I don’t normally blog in the evenings…feels weird…whatever time it is in the day when you read this, hello and welcome to Beach Cottage Too Easy Recipes aka Dump & Go.
If you read earlier that I was knocking up a quick rub, I decided on a marinade not a rub (and you know what, the bombsite is still a bombsite, hence no IKEA mirror pictures for today…it is looking very nice in there though…but it was too dark by the time I had finished for photos…)
So.
Anyway.
When we moved to Australia, one of the big differences I noticed immediately was that the place was not over-run by supermarkets…but in food shopping, unlike the UK, you are literally spoilt for choice for butchers, bakers and candlestick makers…and greengrocers spilling over with every sort of amazing fruit and vegetable you could ever want or need…
For the first few years here I absolutely revelled in walking into a butchers and choosing my meat….unlike England where, very sadly, butcher’s shops are getting close to extinct…and the best thing here is that the meat in butchers is just as competitively priced wherever you go…and without compromising on quality.
Really though, Aussies just do meat oh-so well. And I love that. The meat here, even if you are on a budget is outta this world good.
So what better place to gather around yourself an abundance of things to throw on the best meats in the world?
I love marinades…and I have been using them liberally since I began getting interested in cooking when Honeymoon Baby came along….
… I think there is nothing simpler than throwing a nice piece of chicken or beef in the fridge to marinade with something simple and tasty.
Best thing about these?
Well firstly they are Dump and Go.
Secondly they can turn a boring and budget piece of meat into something really nice.
Thirdly, and as ever in any recipe I fall back on again and again in my little life, marinades make you look like you did a whole lot of work and that you are indeed a culinary goddess but in reality all you did was a vague bit of mixing and some pouring.
So I make loads of different ones of these…more of those soon, I especially like the spicy one (my kiddos not so much) and the fragrant one…this though is just a basic one that I mix up whenever, really, or if I feel the need for a bit of therapeutic time in the kitchen doing some mindless mixing…
This too is the most versatile…you can about throw it on anything that you eat and it will make it better….I may try throwing this on my face
The first time I had this was in a restaurant in London…a pretty fancy restaurant, without any side plates (not trendy enough), where you put your bread and other things on what looks like pieces of butcher’s paper and they charge a fortune for a lump of chicken with some lemon and garlic on it…you know those places where you go in, spend a fortune and come out still hungry. That would be the ones.
But.
I did like the idea of the marinated chicken and the taste of it…so I played around with marinades…so began my journey with experimenting with different mixes…and what ensued was a long, healthy and happy relationship with my pestle and mortar and the humble beaten-up marinade…mix it up, throw it on your meat, bob is your uncle.
I often do this if we are having people over….I just throw the marinade and meat together in the morning, then bung the meat and some little roasted potatoes all in the oven at the same time…serve with bread and green salad….the house will positively fumigate half-way down the street as it cooks and as they arrive they will, mistakenly believe, that you, domestic goddess that you are, will have been slaving away for hours. When really you have been reading blogs in the bath.
Crafty huh?
This is the classic cooking ingredient combo…. rosemary giving you the lovely aromatic air that comes with it but zinged up a bit with some garlic and then wafted with lemon….
I can hardly claim this as my own recipe…but this is the way I do it, I have seen many other versions around…but what I do think with recipes is how they work for you, rather than who claims them as their own…for me, this just, plain and simply…works….it helps me get through the madness that sometimes is the mid-week around here with 50 million school and sporting events…at which point I will often throw it in the oven after jacket potatoes have been in there for an hour or so…done deal…
…or it helps me when having people over ‘cos it’s feels special, when really it is very easy….that is what cooking and recipes are all about for me…
and what I love about sharing on here, apart from the fact that I get to learn more about my camera and play stylists when taking pictures, is that I love to hear what works for people in their life…a big attraction of blogs to me and how I ended up here in the first place…
Too Easy Lemon, Garlic Rosemary Marinade
4 cloves garlic
10 sprigs rosemary
15 tbsp olive oil
sea salt (good pinch)
pepper
3 lemons
1. remove the rosemary leaves, juice the lemons & cut into small pieces & peel & squash the garlic
2. throw all in a bowl, add salt and pepper
3. pour on the olive oil, about 15tbsp
4. dump mixture so meat is well slicked (you may need more oil)
BC notes* you can just as easily throw this on the meat as you go and finish with a slick of oil and moosh it all around…. dump the meat in a ziploc bag and then do your mixing/pouring on top & then throw the whole thing in the fridge…. you can throw this marinaded bag in the freezer….. save your pennies & never buy those gross ready-marinaded meats with chemicals & E numbers again
Righto, I am off to go collect some little herbert from sport, then I am getting my feet up and sitting on my white sofa planning what I am cooking for friends on Saturday night…oh and looking at front doors and bathrooms….
See you tomorrow
Cheers
So, what are your easy Go-To marinades or things you like to do when having people over?
Sounds great Sarah will defs be trying this one…Great photography!! Such a talent!!
PS….. I make your 40 clove garlic chicken all the time now, everyone here loves it so… a big thank you for making ME look like a domestic goddess!!shhh!!
How funny Sarah- I literally just asked on your last post {considering the UK time difference} if you were going to share this rub mix!
And moments later this post pops into my inbox!
I love this – we are lucky enough to have a fantastic village butcher, and a regular market in our square, that sells local meat from the Forest of Bowland…I just blogged about it- as today is market Thursday here!
I’m going to get me some lamb and fill up my zip lock bag & marinade today!
We love {due to a less adventurous 6 yr old taste tester!!} honey, soy, balsamic vinegar, ginger & garlic….
Same deal- zippy bag and salad and rice…it’s being born on the doorstep of Asia- we tend to have rice, not potatoes, with everything!
lol, love marinates.. I have used butter scotch alcohol(for chicken), wine, beer, lemon/lime always with loads of garlic, salt and pepper. But my fav. of all if you haven’t gotten around to marinate the meat…. Use garlic salt instead of normal salt…Divine…. I also like to add ground cloves with garlic salt, olive oil and pepper if I am cooking pork or beef schnitzel (then serve with my parsley sauce/paste). For chicken I usually rub paprika with garlic salt and olive oil then drizzle some lime over the chicken as soon as it comes away from the pan. For lamb(not roast – I haven’t tried that yet just the back strap and loin) I have found marinating it in lime, olive oil, garlic, salt, peper and oregano overnight makes such a huge difference(that and the type of cut).
I will have try this one – Yum…
Since rosemary is a rarity in these parts we use lots of thyme…. basically the same idea garlic, salt, a touch of pepper, olive oil, and a lemon or two, even a lime (I freeze lemons and limes when I notice they’ve been reduced at the grocers.) I do like garlic salt as well. In fact we keep seasoned salts on hand to use and give as gifts especially when we literally have bowls overflowing with garlic and thyme.
When I’m having people over somehow I seem to forgot all about simple and how wonderful it is I get my knickers in such a twist that I have to have some so amazing (read complicated) meal that looks like I employed a team of chefs. You really are a domestic goddess!!! I’m off to marinate some chicken yumm thanks for sharing.
delicious combinations I have used similar combinations for chicken.. recently tried a recipe adding cilantro and rice vinegar to similar ingredients (find the recipe at http:// handmadebyheidi.blogspot.com ) which we also liked. Do you have turkey available in Aust? Last year we put a rub on our turkey for thanksgiving it was so delicious… we will never have turkey again without the rub. Your photos are inviting . thanks for sharing
Sarah, meat and produce in NZ is to die for in taste…I find the food here quite bland in comparison but our taste buds have adapted
I love the kick of flavour that marinades give and am often seen experimenting with flavours…turns what can be a boring piece of meat into some extra special.
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
(and you know what, the bombsite is still a bombsite, hence no IKEA mirror pictures for today…it is looking very nice in there though…but it was too dark by the time I had finished for photos…)
Sounds great Sarah will defs be trying this one…Great photography!! Such a talent!!
PS….. I make your 40 clove garlic chicken all the time now, everyone here loves it so… a big thank you for making ME look like a domestic goddess!!shhh!!
From Suzanne.. Sarah for some reason it is not saying my name just anonymous!!
How funny Sarah- I literally just asked on your last post {considering the UK time difference} if you were going to share this rub mix!
And moments later this post pops into my inbox!
I love this – we are lucky enough to have a fantastic village butcher, and a regular market in our square, that sells local meat from the Forest of Bowland…I just blogged about it- as today is market Thursday here!
I’m going to get me some lamb and fill up my zip lock bag & marinade today!
We love {due to a less adventurous 6 yr old taste tester!!} honey, soy, balsamic vinegar, ginger & garlic….
Same deal- zippy bag and salad and rice…it’s being born on the doorstep of Asia- we tend to have rice, not potatoes, with everything!
Thanks for a new marinade dump & go!
melissa x
lol, love marinates.. I have used butter scotch alcohol(for chicken), wine, beer, lemon/lime always with loads of garlic, salt and pepper. But my fav. of all if you haven’t gotten around to marinate the meat…. Use garlic salt instead of normal salt…Divine…. I also like to add ground cloves with garlic salt, olive oil and pepper if I am cooking pork or beef schnitzel (then serve with my parsley sauce/paste). For chicken I usually rub paprika with garlic salt and olive oil then drizzle some lime over the chicken as soon as it comes away from the pan. For lamb(not roast – I haven’t tried that yet just the back strap and loin) I have found marinating it in lime, olive oil, garlic, salt, peper and oregano overnight makes such a huge difference(that and the type of cut).
I will have try this one – Yum…
Lovely, the flavours are some of my favourites but your photos would have convinced me to try this anyway.
What about dousing salmon and throwing it on the bbq?
Since rosemary is a rarity in these parts we use lots of thyme…. basically the same idea garlic, salt, a touch of pepper, olive oil, and a lemon or two, even a lime (I freeze lemons and limes when I notice they’ve been reduced at the grocers.) I do like garlic salt as well. In fact we keep seasoned salts on hand to use and give as gifts especially when we literally have bowls overflowing with garlic and thyme.
This looks & sounds delicious – think I’ll give it a try this weekend ;o)
looks like another of your fantastic recipes!
When I’m having people over somehow I seem to forgot all about simple and how wonderful it is
I get my knickers in such a twist that I have to have some so amazing (read complicated) meal that looks like I employed a team of chefs. You really are a domestic goddess!!! I’m off to marinate some chicken yumm thanks for sharing.
delicious combinations I have used similar combinations for chicken.. recently tried a recipe adding cilantro and rice vinegar to similar ingredients (find the recipe at http:// handmadebyheidi.blogspot.com ) which we also liked. Do you have turkey available in Aust? Last year we put a rub on our turkey for thanksgiving it was so delicious… we will never have turkey again without the rub. Your photos are inviting . thanks for sharing
thanks for the tips Janita, I do a similar one with rice vinegar too!
yep we have turkey here…and it is divine
x
Hi Sarah,
I use a very similar marinade that also has soy sauce. This adds a touch of salt flavour and some colour. Yum, yum
Sarah, meat and produce in NZ is to die for in taste…I find the food here quite bland in comparison but our taste buds have adapted
I love the kick of flavour that marinades give and am often seen experimenting with flavours…turns what can be a boring piece of meat into some extra special.
x
Sarah, I’m hanging out for your bathroom ideas to do my ensuite reno. I know we’re both struggling with the choice in vanities.
PS Just lurve ya hi tech lemon squeezer!
alison