A random assortment of bits and pieces from the past few weeks…
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Making “Persian” Fetta for Christmas
I’ve found a great brand of Bulgarian sheep’s milk cheese. It makes deliciously creamy marinated fetta, and it’s available at Costco and Harkola for $10 per 900g…
Each box has enough cheese to fill three gift jars. I’ve added garden rosemary, halved pequin dried chillies, black peppercorns and new season garlic (which I fry very gently before popping it in the jar). It’s an easy and economical Christmas gift, providing you don’t eat it all first. Our original recipe can be found here.
I gave a jar each to Tania and Charlie when we had our girls’ lunch, accompanied by loaves of my nutty sourdough…
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Things I’ve Learnt about Dishwashers
1. Dishwashers use less energy and less water than handwashing. Sorry Maus! Here’s the study by the University of Bonn and the follow-up analysis by the folks over at Treehugger.
2. Don’t use dishwasher pellets – I’ve now had two Miele techs tell me that they cause problems in the machine. They’ve both advised sticking to powder and rinse aid.
3. Don’t use green cleaning products – Andy the dishwasher guy suspects that they shorten the life of the machine. Sadly, the environmental impact of having to buy a new machine years earlier than necessary far outweighs that of the detergent.
4. If your machine isn’t draining properly, check the non-return valve. In the Mieles, that’s the part with a rubber ball that stops the water flowing back into the machine – it needs regular cleaning and can be replaced easily (check Google) if necessary. Lovely Mo gave me this tip, and it saved us a $160 call out fee.
5. Our Miele wouldn’t stop draining after the water was cut-off (and turned back on again) mid-cycle. We fixed it by unplugging the machine and then carefully tipping it to one side slightly and letting the excess water drain out. I’m not sure whether that’s a recommended practice, so attempt it at your own discretion. (All care, but no responsibility taken on that one!)
6. Keep cockroaches out of your machine at all costs. They’ll eat the electronics and cost you a fortune in repair costs.
7. White vinegar is a much cheaper alternative to rinse aid and works just as well.
8. If you’re in Sydney and you need your Miele fixed, call Andy at A.D. Power Repairs. Apart from being a really nice guy, he’ll be absolutely honest with you – his focus is on fixing the appliance rather than selling you a new one!
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Easy Nibblies
Inspired by Man Finds Food (Adam Richman’s latest tv series), I dug out a box of frozen shredded pulled pork (it freezes and defrosts brilliantly) and paired it with a packet of wonton wrappers…
Each wrapper was filled with a spoonful of pork and folded into a tiny spring roll. A little cornflour in water helped to stick the edges down…
They only took minutes to deep fry and even less time for the boys to demolish them…
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Filled Focaccias
I’ve written about these so often that it seems redundant to post another recipe, but they do change every time, depending on what fillings I have to throw in. Last week my friend Johnny gave me a small pack of Jamón ibérico offcuts (regarded by many as the finest ham in the world). There was just enough to fill two slabs of focaccia, one for John and one for us…
Here’s our basic filled focaccia recipe – it’s a very easy way to whip up something quick for holiday entertaining!
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It’s only the end of November, but it’s already beginning to feel very festive! How are things going in your part of the world?
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
I’ve been using vinegar in the dishwasher for a while now with great results.
Looks like you have the gifts well under control!
Manuela, it really has started to feel very festive earlier this year – it’s very nice! I’m yet to start chocolate making in earnest though! :)
Yes, the Festive Factor is kicking in. The FFF.
That summary regarding dishwashers is a beauty- I’ll email Mr T as he is always on the lookout for dishwasher advice. Even though ours is an Asko, I am sure the same advice applies. I agree wholeheartedly regarding the economy of dishwashers versus handwashing. We are on tank water- it is really noticeable how much extra we use when the thing is having a little break down. Didn’t know that about the tablet things- will invest in the old time powder.
Francesca, that IS interesting to know, thank you. It’s nice when the uni research is based by actual real world experience. We on town water rarely know where our water goes and when.
I’ll have to try that filled focaccia recipe. And the vinegar tip as well! Hurray for the decried craft of Home Economics. It makes sense to always look for ways to do things more efficiently in the kitchen. <3 Happy Holidays, Maz
Maz, the filled foc works really well with all vegetarian ingredients – lots of cheeses and olives! :)
I agree, it does feel more Christmasy this year and it’s not because of the shops because I haven’t been there yet.
I’ve always used Finish liquid in my dishwasher because that’s what the crockery mfr recommended. It’s really expensive so I will be glad when the plates get too old to care. :)
I think it’s the blogosphere – personally I’m blaming Fran the Food Marshall and Becca the Intolerant Chef who are both gearing up for Christmas already! Oh and Costco and it’s giant singing Santas.. :D
You are such a gem of a friend, Celia… Charlie and Tania must have been so chuffed with their gifts. Love your idea of the feta… might adopt that once our home made version is ready to eat! Nope, it doesn’t feel festive here, just hot! Happy Sunday, love.
Lizzy, I hope they loved their gifts as much as I loved mine! Charlie baked the most gorgeous glace fruit cake for us, and Tania gave us amazing olive oil!
Thank you for the feta recipe, I’m going to Costco soon and will buy a couple tubs of the cheese, there are several friends who I know will enjoy your recipe.
As for a dishwasher, I’m one of those strange folks who likes washing dishes by hand, doing so actually relaxes me. Over the years I’ve had two dishwashers that eventually became storage cabinets of sorts with some articles being washed a dozen times. Your bread looks phenomenal, I just learned how to make very good ciabatta using the bread machine for kneading (then off to the oven). Must go, I have a big pot of pasta fazoo to attend to…. Thanks.
Gian, thank you! Hope you enjoy the feta! :)
I thought of you last week when Costco opened in Adelaide. I have been really interested to see what it was like so I went along as an observer (I had left my wallet home by accident). There were massive queues to register and it seems there may be a few expected teething problems to sort through but it certainly looks amazing and worth the membership fee. I am hoping that things will settle and that there wont always be those long queues.
Ha! I bet my friend Moo was in there jostling with the rest of them – he’s been excited to bits that Adelaide was getting a Costco! I find weekdays very civilized at Costco in Sydney, but the weekends continue to be insane!
Thanks for the tip..
That cheese is lovely isn’t it Celia? Great idea to do some delicious value-adding to such a yummy product. Great looking rolls too, my BigJ would love a big plateful. Glad there’s still a bit of life still left in the dishwasher, ours is juuust out of warranty so it has to behave xox
Becca, I’m so impressed with the fetta, I think it’s the best I’ve tried yet! And $10 for 900g!!
Wonderful ideas and tips. :)
Thank you! :)
Home made feta and sourdough! What a great Christmas gift!!!
It would be if I could stop eating it! And I’m a bit dairy intolerant so it makes me a bit crook, but I STILL can’t resist, as it’s delicious! :D
I use white vinegar as a rinse aid when washing my clothes and now I will add it to the dishwasher as well. Thank you. I love your marinated feta cheese.
Thank you! The vinegar has been working really well in our machine!
I have often wondered how you get the time to make all this amazing food in your kitchen… and it always looks so professional! Thanks for sharing! Liz x
Liz, that’s very kind of you, thank you! It’s easy to find the time – I’m just the world’s crappiest housekeeper, so I don’t spend time cleaning like my mother would want me to. :)
I’ll swap Rinse Aid for white vinegar from now on – one thing less to buy and probably better all round. Great idea on the pulled pork spring rolls Celia – not surprised they got wolfed down.
Nancy, we served it with hot chipotle sauce and it was literally all gone in minutes. Those kids of mine are wolves! :)
Adding the marinated feta idea to my recipe list for holiday goodie bags – thanks! I’ll start thinking seriously about that next week, after I’ve got Thanksgiving out of the way!
Hello lovely Nancy! Yes, Thanksgiving first, hope you had a most fabulous day!
Happy Thanksgiving Nancy! Hope it was/is fabulous! :)
Celia, do you just pour white vinegar into the rinse compartment of the dishwasher?
Misky, yes! We fill up the compartment with white vinegar as if it was rinse aid, if that makes sense.
Yep, makes perfect sense.
I love reading your posts – so focused on good food! I’d like to spend a holiday with you!
Ah Suelle, you’re kind, thank you! :) We’d probably spend all our time baking! :)
I had a fancy for making cinnamon rolls this morning and thought I’d see if you have a recipe (which of course you do) and found a whole load of posts that I’ve missed because they haven’t appeared in my reader for some reason. Lots to try now, especially that Irish Cream.
Apparently dishwasher powder blocks the pipes and drains so liquid is better. Definitely going to try the vinegar tip. Now to make those cinnamon rolls.
Annie, there’s a choc-orange version of the cream coming soon! :) Dishwasher liquid is quite hard to buy here – I wonder if it’s all to do with our water ph?
So much energy, so much going on! Love the vinegar tip…thanks :)
Thanks T, it’s that time of year! Hope you and Big Man are having a great one! xx
Celia, I just bought a tub of feta, Bulagarian feta, while out shopping with
My mom yesterday!! Not even kidding. Making marinated feta as well for gifts this year. And now I can pick your brain! How far in advance can I make them, to give away mid December? I’m also making Christmas museli paired with blueberry- vanilla jam, and using the pods for vanilla sugar.
It may only be November but it’s quite fun getting festive early! Glad to hear your dishwasher is working again too! Xo
Snap! (why am I not surprised? :)) I *think* the feta is good for at least a couple of weeks, providing you can keep them covered in oil. Blueberry jam! Yum!
Glad to hear you have sorted your dishwasher conundrums for the time being. Tell me, do you have food banks in Sydney? So disturbing to read that people don’t have enough to eat and feed their children with here in the UK.
Jo, not that I’m aware of, but there is an absolutely fabulous charity called Oz Harvest – Lorraine wrote about them a while back, and they do great work…
http://www.notquitenigella.com/2010/10/18/ozharvest-food-rescue/
Sterling advice about the dishwasher but my “dishwasher” works for dinner ;). Love that feta, you lucky thing being able to buy something that amazing for such a cheap price! Excellent idea for a gift as well. Sharing the love around ensures that the love will keep flowing. Talking about love, I LOVE this blog! :)
Fran, you are always so nice, thank you! I wish you had access to all the cheaper products too, but I guess you get to see flocks of herons in the morning! :)
Swings and roundabouts ;)
Great dishwasher tips. I love how versatile vinegar is, I use it for s many different cleaning methods. We are in the market for a new dishwasher relatively so
Soon and I can’t wait. Our washer does. It clean well. All of our appliances have broken over the years. Luckily I have a handy husband and he revives them. I keep joking he should start a blog for appliance repairs using parts bought on ebay! It has saved us a fortune! The cheese looks wonderful. I am not festive just yet. It is chaotic here with another birthday yesterday and Thanksgiving coming up.
Festivities start on Sunday when the tree goes up and the first candy cane can be unwrapped. Apart from that it’s been hot and so not much else has been done. I did learn yesterday what happens when you use butter instead of lard/bacon fat in the hamburger buns – edible but a bit crumbly! I saw you made an Irish Cream with Cointreau so I’ll give it a go with Cognac.
Jo, the Irish cream with Cognac might be amazing – please let me know how you go! :)
Love your Miscellany. I use white vinegar for rinsing-cleaning everything! But not recently in the dishwasher as the rinse aid door has stuck firmly shut! The repairman’s suspicions re green cleaning products are interesting. I use an eco product, so I’ll do some more investigating.
The Kebia Bulgarian sheep’s milk cheese looks familiar, I think it’s one I buy from a local grocer in Newtown. Next time I’m there I’ll look for it again.
ED, the cheese is a winner, they have a goat’s cheese version as well, but Pete won’t come within a bull’s roar of anything goat.
Thanks for the dishwasher tips! Legend. Surprised about the pellets – finish has “Miele approved” on the box!!
Oh isn’t that interesting! The Finish Power Pellets we have don’t have that on the packaging! Maybe the Costco packaging is different?
you really are the queen of bread baking!
Thanks Amy! Did your starter arrive yet?
I’m so pleased to have some of your homemade fetta. I haven’t tried it yet – I’m waiting for something really special. I didn’t know that about the pellets, nor the white vinegar – I’m going to fill the machine with white vinegar from now on. Those wontons look so good! xx
Charlie, it looked absolutely glorious on your salad! :)
I’d love a dishwasher. I’d love some decent shops within 2 hours drive and I’d especially love a friend that shares such delightful gifts. Hope they appreciate you! :)
Oh, and my cheese making lecturer used to say you can tell a good feta if it disappears when you rub a little into the heel of your hand.
Maree, how cool is it that you can type the words, “my cheese making lecturer”…it’s like you did a degree at university on it (please tell me that’s the case! :)).
Hi Celia, yes it was a uni course but only for a few weeks. It was an intensive for advanced home cheese makers looking at going commercial. I hope to get back into it if I ever get a flippin’ kitchen!
Love the dishwasher info – we’ve been having debates over ours since we bought our place in March!
Hope you figure out what works for yours! :)
I’m going to check whether mine are power pellets. Mine have that red ball in the centre. Is that what you mean?
Yep, any of the dishwasher pellets! According to the techs, best to stick to powder and rinse aid! :)
Thanks for the vinegar tip. I haven’t been using Rinse Aid as it’s just another expense. We have been having a dishwasher debate in our house. I stopped using organic and went back to liquid (whatever is on sale). Wonder if I should use the powder instead?
The stores here began pushing Christmas before Halloween – almost right after school started. This week is Thanksgiving and everyone is getting ready to go shopping on Black Friday. What a horror. So, not feeling very festive bah humbug. After Thanksgiving this weekend I’ll get more into the mood.
I don’t really know about the liquid vs powder debate – over here I’ve noticed that it’s mostly powder for sale and I do wonder if it has anything to do with the ph of the water we have here…
Maybe. My husband prefers the liquid its easier to just squeeze out and he thinks it leaves less residue. Thanks for replying! Ps a neighbor just told me to use vinegar as a rinse aid!
You always have such nice food gift ideas and manage to make them so presentable – love that cheese idea. Ah the dishwasher…it seems like sort of a love/hate relationship you have with your machine. I can see you rocking it though to drain the water (while using a little language).
Those pulled pork in wonton wrappers look terrific Celia – what is that dipping sauce you have in the middle of the plate?
Diane, it was Mexican chipotle barbeque sauce! True fusion food! And actually, I LOVE my dishwasher. We work it much harder than most people work theirs, and so I don’t begrudge it the occasional service! :)
It sounds like you really do use that dishwasher a lot. For just the two of us I probably only use mine one a week.