Thursday 17 April 2014

200

On Tuesday night I made two of my favourite things to cook:


Prawn pasta (recipe here)



And shortbread (recipe here)

I went out to our tiny local supermarket to get some ingredients but I had to buy some Thai rice flour instead of the one I normally buy. I was excited by the price ($1.50, bargain!) but I'm not convinced that the final product tastes quite as good. Though it still tasted good enough for me to eat 5 pieces before lunch the next day.

Yesterday I made another favourite of mine: Something Experimental. When I was in high school my friend Julia (hello if you're reading!) used to bring in these lovely pizza scroll thingies on special occasions, and last night I was thinking about them so I decided to have a go at recreating them. I don't know Julia's recipe so I just made it up but they turned out really well! 


I used:
Pampas puff pastry
Tomato paste
Grated mozarella
Black olives from a jar
Diced ham

I just put everything onto the pastry, then rolled it up and sliced it as you would pinwheel sandwiches or a swiss roll cake. This part was extremely messy and difficult! I almost gave up, but instead I put the slices on a tray and baked them at 180 until they looked crispy and delicious.

These would be a great make-ahead snack if anyone is planning to entertain over Easter.

And in other news this is my 200th post! Perhaps tonight I will eat 200 Easter eggs to celebrate this exciting milestone.  

Happy long weekend!



Monday 14 April 2014

Weekend Activities

Last weekend I went out with the girls (hello girls if you are reading!) on Friday night to Lobo Plantation. The drinks were great but it was really packed - luckily we had the sense to invite ourselves to join someone else's table. 

This beverage was called a Communist Sour and it was very nice indeed.


Afterwards we went to Barbershop. I had never been before and I can't say I feel like I've been missing out on much. It was a fun night though!

The next day James and I went to Xtract in Rockers for lunch. I had a smoked salmon omelette which was pretty nice but James won with this excellent "Lebanese Tapas".


I felt pretty sick so I spent the rest of the afternoon in bed but I dragged myself out for a birthday party. There was a giant outdoor movie screen and the backyard was full of blankets and chairs and decorated with lanterns and fairy lights. It was fantastic!


Happy birthday Steph! Thanks for having us and well done Ben and Momz on building the screen!


On Sunday James and I went to Foodies for this amazing Nutella shake.




This weekend we went to the Organic Foodies Market at Ramsgate Public School. Highly recommended.  Just look at this beautiful fresh produce:


We bought some! And some breakfast from the Fritter House.


The bacon was way overcooked and the tomato relish tasted like Maccas Secret Sauce but the fritters themselves were top notch and pretty reasonably priced.

But I think the highlight of the event was this stall:


It's just a shop of leopard print things! That's all they sold! Apart from (weirdly) ONE orange top.

I admired a clutch but it was eighty five dollars which is insane. Instead I bought myself a beautiful gingerbread biscuit from some nice girls running a Pretty Easter Things stall. 


It was $2.50.  That's more like it.

James went out at night so I had a hot date with Charcoal Kingdom. It was really tasty, especially that garlic sauce, but I'm not sure they gave me enough chips.


I guess you can't have everything.

Yesterday I went to Hurstville and got my hurr did. My hairdresser is called Michael and he is just about my favourite person in the world.  He's really fun and helpful and I never ever want to cry after I get home. AND he only charges twenty five bucks! He's at Eddie's Salon in Hurstville Westfield, just past the entrance with the Bubble Tea shop. (I know, but seriously trust me, you won't be sorry.)


Afterwards I did a little bit of shopping and tried on these sensational leopard print jeans. I didn't buy them, but I think I'll have to go back. I hope they don't sell out.

And if you're looking for some adequate groceries, look no further than this shop on Forest Rd:


As is our tradition, James and I had a date at night. We went to Sunny's - the seafood restaurant not the BBQ one - and had this big chilli mud crab. It was challenging but delicious.


I love weekends. Only three days until the next one!

Friday 4 April 2014

Buzz Buzz


A little while ago a reader asked where I got my bee ring from. Good question!




I bought it from a stall on Market Day at uni (every second Wednesday, FYI) circa 2011. It cost $5 but in terms of cost per wear it was pretty much free.


It has a couple of buddies, including this awesome bee brooch I bought from a massive sale at Accessorize in Singapore airport.




And this necklace from Colette Accessories which I bought a few months ago.




James isn't a particular fan of the bee ring; he thinks it is "a bit gaudy". You can guess how he feels about its cousin the insect ring.




This is one of my favourite pieces of jewellery ever. I always have so much fun when I wear it and it will come in handy if I ever get in a fight/am a victim of an oppressive patriarchal society and need to give someone a good wallop.


In other news it was World Autism Day this week, and while you're being aware of autism you should read this New York Times article Reaching My Autistic Son Through Disney. Warning: you might get something in your eye while you're reading this.


And what's this about Lindt chocolate supporting some dodgy autism charity that nobody likes? Cara are you reading this?


Have a super weekend.

Tuesday 1 April 2014

Made Any Good Small Talk Lately?

I had lunch at Ham in Cronulla the other day. It was so good!


They had lactose free milk so I got to enjoy my first hot chocolate in a few months, thanks Harry and Mario!





This cupcake had the best icing I've ever tasted. I also tried one of those little flat-topped cakes with pastel icing that are in all the cafes these days, turns out they are super delicious coconut thingies! I was reminded of the macaroons (NOT macarons) I used to get at Miss Maud's circa 1996. 


James and I are developing a habit of going on dates every Sunday. Can't say I mind. 


We checked out Seven Lanterns at Sylvania recently, then changed our minds and went to an old school Chinese restaurant instead. Best decision.


The following week we went to Newtown for a cocktail at Corridor and a movie at the Dendy. 

The cocktails were superb.


The movie was not. It was Le Week-end - great performances, especially from Jeff Goldblum (hello if you're reading Jeff!), but we found it slow and miserable. 


This Glasshouse Hong Kong candle is the opposite of miserable. Emily gave it to me as a housewarming present and I was absolutely delighted to receive it. 

I had Mum, Betty and Nana over for afternoon tea the other day. 


As you can see I like them enough to drag out a tablecloth but not enough to iron it. 

My baby pretend-nephew O turned one last month! He had a Pirates and Princesses themed birthday featuring eight thousand children and this spectacular cake:




I think his grandma made this fruit salad pirate ship.



Speaking of fruit I am off to have a nice orange for a snack.


Serving suggestion: serve thinly sliced in a glass with Campari, vodka, ruby red grapefruit juice and tonic water. I made this up myself and it is delicious.