Ho ho snow?!

If you live in Sydney - or anywhere in Australia,

you've probably been feeling like we're experiencing a whole year of weather in the space of a week or two. 

One second it's sunny,

but the next you look out the window to see the clouds threatening rain.

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs sun/wind/rain/snow?

Who knows what to expect! I know I don't. 

Though I don't think it'll be ho, ho, snowing for us! (At least I hope not!)

One thing we do know is that Christmas is coming!

is anyone else feeling like it's coming at a ridiculously fast pace?!

One second it's November and then BAM! We're counting down the days til Christmas

One thing I've seen all over blog world is talk about how to act during the holidays.

What to eat, what not to eat, how to fit exercise into your holiday festivities etcetcetc.

I don't agree with people who think you should eat less leading up to the holidays 

so that you can eat more on the actual day

and to be honest, the last thing I want to be doing on Christmas day is going on a run! 

(Actually - let's make that anyday.. I can't run to save my life - i'll take a nice walk, thanks!) 

The holidays are a time for enjoying yourself with those you love

and who love you,

eating foods you don't eat every day

and laughing and having fun. 

Christmas isn't about stressing over the fact that your Aunt Olivia's potato bake has 10 billion calories,

so maybe you should choose that salad sitting by your Uncle. 

You don't put weight on in one day

but you do if you consistently eat badly. 

One piece of christmas pudding isn't going to make you gain 10 pounds and neither will two. 

The whole pudding? Well then it depends on how big it is :P 

It makes me so sad to see people thinking so much more about their waistlines

than what Christmas really means.

 For me christmas means:

being with my family

eating a cold lunch outside

swimming

my mum's Christmas pudding

seeing how happy my little cousins are when they open their presents

not being embarassed to wear the silly paper hats from Christmas crackers

Christmas ham

lazing about in the afternoon

giving back to those I love

showing love to yourself

cooking up a storm

listening to Christmas carols  

remembering the real reason why we're celebrating

and so many other things. 

On the weekend, my mum made her Christmas pudding.

The smell of mixed fruit soaked in brandy, brown sugar and spices wafted out of my kitchen

making me feel like Christmas really is coming. 

We've yet to put up our Christmas decorations - but the past weekend saw us putting up all of our Christmas lights outside.

The coloured light streaming in through my window is another Christmas reminder.

I know that so many people complain about Christmas shopping - but I love it! 

and best of all? WRAPPING PRESENTS!

If you need a professional present wrapper, I will happily apply for the job!

But do tell me -

what does Christmas mean to you?

do you have any Christmas traditions?

Sweet Saturday: I'm in a Jam.

Have you ever been so inclined to make something,

only to open the fridge or cupboard and find your missing some of the most vital ingredients?

I know I have, alot.

Yesterday I decided I was going to make scones.

Butter, cream, lemonade, oil - 

the thousands of different recipes left me confused as to which one to try.

Until I opened the fridge.

No butter.

No cream.

Because I was racing against time 

(read: the sun was looking like it was threatening to go back into hiding)

I decided to use a butterless and creamless recipe. 

Don't you agree these gorgeous jams from Anathoth were just SCREAMING for scones?

I was lucky enough to be sent their Three Berry Jam  and Cherry Berry Jam

I love good jams. 

I say good, because that's what they have to be.

I want them to taste real and homemade and have chunks of actual fruit.

I don't want to be eating something that's 99% sugar, 1% fruit. 

Now that I've gotten older and discovered real jam,

I love it with cream cheese on toast

or as a topping for oatmeal.

Anathoth's Three Berry Jam is a combination of strawberries, boysenberries and blackcurrants

and contains no preservatives, added pectins or colours.

The three berries combine to make a delicious jam that, like their pottles say 

"tastes just like homemade"

The Cherry Berry Jam is a new flavour for Anathoth,

It's full of juicy cherries and has a delicious flavour.

I'll admit, I was wary about this one. 

I looked at the label and thought about that horrible processed fake cherry flavour.

But my fears were soon relieved when I tasted the jam.

No fake cherry flavour in sight! Instead it was a delicious natural cherry flavour.

Just as it should be.

It's not quite as thick as the other jam because cherries are a fruit that is lower in natural pectin

but it's thick enough to spread on scones or toast - well, whatever you please really!

The Help! I'm out of Butter, scones recipe

2 cups of Plain Flour 

1Tbsp Baking Powder

1 1/2 Tbsp Sugar  

(you can use caster sugar or icing sugar - depending on what's at hand) 

1/4 tsp Salt

1 egg

1/4C Oil  

(Light flavoured oils like vegetable, canola or rice bran oil work best)

1/3C Milk 

1/4C Warm Water 

Preheat oven to 200*C (390*F)

In a large bowl sift flour and baking powder, add sugar and salt.

In a separate bowl, whisk together egg, oil, milk and warm water.

Add wet mix to dry mix and mix until just combined (adding a little extra water if required).

Turn dough onto a floured workspace and pat out until 2cm thick.

With a scone cutter (or the rim of a glass cup/tumbler) cut out scones.

Place scones onto a baking tray, allowing room for them to spread.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until risen and light golden in colour. 

So there you have it, 

A scone recipe for when you're in a butter-less jam.

I know I know, That was lame!

To get your hands on some Anathoth Jam, head to your local Coles, Woolworths or IGA store.

I promise you won't regret it! 

But do tell me,

What would be your ultimate morning/afternoon tea menu?

and Are you often caught without vital ingredients on hand? or are you more organised!

My mum's ultimate morning tea is exactly what you see above

hence why you're seeing it! 

I'm a fan of a summer morning tea, full of delicious summer fruit.

Kristy received Anathoth Jams courtesy of www.anathoth.co.nz

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Dip and dunk?

I love fresh crusty bread, real bread,

not what you find in the supermarket aisle.

For me, fresh crunchy bread demands olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

I can thank my Dad for that! 

So when I was sent some products from Guava Gourmet

I knew exactly what I was going to do with them!

I was sent their Caramelised Balsamic Vinegar which was sweet, full flavoured 

and perfect for dipping the bread into with some good quality olive oil. 

I also used it as a salad dressing and it was brilliant!

The sweet flavour of the Caramelised Balsamic would also lend itself to strawberries or sweet foods as well!

I'm thinking about using it in a Blueberry Chocolate Cake to add a depth of flavour.

I was also sent their Garlic Dukkah

for those of you who don't know, Dukkah is a blend of seeds, nuts and other flavourings and it can be used as a topping for salads or a crust for meat - among other things. 

For me, it was a perfect compliment to the crusty bread with oil

and I just sprinkled some on top of the bread.

I loved the crunch of the dukkah and am definitely going to use it again in the future in salads to add texture and flavour. 

And I think it will make a perfect topping for garlic bread or garlic pizza!

For me, dipping bread into olive oil always reminds me of my Dad

and it's still something we indulge in together!

I love how food can bring people together and create good memories! 

So tell me, 

Is there a certain food that brings back memories to you? 

You can also get your hands on some of these delicious products! Head on over to Guava Gourmet's Website to check out their list of stockists

Who knows, maybe you could start a tradition too! 

Oh and thank you to my Dad!

for introducing me to delicious foods

and reading my blog :)

Kristy was sent these products courtesy of Guava Gourmet,

if you'd like a review of your products - send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

069.

Yummy Hot Cross Buns from Brasserie Bread

I lovee easter, It's my second favourite eating holiday..

After christmas of course. 

As a child it was because I knew I would get tonnes of yummy easter eggs

But now as I'm getting older I get more excited over hot cross buns and good friday feasts

(But the chocolate still excites me, I am a chocoholic afterall)

Hot cross buns are my breakfast of choice over the Easter period.
The hot cross buns from Brasserie Bread are delicious

and totally different from the Baker's Delight ones I reviewed last week

Which means when I get sick of one I can always switch to the other.

win win eh?

Every Good Friday my family holds a Good Friday seafood feast,

following the tradition of not eating meat on Good Friday.
Every creature that comes out of the ocean (almost) is set out on big silver platters.

I don't eat seafood but I love the atmosphere,

having a whole heap of family and friends around talking and sharing food 

and generally having a good time. 
Plus, there's always lots of other food.

Then Easter sunday comes and I get easter eggs!

(Mind you, I've already been eating them since they came out in stores

but an excuse to eat more is fine in my books!)

I no longer have the easter egg hunts that my six year old self waited all year for,

but I'm still convinced that easter eggs taste way better than normal chocolate.
Especially kinder suprise easter eggs! 

So now I want to know something about you, 

Does your family have any easter traditions?