Saturday 4th April '09

For lunch at work today, I enjoyed the leftovers from our dinner last night. I did have some roast chicken that I'd made to eat for lunch, but that went into the freezer for another day.



After work, I headed over to Vincent, Victoria and Vernon's place to have dinner there. I'd picked up some cooked Exmouth prawns and peeled them while Vincent helped Vernon with the pasta. I got Victoria to go outside, where Vincent was showing Vernon how to make the sauce, and give him a cooking tip.

Victoria: "Vernon, did you know that you can only stir clockwise? If you stir anti-clockwise it will moosh up the sauce."

Vernon: no reply...he continued to stir the sauce.

Victoria: "Vernon, did you hear me? You can only stir clockwise."

Vernon: "This is clockwise, isn't it?"

*Sarena rolls around on floor laughing*


Vernon's San Remo Beef Ravioli
with Minced Beef, Mushroom & Tomato Sauce

For the prawns, I came up with a dipping sauce. Japanese mayo, white vinegar, wasabi paste and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Yum!

Vincent made some delicious potato patties

It was a yummy meal!

hello!

They have a Nespresso machine! Victoria made me an expresso. It was really really good! I was tempted to buy one before...but now I want one even more!

the 'pod's for the Nespresso

the 'pod' after it's been used...
the machine must puncture holes in it, then the hot water
passed through it and through the coffee...
and into my mug with perfect crema

there's a frother to make cappuccinos


We took a drive to the video store, then back at home we agreed that Victoria should make us crepes for dessert. While she flipped the crepes, I made the berry coulis - frozen berries, castor sugar, a splash of water and balsamic vinegar. Just let it simmer on a low heat until it reduces and thickens. We had the crepes with the berry coulis, creme brulee ice cream and a sprinkling of icing sugar.





Back at home, I made some pasta for lunch tomorrow at work. My parsley has been growing wild so I decided to use it tonight.

Spaghetti with Garlic, Parsley, Chilli, Prawns & Scallops

Friday 3rd April '09

Morning Tea
Baker's Delight Spinach Scones with Butter

Tonight after work I'd organised a wine tasting with Romanet to be held at Ling and Shallen's place. We were going to have a quick pot luck dinner before the wine rep was due to arrive.

Myself - Thai Chicken Basil
I rushed to make this after work.
The bamboo was an excellent addition!

Ling & Shallen - Beef Stew
This has beautiful star anise flavours - delicious!

Kong - Mince & Vegetable Pasties
The crisp pastry was perfect for soaking up all
the delicious sauces on our plates.

Noel & Fleurette - this gorgeous couple brought several dishes!

Chicken Manchurian

Egg Vindhaloo

Pepper Water
You add this to the basmati rice to moisten it.
It was made with an aromatic blend of spices.

Okra Curry
I didn't get a photo of this...but I need to get this recipe!!

MY PLATE with a bit of everything!

This pot luck dinner was such a huge success!! We all brought a different dish that was just as aromatic, spicy and delicious as the next. Our senses were overwhelmed with all the flavours and spices! Perfect to enjoy some wine with. It's a pity we had to rush a bit, but we managed to finish before the wine rep arrived.


After dinner, we had a workout on the Wii.

Thursday 2nd April '09

Lunch
Baked Salmon with a sprinkle of Cheese

I baked the salmon in the oven last night and brought it to work for lunch today. I had some grated cheese in the fridge at work, so decided on a whim to melt some onto the salmon. Was quite nice!


I've been searching for tortellini EVERYWHERE!

Marissa and Teresa have also been looking for some, but to no avail. The stores where we used to buy it from no longer seem to stock them. I've seen in Coles that Barilla have started making some, but was reluctant to try it. However, I decided to finally give it a go today.

Chicken & Vegetable Soup with Tortellini

Just as I thought, the tortellini wasn't as good as the ones I used to buy. Really expensive too...about $5 for the packet.



Dinner
Sirloin with Mushroom Gravy
Peas & Corn

I was too tired to fuss with dinner tonight, so went with a simple steak dinner. Frozen peas, corn and Gravox's roasted meat gravy.

Wednesday 1st April '09

Breakfast
Toasted Ham, Sundried Tomato & Cheese Roll

Lunch
Continental Cup-A-Soup Creamy Mushroom
Christina's Sundried Tomato & Olive Quiche



After work today, I headed over to Vernon, Victoria & Vincent's place where we were going to make dinner tonight. Vincent, Vernon and I walked to the shops to get groceries.

Back at home, Vernon was my soux chef. I had him wash, chop and prepare all the food. I convinced him that it's normal practice to dry the basil with a hair dryer. *giggle*

We brushed the chicken thighs with honey, then I had a brainwave - let's stuff some fresh basil and garlic cloves beneath the skin. So he did. He had to rebrush the chicken with honey again afterwards.


Victoria & Vernon

Vernon eating the chicken fat I'd trimmed off the thighs

Into the oven until the skin turned almost black from the honey. The skin's the best bit!

Dinner
Roasted Honey Glazed Chicken with Basil & Garlic
Roasted Carrots, Potato & Garlic
Steamed Broccoli

For dessert, Victoria made crepes, with me as her soux chef. She made the crepes and by the fourth one, she was an expert! We layered sliced banana on top, then sprinkled some chocolate over and served with walnuts, creme brulee flavoured ice cream, and some overcooked chocolate sauce that looked like dog poo.

Tuesday 31st March '09

Breakfast
Maccas Coffee and
Hashbrown x 2

Morning Tea
Hot Cross Bun
Cuppa Tea Guvna
I zapped the hot cross bun in the microwave for about thirty seconds, split it in half with a paddle pop stick and smothered both halves with some butter. Mmmm


Lunch
Chorizo & Zucchini Risotto
This is the risotto I cooked last night with a generous sprinkling of freshly chopped chillies.


a glimpse into my fish tank from the left

Pinchy!

Dinner
Roasted Chicken with Sage, Garlic & Honey

I stuffed some sage and garlic cloves beneath the skin of the maryland piece and brushed the skin with honey I'd zapped in the microwave for twenty seconds.

I had some chopped potatoes, carrots and whole garlic cloves roasting in the oven while I prepared the chicken so that they'd have a head start to cook. I left room in the baking dish to put the chicken in - ready in forty minutes!

Monday 30th March '09

Lunch
Chicken Enchiladas

These are the chicken enchiladas that I made yesterday. I brought a plate to work and placed a couple of them on there, then carefully placed some grated cheese on top of both of them and heated them in the microwave for a few minutes.

deliciously warm, melted cheese

The only problem with heating enchiladas in the microwave is that you have to eat them quick or they get hard as they cool down, as opposed to heating them in an oven where they get crispy and you can take your time eating them.

Dinner
Bee Hoon Soup with Pork, Prawns & Okra

I used the remaining half of Christina's chorizo to make this risotto dish for us to take to work tomorrow for lunch.

Sunday 29th March '09

Today I had homemade bun bo hue for lunch. I made the stock a few nights ago (remember my stolen groceries escapade!?) and finished making the soup base last night.

The stock was just some water that I boiled with a large juice piece of ham hock. I removed the ham hock - which my mum cleaned the meat off and chopped up the cartilage bits for Simba - and then reheated the stock on the stove. To this I added some lemon grass stalks, dried shrimp, star anise, cracked black pepper, sambal chilli paste and fish sauce. After the soup came to the boil, I simmered it for a while to allow the flavours to infuse. I had to taste it a few times and added some sea salt and more chilli paste to adjust the flavour. I added some pork belly rashers and beef balls and allowed them to cook for a while before removing them and slicing them up.

I usually use shrimp paste that comes in a bottle for this soup base, but when I went to open a new bottle, the contents exploded all over the sink and me - they'd gone off and there was a build up of gas produced by the bacteria. Let's just say it really really smelt bad. So that's why I used the dry shrimp, at my mum's suggestion.

To serve, I put some freshly cooked Vietnamese rice noodles in a bowl, then added some of the sliced pork belly, beef balls, some bean shoots, thinly sliced red onion, and ladled in lots of the soup. I garnished with some fresh mint and freshly cut chillies. It was delicious!

In the evening, I prepared what would be my lunch for work tomorrow - Chicken Enchiladas. These are one of my favourites that I fell in love with during my time working at Lenards Chicken all those years ago. Ling, Meng - remember!?

Anyhoo, I fried some diced onion in a pan, then added some diced chicken, diced roma tomato and a can of mixed beans that I'd rinsed in water. Add a packet of taco seasoning (can't remember the brand but you purchase it from the 'Mexican food' aisle of the supermarket) and a bit of water - voila!

I used some mini wholemeal tortillas to wrap the mixture with and placed them altogether in a container to take to work tomorrow with a bag of grated cheese. I hope Andrea and Nadine enjoy them!

Dinner
Chorizo, Mushroom & Spinach Spaghetti

Christina loves pasta with chorizo in it, and she had one in the fridge so asked me to make something with it. I sliced it thin and made this dish with mushrooms, spinach, onion, garlic, chilli flakes, and lots of olive oil.

*Groan* Not looking forward to work tomorrow.