Daisy Chains and Picnics

A delicious warming pumpkin soup with a sweet, smoky and slightly spicy taste, sure to give a warming kick on a chilly day. I used Kent pumpkin because it was on offer and I like the sweetness of it but any use any pumpkin you prefer. Ingredients 2-3 tbsp olive oil 1 red onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 1/2 tbsp smoky chipotle seasoning 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 litre chicken or veg stock 1.5 Kent pumpkin, peeled, deseeded and coarsely chopped Method 1.  Heat oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add onion, cook, stirring for 5 minutes or until softened. Add garlic, chipotle seasoning, cumin and smoked paprika. Cook, stirring for 1 minute or until spices become aromatic.  2.  Add stock, bring to the boil. Add pumpkin, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until pumpkin is tender. Allow to cool slightly. 3.  Using a blender or food processor, blend soup unt...

With summer fast approaching, salad season will be upon us before we can blink. This is a ridiculously easy salad with a great combination of creamy and tangy that sets the freshness of the cucumber and tomato off perfectly. Ingredients 1 tbsp mayonnaise 1 tsp sherry vinegar 1/2 tsp full fat milk pinch salt & pepper 1/2 cucumber  1 large tomato Method 1.  In a bowl, whisk to combine mayonnaise, sherry vinegar, milk, salt & pepper. 2.  Peel cucumber, thinly slice, cut slices into half. Cut tomato into chunks. 3.  Add to mayonnaise mixture and toss or stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes to enhance the flavours. Perfect for summer barbecues and parties.

All you need to fill your cooked jacket potato is some steamed broccolini and grated cheese for a quick, easy and nutritious filling. Steam some broccolini florets until just tender. In a small bowl, combine broccolini and cheese until mixed through, season with salt & pepper. Add to a cooked jacket potato, microwave for 30 seconds or until cheese is melted. Enjoy as a main or side dish.

A lovely smooth and creamy fragrant soup with delicious warming spices, just perfect to warm you up on a cold winter day. Ingredients 600 g cauliflower 1 small onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp hot paprika 1 tsp ground coriander 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 800 ml vegetable stock Method 1.  Cut cauliflower into small florets. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan over a medium heat. Add cauliflower, onion, garlic and a pinch of salt, cook for 7-8 minutes, or until vegetables are softened, stirring occasionally. 2. Meanwhile in a small bowl, combine cumin, paprika, coriander and cinnamon. Add the spice mix to the cauliflower and cook for another 1 minute until spices become aromatic. Pour in the vegetable stock, bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered for 18-20 minutes or until cauliflower is tender. Remove from heat. 3.  Using a food processor or stick blender, puree the soup until smooth, add...

You can't go wrong with a pavlova, who doesn't enjoy the decadence of soft chewy meringue, whipped cream and tart fruit. This recipe was in the Christmas edition of the woolies fresh magazine and it looked and sounded so good I just had to give it a go. Really easy to make and absolutely delicious, it was a winner all the way, an ideal dessert for any occasion. Ingredients 125 g fresh raspberries 2 tbsp caster sugar 1 tbsp water 300 ml thickened cream 1 tbsp icing sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 200 ml dollop cream 1 x 500 g pavlova Method 1.  Place raspberries in a small pan and smash with a fork. Add sugar and water and bring to the boil. Remove from heat and puree with a handheld blender. Chill until required. 2.  Combine thickened cream, icing sugar and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Using electric beaters, whip until firm peaks form. Cover and refrigerate until required. 3.  Spoon 2 tsp raspberry coulis into ...

We decided to update the flooring in the lounge room and hall as the carpet that had been on the floors since we moved in 11 years ago was starting to look tired and saggy not to mention dated, we thought about it a few times but the price of decent carpets is ridiculous and something we could not justify paying so much for. We went looking for alternatives, we had only planned to do the hall floor as Scott likes a carpet in the lounge, but once we had laid the flooring in the hall he liked it so much that we went for it in the lounge. We are really pleased with it, it is so much brighter and spacious looking now.  The lounge with the carpet. We are also changing the ugly brown doors to nice crisp white ones.

Beef olives are not the most attractive kind of dinner, I mean, seriously anything brown that looks as if it has just been dumped on the plate shows no sign of beauty!! but believe me when I say beef olives are delicious. slo Ingredients for skirlie stuffing 3-4 tbsp oil or butter 200 g pinhead oatmeal 1 onion, finely chopped Method 1.  Heat oil in a pan over a medium heat. Add onions, cook until softened and golden. Gradually add oatmeal, stirring thoroughly to coat and combine onion. Season with salt to taste. Cook gently for 8-10 minutes. Set aside. Ingredients for olives and gravy 6-8 slices sizzle steak. 40 g seasoned flour 2-3 tbsp oil or butter 1 carrot, finely chopped 1 onion, finely chopped 450 ml beef stock Method 1. Preheat oven to 150°C.  Flatten steak and lay it out, fill centre of steak with some skirlie stuffing and roll the steak over, encasing the stuffing, tucking in the end flaps to keep filling se...

Remember, Remember the 5th of November. Gunpowder treason and plot. I know no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot!. Bonfire night commemorates the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in November 1605 by a gang of Roman Catholic activists led by Warwickshire born Robert Catesby. Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators, having rented a house close to the Houses of Parliament, managed to smuggle 36 barrels of gunpowder into the cellar of the Houses of Lords-enough to completely destroy the building. The scheme began to unravel when an anonymous letter was sent to William Parker, the 4th Baron Monteagle, on 26th October 1605 warning him to avoid the House of Lords on November 5th.  Explosive expert Fawkes, who had been left in the cellars to set off the fuse, was subsequently caught when a group of guards discovered him at the last moment. Fawkes was arrested, sent to the Tower of London and tortured until he gave up the names of his fellow plotters. For more info go...

I made these for Halloween tea, they are so easy to make yet very effective, absolutely perfect for spooky parties. Ingredients 1-2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed 6 Frankfurter hot dogs 1 egg lightly beaten cheese & olives to decorate Method 1.  Preheat oven to 190°C fan. 2.  Cut thawed pastry into thin strips, you will need about 3-4 strips per sausage. 3.  Wrap pastry strips around each sausage in a mummy bandage wrap effect. Brush with beaten egg. Place on a lined baking tray. 4.  Bake in oven for 20 minutes or until pastry is cooked and golden. Add small pieces of cheese and olives to create eyes. Serve with a dip of mustard and ketchup/hot sauce.