Of Dinner Parties

Posted on by ghotiindustries

First there must be the perfect Vinegar.

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Then the perfect Olive Oil.

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Combine with an Almond Dukkah.

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And fresh baked Turkish bread! This is to begin.

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In a jug combine red wine, lemonade, sugar, cointreau, an orange, a lemon, an apple, and an unpictured ruby grapefruit. Voila! Sangria! (Should that be Olé?)

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All of this,

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Some of these,

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and chopping …

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and then get so involved in conversation with your guests that you don’t manage to get photos of either the finished paella, nor the chocolate coated strawberries that were for desert!

Blogging fail = Dinner Party WIN!

I’ll do better next time!

Summer time …

Posted on by ghotiindustries

… and the living is easy … !

We bought a new BBQ!

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Except that according to Webber it’s a Baby Q. Feeds six people though!

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So what do you do with such a thing, but invite people over!

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I can’t wait to do more of this simple fuss free relaxing entertaining this season!

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White Cockatoo

Posted on by ghotiindustries

Quick post about the pub we went to last night for dinner; The White Cockatoo.

You hear stories about the schnitzel … and then you order it. We decided each schnitzel must be a complete chicken.

We ordered 3 between 5 people.

The Australian

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The Mexican

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And the Seafood (garlic prawns and calamari)

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The only one I got a finished picture of was the Seafood. But I think it speaks for itself. The other plates were in a similar state. (This was between me and Himself)

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The suggestion for next time is one schnitzel between five, and then (if we finish) a desert!

WIN!!!

Weekend Round Up

Posted on by ghotiindustries

Long Weekends are such an odd phenomenon. I go into them with such high expectations, and long lists of all I would like to achieve, then my body catches up with the fact that I’m not at the day job and pulls my feet out from under me and demands down time! 😛 What’s with that?! So, here’s what I did do.

Friday we headed up the Hill to the Annual Easter FishBQ. Every year there seem to be more children running around, and less inebriation. I guess the babies are all getting older. It is so good to be able to see and catch up with people we used to see every week, even if it does now average once a year …

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There was a new pair of socks begun as they are the perfect traveling project to take on the train for a four hour round trip! They are Marlene by Cookie A, in Dragonfly Yarns “Norbert” colourway which I got via a sock club last year.

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Saturday there was a little local wondering and I bought the Julie & Julia DVD which I’d been wanting to see for a while. I have now watched it 3 times since buying it. I feel a sudden urge to buy Mastering the Art of French Cooking and expanding my repertoire. I love having a kitchen that I enjoy cooking in for the first time in years!

While watching DVDs I spent some quality time with my sticks and strings.

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There was an interesting moment where the designer of this spectacular piece insinuated that I was an idiot, and in a moment of complete clarity I backed away from telling her what I thought of her. I’m still proud of myself for that one. However, Twitter heard all about it 😛

Sunday Himself cooked the most delectable dinner, which deserves a post all on it’s own, and which will be forthcoming in the next few days. He cooks so well and I always eat far more than I should when one of his creations is up for the offering!

Monday and Tuesday was when my body caught up with me and though I felt lazy, I also felt exhausted and so achieved very little other than further knitting, and some adorable cat photos. So I shall leave you with those.

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I hope your weekend was wonderful!

ANZAC Day

Posted on by ghotiindustries

A few years ago now in a different time and place I accepted the challenge of attempting to eat just army rations for ANZAC day. I was even given real ones. The real deal. Beige packaging and all.

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I didn’t remember details given that it was two years ago, but thanks to the magic of online journals, I rediscovered that between Himself and I we had found it a LOT of food. With the prompt I also remembered writing “I don’t think I ever want to see jam in a tube again”. There were also some helpful hints (too little too late) from an ex-enlisted friend about how to have combined bits made it all a touch more palatable.

As we headed up the Hill for our annual Easter FishBQ just 3 days ago, this challenge came back to mind, as the generous soul who proposed the challenge and provided the rations would normally have been in attendance. I asked of his whereabouts, only to be told that he was currently deployed.

It’s so easy to forget while going about daily routine that the people out on the frontlines are our friends, neighbours, and family.

When you wake up this morning in your comfy bed, and contemplate walking up the local café for breakfast or whatever your routine is, spare a thought for the people out there fighting for what they believe in. How many of us can honestly say the same?

Thank you ANZACs.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.