Upstairs at Hollick...

As an early birthday lunch for Gus we headed to Hollick at Coonawarra.
(all pics by Joolz)
~

Seared scallops; crisp skinned pork belly; cauliflower puree; local apple & pickled samphire salad.
~

Salt, pepper & smoked paprika SA squid; avocado; local chorizo; quinoa, cherry tomato & rocket salad; chilli oil.
~

Lamb rogan josh; pila rice; pappadums; natural yoghurt; fried shallots.
~

Pan roasted Beachport schapper; green pea risotto; broccolini; chardonnay cream sauce.
~

Linguine pasta; SA blue swimmer crab; roasted cherry tomatoes; dill; rose sauce with a hint of chilli; pecorino; gremolata.
~

Wilgha quince and almond tart; organic apple puree; quince jam; gingerbread crumbs; milk gelato.
~

Chocolate mousse; hazelnut meringue; raspberry sorbet; hazelnut tuille.
~

Late afternoon over the vineyard.
~

Vines at Bowen Estate.
~

A truly lovely afternoon in the Coonawarra...
~
Joolz

Sew clever!

Brianna bought this cute material recently so last night she turned it into a little bag for her sewing bits and bobs. She did a great job with the zip and it is lined (with no seams showing inside). Such a clever little thing!
~
We are off to lunch today so will post some pics of the food later. Enjoy your Queen's Birthday Holiday Monday!
~
Joolz

Hot chips...

These are the hot potato chips I make in my oven. I have a little crinkle cutter to chop them up with then I put them in a plastic bag, drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil in and a shake of my favourite spice mix (I like Nostimini) then I seal the bag, give it a good shake then turn out onto a paper lined baking tray. Bake in a 180C oven for about 30-40 minutes - crispy, crunchy low fat fries!
~

We had steak, salad and chips Wednesday night....
~

Last night I made Shepherds Pie with creamy mashed potato topping and some puff pastry to serve on the side. Yummy!
~
Brianna and I are off to see a high school production from the Year12 Drama class - Cage Birds - tonight. We watched last years production and enjoyed it so hopefully this one will be just as entertaining.
~
Kirby comes home tomorrow for a week of Swat Vac then back to do a few exams. No doubt she will have a list of food she wants cooked!
~
Off to work now,

Joolz

I feel like Chicken Tonight !!!!

Last night we had Chicken Cacciatore Chicken Tonight. This is really tasty and a very easy meal to make. I also tried a new packet mix of Betty Crocker Berry & White Choc Scones. I think I could make better ones from scratch but it was worth the try. Bri has taken them to school today to share.
~

Fry off an onion in a little olive oil then add the chicken breast pieces...
~

To boost the vegetables in this dish, I grated a zucchini and a carrot to add in.
~

Stir in the veggies and add about 2 tablespoons of water and put on a lid so they steam a little...
~

Add in the jar of sauce and simmer for a further 10 minutes or so.
~

I didn't do the best job of plating up and my peas look rather sad but it still tasted good.
~
Chicken Tonight was launched in Australia around 1993 and they have many different flavours in the range including curries and asian sweet and sours etc. Honey Mustard is another favourite of ours. Always handy to have in the cupboard for a 30 minute meal.
Here is one of the original adverts that was aired on Aussie TV - I still sing the song in my head when I make it and Kirby used to say 'I feel like chicken tomite! when she was little!

(if you keep watching through the other commercials you will come to one called Dickhead tonight - quite funny!)
~
Cheers - Joolz

Menu plan for the week... I have no clue!

I've been looking online for inspiration for meals for the week and have come up with zip, nada, nought, zero! Nil enthusiasm, Sharon! (to quote Kath and Kim!)
~
Tonight we have having a slap up meal...
Lazy Beef Stroganoff - basically a Continental Pasta mix - Creamy mushroom & bacon - with a pack of stir-fry beef, mushrooms and onions in it and some frozen steamed carrots/corn & broccoli. Is that bad, am I bad wife/Mumma? (I love that Bri calls me Mumma xxx)
~
We had a lovely chicken meal last night - Angus did Tuscan Chicken - it had garlic and lemon in under the skin and it was stuffed with lemon, thyme and rosemary. He cooked it in the weber and I did a potato bake and carrots and peas and gravy to go with it. I also did homemade bread (dough in bread maker) which was nice too. Then of course, we had the apple/berry pie for dessert....there is enough leftover for tonight so that makes a pretty good nosh up if you ask me!
~
Cheers - Joolz

Apple & berry freeform pie...

I made this freeform Apple & Berry pie (from the current MasterChef magazine (winter). It was supposed to be Pear and Strawberry but I had the apples and berries on hand so I went with that.
~

For the pastry, chop up 250gms cold butter into 1 cm cubes. In a food processor add 2 cups Plain flour and 1 cup of SR flour and 2/3 cup castor sugar. Add in the cubed butter and blitz on and off until the mix resembles bread crumbs. Now add in 4 egg yolks and a teaspoon of vanilla and blend until the mixture comes together as a crumbly mix.
~

Turn out onto a clean bench and bring all the mixture together to a smooth dough. Halve the mix and form into 2 balls, cover in cling wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
~
Lay a piece of baking paper on the bench and roll one ball into a large round (dinner plate size) and cut out a neat circle (using that plate). Carefully place onto a large baking tray, still on the paper. Roll out the second ball and cut to size.
~

I heated the frozen mixed berries and a little sugar in a saucepan...
~

Place sliced Granny Smith apples on the round of pastry (should have used 3 apples)...
~

... and top with the warmed berry mixture...
~

By flipping the round over then peeling off the paper, cover with the second round of pastry, then using a fork, press down and seal edges of the pie. Brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar.
Make it as rustic or neat as you like.
~

Bake for about 30-40 minutes in a 180C oven until dark golden.
~

Tah dah! The fillings are endless - apple, sultana & cinnamon; apricot; apple & rhubarb; pear and strawberry. The pastry is lovely and short and sweet. Delicious!
~
Cold again here today. Hardly left the house yesterday, just bummed around and pottered. We had some really heavy showers and some hail so it was nice to stay inside and not do much.
~
Cheers - Joolz

Saturday Chores...

I've got a bit of house work to do today - I will update as I get the jobs done!

~

~

Clean top of the fridge - the tallest person in the house reminded me that it needs doing! Erk!
(in his defence - he did offer to do it but ... it's done now!)
~
Strip our bed, wash sheets and remake - done!
~
Wipe out/scrub main bathroom shower - done!
~
Re-organise my clothes for winter in walk-in-robe - done!
~

Iron school uniform - 3 shirts, skirt and wool jumper ( I washed them all last night!) - done!
~
I looked out my laundry window and decided that it needed cleaning - right now!
~

That's better!
~
Sort recyclable bottles to take to depot today - done and $43.10 richer! :)
~
2 other loads washing done and drying - done!
~~~~~~~~
Vacuum through house & mop kitchen floor - now a Sunday chore - done!

Definitely time for a wine! Gus is cooking dinner, thank goodness!
~
Cheers - Joolz