Randomness on Saturday...

I made a batch of Oaty Cookies first thing this morning...

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(Web pic)

Now, this is your perfect 'heart in the clouds' picture...
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While driving to Adelaide this week, I spied my own 'heart in the clouds'...
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It was pretty abstract!
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This is DJ, our pet sheep - snuffling on a stalk of celery...
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After I juice each morning, I tip out the pulp for the two sheep to eat - they go crazy for it!
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I made Annette Sym's Chicken Laksa (um, last week sometime!) which you can find here. So good, Gus couldn't stop raving about it! I used red curry paste instead of Masaman and I completely forgot to put in the lemongrass! It was still delicious - with just enough hot kick to make you go back for another mouthful! He declared it even better for leftover lunch the next day!
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Late afternoon cup of Chai and a cookie...
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On Thursday night, on SBS, we enjoyed a new cooking show - Two Greedy Italians. Antonio Carluccio and Gennaro Contaldo showcase Italy, it's people and it's food as only they can. They are old best friends and very funny together. It's a beautifully produced show, it will be our favourite for weeks to come. Here's the SBS site where you can either view the episodes or just preview the show. I am refraining from watching on line - I want to savour it on Thursday nights, relaxing with a wine. Luke Nguyen and Hesten Blumenthal are also on so it's a good line up from 7.30pm onwards (plus 24 hours in A&E is on too)!
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Tomorrow for lunch, I will attempt a recipe from Two Greedy Italians - Mamma Contaldo's Ricotta Dumplings (in a tomato basil sauce) which the old guys cooked in Episode 1.
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Gus is cooking chicken kebabs tonight then tomorrow night for dinner he is making Thai Green Prawn Curry - oh, I cannot wait! Pictures to follow...
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Cheers - Joolz

Bed revamp...

Our last quilt cover and set of pillows and cushions was over 2 and a bit years old and I have always found the cover to be very heavy, which drags at my feet. When I was in Adelaide earlier this week, I took the chance to go to Bed, Bath & Table. I had spied a nice cover when I was there last time. They still had it in a King size so I bought it and 2 matching Euro cushions and 2 pillowcases ...
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The girl who sold me the set said she changes her quilt set every season! What - 4 times a year! Good Lord!
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It is a nice cotton sateen fabric which shouldn't crease to much and it suits our bedroom perfectly. Even Gus likes it!
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It's been a big week so I can hardly wait to crawl in here tonight...
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Cheers - Joolz

Graduation 2012

Kirby had her Graduation on Tuesday and received a Bachelor of Marketing (Management) ...
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It was held at the Festival Theatre in Adelaide... here we are all seated behind the grads waiting for the ceremony to begin.
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The red object is a huge pipe organ - when the man played it, it sounded more like a funeral march than a celebration...
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The academic procession, Council and offical parties...
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Kirby receiving her parchment - she was too quick for me!

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Looks like she is bolting off stage!
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Kirby with her friends, Hana and Vanessa - friends since day 1 of Uni...

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Kirby and her framed parchment...
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Our beautiful girls...
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Bri tries the mortarboard on for size... 3 more years, baby!
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Family piccy...
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Kirby with her Nana Mac...
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Out for a celebratory dinner at Rigoni's
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Rigoni's - seriously good Italian cuisine...

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We are so very proud of Kirby's achievement. She is happy and enjoying her job as a Media Planner.
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Cheers - Joolz

U Wok, Gus!

Brianna knocked up a pavlova for a celebratory dessert last night...
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It was good!
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Cheers - Joolz

Get ready to Wok!

Angus was asked to compete in the Geltwood Festival Wok Off - 6 local business owners/local identities do a Ready Steady Cook type cookoff with ingredients in their goody bags...

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He had a final practice last night - 1 hour on the clock and off he went!
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He produced this 'Sesame Pork' with seconds to go on the clock - it was delicious!
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He wanted to wear his Statue of David apron but we though it might cause some of the ladies to faint? Appropriate only when pixellated!
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The day dawned cool and overcast - perfect for outdoor cooking. The judges and competitors line up...
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We had two EmCee's who kept the contestants on their toes with lots of questions throughout the Wok Off!
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Being interviewed by EmCee, Jan...
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The contestants had to set a table using items supplied and make it look the nicest...
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There was quite a crown of onlookers...
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Angus' mum, Margaret and Brianna paid $10 each to taste his stir-fry - all proceeds for the day go to the local Lioness Club (Lion's Club ladies) ...
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Ready, steady - Wok!
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In his goody bag he had diced pork, carrots, cabbage, onion, canned baby corn, pineapple, celery, cashews and broccoli...

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Chopping, chopping, chopping...
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Even the local TV news crew were there!
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The other contestants - John (high school principal) ...
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Sue (local girl) ...
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Brian (owner of the local Foodland) ...
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Karen (owner of Stock, Feed & Saddlery business) is looking nice and relaxed...
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Angus (local car dealer) starts cooking off the pork in batches... under scrutiny...
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Bubbles (cooks at local pub) looks highly organised and is the first to start cooking off ...
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Preparation is the key, says Angus...
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Being interviewed by the EmCee...
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Bubbles has nearly finished her dish...
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Brian claimed not to know how to cook at all but was doing fairly well... he said he had googled stir-fries the night before.
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Karen is nearly finished...
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While professing not to cook much, Sue's dish was coming along quite nicely...
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John decided his stir fry needed some Bundaberg Rum in it...
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Bubbles was the first to get her dish to the judges... looks good - apologies for the 'blue' look of the dishes - we are under a blue tarpaulin...
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Karen's dish...
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Sue's dish...
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Brian's dish...
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Angus' wok full of goodness ... nearly ready!
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John's final dish...
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Presenting their dishes to the judges...
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Angus delivers his dish to the judges...
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Angus' dish... he may have bribed them a bit... with a glass of Reisling each!
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Marg and Bri paid to sit at Angus' table and to eat his meal... they got a glass of wine too!
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Now the final decision and the placings are read out...
6th Sue
5th John
4th Brian
3rd Karen
2nd Bubbles
and the winner is......

ANGUS!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to the winner! Yay!
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He won a set of kitchen knives, a wooden chopping board and a nice bottle of red wine!
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A very fun morning - haven't I got a clever hubby?
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Cheers - Joolz