Today Im baking a pie

What do you do when feeling a bit down? What I do is bake. Over the last few days I have been reading and curling up all day. I walk around the house, stretch, make tea, write, and think. Today however I decided that it was time for some action, no more feeling sorry for myself.

So I set my alarm bright and early and set out for the shops in the rain. I went in search of butter, milk, peaches and a rolling pin in my new town. I love walking the streets in the rain before everyone else has decided to wake up. There is more room to think without all the busy people around.

Today is 'pie day' I have decided. Which simply means, its time for me to pull myself out of my snail shell and do something productive. As I'm on holidays the only productive think I could think to do is bake a pie. The good ol' fashion kind, with a hand made crust, lots of butter, sugar and love.

As I bought a brand new rolling pin (i love buying rolling pins) I started thinking about the first time I ever bought one. I had recently moved in with my boyfriend and I was decorating a wedding cake.....for no reason really, I just wanted to practice my decorating skills (Suddenly this does strike me as a little odd....but what of it?) I walked into my favourite cooking shop and found the largest, most beautiful rolling pin in the store. It was so pretty in all its wooden goodness, and seemed perfect. I went over to the counter to pay for my item and the lady behind the counter with eyes sparkling asked if I was going home to beat my husband. "I'm not married........yet," I confessed, and we gave each other knowing looks. Oh the bliss of being in love! As I bought my new rolling pin today I realised two things: 1) I felt a bit sad my "not married yet" never came into realisation. We broke up, went our different ways, and every so often, this makes my blue. 2) Realistically that lady in the shop was right, I really should have gone home and beat up that idiot with my rolling pin.

This however is all in the past, water under the bridge and what not. Also, after that little rant, you will be happy to know, that I am not an angry boyfriend beater.......... Im actually just a very nice girl that likes to bake pies.

So today there will be a peach pie, I have invited anyone who is near by to drop in for a slice. I'm hoping to make a baking day once a week. I'd love to be in the habit of doing a big cook up and then declaring it open house to all my friends. Everyone could just come and go as they please, drink tea, taste some goodies, and be on their way. To me this sounds perfect, and the idea leaves me feeling very cheered.........and not at all like beating anyone with a rolling pin.

If all goes to plan, and its lovely I'll post the recipe

Poaching eggs

Last year when things got oh so busy with studying two courses, I thought to myself from time to time "wouldn't it be nice to have a breakdown?" I could just lay in bed all day and watch 100's of episodes of mindless t.v. shows, and not feel any pressure to do anything, or be anywhere. It just seemed so.......lovely. Well obviously I am not stupid enough to really believe that It would be 'nice' to have a breakdown. From what I've heard they are awful, and not very restful at all.

Today I announced to my housemate that I was in fact having a 'breakdown' as I have hardly left the house for three days, and am completely content with this. In reality land (a place I sometimes choose not to live) I think I'm just having a holiday. A real one. Not the sort where I go home and see a different friend everyday, or where I go out to bars and drink with friends. Its the sort of holiday that I used to take with my boyfriend back home. We would pack up our bags, go someplace nice and ..............rest!!

So this is what I have been doing for the last few days. My life has fallen into a strange little pattern. I wake up late, poach some eggs, read a bit, maybe watch a show, potter around my room, look at recipes, look at food blogs, take a few calls, stretch out on my bed, go for a little jog, potter around some more, see some friends for a few hours at dinner time, and go home to read some more. Its divine. I keep planning on doing things, like cooking, or cleaning, or going to the gym, but it just doesn't happen. I am perfectly content in my little snail shell at home here. Everyday I compose a list in my head of all the things I am going to do the next day......and the knowledge that I plan on doing something keeps me satisfied until the next day, when I don't do it, but make plans for the next day.

I know I will snap out of this soon. I have a theory that somehow I know subconsciously what works for me best. So when its the right time to get busy again, then bam! I'll feel like doing it. It usually works, but until then I'll continue with this mini holiday.

So apparently......this is meant to be a food blog. Im so sorry about the lack of food that has been mentioned. I like to think people do read this to find out about cooking tips and not just listen to "they unsuccessful yet very eventful love life of Cherry Murphy."

As I am on my mini holiday I actually haven't been doing too much cooking. The one think I have been making a lot of though, is poached eggs. My housemate asked me recently how to make them, and I realised that I get asked this often. Its one of those skills in life (yes poaching eggs is a life skill) that not many people know how to do well. To me its like falling in love (incredibly easy and I do it all the time) but apparently a lot of people don't know how (to poach eggs......not fall in love....you following me here?) So I'm going to give you my sneaky egg poaching tips.

Poaching an egg

You will need:
eggs
water
1tbs of vinegar
a pot
a slotted spoon

What to do:
Ok its really easy.....you just need the tips

1. Fill up your pot half full with water and add the vinegar.
2. Bring the water to a simmer. You don't the water to be bubbling fast or it will break up your eggs, and you don't want it to not be hot enough or your eggs wont want to hold together. So simmering water is perfect.
3. Now a lot of people will tell you to stir the water and what not, but I say that is rubbish. Just crack your egg, as close as you can to the surface of the water and gently drop it in. You really want to be careful with it and treat it with some respect.
4. Then just leave it be for about 2 minutes, or more. It probably takes between 2 to 5 mins to poach depending on how soft or hard you like it. You can use the slotted spoon to lift it up and check it. Just poke it with your finger to feel how runny it is.
5. Once it's done, simply lift it out and eat it. The good thing about using the slotted spoon is that you don't have to drain the egg, the water should just run off, and you wont have soppy toast.

Lunch frittata

I have been terrible this month with writing, and have neglected my blog so very much. I am very sorry to those of you who are lovely enough to read it. I have hundreds of excuses, I promise. Firstly, there was all my pastry school assessments. Not only was there a huge amount of practical cooking to do, there was some huge assignments this term which bored my brains out. Then I moved houses, started getting ready for Christmas (this involved a lot of gingerbread house making, and also a decent amount of wine), work was also pretty hectic, and because all that wasn't quite enough...I fell a bit in love. So all of these activities, along with seeing friends, trying new recipes, and basically just living have been keeping me pretty busy. I am dreadfully sorry though.At the moment I've gone home for Christmas. I'm back on the hot and sticky Sunshine Coast with my family, helping arrange all the dinner parties, and catching up with friends. It's such a relief to be away from all the hustle and bustle of the city...although not being within walking distance of a coffee shop is one trial I am trying to bare quietly, if not resentfully. It's lovely to be here though.What I love about coming home, apart from seeing all the family and friends is the pantry. It's so very full all the time. There is nothing (well maybe one or two things) more lovely in this life than a full pantry. It's very satisfying to know that at any time there is enough ingredients around to make a delicious meal.I was discussing with an old friend that I ran into recently while I have been home about our ideas of the perfect holiday. She said the best thing for her would be a place where she could read books all the time and not have to bother about cooking or eating. To me this is the biggest disaster of a holiday. Unless there is a kitchen on my holidays, there is no point in going. Even when my ex and I used to go and stay in luxury bed and breakfasts in the forest we would always make sure the room had a little stove so I could cook. Before a two day holiday I would drag my partner through the farmers markets in order to find 'the best holiday cheese' and 'the tastiest pastries' to take with us (all the while flirting with the cheese man and bakers...gosh I miss the farmers markets in Noosa.) Then we would pile into the car in amongst all the food and about 7 cook books.I started thinking about this...and my love of food in general. Why do I insist on cooking, even when I'm on holidays? I think the reason is...the kitchen is where I feel most at home, most comfortable. I feel like life makes a lot more sense while I am quietly chopping, and stirring and baking.I forgot how much I have missed writing and have rambled on something awful. Well, I'll give you a little holiday recipe to make in case you too feel most at home in the kitchen. It's just an easy one that I whipped up the other day for lunch.

Spring lunch frittata
What you will need:
7 eggs
half a cup of milk
salt and pepper
one onion
garlic
4 baby zucchini's (or two normal size ones if you can't get the babies)
8 cherry tomatoes
a small tin of salmon
250g goats fetta
A handful of basil

What to do:
You need a big non-stick frypan with metal handles for this recipe. So firstly make sure you have one of those.Dice your onion and crush your garlic, cook over a low heat in the frypan until it becomes transparent.Slice the zucchini lengthwise and add to the onion, frying on medium heat. Add tomatoes and continue to cook until zucchini is nearly softBreak the eggs into a bowl and add the milk. Whisk to combine and seasonMake sure that all the vegetables are evenly distributed over the bottom of the pan and pour in the egg mix. Continue to cook on a medium heat.When the egg mix has set about 2/3 of the mix poke in the cheese and salmon. Place the whole pan under a oven grill and cook until set.Once the whole thing is set, turn out onto a plate (this can be done by placing a plate on top of the fritatta and holding onto it while turning the whole pan upside down...sounds hard but really it isn't. Just believe it will work...and umm hopefully it will.)Tear up the basil and place on top.Eat it!

Rich

The best things in life come free...this is something I struggle to believe as I walk around the David Jones food department. This place is like heaven to me, but today it just made me want to cry. You see, I've never taken too well to being a student. Poverty has never sat too well with me. My grandpa always used to joke that he was 'upper middle class' and we would make fun of his snobbishness. Sometimes though I wonder if some of this mentality didn't rub off on me.

Don't get me wrong, I have no stigma in thinking I'm better than anyone at all. I don't even mind not being able to buy expensive clothes and shoes. I don't use expensive facial products, and cheap makeup doesn't bother me.

Cheap food however is something I have never, and probably will never come to terms with. I will happily walk half an hour in the rain home every day if I have to, but going one day without a coffee is enough to bring a tear to my eye. Cheap wine is better than none, but these days...there is often just none.

Nothing makes me happier than a full stocked pantry, and I find a certain bliss in knowing that if I want to bake a cake at anytime, there will be all the ingredients just waiting there for me. This, however, never happens these days.

This week I'm hating being a student, but will have to make do with lentils and miso soup. I'm counting my blessings (as my mum always taught me to) and sometimes having no money makes you realise all the wonderful things you have.

Here is my list today:

• Amazing friends and family
• The Miso soup I had for breakfast
• My best friend who sent me some vegetables
• The Italian boy at school who offered to help me move houses even though we have never had much of a conversation beyond 'what did you do on the weekend', 'have you done the assignment yet', 'do you understand this recipe?', 'I'm so hung over', and 'how's work going.' It blessed my heart so much. "I have a car" he assured me (I think I was meant to be impressed) but I was just so overcome by the generosity of this boy who only really knows me as the girl who asks too many questions in cooking class.
• Having a good book to read (I got it from the opp shop for $2 yesterday.)
• The sunny weather
• Going for a run
• A girl with blue hair
• Realising how strong I am when I feel like everything is falling apart
• The one glass of very awful tasting wine that is left in an old bottle, that I will drink tonight.

So really, I'm a bit rich, even when I feel every bit poor.

Chocolate beetroot Cake

By nature I am an extremely maternal creature. At the age of seventeen I was a nanny to four children under the age of seven. At sixteen I always preferred to host dinner parties instead of getting drunk in the park with the other kids. I can cook (as I'm sure you have guessed by reading this blog), sew, budget, host the perfect party, and adore having house guests. It's only natural to presume then that I would make a good little house wife. I have been told this a lot. By friends mockingly, by men adoringly, and secretly, deep down I can't wait to have some children and start decorating a home.

Contradicting this however, I am also extremely creative, flighty, and have a lot of trouble settling down. I haven't lived in the same house for more than eight months in the last four years and am continually looking for new ways to grow and evolve. As happy as the whole 'picket fence' ideal is beautiful and one I do still aspire to, there are days, no let's be honest, there are months, when all I want to do is focus on my career, paint, go out dancing, take a lover, drink wine, be someone's muse, talk on the phone all night, and be slightly unconventional.

What I am trying to say, as always, can be better described in food than in words.

A couple of weeks ago I made a chocolate cake to take to a friend's house for dinner. It was a very different recipe with some unusual ingredients, which I didn't tell them about. When we were half way through dessert I asked them what they thought of the cake. "It was delicious" they said, which was true, as it was one of the most moist chocolate cakes I have ever cooked. Only then did I reveal to them that the core ingredient to this cake was beetroot.

You boil beetroots for a couple of hours, mash it up and add it to the cake batter. Not only does it keep the cake amazingly moist, it also gives it this beautiful sweet flavour with a slightly red tinge. It's amazing.

So what I learnt is this...life isn't always what it seems. Sometimes it's unconventional. Sometimes a chocolate cake isn't just a chocolate cake, and this doesn't make it wrong...it just makes it sweeter. So this week I'm learning to accept the beetroot in my cake, or something like that. Either way you have to try this recipe because it's delicious.

Chocolate Beetroot Cake

What you will need:

• 85g dark chocolate, melted
• 3 eggs
• 300g sugar
• 240ml vegetable oil
• 300g cooked beetroot
• one tsp vanilla essence
• 30g cocoa powder
• 200g plain flour
• one and a half tsp baking soda
• Quarter teaspoon of salt

What to do:

1. The beetroot takes the longest to cook. Usually about three large beets are enough. Peel and cut them into small pieces and simmer on low heat until all the water evaporates and you are left with just soft beetroot. You can always add more water if the water evaporates away but you don't want to just boil them and drain them or they will be too soggy. It may take a few hours so start this well in advance. Once they have cooled blitz them in a food processor until fine, or use a masher to make them into a paste. Let it cool down completely.
2. Whisk together the eggs, sugar and oil. Add the beetroot puree and melted chocolate. Mix until just combined.
3. Sift in the dry ingredients and fold through until just combined. You don't want to overwork the batter...because cakes hate this. There are complicated reasons for this such as the gluten in the flour stretching and making the cake less soft etc etc but really all you need to know is...the cake doesn't like to be mixed too much.
4. Pour cake mix into a greased and lined cake tin and bake at 180 for 30 to 40 minutes or until cooked, you will be able to tell.
5. If you want to make an icing, melt together equal parts chocolate and cream and let cool. Then pour it over the cake.
6. Enjoy.

Cooking for lovers

We all have rituals in our lives; things we do in different seasons to celebrate something or to commemorate something. While I was walking home the other day laden with shopping I started to think of one of my favourite rituals...cooking for the first time for a potential lover.

It's something I wasn't even that consciously aware of, but seem to do every time I meet someone I like. I invite them over and then think about what the perfect feast for this person would be. What do they like? What do they eat? How much do they eat? Do they like dessert? Do they like once course? There are so many different variables and I cook such incredibly different meals for different people.

As I was thinking about it I had a little revelation about the symbolism and representation of each of these "first meals" I have cooked for people. The more I looked at it the more I saw the similarities between the relationships, what was prepared, and how we ate it. I was surprised to find that these meals seemed to set a stage for the rest of the time I was with a person. Here's a few examples.

The night I cooked for my first serious boyfriend I prepared hand made pasta, with pesto ground up in a mortar and pestle. It was very rough and organic. I also baked a chocolate cake which fell apart. We sat on the floor and ate the meal with our hands, as there wasn't enough cutlery to go around. The experience was so very raw. As was the relationship. Everything was new, fresh, intense, honest...but like the chocolate cake it fell apart. I had no experience in making cakes all those years ago (before pastry school), we both had no idea on how to keep each other.

Then there was a boy who I liked so very much, I turned up at his house and cooked him salads and pizza from scratch. It was a very light, simple meal. We sat under the stars all night eating it, surrounded by 100 candles. The meal was delicious, but we got so caught up in talking and drinking our way through two bottles of red wine, I'm not sure how much we ate. We sat there for hours. The relationship was my longest. The lightest, most fun experience I have ever had. But the meal was too light...I left the relationship because I got hungry in the end.

Then there was a landscaper I cooked breakfast in bed for. The relationship didn't progress much further than this. Not that the breakfast wasn't amazing...but we seemed to just stick with the "in bed" part. A shame really, but I must have set myself up for it.

There was an Italian boy I met. I never even got around to cooking for him. Once we ordered take out Domino's pizza. I hate Domino's...it ended pretty shortly after that.

Recently I cooked a man macadamia crusted lamb cutlets, with baby carrots, garlic mash and vine ripe tomatoes. The meal was amazing (if I may say so myself) as it was the first time I had cooked for a date since starting cooking school. It was so yummy and I put so much thought into it. The combination was great and it just worked...a little like us. But it was a little bit complex, with so many elements, and it turned out that we were too.

Yesterday night, a date came to my house. I cooked them watermelon and grilled haloumi salad with roast capsicum and caramalised onion bruschetta. It was a lovely light dish...and there was so much food. Perfect for a summer night. We sat outside. It was an interesting and exotic meal. I have no idea what will come of this combination...but I am curious.

Just some thoughts

I haven't been doing much writing lately. Life has taken quite a change. Suddenly, for the first time in a very long time, I have free time. It's lovely but very strange. I'm sometimes not sure how to fill my days, but quickly they fill themselves and I find myself in bed at night thinking, "Where did that go?"

Pastry school is coming along very well. I had a revaluation recently and realised that as soon as I do my work experience I will be a qualified chef. Do I feel ready for this? No, not at all, but it is a starting block. I don't think we ever really feel ready for much in life. All my training, stress, and sweat in the kitchen has lead up to this...but it's only really a starting block.

I wish they gave courses like pastry school for relationships. I have spent the year in and out of love, trying to work out how I feel through my cooking. Sometimes I feel like I have progressed, other times not so much. I have learnt a lot about meringues, yeast, meat, vegetables, stocks, and sauces...but when sitting upon the edge of a romance I look in and feel confused.

If someone wrote a cook book for love, with all the recipes...I would buy it. I would cook every recipe, and try try try to comprehend this confusing thing.

As no one is planning this that I know of, I will just stumble along happily. Hoping I get it right.