winosandfoodies

Dance Like No One Is Watching

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

A Pear of Corellas

 

Postcard from Club Med Lindeman Island

Chris couldn't come home for Christmas so the only way we could all be together for Christmas was to take Christmas to him.  Imagine 10 days on an Lindeman Island in the Whitsundays , off the coast of Queensland.  Nothing to do but relax and enjoy ourselves while being taken care of by the fabulous G.O.'s  at  Club Med. 

I'm A Bad Bad Daring Baker

I know this looks nothing like a Buche de Noel .  And quite frankly today I don't care.  I don't know why I thought I could complete this month's challenge.  I'm packing to move, I'm lunching out every day, dinner out every night this week.  Tomorrow I have breakfast, lunch and dinner out. Today I scheduled a free day to make my Buche de Noel and also to give my body a rest from the wine. 

The sponge was in the oven,  I started on the coffee cream...oops ...not enough butter...run next door to the neighbour to borrow butter.... offer to share dessert with them tonight....ooops....there goes my plan for a wine free day.......butter cream curdles...I know..... I didn't heat the eggs whites high enough as the recipe said... put it in the fridge to harden up a bit......cup of tea and a sit down...... cream now hard but still curdled....throw in some flour that should fix it....it does and surprise surprise you can't taste the flour....oh sh*t not enough eggs for meringue mushrooms.... I can use those very expensive griottines...perhaps they will look like toadstools....no they don't....reread the instructions...you MUST decorate with  either  meringue mushrooms or marzipan mushrooms..... oh damn, just take a photo and make it blurry.....at least every one can see you tried....anyway when this comes out I'll be lying on an island in the sun and I won't care.

Thank you Ivonne  and Lis , hosts for this month and also the founders of the Daring Bakers  - check out their Yule logs .  Please don't send me to stand in the corner for not completing the challenge. I promise to do better next month.......if my possessions have arrived at my new home in Australia.

UPDATE:  The neighbours enjoyed it, Bryan loved it, a bit rich for me, too sweet for Michael and he thinks the butter taste is too strong.  It paired nicely with a Yering Station Late Harvest Pinot Gris. Looks like Bryan will be eating the leftovers for lunch today while I'm out.

Blue Skies of Australia

Home where the sky is blue 300 days a year....and where the Southern Cross  has an extra star.

Goodbye New Zealand

An early morning walk on Takapuna Beach  Beach.

On Thursday we will say goodbye to New Zealand, our home for the past 32 years. I'm not sad to be leaving.  Many an Australian will tell you being Australian never leaves you. Wherever you are in the world you will  always think of yourself as an Australian and long for the day when you can return.

There are things I will miss.  The view of  Westhaven Marina  as you come into the city over the Harbour Bridge from the North Shore.  Camping at Raglan.  Hiking to the top of Rangitoto.  Kayaking on Lake Pupuke.

......mostly I will miss my friends...you know who you are....and I hope you'll come visit. 

More On The Word Foodie Debate

I like how Janet has approached the debate. You can read about it here at The Old Foodie .

Flying Low Over Auckland

We have the nicest neighbours.  They moved into the apartment next door a week after us.  He and Bryan recognised each other immediately, they'd played in a band together when they were 15.  He went on to become a 747 pilot.  And he owns this cool little Sting sports plane.

After a few wines one night we decided I'd love a ride in his sports plane. The weather has been bad all week. Today was a bit overcast but not too much wind. So up we went.  It was a little bumby on take off and I was a little scared the first time the plane banked steeply to turn, but I have to say it was a fabulous experience.  I'd do it again tomorrow if I could.

Eggnog For Christmas

Everyone has there own  way of making eggnog with their own secret ingredient.  I'm keeping mine a secret. Different recipes can be found here.  I will tell you I do use the whipped egg white method.

If you are concerned about eating raw egg try this recipe .

Say Hi To My New Friend Olivier

I laugh every time I watch Olivier. He is now the first blog I visit each morning when I turn my computer on. I love the rap intro at the beginning of each video. I apologise to any French girls that may find him offensive. I'm sure he is just joking.

Wine Rendezvous

Menu For Hope 2007

Are you with us?  Some where in Lesotho, Africa a child will eat lunch with our help.  Each December  the food and wine blogging community come together on line to raise money to help those less fortunate than us.

A few words from our leader Pim at Chez Pim

We are again supporting the WFP, but this year the funds raised by
Menu for Hope 4 will be specifically earmarked for a school feeding
program in Lesotho, Africa.  We chose to support the school lunch
programme because feeding the kids mean keeping them in school,
especially the girls who would otherwise be kept at home to work.  We
chose the support this particular program in Lesotho because the WFP
is making a concerted effort in procuring food from local farms to
supply the feeding program.  Feed the kids, keep them in school, and
support their parents farming.  This is truly a winning proposition.

I am unable to donate this year as we are in the middle of moving home to Australia after 35 years in New Zealand.  I'll be  buying lots of tickets though.  Check out the blogs below to see a list of the prizes and how to buy a ticket. Good luck.
UK
Johanna of The Passionate Cook and Jeanne of Cooksister
Europe
Fanny of Food Beam
US: West Coast
Bee of Rasa Malaysia
US: Central
Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen
US: East Coast
Adam Kuban of Slice NY and Serious Eats
Canada
Jennifer of The Domestic Goddess
Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand
Helen of Grab Your Fork

and, last but not least, our special Wine Blog Host
Alder of Vinography

Santa Came To My House Early

I was tempted with the pink .  It was so pretty on the outside. The gold was pretty on the outside  too........and beautiful on the inside.

Sugared Rose Petals

Pretty up your Christmas parties with sugared fruit or rose petals.  Choose  rose petals that have not been sprayed with chemicals.  Paint the leaves with egg white and sprinkle with caster sugar.  Use to decorate cakes.  Also looks pretty on herb flowers or grapes for a dessert or cheese platter.

Heartbroken

I broke a vase and saw a perfect heart.

Mushroom + Fontina + Pasta = Delicious

Another  Delicious  meal. The combination of  pasta, mushroom and fontina cheese served with some rocket leaves tossed in olive oil and fig balsamic was a taste sensation.  It is so simple, it will become one of those quick  meals your throw together after a busy day.  Just sauté some onions and garlic in a little oil,  add a dash of white wine and reduce. Cook 2 lasagna sheets per serving. Layer mushroom mixture and fontina cheese on one sheet, top with the other, warm through in the oven and serve.