Monday 29 June 2009

Mulled Wine - My style

INGREDIENTS
  • 2 bottles Red Wine (any type)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • handful of cloves
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • half an orange
METHOD

  • Pour the wine into a large pot and heat over medium heat. Do not bring to the boil, but keep the wine hot.
  • Mix in the cloves, sugar and cinnamon sticks. Slice the orange into the thin slices and put into the wine also.
  • Stir gently, and cover. Heat for about 10 to 15 mins and the wine is aromatic. Be sure to stir occaisonally, and monitor the wine so that it doesn't boil.
  • Strain the wine through a mesh collander into another pot or bowl, then pour into empty wine bottles or carafe.
Serve hot, with a teaspoon of sugar to taste.

-Enjoy!

Great winter drink, and as its so easy to make there's no reason why you can't have mulled wine on hand whenever you feel the urge to have a few spiced wines! I've been making lots of this lately as my wine rack is in dire need of purging. A lot of my reds are due to be drunk, and the table wines I have make excellent specimens for mulled wine creation. You can even re-use the cinnamon sticks, or leave them in the bottles to slowly infuse more spice into the wine. Serve with a thin sliver of orange in the cups for added flair.

You can also substitute the orange for lemon for a slightly zingier taste.

Thursday 18 June 2009

Savoury Muffins...Mmmm



INGREDIENTS
  • 3 Cups self raising flour
  • 4 large eggs
  • water or milk for consistency
  • 1/2 cup diced bacon
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 cup grated tasty cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste
METHOD

  1. Preheat oven to 180 deg C
  2. In a large mixing bowl put the flour in and make a well. Lightly beat eggs and mix into the flour with salt and pepper, adding the milk or water as needed to form a thick batter.
  3. Mix in remaining ingredients, saving a little of the cheese. Spoon mixture into muffin trays or individual ramekins, and top with remaining cheese.
  4. Place in oven and bake for 20 mins, or until golden brown. Check if they are done inside by inserting a wooden skewer into one muffin and pulling it out. If the skewer is clean then they're ready.
-Enjoy!

Easy one to make thats always a winner. I handed these out at a social gathering recently and i used puff pastry bases to make them a cross between muffins and quiches. My mate PJ wanted the recipe (probably so his girlfriend could bake them for him) so here it is.

Variations are boundless, you can put anything you want into the mix besides the bacon, onion and cheese. Leftover roasts, veges, different cheeses, different meats, you name it. If its savoury, you can muffin it. Put chocolate or berries and/or jam into the mix with sugar and you got sweet muffins.

Monday 1 June 2009

Ginger and Garlic Short Soup



INGREDIENTS
  • 2 ltrs chicken stock
  • 2 tspn mince ginger (or fresh ginger grated)
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup chopped shallots
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 1/2 cup bean sprouts
  • 1/4 cup water chestnuts
  • 1/4 cup bamboo shoots
  • 1/4 cup baby corn
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 bag frozen chinese wontons (or about a dozen )
METHOD
  • Bring chicken stock to the boil and add the ginger, garlic and carrot.
  • Simmer for 5 mins and add remaining vegetables, then wontons.
  • Cook for a further 5 mins (or more depending on instructions for wontons if using frozen).
  • Drizzle egg into soup while stirring gently and remove from heat. Serve immediately.
Enjoy!

Easy one today, makes for a light but flavoursome dish that I put together for our Chinese student boarder living with us at the moment. He devoured it with his usual voraciousness and went for a second helping. I'm not sure if it reminded him of home or he was just really hungry!

Anyway, easily modified to go with chicken instread of wontons, but their fairly easy to find if you know a local asian grocer. For more fun you can even make your own wontons, I know you can purchase the little skins to put minced seafood in.