Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Strawberry season...and gumboots!

It's peak strawberry season here in North Queensland, and there are never less than 3 or 4 punnets in our fridge on any given day!
One of our local supermarkets has a great little free recipe magazine and this month the focus was on strawberries. Yummo!
I decided to try the Strawberry Crumble for dessert the other night. This was very different from the usual crumbles I make because it's not baked, and the fruit is raw.
First you marinate the chopped strawberries in a tablespoon of icing sugar and the seeds scraped from a vanilla pod, and leave them for about 20-30 minutes after which time they have developed a syrup.
Then you dry fry 1/4 cup of shredded coconut in a pan until it browns (and that amazing toasty coconut aroma fills the house!). Remove the coconut, and dry fry 1/4 cup of slivered almonds until they begin to brown as well. Mix them together in a bowl.
Melt 75g of butter in your pan, and add 1/3 cup of rolled oats and 1/4 cup of plain flour. Mix them around, cooking them for about 3-4 minutes...
Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, then add 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Mix in the pan another couple of minutes - the smell is incredible! Stir through the coconut and almonds.
Scatter the 'crumble' over the strawberries, and it becomes crunchy!
A quick look before it was devoured...
We smothered our bowls of Strawberry Crumble with custard, but cream or ice cream (like the magazine photo below) would be just as delicious!
Think we'll make this again tomorrow night. 
*****
There was quite a flurry of excitement over those gumboot fabrics I bought the other day!
(see the blog post below)
I have had requests to go buy some for people and post overseas, but please forgive me as I simply cannot. Had I another 'Jenny' hidden somewhere who could do errands for me it would be possible, but just grabbing the odd hour or two to 'breathe' lately has become a mammoth task.
HOWEVER, I did happen to buy a few extra pieces that day, so if you drop by my blog on Friday you *might* see them as a giveaway....just sayin'....
*****
With gumboots on my mind, and the tropical wet season due soon, I thought I'd check Big W when I dropped Blossom at work on Monday and see if they had any.
Did they have any???!!!
Oh yes, indeed!
With roses!!
Roses was the best part, until I saw the price...
$7!
Reduced, and the last in my size, I held them close to my heart, thanked God profusely, and brought them home to be mine.
Makes me very happy to see them sitting with my little flower pot and bluebird. 
*****
Have you found any amazing bargains lately?
Hugs
Jenny
xx


19 comments:

Noela said...

That strawberry crumble recipe looks delicious. Will have to copy it and give it a try. Those gumboots are gorgeous and what a bargain price at that. Hugs.....

Lida said...

No bargains but I did not need much too! Love the boots and the recipe! Here I just bought the last strawberry's of the season what lasted really long this year! Enjoy the gifts of the earth! Hugs
Lida

Abby and Stephanie said...

Don't you just love a find like that and at an amazing price! They're the sweetest boots ever.

Joyce Carter said...

OH! WOW! Love the boots, Jenny! They are adorable.

Angie said...

Ooooh, I am green with envy over your gumboots!!!

Anthea said...

Great boots! I love buttons & found some absolute beauties in Spotlight recently, going very heavily discounted, so I foraged for more!

Little Penpen said...

Aw, your boots are ADORABLE! and the strawberries look yummy.

Maria said...

Your Strawberry crumble looks so delicious....
Oh those gumboots are just too cute to wear and what a great bargain...

Heleen Groot said...

Oh Jenny, those strawberries look mouthwatering..... Good thing you also included those amazing boots! What a great bargain!

Allie said...

*squeal* Those boots just scream "Jenny"!!! How absolutely perfect for you, sweetie, woohoo!

Judy1522 said...

How cute I love your gumboots and the price makes them even better.

Christine M said...

Your gum boots look too pretty to get all muddy in the garden! LOL! It's so exciting when you find something you love at a bargain price.

Createology said...

I skipped the yummy looking strawberry crumble and went straight for the roses gumboots! Love love love them. Happy Splashing...

Jennifer J said...

I thought you had gone gluten free??!!

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Jennifer, we discovered gluten wasn't my husband's problem after all - though we still don't have a lot of it.

Barb said...

Loved the boots! Did find similar fabric like yours at Connecting Threads (http://www.connectingthreads.com/collections/Soaked_Quilting_Fabrics__L178.html?intmedid=A-CollectionBox-178) for those in the U.S. The collection is called "Soaked". I think the line you bought is a little prettier though.

Michelle Ridgway said...

I am sure I am salivating reading about that gorgeous strawberry crumble. Love your gumboots and definitely a great bargain and oh so pretty.

Unknown said...

Ooh love the Gumboots Jenny they are Gorgeous and what a Bargain...Well Done.
Cheers

Joy said...

Now those are GLAMboots, not GUMboots lol. You're going to look very flash splashing in the puddles in those, what a fabulous bargain!!! :o)
Hugs,
Joy :o)