The aussie pear cookbook.

I was sent this lovely cookbook last week. It is the second from Australian Pears, the industry body for aussie pear growers, to motivate and inspire Aussie cooks to use more local produce. It worked with me!

I made this delicious Caramel and Pear ice cream yesterday from the cookbook. I used Beurre Bosc pears(they are the brown ones) I had bought on our big shopping day earlier last week. It's the first time I have made my own ice cream and it was more than delicious. It was ridiculously delicious!

I also poached a pear and made a cream sauce from the poaching liquid! In the name of taste testing I had this for breakfast this morning. Bloody yum! Served with my apple cake, which you could also make with pear puree. Substitute the apple and quince for pear.

You never know what could happen in the day, best to have dessert for breakfast!

As of the 7th July you can get yourself a copy for free, with any purchase of a kilo pears from Woolworths. After the 28th July, it will only be available from selected retailers for $12.95.

Within it's pages, are 66 delicious recipes along with beautiful and mouthwatering photography(and isn't that the best thing about cookbooks!). Aussie chefs and cooks including Guy Grossi, Maggie Beer, Stephanie Alexander and Fast Ed have contributed their best pear recipes ranging from breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner and desserts. 

Pears are rich in fibre, which can lower cholesterol. They are low GI, offering longer lasting energy, helping keep blood glucose levels in control.

Pears will ripen naturally in the fruit bowl(where mine go straight to) and when they are ripe, store in the fridge to keep them fresher for longer. 

To ripen a pear quickly, place them in a brown paper bag with a banana. This goes for any fruits, the banana emits a natural gas that hastens ripening. If pears become too soft, add them to soups or smoothies for extra richness.

You'll find more information and delicious recipes at the Australian Pears website or on their Facebook page.

I suggest you get yourself down to Woolies, grab a kilo and nab yourself a cookbook(while they are free!). Even for the $12.95, it is great value, a fantastic recipe book.

Just like a chocolate paddle pop....only homemade

You know when you get invited to a tupperware party, and you look for the cheapish things that you think you might use. These icy tups were one of the things I ordered that I thought I might use. I bought them almost a year ago. I have used them, with a recipe containing jelly a couple of times. I don't know how but I managed to lose one along the way too, god knows where, Izzy probably discarded it somewhere in the garden, never to be seen again. It's always after the fact, you see them somewhere for much cheaper in the shops, I'm such a sucker. I keep telling myself, they are worth it though because you can put the cup upside down on to the handle and it catches the drips. That's all good til they tip it up all over themselves!

I came across this recipe the other day. With the weather warming up, I thought I'd better getting my moneys worth from them, instead of cluttering up my junk draw. 



                             Chocolate Ice Creams

2 cups milk

2 tblsp sugar

1 tblsp cocoa

1 tblsp cornflour

 Bring the milk to the boil. Whisk in the sugar, cocoa and cornflour, stirring continuously until the mix thickens.Pour into moulds and freeze until solid.

Add ice magic

Devour!!