Merry Christmas!

The day is finally here! Wishing everyone a joyous Christmas with family and friends!

xxxxx

Reindeer Gingerbread Cookies ...

 Oh, wow! I've spent the best part of today making ginerbread and then decorating the little boogers!

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 They turned out okay but I am by no means a good decorator!  They are for my great-nieces and nephews on Christmas Day.  Now I need to go and make some Fudge Spoon Suckers...

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I also made a batch of these delicious Sweet Potato Knot Rolls.  The recipe is from Tasty Kitchen here.

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Next up, shortbread!

 

Choc Candy Cane Cookies ...

 These are a lovely addition to any Christmas baking you might do - there is always room for chocolate and peppermint!

To flatten these biscuits, I use a patterned cookie cutter, it just adds a bit of decoration.  

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 The recipe is from The Pioneer Woman and you can find it here...

I used my mixer to make the dough, much easier than mixing by hand.

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 Crushed candy canes...

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 Melt white chocolate to dip the biscuits in...

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Stand back and admire how pretty they are!

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I have made my gingerbread dough so I will tackle that tomorrow.  It's resting in the fridge.

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Kirby arrived home this afternoon so we are all together now!
Cheers - Joolz

Rocky Road ...

 Okay, I am officially in the spirit of Christmas now!  I made Rocky Road which is so easy!  In a bowl, add chopped peanuts, shredded coconut, raspberry jubes (or chopped up lolly snakes would work) and mini marshmallows.  Pour over a large quantity of melted, good chocolate (mine came from Haigh's which is a South Australia icon).

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 Now this lot is actually Bumpy Road (for my fussy girl, Bri) - she doesn't like nuts or coconut so I just did marshmallows and chocolate.  She declared it sensational!

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THIS is Rocky Road!  I ate one piece then bagged in up in cello bags ready for gift giving.  I made need to make some more!  Pistachios would be great in this too.

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I am finished work for 5 whole days now so the baking/preparing frenzy begins today!

The List

Saturday

Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies

Shortbread (snowflake/tree shapes) & Cherry Shortbreads

Iced Gingerbread biscuits

Gingerbread Reindeers (for my little great nieces and nephews)

Fudge Spoon Suckers - stay tuned

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Sunday

Bread rolls

Homemade Icecream

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Monday

Stuffing Muffins (recipe here)

Cook Turkey rolls (frozen)

Make dressing for salad - will share soon

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Tuesday (Christmas) morning

Assemble large Tossed Salad

Assemble Watermelon & Fetta salad (with white balsamic glaze) - recipe here from Julie Goodwin

(I actually picked up a bottle of White Balsamic Glaze so I don't need to do the vinegar/sugar bit)

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Wish me luck!

Cheers - Joolz 

(sorry if I sound a bit hyper!)

Moving with the times ...

This blog will now be based on my cooking, baking and homemaking and gardening endeavours and will no longer contain family content unless I wish it to! That is all! 

Stay tuned for my Christmas baking in my new oven...

Cheers - Joolz

12/12/2012 12:12:12

What will you be doing at 12 minutes and 12 seconds past 12 noon on the 12th day of the 12th month, 2012?  Anyone having a 12th birthday?

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Cheers - Joolz

White (chocolate) Christmas ...

This afternoon I made Julie Goodwin'sWhite Christmas - the recipe is here and there is also a video of Julie making it (complete with Kermit the Frog helping her).

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1.5 cups mini baking marshmallows

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2 cups of rice bubbles

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1 cup of shredded coconut

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1/2 cup of dried apricots

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1/2 cup of glace (candied) pineapple

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1/2 cup glace cherries

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1 cup shelled pistachios, coursley chopped

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Mix all the ingredients together then add 400gms of melted white chocolate.

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Mix it in quickly then pour into a paper lined tin and flatted out.

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Christmas goodness!

Lunch at Kingsbrook Inn...

 Last Sunday we were treated to a lovely lunch at Kingsbrook Inn.  Our friends, Alan & Shirley took us to this 'secret' location (Gus shouted) - it's one of their favourite haunts at the moment...

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 They have a vineyard...

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 Go here to view the website
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 The mains & dessert selection... limited numbers of each dish so order quickly as dishes are scratched off the board when they run out!

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 Such a beautiful place to have lunch ...

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First up, we ordered 2 Margherita pizzas for our entrees...

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 The crust is so, so thin and crispy...

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 $48 for two pizzas for 6 people = $8 entree.  Absolutely delicious and nice and light.to start ...

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 Chris, doing his stuff at the pizza oven ...

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 I had the slow roasted lamb rump, kipfler potatoes, fatoush salad and yoghurt sauce ... I cleaned the plate!

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 Bri had the veal rib-eye ...yum!

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 Kkirby and Shirley had the Prawn Gnocchi... and the men had the pan-seared Barramundi.  All plates licked clean!

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 Bri and Kirby shared the chocolate tart with cherries and cream...

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 Shirl had apricots and a icecream (the name escapes me)...

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 I, of course, had the Creme brulee - it did not disappoint!

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 Ooey, gooey just how it should be.

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 After lunch, we took a stroll around the vegetable garden which is thriving.  Lots of veggies and herbs which are used in the restaurant.

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 Gorgeous bougainvillea ...

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 The lawn tennis court ...

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 Casual dining ...

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 Espaliered ... hmmm, either camelias or a citrus, not sure.

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 Mosaic detail on table...

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 Old bits and pieces ...

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 More bougainvillea draping inside, so pretty ...

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 Herb pots ready for use on the pizzas ...

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 Accomodation too!  We shall return!

All in all, a lovely lunch, casual but a taste sensation!

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Two finds on my way home $25 the pair (Queen Anne) ...

Cheers - Joolz