Good Days

I like Mondays, it is the start of the week and hoping that good days follow.   Every Monday is a sports day for us, Rayner and I, we enjoy our Ping Pong games.  It is our sports, and we go every  Monday and Thursday.  It has been great and fun, and I could not believe that I had reached five hundred sessions.
I was awarded to become a member of The Traralgon

Keenagers "500" Club.  I received a beautiful gold medal, it is a gold pass I would think because from now on, I don't need to pay a fee any more,  how good is that.  I will continue to have fun, and the bonus is being fit and healthy.

I thought a celebration has to take place, love to share my cooking, especially for a special occasion. Beautiful savoury and cakes I must prepare.

The theme of the savoury is East meets West, it is stuffed brioche with chicken and golden rice.

Started with the brioche dough which turned out beautifully, and followed by custard making.

The dough at 10.32 am

The dough is doubled at 11.37 am

The custard was so smooth and silky, it is for the filling of the cake, once it is cold, add some whipped cream, fold and mix them properly, that makes it a delicious cream patisserie. Another bright idea was making use of the last pink roses from the garden to make sugared rose petals for the cake decoration. So far, so good.

The Brioche and The Cake

When things are alright around us, usually good deeds are quickly done. The cooking is going well, and I am sure the taste is delicious, and I am happy with the sweets too.

We are in the Autumn Table Tennis Competition 2014, and today is our first night, and I hope we will be doing OK. Winning or losing is still gaining because we are active and getting fit.

In the garden.

Crab Apple Tree

Surprise, surprise, while I was in the garden, I found the exciting but useful stuff.  My crab apple tree is blossoming again, and it is only the month of February, I don't understand, am I getting fruits this year, just wait and see.  The crepe myrtle if flowering for the first time, I planted only last year, that is very encouraging, the tree is doing very well, the flower is going to be very spectacular when it is well established.  Also, my Geisha Girls are in flowers, but one is better than the other; still it is beautiful.

Crepe Myrtle

Geisha Girl

Good things have been happening in the garden too, I could not help to share it with you all.
On Thursday, I shared the home baking with the club, and it was good.

Good days are here, and here again, I am sure.


Until Next Post
Thanks For Visiting

Susy

HOT DAYS

In My Garden
It has been hot for the past few days, it does not take long for the garden to suffer, it needs watering regularly.  The grass is brownish and we let it be, but the potted plants and the garden beds are so dry, I have been waiting for a cool change and the rain, but I have no luck, so watering has to be done.  No more flowers that I could pick, but a few summer roses I could have and I save them for the house.  The potted Gardenia and annual flowering plants such as Petunia, inpatients are in flower but they don't last.

The Last Summer Roses

Light prune for roses is necessary that's what I have been doing, except for the variegated red roses, they are still flowering, and they will stay until Autumn.  I guess it is wrong if I said the last summer roses, but it is true for other roses.

The variegated cannas and the yellow dwarf cannas are in flower too, even though they don't last, but still, they give colours in the garden.

For the first year, I keep all orchids in the backyard, scattered around everywhere in shady places, some of them have yellowish leaves, maybe they need to be transferred to a cooler place.  More work has to be done.

In The Vegetable Patch
Herbs grow well, the flowers in the hot days made them turn into seeds very quickly.   I am not a seeds gatherer, but this time I tried to keep some of the seeds from the coriander plants and also from the curly brown lettuce.




Harvesting the self-sewn potted Roma tomato for the first time, I don't think I will have a lot more, it is only a plant, but more than enough for what we need. The hot weather is good for the tomato and other fruits to ripe.
Fruit Trees
Rayner's apple tree is fruiting and doing well, maybe we have to give extra water during the hot days,  my nectarine are fruiting too, as I mentioned before the tree has very little fruits but they are looking good.  It is almost time to harvest, I know just about time, soon as the kids are back to school the nectarines are ready to be picked.

Nectarines 2014

The joy of gardening is from preparing the soil, planting, and looking after,  to harvesting, all done by ourselves or myself as I am so happy and proud.

Indulgence for the Hot Days.
To have a fresh salad and fresh fruits daily from the garden is a big ask, as my garden only has a couple of fruit trees, but the markets are there for us.  Aren't we so fortunate?

Summer Trifle

Summer Trifle for the hot day, cool, fresh and delish!  It's a treat.  It is layers of sponge cake with syrup, jelly, fruits and whipped cream.  Instead of syrup, you could add liquor.

Homemade lemonade for drinks is good, or if you like, prepare herbal tea, keep it cool in the refrigerator, add extra lemon juice to serve, it is very refreshing.





Cooking for The Hot Days
It is very easy: salads are the best, but I cook sometimes, using the top of the stove.  I do it in the morning and serve for dinner.
I fancy to have a crispy pastry for our plate, and this is what I did: prepared Susy water pastry, roll it out thinly, fill with cheese and young asparagus in between, and cook it on a hot pan over the stove until they are golden.  Use it as a plate to place the garnishes.

Pastry Plate, with mayonnaise chicken and sweet potato

To serve, cut into wedges

The Preparation

The water pastry dough

 Susy Prima Water Pastry
2 cups full of plain flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup warm water
2 tablespoon vegetable oil

The thin pastry with young asparagus
and cheese

Mix all ingredients together to make a soft dough, Knead it until silky and smooth.  Rest it for 35 minutes before using it.


There are water pastry recipes of mine, one thing that they have in common is the pastry based on flour, warm water and oil.

Two pastry sheets with the filling

The cooking for this fancy plate will take ten minutes approximately.  You need medium heat to start off and continue with very low heat.

When it is cooked, use it straight away to get the crispy texture.

However, you could keep them on a plate and cover.  The next time you want to use it, put it in a hot oven for a few minutes to crisp them up.

Cooking on a hot pan

Cooked Pastry Plate

The pastry plate with mayonnaise chicken,
and sweet potatoes.

The only fresh salad from the garden right now is tomato and sorrel salads.  The other day I took some zucchini from the club which was shared by Irene, thank you,  and I used them as a mixed salad with lettuce and carrots.   During summer months I don't plant lettuces, I wait until Autumn, the intense heat doe's not helping these plant to do well.

I am thinking of my friends during the hot days, we are no longer very young, so the hot days can be difficult.  We are all sensible enough to cope, but I am hoping a cool change is coming soon.

On that note,  Take Care All!!!

Until Next Post
Susy

The Year of The Horse

The 31 January 2014 is the Chinese New Year, it is the year of the horse, in their calendar this year is 4721. Chinese people all over the world celebrate the new year with festivity, parties, giving money/presents, and sharing beautiful food.
Happy New Year to you all, I wish you peace, good luck and prosperity.  Enjoy your celebration and happy feasting.

Chinese New Year in Java.
I remember now, my parents always received a hamper from their Chinese business friends every Chinese New Year.   It has a collection of delicious and beautiful food, and one of them was Kue keranjang, that is a special basket cake to celebrate Chinese New Year.  The Kue Keranjang is now as popular as ever, and it is readily available in the shops in Yogyakarta-Java, every Chinese New Year.

Kue keranjang

Kue Keranjang (basket cake), also called Nian Gao or Tii Kwee in Hokkien, China is a cake that is made from glutenous rice flour and sugar.  It has an elastic and sticky texture.  This kind of cake is prepared for Imleck celebrations (Chinese New Year).  Kue keranjang was used as for an offering to spirits, just before New Year until the day of Imlek.  As an offering, this cake should not be eaten until Chap Goh Meh (15 days after Imlek)  The shape is round symbolising unity and peace.

Kue keranjang was originally named as Yearly Cake or Seasonal Cake because they are only made once a year.  In East Java, it is called Kue Keranjang: because the wrapper is made out of the bamboo basket with a little hole in the middle.  In west Java, it was named China Cake, as the origin of the cake was from China and also the producers are Chinese people known as Tionghoa.  (Wikip)

I am always curious about this cake as to how it is made.  I know about the ingredients, they are simple and more so, they are readily available here in Australia.  Can it be done at home by any home cook?  Well, I tried and tried, but I never succeeded.  I am not giving up, but it is enough for now.  I found a recipe, but the more I learnt, the more I am reluctant to do.  

Kue Dodol

Wrapped Kue Dodol

People in Java regard that the Kue keranjang is Dodol China.  Kue dodol is a sweet Javanese pudding made out of glutenous flour, sugar and coconut.  The taste of Kue dodol is almost similar to the Kue kerangjang, but I think the texture is different.


I did kue dodol, but it may be not as authentic, this is my interpretation.

Susy Kue Dodol

Kue Dodol

Kue Dodol-to learn more
look up - Wikip

The traditional kue dodol is wrapped; differently, it is now commonly wrapped in clear plastic.





It is about Kue Keranjang to celebrate the Chinese New Year -  Year of the Horse, I think I will get the cake in the Chinese Grocery, to relive what the taste is like, and after all according to the Chinese tradition, the cake won't  be eaten until fifteen days after the new year, that is the sixteen of January.




Until Next Post
Susy

BASKETS

In The Hot Day
Hot days can be destructive, particularly for the garden, the young plants, can easily get damaged, the flowers and leaves are wilted, the rose petals become dry, and the soil is cracked.  Personally, I don't like to be in the garden working, but watering is necessary,  it is better in the late afternoon or early morning, not in between.

However, it is suitable for taking advantage of the hot weather.   I did wash all my food baskets.

I scrubbed and washed them in soapy water, drained and dried them under the hot sun.

There are two types of baskets in my household, one example is the baskets for keeping fruits or food, and the other baskets are pot plant holders.

The pot plants holders, I aired them in the backyard and let them sit under the sun.  It got rid of the mould and kept the baskets dry and healthy.



To wash the basket does not take a long time, use a durable scrubber, scrub the basket thoroughly with mix detergent and hot water, wash and rinse in soapy water.

Drain, take them outside, place them over a clean cloth and dry them under the sun on a hot day.

All the baskets are dry now, the family can use them with confidence, they are clean and healthy.


Using the Baskets
Baskets are suitable for resting freshly cut flowers, especially roses.



While I am harvesting, I keep the vegetables, herbs, and fruits,  in baskets.

Fresh bread/rolls appeal better to be presented in baskets.

Chestnuts on a basket keep them dry not mouldy, freshly cut herbs, vegetables are always in a basket,  and also the basket is an excellent container to dry bay leaves and herbs.

Baskets for Plant Holders

The orchid flowers are cascading along the tall basket looking very pretty, and the monstera deliciousa stands proudly in a large basket looking more practical.



Where would you keep those baskets?  You do need a special place for them, a cupboard or space in the pantry or hang them up in a dry place somewhere inside the house.

In a cooler day but dry and sunny fill your pick nick basket with beautiful food to eat outdoors, enjoy the fresh air and beautiful nature.  That is another way of using baskets.



Today in the modern era, I think baskets are here to stay.  The fact is that people spend the time to create beautiful and intricate goods,  we all appreciate folk craft/art.


Until Next Post
Thank You for Visiting
Susy