially served warm with a dollop of mascarpone cream.  This recipe uses normal flour, but I substitute gluten free flours and just have to play around a little with the amounts of flour to liquid quantities to get the consistency right (sorry there is no exact measure as it seems to change every time – mostly because I forget to write down the amount that worked the last time!!)

This recipe is from Taste.com.au

Ingredients

Melted low fat dairy spread to grease

1 3/4 cups self-raising flour

1/4 cup plain flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup skim milk

2 eggs lightly whisked

50g butter, melted, cooled

2 over ripe medium bananas

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 C.  Brush an 11 x 21 cm loaf pan with melted dairy spread and line with non-stick baking paper.

2. Sift combined flours and cinnamon into a large bowl.  Stir in sugar and make a well in the centre. Place milk, eggs, melted butter and bananas in a medium bowl, stir until combined.  Add banana mixture to flour mixture and stir until just combined.  Spoon mixture into prepared pan and smooth surface.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until skewer inserted comes out clean.  Remove from oven and set aside in the pan for 5 minutes.  Turn onto wire rack to cool completely.  Cut into slices to serve.

Food Rainbows

18 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by Emma in 365 Day Challenge, Food Tags: , , , , , ,

Markets

I’ve become slightly obsessed with cooking dishes that contain colour.  Lots of colour.  Walking through the markets this morning was a sensory overload.  Bags of rich brown spices, light golden grains and rusty red beans.  Tables piled high with bright pink dragon fruit, bundles of herbs and boxes of plump paw paw, avocados and juicy tomatoes.  I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the sumptuous array of

Dragon Fruit & Paw Paw

colours, textures and smells lining both sides of the road.

I want to start experimenting more with cooking and the foods I use.  This week alone I’ve tasted more new foods, then I have in a long time.  Sushi, kangaroo steaks and prawns have all become new favourites, sweet potato for breakfast was another newly introduced dish I had never even thought of.  Lightly seasoned, diced and cooked up to serve with scrambled eggs.  YUM!!  My absolute favourite dish for a mouth watering splash of colour, would have to be stir fry.  Vermicelli noodles, garlic, ginger, basil or coriander, lemongrass or shallots, egg or chicken, carrots, broccoli, beans, mushrooms, capsicum (peppers), spinach and zucchini.  Sometimes even pumpkin or potato, along with soy sauce, oyster sauce and sweet chilli sauce.  It all intertwines to create a beautiful mixture of taste, colour, texture and smell that cannot be topped… in my kitchen anyway.

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