Friday 31 August 2012

Kangaroo...Is it part of your diet?

Do you cook Kangaroo?  I have found some people just can't bring themselves to cook Kangaroo...maybe it's the TV series many years ago about Skippy the Kangaroo (he was soooo cute)...or the fact that it's part of the Australian emblem?  However, I really think it is an excellent meat and  I am a big fan.  I find this succulent meat to be just the thing when you need to cook in a hurry and that seems to be most of the time for me!  Macro Meats produce a range of kangaroo fresh cuts, such as premium 98% fat free kangaroo steaks and fillets, as well as a variety of marinated meats which are ready for the BBQ...here

                                   Kangaroo Burger                            Kanga Bangas

On reading the website, Macro Meats advertise that the Kangaroo meat is a terrific source of high-quality protein, low in total fat (with less than 2% fat), low in saturated fat and a source of heart-friendly omega-3's   and what's more, it's a particularly rich source of iron and zinc.  Kangaroo meat products can be prepared in a variety of dishes using various cooking methods.  Generally fat content in other meats mean they can be cooked to a well done state.  In comparison, Kangaroo meat, because of its low fat content, can dry out during the cooking process.  The trick to cooking Kangaroo meat is the cooking times...here


       Kangaroo Fillets                       Kangaroo and Macadamia Salad    

As with any other red meat, the times vary and for the best results Kangaroo should be cooked rare to    medium rare and should never be overcooked - with the exception of sausages and mince, which must be cooked thoroughly.  Macro Meats have a good website where you can find valuable information, such as cooking tips...here.

                            Tea Smoked Kangaroo                       Kangaroo Cashew Stir Fry

It is therefore recommended by Macro Meats to not overcook Kangaroo meat to retain moisture and flavour...recipes  Some flavours that go particularly well with Kangaroo meat are: garlic, rosemary, juniper, and fruity flavours such as: plum, red currant, or orange.  Although it is easy to adapt most meat recipes and replace other meats or seafood with kangaroo instead.  There are also some wonderful mushroom recipes that can be adapted and to use kangaroo and if you are a lover of mushrooms, this is a very informative  website...here

                                                       Marinated Mushroom Salad

Do you have some kangaroo recipes to share?  If you do why not comment and let us know what you enjoy.

Happy cooking...Wendy

Images - Macromeats.com.au
powerofmushrooms.com.au















Monday 20 August 2012

Merricks....A general store..Wineries...and the beach...why not?


Looking for a place to go for the weekend?  Not quite the weather you say with all this rain and cold.  Well perhaps it is... a nice warm fire, good food and a nice glass of wine...and excellent scenery...check out the Merricks General Store...here

Image - Merricks General Store
This historic store has been around since 1924 when it was a community hub and is now a cellar door with wines from Elgee Park Wines, Baillieu Wines and Quealy Wines.  They have a fine bistro and as they say, 'classic country food' is served in generous proportions catering for breakfast, lunch and snacks.  A cosy fire is just the thing to sit by with this very cold spell we're having and you can see the bay in the lovely warm surroundings with a very nice glass of wine or two...here


Image - Merricks General Store
3460 Frankston Flinders Road 

There are many good wineries in the area, Stonier Winery...here... Paringa Estate...here ...Merricks Estate...here to name just a few and there are some beautiful walks in the immediate area of all these attractions and if you are into walking on the beach, that is literally across the road.   Also for a peaceful, cosy weekend I would recommend some good quality accommodation and a few that come to mind are...Le Pavillon...here 

Image - Le Pavillon
Le Pavillon is a two storey mud brick and stone "gite", inspired by French provincial architecture on the outskirts of the Shoreham coastal village and the other property is a cedar and stone, multi level with expansive views over a farm valley and vineyard towards Westernport, Shoreham Beach House.  Both these properties are managed by the same owners...here



Image - Shoreham Beach House
Another...a charming original beach cottage renovated to "the highest standards" is Foam Cottage...here which is only two minutes walk from Merricks General Store and just across the road from the beach.

Image - Foam Cottage

So what do you think?  Do you have some special places you go to and enjoy when the weather is cold and wet and want to share?  Or is it just too cold and Merricks, Shoreham and surrounds, are really where you like to go for summer?   I would like your comments if you would like to share your special Australian places.

Enjoy...Wendy












Tuesday 7 August 2012

Recipes...Fructose friendly...for everyone...

Some of us have different problems with food...some are easily solved and others not so easily.  Helen Mark  had problems with food and when she was diagnosed with IBS and Fructose Malabsorption she went on the path of investigating the problem and all that that entails.  Fructose Malabsorption is a disorder of the digestive system where the sufferer is unable to fully digest food high in fructose content, or which has an unbalanced fructose to glucose characteristic...more on this on Helen's website...here


Helen set up her own website as a means of helping not only herself, but others to cope with the problems that come with these conditions.  There is a wealth of information on her website and a variety of recipes...  The Spinach Soup with Crispy Prosciutto is an easy, delicious and excellent soup for FM sufferers and also for those of us who don't have a problem with food...here. 

Spinach Soup with Crispy Prosciutto

Helen explains on the website the problems that are incurred in eating the incorrect foods and  explains which foods are better than others for some people...but also states in her website that everyone is an individual and we all have different levels of tolerance, so everyone has to test for themselves.  Helen is a "foodie" and she just loves cooking and entertaining friends.  I spent an hour with Helen listening to her talk about her reconstructed old recipes and the creativity that goes into the new ones, it was fascinating and really made me want to get cooking and tasting...oh, so many mouth watering goodies...


 Cumin Crusted Lamb Racks


Helen goes to great lengths to test the recipes and holds a "Chef's Table" for her friends to come over and test the new recipes...lucky friends!.  Obviously Helen is successful in the kitchen and has created some wonderful recipes, some quick and easy and some for entertaining...like this lovely Paella...here



 Paella Valencia


There are also some very useful hints on the site...Pantry Basics...very clever with some interesting products...also...Wheat-free Snacks...and a real time saver entitled...For The Freezer...have a look at all of these headings, they are very useful and helpful...here


And one that is sure to get the biggest tick...oh so indulgent and wicked...Hazelnut Meringue Cake with Tia Maria Cream, contributed by one of Helen's friends...and it can be prepared the day before and refrigerated ...yummy...here

Hazelnut Meringue Cake with Tia Maria Cream

Helen is always looking for ideas and one of her latest is recipes for children who may have a problem with FM...or just good recipes that children will surely love...here is her latest...

"Sticky Fingers" Chicken

You can find more detailed information and recipes and how to handle the whole "eating out" experience if you do suffer from FM on the website.  Helen updates the website frequently and would love anyone to contribute ideas and recipes for all to share...so have a look at some wonderful recipes with an individually Australian flair...here

Enjoy...Wendy


Wednesday 1 August 2012

Jazz..jazz..& more jazz..where?

There are many places to listen to good jazz and none better than the events organised by Diana Allen of Jazz Australia.  Jazz impresario Diana Allen started Jazz Australia many years ago and has been the spearhead for many, many Australian jazz musicians appearing on stages all over Australia and in particular in Victoria.  Diana has, amongst other things, spent much of her adult life promoting jazz music and musicians, along the way associating with not only some of the great icons of jazz, but also nurturing up-and coming young musicians who are now at the forefront of the Australian jazz scene.

One of Diana's best known associations was with the late Graeme Bell AO MBE for 25 years and was his "Melbourne Impresario" as he called her.  As Diana recalls, 'he will go down in history for having put Australian jazz on the map and for being the best known and most loved jazz band leader in Australian history.

Diana organizes some exceptional events throughout the year...here are three events to put in your diary and get your tickets now...the next event for Jazz Australia...as a result of popular demand, will be the welcome return to Queenscliff of the great traditional and blues vocalist Carol Ralph from Sydney...

                   CAROL RALPH & her GENTLEMEN OF JAZZ
           featuring John Adams, piano, David Gardner, reeds,
           Ian Smith drums/cornet and Zac Barter double bass
                Uniting Church, Hesse Street, Queenscliff
      Sunday August 12th     5.30pm  for  6pm 

This is sure to be a wonderful night as Carol Ralph from Sydney, is one of Australia's truly great jazz vocalists in the traditional sense and the great venue of the Uniting Church in Queenscliff has acoustics which, as Diana says, are 'virtually perfect'.  You will need to book quickly for this popular night...Tickets and more information from Diana...here. Tickets are $50 and includes beautiful finger food throughout the evening and drinks at below bar prices.

If you are unable to go to the Carol Ralph event then here is another event...there is a Fireside Jazz evening with one of Australia's leading jazz trios at the Jack Rabbit Vineyard...here.  

Image - Jack Rabbit Vineyard

The David Gardner Swing Trio
featuring David Gardner, clarinet & sax, John Shawcross, piano and Zac Barer, bass.
Jack Rabbit Vineyard, 85 McAdams Lane, Bellarine

FRIDAY 31 August, 7pm
Two course dinner and show $70 p.p. Limited numbers. Drinks at bar prices
For Tickets email...here

An intimate coastal ambience is to be had at Jack Rabbit Vineyard which has a rich, diverse stable of sophisticated, cool climate wines on offer and a contemporary a la carte menu. There are spectacular views across the bay to Geelong, the You Yangs and Melbourne...and of course if you feel so inclined to stay the weekend at the Bellarine, there are many good quality properties to stay...perhaps you might like the Vue Grand...here or the Queenscliff Hotel...here

 Image - Jack Rabbit Vineyard

Another very special treat coming soon is Janet Seidel...



AN AFTERNOON OF SOPHISTICATION AND SWING
with
THE JANET SEIDEL TRIO from Sydney
featuring Janet Seidel, vocals and piano, David Seidel, bass & Chuck Morgan, guitar

Sunday September 9th at The Bentleigh Club, Yawla Street, Bentleigh
Midday for 12.30pm
Tickets $70 p.p includes a 2 course luncheon and show.  For tickets...here 

This will be a superb way to welcome Spring back into our lives after a long cold winter.  Diana  writes in her newsletter that she is very excited at the prospect of presenting ‘Australia’s first lady of jazz singing’, according to the Penguin Guide of Jazz in the UK.  Janet Seidel and her accompanists have recently returned to Australia following an extensive tour of the UK and Europe where they enjoyed full houses everywhere, including Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London.  A consummate  performer and a class act, Janet is internationally regarded for her interpretation of the Great American Songbook and the music of Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter, Blossom Dearie and many others.  She has an incredible repertoire. 

I hope you are able to get along to one of these excellent Australian jazz events...


For your tickets...more information...or the newsletter...

Carol Ralph & her Gentleman of Jazz...here

The David Gardner Swing Trio...here

The Janet Seidel Trio...here

To receive the Jazz Australia Newsletter...here

Enjoy all that jazz...Wendy