Decadent Date and Ginger Chocolate Slice - Divine

I remember when as a kid we made homemade chocolate, which consisted of melting Kremalta
(vegetable shortening) with cocoa and sugar
Mix with Rice Bubbles and you got Chocolate Crackles

Children's Dream

My friend Elsje gave me this recipe... I'm not sure where it came from, but I just had to share it

So here is a grown up version. Absolutely Decadent,
Flavoured with soft date and ginger
Crunchy with the cornflakes
Instead of Cocoa and sugar you use the best Drinking Chocolate
That makes the most delightful Chocolate Topping
You must make this.


The Base
155 gm pitted dates sliced
125 gm unsalted butter
1/3 cup sugar
60 gm preserved ginger chopped
3 cups cornflakes


Line a Swiss roll tin with baking paper

Add to a saucepan
Dates, butter, sugar and chopped ginger  in saucepan ,
Stir over low heat until dates soft
Add cornflakes
Press into prepared tin

Chocolate Topping
240 gm Kremelta
2 cups Best Drinking Chocolate Powder

Melt Kremelta over low heat 
Add Drinking Chocolate
Turn into bowl

Place in Fridge until it reaches soft spreading consistency .
Spread
Set

Tidy up the edges.
Cooks treat!
Cut into squares
Eat

I made this for an afternnon tea that I was invited to
out int he country

What a spread, Just a close up of my contribution

One piece should be enough as it is so rich
But I have forced down 2 pieces and I wasn't sick!!!
Just Divine

Taking On Jamie - #5 - Golden Chicken with Braised Greens and Potato Gratin

 I liked this dish so much, I made it for friends that came for dinner last week
As seen above

It appears to be very rich, but really there is only 100 mls cream and 30 gms cheese

Of course it took a lot longer cooking for 9, I didn’t race the clock then

Didn't time it

But it seems when I did it for 4, the "15 minute" version

15 minutes was too hard

By the way 

This is a great way to cook chicken breasts

You know how easily they dry out

Well they were tender and moist  

 In fact I liked the method of seasoning and bashing so much,

 I carried through this prep and bread crumbed the breasts and the Children had a wonderful Chicken and Chips dinner on Tuesday

They loved it

As I don’t have any fresh herbs on hand, 

I used the tube of Rosemary Paste, 

warning this has wheat in it so not Gluten Free, so to be Gluten free use fresh herbs

Gather your ingredients

Olive Oil

Sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Large Sheet Baking paper

200 gms Frozen Peas

1 x Leek washed and sliced

200 gms Baby Spinach

4 x 120 gm  Skinless Chicken breasts

Few sprigs of fresh Rosemary or Rosemary paste

2 rashers of middle Bacon

8oo gms Potatoes  sliced

3 Onions  peeled and sliced

1 teaspoon chicken stock powder

1/2 bunch sage leaves

100 mls cream

30 gms grated parmesan

For the “15 minutes” version

Get everything ready

Kettle filled with boiling water

Oven Grill on high

Food Processor (thin slicer ) rearing to go

Medium lidded pot on high heat

Larger High sided roasting  pan on high heat

Large frying pan on high heat

Let’s go

Put the potatoes through the slicer

Throw into hot pot

Pour over boiling water from kettle

Add salt

Lid on and bring to boil, let simmer

Slice onions

Into roasting pan add 2 tablespoon olive oil

Throw in onions

Season with S & P

Tear in sage leaves

Stir regularly adding a little water if they start to catch

Lay out baking paper

Toss the chicken with S & P and rosemary

Fold the paper over and bash the chicken with a rolling pin till flattened about 1.5 cms

Cook in frying pan with 1 tablespoon oil

Turning after 3-4 minutes until golden and cooked through

Remove and set aside

Add chopped bacon and toss around till cooked

Drain potatoes which should be fork tender in colander

Add to onions in pan

Spread into a flat layer

Pour cream over

And sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top

Into oven under grill

Grill till golden about 4-5 minutes

Meanwhile in the empty potato pan

Still on high heat

Add 1 tablespoon olive oil

Throw in prepared leeks

Toss around till just tender

Add peas and spinach

Stir till spinach wilted and peas tender

Pile on platter

Place Chicken breast and bacon on top

Remove Potatoes from oven

Serve
Delicious Food
 

Swinging Sydney- Certainly Turns on Great Food and Good Times

Swinging Sydney is a bit of an old fashioned term...probably showing my age. But this City does Rock.
It has turned on lovely sunny days the whole time we have been here.
Dale and his friend Paz take advantage of the sun

Bit chilly morning and night, but our place os residence is very warm and cosy. As are our hosts. Yvonne and Stu.

We have been well spoilt.
Yvonne made a spectacular dinner for us and our friends Neil and Glenys
Even the table setting is superb

 Filet of Beef with Stuffed Mushrooms and Lots of Fresh Herbs and Lemon Zest

Accompanied by a Cous Cous ball stuffed with Salad
Quite the Centrepiece

Here is the cross section, You can't say Cous Cous is boring when presented like that
Yum

The next day we went to The Balmoral Boat House for lunch

Dale and Stu strolling up to meet us

Great food
Dale and Stu had Fish and Chips

I had the BBQ Prawn and Salad Stuffed Brioche

Yvonne had the Smoked Trout Platter

All washed down with some Excellent Aussie Wine
Below: Our Hosts

And of course. Your Truly and Spouse

Highly recommended to Visitors to Sydney
Situated on Balmoral Beach

In the Mosman Village there are some great Cafes and Restaurants
Of course Il Perugino mentioned in my previous post. All set up and ready for Service

Next door is The Classic Cupcake, They did a Special Red White and Blue Cake for  the New Prince George

We have Taken Out

And eaten in.

AND next door to that Testoni, specialising in Italian Sandwiches and Pastries etc
Had a go at that one too

But back to the Home Cooking
Ms Yvonne presented us with a delightful Roast Chook and Vege

Who wants to eat out after that?

Swinging Sydney - Winter Vacation

Sydney July 2013 
All dressed and ready early...

I felt like my mothers Old Neightbour Mrs Haseman...when she was going out at midday. She started getting ready at about 7am . 

Sitting ready dressed up just like Jackie waiting 

Not quite like that of course, in our case...but those memories stick and I really don't want to be one of those old ladies! 

Helen picked us and of course there were road works and lots of stoppages. Joys of city living I guess 

Anyway into Koru check in...Brand new passports all flash and electronic BUT
Mine was declined. 

Silly me when I booked I pushed the wrong button for title, 

so Mr Gillian was booked on the flight, 

Mrs Gillian did not compute.
So back to old fashioned ways.

The person had to do it 

Got through the customs ok... though so all sweet  

Off to Koru lounge, nice little tasty treats and of course champagne 

Small one for dale and 2 large ones for me 

Plane delayed but hey when you are in the lounge, 

who cares...Unremarkable flight. 

Nice staff, the steward obviously recognized us for people, who would like more than 1 wine and slipped a couple of extra bottles into the pocket.
Vey civilized of course  

I have a complaint though

Whosoever picks the movies and TV programmes, should be shot. 

Really struggled to find something to watch and there was a large choice but of nothing much!.
Ended up with Jonathan Creek and then some Aussie programme, bit like the Grumpy Old Men Series. 

Amusing but (shrug the shoulders, comma, keep the voice raised!)

I'm not really that fussy, so for the discerning viewer I imagine could be quite boring. 

My new passport didn't work well at customs. 

Had to go and be stamped in the old way 

(Note to self... Be aware on return journey)  

The Rubin Hilton sent an excellent chauffeur and the welcoming committee, had perfect drinks and dinner ready for us. 

What an excellent start to our vacation

Sunny day dawned. Shiny Sydney 

Had lunch at new Cafe up the road. 

Blooms. All very Tasty, Trendy  and Ultra Healthy, probably will do well in Mosman

On Friday, we met up with Erin and Milton for dinner at Il Perugeno

One of Yvonne and and Stuart's  Favourite haunts

Of course we had to take the obligatory shots before we depart

and lets not forget the delicious food

Pork Chop for me

 Fresh Crisp Salad for the Table

 Stuart always loves the whole steamed fish

 Erin and Yvonne both went for the Osso Bucho

Fantastic Food

Great restaurant in Mosman Village

Worth a trip.

Then the obligatory Photo at the end of the night

It's so so good to spend time with Old Friends

We found a Tame Tourist, who took the shot for us.

For those that are interested, there was of course major Rugby in the weekend. 

The results did excite the boys. Final to be played in New Zealand Big Night next Saturday

 Dale forced to relax in the sun

After a satisfactory visit to the Movie theatre on Sunday afternoon
Michael Douglas was fabulous, in every sense of the word... in Behind the Candelabra
His portrayal of Liberace. Excellent. Matt Damon as well
Home to a superb Salad, with Meatloaf, inspired by Ottolenghi and prepared by Ms Yvonne, with her extra touches
Great way to end the weekend

 And who can forget our constant companion Paz. Cute as a button

Roll on the rest of the week.