Football Final

It is the AFL (Australian Rules Football) Grand Final today. It's a big day really for all Football followers, even if your teams aren't in the Final. Today's game is Port Adelaide vs. Geelong. I'm not fussed who wins but I do prefer that Geelong take the flag (being a Victorian and all.)

You are more than welcome to pop over and watch the game this afternoon with us.

I've made some biscuits to nibble on (quick, before Monet eats them all)...

...and we've stockpiled the fridge with a variety of beers...

I'm sure you'd like to come over now, yes? *giggle giggle*

I have hot dogs sitting in the fridge, along with mini pies and sausage rolls in the freezer, all ready to go.

It'll be just like being at the footy, just without the expensive prices, the annoying football fans and the hit and miss weather! *heehee*

Sometimes I Just Love The Photos of Food I Have Made...

...Do you agree with me?...

A Beer, A Wedding and A Flashback

Last Sunday, the three of us went to a wedding.

I don't really know the bride and groom that well, just through Lyndon's work, where he works with the groom.

I wore this...

(Esprit Skirt and top bought at Myer), along with some sexy (!!?!!) black patterned tights, a black camisole and my Mary Jane shoes.

They got married in the tiny church in Kuranda, which claims to be a 'village in the rainforest'. It kinda is, bar the fact it is full of hippies, tourists and people out to make a quick Japanese buck. And it is pretty. And the church is gorgeous, bar very small, and very (very) hot inside.

We were lucky to get there before the bride. In typical Lyndon and Melody (and Monet) fashion, we were there half an hour early to discover the church empty.

So we went to the local pub and enjoyed a bevvie.

We returned with a couple of minutes to spare, to find the pews filled, the groom waiting and the bride getting out of the car! And to say that everyone looked at us was an understatement. Have you ever been to a wedding where the bride was actually on time? *heehee*

The reception was held back down at Cairns at one of the resorts and it was very lovely. The meal was delicious (buffet style) and the speeches were pretty good. The cake was cut, the couple danced their first dance and we left soon after.

In honour of it being 'Flashback Friday' and that I have talked about a wedding, I present to you one of my parents wedding snaps. I'm sure they won't mind me posting it here, I mean, I am amongst friends and I do love their wedding photos.

This was April 1968. (For any of you Melbourneits you may recognise the gates belonging to Williamstown Botanical Gardens.) I love the fact that they were married in the late '60s as I think the style they wore never really went out of fashion. I love my mothers dress and she looks pretty darn hot. And dad there looking all clean cut in his suit and bow tie.

They are still happily married 39 years later. With two daughters and one granddaughter. No son-in-laws yet, nor no other grandchildren on the horizon either!!

Have you been to any weddings lately?

Hard Rubbish

When we first moved to Melbourne, over 10 years ago, we lived in a lovely little 'Grove' in East St. Kilda. But one thing that still haunts us to this very day, is the fact that we missed out on something and regretted it. It was a piece of hard rubbish. We still talk about that hat/coat stand we spied out in the street one afternoon. It was perfect. It was what Lyndon had always wanted (apparently).

We had spied it after returning from somewhere, went inside to pluck up courage to go back out to the street to collect it and when we did, it was gone. In a matter of minutes someone had spied it, liked it and grabbed it. If only we had grabbed it when we first saw it.

Each Hard Rubbish collection date we'd go walking the streets of East St. Kilda to find, maybe, a real treasure. I don't think we ever did.

We moved a suburb north after a year in East St. Kilda, but then returned to our favourite suburb a year later. (Yeah, we liked moving around - one of the pleasures of renting I guess!) This time we lived in the lovely Alma Road, right next door to the Swim/Fitness Center. It was a lovely apartment, all art deco style with wooden floorboards. (I have many a great memory of this place.) Even though we lived right next door to a Gym, I decided it would be a great idea to go and buy an exercise bike. Against better advice, I went out and bought one. And never rode it. It cramped our apartment space (it wasn't very big) and I wanted it out of the apartment.

Can you guess what we did with it?

Lyndon took it out onto the street and left it there, knowing someone would spy it and take it.

It was gone within minutes of it being placed on the nature strip.

Living in an apartment complex now, with another 30 odd apartments, we share a general rubbish area, which sometimes people put their old stuff they don't want.

Since living here we have collected an old wooden water ski (Lyndon had/has plans of doing it up - sanding etc., and making it into a wall feature - smirk if you must), a 1-2 chair cover (complete with bows!), never taken out of it's packaging (I know, we could have saved money using green and yellow checked cover instead of a new lounge suite) and an office chair. It's what I am sitting on at the moment.

Have you ever collected another person's rubbish and claimed it as your own?

Lasagna

If you are anything like me you always say that your own mother's or Grandmother's lasagna recipe is the best. But I have found and made a recipe that did beat my mother's lasagna. It is so delicious, full of flavour, not too cheesy, not unlike something you would order at an Italian Restaurant. True. Try it...

I actually added a teaspoon of beef stock to the simmering meat sauce. I also added the tomato paste to the browning mince to intensify the flavour...

*Taken from Murdoch Books 'Australian Family Favourites', published 2007*

Ingredients
-for meat sauce-
1 tbs olive oil
750g minced meat
1 onion, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
400g tinned chopped tomatoes
2 tbs tomato paste
1 tsp dried mixed herbs
1-2 tsp sugar

-for the bechamel sauce-
60g butter
3 tbs plain flour
750ml (3 cups) milk

375g fresh lasagna sheets
125g (1 cup) grated cheddar cheese

Method
Preheat the oven to 180C. Heat half the oil in a large frying pan and brown the meat in batches. Remove from the pan. Add the remaining oil and cook the onion and celery until soft. Return the meat to the pan and add all other ingredients. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.

Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in the flour and Cook for 1 minutes. Remove from the heat and gradually stir in the milk. Return to the heat and stir constantly until the sauce boils and thickens. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes.

Lightly brush a 2.5 litre (10 cup) ovenproof dish with oil. Spoon one-third of the meat sauce into the dish. Top with a single layer of the lasagna sheets, then spoon on one-third of the bechamel sauce. Repeat layering twice more, and top with the cheddar cheese.

Bake in the oven for 25 minutes, or until golden and heated through.

Serves 6

Spaghetti Bolognese

I have only ever made up my own bolognese sauce, I have never followed a 'proper' recipe. Traditional sauce for spaghetti is actually meant to take a while to 'brew' away, which I didn't realise. This recipe simmers away for 1 and a half hours. Nice. And the result was delicious. This recipe calls for red wine, which I didn't add. Instead I increased the amount of beef stock.

*Taken from Murdoch Books 'Australian Family Favourites' published 2007*

Ingredients
2 tbs olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 large onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
500g lean minced beef
500ml (2 cups) beef stock
375ml (1 1/2 cups) red wine
850g tinned chopped tomatoes
1 tsp sugar
3 tbs finely chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley
500g spaghetti
grated Parmesan cheese, to serve

Method
Heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan. Add the garlic, onion, carrot and celery and stir over low heat for 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

Increase the heat, then add the beef. Stir with a wooden spoon to break up any lumps. Add the stock, wine, tomatoes, sugar and parsley. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Season.

Just before serving, cook the spaghetti in a large saucepan of boiling, salted water until al dente. Drain and serve with the meat sauce and the Parmesan cheese.

Serves 4-6

Out With The Old

We've been spoiling ourselves lately.

After years of sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress we bought ourselves a new bed (with pillow-top mattress) when we first moved to our apartment in March. We both still go to bed every night (without fail) and let out a huge 'sigh' each. It is that comfortable. *sigh*

Last week our new lounge suite arrived.

After 10 years we decided that our old lounge suite was just that. Old. It did us well and was pretty modern when we first purchased it. Navy blue tartan thing it was. I think it was nearing its end with a little somebody continually climbing it and eating on it. We've got rules in place with this new lounge though.

We had been looking at new lounge suites for over a year now, but we weren't going to part with our cash for any old lounge suite. We knew comfort, but modern looking was our first priority. We wanted a 2-seater couch and a 3-seater couch. We didn't want patterned material. We wanted short dark wooden 'feet' on them. We didn't want 'rolled' arms, rather ones that slope a little with a square edge. Sometimes you have to be fussy and not buy a lounge, simply for the fact that you want a lounge. It's lucky that Lyndon and I have similar tastes.

Do you know just how many bad lounge suites there are out there? We've spotted some really doozies in the past 18 months. Trust me.

But when we spotted this one in the Myer furniture department, we knew this was the one. It passed our checklist and the colour was perfect. And the best thing was, the day we went to order it, it went on sale - saving us over $400.

Now, that's what I call a perfect lounge suite.

Pity my daughter isn't perfect in every photograph.

*sigh*

Birthday Custard Sponge

This was really nice though I thought the cake seemed a little too 'egg-y' for my liking. Next time I make this recipe I will do away with the Buttercream Filling and use whipped cream instead. I have to say the Chocolate Icing was delicious. I used quality Milk chocolate (instead of dark) and the result reminded me a lot of the icing you get on chocolate jam donuts here in Australia.

*Taken from Nigella Lawson's 'Feast' published 2004*

Ingredients
-for custard sponge-
200g plain flour
3 tbs custard powder
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
4 eggs
225g soft butter
200g caster sugar
2-3 tbs milk

-for the Buttercream Filling-
125g icing sugar
4 tsp custard powder
75g soft unsalted butter
1 1/2 tsp boiling water

-for the Chocolate Icing-
60ml water
2 tbs golden syrup
125g caster sugar (or use 50g if using milk choc)
175g dark chocolate
Hundreds and Thousands

Method
-for the cake-
Make sure everything you need is at room temperature before you start. Preheat the oven to 180C and butter and line two 20cm sandwich tins.

Put all the ingredients except the milk, into a food processor. process to a smooth batter, and then add the milk a tablespoon at a time to make a soft dropping consistency. Divide between the two cake tins and bake for 20 minutes. The cakes will have risen and feel spookily puffy; this is because of the cornflour in the custard powder.

Let the tins sit on a cooling rack for 5 minutes and then turn them out on to the rack, peeling away the paper.

-for the Buttercream Filling-
Process the icing sugar and custard powder to get rid of any lumps, and then add the butter, processing again to make the buttercream come together. Feed the boiling water down the funnel with the motor running to make the filling easier to spread. Then sandwich the cooled sponges with the custardy buttercream.

-for the Chocolate Icing-
Combine the water, syrup and sugar in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve over a low heat. Let it come to the boil and then take it off the heat.

Break up the chocolate into small pieces if you are not using chocolate buttons, and then add to the pan, swirling it around to cover in the hot liquid. Leave to melt for a few minutes, and then whisk the icing to make it smooth and shiny. Pout over the buttercream filled cake, letting it drip down the sides, and then sprinkle generously with the hundreds and thousands before the icing sets.

One-Pan Sage-And-Onion Chicken and Sausage

I saw Nigella Lawson make this on her programme recently and thought it looked simple and tasty. It was. Next time I make this though I would add another onion to the pan. It was very simple to make... I served it with a green side salad and roast potatoes.

*Taken from Nigella Lawson's 'Feast', published 2004*

Ingredients
1 large onion or 2 small onions
125ml olive oil (she states not to use extra virgin but I did!)
2 tsp English Mustard
1 tbs dried sage
ground pepper
1 lemon
1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
2 kg chicken, jointed into 10 pieces
12 sausages (I used Italian sausages)
2 tbs chopped sage leaves

Method
Peel and cut the onion into eighths, and put into a freezer bag with the oil, mustard, dried sage, a good grinding of pepper, the lemon juice, the squeezed-out husks cut into eighths, and the Worcestershire sauce. Squidge everything around to mix (the mustard needs help to combine) and then add the chicken pieces. Leave to marinate in the fridge overnight or for up to two days.
Preheat the oven to 220C. Allow the chicken to come to room temperature in its marinate.

Arrange the chicken pieces in a roasting tin, skin side up, with the marinade, including all the bits and pieces, and tuck the sausages around them. Sprinkle the fresh sage leaves over the chicken and sausages and then put the tin into the oven to cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Turn the sausages over halfway through to colour them evenly.

Arrange the chicken and sausages on a large platter.

Serves 6

Because I Know You've Been Dying To See...

...just how lovely our pool is...

Not a bad photo for a self-timed one don't you think?

And I can tell you how lovely it is to have Broadband speed back on board. (Who and why would you, have dial up? Maybe I don't have the patience anymore to sit around waiting for pages to download onto my computer!)

I'll be around to visit you all very soon! Yippee!!

Warm Mediterranean Lamb Salad

Oh my. Now, this salad was delicious! Very restaurant quality indeed. Nice, fresh ingredients and the use of the BBQ helped make this dish into Lyndon's Top 10 Melody-cooked dishes. Loads of flavour, very lovely. Mmmm...

*Taken from Murdoch Books publication 'Australian Family Favourites'*

Ingredients

500g lamb backstraps or loin fillets

125ml olive oil

2 garlic cloves, crushed

2 tsp thyme leaves

1 tsp ground black pepper

2 small red capsicums

5 slender eggplants, thickly sliced on the diagonal

2 tbs olive tapanade

100g semi-dried (sun-blushed) tomatoes, sliced

1 Lebanese cucumber, seeded and chopped

150g green beans, trimmed and blanched

150g Nicoise or Ligurian olives

100g baby rocket leaves

dressing ingredients

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil

1 tbs lemon juice

Method

Put the lamb in a non-metallic bowl. Combine half the oil with the garlic, thyme and pepper, then pour over the lamb and toss to coat. Set aside

Heat the grill to high. Cut the capsicums into large flat pieces, discarding the seeds and membrane. Arrange skin side up on the grill tray and grill until the skin blackens and blisters. Leave to cool in a plastic bag, then peel away the skin and cut the flesh into thirds/

Meanwhile, preheat a barbecue chargrill to high. Toss the eggplant in the remaining oil to coat, then grill for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden.

Cook the lamb on the hot chargrill plate for about 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare, or until done to your liking. Remove from the heat, cover with foil and leave for 5 minutes.

Thinly slice the lamb across the grain and toss in a bowl with the capsicum, eggplant, tapanade, tomato, cucumber, beans and olives. Add the rocket. Put the dressing ingredients in a screw-top jar and shake well. Pour over the lamb salad, season and toss to combine.

Serves 4

Coconut Ice

I had forgotten all about Coconut Ice, until I came across this simple recipe....yummy.... And the littlest member of this household loved it. Of course.

*Taken from Murdoch Books publication 'Australian Family Favourites'*

Ingredients

250g (2 cups) icing (confectioners') sugar

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

400g tinned condensed milk

315g (3 1/2 cups) desiccated coconut

2-3 drops pink food colouring

Method

Grease a 20cm square cake tin and lane the base with baking paper.

Sift the icing sugar and cream of tartar into a bowl. Make a well and add the condensed milk. Using a wooden spoon, stir in half the coconut, then the remaining coconut. Mix well with your hands. Divide in half and tint one half pink. Using your hand, knead the colour through evenly.

Press the pink mixture over the base of the tin, cover with the white mixture and press down firmly. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm. Remove from the tin, remove the paper and cut into pieces.

Makes aprrox. 30 pieces

I Don't Mean To Make You Jealous.

Well, not too jealous anyway.

We've spent the last week, Monet and I, making the most of our pool. The weather in Cairns lately has been nothing short of spectacular and we've been making the most of the wonderful sunshine and cloudless skies. We spent a wonderful two hours this afternoon in the pool and to be honest with you, I have seen a change in Monet. She has been so good since we've been back in our pool - no ounce of 'naughtiness' in sight. Beauty! If she is well behaved for 5 days in a row, she is rewarded with a 'Freddo Frog' (chocolate shaped frog). She got one on Monday. So far, she is due for another on Saturday. I love an un-grumpy girl.

I'll be un-grumpy too come Monday, when I get normal broadband speed back on my internet.

*sigh*

Roast Beef and Spinach Salad with Horseradish Cream

This was very nice indeed. I cooked the beef and onion on the BBQ. It was tasty and filling and made a perfect warm spring Sunday dinner for Lyndon and I. The leftovers have gone to work with Lyndon...

*Taken from the Murdoch publication 'Tossed'*

Ingredients
Horseradish cream
125g (1/2 cup) thick plain yoghurt
1 tbs creamed horseradish

2 tbs lemon juice

2 tbs cream

2 garlic cloves, crushed

a few drops Tabasco sauce, or to taste

for the salad

200g green beans, trimmed

500g rump steak

1 red onion, halved

1 tbs olive oil

100g baby English spinach leaves

50g picked watercress leaves
200g semi-dried (sun-blushed) tomatoes

Method

To make the horseradish cream, whisk all the ingredients in a small bowl, with a little black pepper to taste. Cover and chill for 15 minutes.

Bring a pot of lightly salted water to the boil, add the beans and blanch for 4 minutes, or until tender. Drain, refresh under cold water and drain again.

Meanwhile, preheat a griller or barbecue hotplate to high. Brush the steak and onion halves with the oil. Cook the steak for 2 minutes on each side, or until seared but still rare, then remove from the heat, cover with foil and leave for 5 minutes. (Cook the beef a little longer if you prefer it medium or well done.) While the steak is resting, cook the onion 2-3 minutes on each side, or until charred.

Toss the spinach, watercress, tomato and beans in a large salad bowl. Slice the beef thinly across the grain, then layer over the salad. Thinly slice the grilled onion, add to the salad and drizzle with the dressing. Season well with sea salt and freshly ground pepper and serve.

Serves 4

Moroccan Eggplant with Couscous

This salad made an excellent side dish for a BBQ we had and by all accounts, everyone enjoyed this flavoursome salad. Will definitely be making it again in the not too distant future...

*Taken from the Murdoch publication 'Tossed'*

Ingredients
185g (1 cup) instant couscous
200 ml olive oil
1 onion, halved and sliced
1 eggplant (aubergine)
3 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp ground cloves
50g butter
2 1/2 large handfuls parsley, finely chopped
zest of 1 lemon
2 tbs capers, rinsed and drained

Method
Put the couscous in a large bowl and add 375ml (1 1/2 cups) boiling water. Leave for 10 minutes, then fluff up with a fork.

Heat 2 tbs of the oil in a large frying pan and gently cook the onion for 8-10 minutes, or until nicely browned. Remove with a slotted spoon, leaving the oil in the pan.

Cut the eggplant into 1cm thick slices, then into quarters and place in a large bowl. (I cut my eggplant into about 1cm cubes)
Mix the cumin, garlic salt, cinnamon, paprika and cloves in a small bowl with 1/2 tsp of salt, then sprinkle over the eggplant, tossing to coat well.

Heat the remaining oil in the frying pan over medium heat. Add the eggplant and cook, turning once, for 20-25 minutes, or until browned. Removed from the pan and allow to cool.

In the same pan, melt the butter, then add the couscous and gently cook for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the onion, eggplant, parsley, lemon zest and capers and take off the heat. Cool to room temperature before serving.

Serves 4 as a side salad.

...one of those days...

Today is one of those days where it isn't even 9:30am and we've done so much. I've paid the bills, I've done a load of washing, I have tided up, I have vacuumed. I've showered, dressed and feed both Monet and I and walked (with Monet in the pram) down the beach. We paddled in the water and sat on the sand. We then went to the playground and 'played' (as you do) then gone over to the little shop for a couple of things. I have plans to have my dinner marinating before lunch time, a quick drive over to the supermarket to pick up some 'urgent' supplies ie. coffee for Lyndon, then after lunch to go for a swim/play in our pool. It's one of those days when the sun is shining (it is meant to be about 30C here today) and it makes you feel all motivated to get on with life.

Yesterday was one of those days when you felt all motivated to 'do' stuff but didn't quite get around to achieving what you wanted to achieve. But I did 'achieve' going and buying a new pair of bathers/takini/swimmers/cozzies/ TOGS (for Tracey!) and then later on going for a swim in the pool to try them out. No, I will not be posting a photo of me any time soon in my takini but I will say that I felt comfortable and a bit more 'trendy' than I did in my other bathers. And anyway, I can't exactly go uploading photos to this blog at the moment - I'll tell you later.

Yesterday was one of those days when a good pub meal was in order for lunch. We went to the delightful Palm Cove Tavern up the road which was great. It wasn't busy, the food was reasonably priced AND tasty and there was an enclosed children's playground, which is always a bonus. And I love the fact that there was a sign near the tables seated near the playground that read 'If noisy children offend you don't sit here. Sit elsewhere'.

Saturday was one of those days when you feel all 'sluggish'. You can't be bothered doing anything, bar take your daughter over to the playground for a run around and a play for a while. I don't think she could even be bothered doing that. It was one of those days when you sit addicted to watching a 9/11 documentary on the Discovery Channel, then put on a movie (the silly Australian movie 'Danny Deckchair') and sip away on a glass(es) of wine.

It was also one of those days when you are sitting there watching the AFL footy, feeling a bit tired when all of a sudden you hear a huge 'skid' then BANG, which gets you rushing out on to the balcony knowing that a car has just written its self off in the light pole across the road from your apartment.

Which turns into one of those nights where you have to call 000 (Australian emergency number) because you don't know if someone has been killed or injured in the ute that had skidded across the road! But it seems as if the dickhead driving was totally drunk and ran away from the scene which gets me all fired up and mad because fools like this don't deserve a license let alone a car. He is darn lucky that no one was walking along the footpath at the time or other cars where on the (usually busy on a Saturday night) road. To say that Hoons drive along the road I live on is an understatement. The skid mark from the car was about 50 metres long, zig zagged all across the road, then BAM, into the light pole. He is lucky he didn't kill himself. Everyone from the neighbourhood (it seemed) came out of their homes to see what was going on and to see if anyone was hurt. Witnesses saw the driver run away from the scene. Authorities didn't take long to get to our address (ambulance, police, fire brigade, sniffer dogs!) It certainly 'perked' us up to say the least. I took photos but as I said before, I am unable to upload photos onto my blog a the moment.

Friday was one of those days when you get up, turn on the computer and discover that you've exceeded your limit on Broadband for the month, so for the following 11 days until your next month begins, you have dial-up speed. S-L-O-W. It happens because your partner and his friend downloaded over 150 songs onto your computer which never happens within a month in this household, so you go over your limit! Urgh. Yep - it was one of those days! I apologise if I don't get around to your blogs for a week, due to the fact it takes too long to download your page and if my patience is wearing thin! *heehee*

So, what type of days have you been having lately?

Queensland Is Taking A Hold Of Us

You can tell that it is heating up around here.

First of all, Monet and I walked down the beach this morning at 8am. It was nice to be out and about and appreciating our beach just down the road from our apartment. The sky was cloudless and there were a group of people already swimming in the water. There is only a handful of weeks left before the 'stinger' season begins again so swimming anywhere in the ocean is a no-no. Instead you have to swim in the section cordoned off.

Then we drove into Cairns City to pick up Lyndon's Birkenstock shoes whose soles were replaced. And we went to 'Target' and purchased a funky looking BBQ eatery set. I like them. Hope Lyndon does too.

And purchased Monet a pair of new 'cozzies' (ie. bathers, swimmers) She looks pretty funky in her little waterproof shorts and bright pink rash vest. How do I know this? Because after lunch we took a dip in our pool back at home. And it was lurve...ly.

I have just eaten a little 'paddle pop' ice cream. Monet wants another.

And we finally changed over my car registration today, from Victorian plates to Queensland ones. And we opted for the plates to read 'The Sunshine State', rather than 'The Smart State'.

Yep, Queensland is definitely taking a hold of us.

New Toys

I recently made my own pasta for the first time a couple of weeks ago. AND rolled it by hand, which wasn't that hard really, just a bit of a pain more than anything.

I knew about it the following day when I went to roll out my homemade pizza dough (yes, I do like baking!) and my hands killed me. The palms of my hand where the rolling pin hits when you roll. Ouch. My Mother-In-Law-One-Day recommended me buying a pasta machine. A lot easier she said.

She was right.

On Saturday I bought my pasta machine from 'House'. (As much as I love 'House' I am not a fan of the one in Cairns. It doesn't feel right being served by a early twenty-something male/boy who wears rock t-shirts and no apron. In stores like this I expect to be served by people like this...) I put the boy/man through his paces by questioning the difference between the 3 pasta makers on offer and why the price difference. I ended up with the Avanti one. Mainly because a) I have heard of that brand and b) it was $5 cheaper than the other one in my budget range and c) it is the most popular and no one has returned it to the store.

I didn't just buy a pasta machine however on Saturday. I also bought a Food Processor. I've been wanting one since I got my mix master for Christmas last year. It seemed before I had my mix master every recipe I wanted to make said 'mix with electric beaters' (of which I didn't have any!) Then after getting my mix master, every recipe seemed to state to 'place in food processor and beat'. Typical eh? I think I have all gadgets now. For the time being any way...

I bought the Sunbeam Multiprocessor from Good Guys, only to return it the following day. I did buy the last one on offer (ie. demo model) which I won't be doing again. I got home to find it was missing some of the most important pieces. The main chopping blade, the whisk attachment, the dough attachment and the middle 'spindle' part.

I rang up and said that "I'm not happy".

They offered to replace the processor for another brand (No, I do research on these things! I know what I want!)

Order in the missing parts. (No, that would mean a 5-10 business day wait before I could use my new toy)

Get my money back (Yes please, so I could go up the road and buy exactly the same processor at Myer for the same money AND earn Myer One points!)

You can only guess what I did on Sunday then.

I walked out happy. I came home happy. I used my processor happily.

The pasta I made and cooked yesterday was delicious! The machine worked a dream and I cannot wait to make spaghetti next time!

Ahh...the life of a Domestic Goddess. Just call me Nigella.

Tragedy

Being a blogger, you get to know so wonderful people. I feel as if I have some wonderful friends in both Australia and abroad. And when one of your blog friends hurts, sometimes, I do too. My dear blog friend, the wonderful Bob-Kat in the UK, suffered a loss on the weekend. One I cannot and do not want to imagine. Please go and visit her and send her good thoughts and hugs. I know she will appreciate it...

To My Dear 3 Year Old,

Today, Monet, is your 3rd birthday. 3! Now, that's amazing. Just like you.

You never cease to amaze me in everything you do. Where do you learn this stuff? How did you learn to talk so very clearly and who taught you to use all those words? Was it I? Or daddy? I have seriously no idea.

We've had a fabulous year with you which has hopefully taught you about the good things in life. We live in an amazing part of the world and seen many lovely places which I hope you remember. You've been to the Daintree Rainforest a few times. Whenever we ask you what you want to do on a particular day, you sometimes say "We'll go to the Daintree". That's how come I know you like it there.

You've got an amazing memory so that's how come I know you'll remember the places we've taken you.

You are 9 times out of 10, wonderful in public. Impeccable in fact. People are always saying just how well behaved you are, but they don't know you in your home environment do they? *heehee*

If you could, you would spend all day in your nighty. All day. It is a struggle sometimes to get you dressed. Sometimes you're still lazing about in your nighty till 11am.

And if you could, you would spend all day on the swing across the road at the playground. You love the swing. Even at Playgroup you spend half of our time there on the swing. And everyone knows that we can be found at the swing. The past week we've been practising you using the 'big kids' swing, rather than the little kid swing with the belt. You are getting really good at using the slides and climbing the play equipment.

Speaking of climbing, you love to climb. Pity it is the lounge suite you climb and whoever is sitting there had better watch out! You love organising your little chairs in a row and climbing from chair, to chair, to chair. Or climbing from your bed, over the bed rail, onto the chair, onto a little chair, to the floor. You'll be in your room and will be constantly doing that. Backwards and forwards.

You enjoy singing. You told me in the car that Madonna's song 'Sorry' was your favourite song. And you love 'Monsoon' by Robbie Williams. And I cannot forget 'Dirty Harry' by the Gorillaz. You sing quite well to these songs. But not as well as you can sing the Alphabet song (which I only sang to you once and you remembered it!) or 'I'm a Little Teapot'. You are beginning to like Justine Clarke's kiddies songs too. You've requested her CD because of the 'Watermelon' song which got stuck in your head. (And mine too for that matter!)

Dora the Explorer, you discovered this year. Auntie Sarah gave you a DVD of Dora for your 2nd birthday and you haven't looked back. Dora, Dora, Dora the Explorer. She has taught you numerous words in spanish and you can count to 7 in spanish, which I am amazed by. You were very excited to meet Dora at Dreamworld.

You love books. Any books, all books. I often find you in your room, sitting in your cubby, reading to yourself. Favourite books this year include 'Biscuit Bear', 'The Snail and The Whale', 'Lulu loves the Library', 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' and 'Hairy Maclary'. I've made myself a promise this coming year to buy you a good book, once a month. Books are wonderful and I know that you know this.

But most of all this year, you have discovered cooking. Mixing, baking, making a mess and licking the bowl. Both Grandma and Nanna know this because they've given you baking gear for your birthday. Sometimes you know I don't have the patience which I apologize for. You're just trying to help. Sorry my dear.

I see a lot of me in you, but most of the time you are so much like your father it makes me laugh.
You're a sweet, intelligent and good natured girl. Except when you get grumpy and boy, do you get grumpy! You get all cross and say "Don't say that", which daddy always replies "Don't say, Don't say that", which daddy and I always laugh at and then you get more cross and say "Not funny!! Don't laugh" and then we see a little smile which you try to hide.

Sometimes you'll come up to me and say "I love you" for no reason at all, followed by a hug. We give each other a hug everyday. And we practise words each day too. You love saying 'igloo', followed by 'bum burp' which always cracks us up. (Thanks to your Grandad for THAT word) You love toilet humour, you seriously do, which make your daddy and I laugh every time. Skiddies and Mr. Pong for example...

May your 3rd year be full of laughter, hugs and kisses and good times Monet. I love you very, very, very much. Thanks for being you, you beautiful little girl who amazes me.

Always,
Love Melody Mummy xxx

And because it is 'Falshback Friday', here is a photo of you, on the day you were born, 3 years ago today. *smile*

Cupcakes

This recipe is probably one of the most simplest recipes to make and the result is usually pretty tasty too. Nigella uses a food processor, but because I (currently) don't have one, I use the mix master. I have actually made this recipe by hand too and works just as well, just a bit more muscle power is needed. I simply ice these cakes using a butter icing...

*Taken from Nigella Lawson's "How to be a Domestic Goddess", published 2000*

Ingredients

125g unsalted butter, softened

125g caster sugar (3/4 cup)

2 large eggs

125g self raising flour (1 cup)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2-3 tbs milk

Method

Preheat the oven to 200c.

Put all the ingredients except the milk in the food processor and then blitz till smooth. Pulse while adding milk down the funnel, to make for a soft, dropping consistency. Spoon and scrape the mixture into muffin tin lined with papers, trying to fill each one equally.

Put into oven and bake for 15-20 minutes (only about 10 mins needed for mini cupcakes) or until the cakes are cooked and golden on top.

Cool on wire rack and decorate as wanted.

Makes approx 24 small cupcakes or 12 muffin size cupcakes

Pesto Corn Hotcakes with Salsa

These were pretty nice, especially if they were served as an entree. A serve of 2 hotcakes is plenty (we had 4 each). Instead of the salsa these could be served with a couple of rashes of bacon I think and could be served for Brunch. I thought the salsa was a little over powering.

*Taken from 'New Idea' magazine*

Ingredients
for the Hotcakes
125g can corn kernels, drained
125g can creamed corn
3 eggs, separated
1/3 cup milk
1 cup Self Raising Flour
1 tbs basil pesto
Fresh Basil leaves to garnish

for the Avocado and Bacon Salsa
3 bacon rashes, finely sliced
1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 medium tomato, finely chopped
1 avocado, finely diced
1/4 cup basil leaves, finely shredded
salt and pepper to taste

Method
To make salsa, heat a large non-stick pan over high heat. Add bacon and cook, stirring, until browned and crisp. Drain on absorbent paper. Cool for 10 minutes. Combine bacon, onion, tomato, avocado and basil in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

To make hotcakes, combine corn kernels, creamed corn, egg yolks and milk in a medium bowl. Stir in flour and pesto until combined.

Beat egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric beater until firm peaks form. Fold half the whites into corn mixture, then fold in remaining egg whites. Season with salt and pepper.

Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Lightly spray with cooking oil. Cook three hotcakes at a time. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of corn mixture into pan. Cook for about 2 minutes. When bubbles appear, turn hotcakes over and cook for another 2 minutes, or until lightly browned underneath. Remove and cover to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter.

Serve warm hotcakes topped with avocado and bacon salsa. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.

Serves 4

Check. 1. 2. 3!!

I've been pretty busy today. Busy preparing for a little girl's 3rd Birthday party tomorrow. Not that we're expecting masses of people, just 3 little friends and 2 big friends. ie. My friends!

So I've made and baked mini sausage rolls...

...made a mixture of 'Donkey Drops'....

...made, baked and decorated a batch of 'cupcakes'...

...and made (from a packet, shh don't tell anyone) the birthday cake...

Monet thought it has been wonderful as she didn't exactly help me make the items, rather she helped clean the dishes.

*sigh*

Can someone hand me a beer please?

Alicia

"I'm Alicia today"

"Where's Monet?"

"At home. Alicia is with you in the car. You have to call me Alicia."

"Okey dokey"

That was my conversation in the car yesterday on the way to Playgroup with Monet/Alicia.

Go Diego Go! has been watched on our television since our introduction to Pay TV, by Little Miss. Diego is actually Dora the Explorer's cousin who has his own show (who knew!) where he works for the animal rescue centre his family run. He works there alongside his older sister Alicia whom Monet adores. Obviously.

We get to playgroup where we see Leesa, my friend, and her son Connor, Monet's opps, sorry, Alicia's friend.

Connor says to me, "I'm RJ"

I look at Leesa.

"He's RJ today. Some character from some movie."

I say to Connor, "RJ, meet Alicia."

Leesa and I giggle. Monet/Alicia and Connor/RJ look at us like we're crazy.

Imagination hey. Or is it television rotting their brains? *grin*

Completed. (?)

Can you remember this post, where Monet was helping Lyndon with doing 'works' to the balcony?

Well, the outdoor area is just about completed. I'm not sure if we are thinking of doing anything else 'major' out there, bar the fact we are waiting for Lyndon's dad to come up and install some down lights above the BBQ and put in a power point for the little bar fridge out there. Lyndon is talking about putting in a gas wok burner to the left of the BBQ. Lucky for us, Lyndon's dad is an electrician. *grin* (& so is Lyndon's only brother and his brother-in-law!) We still think that we will *ah-hem*, well, Lyndon will paint the metal area under the BBQ black, to tie in with the edge of the fridge door and our windows/glass sliding doors.

So here I present our outdoor area...


Notice the painted walls? It's the same colour we have painted for our feature walls.

It looks pretty good if you ask me. It is so lovely to sit out there, either eating breakfast with a cuppa tea or sipping an afternoon ale or eating a BBQ dinner. It feels good out there. It's seriously like another room and so much better than the balcony it once was when we moved in about 6 months ago.

Can I tempt you with something to drink?

Yesterday and Today

So yesterday instead of going down to one of the local restaurants and indulging in something there, we changed our minds. (Hey, we're allowed to!) Instead we purchased a bottle of one of our favourite wines, Fours Sisters 'Sauvignon Blanc Semillon', and nibbled on this little platter which I whipped up...

...and which I ate most of. This meant our proposed meal which I was going to cook, didn't quite eventuate. (I knew that would happen!) Instead we got take outs from the local Thai restaurant across the road.

Today is 3 years since I went into 'early' signs of labour. Yep, my little 2 year old turns into my little 3 year old at the end of the week.

Today also marks the day when Lyndon was involved in a work place accident which instantly killed the guy he was working alongside. Lyndon's boss at the work site, literally, got away with murder by not taking responsibility of what happened on that fateful day 3 years ago. We hear on the grapevine that the bastard has got new building projects underway after forming a new company. We don't know how he managed to start up a new company after claiming he was 'broke' and not paying his workers, nor compensation to the family whose son was killed.

*Melody shakes her head in disbelief*

But life goes on. There is no use in feeling anger as it doesn't get anyone anywhere. I'm thankful for what I have today, meaning both Monet and Lyndon. Especially Lyndon. I'm lucky he is still here whilst his work mate is not. I think of his young son and his widow often, especially times like today...

Father's Day 2007

To my partner (Monet's dad), to my dad and all other dads across the land, Happy Father's Day.

See how busy Monet and I were on Friday whipping this up? And no, that's not my drawing of Monet, rather a piece of clip art via Mac.

I made Lyndon two of his favourite things for breakfast this morning. Bircher Muesli, followed by BBQ cooked bacon and eggs. I know! It was I who cooked the BBQ and that just doesn't happen around here...

We're planning on going down to one of the local restaurants down by the beach this afternoon for a glass of wine and a wood-fired pizza. Lyndon's choice of course. And for dinner I'm going to make this as it is one of his favourite meals.

'Happy Daddy's Day' Lyndon Dylan. You're a terrific father, one of whom we are all very proud off. We hope you are enjoying your day. xxx