My Happy Place

by Bronwyn Jameson 

This birthday gift should have been easy to hang. Neutral colours. Practical size: not too large, not too small.

But its significance left me mulling for some time over where it should be hung.

My “happy place” has always been non-literal. I find it in the pages of a beautifully crafted book. Planning my next travel adventure or helping someone else do the same. With beverage in hand, laughing with family or friends. Preparing a meal — or baking a cake — to share with aforementioned family.

My gift is not a book-mark. I can’t take it with me on my next adventure, to hang in the departure lounge. My favourite drinks place is my front verandah: with a view but without protection from the elements. Which left me with my final — and happy — option.

It now hangs in my kitchen and I’m happy to see it when I walk into the room, even before I start my next baking adventure. Lately I’ve been glomming carrot cakes. Here are two super-yummy successes: the first is a classic Carrot Cake with lemon cream cheese frosting. The second has a surprise twist: tea and spices. Masala Chai Carrot Cake. 

What is your happy place?

Where would you hang this wall art?

Baking - Far More Than Getting Food on the Table! - Annie West

Do you ever find yourself attracted to simple hands-on chores in the middle of particularly busy times? Strangely, often when I feel like I don't have enough time to get everything done is when I most often want to take time out to cook. By cook, I don't mean cook a meal - that's a job that just keeps coming around. I mean cook something extra - like a sweet treat.

I've been thinking about this recently as life in the West house has been pretty full and I've found myself thinking about taking time out to cook a treat. Years ago when there were more people in the house, including children and adolescents who could vacuum up snacks in no time, I did a lot more of that sort of cooking. Now it's an irregular thing, and I've discovered that I enjoy the making almost as much as I enjoy the results!

By the way, in the interests of honesty, I have to mention that this lovely mixed grain loaf was made by Mr West, not me. He's a whizz at nice bread!

I've come to the conclusion that baking can be therapeutic. There's something relaxing and reassuring about the down to earth, simple processes of measuring, mixing, kneading and baking. I'm sure the fact it involves using your hands is part of that, just like a little time gardening can be great for clearing the head and putting worries in perspective. Or painting, woodworking, sitting at a potter's wheel, sewing or, yes, maybe even tidying cupboards!

Sometimes I find myself wanting to cook comfort food I remember from years ago. Like this chocolate ring cake with coconut, which was a staple of my mother's when I was growing up, or the raspberry muffins - the first muffin recipe I ever made and still my favourite.

At other times it just seems the time of year to cook particular treats. Like German cinnamon stars for Christmas (and they always remind me of the German friend who gave me the recipe). Actually, quite often using favourite recipes, I think cooking is an act of love and connection, not just between you and the people you're cooking for, but you and the people from your past. 

Christmas means Christmas cake, made to an old family recipe.

It also means the joy of cooking with the family. In our house the Christmas shortbread is as likely to be in the form of pigs or rabbits as stars or bells. My kids still like to help make the Christmas goodies.

Or maybe it's just an excuse to smile and celebrate that it's the weekend and life is good. What could be better than raspberry sponge cake with a glass of bubbly with someone special?

Or individual birthday cup cakes?

Often as not the urge to bake comes upon me when the weather turns cool. I love the sighs of appreciation when I take a cheese souffle out of the oven, and the feeling of achievement that yes, it DID rise! Always makes me feel competent.

Or maybe the cooking is for a visit by a special friend. Something light to have with a cuppa.

 Contrary to what you might think, I don't bake very much these days. Too busy writing books and doing other things, but when I do it feels so good. Maybe because it means I'm getting together with some special friends or family, or just because the peaceful process of putting ingredients together is a satisfying way to spend a little down time. I feel pleased that I've accomplished something and more relaxed.

How about you? Are you a baker? Do you have any go-to activities to help you unwind?

Nailed It!

I love food. I eat it every day. But the cooking of the food? That's dangerous territory when I'm in charge.

Because I can't cook.  And I'm not exaggerating. I have set fire to the oven, the stove, even the microwave.

It mostly comes down to a reeeeally low attention span when it comes to hanging about in a kitchen while things heat up.


The NAILED IT half of this picture was my first attempt to fry an egg...two years ago. I sent this picture to my husband and he, of course, showed everyone and NOBODY believed it was real!

The thought of standing over the stove watching stuff simmer, or change colour and consistency, stirring stuff, incessantly, checking to see if it needs salt...
*My muse chimes in* "What's that? Oh, that's right!  I have that book to read! Or email to check! Or something that needs doing! I'm off!"

Over time I've discovered one thing that that keeps me from setting things on fire.

Reading WHILE I cook.

Here's me 'cooking' tomato soup...from a tin. And reading while stirring.  No fire!  

And here's me cooking an omelette. And, again, reading.  Notice, once more, the lack of flames.

The muse is distracted, I don't burn down the house. Win win!

Thankfully this is what it looks like when my husband cooks.

That would be curry laksa. A super fresh summery pasta.  And something else cookey and delicious.  I know, right?  The guy is a total keeper!

I say that without him I'd live on cheese on toast and coffee and I do not kid.  He's the kind of person who thinks "I feel like *insert fancy dinner idea here*" and then goes ahead and figures out how to make it.  No recipe.  Just using whatever ingredients he has on hand.  I look in a fridge full of food and only see the chocolate.

If you're a foodie, check out the Instagram pages of Love Cats Clare Connelly and Amy Andrews as they're full of rich, nutritious, mouth-watering, elegant home cooking.  And did you see Bron's post about her trip through Rome? Yum!

If you prefer pics of coffee with funny pictures found in the milky swirls, I'm your girl :). (See last month's post for proof :))

How about you - are you more of a cooker or an eater?

Stefanie London's baking addiction

I love bread. When I was 15, I worked for the Australian company Baker's Delight (which is called Cobs here in Canada) and one of the best things about the job was being able to bring home fresh bread after every shift. And, if you were working the closing shift, you could take home a more generous amount - which pleased my family to no end.

Now, I know it's something I need to consume in moderation. But I can't seem to full shake my desire for it. I figure, then, that if I'm only going to have it as a treat that I want my bread to be good quality. Fresh and tasty, rather than some of the bland stuff they sell in the supermarkets.

So, I decided to have a go at making a loaf myself.

Voila! Turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.

This was the recipe I used:

It's actually much simpler than I thought it would be. I'd like to try some of the other methods to compare how the loaf turns out, as this loaf was a little more dense that I would like. It's almost like a cross between a Pana De Casa loaf and regular bread. But it toasts beautifully and is nice with a little jam or butter and a cuppa.

Do you make your own bread or is it something you would try?

Baking Daze

by Rachel Bailey

There's been a lot of baking at my house recently. It must be something about the cooler weather that makes me want to turn the oven on.

The first photo is a lemon drizzle cake that is divine, and fairly easy to make. Mel Scott / MJ Scott shared the recipe with me and I think it's going to become a regular in our house. In fact, there's a how-to video that makes it even easier - I'll post it below in case anyone gets the urge. 

We're also quite fond of sultana cake (or, as I've recently discovered, it would be called yellow raisin cake in the US). When it's warm from the oven, with a cup of tea or coffee, there's not much yummier.

We've also been making puddings - chocolate molten puddings, to be precise. Though it's quite possible that there will be some sticky date puddings in our near future, since Mr Bailey usually makes them about this time of year.
 

The third photo is not baking, but it is made in the kitchen - chocolate coated popcorn. It's school holidays, so there's been some of this eaten in the last few days.



And in other news, my upcoming new adult rom-com has a title: The Summer of Jake. Thanks for all the suggestions on my last post! The winner of the Name This Book contest is Dora Bramden. Dora, drop me an email and I'll send you a copy of The Summer of Jake when it comes out.

And in the meantime, tell me what your favourite thing to bake is - do you have a go-to recipe? Maybe a family favourite? Or perhaps something that you can throw together easily? I'd love to hear about it! And maybe try baking it myself. :)

But first, that easy recipe for the lemon drizzle cake that I promised you! If you make it, let me know.