Israel: the land of milk and honey

Actually, I read in the Hebrew phrasebook I picked up in the library that the expression used to be 'land of milk and date jam' because for a long time the Rabbis were arguing about whether honey was kosher or not. They kinda decided it was at some point. Interesting, huh?

Anyway, I was super lucky to be able to tag along on Mum's business trip to Tel Aviv. We spent a few days in the city and took a bus to Jerusalem to see the sights there also. It looked a bit like this...

Silliness. We went back to this cafe when it wasn't closed for Shabbat and I ate pumpkin quiche whilst Mum fretted about needing to paint her nails for work.

Clock Tower in Old Jaffa

Tel Aviv is closer to the equator than the UK so the sunset is blink-and-you'll-miss-it fast. Although I probably learnt about this in Geography at some point, I was totally amazed to see the sun fall into the sea at such a speed every evening.

Holy Land of Toy Soldiers. Israel is no place for a pacifist. 

At the airport. There is no escaping McDo.

Joy the Baker recently made Green Israeli Couscous salad. This is my take on it. I used Palestinian couscous from Zaytoun a fantastic fairtrade co-op that aims to create a UK market for the goods of Palestinian farmers. Check them out here and support them when you can. Cook the couscous then mix with roasted red peppers and courgettes, some feta and a dressing of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and mint.

 Cook the couscous then mix with roasted red peppers and courgettes, some feta and a dressing of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and mint.

P.S. Guess what? In Tel Aviv we ate the most amazing hummus, the real deal. Om nom nom. 

Even artichokes have hearts...

Susie came over after Foodcycle and left an artichoke in my bed.

The next day I cooked it with olive oil and lemon then ate it... in my bed. My lips went all tingly. Delicious.

Lovely day

Sunshine. Playing with friends in the park. Hula hooping. Learning to spin poi (hold the fire!). Back at Magdalen street and a barbecue feast on the terrace. Then, carrot cake with cream cheese frosting from the Hummingbird Bakery book. Life is good. 

Also, this guy makes musical instruments out of carrots and other instruments. The internet never ceases to amaze me. 

Easter!

In my family at Easter we wear yellow. You probably don't need to see that. Mum still hides eggs in the garden for us nearly six foot tall children. There is not an age when egg hunts stop being super-fun. Am I right? 

The final prove of the hot cross buns. Ignore all Dad's booze on the floor.

Good Friday breakfast. Keep your nose tidy, eh?

Venetian Carrot Cake a la Nigella - recipe here. This cake is made with ground almonds instead of flour so its gluten-free and crazy tasty and it has pine nuts on top!

Mum's famous Victoria Sandwich. I found these tiny chickens to put on it but they kept drunkenly falling over in the icing sugar snow. Too cute. 

Cinnamon and Blackberry Cake

By special request, something cinnamon-y  for the birthday girl Heather. Fun things are rocking up at a party and proceeding to whip cream whilst wearing your favourite frock. Also, decorating said cake with symmetrically placed berries. No pictures this time but this was a good'un. Thank you Dan Lepard! Love you Dan Lepard! Recipe here.

Fondue + Fortune Cookies = Happy New Year!

This New Years Eve I had my first ever fondue. All I can say is 'Om nom nom' and  'Hey, fondue! Where have you been all my life? We are made for each other!' I marvelled at the combination of Gruyère, Emmental, white wine and vodka and as I dipped bread into cheesy goo I realised I was consuming what was essentially, a  cheese cocktail. Oh my.

Dad facilitated the fondue whilst I, wanting to make a contribution to the last meal of the year, and decade, thought it would be fun to make fortune cookies. After a bit of Googling I found this recipe and proceeded to, in Dad's words, 'mess about' in the kitchen.  I added a dash of milk because the first batch were too thick to fold. You have to spread the batter as thinly and smoothly as possible and only cook two at a time because you have to fold them as soon as they come out of the oven before they harden. Basically, its a bit of a performance. But what do you expect? This is magic we are making here!

Ta-da! Pick a cookie, any cookie. 


My, possibly erroneous, folding technique made the fortunes stick to the cookies. Ooops.

Cookies give good advice, no?
Happy New Year!

Recipe for a Merry Christmas

Take one family and a few time-honoured traditions. Add: a tree that touches the ceiling

 
a crib complete with moose, signpost and plenty of camels

a big bird (roasted)

root veg chopped with precision and a few elegantly gift-wrapped placemats 

 plenty of fudge

a strudel

and some amaretti paper flying fire fun!

Serve with as much good will to all men as you can muster and a steady stream of silly games. 'Tis the season to be jolly after all.