On the road again

After many weeks in and around Christchurch we have finally made our way south. This journey marks the first time that we are all travelling in the bus with car happily being towed behind.  It was a new experience which also highlighted the things that we still need to do or learn on the bus.  We have already become experienced at removing the car and trailer in order to back track after being led past our destination, thanks to our Tom Tom, and trying unsuccessfully to reverse with said trailer and car attached.

Our lunch spot at Mt Peel, South Canterbury

It has been a week of changes that is for sure.  Not only the change for the kids and I to be travelling with himself but also the change of not being around family and friends and also giving up on Facebook for the rest of this month (feels very strange not to update our travels daily and yet very refreshing at the same time) along with the weather suddenly changing from a heatwave yesterday to thunder, rain and hail today!  I guess that is what happens when you travel south as Autumn approaches.

So with the cold and stormy weather around us a warm afternoon tea treat was in order.  This is a basic scone recipe from The Edmond’s Cookbook which I have just halved in order to make it fit into our little bus oven.  It still makes the same amount of scones just a smaller version 🙂

Afternoon tea warm from the oven

Scones

1.5 Cups Flour (white or brown)

25 gm Cold butter

3 Teaspoons baking powder

1/4 Cup of currents or sultanas (optional)

1/2 Cup and 1/8 Cup rice milk – or cow’s milk … we only use rice milk because we don’t stock the other:)

• Preheat oven to 220 C
• Mix flour and baking powder in a bowl
• Cut the cold butter into small cubes and then ‘rub’ into the flour mix until it looks and feels like fine breadcrumbs.  Add fruit now if you are using it.
• Make a well in the middle of the flour and butter mix and pour in the milk
• Using a knife mix the flour and milk by cutting across it until a dough begins to form.
• Using your hands lightly bring the dough into one ball. You may need a little bit milk if it is a little crumbly or a little bit of flour if it is sticky.
• On a floured tray flatten the dough into a rectangle shape that is still at least 1.5cm high or higher (tray to top of dough)
• Cut into 16 squares and bake for 10 mins or until brown on top
• Enjoy warm or cold with butter and jam

Hope this finds you all happy, healthy and enjoying the life you have.

Arohanui

Y

www.becominghealthy.co.nz

Back to Basics Pie

In this household, mainly due to my aversion to thinking about and cooking evening meals, our children each cook one night a week.  The menu pretty much consists of homemade ‘takeaways’ such as nachos, pizza, fish and chips and tortilla however my eldest is beginning to branch out a little more, a little more often.

She loves pies, well actually anything pastry orientated to be truthful, and making mince pies for tea is a favourite – we haven’t quite got to the catering for all your dinner guests including your vegetarian mother ……. Anyway this has proved a bit trickier for her since we have be making a point of buying Palm Oil free as all the pre-rolled pastry has said oil in it.

Almost ready for the oven

Although I have offered to show her how to make pastry it has always been declined …. until recently that is.  Over the last few weeks she has seen just how easy pastry can be to make and also how much yummier it is to eat!  So I thought I would share this very simple pastry recipe (from Edmonds Cookbook) which works equally as well for both sweet and savoury dishes.  It does make a lot of pastry though so either half the recipe or begin thinking of dessert ….. apple parcels anyone? 🙂

Back to Basics Pastry

2 Cups flour

125gm Cold Butter in small cubes

Cold Water

-Rub the butter into the flour until it is the consistency of breadcrumbs.

-Slowly add and mix in cold water until a dough begins to form.

-Lightly and quickly knead the dough together.

-Roll out on a floured board and use as desired.

Yes it is that easy!  The results are so much better than shop pastry too so go on and give it ago … that is the gluten and diary tolerant amongst you 🙂

Hope this finds you healthy, happy and full of energy.

Arohanui

Y

http://www.becominghealthy.co.nz

GF Comfort Food

Some of you will hate it with a passion, some will tolerate and others of you will love this dessert however no matter what you feel about it there is no denying that Sago is a economical and easy gluten free ingredient!

Sago is one of those things that has been around for centuries and used in many cultures and yet ignored completely by most of us due to the horror of having it served up night after night as a dessert.  Personally I’ve only just discovered it for my own use a year or so ago when themselves asked me what it was and then wanted to try it.  It be sure you need to have a love for carbs as there is little else in Sago (it is starch extracted from a plant) which for me makes it a perfect ‘healthy’ comfort food!! A little does go a long way for me though as the whole texture thing can be a bit much 🙂

Here are two simple recipes (one from Edmonds Cookbook and one from Olwen Anderson) for you to try if you want an economical, easy and tasty gluten free, refined sugar free and diary free dessert over the upcoming cooling nights.

Sago Pudding – Edmonds recipe

3 Tablespoons Sago Pearls (you could also use Tapioca Pearls)

1 Tablespoon Honey

1 teaspoon vanilla Essence

2 cups Rice Milk (Vitasoy rice milk with chickpea gives a slight custard taste)

-Mix all in a in an oven proof dish

-Cover and bake at 150 C for 2 hours.  Stir regularly during the cooking especially in the first hour.

-Best served warm

Coconut and Sago Dessert – Olwen Anderson recipe

As taken and adapted from Olwen Anderson’s website – this is a 1/2 recipe of what she had

3/8 Cup Sago Pearls

1 Cup Coconut Milk

1/2 Cup Water

Honey to sweeten as desired

– Mix Sago, coconut milk and water in a pot and leave to soak for 30 mins

-Stirring constantly bring the mixture to the boil and cook for 10 mins.  You will need to stir to prevent sticking as the mixture gets very thick very quickly.

-Taste and add honey sweeten to your taste.

-Yum warm or cold 🙂

Hope this finds you enjoying your day.

Arohanui

Y

www.becominghealthy.co.nz