winosandfoodies

Goodbye December and Hello 2012

The month started with a trip to spend a few days in Montville.  But that's another post for another time.

In the first week we moved to a wonderful apartment on the river. Loving this kitchen.

 

Then there's the view.

We hadn't even had a chance to settle in before we headed back to the Sunshine Coast to have lunch with my friend Mausa visiting from Melbourne.  Lots of eating, drinking and chatting at   Season's, right on Noosa Beach. Then a stroll around Noosa and a little shopping.  So much fun spending time when you've been friends over 40 years.  Maus has been living with cancer for 10 years. We talk a lot about drugs these days!

I do wear that scarf a lot don't I? It seems to turn up in every photo lately.

Christmas began when this colorful display arrived on Christmas Eve. A gift from my brother and his wife.

Michael hosted our  Christmas Day feast. Not before he and Aimee announced their engagement. Another wedding to look forward to.

We  began with a spinach dip from Emma.

Followed by a little Asian  from Chris' kitchen.

Michael cooked a perfect turkey and I didn't get a photo. So here it is already carved.
Boxing Day we spent on the couch watching Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test.

A break from Day 2 of the cricket to lunch with Jam Faced and Sara. This perfect and delicious tortilla was made by @jamfaced and I seem to have accidentally deleted the photo of the cut piece.

@jamfaced and sara introduced us to the card game Dominion .  I'm working on my strategy to win next time.....and you can't have a card game without a bottle of Grand Marnier.

A few days before the end of December, our new neighbours  little baby Charlie arrived.

 Thank you to everyone who dropped by winos and foodies during the year. I appreciate your love and support very much. Here's to 2012.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

Happy Holidays Everyone

Christmas Gingerbread Recipe

Yay, my kitchen is totally organised.  After 18 months in the smallest kitchen in the world, I had forgotten what it was like to cook in a decent sized kitchen. I have a two cupboards devoted solely to my baking equipment...and all laid out neatly.  No more pans stacked a mile high I need to move when I want the one at the bottom.

Reading the various December blog posts has made me realise I have so few Christmas baking traditions. Fruit mince pies is my sole contribution. My fruit mince pies are jolly good though. The secret is in the pastry.....use lots of butter. I use a quality bottled fruit mince as I don't have the energy for making that from scratch.

Anyway this year I made gingerbread. My first foray into gingerbread. Pop over to Taste Australia for the recipe. The ginger taste is very subtle. Next time I will add an extra teaspoon of ginger.

This is my entry for Sweet New Zealand hosted this month by my dear friend Bron Marshall.

Things I've Seen This Week

House moving week for me. So here's a little list of what I've been reading lately you might enjoy.

Pink As at coco +kelly

Pip Boydell at absolutely beautiful things

Chic Elegance at Habitually Chic

blue and white at Canvas

Do I need another cookbook? YES, this one by Serge Dansereau 

This will make you smile. Sorry at obtampons

This will make you cry, but please watch. Whats goin on

 

 

November and My Cabbage Salad Recipe

Bourke Street Bakery

Whoa it's December already. What happened to 2011? Only 25 days until Christmas and I have not been Christmas shopping at all. ...and I have no idea how I'm going to be ready for Christmas 2011. We are moving to a new apartment the first week of December.

One blessing, Michael, my youngest son, is doing the entire Christmas feast for the first time....and at his house.  A little sad we won't have left overs in the our fridge, but a small price to pay for a no stress Christmas feast.

At the beginning of November Bryan and I took a road trip to Sydney. We went via Warwick so we could meet up with Krista from Rambling Tart, who moved here recently.

With Krista

 From Warwick we headed to Armidale where I had booked what was described on their website as luxury B & B. It was far from luxurious. We left the moment we awoke the following morning.  Leaving Armidale we headed toward the coast on Highway 78.

Known as the Waterfall Way it is described as one of Australia's most beautiful drives. It crosses over the Great Dividing Range.

Ebor Falls Highway 78

We travelled from west to east. I'd like to drive it in reverse next time.

Highway 78 views

Thankfully the B & B I had booked at Bellingen turned out to be a charming stopover after the disaster of Armidale. Ian and Ulrieke planted a beautiful garden around their home and called it The Rose Patch.   

The Rose Patch gardens

The formal part of the garden was full of roses and lilies in bloom. Through the formal garden and over the fence is  a bush walk through native bush with birds and local fauna. Back in our room later in the afternoon I realised I had brought back a leech attached to my ankle. He was a fat little leech by the time I discovered him.

Bush walk  at Bellingen

We awoke the following morning to a misty day.

Morning mist at Bellingen

Breakfast was served on the front deck overlooking the gardens, complete with Ulrieke's home made bread, farm fresh free range eggs and a jam made with the local Davidson plum. The jam had a delicious sour taste. I loved it.

Breakfast at the Rose Patch Bellingen

Next stop Sydney where we caught up with  friends before I attended the Eat Drink Blog Conference. Here are a few photos of conference day.

Eat Drink Blog 2011

We spent an evening with @Carmr at La Casa...and yes the polpotte, made to her Mother's secret recipe,  are a highlight. We can also recommend the gnocchi and the pappardelle.  Her Papa was there and allowed me to take his photo.

Carmen and her Papa

Bourke Street Bakery was on my 'to do' list so we met friends there for coffee and pastries.

Pastries with Madame Shawshank at Bourke St Bakery

 

Chocolate Rapsberry Muffin

I love the apple galette.

Apple Galette

On our last morning we headed to Marrickville Markets for breakfast with my little friends Max and Charlie.

  Breakfast with Max and Charlie

Fresh seasonal produce.

Marrickville Markets

 Coming home we stopped overnight at Coff's Harbour. Despite Australia having plenty of coastline it is really difficult to find accommodation on the beach. This is the view from the dining room of the Aanuka Beach Resort.

On our last coffee stop of the day we discovered the little cafe/wine bar Evolution at Ballina.  Again really hard to find cafes and restaurants by the beach in Australia. Evolution at least has a water view.

Evolution Cafe Ballina

I cannot remember the muffin flavour but it was good.

........and as promised, a recipe for a simple cabbage salad. Alter quantities to suit number of servings. This amount is enough for two as a lunch dish. It is best made and served immediately.

CABBAGE SALAD

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 head of a small cabbage, finely shredded
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated.
• quality olive oil
• 1/2 lemon

 

METHOD

• Mix cabbage and parmesan
• Place on serving plate.
• Drizzle with oil, a few drops of lemon juice and a grating of pepper.
• Serve

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