Sunday 9th Dec '07

Today Ben, Sarah and I decided to go for dim sum (yum cha). We went to Emma's in Victoria Park. David's back in Perth for Christmas with his girlfriend, Tanya, and they also came. Afterwards we headed back to my place to have some pavlova because I've been craving it all week! I had just recently bought the boardgame 'Absolute Balderdash' and we spent the afternoon with lots of laughs.

Back at Ben and Sarah's place in the evening, we hung out for a little while until David and Tanya had to head off to watch the WA Symphony Orchestra. Sarah and I hit the shops to get ingredients for an impromptu picnic. We roasted some pumpkin, carrots and potato at home and picked up some Chicken Treat to enjoy in the beautiful weather at the South Perth foreshore.

When the flies got too much for us, we headed back home and Sarah set about making one of her favourites - Parkin cake.


Sarah's Parkin cake just out of the oven
If we hadn't been getting enough fibre, then we definitely got a good dose of it tonight! David and Tanya came back after their show to have some with us.

Saturday 8th Dec '07

BACKYARD BLITZ!
Today Cameron and Long came over to give me a hand with the final stage of my backyard blitz. I rushed home from work and we set about evening out the soil and laying the turf.


I gave Simba a patch of turf to get him excited
Whee!! All done!
Simba having his first poo on the new lawn
After rolling around in the wet lawn, there was no way we were letting this dirty mutt inside without first being subjected to a bath

We went and caught up with a few friends at the Balmoral in Victoria Park where I treated Cameron to a 500g steak. Long's taken a raincheck. My next project in the new year will be to fix up the rest of the garden. Put in some hedging around the new lawn and perhaps a water feature. Long's volunteered to help dig me a pond and donate some of the Koi that he breeds.

Thanks for your help guys!

Thursday 6th Dec '07

Tonight after work I rustled up a very simple stirfy for dinner.

Honey Chicken Stirfry

Wednesday 5th Dec '07

Before work I spent about half an hour in the garden finishing off the one corner we left when it got too dark last night. It's amazing what a difference a pitchfork can make!!

Now all that's left to do is to prepare the soil and plant the new lawn!

I've been introducing 'pecorino' cheese into my pasta dishes, as recommended by Marissa. It's got much more of a bite than parmesan. Below is my minestrone with grated pecorino sprinkled (generously) over it. *drool*

Tuesday 4th Dec '07

Today I ran a few errands during the day and kept Simba company at home. It was quite cold tonight - so much for summer! - so I indulged in a late night snack by preparing myself a little platter before bed. I even snuck in a small glass of wine.


pancetta (from Charlie's!!)
sheep fetta
sundried tomatoes
raspberries

Sunday 2nd Dec '07

After another terrible day at work (still on the pain meds that make me want to throw up all day), I managed to drive myself home on a can of 'Mother' energy drink. By the time I was home, I was awake and feeling better after all the fresh air from having the windows rolled down in the car. I got changed and went out in the garden and raked the exposed sand where we've removed the lawn so far. The idea was to not do anything strenuous so as not to aggravate my neck more, but the longer I stayed out there, the more tempted I was to start hacking away at the remaining lawn. So...I took the eagerly awaiting Simba for a quick walk around the block.

All I've had to eat all day is Smith's Salt & Vinegar potato chips. They're the only thing I've really been able to stomach with all the nausea. But I made a lasagne with some bolognaise sauce my mum had lying around in the fridge, and minestrone soup. Need to clear the stuff in the fridge since everyone is going away on holidays soon.

I usually like to add layers of vegetables in my lasagne to make it a more wholesome meal. Zucchini, eggplant and mushroom are great to use. I only had mushrooms available tonight. I always make the meat sauce (it doubles really well as a pasta sauce) but keep a jar of store-bought bechemel sauce in the pantry. Layer all the ingredients amongst lasagne sheets, with the last layer being bechemel sauce. I then sprinkle grated parmesan over the top so that it goes golden brown in the oven.

Here's one I prepared earlier...haha

My dinner tonight...home-made minestrone soup with a serve of the lasagne. It was a bit sloppy because I was too impatient to let it rest for a while after removing it from the oven.

Saturday 1st Dec '07

I sprained my neck really bad after gardening on Thursday and called in sick Friday. I had to wait till my mum got home from work to drive me to the doctors to get some painkillers. She then took me to a chinese herbalist in Canning Vale where I got an impromptu acupuncture session. Eep! My very first time. After spending most of Friday as an invalid at home, I stuck today out at work even though I felt like puking every five minutes from the painkillers.

Sarah came over to keep me company after work and we decided we'd do some baking. One thing led to another and we ended baking all night. I love cooking when I'm stressed, depressed, or have nothing better to do. It's extremely therapeutic and relaxing.



Top Left: Mini Raspberry & Coconut Muffins
Bottom Right: Spicy Gingerbread Cookies

We didn't have any gingerbread man cookie cutters and hand-shaping them proved to be too time consuming so my mum found her old cookie cutters and we used them. It brought back memories watching Sarah cut out cookies in the shapes that my mum used to make for my sisters and I growing up. Our cookies are in several different colours as we had to bake in multiple batches. The darker ones were in the oven a little longer than the rest and are crunchier.

Sarah's hand-sculpted star from the dough remnants.

My hand-sculpted gingerbread man makes it to the peak of Muffin Mountain.