Weekend away - Bathurst Part 3

Dinner was at what I think was the only restaurant that wasn’t in a pub or Chinese take away. Cobblestone Lane was just beautiful. So filling, oh my goodness I think I could have rolled out of the place.

Entree - Hazlenut & chive souffle

Main - Spinach & Ricotta gnocchi with swiss chard

Chocolate fondant. To. Die. For.

The next day we woke to a not great day, weather wise. All the more fun I think, I was prepared for cold, I didn’t get cold on Saturday, but boy, did I get cold on Sunday! Another good thing about Bathurst is that everywhere is adequately heated. You actually need to take a layer off when you go into a shop/cafe/where ever.

We found a cafe (that was in the pub) open early so we ate a hearty breakfast (me the toasted muesli, him the omelette with bacon, mushroom and shallots) and head up to “the Mountain” to do some car things.

On the starting grid, pole position, of course!

At the very very top of the Mountain, the view is breathtaking.

Oh, there is a Museum on cars too.

A few hours and some rumbling tummy’s later it was lunch time. We had spotted a steak house place so we’d thought we’d give it a go. Wish we hadn’t. We had no luck with lunches in Bathurst! Oh well, we will try a pub lunch next time.

My steak sandwich was ok, not sure it tasted Angus-y though.

Oh and did you think we could leave without another trip to Annies? I think not.

Husband didn't really have 2 ice creams, he was trying mine.

Thanks for reading my epic tale of our little trip to Bathurst.

Weekend away - Bathurst Part 2

I had seen Annies Ice Cream Palour on the big map I bought and thought it was one of those typical ye’ olde parlours you see in every other touristy town (you the ones that just have the massive tubs of Streets of Peters, and you hoped that the milk maids were out back churning the ice cream by hand). Well yet another gem found in Bathurst. Its ALL homemade!

Bathurst is big on War Memorials.

In the other park, more of a garden.

Lovely little cafe, unfortunately was closed :(

But! We got Annies!

Oh it was as a kitsch as I'd hoped!

In the little Bathurst Museum, $4 well spent I think.

By 5pm it was starting to get pretty chilly. We headed back to the unit to have some coffee to warm up and quick back before dinner.

We had foxtel in the room too which was a bonus. Only because we had the sport channel and the 5.30 game was about to kick off. Ask me who was playing, go on. You guessed it, the Eels! I couldn’t believe our luck. And I had made a 7.30 reservation for dinner too, so that meant we could watch the entire game. Usually I make dinner for 7pm, someone was looking over us that day! Oh and yes, we won too.

Weekend getaway - Bathurst part 1

Last weekend, we went to Bathurst. Everyone we told assumed there was some kind or car related reason as to why we were going. Ok, so it is home to a pretty popular and unique race track, but surely there is more to this country town than a race track.

Gladly, I can report there is.

There is the superb gardens in the town centre, the views of the surrounding paddocks and hills when you look down the streets, the old houses (some of which are being restored to their former glory), the one of a kind shops (most of them were closed though, but I love that they still believe in closing at midday on a Saturday) and Annies.

We left home about 9.30ish on Saturday and headed the Bells Line Of Road way, as opposed to through Katoomba. The drive was gorgeous, thanks to perfect weather. I was so tempted to stop at the fruit shops at Bilpin, but decided that on the way home was probably a better idea (FYI, we didnt stop on the way home, far to cold and wet, just wanted to stay warm in the car).

Arrival at Bathurst around lunch, perfect, time for food! We checked into our accommodation (side note, people at Bathurst need to look up the word 'luxury' before they use it to describe their hotel) a lovely self contained unit. Thankfully, ours was truly luxury. Well, compared what else was on offer. We cann't rave about the encore apartments enough!

The bed was tidy, but i just had to jump on it before i took a photo

We walked into the town centre to search for some lunch. As i mentioned there was not much open, even the cafes closed at 2pm. The husband is a bit of a meat pie connoisseur so we tried Becks bakery. I opted for a turkish bread roll with chicken cheese and sundried tomato. Verdict on the pie - not good. Drats. Not to worry, time to explore the town (and take photos!)

Is it normal to be in love with icecream?

If its Digger flavour from Homer Hudson then yes, i think it is normal. This has done nothing to help my already unhealthy love of icecream.

Thankfully its a limited edition flavour. For the waisteline and the wallet, its $6 per 500ml!

But oh so worth it!

I demand you all rush out to coles/woolies/franklins and get yourself a tub. NOW!

Monday night football!

Monday night just gone the Husband and I went to the footy. His mum had scored free tickets, which is lucky because we would not have gone otherwise.

You see, we support the Parramatta Eels. And if you follow the NRL, you would know what a cruddy season they are having. I didn't really want to spend money on seeing them loose. Again (and also in the freezing cold!)

So, you can imagine my joy when they won. THEY WON! Against Melbourne Storm, which is a bit impressive. 18-16 to be exact, yes a missed conversion was all that separated them.
Funny that that was the final score. My Grandpa (bless him) and Nanna used to be on the footy. But only the Friday night game and would always bet on the 'pick the score' option (can't you tell I'm a massive TAB junkie with my wealth of knowledge) The score they would pick? 18-16. Every single Friday night game.

You'd be suprised how often the score ends up like this, and when it does, I smile and think about Grandpa.

Anyway, here are some picks from the game (which was also Nathan Hindmarsh's 250th first grade game, all played for the Eels)

Meal Plan

The shopper, the bargain hunter & the cupcake maker

The shopper

The bargain hunter

& the cupcake maker
(recipe courtesy of the lovely Alicia from http://the-red-deer.blogspot.com/2009/06/baking-mondays-f-is-for-ferrero-rocher.html, do visit her blog, its amazing!)

The meal planning is coming around faster it seems since I've started blogging. I do have a fresh one ready to show you all, I know you all are on the edge of your seats waiting (nod people, nod!hehe).

Oh and the last ep of Master Chef is being aired tonight, BOOHOO! I will miss it, I love watching cooking shows. I hope Julie wins, I would LOVE a copy of her cookbook.

I hope you all enjoyed your weekends, I know i did!

DC xoxo

28 by 28

I've seen a few other bloggers do their own lists and I thought I would attempt my own. I will admit that this list has taken me since my birthday (1 month ago) to actually complete. I am not that goal orientated, so it was a challenge to think of 28 things I want to do in the next 11 months. Yikes, not a year anymore, better get cracking!

1. Buy myself some Tiffany & Co.
I have been to the store in Sydney 3 times, all to buy things for others. No fair!

2. Get to my 10 year anniversary at work.
I will have been at my job 10 years in March 2010. I hope I get there.

3. Learn to play my keyboard.
This was a gift from the Husband for my 25th birthday. I just had to have one. I think it hasn't been played in 2 years.

4. Make a kids birthday cake.
You know those iced creations from the Womans Weekly cook book, they look daunting and challenging, and fun!

5. Avoid McDonalds & Hungry Jacks.
The Husband and I went to HJ's a few weeks ago for a quick lunch. I felt crap all day afterwards. Never again.

6. Start donating plasma and platelets.
I donate blood, but i want to step it up a notch and donate these as well.

7. Build our wood fired oven.
I have the perfect spot for it, I can see many a pizza night on our deck too.

8. Decorate 'my room'.
We have a 3 bedroom house, 1 room is ours, 1 room is the office/music room, and the other is a nothing room, currently residing in there is the unplayed keyboard and a very uncomfortable futon sofa bed. I have BIG plans for this room.

9. Eat at L'Etoile.
We are MASSIVE Manu Fieldel fans from Ready Steady Cook, and have been putting off going to Bilson's where he is a chef because, lets be honest, I can't part with $45 for a main that I'm not sure of what is actually in the dish, that was until we found out he has opened up his own bistro in Paddington, L'Etoile. A little more us (read: in our price range).

10. Cook zuchini flowers.
Something that I have never been able to find at out local fruit market, but did spot them at the growers market at Castle Hill. No excuses now!

11. Visit the Hunter Valley.
Never been, love to go, might be a spot for our anniversary get away?

12. Go to Max Brenner.
Simple task you would think, but each time I go I am so put off by the massive que snaking out the door and around the corner. One has opened at a shopping centre near us, so maybe a random Wednesday night would be better after a visit to Max's.

13. Make afternoon tea for my Nanna.
One regret I will always have is not taking my Nanna out for tea when I had the chance. She is too frail to leave her nursing home, so if Nanna can't go the scones, the scones shall go to the Nanna.

14. Go to Dubbo Zoo.
Another place we will go 'one day'. No more saying 'one day'.

15. Drink French Champagne.
Just to spoil myself.

16. Buy (and not kill) a pet.
We have thought about a bunny, but might start with a gold fish.

17. Finish landscaping our yards.
We have an empty garden bed at the front and a lop sided garden bed out the back. Time to fill the blanks.

18. Watch 'Gone With the Wind'.
Just to see what the hype is about.

19. Learn to say 'no'.
I often bite off more than I can chew, I must start putting 'me' first, but not in a selfish way, of course. Just trying to be more realistic in what I can manage.

20. Get Jovica to give blood.
Just another thing that has been put off over the years.....

21. Go to a Gold Class movie.
Again, just to spoil myself.

22. Go shopping in Paddington.
I love love love the markets at the school, and also the lovely shops on Oxford St. I don't go to that part of Sydney often so I am going to commit an entire day to it. Also Donna Hay's shop is there.

23. Go on a picnic.
In summer I plan to take advantage of being so close to Nepean River and day light savings.

24. Go to a State of Origin game.
Just something we put off as well. Game 3 is on at the moment so it makes me extra excited to go.

25. Rebuild the linen cupboard.
It's not really practical. It needs to be painted. I don't like it. It needs a revamp!

26. Take my mum and dad out for dinner.
They spoil us so much, so I'd like to return the favour.

27. Go to Canberra.
Just to get away for the weekend, maybe when its not so cold.

28. Make the 'perfect' cupcake.
I struggle with cake mixes, and icing. This challenge could cure both!

Wish me luck!

Its Wednesday and I can't wait

Yeah, I know I am a day late, but I can't wait for lunch today. Our office is closing for the afternoon and we are all being taken out to lunch by the boss as a thankyou-for-all-your-efforts/end of financial year celebration.

Then we get to go home from the restaurant, early mark, WOOHOO!

But, I have ironing to do when I get home, BOOHOO!

Happy Bastille Day!

Not that I am French, or been to France, or really want to go to France, but I thought I'd make the husband and I profiteroles with créme pâtissiére filling in light of this French national holiday.

From Donna Hay: modern classics book2

They were amazing! Whats french for amazing? hmm....

I was tagged and I didn't even know it!

I'm so hopeless with blogging business, the lovely Louise from http://deliciousdelectabledivinefood.blogspot.com/ tagged me 2 weeks ago! oh the shame!

I *think* i am then to tag some of you? yes? well, considering i am new at all this, i tag you all!

Here are the rules:

Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention & add one more question of your own.

What is your current obsession?
Baking

What are you wearing today?
Grey wide leg pants, purple scoop neck top and black boots

What’s for dinner?
Gnocchi (refer to the meal plan)

What’s the last thing you bought?
A gorgeous new Diana Ferrari dress, sigh, I cant wait to wear it!

What are you listening to right now?
The buzz and hum of office air con

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Cronulla, to see my sister.

What is your favourite colour?
At the moment, red.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
My new dress!

Describe your personal style?
Comfortable. I've never put fashion over comfort. It would explain why jeans are my uniform...

If you had $300 now, what would you spend it on?
I'd save it for holidays.

What are you going to do after this?
Wait for the clock to strick 5 o'clock.

What are your favourite films?
Harry Potter series, The Goonies, Grease, The Princess Bride, Willow, Chicago, soooo many more.

Your favourite smell?
Ground coffee.

Do you collect anything?
No.

What makes you follow a blog?
Photos!

Who would you love to have dinner with?
The husband.

What’s one thing you dream of doing?
Being a SAHW

What is your biggest regret?
Saying 'one day i'll take Nanna and Mum out for afternoon tea'. Nanna unfortunately had a bad fall at her nursing home and fractured her neck. She has now moved to a higher care home and is too frail to leave :(

What is your favourite thing to do on a rainy day?
Bake.

Do you have a tattoo?
No.

Are you left handed, right handed, ambidextrous, or a little of both?
Right handed.

What are you looking forward to in the next 12 months?
Planning more holidays and weekend aways.

Whats your favourite song at the moment?
No You Girls - Franz Ferdinand.

Meal Plan

I'm back!

You might note that i have been inspired by our Thai restaurant trip that i am making a chilli jam stir fry. Now, just to find some chilli jam.........

Busy few days

I'll start with a picture of the sky from last Friday morning. It was beautiful! What a lovely way to start the day.

I do have my new meal plan to share, it was ready on Saturday, but I need to amend it as Saturday and Sunday night didn't go according quite to plan.

The husbnads Aunt is in hospital recovering from a stroke. Friday night she was admitted, things didn't look good. Saturday saw some improvement, and as each day passes she is talking more, awake longer and wanting to sit up. All good signs. So Saturday and Sunday nights were spent with family. Why does it always take something like this for extended family to get together?

Saturday-day I went to the growers market at Penrith. I have been to the Castle Hill version, and must admit it is sooooooo much better (and bigger). I did manage to buy some chocolate (later to discover they were horrid) and some eggs.

And while I was walking past the theatre, I noticed that Steel Magnolias the play was, erm, playing there. Great! Mum had said only last week she wanted to see that! On closer inspection, tour dates are 1-4 July. Saturdays date. The 4th. Dam! But the good news on the theatre front is that Mum and my tickets are booked for Chicago the musical! Im so excited!

I will return with the meal plan and what very well could be my first succesful batch of caramel slice!

xoxo

DC