On the Sweeter Side

So much of the cooking that has been going on around here lately has been making the most of the fabulous seasonal vegetables that we find a the local markets. Now that the oven is working (some issue to do with the timer not being off completely) the need for some baking was really taking hold.

A quick scour of biscuit recipe websites lead us to a fabulous basic recipe that allowed you to add flavours depending on the mood (or ingredient availability as in my case).

Following a trip out to get a few of the bits and pieces needed for baking, we were ready to get into it.

The alteration of choice was to include a drop of strawberry jam in the middle, inspired by these I had seen earlier over at cityhippyfarmgirl. Be warned that a visit to her blog always results in something else being added to the 'Must Cook' list.

This is one that we have bookmarked and will be revisiting.

We were happy with the 34 biscuits that the recipe made, so happy in fact that there are none left.

Take care

A New Soup

We had a late afternoon planned yesterday so I knew that I would need to have dinner ready to be quickly heated when we returned from our trip to the Lego Discover Centre.

I want to try to broaden my German repertoire, which will seriously not be difficult, so recipe searching resulted in a great sounding soup. I'm not sure what makes it German. I found some great vegetables at the organic market last Friday. It can sometimes be a little tricky shopping in another country, even with vegetables. I looked quizzically at a leafy green thinking that it looked quite familiar. One of those haven't-I-seen-you-somewhere-before looks. Maybe it was your cousin?

The sign hidden underneath the table load of vegetables said Sellerie. The leaves were a really deep green and the roots at the bottom threw me a little. The stalks were a little thinner than I am used to. 

We were in business. Just what I was after.

This is such a simple recipe. (Mental note to self: reread recipe before taking photo as onions are not included.)

I started it bubbling away in the morning and left it to do its thing for about an hour and a half. As I didn't have and dried herbs, I threw in some of the lovely fresh basil once I took it off the heat.

Flash forward about 7 hours. Walk in the door with 2 excited children, each with a Lego box ready to be opened and contents assembled. A quick going over with the stick blender. Heat it up. Slice some bio ciabatta. Grate a little cheese (my kids will try anything new with a cheese-on-top option available).

Dinner is served.

This will certainly be making its way back onto the weekly menu. The entire pot was emptied and everyone went to bed happy (after playing with their Lego).

The Learning Curve Begins

I remember when we moved to New Zealand how is took a little while to familiarise myself with all the goodies stored at the supermarket. The names were all the same but the packaging and the brand names were different. It didn't take too long for me to find the products that I had been used to buying in Australia and find my new favourite brands.

It is a little trickier at the moment and may take a little longer. Being in a non-English speaking country, that also has quite a different cooking culture is a real learning experience.

One of the Sunday staples in our weekly menu is pancakes. We are real fans of the Jamie Oliver 1-cup recipe as it is super simple. This is one that the kiddies had started making.

On one of the shopping expeditions, I picked up some mehl (flour) and all of the other ingredients.

It wasn't until I got home that I realised I needed self raising flour for this recipe. After a bit of late night Googling, I found that there is no such thing in Germany. It isn't something that is used here. (Please, any Germans reading this, correct me if I am wrong).

So that meant a change in breakfast plans. With all of these ingredients what was I to do?

Make crepes.

With the recipe all sorted I open the flour to find the weizen actually means wheat and not white like I had thought while perusing the shelves in Bio-Mart.

The crepes turned out well and there were no complaints about the little 'bits' in these.

This left me with a bit of a mission for the week. I needed to understand the difference between all of the mehls and see if I could find a raising agent.

Success.

I was able to find some back pulven (baking powder) at a different supermarket, and with the help of a very patient shop assistant, work out the difference between all of the mehl.

I had presumed that the numbers on the packet were to do with processing which was right. The only difference was I had it the wrong way around. I had thought that the higher the number, the more processed it would be, but it is actually the opposite. After my friendly shop assistant had explained this to me, I thought I would try to understand a little more. It isn't necessarily to do just with processing, but also the mineral content (I think). After a little more reading, I was happy with the mehl choice I had made and was confident that Sunday's breakfast would work.

Sunday morning.

New ingredients at the ready.

The batter was looking a little more promising.

Light and fluffy pancakes were on the menu again.

I just couldn't walk past these gorgeous raspberries at the market on Friday. These turned out the be the perfect accompaniment.

Breakfast success.

I still think the crepes will sneak their way into the menu too.

Take care.

Our Time in Hong Kong

I thought I would give you a bit of a look at what we have been up to over the last month. It is now exactly one month since we left Australia and we all feel as though our feet have barely touched the ground.

For those of you who don't want to see holiday snaps, avert your eyes now.

I'll go country by country, starting at the beginning.

We spent 6 days in Hong Kong.

Here goes...

We headed to Hong Kong Park for a bit of a wander and came across the Conservatory at the top. Amazing plants.

Some turtles giving each other piggy-back rides.

The tram to the top of The Peak is a great way to great to such a high point in the city. This view looks down over Hong Kong in the foreground and then across to Kowloon on the other side of the harbour. You can get to the other side either by ferry, or by the train that takes you under the harbour.

A quiet time was had by all during a visit to a Buddhist nunnery. Magical gardens and a serene atmosphere makes this such a special place.

There is such a contrast between the high-rise apartments and the nunnery.

The trams are a great way to get around. These are cheap and follow a lot of the main roads. We tended to use the underground trains a little more as we were wanting to go longer distances.

For one nights dinner we headed over the Lamma Island, one of the outlying islands. The ferry ride took about half an hour and it was gorgeous. We landed on one side of the island and walked for an hour to the other side for a delicious dinner.

On our walk we came across an organic herb garden. Wandering through was a wonderful experience.

Our view down to the other side where dinner was awaiting us. Although it looks misty, it was quite warm.

Beer was also waiting for us.

Our view back to Hong Kong. You can see the lights in the distance.

Although I am vegetarian, I loved the looks of these open air butchers. Who needs to wear a top when you have a big knife in your hand. I think you can pretty much do what you want. Some even had a cigarette. Who was I to argue.

This made me think of my rides back from the farmers' market and how my little basket at the front can make the ride so much trickier. I must be a bit soft.

At the Science Museum there was a great display about reduce, reuse and recycle that make me thing about the blog.

Another ferry trip to another island saw us on Lantau Island. Special permits are needed to have a car on this island and the main mode of transport is the bike. This is at the ferry terminal where bikes are parked while their owners travel across to Hong Kong..

A beautiful boat that we was on our way to dinner.

We were taken for a great walk along Tung Choi Street where the many of the shops sell pets. This part of the street was devoted to fish and other aquarium pets

Around the corner was the Bird Street where the air was filled the chirps and tweets of hundred of birds, most of them very small.

There had been plans to go to Macau but the weather and timing just never seemed right. We were able to settle on going to one of the hotels that sells the same Portuguese custard tarts that Macau is famous for.

The next stop of the Tour of Bruisemouse is England.

Take care

My 30 Day Challenge

I have been thinking about what I could do for my 30 Day Challenge. Dmarie is well underway with her fabulous cooking and Fiona is planning to get some crocheting on the hook. I thought it was about time that I made a decision. As I was thinking about what to do I realized that just about everything I was doing as the moment was something new.

Over the past few weeks, we (my little family of four) have left Australia for a six month adventure. We left the airport with a backpack each for cabin luggage, and one 11kg backpack between us to go in the hold. Wherever we have gone, people have commented on how little we have with us. My philosophy on traveling is that we are there to see and do things, not spend the whole time coordinating outfits. We each have one pair of shoes and no more than 3 of anything else. Washing is done when needed and is usually dry within a day.

Anyway, I digress. I have decided that my 30 Day Challenge will be to get some sourdough started from scratch and then make my own daily. I went on a sourdough course earlier this year and love the idea of making my own but when working almost full-time it just never really happened. I am sure that the notes from cityhippyfarmgirl will also come in very handy. There are two little things in the way that I need to sort before this will get underway fully (but these won't stop me). I need to see the landlady about getting the stove to work. The second is to take my iPad German translator with me to the Bio Mart to make sure that I get the right flour to get going.

This had been on my mind all weekend and then this morning I received a group email from Yoke Mardewi about a new book release. (cityhippyfarmgirl, I hope you are paying attention). "SOURDOUGH - from pastries to wholegrain gluten free" is due to be released in September. Anyone in Perth that has ever thought about getting into sourdough should head along to the classes.

So off to the Bio Mart tomorrow for flour for the bread, and seeds, as I am planning on spreading the fun of Sow. Give. Grow to Berlin.

Take care

Exploring a New Neighbourhood is On My MInd

We have been here in Berlin for 48 hours now, and we have managed to get out and start to find our bearings. This mornings highlight was certainly the twice-weekly market not far from where we are living. The weather is a little rainy so the camera stayed tucked away. (It also gives me an excuse for another post about the market).

As we walked around looking at the vibrant vegetables, and smelling the aroma of the olives and cheeses, so many dinner ideas came to mind. For tonight, we decided on tomato soup. I think by the look of these, you can see why.

I hope this time we remember to use the basil. We bought this little plant on Wednesday when we were making a delicious pasta sauce and then sat and admired the forgotten and completely intact plant at the end of the meal. Oh well.

We also had to take home some of the beautiful stone fruits that are in season here in the northern hemisphere. Yum.

There is so much on my mind at the moment but this will do for today.

Take care

Settling Down for a While

Well, we're here.

Where is 'here' you ask?

It has nearly 3 and a half million people.

It is the former capital of the Kingdom of Prussia.

It was once a divided city.

It is a city of amazing architecture, art, culture, festivals and beer.

It is to be our home for the next 5 months.

Have you guessed yet?

Did you guess Berlin?

We have been here for less than 12 hours and already I am blown away with how easy it is to Live a Little Greener.

To gather a few supplies for the kitchen in our apartment, we headed a few blocks over to our local Bio Mart and was amazed to find an entire supermarket stocking carefully selected products. To cook a meal is a bit of a novelty again as we have been living away from home for just over 3 weeks now. Meals up until now have been at restaurants, cooked by others or just a few bits and pieces after a day of exploring a new city. We now need to start being a little more budget conscious and organised - something I am actually really looking forward to doing.

Fresh food and a meal cooked in our own kitchen is something that I am appreciating more and more.

DMarie is with me for a 30 Day Change. Anyone else?

Now I just need to decide what mine will be.

Take care.