Salad with Prawns and Poppy Seed Dressing

I first made this salad in 1995 for Christmas Lunch. A layer of salad greens topped with cherry tomatoes, blanched asparagas and sno peas, then add the prawns and avocado.

So fresh and colourful

I made it again for friends for a Christmas catch up last night.

Goma Members Christmas Party

I attended my first Goma members Christmas party on sunday night. What a glamorous affair. 5.30pm start looking out over the river. It was held in the 'drawing room' part of the Matisse exhibition.

A violinist was playing as we arrived, the room looked amazing.

A view out to the river

There were tables and benches set up all around the room and the idea was that you scetched the still life. The gallery supplied drawing paper, pencils and clip boards.

Even easels

Yes, even a live model

Another pose

A still life

Images of the artist at work

There were plants and shells everywhere

I loved the tropical feel of this

A lovely still life

A rainy Wednesday in December

Rain all day today. Our gardens need this rain very badly. It was the perfect weather to clean and to make 'Peach Chutney' for Christmas Gifts.

All tagged and ready

The house smelt of peaches and spice all day, very Christmasy.

Decorations Christmas 2011

Tree for this year

The coffee table

I have some new red birds this year from the Cornubia garage. They look wonderful. Maxi loves to sit under the tree. He knows he is a wonderful gift.

The vase of white sticks

I love these sticks with the red apples and silver ornaments. The colourful mexican ornaments and the Frieda Khalo image are from the Frieda Khalo exhibition in London that i went to years ago. Lovely memory.

The sun room table

Maxi loves to supervise

Thankfully he no longer runs up and down the tree as he did when he was a kitten.

Espresso Biscuits

I am making food as gifts for Christmas this year. The first party that I needed gifts for was on Saturday night.

I have made these biscuits now for 4 years running, they are great with a cup of coffee.

The gift boxes

I used small noodle boxes and made my own gift tags.

Donna Hay

I have always been a fan of Donna Hay's recipes, especially in the beginning when she was writing for Marie Claire magazine. She was a breath of fresh air to encourage younger girls to cook simple clean fresh modern food.

I knew that she had produced a line of cookware and bowls. Also that she has ventured into packaged food. I don't usually shop in the 'baking' isle of the supermarket as I very seldom bake sweets or cakes now. However I was looking for Cocoa powder to make biscuits for Christmas Gifts. I saw a box of cup cake mix by Donna Hay and just had to try it.

The packet comes with 12 patty papers

The raw mixture tasted very much like my favourite cup cake mixture from the 60's.

Good result

Just don't ask how much butter is in the frosting and the cake. Just be sure that with just one little cake you will have had enough butter and sugar for a month.

The first Agapanthus of the season

I love my Agapanthus flowers. They are very late blooming this year.

The first few blooms

I will add to this vase as the days progress, and more blooms open up.