Bye Sarah :(

Paul's cousin Sarah (his mother's younger brother's daughter) has finally left Australia. She was actually one of my bridesmaids for our wedding in Canada. She arrived here nearly a year ago to live, explore and enjoy! Time's flown so quickly. In her final days we took her to the Blue Mountains then to Sydney to buy souvenirs to bring home. Teddy came along naturally :)

Steph's Kitchen Tea

Our receptionist is getting married in less than 2 weeks! A very exciting time for her! A few weeks ago she had her kitchen tea. They are of Assyrian background but the theme was Bollywood. A delicious myriad of Indian cuisine, vibrant throw cushions, exquisitely beaded saris and the musical jangling of wrist bangles! Steph hadn't organised any photography so I offered my (AMATEUR) services!

Delicious home-made rosé wine based sangria

Such a great idea to make this tea station!

The beautiful bride-to-be

Naan bread

I was so chuffed when I won this cute teacup set
for answering the most questions about
the bride and groom correctly!
Never won a thing in my life! Ever!

Spring!

September always brings on a happy mood for me. The weather gets warmer and the sun rises earlier! I got myself flowers for the house to celebrate.

Happy Spring everyone!!

Father's Day

I thought I'd share an early childhood memory of my father today.

When I was about 3 we lived in Wetherill Park in south-western Sydney and with my mother at work and my brothers at school, I was often left alone with dad at home. He was in the yard mowing the lawn and so I was left to my own devices.

I used to go to the bathroom, open the vanity cupboard (beneath the sink) and stand on the shelf so that I could see myself in the mirror. This time I decided to mimic my dad by picking up his razor and I proceeded to shave my face! I ran outside, blood and tears streaming down my chin.

He immediately dropped what he was doing and came over to try to calm me down. He gently blew on my wounds until I eventually stopped wailing.

Thank you for always being there for me to cry on Papa...

My Baking Repertoire

The following is a collection of things I have baked so far in 2012. I am constantly challenging myself and I am desperate for improvement!

Baguette - Still trying to work on a lighter, fluffier texture

Chocolate Pound Cake

Red Velvet Cupcakes (prior to frosting)

Red Velvet Cake with delicious cream cheese frosting

Leche Flan - a classic of mine!

Pistachio Caramel Easter Egg Slice

Cheese Soufflé

Intensely rich chocolate cake for my dog
Teddy and his brother Robbie's
1st birthday in April 2012

Chocolate Soufflé

Mango Chiffon Cake with buttercream icing
Mother's Day May 2012

The biggest challenge of them all - my husband's 29th
birthday cake! My very first time using fondant. It was a
double choc-chip choc-fudge cake. The F1 car is based
on Paul's favourite driver, Jenson Button's car.

It took several attempts to get the F1 logo dimensions right

Vanilla Angel Food Cake with Chantilly Cream

My very first attempt at macarons
I invented this flavour: strawberry macarons with a
dark chocolate ganache filling

Hazelnut meringue cake with strawberries
and cream and chocolate ganache

My Second Wedding Anniversary

For our second anniversary we spoiled ourselves and it was all about food and wine! Yes, we paid another visit to a place we love, the Hunter Valley in NSW - but not before we had dinner at Quay on the actual date of our anniversary :)

(Diet starts tomorrow)

We stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney
on the night of our anniversary. I bagged all
the L'Occitane toiletries to take home of course.

Our delicious dinner at Quay with our 2 best friends

Amuse bouche: marron with abalone

Snapper in Oyster & Seaweed Consommé

Quay's Eight Texture Chocolate Cake

Petit Fours

My view to the left from our table. I had a view of the Opera House to the right

2 years and still blissfully married :)

Watching the sunrise from our hotel room at Four Seasons.
Was too excited (about going to the Hunter Valley) to sleep ;)

Even after the decadent dinner at Quay I was
starving the next morning! Being not so
healthy at Pancakes on the Rocks.

My first stop in the Hunter Valley was to
get a cupcake from Froggies Patisserie

Next anniversary dinner: degustation with matching wines at Emerson's
Carpaccio of Kingfish

Deeeeeeelicious pork belly - the stick was pork crackling!

My sunrise view of the Brokenback mountain range from
our cottage at Broken View Estate

There were lots of kangaroos in our backyard
near the Broken View Estate vineyards

High Tea at Tower Lodge - I just adored the
décor of this establishment.
It had an Old World-Spanish Villa feel.

Our favourite place in the Hunter Valley and our favourite restaurant
of all time (worldwide!) Hungerford Hill winery (the left building)
and Muse Restaurant (on the right)

My favourite dish of the degustation - seared Canadian scallops
It was served to us with a dome of cold butter covering the entire dish
which melted by the time we were ready to cut into it.

A special treat for us from the kitchen :)

OK, so we had to come back the next day for lunch!

Turkish bread with a trio of dips

I would come here even if all they sold were these DELICIOUS fries

Banana & Caramel Meringue Tart with Pecan Ice Cream

Like I said, diet starts tomorrow.