Cleaning with Lemons leaves a beautiful clean and fresh smell around the house. Freshen up your dishwasher by cutting a lemon in half and popping one or both halves in the cutlery rack. Clean and deodorise your chopping boards by rubbing them with lemon … [Read more...] about Cleaning with Lemons
Slow Cooked Pear Sensation
These cheese-stuffed pears have sprung from an Ancient Roman recipe, at least I've served pears very like these as part of an Ancient Roman meal, as a tasty mensa secunda, the dessert. The Ancient Romans ate a lot of pears and cheese, although they would have prepared … [Read more...] about Slow Cooked Pear Sensation
How to Make Washing Powder
Cath makes enough washing powder for a year for about $10. It depends on how much washing you do of course, but I reckon this should last me at least 6 months and that's a substantial saving! Instructions and Ingredients to make the washing powder 1 bar soap, … [Read more...] about How to Make Washing Powder
How to Cook Sweet Potatoes
Baked Sweet Potatoes 1. Scrub them clean and put them directly in the oven on the middle rack. The skin will develop a delicious light crunch as the sweet potato cooks. 2.Coat them in a bit of butter and sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over. Wrap in foil to hold in the … [Read more...] about How to Cook Sweet Potatoes
How to Make Wool Wash
It's simple to make your own wool wash and then you have the added advantage of knowing exactly what's in it. I copied this down from Martha Gardener years ago. 2 cups of grated soap (I like the old fashioned Velvet) 1/2 cup methylated spirits 1 tablespoon … [Read more...] about How to Make Wool Wash
How to Cook Celeriac
Wonderful comfort food! An onion-flavoured root that turns into a great mash or bake. You cook celeriac as you would any of the popular root vegetables, roast them, mash them, simmer in a stew or blend them for soups. Here's a celeriac from my garden But let's … [Read more...] about How to Cook Celeriac
Guests arriving in 30 mins
You've just received notice that Guests are on their way to see you. The house is a mess. Don't panic. You can quickly fix the places that guests go - your entry, your bathroom, your kitchen, your lounge How long before your guests arrive? You have 30 minutes … [Read more...] about Guests arriving in 30 mins
How to Clean with Toothpaste
Toothpaste is mainly made of water, abrasives and detergents. It's a cleaning agent in itself. You can clean your iron as well your teeth with a gentle scrub. How to clean your Iron with Toothpaste Use toothpaste to rub off the starch which slows your iron and can … [Read more...] about How to Clean with Toothpaste
Pho Ga
If you want to make an authentic Vietnamese pho, you're looking at a long time in the kitchen. You will need to cook meat, and bone, in broth for up to 3 hours. After you've prepared everything else the time can run to 4 or 5 hours total. Don't want to spend that … [Read more...] about Pho Ga
Leek and Potato Soup
The popular potato soup emerges every Autumn. Warming on those cooler evenings, serve with crusty bread for a full meal. It's handy for St Patrick's Day too. Leek and Potato Soup Ingredients 50g Butter 450g Leeks 700g Potatoes 900ml Vegetable Stock 1 … [Read more...] about Leek and Potato Soup
Slow Cook Kahlua Chocolate Cake
This slow cooked Kahlua Chocolate Cake is just too easy to believe. Put it in your Slow Cooker overnight, then pop it into the fridge until dinnertime. Perfetly rich and classy. You can make gorgeous cakes in your slow cooker too. This rich chocolate cake with … [Read more...] about Slow Cook Kahlua Chocolate Cake
Slow Cook Chicken with Cider, Lime and Coriander
Just place the ingredients in your Slow Cooker, turn it on and relax, you have plenty of time to get yourself ready for lunch guests. This slow cooked chicken is from a favourite Lunch Menu of mine. Slow Cook Chicken with Cider, Lime and Coriander The chicken is … [Read more...] about Slow Cook Chicken with Cider, Lime and Coriander
How to Cook Parsnips
The colder months are the perfect time for roasting vegetables. All the different varieties of potatoes and yams come into their own as the evenings chill down. But don't forget the parsnips! My favourite parsnip dish is roasted, just like my Mum made on … [Read more...] about How to Cook Parsnips
You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Sumerian Slave!
Do you ever get the urge to yell "You have too many things!" to your grandchildren? It's not worth giving way to such an urge. They won't know what you're talking about. They brush aside your posturing and ask for some impossible thing that they want you to get, … [Read more...] about You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Sumerian Slave!
Guacamole
Once upon a time I made scones when anyone called around. The minute a girlfriend yoo-hooed from the front door, I turned on the stove before I answered. The scones, while perfect with a good cup of tea and excellent with coffee, aren't the same when you've got a … [Read more...] about Guacamole
Elephant Poo Beer
Yes, it's true. The latest fad is drinking beer made from elephant poo. Seriously, what is wrong with people? The trendy young things who like coffee from civet shit are now embracing the new beer and, while discussing the head, the fullness, the colour and the … [Read more...] about Elephant Poo Beer
The Magic of Mushrooms
A few days back I happened upon an advertisement for a food supplement, aimed at women of a certain age. My age, in fact. This wondrous ad, catching my attention completely, promised a delight of magical ingredients in whatever the product was (I forget the product but … [Read more...] about The Magic of Mushrooms
Fat and Wealthy Monk Found
This happy snap is of Alexander Gauge who played Friar Tuck in the 1950s English television series, The Adventures of Robin Hood. (I can still sing the theme song). Fond as I am of the fat friar who ate a tad too much, it's not Friar Tuck I want to talk about, but … [Read more...] about Fat and Wealthy Monk Found
The Joy of Rhubarb
Rhubarb is one of those plants that seem to have fallen out of favour. I know why, it takes patience to grow, a commodity seriously lacking in modern housekeepers. Like the glorious quince, rhubarb could soon disappear from gardens forever, mourned only by a few old … [Read more...] about The Joy of Rhubarb
Harry is more than a Hoon
Harry has a bit of a PR problem. (It's to do with the way he behaves). But now the papers are cooing over an imminent engagement and forgetting what a nasty little piece of work he is. The boy takes after his grandfather in many ways, and that shouldn't be at all … [Read more...] about Harry is more than a Hoon