Kitchen stories - Cottage Pie

Here's the deal, my taste buds has changes tremendously and eating spicy food is now a no no in my books. This out goes hot curries, chilies or jalapeños and I now have to resort to having more western based meals at home.

This is the reason why we've been having pastas, home made pizzas etc. Even grilled sandwiches at time when I really could not be stuffed!

Felt a bit better yday so opted to make cottage pie for dinner with a small side salad for dinner. I've forgotten how good cottage pies are. BF doesn't enjoy the traditional pies saying its too fatty (too much buttery crust or something like that) - but then again, I've made lasagna and he likes those.

Hope my lil one isn't a fussy eater :)

Kitchen stories/Pregnancy cravings -cucur udang

Ever since I've been pregnant, my food wants have decreased to a point where BF complains that he doesn't get fed anymore.

Don't get me wrong, I still cook but my appetite has gone down so much that I can't even spicy food anymore, leaving BF to eat what I've cooked - leftovers that could last days. I have been fortunate not to get any morning sickness at all, it's just that I don't feel like eating anymore.

Now that I am in my 2nd trimester, I find my appetite slowly making a comeback but it's more towards my mum's cooking. Unfortunately, living a whole continent away doesn't help which means I have no option but try to replicate her dishes, with her recipes. My mum however has never been one to stick to recipes - preferring to dabble with a lil bit of this and a lil bit of that. Never a good thing for a novice like yours truly.

I have been pretty successful in my attempts tho - apparently I am also quite handy with adjusting recipes on the fly so the kitchen stories has grown.

Today's attempt was cucur udang :)

**Kitchen stories** Chewy raisin and oat biscuits

Been into a bit of baking recently - just to kill time as well as it is a lot more satisfying that getting things from the store! So BF found me the recipe and I thought " Why Not".


Ingredients
1 cup raisins (I used sultanas)
1 cup cornflakes (I used Crunchy Nut)
3/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup self-raising flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 egg

Method
Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan-forced.
Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Combine raisins, cornflakes, oats, flours and sugar in a bowl.
Whisk oil, egg and 1/4 cup cold water together in a jug.
Stir into mixture.

Roll 2 tablespoons of mixture at a time into balls.
Place balls, 3cm apart, on prepared tray.
Flatten slightly.
Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden.
Cool on tray. Serve.

Recipe courtesy of Taste.com.au

First round in the oven - this is what is left

Baking...

Another view of baking...

Baked!!!

From my kitchen .. Fruit mince pie pt 11

Well, this is the continuation from my kitchen escapades and making fruit pies from scratch.

I did not take too many pics of making the dough as I don't have a food processor at home hence it was a lot of hard work to kneed it to the correct consistency.

In short though, it was quite fun (and I made a lot of mess!)..




Things required for pastry - 4 cups plain flour, white sugar to sprinkle, 2 egg yolks, 1/2 cup icing sugar mix, 300 g chilled butter (chopped)

Place flour, icing sugar and butter and and process until it starts looking like bread crumbs. You then add in the egg yolks, a few drops of water until the dough starts coming together.

Roll dough on non stick baking paper and flour. Cut pastry into round disc and place on pan, prick base with fork.

(My first attempt of pastry -made it wayyy too thick so all it tasted was pastry - attempt FAIL)

I didn't have a pastry cutter so used a 1 cup measuring cup instead ;)

Top with mince filling from Pt 1, I didn't top the pies with pastry disc, instead opting for lines (less work). Sprinkle with white sugar and place in a preheated 180' oven for 30-35 mins.

Ok - this is the finished product. I must say, I quite liked it even though I did leave it in the oven for a bit longer. I will take it out after 20 mins in my fan oven. Overall, am quite pleased with my 1st attempt. I do know that I will be adding more rum the next time.. :)

From my kitchen .. Fruit mince pie pt 1

Since it is close to Christmas and all, BF has been having this massive thing for fruit mince pies "Like mum used to make" .. maybe its an English thing, maybe as it is still rather chilly in Melbourne?

Since I do have this extra time on my hands, I decided to keep my man happy and instead of using the premix mince filling and store bought tart, do the whole hop and make one from scratch! I did cut corners somewhat with the fruit mix tho, instead of buying individual items, I used fruit mix which is essentially the same thing but with bits of lemon in it.

Recipe to follow with pt2, but in the meantime...


Step 1 - Dice fruit (currants, sultanas, glazed cherries, cored and peeled Granny Smith apple)

Step 2 - Mix following ingredients with diced fruit (brown sugar, breakfast marmalade, rum or brandy *I used dark rum*)

Step 3 - Let the well mixed fruit soak for 2 days....

to be continued...