Friday 12 June 2015

NRL tips for Round 14

Only 4 games this round

Game 1 :  Tigers vs Rabittohs

Rabbitohs

Game 2 :  Warriors vs Roosters

Warriors

Game 3 :  Gold Coast vs Bulldogs

Gold Coast

Game 4 :  Storm vs Eels

Storm

Wednesday 3 June 2015

Volcanic Eruption

Banana Panna cotta with Strawberry ganache and roasted walnuts


 
An absolutely delightful dessert full of flavor and variety.  Perfect for when you have that carton of left over cream!!
 
 

Ingredients

 
-  A cup of cooking cream (because that is what I had)
-  A cup of fresh milk
-  One packet (2 tsp of plain gelatin)
-  2 ripe bananas
-  60g brown sugar
-  2 tblsp run extract
-  2 tbls fresh lemon juice
 
For the Ganache
-  1 punnet of strawberries (about 200 grams, remove the bits that aren't nice to eat!)
-  60g of white sugar
-  a little cream
-  water to thin the sauce
-  3 tblsp crushed roasted walnuts
 

Directions

-  In a small bowl put 3 tblsp of cold water and pour over the gelatin and leave to set for 5 minutes.
-  Meanwhile heat the cream and milk to the boil.
-  Meanwhile (lots going on at the same time :-) ) mash the bananas sugar, rum extract and lemon juice till smooth
-  Use a blender if you have it for the previous step.
-  When the cream boils remove it from the heat and stir in the gelatin mixture until completely dissolved.
-  Add the banana mix and whisk in till smooth.
-  Pour the filling into 4 greased ramekins and refridgerate for 3-4 hours.
 
Topping
-  Heat the strawberries and cream and sugar, and with a masher mash the strawberries.  This will be easy as the mixture warms up.
-  Stir until smooth and if it gets too thick add some water.  Refridgerate till ready to serve.
 
-  When plating up, run a sharp knife around the edge of the glass and that should help the panna cotta slip out into the middle of your plate, forming the VOLCANO.
 
-  Top it with strawberry ganache to show the lava from the volcano and top with walnuts as the rock starts to harden.  Geologists will love this one :-)
 
 

Enjoy!!

 
 


Monday 1 June 2015

NRL tips for Round 13

I thought I would start to rationalise my footy tipping and maybe make everyone some $$$

The multi-bet below is $94.22-$1.  Good luck.  And remember to bet with your head, not over it!!

Wests Tigers vs Gold Coast   :   West Tigers $1.65  :  Tigers are favorites ; Got this one wrong!!!
5th June 19:45


Brisbane vs Manly :  Broncos $1.38  :   Manly are looking better but go Broncos : correct!
5th June 19:45

Newcastle vs Canberra :  Canberra $2.20 :  Not favorites but Canberra been playing well. : Correct!

Souths vs Warriors :  Souths $1.42 :  Souths should edge out the fighting Warriors : Correct!
 
Penrith vs Melbourne :  Melboure $1.60  :  Storm got thrashed tonite, will bounce back? Correct!
Cronulla vs Roosters :  Roosters $1.42  :  Sharks were terrible this weekend and Roosters are great. Couldn't have been more wrong!

Bulldogs vs Dragons :  St George $2.20  :  Not favorites but I don't know how.  St George are good.
Got this one wrong!

Parramatta vs Cowboys :  Eels $2.65 :  Not favorites but Cowboys are due to lose one I guess...
Cowboys great 2nd half!

Chicken, asparagus and mushroom stir fry

Plenty of flavour is this gorgeous dish.

Ingredients

  • 2 chicken breasts skin off, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
  • 2 cups of assorted mushrooms coarsely chopped
  • a dozen asparagus spears cut into 2 inch strips
  • 4 large cloves of garlic finely chopped
  • 1 red chili, seeds removed and finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons of dill finely chopped
  • 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup of cooking cream (15% fat)
  • 1/2 cup of white wine
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Heat one tblsp of oil in a heavy based fry pan.
  2. add the asparagus spears and sear for 1 minute.
  3. add a few tblsp of water and cover allowing the asparagus to steam for few minutes
  4. Remove the aspagus to a small bowl.
  5. Add a tblsp of oil to the pan and add the mushrooms
  6. Saute for a few minutes till soft and then add to the bowl with the asparagus.
  7. Heat the rest of the oil and add the garlic and chili frying for 1 minute on low heat.
  8. increase the heat and add the chicken and dill and stir fry the chicken for 7-8 minutes
  9. Re-introduce the asparagus and mushroom and add the wine and cream.
  10. Heat to simmer and allow the mixture to reduce down infusing the flavours adding salt and pepper as desired.

Enjoy!!