Caesar Salad

This recipe is so very delicious and very authentic. Trust me when I say that it is actually pretty much restaurant quality. True. And here am I say that about my own cooking! *blush*

*Taken from Karen Martini's 'Where the Heart Is'*

Ingredients
1 bulb garlic
1 cup (300g) egg mayonnaise
2 tbs sour cream
8 anchovy fillets, finely chopped
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 clove garlic, finely chopped
splash of vinegar
4 free-range eggs (60g each)
3 baby cos lettuces, very outed leaves removed and each cut into 6 wedges, leaving core intact
1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
1/2 bunch chives, finely chopped
1 red onion, finely sliced
3 tbs small capers
10 slices pancetta, roasted at 165C for 5-7 minutes
150g shaved Parmesan
extra lemon juice
freshly ground black pepper
4 slices sourdough bread
extra clove garlic and olive oil to serve

Method
To make the dressing, roast the garlic bulb at 150C for 30 minutes, then cut and squeeze flesh out. Combine roasted garlic flesh, mayonnaise, sour cream, anchovies, lemon juice and chopped garlic in a food processor and process until smooth. If the mix is too stiff, add a little lemon juice until dressing is sauce-like. Set aside.

Bring a saucepan of lightly salted water to the boil and add a splash of vinegar. Slide in eggs and poach for 3-5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm.

Arrange lettuce on plates and drizzle over dressing. Scatter parsley, chives, onion and capers over lettuce.

Place an egg on each plate, crumble pancetta over eggs and shave over some Parmesan, add a squeeze of extra lemon juice and, if desired, grind over black pepper.

Toast the bread, rub with an extra clove or garlic, then drizzle with olive oil and cut into fingers. Serve immediately.

Serves 4

Kitchen Appliances

Is there a piece of Kitchen equipment you can't live without? Besides the oven and sink of course. That goes without saying. But an appliance?

Mine is (and has been for ages), my Bamix. I couldn't live without it as I use it often. It was an engagement present from my sister and her partner, four years ago. It came with a few attachments so I can whip, beat, mix etc., The best attachment is the one which works like a mini food processor. I always make my fresh breadcrumbs using this attachment. Always. If only it was a bit bigger I'd be happy, but in the meanwhile it does the trick.

Yes, the next appliance I would like is a food processor.

What appliance would you like? But would you use it?

Monet's Kitchen

Monet can be funny sometimes. Not ha ha funny. Just funny. You know what I mean. Don't you? She goes through phases of activities.

Somedays she'll happily sit in her room and read book after book, until they cover her floor and then she'll go through them all again. For a good hour or so she will do that.

Somedays she'll grab all her teddies and dolls and place them, one by one, on her floor, or, worse still (because that means I have to put them back), on the lounge room floor. Hours of entertainment there.

Then there will be days when she wants nothing to do with books or teddies or dolls. She'll lounge on the couch or sit and (attempt to) draw.

Today's activity has been to play with her 'Elmo Kitchen'. It was a Christmas gift from my parents that is certainly worth its weight in gold...today anyway.

She's been pottering around with it this morning. Preparing meals for me, making cups of tea for me, making Pickles (my, sorry, Monet's teddy) breakfast, washing the dishes in the little sink, opening the cupboard and the oven, turning on the hot plates, actually using the toy for its main purpose (which isn't just to sit and take up valuable space in our apartment!)

Sometimes when Monet is using her kitchen she tells me to go and use my kitchen. She doesn't really tell me as such, she demands it! It's because she knows I happily spend time in the kitchen preparing meals and baking goodies.

Hopefully in years to come Monet will happily potter around in my kitchen and prepare meals and goodies for me to eat. Just like I did in my mother's kitchen.

Melody's Gourmet Lamb Burgers

Unfortunately there is no photo to go along with this recipe as I actually forgot. I was too busy thinking about actually eating it than taking a photo of the finished cooked product! Uh-oh.

I made this recipe up a few years ago and they always go down well. You can add other ingredients that you like (maybe olives, capers) or delete ones that you don't like. I usually serve them in a bun (tonight's was Turkish Bread Rolls), along with fresh baby spinach leaves, cheese and either tomato relish or tomato sauce.

I don't record exact weights and measures in this particular recipe. Just add as much (or as little) as you like, or what you've got floating around in the fridge. They'll turn out fine.

Ingredients
Lamb mince (to make about 5 patties, use 500gms)
Red onion, chopped
Semi-Sun dried Tomatoes, chopped
Marinated fetta, crumbled
Pine nuts, toasted
Baby spinach leaves, shredded
Fresh basil, chopped
Garlic clove, finely chopped
Fresh Bread crumbs
Dash of extra-virgin Olive Oil

Method
Add all ingredients into a bowl and mix by hand. Divide the mixture into hand-size patties and flatten out.

Cook. (Either on the BBQ or in a frying pan with a dash of olive oil on the hot plate.)

Yes, they are that easy!! Hehe...

Spinach, Herb, Rocotta & Fetta Filo Pastry Pie

A relatively easy recipe to prepare. I cheated and used pre-packaged frozen spinach... Can be eaten hot or cold and served with Tzatziki. To be honest with you I wasn't a big fan of it - maybe there was too much spinach for my liking and not enough cheese. Next time I'd probably cut down the spinach to 500g and increase the ricotta to 500g. But that is just my opinion. The biggest surprise though was that Lyndon actually really liked it. He normally doesn't like things like this...

*Taken from (you-guessed-it) Karen Martini's 'Where The Heart Is'*

Ingredients
150ml extra virgin olive oil
1 brown onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tbs capers, chopped
800-900g spinach (with stems), coarsely chopped
4 sprigs mint, leaves picked and torn
4 sprigs oregano, leaves picked and torn
4 sprigs flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked and torn
2 eggs, lightly beaten
250g ricotta
120g fetta, crumbled
salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper
12 large sheets filo pastry
2 tsp ground fennel seeds

Method

Heat 50ml of the olive oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add capers and half the spinach and cook for 4-5 minutes. Drain in a colander and press out excess liquid. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Add a little more oil to the pan and cook herbs and remaining spinach until wilted. Drain in a colander and press out excess liquid. Add to bowl. Stir eggs, ricotta and fetta into spinach mixture and mix well. Season.

Preheat oven to 165C.

Grease a round 20cm cake tin and line the base with baking paper. Keep the filo covered with a damp towel while working so it doesn't dry out. Place two pastry pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface and brush with olive oil. Repeat twice more. Place half the spinach mixture along the center of pastry and roll length ways. Place roll in a circle around the inside of the cake tin. Make another roll with remaining pastry and spinach mixture. Place in cake tin and wind around to completely cover the base of the tin. Brush with olive oil, scatter with fennel seeds, salt and pepper. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden. Cool before serving.

Serves 6

Which Weather Will It Be Today?**UPDATED**

The so-called 'Weather experts' have stated that the 'Wet Season' has begun in our little corner of the world. But if you looked out of my lounge room window this morning you wouldn't believe it.

The sun is shining and all I can see is a cloudless blue sky. Perfect. It's just gone 8am and it is about 28 degrees Celsius outside.

We had a lot of rain late yesterday afternoon. This is what the rain radar looked like at around 8pm...
Cairns city is just below the center of the map, surrounded and covered in rain, rain and yet more rain.

This is what the radar looks like at the moment...

A few light drops over the reef in the far north east of the map. I can only imagine that late this afternoon the map will be blanketed in blue again. But then, I could be wrong. I'm no weather expert. However, it seems like every second person up here is. And I live with one. Hehe...

What's the weather like outside your window right now?

**UPDATE** Okay, it's 8:15pm here now and look at the current radar...

...I told you the Wet Season had arrived, didn't I?

Angel-Hair Pasta with Butter, Soft Goat's Curd, Chervil and Chives

To begin with I have to say that I could not find any fresh Chervil ANYWHERE so substituted chervil for fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley. After all, Chervil is a French Parsley so I figured Italian was just as good, yes? And goat's curd? Well, I'm pretty sure the marinated fetta I bought wasn't goat's but it was absolutely delicious.... A very quick and easy dinner!

*Taken from Karen Martini's 'Where The Heart Is'*

Ingredients
150g unsalted butter
500g fresh angel-hair pasta (I used dried angel-hair spaghetti)
1/2 cup chives, finely chopped
3/4 cup chervil, coarsely chopped
150g fresh soft goats curd or marinated soft goats fetta, crumbled
salt flakes and freshly ground pepper
extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
shaved Parmesan (optional) to serve

Method
Cut butter into small cubes and set aside at room temperature for about 20 minutes.

Cook pasta in a large saucepan of lightly salted boiling water for 2-3 minutes or until al dente. Drain, then add butter and toss to combine. Stir through chives, chervil and goat's cheese. Season with salt and cracked pepper. Drizzle generously with extra virgin olive oil. Serve immediately, scattered with Parmesan, if desired.

Serves 4

Because I Can...

Wasn't she a chubby little cutie, at four months old?

Sauteed Potato and Chorizo

This is a very simple potato side dish to make. It is soooo tasty (trust me) and I will surely be making it again soon.

*Taken from Karen Martini's 'Where The Heart Is'*

Ingredients

1/2 cup (125ml) extra virgin olive oil

200g hot chorizo sausage, chopped

4 cloves garlic, finely sliced

4 golden shallots, halved and sliced

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp sweet paprika

2 fresh bay leaves (I used dried)

800g small desiree potatoes, peeled and cut into 5mm thick slices

salt flakes and freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup (125ml) white wine

1 cup (250ml) water

4 sprigs oregano

Method

Heat a little of the oil in a large heavy-based frying pan over medium heat. Add chorizo, garlic, shallots, cayenne, paprika and bay leaves and stir for 1 minute. Add potato slices and remaining oil and stir. Season to taste and add wine. Bring to the boil, then add water and oregano sprigs. Lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until the liquid is almost evaporated and the potatoes are caramelised on the bottom of the pan. Adjust seasoning if necessary and serve.

Serves 4

Our Aussie Day

We have had a couple of stressful days around here, mainly to do with our bank loan but all seems to be getting sorted out. Fingers crossed and all.

So today it was a nice excuse to forget about our stresses of the past two days and enjoy Australia Day for all it was worth. Not that we went out and celebrated with the masses down at the Cairns Esplanade. Just celebrated in our own special way.

To begin with it was a Public Holiday, which meant Lyndon was home all day. But really, how can it be a Public Holiday when all the shops are open and all those poor shop assistance have to work, many at normal rate of pay. I symphasise with them. I was once one of those workers. I have a much better job now though don't I?

I figured for lunch that we'd have a BBQ. That's what Aussies do. That's what we're partly famous for. Lyndon cooked bacon and eggs on the Barbie whilst I got all fancy nancy with the Turkish bread and attempted to cut an outline of Australia. What do you think?

Tasted pretty good, I'll tell you that much. Not too filling either.

We spent a good while in our pool this afternoon. Monet is becoming quite the good little swimmer. She thinks she is oh so clever with her little green 'floaties' on and attempting to swim via the encouragement of Lyndon and I to use her little arms and kicking of those gorgeous legs of hers. Her smile is priceless. She has come a long way since her first pool venture at the age of three months. I think I'll enrol her in swimming lessons once we move. That's my plan anyway.

I can't wait for any of her grandparents to see Monet in the pool. She simply loves it. Too cute.

After a shower and a change after our long dip in the pool, to keep Monet happy, we went to one of the pubs close by. True. Monet was eager to go and well, how could we deny her? So a pub it was.

The beer of choice was good old Australian Carlton Draught schooners. Nice and icy. Besides the fact we were sitting outside and it felt like 40 degrees Celsius. And the sweat on all our brows started to become unbearable so we had to move on.

To another pub of course. Just for one more. Have to keep the young one happy don't we? Or should that be, didn't we?

Lyndon cooked some meat on the Barbie for dinner whilst I made a simply sensational potato side dish inside. I'll post the recipe on my

recipe blog tomorrow.

Nothing much on television tonight. Australia thrashed the English in the one-day international cricket, so that wasn't on television because it finished so bloody early.

That was our day.

How was yours?

Tuna Nicoise

This recipe was delicious, besides the fact it took some fiddling about. It was worth the trouble. An absolute taste sensation and I will surely be making this again in the very near future. I didn't use the tuna steaks, instead I used Yellowfin Tuna in Oil from a tin (which was recommend if fresh tuna not available to use.) Please make it and you won't be disappointed. And yes, yet another Karen Martini recipe...

*Taken from Karen Martini's 'Where The Heart Is'*

Ingredients
4 free-range eggs (60g each)
splash of vinegar
1/2 bunch basil leaves, finely chopped
1/2 bunch flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
150ml extra virgin olive oil
salt flakes and freshly ground pepper
250g small green beans, trimmed
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 punnet (250g) red cherry tomatoes, quartered (I used grape tomatoes)
100g butter, chopped
6 anchovy fillets, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2tbs plain yoghurt
4 yellowfin tuna steaks (120g each)
3 large Desiree or kipfler potatoes, peeled and boiled in lightly salted water, then thinly sliced and tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper and kept warm
1tbs small capers
16 black olives
lemon wedges to serve

Method
Bring a saucepan of lightly salted water to the boil and add a splash of vinegar. Slide in the eggs and poach for 3-5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm.

Place herbs in a bowl, add 50ml olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cook beans in lightly salted boiling water for 3-4 minutes. Drain and add hot beans immediately to herb and oil mix. Add onion and cherry tomatoes and toss to combine.

To make the anchovy sauce, place butter, remaining olive oil, anchovies and garlic in a small saucepan. Use a wooden spoon to stir over low heat until anchovies dissolve, then season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Mix mayonnaise and yoghurt in a separate bowl.

On a hot barbecue or in a hot non-stick pan, sear the lightly oiled tuna or cook to your liking (2-3 minutes for rare, 3-4 minutes for medium, 4-6 minutes for well done).

To serve, spread the mayonnaise on four plates, arrange potato slices over and top with tuna. Spoon on the bean mix and scatter capers and olives. Place egg on top and spoon over hot anchovy sauce. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Serves 4

Lamington Slice

Since tomorrow is Australia Day, I thought I'd make something in celebration of this great country. And what could be more Australian than the humble Lamington. This recipe is really easy and it pretty tasty, with it being a little different from the norm as it is presented as a slice, rather than a cake as such...

*Taken from a Donna Hay newspaper cutting*

Ingredients
125g unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup plain flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 cup shredded coconut
chocolate icing
3/4 cup icing sugar
2 tbs coco powder
1/3 cup boiling water
20g unsalted butter, melted

Method
Preheat oven to 180C.

To make the chocolate icing, place the icing sugar, cocoa, water and butter in a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.

Place the butter, sugar and vanilla into an electric mixer and beat until light and creamy. Gradually add the egg and beat well. Sift the flour and baking powder together over the butter mixture and mix until well combined. Stir in the milk. Spoon the mixture into lightly greased 20cm x 30cm slice tin lined with non-stick baking paper and bake for 20 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer.

While still warm, cut the slice into squares and carefully pour over the chocolate icing. Top with shredded coconut.

Makes 18

I Wonder?

This afternoon, whilst I was busily sorting through my half of the wardrobe, I peeped outside my room to see just what the Little One was up too.

She was in the play area of our main living area chatting away to one of her dolls (Heidi to be presice).

"This is how you draw", the kneeling Monet said to the propped up Heidi, who was sitting on the seat before her. Monet had even dressed the seat with a doll blanket. She likes her dolls to be seated in comfort.

Monet had one of those Fisher Price Doodle boards and was trying to get Heidi to hold the pen, which comes with it.

I had to sneak a photo, I seriously did. I should have got the video camera out but Monet would have seen me and the moment would have been gone.

An art teacher in the making perhaps? Nah, maybe not. A fashion stylist? Probably! Hehe...

Eggplant Involtini with Ricotta, Mozzarella and Tomato

Not ever haven made anything involving eggplant before, I was pretty keen on trying this recipe. Monet was not keen on tasting it (something to do with her being tired me thinks!) but Lyndon thought it was really nice and I tend to agree with him. Give it a go, you will not be disappointed.

I must say here, that the Karen Martini book I have been using is simply wonderful. I think this is my ninth recipe of hers that I have tried and posted about on this blog!!

*Taken from the Karen Martini book 'Where The Heart Is'*

Ingredients

3 eggs

2 large eggplants (I used 1)

1/2 cup plain flour

300ml olive oil, for frying

250g ricotta

salt flakes and freshly ground pepper

3 tbs currants, soaked in red wine vinegar for 5 mins, then drained

1/2 cup (40 g) grated Parmesan

200 g mozzarella, cut into 1 cm-thick slices (I used grated)

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (I did NOT add this)

2 cups (500 ml) tomato passata

2 sprigs flat-leaf parsley, chopped

50 g pine nuts, coarsely chopped

3 tbs coarse breadcrumbs

Method

In a small shallow bowl, lightly beat 2 eggs with 1 tbs water. Cut the eggplants lengthways into 1 cm-thick slices. Dust the eggplant slices with flour, then dip in the egg-wash. Heat oil in a large heavy-based frying pan over high heat. Cook eggplant slices for 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden. Drain well on kitchen paper.

In a medium bowl, mix ricotta with remaining egg. Season with salt and pepper. Add the drained currants and half the Parmesan and stir to combine. Spoon about 1 tbs of the ricotta mixture onto each eggplant slice. Add a stick of mozzarella and roll up tightly.

Preheat oven to 170C. Brush the base of a large ovenproof dish with 1 tbs of the extra virgin olive oil. Spread half of the tomato passata in the base of dish. Place the eggplant rolls on the tomato, seam-side down so they don't unroll. Drizzle with remaining oil (which I didn't do!), spoon over remaining passata and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan.

Combine parsley, pine nuts and breadcrumbs in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the top. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for a further 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and gooey.

Serve with a mixed-leaf salad dressed with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.

Indulge With Me...

Sometimes I find it is nice to have a drink when cooking dinner. There is something about standing over a stove top sipping a beer or wine.



Tonight's choice was an icy cold Danish Carlsberg. Delicious.



Do you ever indulge in a drink when cooking your evening meal?

Chow-Mein-Style Beef with Cabbage, Peas and Vermicelli

I like a good chow-mein. It warms the soul. This recipe was a little different from what I was used from and a hell of a lot more spicy, but still delicious. I recommend only a quick dash of chilli powder (if any), I think I put too much in it for my liking but I coped. Lyndon is a fan of hot and spicy food so he thought it was really good, even if he usually doesn't like Chow-Mein.

*Taken from Karen Martini's 'Where the Heart is'*

Ingredients
3 tbs olive oil
400g beef mince
2 pinches Chinese five-spice powder
2 pinches chilli powder (optional)
1 large brown onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
50g fresh ginger, grated
1/4 cabbage, finely sliced
1 1/2 tbs oyster sauce
100ml tamari* (I used 30ml normal soy sauce)
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/2 cup frozen peas
4 spring onions, sliced diagonally
3 green chillies, sliced
100g vermicelli (thin rice noodles) cooked in boiling water for 1 1/2 mins
salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper

Method
Heat oil in a large wok over very high heat. Add beef and cook, stirring to break up, for 3-5 minutes or until well browned. Sprinkle in five-spice powder and chilli powder if using.

Add onion, garlic and ginger and stir. Add sliced cabbage and 125ml hot water and stir again. Stir in oyster sauce, tamari and sesame oil. Add peas, spring onions, chillies and noodles. Stir, then, if needed, add a splash more hot water. Check seasoning and serve immediately.

Serves 4

I actually cooked mine in my French Chasseur dish instead of a wok. I kept it at a low heat after doing all the above steps and added a bit more water and a handful of rice. It was pretty spicy before I did all that and I wanted Monet to be able to eat it without her telling me it was "too spicy".

*Tamari is a naturally fermented soy sauce made from soybeans and without any wheat. It is usually darked in colour than the more common soy sauce

AUD$6 This Time

I've been at it again......another day, another dress. The weather was a bit rainy this afternoon. What else could I do besides talk to my mother on the phone, clean up after my daughter, prepare dinner and sew a toddler dress... (Dresses on the material this time - my Spotlight must be out of fruit material...)

What do you usually get up to when it rains at your place?

Strawberry Dress

Since all Monet wants to wear now is the 'cherry' dress I made her, I figured I should make her another one.

We visited 'Spotlight' again and Monet walked around, touching (!!) all the fabrics and exclaiming "That's beautiful!...That's cute!" We got lots of looks and smiles, let me tell you! Monet decided on some strawberry printed fabric. She did well. The material only cost me $3.50.

I made the dress yesterday, which she wore all afternoon and now again today.

Don't you love the way she is modelling the back of the dress for the camera?

I'm guessing I will have to make more now won't I?...

Mango & Lettuce Rolls

A little fidely to make but very tasty...

Ingredients
3 mangoes
1/2 cup Asian-style plum sauce
1 tbs sweet chilli sauce
1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander
2-3 cups hot water
12 8 21 cm (diameter) rice paper wrappers
2 cups finely shredded iceberg lettuce
250 g cooked smoked skinless chicken breast fillet, sliced thinly
1 small Lebanese cucumber, cut into thin strips

Method
Cut flesh off mangoes and remove skin. Thickly slice flesh. Combine sauces and 2 tbs coriander.

Pour hot water into a large shallow bowl. Immerse one wrapper in the water for 20-30 secondes or until softened. Lay on a clean surface.

Place a small amount of lettuce, chicken, mango, cucumber and coriander in the center of the wrapper. Drizzle with 1/2 tsp dipping sauce. Fold the top section of the wrapper over. Fold in the sides and roll up to enclose filling. Place rolls on a plate, cover loosely with damp paper towel. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling. Serve with dipping sauce.

Serves 4

Provencale Capsicums

I made this for dinner tonight not expecting Lyndon to go on (and on) about it! He loved it. So flavoursome and tasty he thought and I tended to agree with him. He said if he had to mark me out of 10 I would have got 10 out of 10 for this meal! What a compliment hey...

*Taken from Karen Martini's 'Where The Heart Is'*

Ingredients
2 punnets (500 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
5 tbs black olives, pitted and finely chopped
4 sprigs oregano, torn
4 sprigs flat-leaf parsley, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper
4 red capsicums, halved and seeded
3/4 cup (55 g) homemade breadcrumbs
1/2 cup (125 ml) extra virgin olive oil
8 anchovy fillets, sliced length ways

Method
Preheat oven to 150C.

Combine tomatoes, olives, herbs and garlic in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Place capsicum halves on a lightly greased baking tray and fill with the tomato mixture. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and drizzle with olive oil. Place anchovies on top in a crisscross pattern. Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 25 minutes until soft and golden. Serve with pan juices served over.

Serves 4-8

The Heart Of The Home

We all know the heart of any home is usually the kitchen. If you read my other blog you will know that we bought a new home this week, but we don't get to move into it until mid-March. Pity. I can't wait to do all my baking and cooking in my new kitchen...

The windows on the side, act as a servery to the outdoor balcony which will be handy as we tend to eat a lot outside. I love the fact there is lots of cupboards and lots of bench space. Big enough for me to be able to (hopefully) make my own pasta!

The only thing our new kitchen lacks is a dishwasher which is on our 'to buy list'... We're not too keen on the mismatched drawers which are a dark colour compared to the rest of the cupboards. Lyndon thinks he will get them changed over.

What things do you like about your kitchen? What things don't you like about your kitchen? Is there anything you would change?

Genovese Salad

You can probably see by this blog that I have this 'thing' for potato salad. I was never a big fan of potato salad when growing up, I'm not sure why. I guess I am on a quest to find the perfect potato salad. This one is yummy and pretty different from the 'usual'. It's a good cross between both Potato salad and Pesto Pasta salad - Lyndon thought it was delicious. I did find with this one, that I seemed to use a hell of a lot of dishes. Someone buy me a dishwasher and I'll stop complaining here. Hehe...

*Taken from Karen Maritin's 'Where The Heart Is'*

Ingredients
6 small Desiree potatoes (I used Golden Delight)
50ml extra virgin olive oil
50ml red wine vinegar
200gm green beans, trimmed
1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas
200gm lasagnette pasta
100ml pesto
1 cup spinach leaves, shredded
30g pine nuts
Salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper

Method
Cook potatoes in a medium-sized saucepan of lightly salted boiling water for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Drain, reserving cooking liquid. Slice potatoes thickly and toss with 2tbs of the olive oil and the vinegar.

Cook beans in lightly salted boiling water for about 3 minutes or until just cooked. Drain. Cook peas in reserved cooking liquid for 1 minute. Drain. Cook pasta in lightly salted boiling water until just past al dente. Drain, then transfer to a bowl and stir through the remaining oil and half of the pesto. Add shredded spinach to hot pasta and stir through until wilted. Add potatoes, beans and peas and remaining pesto and pine nuts and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve at room temperature.

Serves 4-6

News

I told you we were feeling content didn't I?

Maybe I was warming you all up, in the hint that yesterday, we bought our own place to live in up here.

Yep. We bought an apartment yesterday, in a lovely suburb about 20 minutes drive north of here. We're very excited and oh so thrilled.
Our first home... Yippee!!!

Pity we have to now wait patiently for 60 days before we can move into our 2 year old place. (Oww, so nice to be able to say 'our' and mean it!)

Go and have a drink on us!

Sparkle Fingers and Yummy Cupcakes

Yesterday morning after popping out of my local supermarket, I visited the bakery to pick up a loaf of fresh bread.

"Would you like a sparkle finger?" The bakery assistant asked Monet.

Monet looked at me.

"What's a 'sparkle finger'?" I asked.

"A small finger bun we make especially for the little kids, here, I'll show you..." she said.

Well, as soon as I saw it I knew Monet would want it so I accepted. No money was exchanged. Monet smiled. So did I. You don't get many things for free these days do you? No wonder I love my local 'Baker's Delight' store!! Hehe...

And because I can, for a little self-promotion, if you want the recipe to these...

...click here, for my recipe blog named 'cakes, cookies and an odd roast dinner'.

White Chocolate & Strawberry Cupcakes

These cupcakes are just too irresistible to knock back... Just ask Monet and myself for that matter!!
I actually halved the recipe as otherwise I would have had cupcakes coming out of my ears. To make the original recipe, double my stated ingredients...

*Taken from Fergal Connolly's '500 Cupcakes'*

Ingredients
-for the cupcakes-
110g (4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
110g (4 oz) caster sugar
110g (4 oz) self-raising flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 tsp strawberry essence
50 g (2 oz) white chocolate chips

-for the icing-
100g (3 1/2 oz) cream cheese, softened
90g (3 oz) icing sugar, sieved
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1 1/2 tbs unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 tbs chopped fresh strawberries

Method
Preheat the oven to 175C / 350F / Gas mark 4. Line muffin tins. (I made 21 mini cupcakes)

Combine the butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, eggs and essence in a bowl. Beat with an electric beater until light and creamy, about 2 - 3 minutes. Stir in the choc chips. Spoon the batter into the cases. Bake for approximately 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before removing the cupcakes onto a rack to cool.

To make the icing, beat the cream cheese, icing sugar, essence and butter until smooth and creamy. Stir in the chopped strawberries. Spread on top of the cooled cupcakes.

Pineapple and Watermelon For All

If there is one thing you can count on with me, is that I always have fresh pineapple (oh, so sweet!) and watermelon sitting in the fridge. This is much to the delight of both Lyndon and Monet.

I usually slice up a pineapple and a section of watermelon and place it into separate containers in case Monet comes up to me and flutters those eyelashes at me demanding pineapple? watermelon?

Monet couldn't make up her mind yesterday on which fruit she wanted. So she got both... Lucky her hey?

Later on, much to my delight, I saw her sharing her 'left-overs' with (L-R) Toast, Heidi and Pickles. How sweet.

This photo has not been set up in case you think I have. I haven't.

At Least It's Easy To Clean Up!

All was quiet, a couple of days ago whilst I was ironing Lyndon's work shirts. (They are the only thing I iron. I don't iron, never have, never will!) In the back of my mind I was wondering what Monet was up to. Usually when she's in her room I can hear her muttering to herself, but all was quiet. I knew she was up to something...

She was up to something alright.

When I had checked on Monet before I started ironing, she was busily taking all her teddy toys off her set of shelves. She was placing them on the carpet surrounding herself so they were all looking at her. Then she was picking them up and stuffing them back one by one, onto one shelf (they usually fill 2-3 shelves.) That's when I left her...

When all was quiet, I re-checked on her. She was certainly up to something.

And that 'something' had to do with Baby Powder. Head to toe, wall to wall. Yep, Monet certainly was up to something.

At least she smelt good, if a little overpowering. And it refreshed her room too. Maybe it wasn't such a disaster after all now I'm writing about it! Hehe...

Not Feeling 'So Melbourne'

I'm not feeling 'so Melbourne' anymore and for me, that's a good thing. I have never felt so content in my life as of current. Maybe too content. Who knows. I'm happy, I'm healthy and I'm content. That dawned on me a few weeks back. I didn't think I would feel like that up here but I proved myself wrong.

A few months ago I think we were ready to 'move on'. We had 'done' Cairns. Not that we were bored or unhappy, just ready for a new adventure I think. Not so anymore. We're prepared to stay on for a while longer. We haven't talked about Melbourne and returning there at some point for a long time now. That's a good thing.

I realised last night that I hadn't worn any black all week. Me? I'm a black wearing girl aren't I? Aren't I? Maybe not. Melbourne people wear black. I always did. It's a black wearing city. If I wasn't wearing a black top, I was wearing black skirt/pants. I now find myself wearing colours. Yep, colours. Coloured tops with skirts/shorts that aren't black.

I wasn't too keen either on Monet being educated in this part of the world either. There are a few things that Queensland don't do in their education system that Victoria do. (3-year old kindergarten for one.) But I'm over that now. As long as Monet turns out to be a well rounded individual then my job is done. If we support her and show her what the world has to offer her then there is no need for me to worry. Is there?

The only down part of this contentment is the fact that I feel sorry for two particular people. You know who you are, don't you dad. *grin* Its the fact that their only grandchild is over 3000 kilometers away and she is growing so quickly into a gorgeous little being, besides the current 'tantrum phase'. With one daughter living in Cairns and the other in London, I can't imagine what it is like. But this is what happens when you bring up two well-rounded individuals, hey? *smirk*

Thai Garlic & Ginger Beef

The Thai restaurant across the road makes a wicked version of this, so I thought I would attempt my own. To be honest with you, I just made up my own recipe, with inspiration from Jamie Oliver I guess.... Delicious and very authentic. *Melody pats herself on the back*

Ingredients
300gms round steak
1 tbs fish sauce
1 tbs lime juice
1 tbs water
1 tsp palm sugar, grated
1 tbs peanut oil
2 green chilies, de-seeded and finely sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp grated fresh ginger
4 spring onions, chopped
1 can bamboo shoots
2 tsp Thai spice (optional) I used McCormick's 'Lemongrass, Lime & Ginger'
Cooked rice to serve

Method
Partially freeze the steak, then slice into thin strips.

Mix together the fish sauce, lime juice, water and sugar in a small bowl. This is the sauce.

Add oil to a pre-heated wok or large frypan. Stir-fry the meat in batches until cooked through. Remove from the pan and keep warm. To the pan add chilies, garlic and ginger. Stir fry for 15 seconds, then add the spring onions and bamboo shoots. Cook for about a minute then add meat back into pan. Add the sauce and cook, whilst stirring, for about 2 minutes or until heated through.

Serve immediately with rice. Enjoy.

Serves 2

We Love A Good Book

Thanks to Marie for inspiration in regards to this post!

Monet has always enjoyed books. Since before birth even. Yes, I was one of those mothers-to-be, who sat on a comfortable chair at 8 months pregnant and read out aloud to my tummy. I don't know if that helped in the fact that she enjoys books, but honestly, I think it is in her blood anyway and I don't think I know one child who doesn't enjoy a good story book.

We've got a few new favourites here and I chuckle to myself when I hear her reading to herself. She's actually pretty good at it. If you know Monet, you'd know she's a pretty clear talker for a 2 year old.

Today I heard her hiding behind the couch with 'We're Going On A Bear Hunt', written by Helen Oxenbury. She was saying "tip toe, tip toe..." then "squelch..." then "through the door and up the stairs..." then "under the covers". I was pretty surprised to hear those words coming out of her mouth. She loves that book which we gave her for Christmas. We got the book that came with a DVD version of the story. I have only read the book to her a handful of times and she's watched the DVD a couple. It's a good story that gets the heart pumping, depending on how you read it out loud of course. We know that this story is a favourite of her 4 year old cousins too.

'Whose Teeth? Whose Tail? Whose House?' by Jeannette Rowe is another new favourite. We gave it to her for her 2nd birthday but it seems as if she's only just discovered it. It's one of those books where you lift the pages back to discover just whose teeth/tail/house it actually is. Monet loves guessing and she'll happily sit there and surprise herself when reading to herself.

Auntie Kimbofo sent to Monet for her second birthday, 'Lulu loves the Library', written by Anna McQuinn. I think we especially like this lovely book because it reminds us of ourselves and our library days. And the fact it's called 'Lulu...' as Monet's middle name is Lulu. A very lovely book indeed.

At the moment I am reading the 5th Harry Potter book (a bit behind in the series, I know!) but I am enjoying it. Not sure what I will tackle next. How about you? What are YOU reading at the moment?

Doing a Hi-5 Jig

You may or may not know that Monet is a big Hi-5 fan. She loves them. A lot. The Wiggles don't get a look in in this household and I don't mind that at all. (Just something about a group of middle-age men singing non-original songs to kids, nah.) She sings along to all their songs and I find that I can hear her singing to herself when she's playing. Sweet lovely songs that Lyndon and I even find ourselves singing. Catchy tunes that are actually really lovely lyric wise. Songs about loving and excepting yourself and others, good messages underneath them all.

If you've never been to the official Hi-5 site, please do so here. You will understand what I mean. In the song section click on the 'What's Cooking' star. We LOVE that song here!!!

We work on a reward system for Monet a lot of the time. When she's been a good girl, she gets to watch a Hi-5 DVD which she gets to choose (we have a number of them).

I made the mistake once of dancing and singing with Monet when one of her DVDs were on, so now I am committed to having a jig around the loungeroom whenever a song comes on. (Hi-5 don't only sing, they do little plays, skits etc., all committed to a particular theme.) I hope no one can see me having a little jig around with my daughter. :)

In the above photo Monet is actually wearing a Hi-5 singlet top (complete with a silver sequened band on the bottom) and the keyboard their is an officially licensed Hi-5 one. Told you she loved Hi-5. I think with their bank balances they must be loving us too!

One of Monet's and my favourite little Hi-5 songlets we sing to each other most nights, is this; (complete with hand actions you can imainge)
Make a diamond with my fingers,
Make a rectangle too,
Make a circle with my arms,
Make a heart,
I love you...
See. I told you they had good songs! The way Monet sings the last line to me is so cute! I can't help but give her a big cuddle and sing it back to her.

Long live Hi-5. I love to see my daughter jig about and sing those lovely songs to me!

Yo-Yo Biscuits

As a child I loved Yo-Yo biscuits. They were quick and easy to make and remind me of cold, rainy Saturday afternoons. Very easy to make and guaranteed you won't stop at eating just one. A sure-fired winner!

Ingredients
3/4 cup Self Raising flour
1/3 cup Custard Powder
1/3 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup softened butter

Method
Preheat oven to 180C. Line or grease a baking tray.

Cream butter and icing sugar and gradually add sifted flour and icing sugar, mixing to a stiff dough using wooden spoon. Roll into small balls. Press with a fork dipped in flour for 10-15 minutes until just golden. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until golden. (I overcooked these ones a little)

Makes approx. 20

These can be served individually like this or can be paired together with a quick mixture of icing sugar and butter creamed together...

She's A Strutter

There are times when Monet walks around like she owns the place. You can tell. She struts. Very confidently. I don't know if she walks around like that because she likes the sound of her shoes on the floor or she walks trying to keep in step with myself. Not sure.

What I can tell you though is that she's been really testing me lately. I, for one, cannot wait until the 'Terrible Twos' disappear. They probably won't. I hope she's not like this forever. As I have told my father down the phone line, when Monet is good, she's really good, but when she's bad, boy, is she bad!!! And scream? Gee, can our girl scream or what? So loud it is actually pretty deafening. I swear everyone in our apartment block know we're going through a "stage". Hmm. Can you tell me when it will end? Please don't tell me that it won't. I don't want to hear that.

But when Monet is good (here I am trying to forget about our trying times), she really is good. She does me proud sometimes. She'll sit happily in the pram, especially when we visit a drinking establishment, reading and eating and playing. (Sometimes that is the only way to get her into her pram if we tell her we are going to a Pub. Figure that out!) Sometimes she'll sit in that pram of hers for a good couple of hours without once saying "Monet walking?" I love it when she's good in the pram.

Maybe that's why our girl walks with such confidence. Our strutter. It's because she's not sitting in that pram of hers.

Either that or she's showing off her footwear.....hehehe