Lots of bits and pieces...

Angus made these yummy satays and the peanut satay sauce...

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Inspired by Enchanted Moments, I decided to make this dessert. In the good old Green and Gold Cookery Book there is a recipe for a Champagne Crust - you stew whatever fruit you like - fresh plums would be lovely but I had crisp Granny Smith apples from the Adelaide Hills so I stewed them up with some brown sugar and cinnamon until they were tender.
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Prepare the cake mix topping and while the fruit is still boiling hot, top it and smooth over. Bake in a 180C oven for about 30-40 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
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Dust with icing sugar and serve with cream or icecream. Definitely a winner! I can imagine strawberries and rhubarb next time!
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With Brianna home, she requested my Chicken & Corn mornay which we had in toasted bread cases (cut crusts from bread, butter one side then put buttered side down into a muffin tin, bake in a 180C oven for 10 minutes or so until they are just toasty - watch so they don't burn).

Serve with a tossed salad.
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Another week night we had Chicken & Bean Enchiladas - I just used the taco mix to flavour and added red kidney beans (love).
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Friday, Kirby arrived home from the city so she requested COW! Angus made a dry spice rub to rub into the meat - best left for a couple of hours.
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Texas Dry Rub
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2 tablespoons paprika (used mild or smoked)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon cracked pepper
2 teaspoons granulated garlic
2 teaspoons granulated onion
1 teaspoon ground cumin
a few good cracks of ground dried chilli flakes or to taste
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Mix all ingredients together with a pestle and mortar or a spice grinder. We spray or wipe over our steaks with a little olive oil/cooking spray then rub the mix into both sides of the steak. Leave for flavours to infuse then cook on the grill.
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I like to double the mixture so there is enough for next time without the effort - store in a screw top jar. Also great on chicken fillets...
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Saturday was my 48th Birthday - wow, that's a serious number!
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Poached eggs were the order of the day for my birthday breakfast (and Kirby's).

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I asked my mum, sister and niece to come out for a coffee in the afternoon. My other 3 sisters could not attend so it was just a small gathering. Then I got stuck in and made ham, cheese and corn scones...
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Yum!
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Bri whipped up these cute mini pavlova nests (pretty pink eh?) ...
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Tah dah!
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I cut out star shaped cheese to put on the scones, sprinkled with paprika...
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I also made chocolate cup cakes (I cheated with a Betty Crocker chocolate fudge cake mix) but did my own frosting ...
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Afternoon tea, anyone?
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I got very spoiled with some lovely presents ...
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This is my bounty! My dear hubby and children gave me a Ipad and swanky cover for it (OMG - very excited!). Mum gave me some lovely wine glasses and some cash to spend ( I think I need a new hand bag), from my sisters - Marilyn gave me the picture book, Janine gave me the big glass jar candle, Sue gave me the salad book and the Eco glass vase and cream rose, Leanne gave me the coffee mug, shower gel, mini fragrance diffuser, 3 slabs of chocolate and some raspberry chocolate bullets (so naughty!) and my friend Helen gave me the Roses chocolates and a sweet little ceramic night light which has an oil burner in the top so you get fragrance and light! My mother-in-law gave me 2 new cream bath towels and matching hand towels. I am one spoilt girl!
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Marilyn and my niece, Mel put the book together using Snapfish - basically you work out what pictures you want to put in the book, upload them, add text and order it!
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Isn't it cool?
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Each family has their 2 pages featured plus lots of old family pictures. I love it!
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My coffee mug matches the calendar I have in my office too!

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This is my favourite photo at the moment - I just snapped the rainbow as we got out of the car - on my iphone!
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We went out for lunch on Sunday but I won't bore you with the food pictures. Needless to say, we had a lovely lunch and the food was magnificent.

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Well, that takes us up to last weekend. I will be back later with the next installment to bring you up to date on my rivetting life! Lol!
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Cheers - Joolz