Thanks to all of you who emailed me, left me a comment and facebooked with me on this new place of mine. I love it here, nearly as much as I love Australia. But not quite
Now my lovelies I really wasn’t intending on blogging in my new place about yoghurt. But as is usual with me I regularly go off on a tangent and so why limit that to real life?
So I give you the Beach Cottage Homemade DIY Yoghurt.
This all started with my happening upon this old bottle a while back…it was just what I was after for my umm milk believe it or not…for too long I have not enjoyed those big old plastic bottles in my fridge…I wanted a lil’ bit more, you know, je ne sais quoi when I grabbed the milk for my tea in the morning…
So when I saw this in the Frenchy shop I scooted past a couple of other browsers and dived across all manner of pretties to snatch this to my person before any other vintage-style-milk-bottle-loving gal (or guy for that matter) got to it before me.
And with it clutched tightly to myself I walked around that shop just oh-so smug…oooh yeah baby, wait ’til the morning, I will pour the milk in my tea all vintagey and Frenchy, I will rock this cottage with all things stylish in milk
After pottering around a bit longer, trying and failing to not spend money so my kids could eat that week, I took it to the counter, whereupon the lady serving said she loved seeing hers in the morning..and we oohed and ahhed and gushed…and then another girl added that she loved to keep her yoghurt milk in there.
Your what?
The milk I use to make my home-made yoghurt that I eat with my home-made granola every single morning on the verandah. Yep she was floating around in linen too.
Oh my goodness me. I am sure by now you’ll know what was happening to me. I wanted a milk yoghurt bottle. I wanted home-made yoghurt. And floaty linen.
And somewhere in the back of my mind, I remembered my bath companionJamie Oliver mentioning way back about making yoghurt and when I got home found it in possibly my fave book of his ‘Return of the Naked Chef’
And so the other day on an absolutely beautiful Winter’s day here in Sydney, where the temperature was about 70F, the cottage was bathed in delightful sunshine and the sky was a wonderful blue I pulled up the old sash windows in the kitchen and made yoghurt as per my friend Jamie.
*1 litre full fat milk, 1 x small tub live yoghurt
*boil milk, leave to cool for 40 mins, whisk in live yoghurt, cover & leave out for 6/8 hrs. Put in fridge. Chill.
Spoon into an old jar, grab your vintage bottle, take some photos. And swoon.
Next I’m making granola, as ever if you have a recipe that is throw-it-together Beach Cottage style I’d love if you could leave it and thanks for the black bean soup recipes to those who took the time to leave them for me…I’ll have more on that soon.
Anyway, I’d love to know what you think of my new French friend?
Sarah I know that the lovely Victoria has given you a delish granola recipe but you MUST also try this one from our friend Nigella. I admit to not being able to restrict eating it only in the mornings it’s scrummy as an ice-cream topper too….
450g rolled oats
120g sunflower seeds
120g white sesame seeds
175g apple compote or apple sauce [I do the sauce from a bottle]
2 tsp ground cinnamon
25g best-quality cocoa powder
1 tsp ground ginger
120g golden syrup
4 tbsp runny honey
100g light brown sugar
300g raw peanuts
1 tsp Maldon salt
2 tbsp sunflower oil
Place the oats, sunflower and sesame seeds into a large mixing bowl.
Add cocoa and give everything a good raking over with your hands so that the cocoa is evenly dispersed before adding the remaining ingredients mixing together using a curved, ridged spatula.
Spread the mixture out on two baking tins [the sort that come with ovens, and are about the width of a rack] and bake on gas mark 31/170degrees C, turning over halfway through baking and re-distributing the granola evenly during the baking process.
The object is to get it evenly golden without toasting too much in any one place. This should take anything from about 40mins. I use a gas oven, which doesn’t brown as fast as an electric one, so often leave it in for up to an hour.
Once it’s baked, allow to cool. Store airtight [I use a lovely glass jar].
This mix makes 2.5 litres.
Nigella says “I love having a big jar of it in the kitchen, to eat with milk for breakfast, over yoghurt and drizzled with honey late at night, or as it is, by the grasped handful, any time I pass the jar.” Nigella Lawson ‘Feast’
Yeah! Absolutely lovely bottle! You just had to have it!
Thanks for the yogurt recipe. I love plain yogurt with honey in the morning!
Wish I could find such a lovely bottle as that….
on the hunt,
Kathy
Yummmm, it all looks just soooo nice! Love that milk bottle. I am hunting for the old style ones in a nice carrier…..I have something in mind but havent found the suitable bottles just yet! But since I’m not working this weekend comming I am going to hit the garage sales & fingers crossed I will find what I am after.
Have a fabulous week
OHHH that looks so pretty and DELISH! I have a small collection of milk bottles and creamers. When my youngest (Peyton Claire, she’s has sleepovers, she and her little friends always insist on me putting their milk in the creamers! I’ve even had a frustrated mom or two call to see what kind of “special milk glasses” she has to get because of the fuss her daughter is putting up! I agree, pouring out of them just makes it TASTE better!
Just jumped over from CG’s blog. And, I have to say that I love your milk bottles. Also, I’ve been thinking about trying to make homemade yogurt for quite awhile, but just haven’t taken the leap yet. Anyway, here is a link to my granola recipe: http://tranafamily.blogspot.com/2009/09/tempt-my-tummy-tuesday-is-blog-carnival.html It’s so easy my 8 y/o is now in charge of making granola for the family.
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Beach Cottage ladies, we have some vintage linen and some wood/twig washed up on the beach today here in Beach Cottage Land….don’t say I don’t keep you entertained now will you . Come on in. So, yep I have posted about colanders on this blog, about things sourced from the side of the road, about [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
1. beat the cream cheese until it is soft
2. whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Oh yeah. Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
Sarah I know that the lovely Victoria has given you a delish granola recipe but you MUST also try this one from our friend Nigella. I admit to not being able to restrict eating it only in the mornings it’s scrummy as an ice-cream topper too….
450g rolled oats
120g sunflower seeds
120g white sesame seeds
175g apple compote or apple sauce [I do the sauce from a bottle]
2 tsp ground cinnamon
25g best-quality cocoa powder
1 tsp ground ginger
120g golden syrup
4 tbsp runny honey
100g light brown sugar
300g raw peanuts
1 tsp Maldon salt
2 tbsp sunflower oil
Place the oats, sunflower and sesame seeds into a large mixing bowl.
Add cocoa and give everything a good raking over with your hands so that the cocoa is evenly dispersed before adding the remaining ingredients mixing together using a curved, ridged spatula.
Spread the mixture out on two baking tins [the sort that come with ovens, and are about the width of a rack] and bake on gas mark 31/170degrees C, turning over halfway through baking and re-distributing the granola evenly during the baking process.
The object is to get it evenly golden without toasting too much in any one place. This should take anything from about 40mins. I use a gas oven, which doesn’t brown as fast as an electric one, so often leave it in for up to an hour.
Once it’s baked, allow to cool. Store airtight [I use a lovely glass jar].
This mix makes 2.5 litres.
Nigella says “I love having a big jar of it in the kitchen, to eat with milk for breakfast, over yoghurt and drizzled with honey late at night, or as it is, by the grasped handful, any time I pass the jar.” Nigella Lawson ‘Feast’
Yeah! Absolutely lovely bottle! You just had to have it!
Thanks for the yogurt recipe. I love plain yogurt with honey in the morning!
Wish I could find such a lovely bottle as that….
on the hunt,
Kathy
Yummmm, it all looks just soooo nice! Love that milk bottle. I am hunting for the old style ones in a nice carrier…..I have something in mind but havent found the suitable bottles just yet! But since I’m not working this weekend comming I am going to hit the garage sales & fingers crossed I will find what I am after.
Have a fabulous week
i adore the post… and jamie… thanks for the tip on his new book… that guy is a powerhouse!
xx pam
http://www.redticking.com
Homemade yogurt sounds so good… and we just loaded up on Savannah Bee honey, which should pair nicely with that. Yum!
Sarah, I’m totally making yogurt! I have a granola recipe and will come back and post it when I’m home and find it! Loveyour French bottle
I want one!
OHHH that looks so pretty and DELISH! I have a small collection of milk bottles and creamers. When my youngest (Peyton Claire, she’s
has sleepovers, she and her little friends always insist on me putting their milk in the creamers! I’ve even had a frustrated mom or two call to see what kind of “special milk glasses” she has to get because of the fuss her daughter is putting up! 
I agree, pouring out of them just makes it TASTE better!
Just jumped over from CG’s blog. And, I have to say that I love your milk bottles. Also, I’ve been thinking about trying to make homemade yogurt for quite awhile, but just haven’t taken the leap yet. Anyway, here is a link to my granola recipe: http://tranafamily.blogspot.com/2009/09/tempt-my-tummy-tuesday-is-blog-carnival.html It’s so easy my 8 y/o is now in charge of making granola for the family.
Sarah, I adore all of these photos!!
Sarah, I love your friends cake plate, and I plan to make some myself to give away for Christmas. I know my sisters will love to own one. Thanks Eliza