Recipe index

Still working on my Recipe Index. So far, around 600 recipes catalogued, and counting...I'm slower now because my belly is really big and its getting really hot in Sydney, but I will finish it before baby comes / this year.
Will keep you posted.

Love,

Viclic

Recipe Index

From freeprintableonline.com

Last night I had this idea...I decided to create an index from all the recipes I have in my books and mags. Why?
Well, I don't know about you, but I don't remember everything and I thought...wait, If I would have a file, with categories, and etc...when I am looking for an idea to cook I could look all the recipes I have in one place...:)
Yaaaay!
It will take me a while. I am actually doing a Google Doc, so I can access it from anywhere. 
I am putting the name, cooking time, how many servings, where is it (Which Mag, book, etc) and some categories, like Meat, chicken, egg - Main, salad, dessert - and comments.


I am also filtering by stuff that I don't eat, would never even try, looks waaaay too complicated (Hello Master chef magazine).
I will let you know how it goes...


Love, 


Vic

On the Organic / Free range subject

This morning I saw on tv again, a dietitian talking about Organic and Free-range and about the prices, and how nutritionally speaking doesn't make so much difference for you, bla bla bla bla bla...AT LEAST, this one (different from other articles I have read or watched on tv) spoke about the free-range / organic being less cruel to the animals, and more enviromental friendly.

Seriously, is it so hard to reason about it? That subject gets me really upset. Of course the calories and vitamins are the same...but what about the chemicals? Its 10x worse for your health eating something genetically modified or full of agrotoxics and pesticide...that's not rocket science.
Also, free range its (Supposed to be) less cruel for the animal. If the animal is less stressed, the quality of the food will be better. Dietitians can say whatever they want, but free range eggs are better for cooking, and only a cook knows that. :)


So my advise for everyone that reads my blog is, if you can afford, buy free -range, cruelty free, organic, local markets and fresh everytime you can.

Here is what I found on the RSPCA Australia website:

Shop Humane

Next time you’re shopping remember to purchase RSPCA Approved food. Eggs and meat approved under the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme have been produced humanely and by choosing RSPCA Approved products you will be helping the RSPCA improve the lives of Australia’s farm animals. RSPCA Approved products are available at supermarkets and butchers. Search for your nearest stockist now.

RSPCA Paw of Approval

The RSPCA Paw of Approval is only found on products that come from animals that are part of the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme. If you see the RSPCA logo on a carton of eggs, packet of pork, chicken or turkey, you can be assured that animals involved in the production of these products were raised under high animal welfare standards.

1 year anniversary

Time does fly when you are having fun. I am the living proof. I just can't believe how fast this first year went. It feels like yesterday that we got married. :)
I must say, and I said it before, I had a princess wedding. But there was no cake. To be honest there was no need for one...but Ben knew that I liked wedding cake and cake toppers, so guess what Benji surprised me with?
Wedding cake. :)

Sooooo cute.

25 ways to wear a scarf

With the winter fast approaching in the south hemisphere, scarfs are a must have and wear accessory as we all ladies know very well.

My dear friend Kika sent me this video today showing 25 different ways to wear a scarf and I thought about sharing with everyone. It is a really well produced video in my humble (producer) opinion.



Happy scarf everyone!

New Muppets Movie

Hello,

Lately I've been thinking about the muppets a lot. How funny is that? I even said I would like to have a baby room decorated with the muppets theme (when the time comes)...I've been a little bit nostalgic in regards to the awesomeness of the 80's tv show.  I also remember Banana Split, Joosy and the pussy cats and so other shows.
Anyway, what a surprise to find out that a new Muppets movie is coming out this year! I'm so excited.

Look at one of the teasers...










needless to say that I CAN't Wait!!!

Love,

Vic
xoxox

So what's going on here?

Hello,
Ok, so you that read my blog might be a little confused.
Let me tell you what have been happening lately.
I started the modern housewives blog, which was mainly about food, last year. By that time, I had plenty of free time in my hands and i was learning and loving to cook and experiment in the kitchen.
Altough the new passion hasnt fade, and I still love to cook, by starting working full time PLUS Ben and I going on a much needed diet, the cooking fun mainly stopped and the blog got a little bit abandoned.

Something else that happened is that I started to learn how to sew, went back to be really tuned at work and all so today, I decided to migrate all the post from my old blog to this one, change the "theme" a little bit and make it more broad. I will talk about food (a little bit still) crafts, fabulous finds that I make in the World Wide Web, my personal life and more.

I hope you all enjoy.

See you soon,

Love,

Viclic

Banana Apple Sultanas bread - quick in the bread machine

Im sooooooo sorry I havent been here in so long. I've just been so busy at work, plus I am doing a diet (A serious one this time) and so is Ben so cooking has been a little bit out of the loop.

Anyways, Ben likes to go cycling, and he does...pretty much every tuesday and thursday he wakes up at 5:30 and goes out for hour and half or more.
So usually they go to a cafe place and have banana bread, but since we started a diet I've been making him some, a much lighter version.
This version is 4 PROPOINTS (New Weight watchers system) per slice and here is the recipe:

You will need
2 cups of flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup of sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp apple sauce - no sugar
30g sultanas
1 banana large
1 apple or pear in small pieces, no skin

Method:
put everything in the bread maker and turn it on and let it stir for 5 minutes. you will get a sticky mixture. you dont really need more than 5 minutes.

Get a spatula and fix the top.

Choose the baking option from your machine and let it bake for around 1 hour (You will need to check if its cooked or need another 10 minutes in the end) and Ta dahhhh

If you slice it in 15 portions, 4 points each

BON APPETITE.

The most amazing Triple Chocolate Cheesecake

We had this party last night.
A friend called me and asked: Hey Vic, which ingredients do I need to make a chocolate cake? So I thought, you know what, I will do it. I've been wanting to do something fancy for a long time (only problem is that I am on a diet, but...it was ok, I bought strawberries to eat while I was doing it).

So it it a very nice Cheesecake. It requires a lot of time and prep. But you can do it while you are doing something else because each stage has like a 30 min. "rest".

So here you go:
You will need:
Layer 4:
150gm dark chocolate, finely chopped
150ml Pure cream (I'm not sure the light will work)
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup water (Around 30ml)
Cocoa power for dusting

Layer 3
240g 70% dark chocolate, finely chopped
600g firm ricotta (Full cream)
20g icing sugar

Layer 2
240g compound white chocolate
600g firm ricotta (full cream)

Layer 1
60g caster sugar
60g sour cream
100g butter divided in 60g and 40g / softened
90g plain flour - sieved
30g cocoa powder - sieved


Method:
Starting with layer 1:
Pre heat oven to 180c.Beat sugar, sour cream and 60g of the butter for around 3 minutes, until smooth and pale. Add the cocoa and Flour (that's when I sieved it) and mix it to combine. put it in between 2 pieces of baking paper and roll it until 1 cm tick. Its not really a dough, don't get scared.
Take one of the baking papers out, and bake it for 25 to 30 min, until crispy.
Wait until cool enough to use your hands and break it in pieces.

I put the butter to melt on the hot cake

Add to food processor to create crumbs - Add the 40g of butter, melted to the food processor and mix to combine. Press into  a base 22cm ring mould and place back in the oven for 8 to 10 min. let it cool.

Layer 2 
Melt the white chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water for 2-3 min. Process the ricotta in the food processor until creamy and smooth. Pour in the chocolate and process to combine.
Spoon over the crumb with a spatula, smooth the top to be flat and balanced in both sides, and refrigerate for 30 to 40 min.

Layer 3
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water for 2-3 min. Process the ricotta with the sugar in the food processor until creamy and smooth. Pour in the chocolate and process to combine. Spoon it over the white chocolate layer using a spatula and again, refrigerate for 30 to 40 min.

Layer 4
Combine dark chocolate and cream in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, stir occasionally until smooth (3 to 5 min). At the same time which yolks and water in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water until light and fluffy (2 to 3 min). fold in the chocolate mixture, transfer to an electric mixer, whisk until thick and cooled to room temperature (6 to 8 min) .
Spoon over the cake (it will be more liquid) and refrigerate for 3 hours.

Dust with cocoa on the top or any other decoration...

Multi Grain Bread Machine recipe - My best so far

Hiiii

Happy new year!!!
If you have a bread machine you know that sometimes the bread doesnt get fluffy as the one you buy in the supermarket right? At least mine doesnt. And then, gets a little bit crumbly...and Ben, my beloved hubby, complains.

I think I finally found the secret of making a perfect bread in the bread machine...kneading a little bit while the machine is doing its job. Sounds weird?
Well, its not even close to the work of really kneading a bread from scratch. I just opened the machine and used my fingers to break in the air a little bit (I think that's what happens when you need). To be honest I didn't even got my nails dirty.

Anyway: here is what I did (For a large Loaf, almost 2lb - 850 g)
1 1/8 cups warm water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon margerine
2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
4 tablespoons flax seeds
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 1/2 tablespoon sunflower seeds
1 3/4 teaspoons active dry yeast


Method: Put everything in the machine but the seeds. add them in the final kneading cycle. But before that, when the dough is already formed...use your fingers and knead it a little bit.

Here is the result:

Oh, have I mentioned I have an alarm clock in the kitchen? I love cook listening to music, and I use the clock itself to control my times. heheheheheh

happy 2011 with a nice video,