Halloween spookiness

October 31 2012
1 Comment
tags: , ,
by emma

We don’t really celebrate Halloween so much here in Australia, although I think in some parts kids might do a bit of dressing up and foraging for sweets and treats and such.

The only Halloween I know was when I was around 8 years old or so and travelled to the USA with my family to visit with some friends and relatives who lived there.  My cousin and I dressed up in our costumes (I have hazy memories of me being a fairy but also wearing a beanie, gloves and tights and my cousin was an axe murderer or something with fake blood on his shirt – a bit un-pc, oops!) and we roamed around scabbing for lollies from the neighbours with all the other kids and families.  I never did anything like that before and it was so much fun!  I ended up with the biggest shopping bag of lollies I’ve ever seen and it lasted for ages.  I remember my cousin eating all of his over a couple of days, and I still had heaps left and we kept bickering and giving each other dead arms (remember those?) because he wanted some of mine.  Awesome fun for our parents while road tripping around the US I’m sure!

I remember the decorations and warm lights and how it was even better than Christmas, how cheery and sweet people were and that it was freezing crispy cold in Wisconsin where we were at the time.

Anyway, I found these cool vintage Halloween postcards and images.  Aren’t they great?

(via)

(via)

(via)

(via)

 

Ratatouille with white bean mash

October 28 2012
3 Comments
tags: , , , ,
by emma

This simple French dish is one of my favourite things to make.  I’ve learned not to skimp on the oil and also, that the vegetables need to be cooked down really well on a slowish but longer heat, to encourage intensity of flavour, sweetness and also for a soft, silky texture.  And this dish is even better the next day as the flavours develop further.

I used to serve it with crusty bread, and that’s always a good thing but lately I’ve taken to mashing up tinned or cooked cannellini beans, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, lemon and rosemary and sauteing in a pan; it’s really delicious and works well with the sweet vegetables.


Read more

Happy Thursday (bom bom)

October 25 2012
Leave a comment
tags:
by emma

I saw this clip by Sam and the Womp a while back.  I thought the song with it’s bouncy, cheerful animation was really charming and funny and it made me laugh (I think this comes under the category of music which doesn’t take itself too seriously and we need that).

Have a beautiful rest of the week!

Via

Smoked salmon & herb sandwich with egg free lemon yoghurt aioli

October 21 2012
14 Comments
tags: , , ,
by emma

Greek yoghurt is so much a part of my daily diet, I don’t know what I’d do without it.  I tend to buy unsweetened Greek yoghurt rather than the flavoured kind as it’s far healthier and you can add whatever you like to it.  It’s also a wonderfully versatile ingredient for cooking and baking.

I loved this version of aioli; the yoghurt made it deliciously zesty and creamy and it was so full of flavour.  It’s also a significantly lower fat alternative to traditional aioli (and you don’t need eggs, nor do you need to eat raw eggs.  As wonderful as the traditional is, eating raw eggs always freaks me out a bit).

The aioli was a perfect foil for the rich smoked salmon (lemon and smoked salmon are the perfect combination) and fresh, aromatic greens on crunchy, rustic bread.  It would also be fantastic as a dip for entertaining, served with spicy oven chips or vegie sticks and … I also have a feeling it would make a great substitute sauce to use instead of hollandaise, for Eggs Benedict.

(this post was originally a product review for Roaming Cow Yoghurt which is no longer in production)

Read more

Giveaway! Also, spring salad with salmon, rice and creamy lemon dressing (CLOSED)

October 6 2012
13 Comments
tags: , , , ,
by emma

 

As of September, a Splash of Vanilla is officially a year old!  I thought I’d host a giveaway in honour and also to celebrate our Southern Hemisphere Spring.

I have two cute pieces of kitchenware from Peters of Kensington I think you’ll love – a Rodriquez Jam Tales Crockery tea towel and a Royal Doulton – Donna Hay blue whisk.  I’m sure these pretty pieces will spruce up someone’s kitchen and they’re practical too.

Some bits and pieces you need to know:

  1. The giveaway is open to all Australian and overseas readers, as long as you have a postal address.
  2. I’ll be sending the tea towel and whisk at no cost to the winner.  Neither the giveaway nor the cost of postage is transferable.
  3. The giveaway will be open for two weeks from today and will close at midnight on 20th October (Eastern Standard Time, Queensland, Australia); entry to be received by that date.
  4. To enter, you need to leave a comment to this post or email me via the contact tab and tell me … what’s your favourite Spring inspired recipe?
  5. You can enter by one of two ways above or by both, to increase your chances of winning.
  6. The winner will be chosen at random by random.org and I’ll be emailing the lucky person to inform them and will also ask for their full name and postal address so I can send the giveaway.
  7. All personal information will be kept strictly confidential and will at no time be disclosed to any party.
  8. This giveaway is not associated with any professional groups and has been purchased at my cost.

I also made a healthy, delightfully crunchy and hearty, Spring inspired salad with some fresh snow peas and asparagus, greens, hearty brown and wild rices and flaky, rare salmon – I thought a drizzle of lemony, creamy dressing would top it off nicely.

  Read more

Tomato butter pasta

September 30 2012
3 Comments
tags: ,
by emma

An easy dish which I just sort of threw together today for lunch as it’s gloomy and grey and I feel a bit poorly (I love that word.  It describes that blah feeling perfectly).  And I always feel like pasta on rainy days!  Every single time.

Too easy to list ingredients and such, it’s simply – pasta of your choice boiled in salted water, some halved, oven roasted cherry tomatoes, room temp butter (or cooking margarine if you prefer), fresh basil, toasted chopped walnuts, finely grated parmesan and seasoning.  After the pasta’s cooked to tender bite, drain then add back to the pan and throw in the other ingredients on low to medium heat until everything’s melty and hot.

Butter might seem an unusual pairing with tomato but really, the two are meant to be together, at least in a pasta dish.  The oven roasting makes the cherry tomatoes soft and creamy anyway, and combined with the butter and parmesan it makes this kind of gooey, rich tomato sauce.

(For a different flavour, sub a splash of extra virgin olive oil for the butter)