A Party of Turkeys

I've tried to make blogging a consistent thing for me, especially with new goals for the upcoming year to stay focused on projects and commitments, but it turns out that stress and things going on really do get in the way. It's been test after test the last week, leaving me without time for cooking, and barely any time for just sitting on the couch to relax.

Usually, I get everything done on the weekend, however last Friday through Sunday each day was filled with jobs to do, and a birthday party one evening! I turned seventeen last week, and for my special day I invited a few of my close friends for a little afternoon tea party. I expected a small little get-together, but to my surprise when I walked in the door, the dining room table was laid with elegant little porcelain teacups and saucers, and two steaming pots of Earl Grey tea - my favourite.

There were six of us seated around the table covered with a red table cloth and a delicious array of mum's gluten-free home baking, from scones with clotted cream and jam to almond macaroons with orange icing sandwiched. There was also a small plate full of traditional English cucumber sandwiches on gluten-free bread - a must for any proper British Teatime.

I was so surprised to see so much baking, and so much delicacy put into my tea party, and it truly made it special to walk in the door to the perfect table setting. It is without a doubt that everyone enjoyed the gluten free treats, and no one hid their shock at everything being gluten free but still so tasty. Instead, the scones, macaroons, and jam filled shortbread cookies, were devoured as cups of tea were refilled continuously, and the kettle remained on for at least an hour.

Just as we thought that mum had been amazing by baking and preparing everything, one of my friends jumped up and pulled something from the fridge - my view was blocked luckily! She hung around in the kitchen for a few moments, before a large chocolate cake was brought over with brightly lit candles and everyone began singing Happy Birthday.

It definitely made it that much more special that I haven't had friends over, or really done anything, for my birthday in a number of years. In the middle of January things always seem to busy to plan a party, and it's usually much easier to pass by another birthday without creating more havoc with the stress of trying to do something. Except, it wasn't like that at all. Mum told me that she would plan the party, and do the baking, and make the tea, and clean the house - "All for me?" I asked.

"Just for you."

The cake which mum made was definitely the best cake I've ever eaten, it was made from real chocolate, and layered with a creamy chocolate coconut icing (we still had a lot of leftover chocolate from Christmas, which everyone was happy to put to good use). I remember when I was little her cakes were always decorated amazingly, one year she made a pink castle cake for a castle themed party, and another made a cake in the shape of a kid in pajamas when I had a pajama party. And this year, because I love chocolate, and asked for a gluten-free party, she made a wonderful, stacked, iced, and decorated chocolate cake that was about as good as you can get. It didn't even deflate after being cooked, and it didn't even crumble.

Everyone was so full after all the tea and baked goods, that we sat around the table chatting and laughing. Mum even said that all she could hear from upstairs at certain points when she took out her headphones was bouts of hysterical laughter, as if we were all caught in fits. We must have sat around that table for about three hours, completely enjoying being around each other and being so comfortable chatting away like gobbling turkeys. Every one of us has known each other from when were at least in preschool, and have grown up together, through elementary school, and now nearly through high school together. It was while looking through my old albums that we realised how close we all are, there are pictures of us all together at my previous birthday parties (the castle party and pyjama party included) and playing at school or at home as well. Each of my friends who came for that tea party found themselves numerously in the albums, and we just laughed more at some of the faces pulled in photographs.

I was in such bliss of being around my friends, all so close to me, and my stomach ached from laughing so hard with them that afternoon.

"Thank you mumma," I whispered after my friends had gone home, "That was the best tea party ever."

Smoked-Cranberry Turkey Balls
Print recipe here.

These were not served at the tea party, but they could be, as a perfect pairing of sweet and sour, these little turkey balls are delicious appetizer-sized meatballs with a cranberry-orange barbecue sauce. Pierce them with toothpicks, and they're perfect for sharing at a party!

Makes 12 turkey balls

Ingredients

Meatballs:

1/2 lb (8-12 oz) ground turkey or shredded turkey leftover from Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner
1/2 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs, such as Glutino brand
1/4 minced onion
2 tbsp finely chopped parsley
1 egg
Salt and pepper

Sauce:

1/3 cup cranberry sauce
2 tbsp smoky hickory or chipotle barbecue sauce
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp gluten-free soy sauce
1 tsp grated orange zest

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F.

In a food processor or large bowl, combine turkey, gluten-free bread crumbs, onion, parsley, egg, salt and pepper.

Form mixture into bite-sized balls, approximately 1 - 1 1/2 inches wide.

Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking oil, such as grape seed, and place the meatballs about 1 inch apart.

Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until cooked through completely. Halfway through cooking time stir meatballs to brown both sides.

Meanwhile, combine cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, lemon juice, soy sauce and orange zest in a small pot. Over medium heat, cook the sauce until the cranberry sauce has melted and the mixture begins to bubble, about 5 minutes.

Remove the meatballs from oven, and transfer to a large pot. Pour the sauce over and stir gently until the meatballs are completely coated in sauce.

Cover and summer over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve hot.

Drive Roll

You wouldn't believe the hype around here for Justin Bieber's Believe tour. I've never known so many people to go to one concert, at the same venue and time, and all people who I know. And some even got backstage passes - the opportunity to meet him.

Three friends and I were driven down to Tacoma, a three or four hour drive from here for my mum, with the cost of a hotel to share. Tuesday afternoon, with passports and money secured, as well as the tickets for the show safely stored someplace we would remember, my mum picked us up from school early, and we were off.

Music loud, and sun pouring down, the excitement for the next twenty four hours away built. Brick upon brick, joke upon joke, and tumbling down with pouring laughter.

It was hot in the car, and mum and I constantly fiddled back and forth with the temperature dial, me favouring the red side, where warm air escaped from the vents and blanketed me, and mum the blue, causing my toes to chill as icy particles splintered through my cocoon. The temperature outside read above 15°C, and as we drove mum commented,

"It feels like a May long weekend!"

Just like the days when school comes to the end early, and we all dash off for the weekend as a much needed get away, giving us all that extra push of motivation to carry on working and finish the end of the year.

We've had enough tests this week for it to feel like exam time, I've been swamped every evening, underneath toppled textbooks and scattered pens, creating a jungle around me as I sit wrapped up in slippers and a big sweater, cradling my iPad, and fingers drumming at the keys as I slip into zombie-mode...

Must. Get. This. Done. Tonight.

Until mum shouts out,

"Would you like a cuppa tea!?"

Everyone napped as the car edged through traffic, a stalled stampede through the winding array of businesses as we neared Seattle. Truck and RV vendors lined the highway, as advertisements decked out in quickly fading colours dotted along became blurred swatches of colour as we sped up.

The hotel which we checked into was nothing glamorous, with a double bed for two to share, extra padded as requested for a good sleep, and a TV on the wall. Very American. Downstairs, little girls dressed in purple t-shirts with slogans of

Believe Tour 2012

And,

Justin Bieber We Love You,

Matched with little tutus danced around the foyer in excitement, smiles expanding as the time closed in. 3 hours.

In our room we donned make up and heels, and tried not to laugh at how silly we might look with so many younger kids around, in their pony tails and sneakers.

The venue of the concert was a dome building, with seats up the sides of the stage in the centre. We arrived in the middle of the opening act, Carly Rae Jepson, and the stands were only three quarters full. Many people, like us, thought they had loads of time to wait, as nothing ever starts on time!

I loved the costumes some girls wore, matching pinks and purples, matching hats and shirts, and my favourite, the hot pink skirts that read

'Swaggy'

On the back.

That was Tuesday night, and the last day of what still felt like summer. Today, I watched as rain drops fell down the windows, as if racing each other to the bottom.

I cheered for the underdog, slowly crawling and diagonally approaching the race. Slow and steady. If only I had taken heed of that advice as I cooked, maybe I would have remembered all the ingredients.

Like the butter. Which caused my pastry to resemble a cocoon, protecting the little caterpillar inside.

Although, I can't deny what I learnt from it, watching my little rolls sitting in the oven. I explored another consistency from baking with gluten-free flours, only found from straying from the written and tested recipes. Or forgetting to follow the path completely.

Butter is vital for many baked items, including cookies, cakes and pastries. The richness, as well as its creaminess, improves the texture, flavour, and moisture, as well as even freshness of whatever its used in. Butter, as the preferred fat by chefs all across the world, although I often opt for Earth Balance spread, serves for different purposes depending on the temperature.

Chilled butter, best when stored in the coldest part of the fridge, is specifically used for some pie crusts. Cold butter causes the flour to absorb less of the moisture contained within butter, and results in a flaky, crisper consistency.

Alternately, butter kept at room temperature is usually required for recipes that call for creaming together the butter and sugar. This process involves incorporating air, which helps with the process of rising as it bakes. The best temperature for storing butter at room temperature is between about 18°C and 21°C.

Finally, melted butter is often reserved for cooking sauces, and pan-frying, however sometimes it is used in baking recipes, such as cheesecake crusts. Using melted butter adds small amounts of flavour and moisture to dry ingredients.

So here, with butter this time, are my sausage rolls.

Gluten-Free Turkey Sausage Rolls
Print recipe. 

I really started crying this time, when I chopped the onions I mean. I must have been really upset about chopping up such a beautiful onion. Well actually, it was just really fresh. If this happens to you, causing you to sniffle and tear up while cooking, and forcing odd expressions of shock from those around,

"Whats wrong!?"

Chewing gum is meant to help. Try it!


My first attempt replaced the egg in this recipe with ground flax, preferable if you don't eat eggs or are allergic, however the result was crumbly, and the pastry was extremely difficult to work with. The second time, I completely forgot the butter! Which caused the pastry to resemble a shell-like cocoon, although still tasty. I also found that they took much longer to cook without butter, or any replacement. Finally, I remembered all the ingredients, and worked with proper flours to reach a perfect result.

Make 12 regular sized sausage rolls.

Ingredients

Pastry

3/4 c blanched almond meal
3/4 c potato flour (not starch!)
1 c brown rice flour
3/4 c tapioca flour
1/2 tsp salt

1 egg
1/3 c butter, or dairy-free replacement
about 3/4 c chilled water

2 tbsp milk for brushing

Filling

500 g ground turkey

1 carrot, grated
1 apple, grated
1 brown onion, grated
2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped finely
2 fresh basil leaves, chopped finely

1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1 tbsp thyme leaves
salt and pepper to season

Using an egg helps bind together the pastry...

So that this is finally possible!

Directions

Pastry

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a food processor combine the dry ingredients, pulse, then add the chilled butter until the mixture resembles bread crumbs. Pour in the egg and mix.

With the motor still running slowly add water until the pastry forms a ball. Remove from the processor, wrap in plastic wrap, and place in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.

Filling

Meanwhile, combine all ingredients in a large bowl for the filling, squeezing the juices from the grated carrot, apple and onion before adding. Stir well, making sure ingredients are spread throughout the entire mixture. Set aside.

Pastry

Remove the pastry from the freezer and cut in half. With one half roll it out on a piece of parchment sprinkled with brown rice flour. Shape into a long rectangle approximately 1/4 inch thick.

Spoon the filling down the centre. Using the parchment paper underneath, fold the long edges over the filling.

Brush milk over the edges to help with sticking, and roll the pastry overtop, cinching the edges together. Place the roll so that the edges are underneath.

Cut into desired sizes, and place on the lined baking sheet. With extra milk, brush the tops of each sausage roll.

Bake for 20-30 minutes, and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Delicious with caramelised onions or ketchup (not Heinz brand!)