Coconut Ice

All it takes is three ingredients! I haven’t made coconut ice for years and while prevalent in the 70’s at just about every church fete, school fair and fundraiser, it seemed to then just disappear off the scene.  But recently I’ve seen coconut ice pop up in a few different places so I’m thinking all […]

Cracker Mania

Day 7 in our 10-part series and we’ve landed back in Australia and we’re in Sydney. I mentioned in Part 1 of the series that I would be sharing recipes that intimidated me.  This is one of them.  I’ve seen crackers on other blogs and although I’ve been inspired to take up the challenge, I’ve […]

Melting Moments with Passionfruit Cream

Moving down from the Sunshine Coast where we tried Maureen’s Asparagus and Potato Tart, is the second stop on our 10-part journey.  It’s the Gold Coast which is about a three-hour drive south of the Sunshine Coast and where we find Liz, from  Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard.  Liz is a fairly new blogger and one of […]

Candied Citrus Peel

When I was growing up my mother loved to host dinner parties.  This was in the 70’s and not the era of dialling in a caterer, ordering in pre-cooked meals or even driving to the local deli for an antipasto platter.  That isn’t to say that some didn’t take a few shortcuts.  I remember being […]

Mum’s Cherry Chutney – Perfect with Turkey or Ham

When I was growing up there were a lot of traditions to be observed.  Christmas had the bulk of these traditions. On Christmas Eve my mother would be up at around half past five to begin a day spent in the kitchen and in the climbing heat. In the early evening my father would gather […]

Chocolate Red Back Spiders and…A Disappointment

You’ve all heard me say that Alfie asks a lot of questions.  I do tire of his questions and often say, ‘That’s your quota; no more questions until tomorrow’.  Because although I love how he has a thirst for knowledge, sometimes I just need a rest from the brain strain that’s caused by a barrage […]

Chocolate Whiskey Balls and…Christmas Eve Trauma

My parents like to organise holidays for our whole family however lately there have been some comments from my family directed at my family like, ‘But there’s no hospital in the area’, and, ‘But I don’t think the medical centre is open after hours’, and, ‘Do you still have medical insurance?’  It’s as if we’re […]

Preserved Lemons and…The Misery of Jogging

One of the blogs I follow is My San Francisco Kitchen.  Recently Kristianne wrote a sentence that stunned me.  She said, ‘I’m going out for a nice long run‘.  How are the words, ‘nice long run’ compatible? I have had my second early morning session with the Jogging Group.  I should have had my third […]

‘Chockie Night’ and Cherry Ripe Chocolate Slice

When I was in high school I had a friend who lived across the back fence and at their house, every Thursday night was ‘Chockie Night’.  Chockie Night was where my friend’s father would buy chocolates on his way home from work in the city, then catch the train, walk home from the station then […]

Mum’s Christmas Whiskey Logs

When I was 12 we moved to Australia.  We moved into a quiet suburban street where most of the neighbours kept to themselves.  They were civil if you bumped into them but nothing more friendly than that followed.  But my mother changed all of that. She is a ‘people person’ and within days of moving […]