The spirit of Tasmania

My Husband and I had spent the latter part of 2011 planning our belated honeymoon to Tasmania. After our magnificent wedding in March we simply did not have the time to go away immediately and we waited until the end of the year for our holiday.

Tassie Devil

Little did I realise that one day I would be standing within walking distance of a Tasmanian Devil. The encounter above took place at at NatureWorld in Bicheno, Tasmania.

The old Oak tree at Bridestowe Estate

Bridestowe Estate is a hidden gem.  The fields of Lavender are hidden amongst the hills and the smell drifting across the the fields is incredible.  The cafe and the gift shop sell every possible combination of lavender scented products and goodies.  I sampled the lavender chocolate cake and helped myself to several of the lavender recipe cards to attempt upon my return to Melbourne.

Bridestowe Estate



Port Huon offered waterfront serenity, local fruit stalls and the most flavoursome dark purple cherries on offer in Tasmania with a flavour so deep they almost taste like they have been infused with vanilla.  I ate a LOT of cherries in Tasmania.

Port Huon waterfront vista

Nobody tells you about the mountainous trek to get the best view of Wine Glass bay.  Believe me, the effort is more than worth it.  My husband and I had a picnic on the beach and dipped our toes in the not so warm water.

Wine Glass Bay

Bicheno is a short drive from Freycinet national park and it offers a glimpse of the scenery to come along the east coast.  Unfortunately we didn't make it to the Bay of Fires, instead we headed west and stayed in Stanley.

Bicheno

Stanley proved to be the perfect spot to relax and wind down on the last few days of the trip.  We stayed in a magical cabin with its own mini lake outside, complete with its own pedal boat. We traversed The Nut on foot and braved the icy winds atop this old volcano plug.



Cray Pots in Hobart

Tasmania is renowned for its fresh produce and abundance of seafood and premium meat.  Two weeks allowed plenty of time to sample the delights in each area.  Rather than go into a detailed description of everything we ate, here is a list of my favourites:

• The Drunken Admiral restaurant in Hobart, for the Indian spiced blue eye fillet with lime juiced yogurt and the seared scallops served on a hot rock.
• Rosie's Gluten Free Cafe in Kettering.  Everything on the menu was an option for me which was delightful.  The seafood pie and my husbands burger were both delicious.  The dessert cabinet was packed with gf goodies.
• Kermandie Hotel in Huonville.  A pub with remarkable views across the river and valleys.  Tasty lamb salad and excellent salmon.
• Lark Distillery. Whilst we didn't eat here, it was a cosy spot to sample Tasmanian whisky and pepperberry vodka.

Tasmania, the apple isle, filled with adventure and devilishly good cherries...I will be returning!

The Tasmanian countryside is spectacular, it reminded me of Scotland and Ireland, rugged, green and mystical. We caught the ferry across from Melbourne to Launceston just in time to celebrate the New Year in Launceston.

Christmas in the heat and all things sweet...

What would Christmas be without the smell of baking circling around the kitchen and the giving of gifts to those you love?  Australia always seems to be a little at odds with itself at Christmas time. There are festive decorations in the cities, songs about snow, ice and mulled wine, but all the while the sun continues to blaze outside and scorch the streets and everyone is planning their summer holidays.  It has taken me almost 6 years to adjust to Christmas in the heat, I’m not entirely sure that I ever will, but that doesn’t mean that I have to miss out on the smells and joy of Christmas baking.  A lot of Australians spend Christmas day having roast dinners at home with family and friends; even if the temperature reaches over 30C.  What can I say; those European first settlers’s traditions persist!  My Mother in Law is German and she is an expert at making ‘Gutzi’s, so much so, that she has included a selection of wheat free biscuits especially for me at Christmas time. I’m a lucky lady. 

Easter Tea Ring...five months early

A very early easter tea ring

Christmas is almost upon us but today in a break with festive tradition I made an Easter Tea Ring.  The seasons in Melbourne are somewhat out of sorts and the torrential downpour outside of the kitchen today only heightened my desire to be inside baking.  I cant believe I only have one more week left in the term before the long Christmas break over December and January.  I'm so excited to be going on holiday (our belated honeymoon to Tasmania) with David straight after Christmas but I will miss my weekly baking sessions at college.

Kamut Flour Cheese & Chive Scones (wheat free)

Happy Melbourne Cup Day everyone!
Melbourne has a public holiday every year for the Melbourne Cup horse race which is held at Flemington race course.  I attended the Caulfield races a few years ago and relished the opportunity to wear a lovely dress and have some bubbles by the racing track.  This year we decided to spend the day at home and relax, which gave me the inclination to make these Kamut Flour Cheese & Chive scones.


A fitting breakfast for Melbourne Cup

Honey Cake (wheat free)

I found myself at a loss this weekend with a completely free day on Saturday, my patisserie course was cancelled for the day...what to do....well I decided to pamper myself and have a facial and then bake some wheat free honey cake. 



This recipe is also dairy free but requires lots of vegetable oil instead of butter.  Honey cake originates from Israel and is traditionally served on the Sabbath and at festivals, especially at the beginning of the new year when it is served in the hope of make the year ahead even sweeter.

Dough delightful!

Look at the goodies I brought home on Saturday from college….brioche….hot cross buns….Challah bread and wait for it…..cinnamon sugar dusted doughnuts!
 

A baked goods bounty

Citrus scented brownies (wheat free)

We had guests staying this weekend, so I thought to myself, what more of a reason do I need to make a batch of brownies? I deviated from my usual brownie recipe and tried a version of the Jaime Oliver recipe from his 30 Minute Meals cookbook.  David bought me the cookbook for christmas last year and I have worked my way through many of the savory dishes but this is my first attempt at anything sweet from the book.




A delicious bite sized piece of brownie

An irish shindig with a few cupcakes for good measure

David and I arrived home from Sydney yesterday afternoon after a delightfully warm and indulgent trip.  The reality of work is with me in my lacklustre office on this chilly Monday morning hurry up summertime but my memories of the glorious engagement party we attended on Saturday are getting me through the day. 

We flew to Sydney on Thursday and grabbed a quick bite in Chinatown before heading over to several spots around Sydney to catch up with family.  David and I headed to Manly on the ferry on Friday; it was a perfectly lazy day which started off at the Guylian Belgian Chocolate café right beside the Sydney Opera House.  Check out my JUG of praline hot chocolate.  My first experience of praline hot chocolate certainly hit the mark. Ten out of ten Guylian – I’ll be back for more.

The JUG of Praline Hot Chocolate

Oat cookies and track pants

This week has seen an incredible effort on my part to go to the gym everyday. I’m proud (if somewhat knackered). My gym efforts are to work off the delicious desserts and good I have been savouring at my pastry chef course on a Saturday. I’ve been working out so hard my track pants have a small hole in the leg (don’t know how it happened) so that means tonight I will be gym clothes shopping.


D & I are museli bar fanatics but our cupboards were museli bar bare so I resorted to an old oat cookie recipe which I hadn’t made in ages. I was itching to bake – you know how it is. The cookies have just enough flour (gf flour) to hold them together whilst they bake. I will endeavour to make another batch, simply so I can take some pictures.