Cookbook Challenge American: The Frappuccino

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Hannah

For reasons that will become clear as you read the following post, I spent tonight going through photos from the American component of my travels last year. I thought it would be easy. It wasn’t. My throat and chest tightened with longing and then, as I came across a certain group of photos, I started crying. Rest assured, though, it was beautiful crying like you see in movies, not honking-red-nose-heaving-shudders crying like you see in real life. Yep. Luckily, I soon stumbled across this photo from my Diary of a Laundry Kerfuffle post. Quick as a flash, I was laughing instead of crying, because I can’t believe I walked around like that in public and then posted about it. Apparently, I have no shame.

I’m running late with my Cookbook Challenge posts at the moment. This is unfortunate, because I had grand plans to make a peanut butter extravaganza for last fortnight’s American theme. But then all that life business got in the way, and no extravaganza was extravaganzad. In the end, I recreated something quick, delicious, and which, in my mind, is very much intertwined with America.

The Starbucks Frappuccino.

I know, I know. Don’t look at me like that. It’s a guilty pleasure, and one I haven’t been able to indulge in for almost twelve months.

I first fell in love with the Starbucks Frappuccino in Charleston.

Wayfaring Chocolate, circa December 2009

I even defeated a snowstorm for Starbucks in Charlottesville.

Okay, that’s a lie. This was a Decaf Soy Cinnamon Dolce Latte, which is probably even less respectable than a Frappuccino.

And then I came back to Australia and, with no Starbucks in sight, tried my best to put the Frappuccino out of my mind. It worked, mostly. I happily sipped my unsweetened long blacks, only occasionally remembering what it was like to sit in a Starbucks a few blocks down from Times Squares, watching couples holding hands buy hot roasted nuts from a street stall.

I almost forgot the simple pleasure of having a certain music director (no, not Eric Dozier this time) walk to and from the Starbucks near my Coral Springs hotel to bring me a super-sweet caffeinated beverage when I woke up.

Occasionally. Almost. Until.

Until I bought my Vita-Mix, and found within its accompanying recipe book an item called “Vanilla Coffee Frappé”.

With a few slight amendments and a misjudgement about the amount of ice needed (my vegan Hannahbucks Frappuccino wasn’t very thick), I managed to nail the sweet, sweet icy coffee taste of my dreams.

Happy American Fortnight, y’all!

Vanilla Coffee Frappé, or the Vegan Hannahbucks Frappuccino

Serves 1
From The Vita-Mix Whole Foods Recipes Cookbook

Original Ingredients

3/4 cup double strength coffee, cooled
1 cup milk or soy milk
3 tb (45ml) vanilla syrup
2 cups ice cubes

My Adapted Ingredients

1 tb instant coffee granules
3/4 cup soymilk
3 tsp agave syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
ice, as needed

1. Blend in a blender. It’s so complicated I think I need a lie down.

A Recipe for a Night of Music and Happiness

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Hannah

Take:

1 x six-hour workshop

6 x two-hour rehearsals

1 x half-hour gig on the lawns of the Governor General’s house

1 x one-and-a-half hour day-before-the-concert rehearsal

1 x two-hour afternoon-of-the-concert soundcheck

60 x original Strange Weather Gospel Choir members

20 x Strange Weather Gospel Choir newbies (including me! *waves*)

1 x The Most Amazing Gospel Musical Director Ever, aka One Of The Most Amazing Men In This World, Eric Dozier

2 x just-baked vegan sunflower carrot muffins for a pre-performance energy boost (recipe to come)…

Throw in a handful of complex harmonies, four sure-to-give-you-shivers solos, laughter that makes your sides hurt, passion that makes your heart glow, one of your best friends sitting in the audience (whose delight when you find her afterwards makes you feel a thousand times more ecstatic), parents and grandparents who say they haven’t seen you shine so much with happiness in a long time, and candle-lit Earth Hour drinks with your fellow performers late into the night…

This is what you get:

A gospel concert comprised of song, stories, laughter, an audience that gets up on its feet to sing and clap along, performers who get teary when Eric Dozier sings them a surprise tribute song, new friends, and a feeling of joy and self-certainty that I never want to forget.

Sometimes, life can be wonderful.

P.S. Say hi to my wonderful new friend Libby, and to our shiny Strange Weather scarves! Libby has been an absolute pillar of support for me during these past few weeks of Big Decision Making, giving me advice and much-needed hugs at every rehearsal. It feels like we’ve known each other for years, not weeks. Thank you, Libby!

Chilli con Kangaroo-Carne Soup and a Friend from Forever

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Hannah

There is something uniquely wonderful about friends you’ve known for 80-100% of your life. I’m lucky enough to have several such friends, but today I’m going to tell you about Robert.

I’ll also tell you about the Chilli con Kangaroo-Carne Soup I made when Robert came over for dinner, but first I’ll explain why it makes me smile to have this fellow in my life.

Robert and I went through primary school, high school, college, and university together. In fact, we were in almost all the same classes throughout primary school and high school, which means we’ve racked up a goodly amount of shared memories. For example:

1. Robert saw me swan around as an incredibly bossy year six student determined to write and perform in various plays and musicals for school assemblies (I’m particularly proud of my musical about recycling), but he also saw me turn into a bit of a sadface hermit during years 11 and 12.

2. He forgave me for the time I pulled a chair out from under him as a joke, causing him to crack his head spectacularly hard on the wooden seat that was suddenly behind rather than under him.

3. I forgave him for the time I approached him and his new friends in year seven, and he told me to go away. (I’ll let you forget about that one eventually, Robert.)

4. In a moment of pure modesty in year two, Robert and I (along with my other friend in the photo above) formed a club called “The Smarties”. We told people the name referred to the chocolate lollies. That was only half-true.

5. He makes me laugh.

6. I think he’s awesome.

7. We both like to travel.

8. He’s keen for me to make him a crazy smoothie in my Vita-Mix, but he’s less sure about trying my raw food creations.

9. In year 10 I played Robert’s scorned lover in Oscar Wilde’s A Woman of No Importance, and I had to slap him with a glove during the final scene. I felt so guilty about doing so that I over-compensated, and ending up hitting him incredibly hard. I’m sorry, Robert.

10. He likes my cooking. A thousand points towards life for that one.

11. I think I’ll stop now. Otherwise, this will go on forever, and I’ve got a gospel performance to get ready for.

Chilli con Kangaroo-Carne Soup

Serves 2 (easily doubled)
Adapted from this Taco Soup recipe at Kalyn’s Kitchen

1 tb olive oil
1 small onion, chopped finely
1 clove garlic, crushed
300g kangaroo mince
2 cups beef stock
1 cup water, and more as needed
400g can chopped tomatoes
400g can mixed beans, drained
1 tb dried oregano
1 tb ground cumin
1 tb Mexican chilli powder
dash of cayenne
sour cream and grated cheese to garnish, and/or diced avocado, fresh coriander, and corn chips if you’re fancier than I am.

1. Heat oil in a heavy-based saucepan over medium-high heat, and cook the onion and garlic for a few minutes until softened. Tip in the kangaroo mince and cook, breaking up with a spoon or spatula, until browned through.

2.Add the stock, water, tomatoes, beans, oregano, and spices, and stir to combine. Bring the soup to the boil and then reduce heat, cover, and keep at a low simmer. The original recipe says to simmer for 45 minutes, but mine ended up simmering for about an hour and half. I added in a bit more water at the end, but the soup still ended up rather thick. Thick and delicious, I might add.

3. Serve hot with the toppings of your choice, preferably with a bottle of red brought by your long-time super-awesome friend and lots of laughter.

Bumblebees! (That was a lie.)

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Hannah

I have lots of delicious recipes to show you in coming days. Really, I do. Would you like a light and fluffy dessert? I’ve got your back. A meaty main? Certainly! Another magical nut butter? Why, of course.

I’m not talking about those delights today, though.

You see, I’m at a terrifying crossroads in my life and I honestly have no idea what to do. As you might guess, it’s related to my recent metaphorical story, but I think it might be a few days yet before I’m able to tell you everything.

The brother and I, about to get into fisticuffs over who is the better table tennis player. (A hint: it’s me.)

I can tell you these few facts, though (and show you random unrelated photos while I’m at it):

1. Tonight, on the phone with my BFF (talking about said crossroads), I shrieked because I saw a huntsman on the window right next to me.

However, it wasn’t a huntsman. It was the window lock. The window lock that has been in the exact same position on the exact same window for the exact same entire 10 months I’ve lived in this house.

I shall never again put non-sexy salad dressing on my lettuce.

2. Yesterday, I was looking for a bathroom in a new building. I followed the signs and, first, saw a door that read “Gents”. Then came a door that read “Cleaner”. After that, the door appeared with the word “Ladies” on it.

I thought: “How lovely, the cleaner gets his/her own bathroom!”

It was about four hours later that something in my brain clicked, and I realised that the “Cleaner” sign would have been for the cleaner’s closet, where all the brooms and disinfectants are stored. It wasn’t a special cleaner bathroom.

(Ooh, now I wish it really had been a cleaner bathroom, where “cleaner” means a place you don’t have to be scared of touching the door handle!)

Ah well.

Best morning tea snack ever.

3. It’s my gospel concert on Saturday! We have rehearsals on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, and today I rushed to the shops to get my costume sorted. First, I had to get my new black pants taken up because I don’t have Miranda Kerr’s legs. Second, I had to buy double-sided “fashion tape” because my new black top likes to turn me into a tramp by showing the world my bra when I’m not paying attention. Who knew gospel could be so expensive?

This is not the Tramp Top. This is the Frilly Top.

4. I think I have to go call my mum now. Crossroads beckon.

There’s Something You Should Know…

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Hannah

I have a new obsession.

I think about him all the time. When I walk to the shops, when I wash my hair, when I eat my daily doses (yes, plural) of chocolate. Regardless of what I’m doing, he’s there in my mind’s eye.

If I introduced you to him (and I will), the first thing you’d notice would be his golden crowning glory. You’d take note of the way the colours shift, depending on how the light strikes him at any given moment.

After that, you might be taken back by his sweetness and his malleability; how he whole-heartedly acquiesces to your every move. It seems like he wants to dissolve alongside you at the precise moment you sigh in ecstasy.

I have to warn you, though, that my new obsession isn’t all he seems. While his outside is all pure whiteness and sweetness and sparkles of gold, inside lurks a deep, dark, and mysterious heart. The kind of smoky, sultry, bad-boy heart that you find yourself needing to understand, cuddle, and then take into your very soul.

He’s like every teen romance novel come true.

Oh, and did I mention that my dad is the one who introduced me to him?

Meet Mr. Mochi. Mr. Black Sesame Vegan Mochi.

Goin’ to the chapel and we’re…

Gonna get ma-aa-aa-ried…

Goin’ to the chapel and we’re…

Gonna pick up a trillion packages of this at the Asian grocery store…

Sure, a fancypants food blogger would probably make these herself, from scratch, in the kitchen, with one leg tied behind her back (like a flamingo, don’t-cha know), and ancestral ghosts whispering advice from beyond the refrigerator.

But I’m a normalpants food blogger. And sometime I want to eat something delicious without getting my hands sticky in a mixing bowl first.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a bad boy with a heart of nutty black-gold to return to.

Wayfaring Chocolate

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Monthly Archives: March 2011