Christmas raindeer

Every year my cousin in Florida sends a lovely pop up type Christmas card. The kind that you can stand on a table. I kept all of them for years.
The card this year is just delightful - I love it.

I have never been able to find cards like this here.

Ham with a fig glaze

I have been cooking a ham with a fig glaze served with peach chutney for about 10 years now. I keep thinking that I should try a new recipe but this one is so good I am worried that if I stray I will be disappointed.

It just works every time

Gift biscuits

I have baked all of the biscuits for my gift giving this year. Butter biscuits with cranberries and pistacios plus ginger biscuits. I always think that the smell of ginger and spices is a Christmas smell. When really in a sub tropical climate it should be mango's and frangipani. They are Christmas/summer smells as well but there is something about the spices that gets me.

Cranberry & pistachio 

My neighbour's garden

Bernice my elderly neighbour has gone into care. Bernice always let me pick the frangipani flowers from the wonderful tree that grows next to my fence. She also has 4 mango trees that I have made great green mango chutney from.
Late yesterday afternoon I did my usual check on the house and garden for her family (and reported that the mower man has still not been), I came across these wonderful Hydrangeas.

I have a vase full

Raspberry Slice

I have been making raspberry Slice since the 60's for my children. It was a definate childhood favourite for them.
I experimented with different recipes, and then stuck with the best one. I had to convert the measurements when we went metric and now I have to change it again if I want to use the new 'moist' coconut flakes. The moisture in the topping was calculated for the old fashioned dessicated coconut.

As I get older they seem to taste sweeter - probably as I am trying to cut down on sugar.

memories

I made these for the Dahrl Court Indian tenants Christmas Lunch.

Ginger biscuits test run

I did a test run of the ginger biscuits that I am making for Christmas Gifts this year. I have made these before but only one batch at a time. I am making up all of the dough and freezing it until the 'baking day'. I have realised from previous years that it depends of course how long you leave a ginger biscuit in the oven how the final texture will turn out. Do I do chewy ones or leave them longer and make them crisp?
Every one who has done the taste test gives me a different answer. There will be no time to experiment on the 'baking day', as I will be baking about 6 batches of different biscuits.

The smell is the best

This year I am putting a small piece of crystallised on each biscuit.

Last night at GOMA

I was interested first of all to see the new elephant statue. I really liked it -

Definitely worth the money

My camera doesn't do this justice

You have to see the whole log to appreciate this

Such wonderful colour

Wonderful detail

Very cool hat

This was along side the character below

Looked so unusual next to the madonna

This is all light globes

A tree made from inner soles

These are the pieces that really attracted my attention. Some things were very confrontational and some didn't photograph well. A wonder exhibition as usual.

Christmas Party

Last night was my last official duties at a work Christmas Party. The theme was retro Miami and everyone really got into the swing of the event.

The club 'OH Hello' did a wonderful job with the decor. Plastic beach balls, popcorn maker, and fairy floss dispenser were a hit.

This was my favourite

The changing graphics above the bar were spot on.

Setting the mood

Waiting to be filled

The welcome cocktail

First of the Christmas plans for 2012

I am excited about Christmas lunch this year as it is the first time since my Grand Daughter Gemma has been able to join us since she started her Chef apprenticeship. It is usual to work at Christmas time in the hospitality business.

Of course it would be wonderful just once to have all of the Grand Children together for Christmas again - this has not happened since Perth when they were all very small. But knowing that she was working and so close by but couldn't join us has been sad.

I am cooking a ham with the fig glaze and served with Peach Chutney. Everyone is bringing a special dish to add to the day. This way is easier on everyone. I also have more time to spend on the table decorations one of my favourite things.

For the backs of the chairs

This is a trial run for posies for the backs of the chairs. I bought artificial holly branches and long wires with red plastic beads to represent berries. I cut these up and made small bunches. I added some fresh green foliage from the garden and tied with red ribbon.

These will blend nicely with my new French tablecloth that is in pale green and cream. I am keeping the theme softer this year as a contrast to last years over the top tropical theme.

Great all together in a vase

All of the posies are completed and taped (will add the fresh foliage on christmas morning). They look great as Christmas decor all together in a square vase. Very useful in the lead up to the day.

One project down - many more to go......

Baking test run for Christmas

I made a batch of biscuits today, from a new recipe. Cranberries and pistacios always remind me of Christmas so put them in a butter biscuit mix and all will be well. The best thing about this recipe is that you can roll the dough into logs and freeze until you are ready to bake.

So far they look right

I only baked a few as a test run, then froze the rest of the dough for later.

Went well with my morning coffee

I will make another batch for freezing tomorrow and then decide what to make next.

I know Christmas is coming soon when....

The Frangipani

Next door is in bloom. I love that this grows next door and doesn't take up the space in my back garden, but I get to enjoy it.

Because the tree is so large I had to photograph it 'up'. I would have to stand on our garage roof to get the best view of the flowers.

The first bunch for the house

The fake blooms to use waiting for the tree to flower

 I can put these away now until next year.

I just hope that the tree flowers until Christmas so I use them on Christmas Day.

Sunday lunch

In my previous post I showed the garlic harvest. Today I am showing you the lunch I cooked to get Mark to come and visit and plait the garlic.

Simple chicken lunch

This dish is easy to cook it all happens in the roasting pan. Just add bread to soak up the juice and this time I did grilled asparagus on the bar b sue - too easy.

Our first garlic harvest

We use a lot of garlic in this household. I love the pink Australian kind that is so fresh. It can be very expensive so I decided to try and grow my own.
Graham had a friend that supplied the 'seed bulbs' and last April we planted them.
Not too bad for amateur  garlic growers.

Just harvested

I phoned Mark to see if he had any tips on how to plait it in the traditional way. He gave me a good idea, to use an old fashioned garden rake to hold the first three bulbs to get the plait started. I couldn't get it to work.
Next idea: Invite Mark and Gemma to Sunday lunch - he can then plait the garlic for me.

The process

This worked well. Plaited garlic and the chance to try out a new family type chicken dish. Winner all around.

The finished plait

I will save some of the cloves to plant again next year.

Purple Flowers

During my recent holiday in Gerringong on the NSW south coast I saw this lovely bush of flowers.

what are they called

We walked past them every day on the way to the headland with a fabulous view out over the ocean. The last time I saw these was in New Zealand. Obviously not a flower for the tropics.

Hummus with white beans

I have been making Hummus for about 20 years. Soaking the chick peas and cooking them myself. I have had 2 innovations in the past once just recently.
Making the hummus with half chick peas and half white beans. It actually makes a lighter smoother dip.

The colour is from the mint

I like a lot of mint in my hummus.
The other very interesting thing I learned in a cooking class at Mondo in West End. When Dominic Rizzo was head chef there the cooking classes were fabulous. I did quite a few with my foodie friend Ron.
Dominic told us that making hummus with canned chick peas was the best way to go as it made a better dip. So true - much smoother and so much easier.
Using a can of chick peas and a can of white beans makes a lot of dip - but fear not. It freezes well, and thaws in no time. So it is always on hand for spreads, picinc's and drop in guests.

Serve these lightly toasted and torn into pieces

Lovely fence

I found this lovely flowering fence line on a recent walk.

Both of the houses have back decks so can enjoy the flowers and it gives extra privacy as well.

Another auction item

I went to another auction in Wooloongabba. I am doing some research to see if any of my lithographs etc have any value. I also have a painting that I am thinking of selling.

I as surprised to see how many items sold for just $20. I bought 2 very interesting vases and this is one of them.

I love the crackle effect

This was made in China. It has a timeless shape and quite solid. Not sure how old it is.

A lovely Gold Boat

I have just arrived back from a week on the NSW South Coast. I found this wonderful piece of art work on the coast at Bulli north of Wooloongong.

Just wonderful

I think that this is one of the best pieces of public art on a shore line that I have seen.

On Sunday walk along the river

I Love walking along the river especially with a soft afternoon breeze. Mark dropped Charlene and I down to the river where the Bulimba ferry comes across from Oxford Street. We walked all along the walkway passing 'Eve's on the River' and look at what we saw.

I thought it was a ram - but only a girl would have a handbag like that

I loved this. Fits right in with the 'Wool Stores' buildings behind in Macquarie Street.

Then further along almost to the Power House.

Keeping in the Aussie theme - a Holden Ute

A great afternoon walk. Past the Power House, then New Farm Park. We found the river again behind the New Farm Bowls Club up to Sydney Street, then along Moray Street back to the apartment. A great fun 60 minute walk.

This is NOT a budget meal but a favourite

I saw Maggie Beer cook chickens with ver juice on a Master Chef program. Absolutely the best way to cook chickens.

Delicious

Maggie suggested serving this with Parsnip mash with small cubes of fresh pear folded through at the last minute.

An amazing flavour burst

Of course we have to have potatoes and beans. The beans are steamed but still firm. then wrapped in bacon and grilled. The dressing made from soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic is spooned over while they are grilling. Bakers potato is a very simple French peasant dish of fried leeks and thinly sliced potato cooked in white wine.

Very effective together

The table

This makes a great family meal.

I don't want to get up this morning

Maxi didn't want to move this morning so I started making the bed around him. He was completely unperturbed.

Just leave me here.

Another of my favourite subjects - Street Art

In this case Park Art. We walked to places we wanted to see during Brisbane Open Day. After the Windmill on Wickham Terrace we cut through a park -the one with Jacob's Ladder on the side - to get to Ann Street and the Masonic Temple.

I saw this sculpture.

Not sure what this is

The park is all green no flowers that I remember so this is the only colour. I think it is very effective.

Brisbane Open House

On the weekend of 'Open House' I visited the Masonic Temple. Traditionally women as in wives of members were only allowed in on special occasions, and then only in certain rooms. They have become much more 'user friendly' in recent years. In fact the men on duty during the open house were akin to a comedy team. All dressed up in suits and aprons and making jokes etc.
I had been in the temple years ago. I persuaded my friend Carol to come to a Mozart (love Mozart!) concert and play that was held in the main hall. I don't like being denied entry to anything and was determined to get inside.

This floor facinated me 

The floor is lovely but the carpet surrounding it looks like it belongs in a suburban pub!

Star of David?

Ceiling in the main hall

behind the choir

I climbed up into the choir stalls to get this picture. A lovely view from there.

Interesting chairs

In the centre of another interesting floor

What happens on these floors