Thursday, August 23, 2012

There's warmth in the air...

We are on the count down to the end of our Australian Winter - Spring starts on September 1 and it will start then, right?? Well, maybe not but we can all hope! I have noticed the last few days, when the sun is out, that it actually warms the air - there is definitely Spring in the air!
This pic was taken yesterday morning as I was sitting knitting (instead of doing some housework - don't judge me!) - sun streaming in my front windows. So nice after the bleak days we have had ...
~
Today we are back to bleak - its raining and it is cold and 10.6C - so much for spring arriving early!
~
Last weekend, Gus and I went for a drive to Mt.G to see if we could find a suitable little table to house our 'surround sound' control box and speakers. Success! We ended up just buying a nest of 3 tables and he mounted the box under the smallest one and the speakers will sit on top, behind our lounge chairs, out of the way. Don't worry, we know what we are trying to achieve!
~
I made his take me out to lunch, because I am not pushy at all! I had this lovely small barbecue meat lovers pizza...
~
and he had the creamy calamari linguine which he declared just perfect!
~
I've been drinking a lot more tea lately - Twinings Chai, Dilmah, Twinings Australian Afternoon Tea... its so nice to drink out of a nice cup too.
~
Monday night I made Forbidden City Chicken - the recipe is here ...
~
Pop it in a zip lock baggie and throw it in the fridge until you are ready to cook it... then bake in a baking dish as per recipe until done.
~
I served it with oven baked potatoes, sweet corn and sweet potatoes and a left over green salad. Delish!
~
Tuesday night I tried my hand at a Pot Roast. Australian's usually dry roast their meats and vegetables but I thought I'd try roasting in my Le Creuset dutch oven with a little beef stock in the bottom of the pan.
~
I need to find a tenderer bit of beef but it was quite nice and the vegetables were lovely and tender.
~
Another jug of juice - see how it settles in layers? I give it a good stir before pouring it out so we get all the goodness together.
~
It's becoming a tradition - when I am 'home alone' I make Chow Mein for myself ...
~
Do you like my 'clothes peg' hinged chopsticks? Cool, eh?
~
Another cute dish cloth...
~
I finished it last night. The colour is a bit off in this picture. What pattern will I choose next??
~
I will finish with these ever so yummy Macarons - just a picture I found on the web. I have tasted real macarons in Paris but I am not sure I could make them - I think the stars have to be aligned just right to have success! I'll leave it to the experts!
~
I have another Jubilee cake in the oven (the old recipe) so will have some pics of that once I ice it.
~
Cheers - Joolz

2 comments:

  1. Oh that all looks amazing! While it's warming up for you, it's cooling down for us, so our foods are starting to match up. I put the kettle on just now because your tea looked so good.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes Joolz I hope spring arrives on the first, Spring is my favourite time of year.
    I have never cooked a pot roast either but often see recipes and think I should try them.
    Chow mein is a favourite in our house and is eaten on a regular basis.
    I have never had a macaroon in France but I have cooked some myself but can't say how they fair against the real thing.

    ReplyDelete

I love when you comment on my blog but will not publish anonymous comments unless you reveal a name.