A Love/Hate Meme

I generally don't do Memes (doesn't everyone say this?) but Deana tagged me to do this one and something about it appealed to me.

I love to eat; warm, crusty bread with butter - a freshly made meal not made by me - a good, quality resturant meal - food on holidays!

I hate to eat; mushrooms - seafood (bar fish) - a bad meal cooked by me - sushi (I know!)

I love to go; to the hairdressers and the hairdresser cuts my hair like I ask - to places I have never been before but have seen pictures of - to the airport to pick people up or for me to take off somewhere

I hate to go; grocery shopping when the cupboards are empty and Monet is grumpy.

I love it when; there is beer in the fridge - my house is spotless - my car is full of petrol - Monet's in a good mood - plans work out!

I hate it when; Monet is naughty - I feel angry - it rains day after day after day - trains/planes are delayed - I have 'blogger block' *ahem* - you're waiting for someone to ring and they never do - you can't find a carpark

I love to see; Monet doing her best - laughing - Monet dancing and singing - kids having a wonderful time - surprised faces - Moet Champagne on special - a parcel in the mail - areoplanes landing/taking off - nature at its very best - the sun shining in a bright blue sky

I hate to see; Japanese slaughtering whales in Australian waters - young kids doing stuff they know they aren't meant to be doing (ie smoking) - women who don't wear bras but should - gstrings/thongs showing outside clothing - foolish people - people driving and talking with their hands at the same time

I love to hear; a song I haven't heard in ages which I adore - children laughing - Lyndon's keys opening the front door

I hate to hear; arguing, anywhere, anytime - cars speeding - young kids out on the street after midnight - my car not starting (not that has ever happened to me *Melody goes and knocks on wood*)

I'm not going to tag anyone but if you'd like to do this one, let me know and I'll pop along and have a gander.

Minestrone

Nothing better to warm the soul than with a hot cup of soup. Not so good in the tropics of Australia (made us sweat!), but it was cheap, tasty and easy to make. I didn't cook the macaroni first, I added raw macaroni towards the end and let it cook in the soup.

*Taken from Murdoch Books, 'Australian Family Favourites', pg 15, published 2007*

Ingredients
80g (1/2 cup) macaroni
1 tbs olive oil
1 leek, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 carrot, sliced
1 boiling (waxy) potato, chopped
1 zucchini, sliced
2 celery stalks, sliced
100g green beans, cut into short lengths
425g can chopped tomatoes
2 litres (8 cups) vegetable or beef stock
2 tbs tomato paste
425g tinned cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
2 tbs chopped flat-leaf (italian) parsely
shaved parmesan cheese, to serve

Method
Bring a saucepan of water to the boil, add the macaroni and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until al dente. Drain.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large heavy-based saucepan. Add the leek and garlic and cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes.

Add the carrot, potato, zucchini, celery, green beans, tomato, stock and tomato paste, Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Stir in the cooked pasta and the cannellini beans. Spoon into bowls and garnish with the parsley and parmesan cheese.

Serves 4 - 6

Coleslaw

Coleslaw is a pretty basic salad to make and there is probably got a zillion recipes out there to make it, but this one tasty. I don't always add the red cabbage (a bit pricey at times) and when I took this photo I didn't have the parsley added, nor the red cabbage. I have to say, the Food Processor gets a good work out in this recipe...
*Taken from Murdoch Books, 'Australian Family Favourites', pg 143, published 2007*

Ingredients
1/2 green cabbage
1/4 red cabbage
3 carrots, coarsley grated
6 radishes, coarsley grated
1 red capsicum (pepepr), chopped
4 spring onions, sliced
15g chopped flat-leaf (italian) parsley
250g (1 cup) whole-egg mayonnaise

Method
Remove the hard core from the cabbages and shred the leaves with a sharp knife. Place in a large bowl and add the grated carrot, radishes, red capsicum, spring onion and parsley.

Add the mayonnaise just before serving, season to taste and toss ntil well combined.

Serves 8-10 as a Side Salad

Banana Cake

I'm always on the hunt for goood Banana Cake recipes, as I've *always* got excess bananas in my freezer department of my refridgerator. The toasted coconut on the top was a nice addition. The recipe states to bake for an hour, but that was far too long (in my oven at leaast). I baked mine for 40 minutes, so make sure you keep a close on the the time.

*Taken from Murdoch Books, 'Australian Family Favourites', pg 401, published 2007*

Ingredients
125g butter
125g (1/2 cup) caster sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp natural vanilla extract (I used 2tsp vanilla essence)
4 ripe bananas, mashed
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
125ml (1/2 cup) milk
250g (2 cups) Self Raising Flour

Butter frosting Ingredients
125g butter
90g (3/4 cup) icing sugar
1 tbs lemon juice
15g (1/4 cup) flaked coconut, toasted (I used shredded coconut)

Method
Preheat oven to 180C. Brush a 20cm round cake tin with oil or melted butter and line the base with baking paper.

Using electric beaters, beat butter and sugar in a small bowl until light and creamy. Add the eggs gradually, beating thoroughly after each addition. Add the extract and mashed banana and beat until combined.

Transfer the mixture into a large bowl. Dissolved the soda in the milk. Using a metal spoon, fold in the sifted flour alternately with the milk. Stir until all the ingredients are just combined and the mixture is smooth. Spoon into the prepared tin and smooth the surface. Bake for 1 hour, or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the centre of the cake. Leave in the tin for 10 minsutes before turing onto a wire rack to cool.

To make the frosting, using electric beaters, beat the butter, icing sugar and lemon juice until smooth and creamy. Spread onto the cooled cake, sprinkle with toasted cococnut flakes.

Ave A Good One...

Today is Australia Day. Our national holiday, though because January 26th has fallen on a Saturday the Public Holiday is on Monday. (So, it is alongweekend this weekend.)

To celebrate, I have made a typical Aussie dessert, just for me. Because I can and because I felt like it. I know Ms. Mac would love to be here helping me devour this...

...Pavlova with Peppermint Crisp on top.

Deeeelicious! (I used this recipe for anyone interested.)

Happy Australia Day everyone.

Enjoy a frothie later 'ron. Say G'Day to every shelia and cobber you know. She'll be right, chins up and throw a snag on the Barbie for me. Bewdy mate.

Fajitas

(Sorry, the photo doesn't look that appealing, but don't let this photo put you off. This is so work making!)

Oww...these were delicious. I set all the prepared ingredients in the center of the table and everyone helps themselves... I cooked the meat on the BBQ - which was quick, easy and smelt out the neighbourhood (mmm!). Instead of using beef you could easily use chicken and the result would be just as delicious. There was a lot of meat (for 4 adults) so you really didn't need quite so much)

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

Ingredients
185ml olive oil
2 tbs lime juice
4 garlic cloves, chopped
3 red chillies, chopped (I used 2)
2 tbs tequila (optional) (I omitted)
1 kg rump steak, thinly sliced into strips
1 red and yellow capsicum, thinly sliced
1 red onion, thinly sliced
8 flour tortillas
guacamole, shredded lettuce, diced tomato and sour cream, to serve

Method
Combine the oil, lime juice, garlic, chilli, tequila and some pepper. Add the meat, cover and marinate for several hours or overnight.

Drain the meat and toss with the capsicum and onion.

Just before serving, wrap the tortillas in foil and warm them in a 150C oven for about 5 minutes. (Alternatively, you could 'zap' them in the microwave) Cook the meat and vegetables in batches in a hot heavy-based frying pan until cooked. Put the tortillas on a serving plate and sit in the middle of the table with the meat, guacamole, lettuce, tomato and sour cream. Let everyone assemble their own fajita.

Serves 4

Gone

I'm finding it a bit ironic that Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment on, what would have been, Michael Hutchence's (48th) birthday, USA time. Why do I say that? It is because Heath has always reminded me of Michael- the swagger when he walks, his personality. Something. And he was rumoured to be in line to play Michael Hutchence in an (apparent) movie about the man. I remember saying to Lyndon that I thought Heath would play a perfect Michael, rather than Colin Farrell, who was also rumoured to wanting the leading role.

I think the Australian media has gone into a frenzy today, with the news breaking here at 7:45AM (Queensland time). My SIL text me as she saw the news breaking on one of the morning shows here in Australia. Because Queensland is an hour behind both N.S.W and Victoria, we get programs recorded live in these states an hour later. I quickly flipped the channel over to Sky News on Austar. It is hard to sort out the 'true' facts when news is breaking and filtering out in bits and pieces. All I know is that the world has lost a handsome, young and talented actor (who happened to be Australian who 'did well'). His latest role in the new Batman movie has been said to be his best yet. I've 'Google'-d images from this movie and he looks very, very creepy. *shudder* They are saying he plays 'The Joker' better than Jack Nicholson did in the first Batman Flick (when was that movie - 1989?)

Today I am wearing my much loved Shem Watson T-Shirt. My designer t-shirt I bought off the actual designer whose studio was in the 1st story of a Chapel Street (in Melbourne) building. He was one of Heath's best mates.

I remember seeing photos of Heath with (then girlfriend) Naomi Watts, wearing 'Shem' designed t-shirts. Heath was photographed many times wearing this t-shirt, in support of his designer friend, apparently one of his closest friends. After doing some of my own research I walked into the designer's studio in Chapel Street (we were living in close proximity to here, back in 2002) with determination I was going to buy one of the t-shirts, no matter at what cost.

I wasn't actually expecting to meet Shem, but I did. It happened that he was working on that Saturday morning in his studio. He introduced himself and I felt star-struck. Silly, I know, but I did. He shook my hand, asked how I knew about his designs ("Heath of course") and tried on some t-shirts. He told me how he did the t-shirts, each one was individually screen printed. It cost me $90 but I have worn it so many times over the past 5 years, it is only now starting to feel a little sad with some holes appearing around the neck line. It is one piece of clothing I don't think I will part with.

Rest in Peace Heath.
*sigh*

And We're Counting...

I was 23 when I got my first passport. It was my 'ticket' to go and explore the United Kingdom, something I had dreamt of for many years.

Monet is 3. Her first passport application is in. It is her 'ticket' to 'London' and our other destinations we have carefully planned out. I feel really proud to be 'opening' up her world with this passport at such a young impressionable age. She is going to see some things she'll never forget and experience a lot of things that adults dream about doing, but never do. I know she will learn so much when we visit cities in Europe and I'm sure we'll be hearing about them in times to come.

Her eyes light up when we talk about our impending trip. They really do. She has a map she points to and the world globe. She'll point to where she lives (spot on) and where abouts we'll be going. I don't know if she knows just how a 'huge' trip it is going to be and what it all entails, but I know she kinda 'gets it'.

She's been talking so much of seeing Auntie Kim and Uncle T, big red double decker buses, the 'big clock' (Big Ben), the 'huge Ferris wheel' (the London Eye), black taxis, 'the queen' (her home anyway!), the 'tallest tower' (the Eiffel Tower), the merry-go-rounds (Paris' carousels), let me tell you, the list goes on.

She's been talking about what clothes she's going to take, because she knows it going to be a lot cooler there than here ("I'll need my scarf, my hat, my gloves, my coat") and which actual teddy bear gets the privilege of travelling half way around the world with her (and that would be 'Pickles the Bear')

We've begun to book our accommodation and I'm busy organising our 'schedule' (coordinating train travel with city accommodation).

Can't believe it is three months today to we fly off in our Cathay Pacific Plane headed to LHR via a Hong Kong stopover. How wonderful.

How old were you when you got your first passport? (If you have one that is!)