Even the scrub turkey's are seeking cover
We're heading to the Barossa for the Australia Day long weekend...I hope the weather Gods shine on us over there. Can't wait to wine and dine the weekend away!
Tuesday 24 January 2012
Sunday 22 January 2012
Eating through the week
Nat here. Shaanie is in BrisVegas from Singapore for a quick visit which is super dooper exciting. We had a lovely breakie this morning at Cirque on Brunswick St. Note to all who venture - order the Spanish omelette and share it between at least 3, it was huge! It was great to catch up with S, three girls from Cayman dining in BrisVegas - fun!
Husband and I tried Libertine at the Barracks on the weekend which was fab, although I must admit, a little overpriced. I do recommend the duck wraps...delish. You can't see my cocktail in the photo but it was something "Miami" and yumm-o.
Sometimes being a tourist in your own town is thrilling - Husband and I took the City Cat into Southbank this afternoon and tried out the new dining precinct - River Quay. We ended up at Piccolo, which coincidently is owned by the same people as Libertine and Peasant, similar vibe but Italian and quite scrummy indeed. The Arancini balls were to die for - go for two orders. It went down beautifully with our jug of Pimms. Sublime spot for people watching...
Sunshine!!
Gosh, you can only see our waters again..we look so soft! Honestly our jug of Pimms is just out of sight! Lovely views of BrisVegas...
Tourist shot of husband on the City Cat, it's not just London with a fancy eye you know...
Tonight, I'm in thrifty mode - have decided to use the bananas which are very over-ripe and an orange that's also nearly gone and made a banana cake with citrus icing...it's in the oven now. It's a very easy AWW recipe, out of one of my favourite cook books Quick-Mix Cakes (circa 1993), hop on Ebay and pick yourself up a copy, it's a bakers bible. Here's the recipe:
Moist Banana Loaf
125g butter chopped (I use the new Western Star Chef's Choice - it will change your usual baking!)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup castor sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup mashed banana (the more over-ripe the better!)
1 1/2 cups self raising flour
1tsp bi-carb soda
1 tbs milk
Combine on low speed, and then beat on medium speed until it has changed in colour. Pop it in a lined loaf pan (or even better a non-stick tupperware loaf pan - no preparation necessary!). Bake it at 180% for 1 hour.
Citrus Icing - combine 1 1/2 icing sugar, 1tsp orange/lemon or lime rind, 20g butter and 1 1/2 tbs orange/lemon or lime juice until it tastes delicious.
Waalaa! I should have waited until it was completely cooled to ice but Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta is starting on SBS, absolutely brilliant documentary series..better run!
Husband and I tried Libertine at the Barracks on the weekend which was fab, although I must admit, a little overpriced. I do recommend the duck wraps...delish. You can't see my cocktail in the photo but it was something "Miami" and yumm-o.
Sometimes being a tourist in your own town is thrilling - Husband and I took the City Cat into Southbank this afternoon and tried out the new dining precinct - River Quay. We ended up at Piccolo, which coincidently is owned by the same people as Libertine and Peasant, similar vibe but Italian and quite scrummy indeed. The Arancini balls were to die for - go for two orders. It went down beautifully with our jug of Pimms. Sublime spot for people watching...
Gosh, you can only see our waters again..we look so soft! Honestly our jug of Pimms is just out of sight! Lovely views of BrisVegas...
Tourist shot of husband on the City Cat, it's not just London with a fancy eye you know...
Tonight, I'm in thrifty mode - have decided to use the bananas which are very over-ripe and an orange that's also nearly gone and made a banana cake with citrus icing...it's in the oven now. It's a very easy AWW recipe, out of one of my favourite cook books Quick-Mix Cakes (circa 1993), hop on Ebay and pick yourself up a copy, it's a bakers bible. Here's the recipe:
Moist Banana Loaf
125g butter chopped (I use the new Western Star Chef's Choice - it will change your usual baking!)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup castor sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup mashed banana (the more over-ripe the better!)
1 1/2 cups self raising flour
1tsp bi-carb soda
1 tbs milk
Combine on low speed, and then beat on medium speed until it has changed in colour. Pop it in a lined loaf pan (or even better a non-stick tupperware loaf pan - no preparation necessary!). Bake it at 180% for 1 hour.
Citrus Icing - combine 1 1/2 icing sugar, 1tsp orange/lemon or lime rind, 20g butter and 1 1/2 tbs orange/lemon or lime juice until it tastes delicious.
Waalaa! I should have waited until it was completely cooled to ice but Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta is starting on SBS, absolutely brilliant documentary series..better run!
Saturday 14 January 2012
Something sweet
Nat here. We fancied something sweet today, and there is nothing more sweet than Bailey's cheesecake. I took some short cuts as waiting was not an option. Here's the recipe:
Mini Chocolate Baileys Cheesecakes
Ingredients
250g cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup caster suger
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbs baileys
150g milk chocolate, melted
300g thickened cream
1/2 cup boiling water
1. Line a 12 hole muffin pan with cases. Take one biscuit for each case and squish them in (they might need a little cutting-down to fit).
2. Sprinkle one tablespoon of gelatine powder over the boiling water. Stir until dissolved, then allow it to cool.
3. Beat sugar, cream cheese, lemon juice until the sugar has dissolved. In another bowl whip the cream and stir through the melted chocolate and baileys.
4. Fold through the cream cheese, gelatin mixture and cream using a spatula until just combined.
5. Pour the cheesecake mixture into the cases. There should be plenty left for "testing" purposes.
6. Waalaa! They take a few hours to set, but the testing mixture should keep you going until such time.
For a dinner party I would grate some chocolate on top, and fan a strawberry on the side....but right now - unnecessary!
Mini Chocolate Baileys Cheesecakes
Ingredients
250g cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup caster suger
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbs baileys
150g milk chocolate, melted
300g thickened cream
1/2 cup boiling water
1. Line a 12 hole muffin pan with cases. Take one biscuit for each case and squish them in (they might need a little cutting-down to fit).
2. Sprinkle one tablespoon of gelatine powder over the boiling water. Stir until dissolved, then allow it to cool.
3. Beat sugar, cream cheese, lemon juice until the sugar has dissolved. In another bowl whip the cream and stir through the melted chocolate and baileys.
4. Fold through the cream cheese, gelatin mixture and cream using a spatula until just combined.
5. Pour the cheesecake mixture into the cases. There should be plenty left for "testing" purposes.
6. Waalaa! They take a few hours to set, but the testing mixture should keep you going until such time.
SUNSHINE!
For a dinner party I would grate some chocolate on top, and fan a strawberry on the side....but right now - unnecessary!
Friday 13 January 2012
Cushions
Nat here. After seeing the cushion in the Christmas Tree photo, the cushion police called and told me it was time for a makeover. We decided on colour...thanks Domayne. Meanwhile, how good is the Homemaker Centre in the Valley? Brilliant! I think we could have undercushioned (FF would definitely not approve - sorry!), however husband tells me that the rule is one cushion per seat...how does he know these things? FF how do you cushion so well and use your couch? Lie on it to watch a movie?
If only changing feature wall colours was as easy as changing cushions...sigh...
SUNSHINE!
If only changing feature wall colours was as easy as changing cushions...sigh...
Christmas
Nat here. So Christmas is over for another year....time to pack away the tree
And start planning next year's table setting. Thank you Freedom for your input into this year's silver and white theme!
I followed some great advice this year - cooked the turkey and ham the day before, warmed them up Christmas morning and then wrapped them in foil and tightly in towels - they stayed warm...and my champagne glass didn't leave my hand.
The Gingerbread Course at James St Cooking School was a success...
SUNSHINE!
Husband's Dad has requested a verandah on next year's...I think it's a great idea.
Celeb Spotting
Nat here - look who husband and I saw at the Races today?
SUNSHINE!
Dad....I dug a hole.
Kitchen Tea
Nat here - spruiking the goodness of a wonderful friend A who hosted one of the world's best tea parties in the park. Unfortunately the tea was lacking (thanks to our foes at the Brisbane City Council who locked the hot water) but the food more than made up for that! Here are some pics before she had finished setting-up....isn't A clever?
Her husband J must also be thanked as he created the stand for the cake pops (which I might add were heavenly mortals) - Nigella's recipe which I'll have to source. That large one was my take-home cake-pop...LOVE!
We had lurvely fine bone china for the occasion of course, hired from Hummingbird Vintage Hire (look them up - Katy is a superstar) no paper plates for this picnic! I was super lucky to be able to add these to my own collection...
I know it was a lot of work A, lucky you have a superman son...
Really...he is.
SUNSHINE!
We had lurvely fine bone china for the occasion of course, hired from Hummingbird Vintage Hire (look them up - Katy is a superstar) no paper plates for this picnic! I was super lucky to be able to add these to my own collection...
I know it was a lot of work A, lucky you have a superman son...
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