Heat....

Did I mention it is 31 degrees here today....? Crazy hot for Spring...
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Handen?

Last week we had a pre-natal course at the hospital and I saw this sign in the bathroom...

Check out the swedish spelling... Haha!

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Merry Christmas

L and R decided to give us some Christmas pressies whilst they are here and now we have a new toaster and kettle in red...! I am thrilled!! Not only are they beautiful and useful - I no longer have to use the a. Rubbish toaster and b. Load and scruffy kettle - it was time for them to leave the house..

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Sunday Lunch

Lunch today at Manta at Woolloomooloo. Fabulous weather, lovely food and great company.  This is one of my favorite hobbies, nice food in lovely places.....

We watched the boats go by and did some people watching too hehe..  

Lis...

 

Richard....

J.....

 

Me...

The view.....

ceviche of king salmon belly, horseradish crème fraîche, smoked salmon jelly, blood lime
    baby coriander

 

 Zucchini Flowers....

Barramundi....

 300g sirloin, garlic, parsley and primo extra virgin olive oil

 

king george whiting, pan-fried sourdough crumbed fillets, kipfler potatoes, preserved lemon,
    aioli and cornichons

 manta 'angel' chips with truffle oil and parmesan

 

 

vanilla & mascarpone cheesecake, sable biscuit, raspberries, olive oil jam, passionfruit and
            mâche 

 

The flan....

Rich Chocolate Cake

Dinner last night was a bbq'ed piri-piri chicken and a huge sallad. J and R was out at the barbie and the girls made the sallad. Was Yummy!!

Dessert; Rich Chocolate cake and my favorite icecream: Connoisseur Ice Cream Vanilla flavor

The cake was a success and it was even more of a success seeing that in the middle of cooking the oven stopped working and I had to get J to investigate. All was back to normal fairly quickly but you know how delicate a cake in the oven is so I was worried it would be under or overcooked. Was neither and worth trying - it is easy to make and usually a success...

250 gr of good quality proper butter (do not use bread spread or magarine!)
200 gr good quality cooking chocolate (dark)
1 1/2 cups of strong coffee (make new proper coffee, do not use dry coffee it does not taste good)
2 cups of caster sugar
1 1/2 cups of plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 organic eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract (preferably Organic)
Another 250 gr (or more) of good quality cooking chocolate (dark) for later (to have on top)

What to do:
Preparation: take out all ingredients, measurements, and a food processor with blade, big bowl and frying pan in teflon, spatula etc.

Grease and line a springform tin. Put oven on 180 C.

When you start cooking the mixture has to be put together fairly quickly so set yourself up properly before hand.

Take out a teflon frying pan (very clean so cake does not taste of snags or something) melt in the block of 200gr chocolate, 250 gr of butter and when slightly melted put in the strong coffee. Do not cook just use low heat. add sugar and dissolve.

Whilst the above is melting you quickly mix flour, baking powder and cocoa in a bowl. keep an eye on the mixture on the stove , can not burn the butter, shall be nicely melted not dark brown!

When all is a nice gooey mix pour all into a food processor. (again make sure that it is really clean so ckae doesn't taste of onions or something).

Add some of the flour mixtire into the food processor and mix, keep mixing and adding and should take only about 2 min in total.

Add 2 eggs quickly, mix immediately (as the mixture is warm you don't want to waste any time as eggs might cook (ie scrambled eggs) which we don't want in the cake).

Add vanilla essence whilst mixture is moving. Stop food processor when all is mixed take off processor and por mix into the already greased tin.

Bake in over for 45 min to an hour. This all depends on your stove. I have baked this in 3 different houses and has varied between 30 min to over an hour. Keep checking!!

The cake should not be dry as a sponge cake but not wet either (not gooey) so you have to try and prick it regularly. If the cake is burning in the ends, put alfoil over, there can be no burning on edges, will taste horrible.

When cake is ready, take out and let cook (release edges immediately).

When cooled down a bit move to a pretty cake plate.

In a bowl put 250 gr of good cooking chocolate in pieces. Boil water but do not let the water touch the bowl, and let the chocolate melt. Don't stir too heavily as you want the cocolate to go very smooth and glossy. When melted pour over chocolate cake and quickly smear over top and sides so that it is smooth and glossy all over.

Serve with good quality vanilla Icecream. Do not waste time on cheap icecream - life is too short people - my motto is eat less but when you do eat the good stuff! - so get the good stuff and enjoy it!!! Quality before quantity...!

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Teddy

Frank and Teddy came by for coffee and choccy cake and Lis got a cuddle..

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Pre bump

J looks the same now as on this pic - I don't...

Pre bump I was very slim - now I cannot fit into any of my old dresses.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind, there is a reason however today I suddenly missed all my old dresses and pretty shoes - will I ever wear them again??



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Baby towel

In vain I have been trying hard to find a cute (not pink or blue) towel 'wrap' for the bub.

Lis found this cute one at a shop just close to here (even though I have been all over town!) and I love it, so cute and totally my style, mainly white with just a few colors. Very nice!


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No sleep

Since I have been preggers I just don't sleep until J is home. This means all boys nights out are mine...

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Lavender bath

I'm in my big bath filled with proper lavender epsom salts and have lit the candles... So relaxing!!

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Thirsty skin

125 ml a week of bio oil goes into my skin. It just drinks it and loves it. Currently really dry skin and belly needs it and enjoys it. Will keep rubbing it in....

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Always makes me happy!!

This sight always cheers me up!

Lovely walk in Pioneer Park this arvo...


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Life

After a heart breaking but very beautiful funeral yesterday - I feel very lucky and fortunate to have everyone around me.
Also reminded that life can be short and that we should always tell each other how much we love one another and be happy in the moment... Embrace life!




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Picnic in Centennial

Picnic in Centennial today. Brilliant day with lots of sunshine and food..

I forgot my mobile so all the photos are on J's phone. Will post them when I get them later on...
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More baby stuff

Getting ready for bub - Cot and changing table is up....

Exciting!!


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Friiiday!!!

Busy day today , touring the neighborhood, walks with Frida and lastly Friday night din dins.

Dinner : bbq'ed NY steaks that have been marinated for ages, then beRry crumble and ice cream.

Lots of lovely talking around the table - it has been a great night! x night night everyone , I'm now off to Bedfordshire!


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Life

When somebody's life is taken too soon you start to ask yourself questions.

Life is not always straight forward and easy to interpret....


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Presents..

Dinner with Jonny and Emma last night and they turned up with a toy dog (to hang on pram) and a cute baby gro for bub. So thoughtful and lovely..


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Working in the garden

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Solo

On a Sunday morning there is no one in the dog park!!!

Just me and F playing.

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New wall piece

My new creation on the wall and Tweeting Man on sofa.

The fabric is a bit busy, but I think it works there...


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Saturday morning

7.30 Pilates

9 am nice breakkie and reading Sydney Morning Herald

10 am planning the day with J

Sun is shining and this is going to be a good day!


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Barbie

The first barbie in the new house. J is working his magic... :)

Very keen to try a the steaks that have been marinated for hours in the following ;

.       1/4 cup olive oil
.       1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
.       1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
.       1/4 cup soy sauce
.       2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
.       2 teaspoons minced garlic
.       salt and pepper to taste
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Front of the house

The front of the house now looks welcoming and cute.

I love when things are 'finished' and functional after a big move. We can finally enjoy the house and get on with things. Almost everything is in place...!

This bench was once wooden and boring and I painted it. To be honest it has seen better days and has been chewed by Frida when she was a puppy, but it serves a purpose and we have dragged it around to all our houses and it is still alive!!

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More sunshine...

Lovely morning walk and play with F in the park this morning...
26 degrees today - spring is here!!!
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Grandpa Sven

My grandfather Sven (climbing a mountain) is now in a frame on the wall.
I am very pleased he is on my wall...

xx

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27 degrees today

The warmest day of spring... 27 degrees today and just wonderful outside.

Went to Fox Studios Markets and bought some fruit and also the delicious butter from Ocello. I am not a huge butter fan, but ladies and gentlemen, this one takes the price. When you eat it (on fresh baguette from bakery for example) - you immediately dream yourself away to Italy..

A treat!

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On the couch

After another sleepless night I am on the couch with a cuppa relaxing..


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Unfaithful

I have been unfaithful today... I shopped in Coles instead of Woolies...

Not a good move, I always get disappointed. Woolies is just so much better, fresher, well stocked, friendlier and prettier..

Coles just seems to be a left over from Eastern Europe or something - I am back in Woolies at the end of the week and looking forward to it!


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No sleep

Nearly 4 am and still no sleep.

Tomorrow I have to really tire myself out so I get a good night sleep...

It is exhausting carrying a child, my sleep patters are all out of whack....
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Sunday

Sunday was spent fixing up house, sewing lots, moving furniture, then coffee with nana on the beach followed by Jamie Oliver 4 h stew. Scrumptious!

For the first time since we moved in we found the dining table!! (Has been hidden under all our bits and bobs)

So nice to sit down at a table and eat dinner again, and not eat at the kitchen island/bar.

We had long chats about life and things that matter and was a very nice evening. Thank you J for a brilliant stew... xx

Photos in weird order but I'm sure you'll ffigure it out... :)

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HP Fruity

J enjoying his HP Fruity on breakfast fry up...

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Mustard Cicken, Dauphinoise and greens + chocolate cake...

 

We were both exhausted last night. J was and is still not well and was all rugged up on the sofa. I was tired from running around all day.

It was also extremely windy and cold so we locked ourselves in and I cooked up a  storm.

J got one of his faves - potato dauphinoise and mustard chicken with greens. For dessert naughty and absolutely delicious cake from Mezzapica : chocolate mud cake...

DAUPHINOISE1 smallish red onion
Half kg Maris Piper potatoes
Some grated nutmeg
2 cloves of garlic
200ml cream
2-3 anchovies in oil (some of the oil can go in as well)
Parmesan cheese
1-2 bay leaves
a very small bunch of fresh thyme
SEASONINGSolive oil
extra virgin olive oil
sea salt & black pepper

CHICKEN
a few sprigs of fresh rosemary
2 x 180g chic breasts, skin on
2 teaspoons yellow and black mustard seeds - crushed in M&P
1/2 leek
2-4 cloves of garlic
white wine
Cream (whatever is left from potaotoes
1 heaped teaspoon wholegrainmustard

GREENS
100g Swiss chard or other greens
1 x 200g bag of prewashed baby spinach
1 lemon

After all of this we slept over 10 h last night... Go figure....

Before

 

After

 

The plate before.....

The plate after.... :)

The delicious dessert from Mezzapica... Wanted to spoil J a bit... (it worked :)