Wednesday, March 23, 2016

THE EASTER PARADE DOWN IN THE GLADE VIA THE ARCADE IS NO CHARADE




Information of what a Cherry Ripe bar is for those who are not familiar with them - courtesy of our friend Wikipedia - Cherry Ripe is a brand of chocolate bar manufactured by Cadbury Australia. Introduced by the Australian confectioner MacRobertson's in 1924, it is now Australia's oldest chocolate bar and is one of the top chocolate bar brands sold in the country. It consists of cherries and coconut-coated with dark chocolate.
Hot Cross Buns....Sunday Here I Come!

Time marches on; and, so too, has March. With no warning March hasn’t missed a beat as it marches rapidly to an end, but it's not allowed to slip away - not before Easter hops in and plays its role. 

Quite a few hints were tossed in my path to alert me Easter is nigh.  I’d have been a silly bunny not to have noticed the clues. An indication yesterday I couldn’t dismiss was I noticed two of the hares that bound about here at frequent intervals were having a dress rehearsal as they tried out their colourful Easter bonnets.  No doubt the hares were road-testing the ties on the bonnets to ensure they were secure enough to remain on their heads as they hopped about the mountain and areas in the valleys below over this weekend.  They’ve a busy period ahead, with no spare time to be chasing after wayward bonnets. 

Attracting their attention by waving,  with a smile,I called out suggesting they could drop off the eggs to me there and then, with the belief it‘d help lighten their load on Sunday.  So involved were they in their practice scamper haughtily they twitched their noses in my direction; flapped their floppy ears and blatantly chose to ignore my thoughtful request; one which was offered direct from my heart. I felt hurt.

To put a salve on my bruised feelings I opened my fridge door and commiserated with Clint, my Lindt bunny who, naturally, is still living unscathed on the top shelf. Clint and I shared a few quiet words.  He’s a very understanding chocolate bunny.  Having resided in my fridge for many years now, Clint Lindt knows me well.  He understands I’m the biggest softie when it comes to him. Clint and I have formed a close, unbreakable bond. He has an uncanny grasp of my fluctuating moods. He knows I’ll never eat him. I’ll never be so desperate. It’s as if he’s coated in gold. Well, actually, he is – golden foil!

A few weeks ago I placed my order for Hot Cross buns at the North Tamborine Bakery. I prefer to get in early; similar to my attempt to lighten the hares’ load. Unlike the hares, the lass at the bakery gladly accepted my request. As it turned out, I was the first to place an order for Hot Cross buns for Easter. 

I could also very well be the first customer to cross their threshold at the crack of dawn on Easter Sunday morning to collect my buns (those of the bakery raisin or currant-filled kind, that is)....if I get out of bed early enough...but it is my intention at this stage to do so.

Even though the supermarkets have Hot Cross buns on their shelves shortly after the Christmas/New Year season, the only time I eat Hot Cross buns is Easter Sunday; and on Easter Monday because, of course, I won’t eat all six buns on Sunday. Well, that’s what I say at this stage, anyway.  I bought a jar of delicious-looking blueberry jam yesterday...especially for the Hot Cross buns that I’ll eat warm, of course.  They’ll still be quite hot when I pick them up on Easter Sunday morning.

My fingers are crossed the bakery will have made a batch or two of their delicious vanilla slices overnight; that they'll be on offer to tempt me.  I’m easily led into temptation.  Without fear of criticism or recrimination, with hand on heart, I declare here and now, a couple of vanilla slices will purposely land in my possession. And once that occurs, there will not be a thing I can do, but to eat them. 

Somehow, I’ll have to leave some room for the Cherry Ripes, though.  I’ll manage it, one way or the other. I’ve built up quite a stock of Cherry Ripes,  They're safely stored away in my fridge. Clint is my appointed guardian of the delicious dark chocolate-covered bars.

For me, Christmas is not Christmas without Licorice Allsorts; and Easter is not Easter without Cherry Ripes.  
I’m not afraid nor am I embarrassed to admit they are two of the frivolous joys of life I enjoy...along with Hot Cross buns and vanilla slices, of course! 

Bakers at the bakery be warned -  I’ll be an early bird Easter Sunday morning, money in hand; motor running (my car motor, that is).  I’ve two hands, so I’ll be able to handle both the buns and the slices without a problem; and there's room enough in my little car for them and me!

Everyone gather your family, loved ones and friends around you....a Happy Easter from Clint, my two furry mates, Remy and Shama.... and from me!  

Stay safe...spread the love, happiness and goodwill.  Don't worry about counting the calories until after you've devoured all the chocolate. Naah....don't even worry about it then...life is too short....enjoy!

Good Friday Salmon Asparagus: Toss 800g new spuds (halve if large) in 3tbs x-olive oil; roast in 200C oven, 20mins, or until beginning to brown; add 16 fresh, trimmed, halved asparagus spears; cook further 15mins.  Add 4 handfuls ripe cherry tomatoes, 2tbs balsamic vinegar; then nestle 4 salmon fillets amongst the vegies; drizzle over 1tbs x-olive oil; return to oven until salmon just cooked.  Scatter with fresh basil leaves; serve from baking dish.

Pea Asparagus Goat’s Cheese Salad: Blanch 500g trimmed fresh asparagus spears in boiling salted water 15mins; drain; cool slightly; diagonally cut into pieces; blanch 300g peas 5mins; drain; cool; wash and dry 1 bunch rocket. Finely puree 2 garlic cloves, 8tbs x-olive oil, 6tbs parsley, salt and ground pepper; set aside 5mins. Toss together peas, asparagus and rocket; scatter with 350g crumbled goat’s cheese; drizzle with dressing.

Crispy Pork Belly with Chinese Five Spice: Preheat oven 200C. Prepare oven tray with a grill for pork to sit on (or a bed of halved onions and/or apples if you like). Grab a 1.5kg pork belly with a good layer of fat. Score skin. Place on chopping board or grill in sink; pour kettle of boiling water over top of pork; pour over white wine vinegar, or rub with halved lemon; pat really dry. Rub 1-1/2tbs Chinese Five Spice powder and 2tbs sea salt into pork, into racks and all. Place the pork skin side down on the grill/ tray; roast 35-40mins. Then turn skin-side up; cook further 35-40mins. Turn grill to high; let skin crackle; don’t close door; be alert as it will char within seconds!  

Bunny Tails: Beat 1/2c cream cheese until smooth; add 3c icing sugar, 1c at a time; add 2tsp lemon juice and 2tsp lemon zest; melt 325g white chocolate with 1tbs butter; add to room temp cream cheese; pour into wax paper-line 9x9 tray; chill. When set, use circle cookie cutter to cut out tails; coat well in shredded coconut, and/or crushed nuts

40 comments:

  1. I really would love one of those golden Easter bunnies :)

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    1. Well, Keith...Clint is out of bounds! You'll have to get your own! lol

      Thanks for coming by...I hope you enjoy your Easter weekend. :)

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  2. If Clint were in my refrigerator he would be missing several limbs. And what are Cherry Ripes? I want some for sure. Do they have real cherries inside chocolate?

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    1. Hi Annie...Clint has been in my fridge for around about 7 years now..thereabouts...and I haven't the heart to eat him It just wouldn't seem right, somehow. I've enough dark chocolate in my fridge...so Clint is safe. :)

      Thanks for coming by...I hope you have a Happy Easter...along with stacks of chocolate. :)

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  3. Clint has found one of the very few places where he and his ears will be safe. I am sure you eating all the hot cross buns helps keep him intact.

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    1. Yes, Arleen...he is very secure in the knowledge he has a home forever. ;)

      Thanks for coming by...have yourself a wonderful Easter, enjoyed with your loved ones. :)

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  4. Cherry ripes??? Chocolate and cherry is one of my favourite combinations!

    All of your dishes look and sound delicious; definitely going to try the crispy pork belly!

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    1. G'day, Cranky...I'll be having some of that pork belly over the weekend, too...and am looking forward to it.

      You'd love Cherry Ripes, I'm sure. I've always loved them; and at Easter for a number of years before he passed away my late brother, Graham always gave me a bundle of them for Easter. So now I keep up the tradition and give them to me in his stead. :)

      Thanks for coming by. I hope you have a wonderful Easter...relax and enjoy the time. :)

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  5. You have a blessed Easter, friend. Loved the pics. As always they make me hungry:)

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    1. Hey there Sandra...I hope you have a most pleasant Easter, too...thanks for coming by. :)

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  6. Hi Lee, I am here to report that Ferero have hopped on the Easter marketing bandwagon and are producing their own version of the famous gold bunny. Must have worked out that Lindt were on a winner huh?

    We are having a staff morning tea tomorrow featuring a dish from our heritage (for Harmony Week). Do you think I could think of something that would reflect mine. I can't say that my Mum or my grandmother ever had a signature dish (except the Christmas rum ball recipe that I have inherited) .. So I came home and wondered what to do? I didn't want to go to the supermarket without something in mind to cook. So I ended up just going to my pantry and freezer to see what I could put together that would be suitable for lunch. Perhaps that is my heritage .. Making a meal out of whatever is on hand.

    Happy Easter Lee x

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    1. Hi Carol...After my weakness with Clint...I'll never be buying another chocolate rabbit, other than, perhaps, one for him to keep him company! lol

      I'm sure you found something to cook...and there sure is nothing wrong with making something from what you have on hand.

      Enjoy your Easter, Carol...make sure you have enough chocolate on hand...that's important!! Thanks for coming by. :)

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  7. Looks like you have some fantastic things for Easter!

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    1. Hi Sandie...and I bought a new Michael Donnelly crime novel today, too...so I'm right for Easter.!

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  8. I hope you, Clint, Remy and Sharma have a wonderful Easter. And I am glad that Clint will retain his hearing and all of his limbs.
    His relative will land here, and the smaller portion will not be so kind.

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    1. Hey EC...I've all my supplies and other than to pick up my Hot Cross buns and vanilla slices Sunday morning...I'll be barricading myself inside my cabin with a couple of books and a few movies. Shama and Remy have their Easter outfits at the ready.....Life is sweet!

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  9. Let me get this straight now. You've been seeing hares, dressed in bonnets, bounding about near your home?
    Hmmm.
    What exactly is in that cup of tea? Hmmm?

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    1. It's the mountain air, River...it affects the hares!

      Thanks for hopping by. :)

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  10. I've always got a Cherry Ripe in the fridge door, but forget to eat it :)
    We don't have hot cross buns as we wouldn't eat them. To you that wouldn't be the best idea of not having them at Easter!

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    1. Easter is the only time I have Hot Cross buns, Margaret...a freshly-baked, still warm Hot Cross bun with butter and a good jam on it is a treat I don't mind indulging in once a year.

      I've always got dark chocolate of some description in my fridge (which often includes a Cherry Ripe or two), but I don't eat chocolate all that often, really. It can be there for months at a time...but it's there for whenever I get the urge for a piece of chocolate. I'm a "just in case" person... :)

      I hope you enjoy your Easter weekend...take care. Thanks for coming by. :)

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  11. Happy Easter to you, too, Lee! I've never had a hot cross bun. Sounds lovely though.


    And I also have a chocolate bunny who has resided in my fridge for years. :) Maybe I'll post him tomorrow.

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    1. Happy Easter to you, too, Lynn. How strange you've never had a Hot Cross bun...they mustn't be available in all areas of the States...they are in some

      I'm glad I'm not the only one who has a long-term chocolate bunny tenant living in their fridge! lol

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  12. And a hoppy Easter to you:)

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  13. Thank you, Sandra...I've already started on the chocolate! ;)

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  14. happy Easter dear Lee ,these pics are very nice and adorable

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    1. Happy Easter to you, too, baili...I hope you enjoy it with friends and loved ones. Thanks for coming by. :)

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  15. I left a New Zealand groaning under the weight of Easter chocolate and it's pretty evident here too. It's rather ironic is it not that as we have more and more of everything thrown at us commercially throughout the year the shops have to find new ways of piling on the excess at times like Christmas and Easter (and Mothers', Fathers' and everything else day). It just irritates me I have to admit. Bah humbug.

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    1. Hi Graham,

      It doesn't irritate me if the shelves in the shops are filled, displaying their seasonal goods for sale. No one forces me to buy anything. I buy what I want to buy and if I fall into the grasp of temptation at times, it's not the end of the world. :)

      I always have some dark chocolate bars in my fridge all year round. So Easter or Christmas and other celebratory fun times make little difference to me that way. It's all just a bit of fun...and we sure need more of that, in my opinion.

      I buy some extra Cherry Ripes for myself at Easter...one of my crazy little traditions that are just for me. And I've just arrived back home from picking up my Hot Cross buns that I always buy early Easter Sunday morning.

      I don't begrudge businesses doing what they can to make profits. If they didn't "get with the swing of things", they we certainly would complain! :)

      Happy Easter to you and yours...enjoy your treats. Thanks for coming by. :)

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  16. Well Clint got two shout-outs this week. One from me on my blog and one from Lynn. LOL

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    1. Clint's fame has spread worldwide!!! I'm glad he now has a friend in Ed! They can share stories...oh, my goodness! I wonder if that is a good thing! lol

      Thanks for the heads up, Annie! lol

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  17. All this talk of Bunnies I thought you had a nest in a hat for the birds?
    This year the cook (ME) has gone on strike because I am tried of doing ALL the work and others sitting on their laurels. I have declared 2016 the Year of Dianne and I plan to do whatever I please when I please and not cook for the masses. Peace

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    1. Hi Lady Di...when my late brother and I were kids we had the Easter Bird who delivered our Easter eggs, not the Easter Bunny...therefore we built nests in hats for the Easter Bird to deposit the eggs. It was never the Easter Bunny when I was a child.

      You've made a good decision...I made a similar a few years ago...I used to always cater and host an Easter Sunday lunch (as well as many other luncheons and dinners throughout any given year) but I decided to pull the plug on doing them any more. Now I just cater for me and my two furry rascals, Remy and Shama!!

      Stick to your decision...you've done more than your share! Thanks for coming by. :)

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  18. Cherry-ripes and dark chocolate rabbits - get behind me Satan!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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    1. Okay! :)

      I hope you had a nice Easter weekend, Stewart...thanks for popping in. :)

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  19. Just stopped by to see how your week is going, Lee.

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    1. Very quietly, Sandra...trying to put together my next post! I hope your week had kicked off well and continues in that vein. :)

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  20. Well I hope you got your hot cross buns bright and early and slathered them with butter before the blueberry jam. I also hope that you gave a few morsels of hot cross bun to Clint - The Guardian of the Fridge. Isn't it a little cold for him in there? Perhaps you should knit him a little bunny-sized cardigan.

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    1. I was at the bakery bright and early, Yorkie...and yes, I most certainly did slather the buns with butter (only and always butter) before smothering them with blueberry jam! :)

      As for Clint...he's acclimatised to the weather in my/his fridge...the temperatures very little if at all. His dark chocolate covered in gold foil keeps him very comfortable. :)

      My knitting skills and the desire to knit are not worthy of such a proud, contented bunny!

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  21. I can't believe I didn't comment on this at the time. I looked at that clip of Zorba and got caught up in following up Youtube of greek dancing and Zorba. Fascinating! But I quite forgot to say so :)

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  22. I can't believe I didn't comment on this at the time. I looked at that clip of Zorba and got caught up in following up Youtube of greek dancing and Zorba. Fascinating! But I quite forgot to say so :)

    ReplyDelete