Why We Love Board Games
During yet-another-recent-lockdown here in New Zealand, I put together this video explaining where my passion for board gaming comes from, and specifically why I believe them to be a wonderful tool for families that are looking for ways to break free from screen addictions, or escape those negative cycles that revolve too much around time spent separately interacting with technology . . .
Chocolate Chip Cookies
These home-baked chocolate cookies are another firm family favourite treat that the kids love to make, and the recipe is super easy (you can use a conventional oven; you don’t have to use a cookstove, though of course we think they’ll taste better in the Homewood!) 😉 Lots of decadent buttery and sugary goodness, I wouldn’t recommend eating these every day! 🔥 Recipe: (Makes about 12-15 cookies, and these are The Best – so you probably want to double the mix!) 85 g softened butter1/3 cup caster sugar1/2 cup brown sugar [SOFTLY packed! Was packed too densely in this video 😊] 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla essence1 and a 1/2…
Penny’s ‘No Knead’ Bread
This easy bread recipe is a firm family favourite, with Penelope having made quite literally thousands of these loaves over the last few decades in her country kitchen, and is one we share with all our customers in our stoves’ Operating Manuals. It makes the greatest toast bread – if you are also from New Zealand, it is very similar to the iconic “Vogel’s” brand bread. It’s a moist, dense loaf that is best toasted over the following days and freezes well – brilliant for a big family. It doesn’t require any specialist equipment (like a breadmaker or mixer), so give it a go! Recipe: (Makes 3 loaves, does not…
Old-Fashioned Ginger Beer
This authentic home-fermented ginger beer made a bit of an explosive impact in the video for our Plain White Buns recipe, so many people asked Janie for the method. Here her favourite method for making this type of old-fashioned ginger beer (adapted from the method shared by the wonderful Country Trading Co.), with some additional notes below the video. Recipe and Method Day 0 is establishing the bug, Days 1 – 6 is feeding it, and Day 7 is bottling and restarting the bug. Day 0: add 2 cups of water, a few raisins and 2 teaspoons of sugar to a clean glass jar, and stir. Cover, and sit somewhere…
The Heart of the Home
I wrote a narration to a YouTube video recently, that explored why it is that I think an old-fashioned, cast-iron cooking stove can have such a positive impact on shaping family life and culture, and why so many people end up having such a strong connection to their Homewood. I have reproduced the text here, below the video, for anyone that would like to read it in essay form
Plain White Buns
In this video, Vera (aged 8) shows you how to make a very simple dinner roll/bun recipe in the main oven of a Homewood Heritage. Extremely beginner friendly, you can’t go wrong! Simple and delicious, this recipe is an excellent addition to anyone’s repertoire, no matter your level of cooking ability. Makes enough for our family of seven’s lunch ❤️🔥 Recipe: 1 tablespoon oil 1 and a half cups of lukewarm water 1 heaped teaspoon sugar 1 level teaspoon salt 4 cups of flour [level! The two cups that Zelda added weren’t quite full, so we had to top up later otherwise it was going to be too sticky!]2-3 teaspoons…
Apricot and Coconut Loaf
Very easy to make, this simple recipe is a favourite in our family: a moist, dense loaf, perfect for the school or work lunchbox. Was a recurring feature in Zak’s childhood, with Penelope [Granny] making this often on the tiny coal range they had when he was a boy. This sweet loaf tastes great served plain by itself, or with a little bit of butter. 1 ½ cup white flour ¾ cup wholemeal flour 2 heaped tsp baking powder 2 cup desiccated coconut [long thread coconut is best] 1 cup raw sugar 1 heaped cup diced dry apricots [can soak these in the milk for an hour or more to…
Sweetcorn Fritters
One of Zelda’s favourite things to cook, a Kiwi-classic straight out of the good old Edmonds Cook Book: Sweetcorn Fritters! 3/4 cup plain flour1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon saltblack pepper1 egg440 g can cream-style corn2 tablespoons oil Sift flour, baking powder, salt and pepper to taste into a bowl. Add egg, mixing to combine. Stir in sweetcorn. Heat oil in a frying pan. Drop tablespoonsful of corn mixture into pan. Cook until golden then turn and cook other side. Drain on absorbent paper. Serve hot.Serves 4-6 You can buy your own copy of this recipe book here! [Note that Zelda makes a double batch in this video!]
Your Guide to the Export Process
Live outside of New Zealand, but love the cookers that we make here at Homewood Stoves? We have now sent many of our cooking stoves direct to end customers just like yourself from all over the globe - read this article to learn more!
Heating Water with Fire
Cook your food, warm your home AND heat your hot water?? Learn all about how thermosyphoning works, in a passive and continuous cycle. The ins-and-outs of pressure systems, water jackets, and all associated systems - including solar, radiators and underfloor heating!
