Sticky-Beak vs. Sticky Date Pudding

In Australia, a "sticky-beak" is slang for someone with a long nose poking into everyone else's business. And has absolutely nothing to do with "sticky date pudding", which is actually a cake, but you could snort it out your nose if you eat it too fast.

Auzzies and Kiwis call desserts "pudding", regardless if it's actual pudding or not; a bowl of fruit, pie, chocolate, whatever. I include the recipe here below, because it's damn good "pudding" but do pour LOTS of the caramel sauce on it if you make it.

If you're feeling sticky-beak, and wondering what's going on with me, I'll add more in here about my travels in a minute.


STICKY DATE PUDDING

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup Butter, room temperature cut into eight pieces
Plus extra to butter pan
1 1/4 cup Chopped pitted dates
1 teaspoon Baking soda
1/4 cup Granulated sugar
2 Eggs
1 1/4 cup All purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla1
3/4 teaspoon Baking powder

***CARAMEL SAUCE***
1/2 cup Butter
1/4 cup Whipping cream
1/2 cup Firm packed brown sugar
plus 1 tablespoon Firm packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

DIRECTIONS:
TO PREPARE CAKE: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch round baking pan with sides at least 2 inches high, such as a springform pan. Place the dates in a saucepan and cover with water (about 1-1/2 cups). Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Add the baking soda (the mixture will foam) and set aside. In a bowl, cream the cut up butter, sugar and eggs, adding the eggs one at a time. Gently mix in the flour, salt and vanilla. Slowly stir in the baking powder and 1/4 cup of the liquid from cooking the dates, until the cake mixture resembles thick pancake batter. Drain off remainder of date cooking liquid and discard. Stir in the dates. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until cooked in the center.

TO PREPARE CARAMEL SAUCE: Combine the butter, whipping cream, brown sugar and vanilla. Bring to a boil; reduce to simmer, and cook for 3 minutes.

TO SERVE: Drizzle some of the sauce over the cake as it is cooling. Serve the rest of the sauce separately. Hell glop it on, it's yummy yummy, though probably up's the calorie count a little.

Per Serving: Calories: 384 (4% protein, 47% carbohydrate, 50% fat) Protein: 4 grams Fat: 22 grams Cholesterol: 100 mg Carbohydrate: 46 grams Sodium: 441 mg Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1-1/2 starch, 4-1/2 fat

Back Down Under

Seems I've abandoned this poor little blog all to itself for so long. Thought that as I'm traveling, I'll take another swipe at it.

I'm in Sydney again. As in with a "Y" and in Australia. (Not to be confused with the small town of Sidney, Canada, where my Dad lives.)

The bush fires are no where near me so not to worry. Currently staying with my friend Ali, at her place in French's Forest. And she is in a forest, right on the edge of the reserve, with the kookaburras giggling in the trees.

I leave tomorrow night for New Zealand!
I'm heading to do research on some gorgeous old wooden sailing boats, and if all goes well, WoodenBoat magazine will be publishing my article about triple-plank construction of these 100 year old beauties.

More as I go. I'm just so excited to be here this time.

Hope all goes well with you.
Hugs

Tampa, FL

So far I haven't written the "great American novel" but I finished a kid's book already send out to publishers (fingers crossed!) and managed to get an article into Pacific Yachting! Guess that's not bad.

Took a stab at getting an article about Sailor's Valentines into the paper in Key West but sent it too late.

Birthday Party

Hello friends...

My sister and I are working on getting out invitations in the mail for our birthday party, but just in case it takes us some time (or yours doesn't make it through the post), I thought I'd just give you more details now.

(drum roll)
You are cordially invited to our birthday party on Aug 18th, at Ruckle Park, on Saltspring Island, BC.

If possible, please please come! I would so love to see you. Even if you are far, far away I am inviting you, just in case you feel like taking a holiday out to this part of the world.Check for more details at our
blog,http://our-birthday-party-2007.blogspot.com/

Now, as to updates, I haven't heard from so many friends in so long I'm beginning to wonder if you've all left on summer holidays!... will do my best to contact each of you separately to say "HEY!"... but if I don't, please please write me soon and at least tell me you are still alive!

hugs and sunshine to you