Good Luck, Kirby!

WITH YOUR EXAMS, KIRBY!

Kirby has the first of her Uni exams tomorrow. She has Accounting, Micro Economics, management and Marketing to get through this week. She's been home this past week, head in the books, eating home cooked food, sleeping in and generally refreshing herself for this week.

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So, we've got our fingers crossed!...
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... So has this old duck. No, it's not her Nana!
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Good Luck!
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Bonne Chance (French) , buona fortuna (Italian), Kali tihi (Greek), Hao yun (Chinese),
Ganbatte kudasai (Japanese), Bahati njema (Swahili), Chuc may man (Vietnamese) & finally ...
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'Fingers & Toes, love! (Kath from Kath and Kim)
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Love from Mum, Dad & Brianna
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Birthday lunch in the Coonawarra...

It's Angus' birthday tomorrow so we took a drive to the Coonawarra for lunch today. A beautiful sunny day, green grass, bare vines and delicious food.
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Kirby kindly acted as designated driver for the day. Bri kindly provided the comedy.
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Lemon berry cheesecake to share. Mmmm!
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Sun streaming through the window at the restaurant, overlooking the vines at Hollicks.
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Sun setting early over the countryside.
(picture taken while driving along)
A snoozy drive home.

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Happy Birthday, Angus
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Love Joolz (Crowsfeet)

Favourites on Friday...

Holiday destination - Bora Bora, Tahiti... when do we leave? I can be packed in 3 minutes!

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Perfume -Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf ...it smells like fairy floss.

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Beverage - Strawberry Daiquari ... preferably partaken on the pool deck, watching the sunset, on Bora Bora!
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Animal - fluffy kittens, any kind. Awww!
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Soothing indulgence - Body Shop Cooling Foot Spray - great for after shopping to soothe burning feet. Do they make one for burning, smoking credit cards?
* Spode China - just love it.

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Flowers - Yellow Roses...yes, please!

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Vehicle - Mini Cooper S - I owned an old Mini in 1980. Wish I could have another one, husband will never let me. Nightmare, mechanically.

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Hope you enjoyed my favourite things, I have many others. Enjoy your weekend,

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Cheers - Joolz

(All images were obtained from the Web)

Tablescape Thursday...

We had Shepherds Pie for dinner tonight and yup, no photos. We ate late because of netball training so this was the table at 9.15pm. Not very glamourous, I'm afraid. The girls were sitting discussing Bri's Maths homework, hence the laptops. Dishes not done. What's new. I hunted for a Christmas table photo that I KNOW I have but couldn't locate that album. Will try again for next week.

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Bri's not having a good week - her laptop was knocked off a cupboard at school yesterday so the casing is cracked and will need repairing/replacing. She can ring the Dell hotline and sort that one out. Today she came home and said she had lost her mobile phone (I allow her to take her mobile to school because she is a bus student). Fortunately, an honest person handed it in at the front office so she can collect it tomorrow.

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The nights are very chilly at the moment so I'm going to turn in early.

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Sweet dreams - Joolz

Can't think of a title...

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I bought this ring when we were away on holidays. I saw it in a second hand/antique shop at the Fremantle markets. I tried it on, it fit, it was $95, I loved it, I bought it, that's how I shop! It has a pretty filligree design on the sides (and yeeees, I know the photo is blurry - I could not get a clear picture) and it has cubic zirconias. I didn't really look at the box until days later and saw the gold lettering - J McD Jewellery . My initials are J McD! Is that spooky, or what? I wonder who it belonged to and how old it is?

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This casserole is now bubbling away in my slow cooker (round steak, potato, carrot, celery, onion, pumpkin, green beans, few grape tomatoes and a Continental Beef & Red Wine Casserole flavour base ) - sad, because it is destined for our Netball Club tonight. They have casserole teas every so often as an ongoing fundraiser for the club - $6/plate for all you can eat.
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Don't know what we will have for dinner (we don't stay for the teas) - so far this week we have had Chicken Tacos/wraps, Pasta Rigatoni bolognese & Beef satay stirfry. Tonight I don't have a clue - my girls don't like casseroles (I love them) otherwise I'd wack another one in the crock pot at 1pm ready for tonight. Oh, cripes and it's Tablescape Thursday again - need to fish out some photos of Christmas past.
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I am thinking of a couple of my blog friends who are having a rough time with sad things happening in their lives at the moment and wish them peace and happiness and I am thankful for my family and I am counting my blessings.
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- Joolz

Nostimini - a handy spice mix...

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This spice mix is called Nostimini - the tastiest flavouring for Meat, Poultry and Seafood.
Made by Gaganis Bros, 9-13 Bacon St, Hindmarsh SA 5007
(for all you Adelaidites)
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I use it to do potato wedges (and sweet potato too) - place cut up spuds in a freezer bag, drizzle in 1 tblspn olive oil and 1 tblspn Nositmini - shake well then place spuds on tray with baking paper. Bake about 30 mins at 180C.

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You can also sprinkle it on steaks or chicken or fish - a very versatile flavour. If you can find it near the salt and pepper in your supermarket, give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
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- Joolz

Fish Cakes with Cucumber & Mint Chutney...

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Fish cakes a la' Angus
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Angus made Fish Cakes with Cucumber & Mint Chutney for dinner last night.
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The prepared fish cakes, dusted with flour, ready to be cooked.
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Fish cakes, shallow frying in a small amount of olive oil.
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We had the fish cakes with the Cucumber and Mint Chutney, potato and sweet potato chips and tossed green salad. The chutney was especially delicious.
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It was my job to make dessert.
I prepared the Chocolate Fudge Brownies according to the packet. I melted 1/2 a block of dark chocolate and 1/2 a carton of cream in a saucepan until thick and gooey.
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I plated it up like I was on MasterChef (with French Vanilla Icecream)!
...it was gooooood!
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Fish Cakes
(recipe from Women's Weekly Healthy Eating Barbecue - Mini series)
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1 small carrot, finely grated
500gms white fish fillets (we had orange roughy)
1 tblspn fish sauce
2 tspns sugar
2 tspns chopped fresh coriander
1 tspn sweet paprika
1 tspn grated lime zest
2 cloved garlic, crushed
2 tspns fresh ginger, grated
3 green onions (shallots), chopped
125gms green beans, finely chopped
plain flour for dusting
oil for shallow frying
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In food processer, blitz fish, sauce, sugar, paprika, rind, garlic, ginger and green onions. Transfer to a bowl, add carrot and green beans. Divide mixture into 8 patties, shape and toss in flour to coat. Heat oil in frying pay and gently fry until golden, turning gently to keep shape.
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Cucumber & Mint Chutney
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
2 tblspns sugar
1 small cucumber, finely chopped
1 small red capsicum, finely chopped
1 tblspn fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
1 tblspn lime juice
1 small onion, fnely chopped
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Combine vinegar and sugar in bowl and stir to dissolve sugar. Add cucumber, capsicum, mint, juice and onion. Mix well.
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Cheers - Joolz