winosandfoodies

Spicers Peak Lodge Scenic Rim

As much as I love living by the beach with walks on the edge of the ocean and sand underfoot I do miss walking in the bush. New Zealand is snake free but here in Australia there are a number of dangerous snakes. The staff assured us they had never seen snakes around the lodge area and I'm happy to say we didn't see any either.

Spicers Peak Lodge is  all inclusive with meals and drinks included. Even the mini bar is free. Our room had its own open fire place. It wasn't cold but I'm sure the fire would be a welcome touch in winter. Every way we looked the views were spectacular.

Originally the chef planted a garden but the rabbits and kangaroos got to it before the chef.  There is a small herb garden under the kitchen window. These roses were used in a rose petal jelly.

The weather was perfect and we were able to lunch outside. The lodge has ten rooms and with so few people it's a little like a private house party.  It's alway fun to meet new people.

Each evening is a degustation menu.  The food is outstanding and well matched with Australian wines.  A favourite dish, and I don't have a picture, was grilled squid and baby octopus served at lunch.

Our days fell into a routine - breakfast, a little reading in the lounge, lunch,walks in the bush, power nap, dinner, chatting with the other guests, bed. Repeat again the following day.  

Unfurling ferns

Textures of the forest floor

Grass Trees are an Australian native plant we called Blackboys when I was a child. Political correctness has  them renamed as grass trees.

A bright spot of yellow.

Wild animals.

Friendly cows

 

It rained briefly one afternoon and the light was magical. The night sky was a mass of stars  never seen from a city balcony.

....and finally...the best White Chocolate Parfait I have ever tasted with candied hazelnuts and Queensland strawberries.

 

 

 

A Few Days of Quiet

Our apartment building borders the track of the Nikon SuperGP car race.  For us it is four days of disruption. From the incredible noise of the cars during the day and the drunken idiots at night. And don't get me started on the control the organisers have over us.  If we need our car during the day we have to get it out of our underground car park prior to 7AM, park it on the street.... and can't return it  until 7 PM. Friends cannot visit us in our building without a pass from us. The organisers give us 2 guest passes.  Over the four days we can't even enter our building without a residents pass issued by the race organisers. And the roads, a nightmare with streets closed and those open, congested.

We've decided to go away for a few days to avoid it. From these photos I think it will be a pleasant weekend. Peppers Spicers  Peak Lodge  is an all inclusive luxury lodge 3 hours drive inland.  From Thursday we will be -

SLEEPING

  

SWIMMING

 
RELAXING IN THE BAR

 
PICNIC LUNCHES

  

NIBBLES

  

DEGUSTATION

  

Photos are from the Spicers Scenic Rim website. Click on photo to enlarge.

See you next week.  Oh, one last thing. I loved the confirmation email we received from them - check in is at 2PM, but we'll see you at 12.30 PM for lunch.

 

A Pop Up Bar In Sydney

Pop up bars are the latest trend in marketing.  

Tourism Victoria will showcase the finest King Valley wines at the King's Vault, a pop up bar in Sydney. Over seven nights in November wine lovers can experience a series of intimate tastings and private events, held at a secret inner city location.

You need to register your name on the door list at the Where is King's Vault website.  The King's Vault location will be revealed by SMS on Wednesday 18th November.

All guests will have the opportunity to sample hot new Australian grown Italian varietals while eating food inspired by the King Valley's best chefs and produce.

Check the website Where Is King's Vault this week and enter to win a trip for two to the King Valley. This competition is only open to those living in Australia.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

My plan was to make two types of cookies today - Chocolate Chip cookies and Oat Biscuits. Checked the pantry and no cocoa powder.  Then I couldn't find the oatmeal cookie recipe I'd cut out of the  newspaper last weekend.

Food blog search brought up a recipe called Oaty Chocolate Cookies at Butter Sugar Flour containing both rolled oats and chocolate chips and no cocoa powder, so I went with that one.

I made one change to the recipe. It seemed an awful lot of sugar so I reduced the amount to 140 grams. Perfect for my palate. A slightly healthy cookie with the rolled oats, not overly sweet and better for my thighs.

Bits and Pieces

Today I turned my camera to manual. It has been on auto for the past 10 months. With help from the White on Rice photography series I will improve.

I'm cleaning out my freezer and made a clafoutis with some frozen cherries. I use the Julia Child recipe with a few changes. I preheat the pan before adding the frozen fruit and mixture and bake it for around 35 minutes.

A TASTE OF YELLOW

Earlier  this year I excitedly posted about a cook book from the Taste Of Yellow event. Unfortunately being a new mother has prevented Sara at Whisk and Needles from progressing with this.  Thank you to everyone who gave permission for their entries to be used. I'm sorry there was not a response to your emails.

A FEW FREEBIES I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU

A selection of Beerenberg Sauces I received several weeks ago.

Asian Dressing - I wasn't keen on this and gave it  to Chris. He liked it.

Teriyaki Grill Sauce - suggested use is in stir fries but we tried it over some dried fried rice and enjoyed it.

No1 Asian Plum Sauce - also excellent in stir fries. I added it to a stir fry of beef, red pepper and asparagus.

Hamburger Relish - I could eat this straight from the jar with a spoon.

FREEBIE BOOKS

Knit the Season is the third book from the  Friday Night Knitting Club series by  Kate Jacobs.  I had read the first book in the series but missed out on the second, Knit Two. The series focuses on family bonds and friendships.  I found it to be an enjoyable light read.

The Food Of A Younger Land is more my type of book. It's been out for some months but I wasn't up to reading when I received it. I prefer non fiction to fiction and I'm a big Mark Kurlansky fan. At a book signing in Auckland several years ago a long and impatient queue formed behind me as we chatted about his book The Basque History of the World. 

The Food of a Younger Land is a collection of essays written before fast food restaurants and frozen food when American's ate seasonal, regional and traditional foods. Mark Kurlansky has chosen a selection of the writings from the Federal Writers Project of the 1930's. The book is arranged in regions and features some recipes.

It is the type of book best stored by your bedside table to dip in and out of as the mood takes.

Thank You for Your Tastes Of Yellow

LiveSTRONG Day and A Taste Of Yellow is over for another year. I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who participated. 

There is a wonderful selection of recipes for you to try over the coming weeks and months. Do drop by and visit the  entries - discover some new blogs, make new friends and try new recipes.  We had only one late entry a Lemon Meringue Cake from Erin at Dinner and Dessert.  I did visit all entries and was touched by the stories some of you chose to share. If I missed commenting on any entry I apologise. Sometimes I muck up my own systems :(

The Lance Armstrong Foundation are attempting to gather a few bloggers to either dedicate a space to LIVESTRONG  recruitment or to post some sort of banner on their site. If any bloggers  are interested in becoming more involved  please contact Brooke at  brooke.mcmillanATlivestrongDOTorg.

I hope you'll come back and join me again for LiveSTRONG 2010.

Proscuitto, Melon, Brie

Apple Galette

 

After such long time out of the kitchen it is wonderful to feel motivated to actually do a little cooking.  For too many weeks I have not had any urge to cook and even less urge to pick up my camera.  Slowly, the cooking urge is returning, the photography urge is taking a little longer.

Yesterday I made this apple Galette after seeing it on Jen's blog  use real butter. You'll find the Apple Galette  recipe there...and also some of Jen's wonderful Colorado in Autumn photos.

 

LiveSTRONG With A Taste Of Yellow -2009 Round Up

More than 12 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer and eight million will die from the disease each year. Worldwide, cancer will be the leading cause of death by 2010.

I don't know if I'll ever be free of cancer. Thanks to modern drugs I live with cancer. Drugs that weren't available when my father died of cancer in 2003. Once a fortnight I receive a 30 minute infusion of Avastin. It blocks the blood supply to the tumors, inhibiting their growth. It works differently to chemotherapy and has some side effects, but is easier on the body than chemo.  I consider myself  fortunate to live in a country where the drug is available. Not everyone is so lucky.

Which is why it is  important to raise awareness of cancer issues  globally. This year the Lance Armstrong Foundation went global. To date organisations, corporations, advocates and world leaders from 51 countries have made a commitment to fight cancer.

A Taste of Yellow 2009 drew entries from bloggers in 18 countries.  From Australia to Switzerland..... from yellow fruits to yellow grains........with eggs and yellow vegetables......you baked, stirred, blended, chopped, grilled, froze, jellied.....and gave us over 80 yellow dishes to excite our tastebuds.

Some of you shared stories......of family and friends touched by cancer.....sad stories, happy stories....the tragic ,the triumphant, the hopeful. 

For those of us living with cancer we live with hope. Hope....that someday there will be a cure....the chemotherapy will destroy the cancer cells and leave our good  cells alone......we won't need more surgery. Most of all we live with  hope in our hearts...... hope we will grow old with our partners, hope we will see our children grow up,  hope we will enjoy a lifetime of family celebrations and holidays, hope will be around to celebrate birthdays and weddings and new babies and friendships.

I'd like to say thank you to each and everyone of you for your support of A Taste Of Yellow 2009, to LiveSTRONG Day and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I very much appreciate your support, both for a Taste of Yellow and the personal support you have given me in the blogosphere.

The challenge is on for 2010. Let's see if we can get entries from all 51 countries.

AUSTRALIA

Garlic Pizza

Ed in Perth Western Australia

Winosapien

 

Asparagus Hollandaise

Suzie in Sydney

Munch and Nibble

Tangy Lemon Squares

Cakelaw

Laws Of The Kitchen

 

Lemon Butter Cake

Kate in Sydney

Katiecakes

Lemon Curd Sugar  Biscuits

Laura in Adelaide, South Australia

The Adventures Of Croissant and Bagel

Fruit Scones

Johanna in Melbourne, Victoria

Green Gourmet Giraffe

Fried Wonton With Cabbage and Corn Filling

Anh in Sydney

A Food Lover's Journey

JB's Special Daal

Jhoomur in Melbourne

Roti and Roast

Gluten Free Cheesy Polenta Squares

Jas in Perth Western Australia

The Gluten Free Scallywag

Hermeneutically Sealed Moroccan Lemons

Anthony in Perth, Western Australia

Man That Cooks

AMERICA

 

Candied Lemon Slices

Jen in Colorado

use real butter

 

Summer Squash Salad with Arugula, Feta and Herbs

Kalyn in Salt Lake City, Utah

Kalyn's Kitchen

Zucchini Pasta Carbonara

Elise in Carmichael, California

Simply Recipes

Mini Ginger Cheesecakes with Lemon Curd

Lan in Baltimore

Angry Asian Creations

Lemon Chamomile Pots de Creme

Helene in Charleston, Southern Carolina

Tartelette

 

Carrot Gelato with Roasted Hazlenuts and Rum Soaked Raisins

Bruno in St Louis Missouri

Brunos Dream

Khaman Dhokla with Coriander Mint Chutney

Preeti

Relishing Recipes

Salmon Patties

Tigerfish in California

Teczcape

 

Spiced Vegetable Dal

Andrea in Virginia

Andrea Meyers

Yellow Cupcakes

Paz in New York

The Cooking Adventures Of  Chef Paz

Fresh Corn and Avocado Salad

Judy in Ventura, California

Judy's Gross Eats

 

Lemon Buttermilk Custard

Cristie in Wisconsin

Edible Antics -  Having Fun With Food

 

Corn Salad with Tomato and Basil and Ice Water with Lemon Cucumber

Meredith in Salt Lake City

Just Lovely

 

Mango and Mint Lassi

Soma in Texas

eCurry

Beef Stew with Vegetables

Julia in Colombus Ohio, originally from the Ukraine

My Homemade Food Recipes and Tips

Warm Polenta Pud

Erin in Petaluma California

The Endive Chronicles

 

Pineapple Mango Upside Down Cake

Shri

Tasty Touch

Pineapple Casserole

Danielle in Burbank California

Cooking For My Peace of Mind

Kick (Cancer's) Butt Cookies

Bridget in Texas

Bake at 350

Guava Pork Chops With Corn Bread

Claudia in Keaau, Hawaii

Honey From Rock

Lemon Bars

Di in Georgetown, Texas

Di's Kitchen Notebook

Mango Ginger Chutney

Raquel in Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Cafe Nilson

Sweet Plantain Fry

Thasneen in Chicago Illinois

Cooking With Thas

Lemon Ginger Margarita

Jenny in Los Angeles, California

Devour The World

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Michelle in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Brown Eyed Baker

Yellow Squash Gratin

Breadchick Mary in Connecticut

The Sour Dough

Grilled Caramalised Mango Zabaglione

Josie in Corona, California

Daydreamer Desserts

Lemon/Lavender Macarons

Ben in Boston

Ben The Baker

Meyer Lemon Icecream

Jam in Austin Texas

Thai Cooking With Jam

Zucchini Duo with Yogurt Sauce

Sally in Norman Oklahoma

Bewitching Kitchen

Empty Fridge Fritatta

Anna in Brooklyn New York

London Foodie in New York

Patti in South Carolina

Patti doesn't have a blog but wanted to show her support. Patti kicked cancer in the butt 8 years ago.

Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies

Annie in Indianapolis in Indiana

Annie's Eats

Quinoa Pilaf with Corn and Yellow Squash

Maybelles Mum in Cleveland Ohio

Feeding Maybelle

Cheesy Creamed Corn

Josie in Atlanta Gorgia

Pink Parsley

 Spagetti Squash with Endamame Stew

Chris in Salt Lake City Utah

Melecotte

Tomato and Corn Pie

Kathleen in Kansas City Missouri

a h mcguffin

Banana Bread with Ginger and Chocolate Chips

Jennywenny in San Diego

Foray Into Food

Homemade Ricotta with Ravioli and Egg

Denise and Lenny in San Fransisco

Chez Us

Bacon Cornbread

Nancy

Corner Loaf

Mango Saffron Icecream

Asha in New York

Fork-Spoon-Knife

Heirloom Tomato Salsa

Pam in Portland Oregon

Peanut Sauce and Potstickers

Thai Baked Fish

Susan in Orlando

Sauce and Sensibility

BELGIUM

Mango Pudding

Happy Cook

My Kitchen Treasures

BRAZIL

 

Tres Leche Cupcakes

Paula, from São Paulo

 The Cookie Shop

CANADA

Lemon Tart with Candied Lemons

Bellini Valli in Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

more than burnt toast

French Toast and Grilled Peaches

Mary in Ontario

La Tavola

Meyer Lemon Cake

Ivonne in Toronto

Cream Puffs in Venice

ENGLAND

Crispy Courgette Flowers stuffed with Ricotta and Mint

Melloreddus with Prawns and Bottarga

Camomile and Honey Icecream with Hazlenuts and Macerated Nectarines

Keiko in London

Nordljus

 

Couscous Stuffed Aubergine

Tanya in London, but originally from Brisbane Australia.

Tanya Hall

Champagne Lemon Jelly and Mango Mousse Verrines

Mowie in London

Mowielicious

Banana Bread made from  over ripe bananas

Chris in Bristol

Ms Cellania

 

Pastiera

Caterina moving from the UK to Germany soon

la caffettiera rosa

 

Mango-Passion Fruit Macarons

Hilda in London

Saffron & Blueberry

Mirrabelle Jam

Nicisme in Kent

Cherrapeno

Passion Fruit Mini Pavlovas

Jeanne in London

Cook Sister

FRANCE

 

 

Taboule with Hard Boiled Eggs and Flan aux Mirrabelles

Jamie in Nantes

Lifes A Feast

GERMANY

 

Mango and Blueberry Fool

Meeta in Weimar

What's For Lunch Honey?

INDIA

 

Lemon Rice

Sunshinemom in Thane

Tongue Ticklers

 

Elumicham Pazham Chaadham (Lemon Rice)

Aparna in Goa

My Diverse Kitchen

Rasogolla Payesh ( Rusgulla Pudding)

Sudeshna in Kolkata

Cook Like A Bong

Ginger Lemon Grass Creme Brulee

Deeba North India

Passionate About Baking

 

Chicken Curry

Sra in India

When My Soup Came Alive

Jackfruit Payasam/kheer

Shirley

Enriching Your Kid

Panchratni Dal

Raaga in Gurgaon

The Singing Chef

INDONESIA

 

Nasi Kuning

Eva

enatasa:everyday

ITALY

Rice Pudding with Tumeric and Almonds

Ilva in Tuscany

Lucullian Delights

NEW ZEALAND

 

Roasted Pumpkin Soup Fit for the Gods

Gilli in Auckland

So So Simple

 

Oeufs Mimosa

Vanille in Wellington

At Down Under

Fried Zucchini Flowers

Alessandra in Auckland

Alessandra Zecchini

Snow Eggs with Vanilla and Passionfruit

Bron in Mainland Canterbury

Bron Marshall

PHILIPPINES

 

Tropical Fruit Salad

Divina in Manila

Sense and Serendipity

Lemon Butter Cookies

Joey in Manila

80 Breakfasts

ROMANIA

Saffron Pear Charlotte

Anda

Sweet Tooth Fairy

SCOTLAND

 

Passionfruit Melting Moments

Michele in Edinburgh, but originally from Tasmania

Chocolate Teapot

SINGAPORE

Pumpkin Ang Ku

Shirley

Kokken69

Cream of Chicken and Sweet Corn Soup

KT

Kitchen Tigress

Homemade Lemonade

Wiffy

Noob Cook

SPAIN

Panizas (Andalusian Chickpea Fritters)

Miriam in Galapagar

The Winter Guest

Torta de Maiz (Sweetcorn Cake)

Cova in Valencia

Comoju

SWITZERLAND

 

Lemon and Rose Cheeecake Bars

Rosa

Rosa's Yummy Yums

Please let me know if I've missed anyone, mistakes or links not working.