Recently in Feeding Frenzy Category

Ed.For the protection of all parties involved some parts of this post have been removed.

Enough said.

Miss Lisa and I went on an excursion today, into unknown territory...

Way

Out

West...

Ok, it's way out west if you look at the difference between Manly and Auburn, but there are actually westier places out there...

Anyway, we went for Turkish food and to meet up with Ian for long overdue wibsite catch up.

It's actually a really good thing to do. To get out of your geographical comfort zone. We see so much on the telly about the war in the Middle East and the vitriol that's being poured out by outspoken clerics of a faith not my own, and it has a tendency to make one wary of the parts of town one goes to. And it makes me crazy, because it so isn't necessary to be afraid. It isn't necessary to stay away because of hyped up news stories.

I love this city, and while I may disagree with the worldview of our mid eastern neighbours I love that within 40 minutes of my White Bread neighbourhood I can go out for authentic Turkish food, baklava and apple tea that wouldn't be out of place in Istanbul.

So, if you're in Sydney, head to Mado Cafe on Auburn Road. (or in Brisbane or Melbourne) And if you're not? Go somewhere else this week for dinner... somewhere you wouldn't normally go, I challenge you to live a little bigger than you usually do!

And when the mairtre'd asks you "what brought you to our neck of the woods"?

Tell them Deeleea sent you.

Ok, I'm trying to get back in the habit... so I'm blogging what comes into my head... and, as I've just opened the fridge door, it's condiments that spring to mind.

Because I am abundantly blessed with condiments...

An inventory... just to prove my assertion...

1. Weight Watchers Mayonnaise
2. Weight Watchers French Dressing
3. Lea and Perrins
4. Hoisin Sauce
5. Tomato Sauce
6. Sun Dried Tomatoes
7. 97% Fat Free Dijonnaise
8. Crushed Ginger
9. Chilli Marinated Olives
10. Wholeseed mustard
11. Tabasco
12. Sweet Chilli
13. Plum Sauce
14. More Hoisin
15. Curry Paste Hot
16. Curry Paste Less Hot
17. Sweet and Sour Sauce Stir In Sauce (not mine... I make my own thankyouverymuch)
18. Red Wine Vinegar
19. Daddies Brown Sauce (what is that?)
20. More Tomato Sauce
21. Barbeque Sauce (also not mine... blech)
22. Potato Salad Dressing
23. More Sweet Chili
24. More Barbeque (still blech)
25. Cranberry Sauce
26. Garlic
27. Tartare Sauce
28. Mint Sauce
29. Salsa
30. Dill Pickles
31. Tomato Paste
32. Fruit Chutney
33. Dijon Mustard
34. Basil Pesto
35. Hot English Mustard
36. Berry Jam

This disturbs me on so many levels.

I'm clearly not cooking enough that these things aren't running out at all...

If I got rid of some of them I could have so much more room in my fridge, given that during this fasting period all the rest of the fridge is full of fruit and vege... poor Flick doesn't have any room in there... (actually this is largely because I haven't seen her cook in a month... she has a man, they eat out or at his... bonus = fridge room...).

It's funny, I wonder what you can tell from people by their condiments... surely there's a condiment personality test out there somewhere... hang on,

[rustle, rustle, rustle]

The the output from Deeleea's bakery largely depends on availalbe resources.

Take these for example... Queen Cakes. I haven't made these since I was learning how to cream butter and sugar in mother's kitchen.

When I was eight . (Sh*t, that's 30 years ago...)

The reason I made them today was the usual 'it's 3pm and I feel a little peckish, peckish for something sweetish' reason... That and the 'I can't be bothered walking up to the shop to buy chocolate' reason...

Well, actually, more precisely, that's the reason I baked... the reason I made these little babies in particular was the available resources. I haven't shopped for a while and all that were in the cupboard in terms of sweetnesses were the sultanas...

You see, if I'm in the mood for sweetness I usually start with the muffin cookbook, at c, c for chocolate. But at the moment we're out of cocoa.

Last time I made biscotti... but nuts? I'm all out.

So, I got out my Kiwi Baking Bible and researched cake recipes for cooks with limited resources... which brings us back to the Queen Cakes... Simple cupcakes with sultanas in them... they'd be better looking if I'd creamed the butter and sugar for longer I'm sure... but the sweetness fix was a calling and my arm was hurting...

They looked a little naked so I had to call 'Lil sis to remind me what we did with these babies back in the day (she's 5 years younger, and only has to remember back 25 years) apparently we used to treat them with pink icing, and probably with coconut sprinkled on the top.

Today I made blue icing. I overdid the vanilla and it tasted feral so it went down the sink... but even naked they tasted pretty good...

And there's enough left for lunch tomorrow.

After a bit of local investigation courtesy of Dee's local off licence -

The squiff factor of Monday Night Red Wine (1) is much higher than (3) Friday Night Margaritas.

1. Breakfast
2. Church
3. Lunch
4. Hoovering
5. Dusting
6. Tidying
7. Laundering...
8. ... and Ironing
9. Cooking Dinner
10. Baking

I can't possibly be well...

Today Singular Scene is taking a short foray into food blogging... not to be compared of course to Clothilde's gorgeous site Chocolate and Zucchini but to celebrate the leftovers I am having for lunch, made by my own fair hands... and wickedly good.

Simpson Desert Pizza

Ingredients
Garlic and herb seasoned pizza base (or toally plain would work fine too)
Butter Chicken (makhani) Curry Paste (Not simmer sauce... the curry paste - tandoori paste works well too)
One whole onion
Boneless Chicken pieces (2 single breast fillets or 4 thighs - depends on how much pizza base you have to cover)
Grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
Grated Mozzarella
Natural Yoghurt
Fresh Coriander leaves (cilantro)

Ok, clearly at this point you can see that cooking isn't a precise science in deeleea's world... no measurements or volumes... sorry... It' all just depends on the pizza base... smaller base... less topping...

The Method goes something like this

Slice and fry the onions... use low heat so they caramelise rather than burn...
Cook the chicken (if it is still raw) until it is about 75-80% done.
Spread the base with the curry paste.
Layer over that the onions,chicken and tomatoes and sprinkle lightly (very light...) with the mozzarella.
Cook in a medium-hot oven until the cheese is melted and the base is cooked and a bit crispy on the bottom. (about 20 mins at 180degC)
Serve dotted with yoghurt and fresh coriander.

Serve hot or cold!!

BTW the Simpson Desert is somewhere in Australia and the pizza is called that because I first ate it at a gourmet Pizza restaurant and it's the name they referred to it by.

(Mine tastes better *grin*)

Some mornings you just know it's going to be a Pancake Day don't you? Today was such a day...

Domestic Goddess that I am, I managed to whip up a feed of completely respectable pancakes and smothered them with maple syrup (and a spot of butter)... And ate them... and now I have to go and party with the engaged...

Don't think I'm going to be eating much...