Red Pesto

Over the last few months I have been making a 'killer' red pesto which I use more like a dip.  Spread on plain dry biscuits or slices of baguettes, it really is delicious - and oh so easy!  I like to use my own roasted peppers by putting slices of red pepper under the grill, blackening the skin, popping in a plastic zip top bag for 5 minutes and then peeling the skin off.

Ingredients
50g sun dried tomatoes
75g roasted peppers
50g blanched almonds (or plain cashews!)
2 garlic cloves
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Method
Put the tomatoes, peppers, almonds and garlic in a food processor and process to a paste.  Stir in the Parmesan and oil and season with salt.

It is still quite chunky but oh so delicious.  You should try it!

Santas, Rainbows and Limes.

I thought I'd share with you a few of my latest skirt fabrics. And it seems as if these three are hits, which I am most pleased about. I've had positive feedback and have sold one of each of the new ones already - even when I have a choice of over 25 different fabrics/designs.

I was very excited to find this Christmas fabric.  I just love it and am waiting eagerly for December to roll in so I can wear mine!

I only made the next skirt, named Rainbow, yesterday and sold one straight away.  As I very much loved the fabric, I made one for myself and got some lovely comments from friends (in the flesh and online), which is all very encouraging.  

'A Touch of Lime' was sold to a friend whilst it was still sitting there in pins.

I have another 'Skirt Party' next weekend at a friend's place, with an ever growing list of guests, so fingers crossed for a successful sales day.  *wink wink*

Halloween 2011

So, I'm a little late here, but as the saying goes, better late than never.

Halloween has come and gone and the girls had a blast.  Our first 'dose' of Halloween came on the Thursday night beforehand, where Monet's school held their annual 'Fall Festival'.  Basically it is everything Halloween with apple bobbing, 'candy galore', blow up castles, food (food! oh so much food!), lots of people (so many people!) and lots of gorgeous kids dressed up in various costumes and the like.

Monet had decided many weeks ago, that she wanted to be a clown at the Festival.  A clown? Okay, so I thought I might actually make her an outfit....which didn't happen.  I cheated and visited my local 'Party Store' and was most impressed to find an actual clown costume.  The nose and hair were separate purchases, but Monet was rapt when I presented to her, her outfit.  So, with a bit heap of face make up, she was ready to go!

She did scare herself when she looked in the mirror, and ten minutes before we were to head out the door, the wig and nose were on the thrown on the floor and Monet was not at all keen on going dressed as a clown.  Urgh, kids I tell you.  But with a bit of reassurance, we went with Monet dressed as a clown and she was a hit.   I still look at that above photo and don't recognise that girl. I see the clown from Stephen King's IT.

So, by the time Halloween rolled around a few days later, the clown idea was out the window and Monet declared she was going as a 'scary fairy' to go Trick or Treating in our neighbourhood.   And Lily?  Well, she was going as a cute Pumpkin.

A cute pumpkin with an Aussie twist.

By then end of the evening, Lily's trick or treat bucket was full to over-flowing.  It initially took her a few door knocks to get the hang of the whole idea.  She was not keen on people putting something in her bucket but when she worked out that she was getting candy/sweeties/lollies, well, anyone who gave her some were her friend.  

I was most surprised that she didn't want to go trick or treating the following evening.  

Crispy Ham and Pear Salad

I was halfway through eating this side salad when I thought I had better snap a photo as it was delicious!!  Though the photo doesn't quite show this...

...you'll just have to trust me on this.

The recipe called for 1 small cos lettuce and 1 50g bag of watercress or rocket, and since I had trouble collecting those items on my recent grocery shop, I opted for a simple bag of mixed Italian lettuce leaves.  I also choose to use balsamic vinegar over lemon juice.  Because I like balsamic vinegar.  ;)  I served mine alongside BBQ steaks. 

Taken from GoodFood magazine's '101 Seasonal Salads', page32, published 2005

Ingredients

1 small cos lettuce

50g bag watercress or rocket

2 ripe avocados, peeled, stoned and sliced

handful of herbs, such as dill or chives

90g pack prosciutto (I had about 6 slices)

4 tbs olive oil

2 ripe pears, cored and sliced

2 tsp wholegrain mustard

juice of 1/2 lemon

Method

1. Tear the lettuce into bite-sized pieces, then arrange with the watercress or rocket, avocados and herbs on four large serving plates.  Heat a large frying pan and fry the prosciutto until crisp.  Lift out and set aside.

2. heat the olive oil in the same pan.  Add the pears, mustard and lemon juice and heat through briefly.

3.  Return the prosciutto to the pan, season, then immediately spoon everything over the salad.  Serve at once.

Serves 4

Morning Beach Stroll

With the weather now very pleasant, especially comparing it to a month ago, even a fortnight ago, I thought it would be most appropriate to take the VIPs down to the Corniche for a stroll, even a short one, along the beach and boardwalk.  

At 10am it was lovely.  The whole place seemed rather inviting and the water was perfect temperature. 

Hey! Nice skirt lady!  (*smirk*)

The above shot shows to the far left the 'Etihad Towers' - a series of five towers, representing the Sheikhs.  Where you can just see cranes, is the Emirates Palace, the most expensive hotel in the world.  Where you can a series of white 'Sails' and a little tower, is Marina Mall and further along is the 'World's largest Flag pole' where the UAE flag flies proudly at full mast each day.

We had a cool milk shake at one of the cafes on the boardwalk which over looks the beach.  A cool refreshment was needed as I'm pretty sure it was a little warmer than the predicted 33 degrees.

With this week being Eid Mubarak and mid-term break for school, I think I might just take the girls back down there for a splash in the water, whilst the VIPs head UK bound.

Presenting...

My skirt business is turning more official, with a new name and a new logo. I'm very pleased/excited/rapt to present to you, 'Monet&Lily threads'.  The initials M&L are significant to us here at biglittlesister, I'm pretty sure you can work out why.

I still have bigger and better plans but having this logo has really got the ball started. It is exciting times ahead for me and I hope all does go to plan.

I'm seeing 'my' skirts out and about now, being worn by their new owners. I've sold over 85 now since August, can you believe it?  As far as I know too, my skirts are now being worn by people in Australia, Malta, Germany, England, Jamaica and here in the UAE!  I have orders too coming in, as people want certain skirts (namely my Camel one) to be sent back to their homelands as Christmas gifts for friends and relatives.   I'm chuffed, truly, I am.  (I'm also very busy! Whoopie!)  :)

Yas Links

Saturday saw MrL take a (very) rare afternoon off, so to make the most of him not being at his second home, we decided to go out for lunch. After last week's 'tantie' disaster, I decided Lily should take an earlier nap, which she did (*phew*) so there was no tantrum insight.

We found ourselves over at Yas Island, at the Links Golf Course, which sits directly opposite the Marina F1 Circuit and Ferrari World.  The F1 is on in two weeks time and the Club is getting ready for some action, with the labourers building some kind of platform...

Our lunch was actually quite nice, thought MrL wasn't too keen on his fish.  Kinda glad I didn't order it. (Sorry MrL.)

After a feed, we walked outside and thought perhaps we should have sat outside to eat.  It was really nice out there, with a view over to the Raha Beach development.

Can you spot the plane in the photo below?

Around the side of the club house lays a very inviting looking pool, with a view over towards Ferrari World.

The Yas Links golf house has a distinct Spanish feel to it.  Very nice indeed and not a thing out of place.

Pretty sure we'll be back again soon. Though next time, we'll stay clear of the fish. ;P

Marina Mall

There are lots of shopping malls here in Abu Dhabi. I guess the most popular one which attracts the crowds (for some reason, I'm not sure why - I don't see anything fancy about it), is the one opposite the city called Marina Mall.

I'm pretty sure they're making plans on renovating this mall - it is starting to look a bit dated and tired as compared to the newer ones in town.  However some of the art work in the Mall is pretty cool - lots of mosaics and the like.

The main entrance houses a water feature which is (theses days) pretty ordinary, with water falling from the tower on the hour.  If not on the hour, the feature is pretty much waterless, yet the colours are quite striking.

I took the photo below so you could see the portrait of one of the Sheikhs which are dotted around the city - he probably puts them there himself. *LOL*  I thought this portrait of the Sheikh was a little on the amusing side, as it is known that dogs are not popular in Arabic countries, especially here in the UAE where it seems only ex-pats have pet dogs.  I must be wrong.