Truly Madly Foodie

Vegetable Crumble

2011-01-27T15:20:00.004+01:00

Crumble topping

100g Butter or margarine
175g flour
100g Cheese, grated
50g Mixed nuts, chopped

Base 1kg Mixed root vegetables (parsnip, swede, potato, sweet potato, carrot, pumpkin, leek etc.)

Large onion 150g Butter or margarine 25g flour 225g Tomatoes (8 oz tin) 300ml Vegetable stock 100ml Milk Salt & pepper to taste

Rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine crumbs or pulse in kitchen mixer.
Add the cheese and nuts.

Chop the vegetables, then melt the butter in a large saucepan and sauté the onion until transparent.

Add the prepared vegetables and cook over gentle heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.

Stir in the flour, then add the remaining ingredients.

Bring to the boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes, until the vegetables are just tender.

Transfer to an ovenproof dish. Press the crumble topping over the vegetables and bake in the oven at 190 Deg C (375 Deg F/Mark 5) for about ½ hour, until golden brown.

Kunsthal Kookt

2010-09-26T17:49:00.005+02:00

This was a great food fair in Rotterdam and I am so glad I went. Truly inspiring!

Cress, cress and more cress......

Mushrooms, mushrooms and more mushrooms....

Sausage, salami and more stinky sausage....

Orange is the colour of Holland.

2010-07-13T20:07:00.022+02:00

Orange has been the colour of the last 6 weeks. Holland made it to the World Cup Football Finals and it has been a 6 week long party and a lot of football. Various games were shared with various friends.

Joels birthday 12th party included a sleep over and a Holland game the next day...

In the beginning of the tournament we even celebrated the England team too and invited american friends to watch as we dualed against them....England did not last very long.

Now it is over... we did not win the final but it was a fun journey.

15/06/1993 - 15.06.2010

2010-06-16T14:21:00.014+02:00

My first born son turns 17 today..I'm a proud Mama. What a great young man he is turning into. I can hardly believe where the years went.

Angel of my Life

2010-05-18T19:57:00.005+02:00

Angel of my life written and drawn in graffiti for my mothers day gift. My boys had spent hours on this. The sentiment is typical for teenage boys. Sexy angels and cool boyz with low jeans and hanging heads. The poem written in the corner.....

ANGEL OF MY LIFE

A mother is am angel, truly heavens best invention.
Shes always busy doing deeds,
too kind to mention,
there's too many to mention,
there's just no way to measure,
All the love and joy she brings
Yes, my Mother is an angel who has truly earned her wings....

What else can I say.... I am loved and appreciated.

Mothers day

2010-05-11T23:02:00.009+02:00

Gift I made for the team for after the game. Team colours orange and green.

Joel warming up before the big game. Unfortunatly Rotterdam Challengers lost.

New garden furniture...needed anyway...but chosen for Mums day. So happy, love it.

Mothers day was spent on the basketball court at Joels regional finals.... Mums brought our own Mums= day breakfast as we had to be there at 8.30. Later on in the day I got home and Ro and the older boys who had rushed home before us had put the new garden table and chairs together. In the garden is was set with too many chocolates (which I shared immediatly to avoid gaining the kilo I lost last week....) a beautiful bunch of flowers and a work of art that Josh and Judah worked most of Saturday on. I am very thankful for my boys and although I find being a Mum to them now more challenging than ever...I still love the best, hardest and most rewarding job in the world.

What to do on a (wet) vacation....

2010-05-08T19:35:00.013+02:00

Guitar hero and playstation saves a wet vacation week for boys above 11.... with the dinner-on the-lap family sit-com times....our favourites being According to Jim and Still Standing, both have very recognizable family and marriage dynamics which make us laugh, Oh and then there is Two and a half men which makes all the men in my family laugh...yes thats everyone except me!! I think that is because its all from a mans point of view and is a lot about sex. I'm not so proud we have that one on the list and not sure what it says about family values but there is a man bonding thing that happens when they watch it together.
Here is what our coffee table looks like after a lap-spagetti-dinner. You wouldn't think there was a woman in sight for the lack of beauty here..... and the feet, oh the feet got to love those feet!!!

Cooking at school camp..amongst other things.

2010-04-28T18:25:00.003+02:00

I went along to Joel's school camp to do the cooking for the kids for the week. On fun night and all the adults dressed up and did an act to YMCA....here I am as an English football hooligan.

Scones

2010-03-25T10:42:00.004+01:00

Ok so here it is my perfect scone recipe with special tips for freshness......especially for you Martha

600g self raising flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
95g sugar
200g butter
250-300ml milk

In a large bowl mix the flour, salt and baking powder with a whisk so as to evenly distribute the baking powder.
Rub in the butter with your fingers till its like fine breadcrumbs.
Add the sugar and mix.
Slowly add in the milk mixing with a knife till you have a dough consistency and the mixture all binds together.
Press down onto a floured surface with the palm of your hand till at least 2cm thick. Measure with a ruler if you are not sure.
Cut out about 15 rounds.
Freeze raw until needed or bake them at 180 C till they are risen and a light golden brown. About 11 minutes.
Serve warm with a dollop of jam and cream.

Freezing:
I freeze them uncovered on a baking sheet and then when they are frozen I bag them.
If you are baking from frozen then de-frost for an hour untill almost totally defrosted and then bake as above.

Scones are best eaten fresh and on the day they are baked. I sell my scones to a tea garden and they buy them frozen and bake them as needed. Sounds strange to freeze them uncooked but try it, its a real discovery.

Macaroons....

2010-02-24T15:14:00.007+01:00

I have wanted to try and make macaroons ever since I fell in love with them on a visit to Paris two years ago. My friend Dawn who lived there introduced me to all her favourite sweets and I have never forgotten the amazing little almond meringue type rounds that filled my mouth with amazing velvety textures and soft flavours.
On Sunday I tried them out and even though they need some perfecting they were still amazing and suprisingly easy to make. And now the recipe.....

Chocolate macaroons

125g icing sugar
1 tbsp cocoa
100g ground almonds
2 medium egg whites
50g milk or dark chocolate
2 tsp warmed milk

Sift the icing sugar and cocoa into a bowl, then stir in the ground almonds. Whisk the egg whites until stiff, then fold them into the dry ingredients.

Fill an icing bag fitted with a plain nozzle with the mixture (or put in a large food bag and snip off the corner).
Pipe about 24 small blobs, about 3cm across, onto the baking sheet lined with baking paper.

Smooth the surface with a wet finger, then leave for 15 mins to dry out. Bake for 15-20 mins until macaroons feel firm to the touch and peel easily off the paper.
Cool on the paper
To make the filling, melt the chocolate and stir in the warm milk until smooth. Leave to cool and thicken a little, then use to sandwich the macaroons together.
Enjoy....simply delicious.

My Fool Proof Carrot Cake

2010-02-18T20:01:00.004+01:00

Try this recipe and I promise you will not regret it. Delicious and moist with a frosting that will keep you going back for more.

Carrot Cake

300g grated carrot
150g dark brown sugar
150g light brown sugar
4 eggs
250ml sunflower oil
80g chopped walnuts
80g raisins
300g self raising flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Mix wet ingredients in a large bowl in order given.
Add the raisins and nuts and mix well.
Mix the dry ingredients together with a whisk to combine well and then add to the wet ingredients.
Pour into baking tin of choice and bake in 180'C for about 40 minutes.

Perfect Frosting
130g very soft butter
160g icing sugar
200g cream cheese
Grated rind of 1 orange (optional)

Mix in order given with an electric whisk till smooth.
Ice your cake and enjoy....

A few weekend happenings.....

2009-10-20T14:31:00.007+02:00

A major wrestle on Mamma's bed...these sessions can get quite scary at times...between Judah and Joel is mostly ok....unless theres anger involved of course!

Joel played in a small play for the schools church service on sunday. He had to wear a wireless microphone and did a great job.

Judah's Basketball team played. Judah's number 9. The number the boys always try to wear since Joshua first started playing 10 years ago and choose 9 as his number. As for Joshua, no photo's of him this weekend. There's no reason for that except he pulled a muscle in his neck during football.

Super quick pancakes

2009-10-13T16:50:00.002+02:00

Easy and super quick american pancakes....these are not particularly airy but the kids love them..who doesn't?

Combine in a bowl:

450g -3 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3 teaspoons baking soda

2 tablespoons sugar

Combine in a jug:

600ml - 3 cups milk

3 eggs

3 tablespoons oil

Add liquids to dry ingredients and stir until just mixed, it needs to be lumpy to keep it airy.

Optional

Add 1 apple diced and a handful of chopped nuts.

Bake spoonfuls in a moderatly hot pan, as bubbles begin to form flip the pancake and cook through until lightly golden.

Serve of course with the syrup of choice.

The longest pavlova ever

2009-10-08T20:40:00.005+02:00

Mmmmm.......theres just nothing quite like pavlova.

Here is a wedding pavlova a friend and I made for a catering job we did. It was 6 square pavlovas and a whole lot of whipped cream with delicious fresh strawberries, blueberries, rasberries and lovely green mint leaves. Simply Delish!

Summer in your mouth.

2009-10-03T19:38:00.003+02:00

Try these delicious and colourful oer d'eurves.

Easy to make:

Cherry tomatoes halved with a baby mozzarella in between and wrapped in a basil leaf with a prikker through it.

Summer is gone outside but you can still taste it in your mouth.

Mum of Boyz

2009-09-04T23:10:00.004+02:00

Having two (and a half) teenagers in the house is a joy and a challenge. I find myself smiling inside about many things......like why they like the tv programme family guy and still watch the same dumb cartoons as when they were 6....like when they wrestle together as if they were still 4 and 5 and forget that their bodies are twice the size....like when the hormones are raging and every (young) female passing is sized up and given a grade....like when they moan and groan about taking the trash out and then come in and ask me to make their lunch for them....like when it's my fault when they sleep through the alarm....like when they complain when I say it's time to wrap it up after they 've been sitting in the same place in front of the tv for 4 hours in a row...

AND then there are many fun things.....like when they excel in their sports...like when we play games together and one likes to follow the rules and another likes to make up his own....like when they kiss me goodbye or goodnight....like when one likes to go clothes shopping with me and enjoys it....like when they wrestle with Ro....like when we laugh together....like when they do their chores without me asking...like when they tease Ro and I....like when they get on well together and share and joke together.....and many more things, too many to tell.

Yes being Mum to these boys is the hardest thing I have ever done....but Oh so worth it.

A Serious Trifle

2009-08-31T21:09:00.006+02:00

Forest Fruit Trifle

I make this trifle in a vase. It feeds 30 people.

Its very easy to make and always a favourite.

You will need:

Whipped cream

Custard

Frozen or fresh forest fruits

1 jar of fruit jam (jelly)

sherry

A bought sponge cake

Toasted almonds

Start by layering slices of the cake and splash with some sherry.

A few dollops of jam and cover with fruit.

Next a layer of custard and then cream.

Continue to layer till the vase is filled.

Top with some large whole fruit and some toasted almonds.

You'll need a large spoon so your guests can dig deep for a taste of all the layers.

Summer time

2009-08-31T20:20:00.012+02:00

Ro's 40th suprise gift finally in August: A hot air balloon ride.

My Boyz.. our vacation in Sweeden

and I was such a cool Mum ;-)

Reading and Nutella

2009-07-23T13:09:00.007+02:00

Well vacation in Sweden this year apparently involves lots of rain and lots of reading. I am now starting on my 3rd book allowing myself a day between books to let the story of the last book sink in and seep out of my system. Rain is good for that and even the boys are reading and if you knew what a miracle that is you would fall off your chair. I occasionally look up from my book and just watch them reading across from me and delight in the sight!
Nothing much foodie about this post except to report that yesterday our borrowed car got broken into and our borrowed navigation system got stolen..and wait for it on our return home I started out to make the nutella and banana crepes for desert we had been talking about for days and discovered that the thieves also took one item from the grocery bag...the nutella. Ouch!!

So simple so delicious

2009-07-10T11:31:00.003+02:00

Yesterday I catered a party for a school that had two teachers who had been teaching for 25 years. This was the desert. 50 mini pavlova's with mint. So easy and simple to make and such beautiful colours.

The teapot...

2009-07-01T10:27:00.005+02:00

Well after a long blog break I am back with the promised teapot post for Abi. The plates I found in a sale for 1euro each and was thrilled with them and then I saw the teapot in a different shop months later and put it on my wish list. On mothers day I got it as a gift from Judah and Ro. Its a beautiful squashy shape and pours well. Here it is pictured with the cup cakes I made for Joels class on his birthday.

2009-04-22T00:05:00.002+02:00

Red Cabbage Salad

Sophie at your service

Simplydelish

2009-04-21T23:34:00.005+02:00

Mango Meringue

2009-04-14T08:36:00.003+02:00

Ok... so a deliciously soft centered meringue with a light crunch on the outside topped with dollops of mango sorbet and cream with a smattering of thick slices of fresh mango and kiwi and a sprinkling of chopped pecan nuts. Does that sound like a good desert or what?
I created this for Rogiers 40th birthday in feb. he loves mango with a passion and this combination was simply delicious!!

6 egg whites
350g sugar
1 tsp vanilla flavouring
Whipped cream
Fresh fruit

Whisk the egg whites on high speed until they are stiff enough to stand in peaks when you lift the whisk out of the bowl.
Gradually add the sugar bit by bit while continuing to whisk.
Spoon onto a piece of greaseproofpaper and bake in the oven at 150'C for 1 hour. Leave to cool, preferably in the oven with the door ajar.
Top with whipped cream and fruit of choice.
I added dollops of mango sorbet to make it extra special (optional, not neccesary) and chopped mango with kiwi and a sprinkling of nuts.

Try it....a definite winner.

Mum's home....

2009-02-28T23:55:00.003+01:00

This is why my boys like it when I am home and I do lunch. They have a clever way of forgetting to make their own breakfast or lunch when they know I am home and will make a much nicer one......apart from the fact that they love being lazy....its always worth their wait even though I say so myself.
So this is "Nacho's" made with tortilla chips sprinkled with left over taco meat and grated cheese. microwaved for 1 minute and a few good dollops of salsa. An easy and delicious lunch!!

Happy Valentines

2009-02-13T23:50:00.005+01:00

Happy Valentines!

In the spirit of Valentine's...I read this quote today and loved it....

'Forget love - I'd rather fall in chocolate!'

Its easy for me to say cos I am in love but nevertheless I love the idea of falling in chocolate....don't you?

Today I came across the most delicious chocolate you will ever taste...Creme brulee by Lindt. I first tasted this in Paris when one of my best friends, who lived there, introduced me to it...her favourite at the time. Its heavenly. if you can find it try it, its worth it.

And yes in case you were wondering...I ate it all in one go ;-)

More of Simplydelish.....

2009-02-12T22:30:00.003+01:00

A bountiful buffet high tea to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of a non-profit organization.

A taster of Simplydelish

2009-02-11T08:56:00.001+01:00

Simplydelish is my catering company....here is a glimpse of what we do. This was a summer salad bar for a 40th birthday.

Did you know that....?

2009-02-04T17:51:00.002+01:00

.....if you use half a tablet of dishwasher soap your dishes come out cleaner. I know it sounds ridiculous but it's true. My sister in law, Jante, told me this and I have been doing it for at least 5 months. And now I dare to tell you all because I have tried and tested it. So save money and be a bit more friendly for your enviroment.

Tip: Use a 60 degree cycle.
Lower temperatures work on a 'lite' wash....but who, with more than 2 kids, has a 'lite' wash?

I am curious to hear about your experiments with this ;-)

Sunshine Soup

2009-01-31T15:32:00.003+01:00

About 1-2 kilo's Sweet Potato, Butternut squash or Pumpkin
2 onion chopped
2cm piece of ginger, grated
1 can coconut milk

1 teaspoon chilli powder

boiling water

Roughly chop the vegetables and fry gently with the onion, ginger and chilli powder to release the flavours.

Cover with water till about 2cm above the vegetables.

Bring to a boil and let it simmer until veg is soft.

Blend with a blender till smooth.

Add the coconut milk and heat through.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

If you have kids try replacing the chilli powder and ginger for some finely grated orange rind.

Enjoy!

White Chocolate and Apricot cookies

2009-01-25T21:09:00.002+01:00

400g white chocolate

140g plain flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

4 tablespoons butter

5 tblspoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 egg

75g dried apricots

Melt 85g of the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of boiling water.

Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla together.

Mix in the egg and add the chopped apricots and the chocolate.

Mix the flour, baking powders and salt togther.

Finally mix the wet and dry ingredients together till it forms a dough.

Flatten the dough and cover with plastic, chill for an hour.

Roll the dough out and cut into rounds with a cookie cutter.

Bake at 180"C for 10 minutes.

Melt the rest of the chocolate and dip half of the cooled cookies in.

Lay them on some greased proof paper to harden.

Thats if you can wait long enough before devouring one!!

Enjoy.

Melting Chocolate Puddings

2009-01-09T20:14:00.006+01:00

200g dark chocolate (70%cocoa solids)

110g sugar
(optional) 2 tablespoons brandy
4 large eggs

4 extra egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla essence
60g plain flour
Cream to serve

Melt the chocolate, butter and brandy in a heatproof bowl sitting over a saucepan of barely simmering water, making sure the bowl does not touch the water. Stir well.

Place the sugar, eggs, egg yolks and vanilla in another bowl and whisk on high speed with an electric whisk until the mixture has doubled in volume. This should take 7-10 minutes and look like a thick mousse when its ready. It should leaves a trail when you lift the whisk.

Fold the chocolate mixture carefully in using a metal spoon. Do not beat the mixture as it will loose its airiness.

Add the flour folding carefully in the same way. Do not over mix.

Pour the mixture into 8 well greased ramekin dishes. The mixture should come to just below the top of the dish.

(At this point they can be left in the fridge until needed.)

Put in the oven for 12 minutes until risen and fairly firm to touch. (14 minutes straight from the fridge.)

Leave to stand for a minute, loosen the edges of the pudding from the dish with a knife and turn carefully out onto your serving plate.

Serve with whipped cream and enjoy as the delicious fudge sauce oozes out.

Soup, glorious soup....

2009-01-03T21:36:00.003+01:00

Beetroot soup, 5 Bean soup and Corn chowder....I could not resist a shot of these beautiful pots of soup at work today with their vibrant and contrasting colours. And that beetroot soup is simply delicious with a dolop of creme freche with a hint of horse-radish. Mmmm!

Mince Pies

2009-01-03T20:55:00.005+01:00

Ok, so I used my last bit of minced meat. I can't buy it in Holland and so I savour it and am admittedly and unashamedly selfish with it too.... only people who reeeaaaally like them, and appreciate the wonderful christmasiness of them, may have one of my mince pies! They where gone within an hour...I won't tell you how many of the 12 I had!!

I made a wonderful sweet shortcrust dough. For the lids I used a small star cutter to cut out a star shape and then placed the star back on the pie to give a fun effect.

Crazy about dishes and bowls

2008-12-26T20:53:00.003+01:00

I have a thing for dishes and bowls. The man in my life is cottoning onto the fact that I can never have enough.....and that I love a dish for a gift. Something else I love is to be suprised with my gifts. This was my suprise gift from my honey this Christmas. I love it....(the necklace was from my son, Josh :-) The flash has made the image on the plate faded at the bottom....it isn't really.

If you are popping by because of the link on our Christmas newsletter...welcome! My 2009 new years resolution is to post every friday.....recipes, bits of foodie info, news and happenings. Hope you will pop by now and then and leave a comment here and there.

Teachers Gift

2008-12-12T20:06:00.009+01:00

I made these mini loaf (9x6cm) cakes as a gift for Joels teacher awhile ago.
Its a simple sponge recipe with some diced dried apricots folded in.

Three almonds are pushed lightly into the batter before baking. When its finished baking, gently heat some apricot jam and spread it over the top to glaze.

I left them in the baking parchment I baked them in and when completely cooled wrapped them in a new piece of baking parchment, finishing it off with a ribbon and a home made label.