TALES FROM THE ROAD PART 2

THANK YOU TO YOU

Typical flower posy from Hobart - for you
photograph cMichelle Crawford

The new addition to my family.... photograph cMichelle Crawford

Bruny Island Jonquils photograph cMichelle Crawford

I'm back home, and rather than give you a big ramble about it all, I'll just show you. In a 2 month travel around Australia with the new book "Wholefood Baking - Wholesome Ingredients for Delicious Results", there were so many highlights. If you are reading this and you are not here, it's because I couldn't fit it all in. I was worried you might not even get through all the photo's I felt I simply HAD to put here... this is a THANK YOU to you, and flowers for you. In between all of the events below were the wonderful Thermomix classes - I have met so many people who have touched my life. I'll do a whole one on the Thermomix classes next... 

This blog takes up from when I got back to Sydney, then to Melbourne, Tasmania and Adelaide...

Sydney......

With WNCTP graduates Jessica Kenney (2012) and Angie Cowan - wonderful women both - you can find Jess here

Talented photographer Jess Kenney took this shot and I think she caught me at moment that I was thinking (just before everyone arrived) - wow, this has been a long, tough climb to the top of this mountain. I think I can relax a bit and enjoy the view....a 'be here now' kind of moment What this means for me (enjoying the view) is not being so worried about what has to be done, that I have time to enjoy the moment and meeting and talking with you.

On a freezing cold morning with dearest friend Holly Davis and Angie, as Angie presented her first Wellness Woman Breakfast. She did an amazingly delicious, professional and inspiring job - I am so very proud of Angie. You can find Angie here and her Wellness Woman here. Loved meeting Nicole Walsh, co founder of Body, Mind, Life Yoga in Surry Hills, and Vanessa  Megan Gray, owner of Vanessa Megan Natural and Organic Skin Care Company.

Who said porridge was boring? Couldn't resist including this - a snapshot of winter wholegrain porridge options - from the Meals for Everyday and Surviving the Busy Days class in Sydney. Everything in the same bowl... Poached Vanilla Bean Quinces (variation of the recipe in Wholefood Baking) Baked Rhubarb (recipe in Coming Home to Eat) , Honey/Cinnamon and Vanilla Seed Labne (recipe in Wholefood for Children and Coming Home to Eat and Wholefood Baking) Pumpkin and Cinnamon Amaranth (a make up) Vino Cotto Winter Compote of Dried Fruits (variation on the recipe in Wholefood Baking) Caramelised Apple, Kefir Cream (Recipe in Wholefood for Children and Wholefood Baking) and Ghee (Recipe in Wholefood for Children)

Favourite Dinner - left overs. Lamb Neck and Oat Stew (from Wholefood for Children) with mash parsnip/potato with garlicky brussels sprouts... eaten at Holly's place after the Nourishing Young Children and those with Intolerance......was delicious.

Melbourne....

The universe sending me a love message - look at all this glorious pink vintage china.... in a church hall cupboard.....!!!!!!!

Found my twin...at the Williamstown Thermomix Class ... same birthdays...:)

Family Time - Nessie flew over for a long weekend, here she is with Zac getting the fire started, just before a big family dinner.... 

With Allison and Gemma - two amazing young women from Bendigo who have cooked every recipe from the first three books. I loved Allison talking about how her taste buds have changed and she can now tell good food when she tastes it. So, so loved meeting these inspiring young women.

An oldie but a goodie - the Pistachio Buckwheat Pudding from Coming Home to Eat... here made with Full Cream Milk. The recipe calls for soy, but I would most likely use home made Almond and Coconut these days. 

Baking on a cold winter Melbourne morning in my jammies, for a morning tea at Fran's school

The lovely, sparkly Meg Thompson from My Wholefood Romance. Meg just about cracked me up at the Melbourne Launch when she asked me " What is this amazing icing that is changing my life - AS WE SPEAK ?!!" That's it below.....

Coconut Palm Cake with Coconut and Cream Cheese Frosting with Lime Drizzle Syrup  (this is the one from Hobart, but the picture was so lovely I used it ! Photograph cMichelle Crawford)

Family, Dear Friends and Adopted Family - from left - my wonderful cousin Fran (the one that Wholefood Baking is dedicated to), Peter and his wife Julie (in the pink top) and the beautiful Delia. At the Melbourne Launch.

Launceston and Hobart....

Oh, Oh what a lovely surprise !!!! 

Be still my beating heart - Holy Moly, all cafes (Blue, in Launceston) should stock organic milk. I felt spoilt having Elgaar and from glass bottles.  

Jeanie came and joined me in Tassie to help with the logistics and launch - lots of road trips !! 

Drove through Oatlands and stopped at Companion Bakery lunch and met the  Graham the baker - he generously invited us to see the bakery and wood fired oven and spent some time chatting to us. Hands down the best sour dough I have ever had.

Companion Bakery Spinach and Cheese Tart - best i've ever had...we started off with 1, ended up with 3. 

"But I want them"...... step away from the beautiful china Jude, you can't fit them in your luggage....I'm not telling you where, because I still might get them....

Thank goodness for Pidgeon Hole (Hobart) .. Bluebirds of Happiness flying over the cup of coffee. This is one of the best little breakfast snacks I've seen anywhere. For our road trip.

The Country Womens Association still flourishes in Hobart... love the Tea Cosy Window.

The wonderful Michelle Crawfords' kitchen in Huon Valley. Michelle so kindly emailed me and said, "What can I do to help" ? and opened up her home to me so I could cook for the Hobart launch. You can read more about the Hobart launch (and see Michelles beautiful photos) here..  You will love her blog, and Michelle.  I did, and can't wait to go back.

Busy, busy cooking in Michelles' gorgeous kitchen..... 

Jeanie and I in the left pic, Michelle and I in the right pic....

Setting out afternoon tea for the Hobart Launch. Was a freezing cold, snowy Saturday afternoon, warm and snuggly inside Fullers Bookshop. Perfect afternoon tea weather. Photograph c Michelle Crawford.

Banana and Coconut Dairy and Gluten Free Cake (from Wholefood Baking). Photograph c Michelle Crawford 

Michelle Crawford, myself and Jeanie at the Hobart Book Launch. I was not game enough to wear my launch dress, and went for woolies instead....

Michelle makes preserves under the Apple Town label - she gave me a jar, but it didn't last... got eaten with the Companion Bakery Bread and Ashgrove Butter.

After the launch, Jean and I visited the lovely Sally Wise at her farmhouse and cooking school. We met Sally a couple of years ago at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival - she is such a generous, down to earth person. She and husband Rob warmed us up, made us a glorious ploughman's lunch and a particularly delicious apple and quince slice. This is Sally's latest books - she is the queen also of the slow cooker and traditional preserving. You can find Sally (and her classes) here...

Onto the Farmers Market, where we met Paulette from Provenance Grown... farming is where it all starts...it was such a joy to meet these guys... we need more banners, proudly flying in the wind saying "Uhooo, we grow real food" ....you can find them here... 

Adelaide....

Cooking in the tundra at the Organic and Sustainable Markets, Henley Beach. These are the Oat and Barley Peach and Nectarine (we did with currant and apricot) Scones from the new book...

With the beautiful Joanne Hayley, who organised the class at the markets. I had been referred to Joanne by a friend, and when I asked if she could help me organise something in Adelaide, she was  - " yes, of course, what can I do". She is also another just about twin... I love this picture, cold, rainy, windy but we did it... you can find Joanne here... 

As I said, cold, windy, rainy but they came - was a fab morning....thank you to those who came out...