Ever Cottage Kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the kitchen

Here in Ever Cottage Kitchen, you'll find a few of Granny's and Aunties' favourite recipes, bringing a little taste of those wonderful old-fashioned days into your kitchen today. 

We remember the kitchen at The Old Ranch, where the comforting smell of freshly baked bread, warm scones, jam tarts and homemade biscuits and many other deliciously baked goodies filled the air. These are recipes inspired by the simple, wholesome cooking we remember from our childhood made with love, shared around the table, and treasured through the generations.

Granny's Pikelets

Light, fluffy and ever so slightly sweet, pikelets were perfect for morning tea or afternoon tea with a little butter and jam. Simple to make and delicious while still warm, they were a favourite in the country kitchen.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups plain flour

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 2 tablespoons sugar

  • 1 egg

  • 1½ cups milk

  • 1 tablespoon melted butter

Method:

  1. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar into a bowl.

  2. In another bowl, whisk together the egg, milk and melted butter.

  3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix gently until just combined. Do not overmix.

  4. Heat a lightly greased frying pan or pikelet pan over medium heat.

  5. Drop spoonful's of the batter into the pan and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Turn and cook the other side until golden.

  6. Serve warm with butter and jam.

A little memory from The Old Ranch:
Pikelets were a favourite for morning tea on busy days at The Old Ranch. Simple, quick and delicious, they were especially enjoyed with homemade jam made from fruit grown in the orchard.

Granny's Homemade Biscuits

Crisp, buttery and perfect with a cup of tea, Granny's biscuits were a treasured treat. Made with simple ingredients and baked in the warmth of the old kitchen, they were the sort of biscuits that never lasted long because they were eaten up without a crumb wasted. 

Ingredients:

  • 250g plain flour

  • 125g butter

  • ½ cup caster sugar

  • 1 egg yolk

  • ½ teaspoon vanilla

  • 1 tablespoon milk

  • A little extra sugar for sprinkling

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.

  2. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

  3. Add the egg yolk, vanilla and milk and mix well.

  4. Sift in the flour and mix to form a soft dough.

  5. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface and cut into shapes.

  6. Place the biscuits onto a lined baking tray and sprinkle lightly with sugar.

  7. Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until lightly golden.

  8. Cool on a wire rack.

A little memory from The Old Ranch:
These biscuits would be baked in big batches and kept in a tin for school lunch boxes or visitors dropping in for a cuppa. Simple ingredients, made with love, the kind of baking that made the kitchen feel like home.

 

Aunties' Steam Pudding 

Warm, comforting and wonderfully old-fashioned, steam pudding was a special treat at The Old Ranch. Slowly steamed until soft and rich, then served with cream, it was the perfect pudding for bringing everyone together around the table.

Ingredients:

For the pudding:

  • 1 cup plain flour

  • 1 cup beef suet, finely chopped or grated

  • ¾ cup brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • ½ teaspoon mixed spice

  • ½ cup sultanas

  • 1 egg, lightly beaten

  • ¾ cup milk

For the sauce:

  • 125g butter

  • ¾ cup brown sugar

  • 1 cup boiling water

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Method:

To make the pudding:

  1. Grease a 1-litre pudding basin and cover the base with a circle of baking paper.

  2. In a bowl, mix together the flour, suet, brown sugar, baking powder, mixed spice and sultanas.

  3. Add the egg and milk and mix well.

  4. Spoon the mixture into the prepared basin and press down gently.

  5. Cover tightly with foil and secure with string.

  6. Place the basin in a large pot with a trivet or an upturned plate underneath.

  7. Add enough water to come halfway up the sides of the basin.

  8. Cover and steam gently for 2½–3 hours, topping up the water if needed.

To make the sauce:

  1. Melt the butter in a saucepan.

  2. Add the brown sugar and boiling water. Stir until the sugar dissolves.

  3. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

  4. Serve the warm pudding with the hot sauce poured over the top.

A little memory from The Old Ranch:
Steam pudding was one of those special treats. The kitchen would be filled with the comforting smell of the pudding steaming away. It was simple food, made with care, shared and enjoyed.