Saturday 26 October 2013

October 25th Two Ugly Blisters

Two Ugly Blisters did dine
with their husbands and enjoyed fine wine
but what really put all in the mood
was the absolutely wonderful food

Lynette & Ian kindly invited us for dinner, and I would like to present the dinner on offer, Cannelloni a la Hubble. Absolutely beautiful and we were the taste testers as this was a recipe Lynette devised and everything on the plate was home made - even the pasta.I just realised I didn't take a photo of dessert - Date and Apple Cake with home made yoghurt icecream.




Friday 25 October 2013

October 24th Oh How I Love You...

Oh how I love you
Let me count the ways
you take me to far away places
and help me fill my days
sometimes I uncover new treasures
sometimes I see old pleasures
and now you are out of your cocoon
which shores shall we festoon?


Wednesday 23 October 2013

October 22nd Finger Lick'n Good

This blog is about anything and everything. However after sending George on that BBQ course last week, recent blogs are all food related. I think the world has had unfurled on it a BBQ Gourmand. Here is last night's effort by Mr BBQ Meister



This blog will return to normal. It's my turn to cook

Tuesday 22 October 2013

October 21st The Cooking Fisherman

This is half of a filleted snapper caught on George's fishing trip on Saturday. He wanted to use one of his recipes gained from his BBQ Cooking Class, and here is the result.

We have Snapper BC (Before Cooking)


And now Snapper AC (After Cooking)


I can see my cooking days may well be numbered. For a man that never cooked once in his life prior to meeting me, he is turning into a Chef Extraordinaire. I have been informed that tonight's dinner is  Chicken Drumsticks BBQ'd fancy pancy style. Meanwhile Irene hugged her glass and watched (and rubbed her hands together in glee)

Monday 21 October 2013

October 20th Irene and Annabel - The Testing Of The Recipes

We had a family get together today and I decided it was the perfect time to have a test run of a selection of Annabel Langbein's recipes, taken from her new, soon to be released book  'A Free Range Life'

As the day was a combination of families, it was a pot luck type of day. I decided I would make a selection of seafood related recipes, that could be used either as starters or part of the mains.

First off the chopping block, that didn't require a chopping block, but a food processor or deft hand was 'Sardine Pate'  Can I be honest here. I was a fan of sardines, but in the last few years they have not agreed with my aging intestinal grouping. I had given away some cans that lurked in the pantry, but overlooked one which has been haunting me. A faint cry could be heard from the pantry "Eat me, eat me, please eat me, I am so lonely here on my own" .  My better half, George will only eat Sardines if they are tinned with a tomato sauce. Hence my quandary. Oh and should I mention a majority of my family who would be at the day are fussy, pernickety to the nth degree, eaters - and sardines would not pass their lips.  This recipe appealed however as they did not look like sardines in Annabel's associated photo.

The Sardine Pate is served on Crunchy Croutons - which is also detailed in Annabel's book. And a drum roll please for Sardine Pate served on Crunchy Croutons....


I was the only one aware that there were Sardines in this pate. When asked what it was, due to the fact that I can tell exceptionally good porkies, I blithely stated that it was a Seafood Pate - which isn't a lie is it?  Everyone oohed and arghed, and when we were down to one solitary crouton left on the plate, I then divulged what the seafood consisted of.  Everyone stated they loved them.

More underhanded shenanigans for the next dish, Crab & Corn Cakes which in my vocabulary until they had all vanished were defined as Corn Fritters (apologies Annabel).  Firstly when I was preparing these, it was with some consternation. Before crumbing, the mixture felt quite wet. I had followed the recipe to the T and did not want to digress. I was supposed to roll these into balls and then crumb them. They were too wet to do that, so I refrigerated the raw recipe for a while. It was still to wet to handle, so I took a dessertspoon and dolloped blobs into the Panko Crumbs, covered the top in crumbs as opposed to rolling, and then placed these on a baking paper lined tray. They were refrigerated overnight


And all my fretting and stressing, and the extra glass of red wine, was for nothing. These were beautiful. I had made the Smoked Paprika Aioli to go with my next recipe attempt - and it ended up being used on these as well Oh and the verdict - I think it goes without saying that when a person only eats fish for their seafood exclaims "these are so yummy I want the recipe"  then you know this recipe is a keeper.  No one got crabby when I said they were Crab & Corn Cakes. Here is the finished product


My final contribution to the day was Prawn & Chorizo Skewers.  In the recipe Annabel states to eat these hot or warm and I definitely recommend following that instruction. These tasted much nicer hot off the BBQ then later in the afternoon as the few solitary leftovers had cooled.  The only bad comment received about these, was why did I buy Chorizo, when George makes perfectly wonderful sausages. George actually said I should stick to the specified recipe, and our sausages cannot be truly defined as Chorizo. His recommendation was I should commit the ultimate sin and purchase sausages. Believe me, the act of purchasing sausages was akin to putting an alcoholic in an unattended bar!  But I digress.

Annabel suggested the Smoked Paprika Aioli be served as a dipping sauce for these, but everyone loved eating them as they were. A very plain but effective and tasty combination, believe me



And to prove there were people at this gathering and I am not 'Irene No Mates' here is a photo of some of the group.  What a lovely day to get together, beautiful sea views at Raglan, fun times and laughter with family and those close enough to be classed as family. I should have taken a photo of us all sitting down and eating, but we were all too busy appreciating the good food and good company


I must also thank Annabel Langbein, and for being selected to preview her new book 'A Free Range Life.'  These are recipes I will definitely make again and I will delve into her book further and select more. A perfect start to the upcoming summer months where we shed our winter woes and embrace summer in all it's glory.

Sunday 20 October 2013

October 19th The Classes Paid Off

George expressed interest in a flyer he saw for a BBQ Cooking Class and that was his birthday present. This week he trotted off for the evening, returning with lots of wonderful, delectable ideas for the BBQ.

Here is his first attempt - marinated chicken Asian style with a Peanut Satay Sauce. My input was to marinate the chicken as he was away on the high seas all day (BBQd Snapper in the offing). The chicken was lovely and tender, not a chewy piece in each bite. The peanut sauce was his creation, and I have to say it was as good as anything I have tasted in Malaysia or at Asian restaurants here. This is a Malaysian recipe as the class tutor's mother was Malaysian.

George take a bow....


ps when inviting people for a BBQ, it won't just be shrivelled steak and charcoaled sausages anymore.

Saturday 19 October 2013

Friday 18 October 2013

October 17th Irene and Annabel

Apparently I am one of a very exclusive group of people selected to have a copy of Annabel Langbein's new book 'A Free Range Life' The prerequisite is to use menu ideas from the book and host a family meal or dinner.

So join me on my Irene and Annabel journey - I will post resultant photos.


Thursday 17 October 2013

October 16th Two Lovely Ladies

It has been lovely catching up with Raewyn from Perth and her sister Raine. Raewyn & I hadn't sen each other for at least 30 years. When we saw each other last Saturday, I thought that was it, due to their busy schedule whilst Raewyn was visiting. But had a lovely surprise visit this evening and once again, lots of laughs. Happy travels home Raewyn and we will meet again. And Raine... we want to see you more often!


Wednesday 16 October 2013

October 15th Beware!!

Don't let a bird of paradise fly up your nose
It will water your eyes and make you curl your toes
And then if this doesn't happen just suppose
You would look stupid with a bird of paradise stuck up your nose





Tuesday 15 October 2013

October 14th Thank God for Leftovers

To you this may look like just a bowl of mashed potatoes. To me, and others who have sampled them, this is George's best offering and the finest mashed potatoes on earth.



Friday 11 October 2013

October 10th Love The View

When I pull the curtains open in our bedroom each morning. You can't see it in this photo, but beyond this geranium I can spy freesias and tulips, blooming away in our garden. And a naughty flowering orange creeper on the far fence - they are supposed to flower in the middle of winter, ie usually June/July - ours has only just started blooming now (maybe it was waiting to join the freesias and tulips?)


Wednesday 9 October 2013

October 8th Five Men Came to Lay

Five Men Came to Lay
Came to Lay our Driveway
Five Men and their big machine
Came to lay our Driveway

Five Men went Away
After they finished tarsealing our driveway
Five Men and their big machine
Left after they finished our driveway

Now we have no Potholes
No Potholes in our Driveway
It is smoother than a babies bum
When you come up our Driveway

ps note on the left hand side, George's mammoth gardening and weeding effort in the weekend, which included new garden wire edging


Tuesday 8 October 2013

October 7th Lilly Pilly

I have never seen such huge Lillies. These ones are beautiful, and the scent is so heavy it fills the entire kitchen


Monday 7 October 2013

October 6th Hijinks


Someone got up to Saturday nite hijinks in the 'hood
This is at the neighbours down the front. However we managed to exact revenge on their behalf, I think. The same evening we had a Cactus lopped in half (perfect cut) and taken from the garden down the driveway. Insert evil cackle here - that is the demon cactus and if they plant that in their garden they will live to regret it,


Saturday 5 October 2013

October 4th Lost and Found

LOST:  One Voice
FOUND: One Packet of Coldrex Cold, Cough & Flu Capsules

If someone locates my voice, it's return would be appreciated. 
 




Friday 4 October 2013

October 3rd Another Family Reunion (of sorts)

I had the most wonderful surprise this evening. Minnie was barking and I thought she was alerting the neighbourhood that she was in control and looking after me - as I wasn't expecting guests. I thought I would pop my head through the bedroom window to make sure (our bedroom allows a good view of the front deck, and the window overlooks the steps) - and two ladies were standing there, holding a magazine that suspiciously looked like they were Jehovah's Witnesses from the back. Those who know me well can imagine my reaction. I was prepared to tell them to naff off (in an extremely polite way of course -  yeah right) - until they turned around.

Well..... I cannot express my delight at seeing Raewyn, whom I last saw in 1978 when we shared a flat together in Melbourne, Raewyn is now living in Perth, and her sister Raine - whom I caught up with last year. She resides in Hamilton, and we only initially touched base again because my lovely daughter in law Steph -  her Mum is a cousin to Raine and Raewyn. So we are actually now indirectly related!!

I am still gobsmacked at the most amazing surprise visit I could wish for. But you know how they say that people turn up unexpectedly when your house is at it's worst. Well  I can testify to that. I had a full on day with work in the morning, hairdressers, back to more work and the kitchen was strewn with the days junk mail and some shopping. A pile of bubble wrap on the floor as George had some at work, and brought it home to indulge my addiction. Some wines we bought at a Wine evening the previous night and I hadn't had time to unpack and they were strewn over the floor - including some new wine glasses (Spiegelau and greatly reduced at the wine sale - woo hooo). Then let's move to the bedroom - which runs off our lounge - hello, bed unmade and total mess. I was in such a rush in the morning I only ventured in there to get Minnie off the bed (she is like me and an old girl now and suffering aches and pains).I was caught out on a day when the  house was at it's messiest - oh and dishwasher not emptied in the morning, so dishes strewn over the bench.

But I am happy I was caught out due to these circumstances.  Girls, you saw me at my worst - but hey, what the hell at least my hair was done and at it's Pinkest Bestest!

Raewyn declined a photo for the day - as she was supposedly suffering the effects of the long flight from Perth to Auckland. I couldn't see it. So for my photo of the day - here is a snap I unexpectedly took when I was trying to reboot my phone and took a photo of the screensaver instead :)


Thursday 3 October 2013

October 2nd Family Reunion

Excuse the photo quality - I am obviously not at fault as I am in the photo.But a little blurring is good to hide the lines (mine of course)


Wednesday 2 October 2013

October 1st Capsicum Number 6

 A little bit of capsicum in my life
A little bit of eggplant on the side
Chop some red onion with a sharp knife
Watch your fingers or you will be in strife
A little bit of mayonnaise the next day
What does that make? I hear you say
This is our Eggplant dip
Or Aubergine if you are a stuck up pr..ck



Tuesday 1 October 2013

September 30th Salmon Tartare, Avocado and Horseradish

That was meant to be Tuna Tartare, Avocado and Horseradish. I had some Tuna in the fridge, and this recipe was sourced especially to use the Tuna. Well the tuna had a dodgy smell and freezer burn, so a substitute was required. And Bluff Salmon fillets it was....