Sat, 3rd Feb 2007

Glimpses of our short weekend at the Empire.

Children's favourites:

No. 1 - The Beach

No. 2 - The Jacuzzi / Pool



No. 3 - The Bathtub

No. 4 - Room Service

Thick meaty juicy burger with mushroom sauce served on the side.

No. 5 - No homework and watching TV from a comfy bed.

No. 6 - Doughnuts for breakfast.

No. 7 - Building Sandcastles

No. 8 - Feeding the resident turtle.

No. 9 - Chips

The highlights of the weekend for me?

3 lazy hours in the shade catching up with magazines

and planning my menu.

And the delicious spicy nasi lemak with chicken rendang and crispy fried anchovies.

And the lovely lemongrass scented toiletries.

Sunday, 11th Feb 2007

The children's usual Sunday breakfast - French Toasts or Crispy Pancakes (and that's something for another post). Wholemeal bread soaked in egg and milk. Topped with butter and honey or whipped cream.

Here's Mark, furiously stirring honey and butter onto his bread.

Serve with Milo and Orange Juice, and a book.

Mark had 3 chunky slices and Hazel had 1.5.

Monday, 12th Feb 2007

Like my new, all singing and dancing, layout? Thank you M for doing this for me!

Sunday, 11th Feb 2007

Happy 2nd birthday Naqiyyah!!

When you have a party with 2 bouncers (one with a water slide):

and food (hello Marshmallow boy):

and more food (freshly made rotis):



and games: (here's Hazel battling it out with the boys)

My turn with Pablo, ZT, Bulimic, Mama&Papa&Naqiyyah-los and nieces-los:

(wow look at mama and ZT go with M, the only guy left standing amongst us girls)

(and then there were two - congratulations to ZT, the champiooon of Musical Chairs & dance)

and little children in the cutest animal hats (I want one too):

a Mr Bean cake :

and mascots (Mr Jollibee does a mean dance):

You just know you will go home, with a sore throat from all the yelling, an achy tummy full of laughs, and a sugar high from the Miranda, Pepsi & teh tarik.

Thank you dear Naj & family, for having me, my kiddies and nephew Dom, and for a wonderful party! xxxx

Finally, a random pic taken by my nephew, but look at ZT!!

Sat, 10th Feb 2007

Woke up very hungry and this was my breakfast. Rice & leftover lamb shanks and gravy. I also had some fruit salad. Good start to another busy day.

Friday, 9th Feb 2007

So I didn't take any food pics last night, but here is the menu, slightly food stained.

Thank you to my lovely guests, Wm, J & M and her sister, Tina and Bryan, Eyan and family, Reeda & Bulimic. Hope you all had fun and enjoyed the food. Thank you Tina & Bryan for bringing the delicious trifle.



p.s. Please may I have your pictures? Thank you :P

Weds, 7th Feb 2007

I seem to be in the mood for bottling lately (pate, then anchovy dip) and now Italian Marinated Mushrooms.

I saw some really fresh firm large white button mushrooms in SS today and had to buy some to turn into this:









It has olive oil, garlic, onion, thyme, marjoram, paprika, parsley, wholegrain mustard, balsamic vinegar, salt & black pepper in it. The flavours made my head reel.... Once cooled, it will go into the fridge.

Tues, 6th Feb 2007

Ever since J and I were a lot lot younger, we have always had a habit of swopping our belongings - we've even been known to change into each other's clothes midway into a party - slightly confusing for others, and very juvenile, but we find it hilariously funny.

This time it was our ear-rings - here she is on the left with mine and me on the right with hers.

Tues, 6th Feb 2007

Libra

" You are almost frighteningly good at being polite while you are really seething underneath. It might actually be better for you to drop the social niceties and just be honest with the person who is getting on your nerves ".

Totally. But will I?

Tues, 6th Feb 2007

Lunch at Portview with C, J & D - C & J had burgers while D & I had the usual chicken tandoori pita.

J's burger - they are all now used to me and my camera! Here is the 'good side' of the burger.

Lunch tales:

1. Argentinian Polo Players

2. Do you know 'Far Away'?

3. Girlie Girls

4. Convertible cars

5. Skiing on your bum

6. How to order flowers on Valentine's Day

and more....

Sat, 3rd Feb 2007

Today I made a garlic & anchovy dip loosely based on the ingredients/methods of a Bagna Cauda, but in my own style.

First gather the ingredients:

2 whole bulbs garlic with tops cut off

1 tin whole anchovies in olive oil

Dried Parsley

Black Pepper

Mixed Herbs

Olive Oil

Method

1. Cut tops off garlic bulbs but do check for signs of weevils at the bottom. Put into a baking tray, drizzle olive oil on top and I just had to add black pepper because I love black pepper.

2. Roast in slow oven for 40 minutes.

3. In the meantime, open the tin of anchovies.



4. Snip them into little pieces with a pair of scissors. Snip them in the tin so that you don't lose a single drop of the precious olive oil.

4. Tip them into a clean dry glass jar, add parsley, mixed herbs, & more black pepper. Do not add salt as anchovies are extremely salty.

5. At the end of 40 mins (approx), the garlic should be soft, squidgy and will just slide and ooze out of their skins at the slightest pressure.

8. Discard skins

9. Look at this heap of sweet, ploppy, smoky garlic.....

10. Roughly mash the garlic, leaving some of the smaller pieces whole.

10. Tip all the garlic into the glass jar. Add a few tablespoons extra virgin olive oil. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.

11. Label and store!

The ingredients complement each other beautifully. I can't wait to serve this with little toasted pita triangles and small vegetable crudites. Roll on Friday! Add some chilli flakes and it will be gorgeous with pasta as well.