2014 Photos

Finally got some photos uploaded from this year.  They are at "http://www.eh-team.net/photos/2014/index.html"

Palmyra Drag Race

I have just uploaded a new video to YouTube. Palmyra Drag Race: I decided to take my bike out to the drag races just to see how fast it was. My best time in the quarter mile (400m) in 14.461 seconds at 92.35mph (148km/h).

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Cherry jam!

Cherries are in season and thus on sale for approximately 5 minutes in the year in Queensland. I was fortunate enough to be at the grocery store during this time, and so grabbed as big of a bag as possible.  They are so good fresh, but I also made some cherry-berry jam tonight.

3 cups fruit
3 cups sugar
1tbsp of lemon or lime juice
1 pkg of pectin

Combine and heat until boiling vigorously for 5-10 minutes. Ladle into prepared jars. Process for 10 minutes.

One of the best sounds in the world is your jam jar lid popping down due to the right vacuum seal. If not heard, process again, or put the jam straight into the fridge and eat within a few weeks.
Yum.

Interestingly,  this would not qualify as jam by Canadian law, as it is only 50% sugar, and a minimum of 60% is required for that label. Otherwise it is labelled "fruit spread". 

New digs

We are moving the end of June. It is a brand new house (we will be the first renters). It is in the suburb of Blacks Beach.

Property Photos

Big Load

I have just uploaded a new video to YouTube. Big Load: Met this truck while driving back from Coppabella today.
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McGuyver'd Puffed Wheat Squares

Sometimes recreating the tastes of the "Old Country" is difficult due to the materials just not existing here. Prime examples are Jet-puffed style marshmallows (the marshmallows in Australia don't make Rice Krispie squares at all. Just a marshmallow lump. Blech.), canned pumpkin pie filling and White Cheddar Mac and Cheese. We were fortunate to stumble onto OCanada.com.au and thus have (expensive) access to some of our faves for a treat. The other day we ran into A&W rootbeer at the local IGA and bought every can on the shelf.
We are doubly fortunate to have my parents send me care packages of Tim Hortons coffee (my weakness) CoffeeCrisp and Twizzlers. Rob's mom also sends regular Twizzlers (Rob's weakness)!

Then there is innovation where you are. I love Asian grocery stores. I recently checked out the one on Victoria street- and they had PUFFED WHEAT, labelled as "Korean cookies". So I had to make puffed wheat squares.  The corn syrup was sourced from an Asian/Italian grocery (Right next to an Indian grocery- I adore that mix!) on Shakespeare St. here in Mackay.
 Et Voila! Puffed wheat squares. Om nomnomnom.

Recipe:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/3 cup of corn syrup
3 tbsp cocoa powder (more dependent on your taste)
1 tbsp vanilla
mix in the bottom of a large-ish pot. Bring to a good rolling boil.
remove from heat
add 5 ish cups of puffed wheat and toss to coat. Press into an 8"x8" pan (use baking paper to line ahead of time). Let cool. slice and eat! YUM.