I Survived Blogopolis '11

I came. I "squee"d. I heard Problogger speak. I have just been Blogopolised.

As I braved the early morning Melbourne chill (so that's where winter's been!) to be ever-so-slightly late for my pre-conference coffee date with Zoey, I wondered what the day would hold. Having never been to a blogging conference before, but pleased to be in an environment where my incessant tweeting would actually be considered normal, I figured nothing but good could come of this trip.

I learned so much in one short day - that Melbourne definitely wants me to come live there, that you will miss out on an awesome lunch if you don't follow Jeroxie, and if you don't own an iPad, you'll be devastatingly envious of those who do.  

I love blogging, and I love being around like-minded people. To absorb their collective energy and knowledge in one room in one day was like absorbing a roomful of owls. Super-wise and all-knowing, and some really feathery.

The future of blogging in Australia is big, and it's exciting. We're influential, we're interesting, we're funny and we are here to stay. We love to write, we love to connect, we love to read. Most of us also like chocolate. And goody bags. And chocolate in the goody bags. 

I was really proud to represent FOODO, my sponsor, on the day. It's exciting to find businesses, companies, brands and people that are on the same (web) page as you. It also doesn't hurt that I want to buy pretty much half their online store stock. 

The future is so bright for all of us that want to be a positive part of this new media. 

Our plane was delayed an hour and a half. I also forgot to check in the bags under my eyes. Not a good start.

Sitting with people you've only ever chatted to online is a real blast. Especially when they turn out to be seriously gorgeous, hold your baby for you, make you laugh and make you feel at home.

Zoey's Squishy and my Veggie Baby are old hat at this blogging baby business, after hanging out together at Bloggaroke in Sydney last month and Blogopolis now. And no, we didn't pose them - they just immediately hold hands when put anywhere near each other. Adorable much?

 So impressed that Nuffnang also organised a rainbow for us! Good work guys :)

And at the end of the day, when you can bask in the glow of a day well spent, and you're not finished tweeting yet; you can throw on your PJs, eat good food, watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire with your best mate and rifle through the goody bags. No, just me? ...awkward.

Decadent Chocolate Mud Cake

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It is a truth universally acknowledged that all home cooks should be armed with a good mud cake recipe.  Even me, someone who isn't much of a fan of cake. To me, they're too cake-y (heh), oftentimes dry and lacking in flavour. I also didn't find mud cakes all that palatable - too dense, usually served cold (a travesty!) and weirdly textured. 

My husband said to me one day recently "so... you should probably do a chocolate mud cake for your blog", wink wink nudge nudge, so to appease him, I did. But it had to be something I wanted, so it had to be made with very little flour. I wanted sort of a cross between a pudding and a cake - no ghastly dry tasteless bits. A flourless chocolate cake with flour, if you will.

I also needed an excuse to wear my super-cute Smitten apron I had won through a promotion Liss from Frills in the Hills was running on Pinterest. If you've never been to Pinterest, stop what you're doing immediately and go look. It's porn for anyone with eyes and a house. 

Welcome to the Veggie Mama kitchen.

 Cutified x 1000 thanks to Smitten apron.

Sure I grease my tins with whole blocks of butter... don't you? ;)

Inspected and approved.

Even by the humans.

Ingredients
200g butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 eggs
250g best-quality cooking chocolate
1/4 cup self-raising flour

Ganache:
150g cooking chocolate
3-4 tbs cream

Method:

1. Cream butter and sugar.

2. Add eggs, one at a time.

3. Melt chocolate and add to the mix with the self-raising flour.

4. Bake at 180C oven for 45-50 minutes.

5. When cool, ice with ganache.

Ganache:

1. Melt chocolate with cream. Add more cream if chocolate is too thick.

We're fond of putting this in the microwave... then serving it with ice cream. Yep.


*Disclaimer - I am in no way affiliated with Smitten. I simply loved their products and was lucky enough to win one. They are awesome and you should check them out. They make candles too! 

Caption Competition

Ok so I've just been made aware of the existence of this photo from my wedding nearly four years ago.

I have never seen it before, and I honestly have no idea what I'm doing in it.

It, however, amuses me endlessly and I can't help but giggle every time I look at it. And I believe it is crying out for a caption but I'm not feeling particularly creative at the moment. And I'm not half as funny as you guys anyway, so I want to hear what you have to say!

Best caption (i.e. the one that makes a Tena Lady necessary) gets a random $10 gift card I have in a kitchen drawer somewhere. Buy yourself something nice.

Competition will close on Friday, July 29 at 9am. (The day before Blogopolis!)

Enjoy!

Why I Hate Vegetarians.

And before you go all "how dare you generalise! We're not all like that!", be assured I know we're not all like that. I am one. But I'm also well aware that vegetarianism and vegetarian food gets a pretty bad rap, and sometimes with very good reason.

Let me back up a ways.

I have recently been re-reading the columns of my very favourite food writer (and one of my favourite writers full stop), A. A. Gill. This man could make Gordon Ramsay cry with his acid tongue and withering reviews. Never have I read such stunning descriptions of either how delicious or how disgusting something is. The man is a maestro of the metaphor, the samurai of the simile. I hate how well he writes, because it makes me never want to pick up a pen again, for I know I'll never be as good.

I read with great trepidation his column on vegetarianism. Sometimes I can get a little defensive when someone belittles us (but bacon is so delicious!), but I rarely say anything in our favour. Live and let live, I say. I know how annoying vegetarians can be, and I know how gross tofu sounds. And is. So I was nodding along as I read, amazed at how perfectly he captured the feeling of most carnivores to us poor lentil-lovers.

"Vegetarian cooking is, it need hardly be repeated, unremittingly vile." Um, yes - it can be. Ever picked up a pre-2000 veggie cookbook? They're full of baby-poo-coloured sludge and boiled armpit hair. true story. Thankfully, we've come a long way.

"'Ah...' I can hear the frail, ululating voice of a wan and flaccid woman, lying exhausted on a sticky chaise longue. 'You just haven't had any good vegetarian food. You should try my mixed-pulse cheesy bake.'" It's true! They do try to convert you with their "special" dish. Which, to a meat-eater is missing a massive slab of flesh to make it palatable. Even I blanch at the chickpea curry offered at work as the veg alternative to the other meaty lunches. Who in their right mind wants to eat a chickpea curry? Lentil pasta bake? Not I, said the fly.

When visiting a vegetarian restaurant on Christmas ("it would be mercilessly free from conspicuous fun and gratuitous enjoyment"), Mr Gill described the smell as the "round, mushy, slightly acidic odour of sanctimonious worthiness". There are some vegetarians that do think they're one up on the general populace because they forgo eating a tortured animal's fear-ridden flesh. The rest of us nibble at a bit of cheese guiltily and know we're no better than anyone else. "Vegetarians aren't big on presentation, everything looks as if they've got a bulimic hippo as a food taster." - *ahem* chickpea curry *ahem*.

"My Moroccan potato casserole was a textbook dish. You might like to make it at home to insult the neighbours."

"I noticed that vegetarians are all marked by their extremities. They have double helpings of freeform set-aside hair, which they arrange in exuberant abstract patterns, and their shoes are cunningly cobbled so that, if need be, an extra pair of feet may be inserted. They also all sniff fruitily." I have seen people like this. And yes they were eating a toasted mung bean burger with sprouts.

But for all our foodie faults, vegetarians are pretty cool. We eat what we want and if you don't like it you can bite us. Or perhaps you can try some of my veggie Mexican lasagna, you'll love it. *sniff*.

My Scones + Adriano Zumbo = World Domination

Or almost, anyway.

I have entered these babies into the Lurpak Challenge - Strawberry Pop Tart Scones.

mmmm Pop-Tarty. Recipe here

Anyhow, If I make it to the top 55 with the popular vote, they will then go through to other rounds to be judged by Adriano Zumbo. Yes, that guy. In the words of 2010 Masterchef winner Adam Liaw: Adriano Fricken Zumbo.

I could also win $1500.

I could also get my very own recipe cards at Woolies. With my little Veggie face on them. I like this.

If you could please vote for me here - I'd be super grateful. No personal info, no facebook likes, no nastiness (ahem Bonds Babies, anyone?) just a vote and some love. Then my Pop Tart Scones and I can rule the world.

Meet FOODO - My Blogopolis sponsor!

Organic Pear Vanilla Biscuits.
Triple Cream Farmhouse Cheese.
Cinnamon Honey.
CHOCOLATE DRINKING FONDUE.

Yes.

CHOCOLATE DRINKING FONDUE.

Online gourmet food market FOODO has joined forces with me to get this fondue, and other decadent delicacies, in your face and in your mouth.

FOODO's mission is to bring a little of the Barossa, Byron Bay, the Hunter Valley, to you. Sad you've run out of the jam you bought from Beechworth the last time you were through there? FOODO probably has it. If not, there'll be another taste treat for you to discover.

With only the best Australian growers and producers on board, FOODO is the conduit through which you buy your gourmet goodies from independent producers.

And they home-deliver.

Pretty cool, huh?

I don't know about you, but I'm all about ordering things from the internet that I wouldn't normally have access to locally, and having it arrive on my doorstep like a postal Santa Claus. By postal, I mean more "Newman from Seinfeld", and less "gone crazy". Huh.

Stuff like this:

Yes, that's Raspberry and Coconut handcrafted Rocky Road.

Brittle ahoy!

Developed by two Sydney food enthusiasts, Daniel Felice and Ruth Reilly, the online store aims to bridge the gap between smaller gourmet players and passionate food-lovers who appreciate fresh, quality, handmade produce.

FOODO is much like a virtual Farmer's Market - one is invited into the world of the producer, and the people behind the product. The site also encourages sharing with them your own gourmet discoveries, building a sense of community.



And if you happen to be a producer, FOODO will do your sales and marketing, give you an online shopfront and not charge you a thing for set up or joining.

So give them that wonderful blogopshere welcome we're so famous for, and check out their goodies for yourself. You'll see more of them when when you see me at Nuffnang Blogopolis on Saturday, July 30 in Melbourne!

They're on facebook here.

They're on Twitter here - hello!

Lurk their blog here.

Or email them at [email protected]

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to make room for the 87 packets of fondue I'm going to buy...

See something delicious you want for your very own? FOODO is giving my readers 10% off! Use the coupon code VEGGIEMAMA at the checkout. Something for everyone!

Fourth of July Coney Island Hot Dogs and a Cherry Coke Float

This is what I was doing this time last year - watching the fireworks over the National Mall in Washington, DC.

I could feel the heat rising through the blanket I on which I was sitting from the concrete below. It had been a super-hot day, the news stations and papers filled with pictures of children sitting in buckets under hoses, and talk of record-breaking temperatures. I had presented my sweaty face to the Lincoln Memorial,

Mr Lincoln, Mr Lincoln!

I had gotten up close and personal with President Obama,

I had watched the annual Independence Day parade along Constitution Avenue - lots of marching bands, baton-twirling and giant-helium-balloon-holding.

I had waded through a throng of patriotic people to be that guy that gets their photo taken with the White House. I also nearly got my head taken off when I stepped a toe outside the barrier keeping people on the sidewalk. At least I wasn't part of the crew getting their photo taken with the back of the President's house...

I had sought refuge in the cool interior of the United States Holocaust Museum, and I had stood on the steps right where Dr Martin Luther King, Jr made his "I Have a Dream" speech. I had looked out over the Reflecting Pool and had visions of Jenny splashing into it in search of Forrest Gump.

Forrest!

 I had also watched the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island on TV from a food court earlier that day (54 hot dogs in 10 minutes, people!), and it was that memory that made me decide what to make to help celebrate this year.

We eat a lot of hot dogs in the Veggie Household - they're one of the few mock meats we truly like. Our concoctions usually consist of ketchup, mustard, onion, pickles, relish and cheese. Occasionally we have chili dogs, and occasionally I like to branch out and try something new on my poor guinea pig husband.

This year I decided on Coney Island Hot Dogs, which are very specific in their preparation. We couldn't help but doctor them up somewhat, although I've made them here in their original veggie form.

Not actually made in Coney Island, but in Michigan, the hot dog is topped with a beanless chili, a strip or two of yellow mustard, and lots of chopped white onion.

And it is good.

Especially when you add extra ketchup and cheese...

And a Cherry Coke Float.

Happy Fourth of July!

 To make the chili:

Heat one 300g packet veggie mince with one can diced tomato and 1/2 cup water. Add 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander, a sprinkle of cinnamon, basil and as much chili powder as you want. Add a crushed veggie beef stock cube. If it is still too soupy, you can thicken it with a teaspoon of cornflour in a tablespoon of hot water.

To make the float:

Ice cream. Cherry Coke. Mix.

Desert Island Discs - my castaway kitchen tunes

When I had some crazy insomnia in my latter stages of pregnancy, I was too big, fat and lazy to get out of bed and be useful. It was 4am, I was over-tired, and all I wanted to do was sleep. I've heard of people getting up and cleaning, baking, organising baby clothes - not me. I chose to lay there with my eyes closed and have something that required minimal effort to entertain me.

After Veggie Baby was born, I publicly thanked various cereal manufacturers, ALDI icy poles and the Apple iPod for getting me through the nine-month slog. Without podcasts to listen to in the dead of night, and even when I was too tired to exist after 32 weeks, I would have been one very sad panda. And I was already crying at Huggies ads, so the whole thing would be a ghastly disaster.

One of the podcasts I listened to and loved was BBC Radio's Desert Island Discs. Each week since 1942, a celebrity guest has been asked to choose eight pieces of music, a book, and a luxury item to see them through a solitary stay on a desert island. They chat about their lives and loves and the music that they can't live without and it is all terribly fascinating. And it got me thinking - If I was trapped in a kitchen for let's say, the next eighteen years (not unreasonable for a mum, right?), what would be the music that would ensure my sanity?

Veggie Mama, welcome to Desert Island Discs.

Track 1: Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd.
Apparently quite the popular choice. It's quiet and dreamy and you can get lost in it... the days will be long on this desert island, and I'm assuming I'll be doing a lot of daydreaming. This is the perfect soundtrack to that.

Track 2: Linoleum - NOFX.
It's my favourite song of this surprisingly wordsmithy punk band. It's a little bit of nonsense for when I'm in a good mood and want to sing about metal detectors.

Track 3: Cleaning out My Closet - Eminem.
I'm certain there will be times when I will be furious I'm stuck on a desert island alone. There is no better song to sing along to when you're in a rage. It'll be the equivalent of a screaming fly-kick into a palm tree to release pent-up aggression. So cleansing!

Track 4: Pork and Beans - Weezer.
It is impossible to still be angry about anything in the world after listening to this song.

Track 5: In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 - Coheed and Cambria.
One of my favourite songs from my favourite band. Will also be useful in an anthemic way if I am ever under attack and need to wage war against an unseen enemy. You can make a battlestation on the beach, right?

Track 6: You Were Always on My Mind - Elvis.
I used to listen to Elvis in the kitchen when I was a little Veggie. My ma always had music on when she was cooking, and Elvis was my favourite. I still remember sitting on a benchtop looking out a window and bawling my eyes out to the song "Don't Cry Daddy"... I was seven, and it was DEVASTATING. I was quite a serious child!

Track 7: My Life - Billy Joel
When I've got a little bit of attitude and I want to stick it to the man, I'll play this one. Always guaranteed to take me to my happy place.

Track 8: Holiday - Madonna
Celebrate! With this and my luxury item, I'll have a blast on the desert island.


I have received the Bible and the Complete Works of Shakespeare for my trip, and am allowed to bring one more. I choose War and Peace, as I'll finally get the time to read it all!

My luxury item will be ice-cold pina coladas. With a little umbrella.

So have at it - what would be your choices for a castaway kitchen playlist?