Finding joy in the everyday

Cooking competitions have been run for 90 years by the Country Women's Association The Queensland arm of the Country Women's Association (CWA), best known for their wonderful home cooking skills have decided to create a "packet cake category" in their cooking competitions at local shows. "CWA has always been known for its cooking," Jan said. "It was in the war years that CWA became so important. "We provided meals for soldiers and their families." Jan understands the mixed reaction to the new category in the competition. "We're becoming more inclusive," she said. "Now you don't have to be a member to enter. "Many mothers are busy working these days and may not have the time to make cakes from scratch."  Jan said packet cakes offered numerous benefits.  "Sometimes you can't even tell the difference," she said. "And there are economic benefits.  "Even some of our older members a...

Breadmaking Recently I bought 100 Great Breads by Paul Hollywood and this is the first loaf I made from it.  This is a Guinness and Treacle Bread, made with 150ml's of Guinness.  Anyone who doesn't cook with alcohol or like the smell/taste of Guinness wouldn't like this bread - it does have a slight bitter taste from the Guinness but I was very happy with the results. The yeast when wild when it met the Guinness and I had the most lively yeast I have seen in ages! Yesterday I finally got around to watch Homestead Blessings: The Art of Breadmaking (by the West Ladies) and learnt a few tips from the the DVD. I plan to copy some of the recipes, in particular their pizza recipe and the most delicious cinnamon scrolls. Just watching someone making bread is useful. Card making When I was in Sydney visiting Clara , I discovered Copic Sketch Markers. I had heard of them, but never seen them in action - now I'm hooked!!  Below is my very first attempt - Clara and I spent ...

Brenin : Back on the 18th of June I wrote about Brenin and his broken toe , after many battles to keep  the bandages on his foot (daily replacement, sometimes more) + several trips to the vet, he finally made it to the 8th July with good enough recovery for us to remove the bandages. He is no longer limping (but I have noticed he is being careful when he runs about) and it doesn't hurt any more.  So glad that is over.  My husband ended up staying at home for 2 weeks and my son stayed home for almost a week (fortunately it was school holidays)!!! This is my husband filling up the buckets (where we store the dog food) - we need to buy 20kg bags of dog food each fortnight. They also each 2 cans of (home-brand) sardines each day. Ruby : she has now forgiven me my 7 days absences but keeping a watchful eye in-case I disappear again!!  As she is an indoor cat I thought she needed something interesting to play in so I ordered her a tunnel which I picked up today (not quit...

"During World War 1, the wives, mothers and girlfriends of the Australian soldiers were concerned for the nutritional value of the food being supplied to their men. Here was a problem. Any food they sent to the fighting men had to be carried in the ships of the Merchant Navy. Most of these were lucky to maintain a speed of ten knots (18.5 kilometers per hour). Most had no refrigerated facilities, so any food sent had to be able to remain edible after periods in excess of two months.  A body of women came up with the answer - a biscuit with all the nutritional value possible. The basis was a Scottish recipe using rolled oats. These oats were used extensively in Scotland, especially for a heavy porridge that helped counteract the extremely cold climate. The ingredients they used were: rolled oats, sugar, plain flour, coconut, butter, golden syrup or treacle, bi-carbonate of soda and boiling water. All these items did not readily spoil. At first the biscuits were called Soldiers’ ...