Tuesday 20 December 2011

Meeting Annabel - what an experience!

Like a giggly teenager, Annabel signed both my books!
What an amazing experience!  Fancy only 6 months after starting this blog I would get the chance of meeting the woman who wrote the book, and to think Julie never got a chance to meet Julia!
Rachael, Bron, Anita, Pauline, John and I ventured into Dymocks in the city for Annabel's Melbourne launch of "Free Range in the City", yet another magnificent cookbook full of beautiful recipes that are easy to follow and taste delicious.  We were so impressed with her beautiful down to earth manner, we felt so comfortable in her company and listening to her life story was incredible.  What an amazing journey she has had through her life from possum trapper to celebrity cook! 
Annabel seemed truly grateful for her life, she thanked us from the bottom of her heart for loving her recipes and for simply enjoying food.  I loved hearing Annabel say that food can be so much more than just what to eat to satisfy your hunger.  She told us the story of her daughter, calling Annabel while she was traveling with her book launch and letting her Mum know that a sad thing had happened back home in new Zealand.  A friend of her daughter's Dad had passed away and Annabel's daughter's first thought was to  make a lasagna to take around to the family.  That hit a real cord with me and all of those who were there that night at the book launch.  I think we all feel that food is a good way to show the people you love comfort and support as well as to share in times of celebration.  This was truly an amazing night and I can't thank Rach enough for getting it all organised for us to go, I feel so lucky to have met Annabel but even luckier that I got to share the experience with my besties!
I think the most incredible thing to come out of this experience was hearing about Annabel's connection with Julia Childs.  The movie "Julie and Julia" is what insiped this blog.  Annabel told us how she wrote to Julia Childs looking for some advice on what she should do with her life, having had a catering business and writing for a local food magazine Annabel was looking for someone to tell her what direction she should take on her food journey.  Julia wrote back to Annabel and told her to join the American Association of Cooking Schools.  Taking the advice on board Annabel sold up her catering business and moved to America where she met amazing people who really taught her to cook.  So after hearing this encounter with Julia Childs, we felt that we had come full circle - how amazing and how lucky we were to hear her tell her story in the flesh! 

So after hearing Annabel talk about her life and us sitting there mesmerised and in awe, we had the chance to sit with her, chat personally and get our books signed.  She was so lovely and was really interested in this blog.  She said she would have a look at it, which may have once scared me to death, but now, having met her and realising how down to earth she is, I would be nothing less than honored for her to read my blog! 

In my book Annabel wrote: " Catherine, This is the blog copy! Yay! Happy cooking and have fun in the kitchen.  Annabel Langbein"

In my new book she wrote: "Dear Catherine, so thrilled you are loving cooking - so lucky to have such a fabulous fan!  Keep up that blog!  I'm looking forward to reading it!  Annabel Langbein"

Saturday 5 November 2011

Rhubarb & Berry Crumbles


In the last school holidays my boys spent lots of time at Mum and dad's farm at Fish Creek (birthplace of the Blog!).  When it was time to go and collect them, I couldn't wait to see what mum had in the garden that I could cook an Annabel recipe with!  So with "The Free Range Cook" in hand I entered the veggie patch to find beautiful rhubarb ready to pick, cook and eat! 
The individual Rhubarb & Berry crumbles were easy to make and really delicious served with vanilla ice-cream.  I made the full recipe of crumble of which you'll only use half of when using it for the crumble.  Mum froze the rest to use at a later date.

I liked the idea of mixing the cornflour and sugar together to sprinkle over the fruit  before adding the crumble.  As is so often the case with Annabel's recipes, it's so simple!  No pre-cooked fruit, just in the ramekin, sprinkle with sugar & cornflour, top with crumble and in the oven!  Couldn't be easier and couldn't be a more perfect flavour!
Catherine

Wednesday 2 November 2011

Corn & Avocado Salad

This Salad is simple and beautiful.  Corn would have to be my favourite vegetable, I love it in anything and the combination of the corn with avocado, and tomato is really good.  I boiled the corn the first time I made this and then barbecued it the second time.  It was equally as nice but the barbecued version gave the salad a lovely smokey flavour. 
I made the Basil Oil and have kept it in the fridge and used it on a number of different salads and it is delicious.  Very fresh and makes it feel like Summer is just around the corner! Catherine

Saturday 17 September 2011

The Annabel Experience.....

DVD Playing in the background!
   Here we are!  Inspired by Annabel's magnificent recipes, the gang got together to create the "Annabel Experience!"  It was a magical night of beautiful food and wonderful friendship.  Everyone nominated a dish they wanted to make from Annabel's "The Free Range Cook" book and the results were nothing less than sensational.  We all just made enough for the 22 of us present to sample the dish.  With 14 courses it was truly a night of gastronomic proportions and at the conclusion everyone agreed that it was just superb!  So the dishes were all listed, some were paired up to be served together but most were just a dish on their own to be savored and enjoyed.  All the courses were photographed on their own and then with their creator for the sole purpose of being posted here on the blog.  Thanks to everyone who made the night so special!  Without further ado, here we go with the story of the Annabel Experience.........
Catherine xx

COSMOPOLITAN by Ursula 

Managed to throw it together with very little time!


ZUCCHINI, FETA and MINT FRITTERS 
By Anita

Perfect presentation Anita, what a way to start!  Very hard to stop at one!
















LEMON HERB FRITTERS WITH GOAT'S CHEESE 
By Julie

Sweet Chiili sauce topped these off - very yum Julie!

SILVERBEET, FETA AND PINENUT ROLL
By Murph
Murph - went shopping for Silverbeet, came home with Spinach!

















SPICY CASBAH PRAWNS
 By Bron
Happy Birthday Bron!





COUSCOUS WITH ROAST VEGETABLES 
By Timmy & Smac!
Best effort of the night with the least amount of notice!
Smile Timmy, you're on the Blog!















FISH FLAVOURED WITH CURRY BASE
By Rachael
Magnificent effort getting 22 perfect sized pieces of  fish Rach!

PEAR, HALOUMI AND WALNUT SALAD
By Michelle
Great choice of dish Michelle, hard for you to choose what to bring from the hundred recipes of Annabel's that you've already done!



BEEF WITH DOUBLE MUSHROOM SAUCE, POTATO GRATIN WITH GRUYERE & GARLIC and GREEN BEANS WITH LEMON By Catherine
Blog author does not need to comment on her own dish!

HONEY LEMON CREAM PUDDINGS
By Bomber?????
Catherine liked this photo...
.....Bomber liked this one!



















STRAWBERRY CLOUD CAKE By Rachael

Who has a Strawberry Cloud Cake in their freezer ready for any occasion?



Rachael does!












PROFITEROLES By Lisa

The Great debate.  Who's Profiteroles were better, Annabel's or Lisa's?????





CHOCOLATE & CRANBERRY SLICE
By Rhonda
Lucky last!  And made with Aldi Chocolate - magnificent Ronnie!

Yum!


A great group effort in the kitchen kept the dishes under control!
A sensational evening with Annabel in the background!








Wednesday 31 August 2011

Lamb, Rosemary and Apple Sausage Rolls

My little patch of herbs growing under an
olive tree growing in a wine barrel
Lots of delicious ingredients in these Sausage Rolls.  I used mince lamb (400g) and mince beef (250g) as the combination of meats and with the fresh herbs (mostly from my little herb plot!), fruit chutney and grated apple it was a real winner with the family.  I made quite big sausage rolls and we had them for dinner with vegies.

In her book Annabel suggests using the base mixture of meat, apple, egg and onion and then making a Greek version by adding olives, garlic, rosemary and feta.  Or an Italian option with sundried tomatoes and basil.  That is a real "split screen" moment Annabel - LOVE IT!  The sausage rolls I made were delicious and with the Chilli Jam I made a couple of weeks back on the side even better!  Catherine