Calling all Australian cooks

Yes, you heard.

I'm soliciting ideas for recipes using the following ingredients:

• Macadamia oil
• Mountain pepper berries
• Lemon myrtle
• Wattle seed

No, I'm not making this up. I'm trying to use more of the ingredients in my pantry, and ... I really have no idea what to do with these. But they sure sound interesting.

And yes, there's a story behind them. The hubby is a bit of an online gamer. You know, me and mine band together and invade you and yours, and all that. Anyway, a while back, the hubby and I were grocery shopping (our usual Friday night activity), and the following conversation ensued:

Me: Hey, stop the cart, I want to get some oranges.
Hubby: You know, I think I'd make a really good lead in a romantic comedy.
Me: You as an actor, or you as a character?
Hubby: Me as a character.
Me: Nah, I don't see it. You're more of the male lead's wisecracking best buddy.
Hubby: No, no. I rather see myself as a 1980s Steve Guttenberg.
Me: You see yourself as Steve Guttenberg?
Hubby: But only 1980s Steve Guttenberg.* Hey, remind me to pick up some Famous Dave's Rib Rub. I need to send some to the guy in Australia whose village I'm invading tomorrow.
Me: You're sending Rib Rub to an Australian guy and then invading his village?
Hubby: Sauce, too, ya think? Yeah, sauce, too.

*Is there anything BUT a 1980s Steve Guttenberg, you might ask? Clearly, you have not been privy to that masterpiece of modern cinema known as Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus, starring Steve Guttenberg as Santa's son, and Crystal Bernard as his potential love interest. It airs every holiday season on ABC Family. If you're really lucky, you can catch the sequel, Meet the Santas, immediately following. Yes, I'll watch anything while wrapping Christmas gifts.

So the hubby mailed this big ol' package of grillin' love to Australia, and a few short weeks later, we received a bounty of Australian culinary delights in exchange. I ate the macadamia nuts (heavenly), shelved the vegemite (I'm sure it ages like a fine wine), and am clueless as to what to do with the rest. So if you're familiar, give me a holler at alericks@yahoo.com, and give me some tips.

And, an award! I received this lovely award from Spryte at Spryte's Place, who makes super-yummy food, and whose blog design makes mine look a crappy form letter.

Thank you, Spryte! I'm supposed to answer the following questions using only one-word answers. Which is difficult for a babbler like me.

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Your hair? Damp
3. Your mother? Adorable
4. Your father? Clever
5. Your favorite food? Lasagna
6. Your dream last night? Creepy
7. Your favorite drink? Milk
8. Your dream/goal? Happiness
9. What room are you in? Dining
10. Your hobby? Eating
11. Your fear? Spiders
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Calmer
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren't? Alert
15. Muffins? Chocolate
16. Wish list items? Yes
17. Where did you grow up? Hillsboro
18. Last thing you did? Bottles
19. What are you wearing? Jeans
20. Your TV? On
21. Your pets? Adorable
22. Friends? Hilarious
23. Your life? Content
24. Your mood? Sleepy
25. Missing someone? Always
26. Vehicle? Shiny
27. Something you're not wearing? Shoes
28. Your favorite store? Target

And now I challenge the following over-the-top bloggers to do the same:

• Sophie at Sophies Foodiefiles
• Valerina at Une Gamine dans la Cuisine
• Michele at My Italian Grandmother

Slow Cooker Short Ribs

I'm so excited. I finally discovered that I CAN get bone-in beef short ribs from my local supermarket. Apparently they're available if you use online shopping/grocery delivery. (Yes, I suppose I could've asked for them at the store. We North Dakotans don't like to make waves.)

The hubby and I had our groceries delivered for four weeks after the little man was born, because we weren't yet confident enough to take him out and about. Also, with flu season, we were trying to let the Jack-baby's immune system build up a bit, and hopefully not expose him to the H1n1 flu.

Plus, we're lazy. (Last weekend, the pizza man and grocery man bumped into each other at our front door. Along with my little brother, Cory. How embarrassing.) The pizza man brought pizza. The grocery man brought (you guessed it) groceries. And Cory? He brought .... H1N1.

Yes, he got sick with it while staying with us. That was a week ago, and so far, so good as far as the hubby, Jack, and I are concerned. (Cory didn't fare as well. He had complications. Although he WAS released from the hospital yesterday.)

It's a scary, scary flu season out there, especially for the little ones. Especially when H1N1 vaccines are in such low supply. Especially when the first batch that reached your state froze and no longer worked. But I digress.

I was going to make some sort of Moroccan short ribs in the slow cooker today, but when it came down to it, I just wasn't hungry for Moroccan short ribs. I decided to introduce us to the wonderful world of bone-in short ribs using just a basic meat 'n' potatoes recipe. I was in a hurry and just randomly threw a bunch of things in. Overall, the ribs were incredibly tasty, and the meat was very buttery and tender. Almost too rich. Dare I say that I might avoid bone-in short ribs in the future, just because I'm more used to leaner cuts of meat?

In other news, awards! I'd like to thank Palidor at Crazy Asian Gal for the following award.

Palidor is so kind and sweet. She lives in The Land Without Symphony Bars (also called "Canada"*), and her blog is among my favorites to read. How she comes up with such yummy recipes while eating gluten-free, I'll never know.

I'd like to pass this award on (see, I'm getting the hang of this!) to the following bloggers:

• girlichef: Her derring-do in the kitchen tops all others. (She makes her own fresh mozzarella and cream cheese!) Plus, she lets me private e-mail her with all kinds of annoying questions. She should be sainted. If I could bottle her energy, I'd ... keep it all for myself.
• Accountants can cook?: Accountants apparently can write, as well. Aside from the yummy recipes, I just love the narrative style. And she puts her meal plans on her Blackberry. I think that makes her my hero.
• My Tasty Treasures: I salivate, giggle, and blush every time I read her blog.
• My Year on the Grill: He grills anything. He says anything. Today, while catching up on his posts, I laughed so hard that I sprayed juice out of my nose. Now THAT's an endorsement.

*Let it be known that I harbor no grudge against Canada. I love Canada. I visit frequently. I honeymooned there. They have great concerts. Although I do notice a huge difference in Old Dutch potato chips across our northern border. Is this because of some difference in Dutch heritage in Canada versus the U.S.? Just wondering.

Slow Cooker Short Ribs
Serves 4

2 lbs. bone-in beef short ribs
Salt, pepper, and steak seasoning (recommend Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 c. dry red wine
3 c. beef broth, divided
2 c. halved baby carrots
3 c. chopped potatoes
1/2 onion, peeled, root intact
1 dried bay leaf
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. dried rosemary
1 tsp. seasoned salt
1/4 c. cornstarch

1. Sprinkle short ribs on all sides with salt, pepper, and steak seasoning.

2. Preheat oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat.

Tip: Don't forget about the oil while you're facing the other way, chopping carrots, or you'll smoke up the entire room. And if you have an open floor plan, this means the entire main floor of the house. And then you'll have to wake up the hubby to go take the baby downstairs so they can both breathe, and you can open the windows to the 44-degree air and attempt to clear out the smoke over the course of the next hour.

3. Brown the ribs on all sides in the oil, about 8-10 minutes total.

4. Place ribs in slow cooker. Pour off any remaining oil in the pan.

5. Pour wine and 2 1/2 c. broth in pan, scraping up the bits from the bottom. Pour wine and broth into slow cooker.

6. Add carrots, potatoes, onion, and seasonings.

7. Cook on high for 3 1/2 hours, or on low for 7 1/2 hours.

8. Combine 1/2 c. beef broth and cornstarch, and stir into beef mixture. Cook an additional 30 minutes, or until gravy is thickened. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste. (I used a lot of salt, something like 2-3 teaspoons.)

9. Remove onion and bay leaf before serving.