Rosewater Buttercream Macarons

Rose! - it's not just for Turkish Delight!
I've been experimenting with some more traditional flavourings and came across a bottle of rosewater from Perilya at David Jones. I think it makes a wonderful subtle flavour - just don't go overboard with it or you'll venture into soapy tasting macaron territory.
Recipe after the jump...

Easy Peasy Home Made Play Dough

Something different to come out of the Vanderbilt kitchen this weekend. Technically it is food, but you really wouldn't want to eat it.

The graphic designer in me calls this CMY-Kake

My daughter, however was very pleased to have 6 new shades of play dough (especially the pink and purple!). I spent about an hour making these 6 colours and probably saved about $40 in the process.

The home made stuff doesn't have that aroma that instantly brings back a bunch of childhood memories like the real Play-Doh, but I don't think Little Miss Vanderbilt has even noticed the difference.


This stuff is unbelievably easy to make. I just followed the instructions on the side of the Mackenzies cream of tartar container and divided the quantity by 4 for each colour. This makes about the same as 2-3 regular Play-Doh tubs.

Here's what you'll need:

• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 1/4 cup salt
• 1 tbsp Cream of Tartar
• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup water
• food colourings (liquid preferably)

image courtesy Faber Castell

Mix the food colouring into the water. I used a 1ml syringe to get an accurate amount when mixing colours like red or purple. 1/2 a ml of each mixed in with the water is enough to produce  nice bold colours (in this case orange and purple) - you can always experiment with varying amounts of primary colours to get the different shades.

Then pour the coloured liquid into a heavy based non-stick saucepan with the rest of the ingredients on a medium heat and mix it up on the heat until it starts to congeal.

Leave it to cool and repeat with the next colour.

If looked after well (kept in a sealed container, preferably in the fridge), this dough can last 6-12 months.

Have you ever made play dough for the kids? what kids art & craft items take you straight back to your childhood? Let me know in the comments.

Happy baking

LVB

Quick Portuguese Tarts by Jamie Oliver - made mini

I first made these as part of the Portuguese chicken dish from Jamie's 30 minute meals and I couldn't believe how easy they are. They almost make themselves while you get on with the rest of the dish.
The recipe is easily scalable and only really limited by the amount of mini muffin pans you have.
I tripled the last batch of these and yielded 36 tasty little morsels - they were all gone within an hour - along with the Smoked salmon, asparagus and cheese tart I took along to our friend Hugh's rooftop BBQ.
See my take on Jamie's recipe after the jump. 

Very Strawberry Macarons

Who doesn't love a good strawberry mac? these little beauties turned out really well - possibly due to the secret ingredient: Freeze dried strawberries!
I blitzed them in the food processor into a fine powder and this gave the shells a great strawberry hit.
For my guinea pigs - sorry taste testers, the response was an overwhelming "OMG these are frickin awesome!! you have to give me the recipe"
Ask and you shall find it after the jump...

Asparagus, Cheese and Smoked Salmon Tart

To celebrate the arrival of spring, last Sunday one of our neighbourhood friends invited all the local parents of small kids to join them for a brunch BBQ on their amazing Potts Point roof garden.

I was tempted to make some macarons, but the young'uns there would have scoffed the lot withing minutes of being displayed on the table. So (slightly selfishly) I made something they would probably hate because it has green stuff all over it.

The Asparagus, Cheese and Smoked Salmon Tart ( makes 2 tarts) - Recipe after the jump.

Cheats banoffee pie courtesy of Jamie Oliver

mmmm...Pie

I have been wanting to make this for some time, but every time I have been to a supermarket, picking up some pre-made pastry cases has always fallen off the list. After reading the bible from the good folks at Bourke St Bakery, I'm feeling a little guilty at not making my own pastry from scratch, but that's why it's called a cheat's banoffee pie. Find out how to cheat to impress after the jump.

Salted Caramel macarons - a tricky centre, but well worth it.

So - after the strawberry mcaron beginning, I wanted to try something a little more advanced. Making your own caramel and making macarons is a bit of a double challenge, but it was great fun and the final macs looked awesome and were a hit with friends and family.

A big thanks to ladymacaron20ten for her salted caramel inspiration!