ELLI LUCA

INGREDIENTS 200g dark chocolate, chopped 250g butter, chopped 1¾ cups (310g) brown sugar 4 eggs ⅓ cup (35g) cocoa powder, sifted 1¼ cups (185g) plain (all-purpose) flour, sifted ¼ teaspoon baking powder METHOD Preheat oven to 160°C (325ºF). Place the chocolate and butter in a saucepan over low heat and stir until smooth. Allow to cool slightly. Place the sugar, eggs, cocoa, flour and baking powder in a bowl.  Add the chocolate mixture and mix until combined.  Pour into a 20cm-square slice tin lined with non-stick baking paper. Bake for 50 minutes or until an inserted skewer withdraws clean. Allow to cool slightly in the tin before slicing.  Serve warm or cold. Makes 16 slices.

Then & now.  Discussing this with a friend on Flickr this morning, thought a comparison photo would be interesting. Froot loops (Australia) have changed a lot in the past few years. Maybe ow as they don't use Artificial colours or artificial flavours that's why they look and taste so different? Generally cereals are made healthier here (with less trans fat, controversial ingredients and bad food dyes). I don't consider it a breakfast food with all that sugar, more of a dessert food.    

Muppet Picnic Cookbook Jim Henson's Muppet Picnic Cookbook is a 14 page stapled booklet published by Hallmark and sold in Hallmark stores in 1981. It includes recipes by Kermit,Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, The Swedish Chef and Animal. Today's scan " Animal’s Bacon upside-down corn bread " INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 cups cornmeal 1 cup flour 2 tsp sugar 1 tsp salt 1 Tbsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1 1/2 cups buttermilk 2 eggs beaten 1/2 cup cooking oil or butter melted 6-8 slices of bacon METHOD Combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in mixing bowl.  combine soda and buttermilk and add to dry ingredients.  add eggs and oil or butter. stir until mixture is thoroughly moistened. Fry bacon until cooked partially (still limp). Drain on a paper towel. Line bottom of a greased 9-in square pan with waxed paper.  Arrange bacon on waxed paper and pour batter into pan.  Bake 400 for 30 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool a few minutes...

To prepare enough butter cream to frost a two layer 9-in. round cake (or a three layer 8-in. round cake), you'll need: one pound (450 g) unsalted butter,  four large eggs,  1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar,  1/2 teaspoon (3 g) table salt, and  2 tsp. pure vanilla extract.  I used 2 whole passion fruits, I love the seeds you may prefer to strain them out.  Start by cracking all four eggs into the metal bowl of a stand mixer. Add the sugar, salt, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Whisk until the eggs, sugar, salt, and extract are evenly combined. Find a pot that the mixing bowl can sit on without touching the bottom of the pan. Pour about 1/2-in. (about 1 cm) water into the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and place the mixing bowl over the water pot to form a double boiler. This will allow us to heat the eggs slowly, minimizing the chances that the egg proteins will tighten up (forming scrambled eggs). Whisk continuously over...

This butter recipe is wonderful served with any grilled meat. As it melts into the hot steak, the aroma is irresistible! INGREDIENTS 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 Tsp. chili flakes 1 Tsp. dehydrated onion flakes 1 Tbsp chopped parsley 1 Tbsp chopped fresh Thyme 2 cloves garlic, minced 7 Tbsp. butter, softened (NOT margarine) Salt and pepper to taste METHOD In food processor or blender, combine all ingredients .Process or blend till mixture is even. Cover the blended butter and chill this mixture and then form it into a roll 1" in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper and chill until firm, up to 24 hours. For longer storage, freeze the butter. I served mine in tiny butter plates this time as was quick and easy.

We were dying to try this place & were not at all disappointed.   There was a long waiting list to get in (we waited 2 months)  There's no menu, just a list of ingredients in season and the imprimatur to give a list of likes and dislikes to the kitchen.   (Below is a scan of my choices from the list) Loam Restaurant is located on the Bellarine, Victoria Australia. They like to forage, fish and hunt to deliver a unique dining experience using modern techniques in a rural setting. The blog is here: Loam ADDRESS : 650 Andersons Road  Drysdale VIC 3222 / (03) 5251 1101 Owners : Aaron and Astrid Turner Chef : Aaron Turner My Menu Charred Leek, sesame, watercress, pear, lettuce heart Yolk, cauliflower, asparagus, sherry vinegar, oatmeal. Garden peas, rice starch, wild rice, sea palm. Salted rabbit, green strawberry, sunrose, quinoa Beef rump, avocado, veal tongue, salt-bush, grass Mauri taleggio, fer...

Muppet Picnic Cookbook Jim Henson's Muppet Picnic Cookbook is a 14 page stapled booklet published by Hallmark and sold in Hallmark stores in 1981. It includes recipes by Kermit,Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, The Swedish Chef and Animal. Today's scan "Kermit's Swamp Salad" Click for 1.3mb file Kermit's Swamp Salad  1 head each - bib, romaine, and leaf lettuce Fresh spinach 6 fresh mushrooms, sliced 1 small red onion, sliced Wash greens, drain well, and refrigerate until chilled and crisp.  Prepare dressing and refrigerate. Kermit's Dressing 1 1/2 C. mayonnaise 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice 2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese 3 Tbsp. milk (to thin) Salt and pepper When ready to serve, add dress and toss.  Top with 1 cup bread crumbs toasted in oven or skillet with 3 Tbsp. butter and 1/2 head cauliflower, grated.  Serves 40 to 50 frogs (10-14 large servings for adult humans).  

Photo by Jake - from his instagram  It's said that gyoza originated in China and was introduced to Japan. Gyoza wrappers are slightly thicker than wonton wrappers. Gyoza is cooked in various ways, such as steamed, pan-fried, and so on. Also, there are a number of variations in the filling. Different kinds of vegetables and meat can be used for the filling. This is a recipe to make the most common pan-fried gyoza. INGREDIENTS 20 gyoza wrappers  1/3 cup chopped and boiled cabbage or hakusai (Chinese cabbage), excess water removed  2 Tbsp chopped green onion  1/2 lb ground pork or chicken  1 tsp sesame oil  1 tbs chopped coriander  2 Tbsps soy sauce  1/2 tsp garlic salt  1 tsp grated fresh ginger  vegetable oil for frying (I use sesame)  Dipping Sauce 3 tablespoons light soy  1 tablespoon sweet chilli sauce  1 clove garlic, minced  1 teaspoon ginger minced  METHOD Combine all ingredi...

I'm always on the on the lookout for vintage cookbooks. This caught my eye and I had to buy it. It actually has some great basic recipes! I will scan pages over time and post them here.  Jim Henson's Muppet Picnic Cookbook is a 14 page stapled booklet published by Hallmark and sold in Hallmark stores in 1981. It includes recipes by Kermit,Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, The Swedish Chef and Animal. Recipes include the following: Kermit's Swamp Salad Miss Piggy's Precious Pink Punch Fozzie's Barbecued Corn on the Cob Gonzo's Barbecued Ice Cream Muppet Labs Vanilla Ice Cream Swedish Chef's Barbecued Filet of Sole Animal's Zesty Baked Beans The final layout shows the Muppets eating the picnic, and the back cover shows Beauregard cleaning up after they finish. Among the items seen in the background are "Animal's Crude Oil," "Gonzo's Half-Baked Beans," "Sweetums'Honey," "Bu...