Monthly Archives: September 2011

Chilli Scrambled Eggs with Wood-fired Bread

Sundays are usually lazy days for Mr J and I. We rarely get to eat a hearty breakfast/brunch during the week due to our early start at work, and on Saturdays we head over to the gym so only a light, muesli bar is usually consumed. But on Sundays, the agenda usually involves: sleeping in, big breakfasts and walk along Coogee Beach.

On this particular Sunday, Mr J had bookmarked a recipe from the Bitton Cafe cookbook and had wanted to serve this with some amazing Sonoma country sourdough bread. I, of course, had no complaints.

This dish is best served in those mornings when you’re craving for a heavy brunch, or need that carb-loaded, spicy and tasty hangover cure. Whatever the need is, this dish has the absolute answer.

Chilli Scrambled Eggs with Wood-fired Bread

Adapted from David Bitton A French-inspired cafe cookbook

8 large eggs

120ml thickened cream

50g butter

1 tbsp fresh chilli, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tbsp parsley, chopped

4 slices sourdough bread, toasted

Salt to taste

80g semi-dried tomatoes, for garnish

Pan fried or grilled sausage or chorizo, if desired

1. Whisk eggs, cream and salt together in a bowl.

2. Place butter, chilli, garlic and parsley in a pan under medium heat. Add whisked eggs and cream, and stir until the egg mixture has set and the texture resembles that of scrambled eggs

3. Arrange the toasted sourdough bread on a plate. Place the scrambled eggs on top of the bread, and strew the semi dried tomatoes over. Add a side of spicy chorizo or sausages of your choice. Enjoy!

Chewy White Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies

Ever since getting hold of what I believe is the ultimate chewy cookie recipe, cookies have been flying out of the oven faster than I could get the oven to cool down. I am on a quest to experiment different combinations with this base cookie recipe and it has been going smoothly so far.

Because this recipe yields almost 4 dozen medium sized cookies, it has been difficult for Mr J and me to finish them. They are absolutely heavenly, but 4 dozen cookies is a bit too much for two stomachs. Enter the help of eager beaver family and friends who are willing (and able!) to be my guinea pigs. Oh yes my pretties, cookies out of the oven, cookies inside the tummies.

We celebrated Father’s Day this Sunday (today!) and seeing we were going to see Mr J’s family for lunch, I hatched a plan on using them as my guinea pigs. Cranberry and white chocolate is a combination I came across after eating millions of kilojoules of ChocolateSuze’s absolutely fantastic biscotti creations, and this worked so well with the chewy cookie recipe. It was also well received by the entire family, so much so that a second appearance of the white chocolate and cranberries were promised.

Cat’s Chewy Choc Chip Cookies*

Recipe adapted from Cat Juan Ledesma’s Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup caster sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

300g softened butter

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 eggs

4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cups chopped cranberries

500g white chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 180 deg C.

2. In a bowl, mix both sugars and butter until soft. Add vanilla and eggs and beat well. Beat in flour, baking soda and salt, and stir in cranberries and chocolate chips.

3. Using an ice scream scooper, scoop the batter on to a greaseproof baking sheet. Ensure there is enough room in between the scooped cookie as it will expand during baking time.

4. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Cookies may appear too soft at first, but will harden once cooled through. Enjoy!

To celebrate spending time with families, this Saturday 10th September 2011 the Powerhouse Discovery Centre at Castle Hill is holding an Open Day for “EAT History”. From knowing about recycling and the history of Vegemite to seeing the Junior Masterchef Top 12 Nick Lieurance cook, this is surely a fantastic way to spend your Saturday with your family.

Thanks to Powerhouse Museum Discovery Centre, Sugarlace is giving away a family pass to attend this fun-food-filled day at Castle Hill. Simply leave a comment and email on this post, and a reader will be randomly selected to receive the family pass on Wednesday 7th September 2011.

Many thanks to the Powerhouse Museum Discovery Centre 172 Showground Rd Castle Hill.

NB: The complimentary family pass is for entrance to the Open Day.