Baked Ricotta - A Light Meal With Friends

A very busy and exciting week. Catching up with old friends, the Melbourne Cup and now the excitement of the US election. A week like this needs something simple and more-ish that you can keep coming back to. I served this baked ricotta to some girlfriends who dropped over. It was paired with thinly sliced sourdough, some cured salmon (posted here) and a tossed green salad. Perfectly simple and simply perfect - a lovely light dinner, which of course left room for a killer chocolate cake that I will share with you later in the week. And enough leftovers for some lovely lunches. (PS You can see my Melbourne Cup hat in the picture! I couldn't resist including it)

Baked Ricotta

From "Flavours" by Donna Hay

4 tubs fresh ricotta (more or less depends on the size of the tin you are using- I used a loaf tin) Black pepper to taste

Olive oil

Mix ricotta with a generous amount of black pepper to taste. Line a tin with baking paper. Fill with the ricotta mixture. Bake at 180C for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven. Unmold the ricotta,then coat the top with more cracked black pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and return the ricotta to the oven until the edges have started to turn golden. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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When I got back from Melbourne there was a lovely surprise for me - a Kreativ Blog award from Deb at Kahakai Kitchen. Deb is a talented and enthusiastic blogger who is inspiring us all with (among other things) her Souper Sundays and Cook the Books. Along with the award was a meme, so you all get to know a little bit more about me.

So here goes:

7 things I did before
1. Sold zodiacs at a jewellery shop when I was 14
2. Worked in catering through school and university
3. Used to spend 4 hours on a Friday peeling prawns for the Friday prawn roll special at the pub where I worked (easily the worst job I ever had)
4. Worked as a nanny
5. Completed a law degree, but never practised law
6. Researcher for A Current Affair ( I promise it was a different show then)
7. Director of Corporate Affairs for a large US Card company

7 things I do now
1. 700 small things every day
2. Look after our little family
3. J'etudie la langue francaise
4. Spend too much time in front of the computer (a recent post-blog development)
5. Try to exercise 4 times a week (there is nothing easy or spontaneous about this for me)
6. Read in the bath (my secret guilty pleasure)

7.Cook

7 things I want to do
1. Meet my new niece Sophie in Connecticut
2. Finish my Xmas shopping
3. Put my photos in albums
4. Stress less
5. Keep improving my blog
6. Be more organised
7. Sleep better

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex
1. Love
2. Laughter
3. Smile
4. Eyes
5. Intelligence
6. Calm
7. Face

7 Favorite Foods
1. A really good runny brie
2. Pavlova
3. Coffee
4. Mangos
5. Roast Chicken
6. Raspberries
7. Oysters

7 things I Say Most Often:
1. Yes
2. Bugger!
3. Sit down and eat your dinner!
4. I have no idea where it is.
5. Sleep tight
6. Unprintable
7. Love you

And now the seven people I would like to tag for this award and meme:

1. Christy of Sew Much Fabric Sew Little Time, who sent me my wonderful Blogging By Mail Box

2. Esi at Dishing Up Delights, whose adventures I love to follow

3. Anne at Anne Strawberry because she cooks with such love

4. Karen from Bookbath because I love books and baths

5. Helen at Grab Your Fork - a local food blog that I read closely

6. Heather at SLO Cooking - who has lots of fun ideas

7. Lorraine at Not Quite Nigella because her Halloween Party looks as fantastic as the rest of her blog. Check it out here.

Now they get to pass on the award to some blogs they admire.....

My First Blog Award!!! Thanks Brenda

I got home from a few days away yesterday to an award from Brenda at Webbie's World. I am so excited and so touched by this. Brenda was the very first person to comment on my blog, and as anyone new to blogging will tell you, it is very thrilling to get the comments and feedback. Particularly for me, who is still endlessly excited thinking about how amazing it is to be in a virtual conversation with people from all over the world. I love checking in on Brenda's world, and I am thrilled to get an award from her.

And now my job is to pass the award on to blogs that I love as well.

Jules at Stonesoup - another Sydney blogger whose fantastic recipes and photography push me to keep trying harder.

NQN at Not Quite Nigella - for a wonderful stream of recipes and Sydney restaurant suggestions, and ever more exotic cupcakes and desserts.

Erin of Prudence Pennywise - whose blog is beyond charming and keeps me dreaming about life in a small town.

Deb of Kahakai Kitchen - who is always exploring all sorts of interesting food, and pushing us all to read more as well.

Patty at Little Green Stilettos - who is helping us all reduce our environmental sins one by one.

I know you have all won many awards, but you can add mine to the pile!