Hay Hay Its Donna and Me...and Event #3

Yes that is Donna Hay hiding behind me.  She has just had a baby and any woman who has ever  "just had a baby" will understand why. I'll never forget hopping on the scales the day after my first son was born and despite having  just delivered a healthy 8 pound 10 ounce   baby I hadn't lost an ounce.

Donna is the special celebrity guest chef at this weeks Auckland Food Show .   Everyone really enjoyed her presentation.  She was professional, well prepared, funny and very relaxed.  Her relaxed manner was a joy. I have been to other cooking  demonstrations where the chef is not comfortable in front of the camera and it can make the whole event tiresome.

Following the demo Donna was very busy signing books but we managed a brief chat about the Hay Hay Its Donna Day.  She seemed quite pleased with the  interest our blog event has created for the magazine .

I had made arrangements to meet up with Celine  at the show and while I grabbed us a couple of good seats  Celine went off to find coffee.  Donna presented a three course dinner of Spinach and Ricotta Soufflé, Roast Garlic Baked Chicken, Salsa Verde Potatoes and Molten Chocolate Cakes.  Donna's secret is all her recipes are quick and easy, making them ideal for our busy  lifestyles. 

Next week I will recreate the recipes and post them. The individual soufflés are so easy.

In the meantime I've decided to go ahead and post the round up of  event  #3.  I've had several emails asking about it.  The host of event#3, Clare at Eatstuff ,  has been away from her computer for so long I'm not sure if she is coming back any time soon.  I felt it wasn't fair on the people who made the effort to enter round #3, they were still without some sort of roundup

Donna Hay's Checkerboard Snap Cookies - Mini Roundup HHDD#3

With the help of  Bron   here is a mini roundup of Hay Hay It's Donna Day #3 - The Checkerboard Snap Cookies.   Together we knew of 9 entries and we are very sorry if we have missed anyone out.  If this is the case please leave us a comment sharing your entry, we'd  love to see it!
Thanks heaps

Stephanies  Rosewater and Pistachio Checkerboard Snap Cookies

Paul's  Paul's Orange and Rum Rainbow Patches

Boo's  Peanut Butter Strawberry Chequerboard, Coconut and Pandan, Earl Grey Tea and Lemon Chequerboards

Laura's  Donna Hay's caramel filled biscuits

Grommie's  Elderberry and Lemon Cookie Flowers

Linda's  Battenberg Checkerboard Cookies with Raspberry jam and Marzipan

Barbara's  Vanilla and Chocolate Stars

Clare's  Original Hay Hay it's Donna Day #3 Introduction

Bron's  Checkerboard Tiles and Icecream Sandwich

Cin's  Chocolate Ginger Chequerboard Cookies

Thanks again to everyone who entered.

 

Comments

[Bron]

Mmmm yes I know that feeling, I still want to hide and my youngest is 3!!
I'm so pleased you were able to meet up with her, if a teensy bit jealous!
And great round up! ;-)

[sam]

Great scoop - she looks so young to have achieved so much!
And she indeed does look warm and friendly too - and she knows about the Hay Hay event! Good publicity you are giving us little food bloggers.

Who is hosting the next one?
It's exciting to think donna herself might be checking them out.

[Judy]

You both look absolutely gorgeous!

I hope your "HHDD" events get some publicity in the magazine .... Donna, if you're reading this .... ;}

#3 Roundup is great - well done!

[Caroline@Bibliocook.com]

That's great that you got to meet her and tell her about the HHDD event in person, Barbara. How was the rest of the Auckland Food Show?

[barbara]

Bron - yes, me too and my youngest is 24!
Sam - don't forget to vote for event #4 over at Bron's. The winner gets to host #5.
Judy - Thanks Judy and yes some publicity in the mag would be nice.
Caroline - The magazine have been following the event for some time now. They already knew about us. I'll be writing about the rest of theshow next week.

[Paul]

Thanks for doing the round-up Barbara. Sounds like you had a good time at the Auckland food show. The sydney show was great, but I missed Donna by moments apparently. Looking forward to when you write about the rest of the show.
Cheers,
Paul

[Ellie]

What a great event! I'm sorry I didn't get to take part in this one, but will definetely be eager to try the next :)

[Nic]

Oh. My. Goodnes. Barbara, I am so very jealous that you got to meet Donna Hay! And that fact that she's interested in the event is even more amazing - though it was a brilliant idea to begin with, I must say. I wonder if she's looking to add any international writers to the staff. I'd move back to Aus in a heartbeat for that!

[barbara]

Paul - a pity you missed Donna, she was a delight.
Ellie - do join in next time.
Nic - There are certainly a heap of food bloggers(yourself included) out there capable of writing for the magazine.

[arfi binsted]

I envy you guyz can meet Donna Hay... I admire her. I just love her magazine though I only have just bought one of the editions :) I believe you've got a great time at the Food Show.

[barbara]

Arfi - such a pity you couldn't join us at the show.

[keiko]

Thanks for sharing this great post, Barbara - you look so lovely with Donna :)

[barbara]

Thank you Keiko.

[Cin]

I thought Clare had done a round up of this. Anyway, here's mine if you cuold add to the list!
http://fewofmyfavourites.blogspot.com/2006/05/chocolate-ginger-checkboard-cookies.html

[Melissa]

I love Donna!
Must have been great to rub shoulders with such a talented lady!
You look great!
Melissa

[barbara]

You.ve been added Cin. Thanks for joining in.
Melissa - Thank you and I feel better every day.

[plum]

Great photo Barbara! It's a few years since I saw Donna Hay demonstrate, but she is very personable in real life.

[barbara]

Hi Plum - are you back posting yet?