Thank you to those concerned people who have been enquiring after my health after a prolonged silence on the blog. I’m not dying, or even a little bit sick! Here are my excuses. a) Playing oboe in a school production b) students and kids in the local eisteddfod c) casual teaching work aplenty d) painting a… Continue reading In which I explain that I’m not sick, merely busy (Gingerbread without eggs)
Spiced sandwich is a winner. Moist, and nicely spicy . Definitely one to make again, and one of only a couple I’d happily recommend to one and all. (Nutties being the other real favourite, and English Ginger cookies, but with double the ginger next time) Once again, the recipe was just a list of ingredients and some nebulous… Continue reading Finally, a good ginger hit (Spiced Sandwich)
I have always thought that the word ‘cookies’ was a relatively recent American import into Australia, yet here was Great Grandma Ethel using the word 80 years ago. You live, you learn. I’ll keep an eye out for ‘Peanut Butter’ and ’24/7′ while I’m at reading the rest of her recipes. This was a no fuss,… Continue reading Old English Ginger Cookies
I had a new helper in the kitchen today. My nephew came to visit from country Western Australia, and since we were the only two up at the crack of dawn, we cooked together. Today’s recipe was “Putties”. I have never heard of these biscuits before, and an internet search brought up nothing, other than… Continue reading Putties (the family comes to stay from WA)
I cooked these today with master 9, the Aunty Collector (He is putting in a concerted bid to be called Evil MasterNine in this blog!). It made just more than 2 trays’ worth. The A.C., who, like his mother, prefers all baked goods before they hit the oven, came up with a great energy saving idea.… Continue reading Evil MasterNine and the Oatmeal Biscuits
I was chatting with a young friend about cooking and we were looking in Great Grandma’s recipe book. His eyes widened when he saw the recipe for cheese straws! Do you mean…? How do they…? We had a fun chat, imagining how good it would be to drink milk through a cheese straw. Then, being the… Continue reading Wide Eyed Wonder (Cheese Straws)
These look easy. That’s what I said. Aloud. To more than one person. And they are. Once you know what you’re doing. Probably. Batch one proved that the standard 20ml Australian tablespoon is bigger than what Grandma used. And I should know – I ‘ve seen the tablespoons. It also proved that in baking it’s… Continue reading Picking up my game (Fairy Cakes or Biscuits)
My admiration for Grandma Ethel is only increasing. This next recipe requires me to add enough water to make a dough, then 2 cups of flour, in that order. The first attempt was not even close, I guessed that about half a cup of water might be enough. What I ended up with was a… Continue reading Apple Layer Cake
Oh help! This recipe is designed for a cook with more experience than me. How much more sugar? Method? How soft is soft dough? Baking temperature and time? Also it appears that Grandma Ethel was some kind of industrial baker. My sister cooked this recipe first, and even halving the quantities, it took 3 cups… Continue reading Good Ginger Snaps
Treasure I have a treasure here, that I’ve had for a few months, but has been around for a lot longer than that. It’s my great grandmother’s handwritten recipe book. I’d love to cook my way through it and discover some of our family’s heritage. My Great Grandma Ethel lived in Kulin in Western Australia. This… Continue reading A new look, a new challenge!
Playing House 