26 Nov Scarecrow Christmas Cakes are in!
Thunderclaps and sheet lightning herald torrents of rain as I write this; the dog is hiding under the couch – well out of reach of the weather monster! Increasingly dramatic weather is a feature of a faltering start to our predicted ‘very hot’ summer. Somehow it feels appropriate as the COP27 climate conference draws to a close with seemingly little achieved, leaving us with much to reflect upon as we anticipate some quiet ‘down time’ over the holiday period. For now, we are sheltered from some of the worst crises hammering at the doors of our world, but it’s hard to believe we can remain protected in our cosy cocoon for much longer.
If the people we meet on Waiheke are anything to go by there is still much to be hopeful about, and much to be proud of. It is absolutely amazing to see the commitment, vision and work so many undertake in order to deliver achievable goals to mitigate climate and environmental damage in our local area. From small to large scale projects, steady and sustained efforts are being made to bring about meaningful difference. I know our community here is not unique, these efforts are reflected in many others around the country, and around the world. Let’s keep at it!
I do hope the sun will win out eventually for the many holiday makers who have already arrived in New Zealand from all corners of the globe – we are seeing plenty of them in the store. An embrace from the sun will lift our spirits and bounce us forward with renewed energy.
Our chickens have been delivering an abundance of eggs and I’m always looking for creative ways to use them! I recently made a good old-fashioned soufflé! No wonder it was a favourite in the ’80’s. It was sooo delicious and very simple. I didn’t have a soufflé dish to hand so I just lined a cake tin with folded baking paper – and that worked well. We enjoyed it with grilled asparagus on the side, warm bread, olives and a rocket salad. This recipe serves 4 – 6. You can tweak it in many ways – use different kinds of cheese, add some of your garden favourites – spring onion, fresh herbs, chillies…all sorts of things can work well in a soufflé – including spinach (well chopped, steamed and thoroughly squeezed to remove liquid) or something more exotic such as truffle paste.
Soufflé
Ingredients
150 gr grated parmesan cheese (plus extra for coating soufflé dish)
100 gr roughly crumbled sheep’s feta (or use gruyere, or some other favourite cheese you find in your fridge..)
100 gr unsalted butter
5 x tablespoons flour
Pinch of cayenne pepper (or dried chilli flakes)
Pinch of nutmeg
1 1/2 cups milk
7 eggs, separated
Ground black pepper
Good pinch of salt
Prepare a dish for your soufflé – either a ceramic deep soufflé dish or use a cake tin lined with baking paper which can extend beyond the height of the cake tin. Butter the baking dish and sprinkle it with a coating of grated parmesan. Heat the oven to 180C.
In a saucepan make a béchamel sauce: work on a low heat and gently melt the butter, add flour slowly and stir it in with a wooden spoon. It will become a ‘golden’ paste. Add milk slowly while stirring constantly, if it’s a bit lumpy just keep stirring (use a fork or small whisk if you have one). It will become a thick, unctuous sauce, continue to cook it for about 3 minutes. Now add the cheese and spices and keep stirring. When it’s all incorporated into the sauce, turn the heat off.
In a large bowl beat the egg yolks well, continue to whisk vigorously while adding the béchamel. If you are adding parsley, chives or finely chopped spring onion or other fresh ingredients, put them in now.
In a second large bowl whisk the egg whites with a clean whisk until they form stiff peaks (use an electric whisk if you like). Fold in a quarter of the whites into the cheese sauce. gently mix it through. When blended in, fold in half the remaining egg whites, then the last portion. You should have a light and fluffy mix. Pour it into your prepared dish (use a spatula to get it all out of the bowl) and place in middle of hot oven for about 50 minutes (this depends on your oven!). It will rise and be golden on top… don’t take it out too soon – when 50 minutes is up watch it for a further 5 minutes. Open the door and give it a gentle shake – is it wobbly? if it’s very wobbly close the door and continue cooking for 10 minutes. Remove and put the dish onto a board for serving to the table.
Bon appetit,
Alison
Christmas Cakes!
There is very much a festive feel to our days as we race towards Christmas and the summer holidays. As we all know, the 25th of December will be upon us in no time at all, meaning there is a lot to fit in amongst end of year school, family and work commitments. Fret not! The Scarecrow team is baking up a storm in the kitchen, creating moist, dark authentic Christmas cakes in amongst lots of other good things – all flying out the door almost faster than we can make them!
We strongly encourage you to place your Christmas Cake preorders as soon as possible. Remove one more thing from the list of to-dos and email us at orders@scarecrow.co.nz letting us know which of the 
below you would like:
1kg $45
1kg GF $55
1.3kg $65
1.3kg GF $80
Your Christmas Cake will come in a standard white cake box, or you can upgrade to a Scarecrow Gift Box for $10.
Italian Panettone
In very limited numbers, our real Italian Panettone is arriving soon. These are beautifully packaged making 
wonderful gifts, and a delicious addition to Christmas morning brunch with an organic brew to accompany. Place your order by email as soon as you can to avoid missing out on your Panettone fix this year. orders@scarecrow.co.nz
Cinnamon Stars
Every year, we bring in festive goodies from our long-standing local supplier Cara Telle, and this year is no different! We have lots of spicy, delicious and pretty Cinnamon Stars, available individually, or in packets of 8 or 12. A lovely gift for a grandparent, teacher, coach or neighbour this Christmas.. Of course, we also have Cara’s traditional stollen available in three sizes.
Remember, pre-orders for our festive offerings must be made via email. Please email your orders to orders@scarecrow.co.nz, including your name and phone number so we can be in touch to confirm.
Organic Brews and Accompaniments
Speaking of organic brews, Scarecrow is fully stocked 
with some of New Zealand’s finest boutique teas and coffees to keep you fueled over the coming weeks. In anticipation of the stream of friends and family calling in for a cuppa, stock up now to ensure you’re always prepared. This season we are showcasing two of our favourite Kiwi coffee brands, Good Fortune, and Kokako. Come in store to browse gorgeous coffee makers and choose a bag of beans or ground coffee to create a lovely gift for someone special. Have you tried Good Fortune’s Firecracker Blend yet? Beans from Peru, Colombia, Ethiopia, & Guatemala combine for a taste once described as an 
exploding Peanut Slab. Now if that doesn’t pique your interest…! If you like your coffee chocolate and toffee-esque with a full creamy body and lingering raw cocoa aftertaste, this one’s for you. Not only is it very good coffee, we’re in love with the vibrant packaging, fully sustainable and full of personality.
Of course, we have our standard range of Kokako Organic Coffee and Drinking Chocolate, a long-time friend of Scarecrow and firm favourite in our household, and with many of you too!
Soothing Teas from Talented Kiwi Producers
Don’t forget our extensive range of artisan NZ teas, including delicious blends from 
Forage & Bloom, Fine & Dandy, Kerikeri Tea Co., Herbal Potential, Mr Chai and Pukka Teas. We have cast iron teapots and gorgeous enamel cups, which combined with a couple of packets of loose-leaf tea make a wonderful gift! Come in and see us at 33 Victoria Street East to browse the goodies.
Go Green with Houseplants
Right now, Scarecrow is packed full with gorgeous houseplants in lovely ceramic pots. Amongst the greenery adorning our entry you’ll find a quality selection of the prettiest plants suitable for any indoor environment. Choose from String of Turtles, Blue Star Ferns, Monstera, Watermelon Peperomia and Fluffy Ruffles Ferns, to name a few (and aren’t they fabulously named!). Pick up a couple next time you’re visiting.
Housekeeping
A reminder that from 1 December, we will be open 7 days a week, right through to 2pm on the 24th of December, when we close our doors to give our wonderful hard-working staff a well-earned break. We’ll reopen on Saturday 14 January, back to our regular Tuesday – Sunday schedule.
Changes to our Website
Now that we no longer have the Scarecrow Grocer in Mt Eden, we no longer have an online store. However, you will still be able to view our range of Ready Meals, Scarecrow baked goodies, and other specialty items online. Please note, we now only take orders via email to orders@scarecrow.co.nz, available for pick up in store only. It means we get to see more of your lovely faces and gives you the chance to enjoy a calming brew or bite to eat from the menu while you’re here. Not to mention browse the extensive range of NZ made gifts, houseplants and pantry items filling our shelves.
We look forward to seeing you very soon in store at Scarecrow. Find us at 33 Victoria Street East in Auckland City, right across from Albert Park and just a hop, step and a jump from the Auckland Art Gallery.