Monty Python

Is it possible to make quinoa more manly?

Fellas have you ever thought, is it possible to make quinoa more manly?

I asked a mate at work who I respect a lot and he said no. Well, that is, he said no after I thought I had made a decent attempt to make quinoa more manly.

I should say up front I do like quinoa. It has an interesting taste and I like cooking it and seeing the bright ring form that shines nicely when I’m focusing my lens on it. I also like it’s taste when it’s mixed with lemon juice and cooked in beef or chicken stock.

The other thing I like about quinoa is the toilet brush effect it has on my bowels. Every morning after a bowl of quinoa I feel cleaned out. I feel like it helps my irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Oven baked salmon coated in panko and chilli flakes served with avocado on a bed of quinoa with brown onion gravy
Oven baked salmon coated in panko and chilli flakes served with avocado on a bed of quinoa with brown onion gravy | NIKON D7100 with 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 at 40mm and f/8, 1/80sec, ISO 400

So what did I do to try to make a man of my quinoa? I added some brown onion gravy. Doesn’t it look amazing? NOT!!! 

I was watching My Kitchen Rules while blogging and coincidentally the entrée from the blonde butchers was being referred to by a lot of tweeps as a turd on a plate. A tweep from Melbourne took a similar view on my meal and called it dog vomit. 

 

Fair enough, even I reckon it looks awful. It tasted good though.

It also reminded me of the Monty Python Cocktail Bar sketch.

Check out some of my quinoa handy work here

Australia Australia Australia Australia we love you Amen

The title for this post stems from a Monty Python skit from my youth (circa late 1970s). I was going to post the YouTube video and embed it into this post but when I watched it I realised in 2015 it would offend many people. 

So in my fiftieth year (please send gifts in May ) I’m celebrating Australia Day with a long weekend of lots of food and eating. I’ve been reading a few blogs, news articles and social media updates on how people regard Australia Day. Many Australians want to change the day, many Australians want it to recognise another aspect of Australia’s history, and many Australians are happy to leave it as it is and enjoy a public holiday after the first few weeks of returning to work after the Christmas–New Year break. For me, I’d like to see a time when all Australians are happy and content with their lot, a time when we are an happy amalgam of the best aspects of many cultures and language groups striving for peace and happiness on our island (including Tasmania, the islands of New Zealand  plus all the territories [some islands and a good chunk of Antarctica] claimed by Australia) on the third rock from Sol. Is that too much to ask?

So what have I been eating over the Australia Day long weekend?

The weekend started on Friday evening but I’ve already posted about dinner out with Bron at Sage Dining Rooms.

Saturday morning fry up and not Fryup with blueberry and Chinese gooseberry juice NIKON D7100 with 40.0 mm f/2.8 at 40mm and f/6.3, 1/160sec, ISO 400
Saturday morning fry up and not Fryup with blueberry and Chinese gooseberry juice NIKON D7100 with 40.0 mm f/2.8 at 40mm and f/6.3, 1/160sec, ISO 400

I woke up on Saturday morning and decided I’d have a fry up. It was inspired by that day’s QI Podcast. The QI elves discussed as one of the week’s facts a proposition from PETA to rename the hamlet of Fryup to Vegan Fryup.

You can read about the proposal here. If you like smart and funny podcasts I highly recommend the weekly show from the QI elves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A different take on the great British fry up http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/mar/22/british-fry-up-disgrace-breakfast


 

On Saturday afternoon I went on a constitutional around Lake Ginninderra.

Lake Ginninderra from Yerra Beach Apple + Pro HDR iPhone with iPhone 6 back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/3000sec, ISO 32
Lake Ginninderra from Yerra Beach Apple + Pro HDR iPhone with iPhone 6 back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/3000sec, ISO 32
Soon after this it poured down and I was soaked through while walking around Lake Ginninderra Apple + Pro HDR iPhone with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/3200sec, ISO 32
Soon after this it poured down and I was soaked through while walking around Lake Ginninderra Apple + Pro HDR iPhone with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/3200sec, ISO 32

About two thirds of the way around it started to pour with rain and I got soaked through. It was worth it though. It was lovely and warm in the rain.

Saturday night dinner was Angus beef Scotch fillet steak with beetroot coleslaw on a sesame seed bun with Persian feta and American mustard NIKON D7100 with 40.0 mm f/2.8 at 40mm and f/5.6, 1/125sec, ISO 400
Saturday night dinner was Angus beef Scotch fillet steak with beetroot coleslaw on a sesame seed bun with Persian feta and American mustard NIKON D7100 with 40.0 mm f/2.8 at 40mm and f/5.6, 1/125sec, ISO 400

I skipped lunch on Saturday and made an early tea with some Angus beef Scotch rib fillet steak along with some beetroot coleslaw on a sesame seed bun that had been fried in butter and smeared with Persian feta. The steak was topped with some American mustard.


On Sunday morning I caught up with Bron and we headed to The Cupping Room for breakfast. Rather than revisiting what we’d had before we both chose different dishes.

I went for the hotcakes which were on a specials list.

The Cupping Room special hotcakes with caramelised figs, honey, almonds, pomegranate seeds and French vanilla ice cream Apple iPhone 6 Plus with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/30sec, ISO 32
The Cupping Room special hotcakes with caramelised figs, honey, almonds, pomegranate seeds and French vanilla ice cream Apple iPhone 6 Plus with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/30sec, ISO 32

Bron went for the Huevos Bollo which is what I want to try next time.

Huevos Bollo Two fried open-range eggs, two rashers of Newland’s bacon, guacamole and housemade Costa Rican BBQ sauce in a brioche roll Apple iPhone 5s with iPhone 5s back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/120sec, ISO 64
Huevos Bollo Two fried open-range eggs, two rashers of Newland’s bacon, guacamole and
housemade Costa Rican BBQ sauce in a brioche roll Apple iPhone 5s with iPhone 5s back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/120sec, ISO 64

Is this phallic art or latte art?

Oh look there's a penis in my coffee at The Cupping Room Apple. It's called Rosetta! One of the standard latte art pours. iPhone 6 Plus with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/120sec, ISO 40
Oh look there’s a penis in my coffee at The Cupping Room Apple. It’s called Rosetta! One of the standard latte art pours. iPhone 6 Plus with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/120sec, ISO 40

It’s a pity I don’t live closer to The Cupping Room. I’d probably be there every weekend if I did. The coffee is great. The food is magnificent. The service is super friendly.


We’d been invited to friends’ place for lunch. It was spectacular. 

Roast leg of lamb with a beef sausage, roast potatoes and haloumi salad Apple iPhone 6 Plus with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/120sec, ISO 40
Roast leg of lamb with a beef sausage, roast potatoes and haloumi salad Apple iPhone 6 Plus with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/120sec, ISO 40

This plate reveals a fantastic lunch of beef sausage, roast butterflied leg of lamb with yoghurt and a haloumi and fig salad with roasted potatoes.

Pavlova with strawberries and passionfruit Apple iPhone 6 Plus with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/15sec, ISO 100
Pavlova with strawberries and passionfruit Apple iPhone 6 Plus with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/15sec, ISO 100
Pavlova and ice cream Apple iPhone 6 Plus with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/130sec, ISO 32
Pavlova and ice cream Apple iPhone 6 Plus with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/130sec, ISO 32

For dessert we were treated to a magnificently made pavlova. The creator was born in New Zealand and is now also an Australian citizen. Rather than start an argument about whether the pavlova is an Australian or New Zealand invention, I just lost myself in the pillowy smoothness of a perfect meringue along with fresh fruit and luscious whipped cream. I’m very grateful to Lauren and Mike for a magnificent meal.


After getting home I started preparing for my Monday Australia Day tea. I planned to cooked some lamb.

Preparing for Australia Day dinner SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/2.8, 1/60sec, ISO 160
Preparing for Australia Day dinner SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/2.8, 1/60sec, ISO 160

I bought a boneless butterflied shoulder of lamb from Coles. Normally I’d buy it with the bone in because I love dissecting large joints of flesh and following planes of dissection with my fingers and boning knife. For this dish though I went for convenience over fun.

Preparing for Australia Day dinner SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/2.8, 1/60sec, ISO 320
Preparing for Australia Day dinner SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/2.8, 1/60sec, ISO 320
Preparing for Australia Day dinner SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/2.8, 1/60sec, ISO 200
Preparing for Australia Day dinner SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/2.8, 1/60sec, ISO 200

Even though I’d eaten a huge amount of food for breakfast and lunch I still felt hungry for dinner and made an open burger for tea.

Angus beef burger with beetroot coleslaw and Danish feta on fried toast NIKON D7100 with 40.0 mm f/2.8 at 40mm and f/5.6, 1/100sec, ISO 400
Angus beef burger with beetroot coleslaw and Danish feta on fried toast NIKON D7100 with 40.0 mm f/2.8 at 40mm and f/5.6, 1/100sec, ISO 400

So it’s Monday 2015-01-26 Australia Day. The Australian of the Year was announced last night and the Order of Australia honours list is published. I’ve had a quiet day. My plan was a light breakfast and a skipped lunch with the focus being on an early tea of the slowly roasted lamb and some salad. I’ve been for a short walk and have watched a bit of Star Trek The Next Generation

Well I didn’t skip lunch entirely, I did have a few dessert spoons of peanut paste. That reminds me in the Sage Dining Rooms post I wrote that I would explain why I refer to peanut paste and not peanut butter. My formative years were in Brisbane in the late 1960s and 1970s. Everyone in Brisbane referred to peanut paste. Whenever we heard the term peanut butter it was usually on Sesame Street or Charlie Brown comics and we assumed it was an American term. Later in life when I was exposed to people from other parts of Australia I heard them use the term peanut butter. On investigation it seems that in some states of Australia including Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland, dairy farmers had persuaded legislators that only butter made from milk could be called butter. In the latter half of the 1900s the legislation was rescinded so that peanut farmers and processors could sell their product as peanut butter to better compete on the open market. Like all language traditions, the terms of our forebears stick for some time. Children in Brisbane now wouldn’t know what peanut paste is but that doesn’t stop some of their parents using the term.

I’ve found a few websites that refer to this, e.g., Peanut Company of Australia, Macquarie Dictionary Australian Word Map, Wikipedia, The Straight Dope, and Word Origins.

I’ll continue to use words that I’m familiar with and which I decide to use. The words we use as humans reflect who we are and help define us as individuals. I’m proud of my upbringing just as people from other parts of Australia are proud of their upbringing and the vocabulary they desire.


Early in the afternoon after letting the meat get to room temperature I started preparing my casserole. I prefer cooking slow roasts of meat in a casserole. It controls the cooking nicely and I’ve never had a joint of meat that hasn’t come out tender, juicy and moist throughout.

Australia Day lamb preparation. This is the bottom of my casserole before the boneless butterflied shoulder is added SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 3200
Australia Day lamb preparation. This is the bottom of my casserole before the boneless butterflied shoulder is added SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 3200

The rosemary comes from the side of the road near where I live (outside Swimming Australia).

This is my casserole with the lamb in it plus all the marinade goodness from overnight plus some quinoa to absorb juice during the cooking SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
This is my casserole with the lamb in it plus all the marinade goodness from overnight plus some quinoa to absorb juice during the cooking SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 1250

This is the boneless butterflied shoulder in the casserole with the marinade juices plus a sprinkling of quinoa to absorb the juices during the long and slow cooking process.

I put the casserole into the oven for about three hours at 150 °C. A kitchen hint for blokes who don’t like cleaning up hard to clean pots. I put a sheet of baking paper between the lid and the main body of the casserole. It keeps the lid clean and one less thing to scrub.

To go with the lamb I made a fennel salad with parsley, red onion and capers (I also added Kensington Pride mango later).

Fennel salad with fennel, red onion, parsley, and capers SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 2500
Fennel salad with fennel, red onion, parsley, and capers SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 2500

The finished dish looked like this. I now have a good amount of meat and salad for lunches this week 

Slowly roasted boneless butterflied shoulder of lamb with roast potatoes and fennel salad NIKON D7100 with 40.0 mm f/2.8 at 40mm and f/16, 1/20sec, ISO 400
Slowly roasted boneless butterflied shoulder of lamb with roast potatoes and fennel salad NIKON D7100 with 40.0 mm f/2.8 at 40mm and f/16, 1/20sec, ISO 400

So this has been a bit of a mammoth post. If you didn’t read all the words I hope you enjoyed the photographs. 

If you haven’t already I’d really appreciate your liking the Yummy Lummy Facebook page, following me on Twitter and Instagram.

I hope you had a great Australia Day and ate yummy. Please leave a comment and share what you did on Australia’s special day.

Fish tacos or fishy scrolls

A lot of blogs seem to feature fish tacos and when I looked up fish tacos on Google I found some other meanings for fish tacos

These fishy scrolls were dead easy to make. Now I know what regular readers are thinking, Gary has used puff pastry for three nights in a row. What’s up with that?

Well I bought a six pack of puff pastry sheets so they have to be used. 

Pay day dinner. Fishy scrolls ready to roll. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/50sec, ISO 500
Pay day dinner. Fishy scrolls ready to roll. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/50sec, ISO 500
Pay day dinner. Fishy scrolls ready for the oven. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/50sec, ISO 320
Pay day dinner. Fishy scrolls ready for the oven. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/50sec, ISO 320
Pay day dinner. Fishy scrolls out of the oven. NIKON D7100 with 90.0 mm f/2.8 at 90mm and f/3.5, 1/500sec, ISO 400
Pay day dinner. Fishy scrolls out of the oven. NIKON D7100 with 90.0 mm f/2.8 at 90mm and f/3.5, 1/500sec, ISO 400

The fish is canned red salmon. I mixed in some avocado and smoked cheddar cheese plus a line of chilli flakes and fried onions with lots of pepper.

 
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I’m thinking I need to make spam rolls soon so I can add this YouTube video