Chocolate Overload!

At times, nothing is better than a thick slice of delicious, totally choc-a-block full of chocolate cake! It's strange how chocolate can comfort! I have known more than one girl who have found eating chocolate very comforting! So last weekend, I decided to try out Nigella's Quadruple Chocolate loaf (taken from her "Feast" book)... it looked heavenly and it did taste pretty darn satisfying too!

Quadruple because there was cocoa, chocolate buttons (I used Cadbury's cooking chocolate instead because it had a higher cocoa content - however I would suggest perhaps the melt would be better or if you soften the choc first... there were literally choc blocks at the bottom of this loaf - talk about a chocolate overload!!!), a chocolate sauce and there was meant to be chocolate shavings - I left out the last bit, I was lazy to shave the choc :P

It is most wonderful eaten warm with cream or a scoop of ice-cream!


This recipe was really quite lovely, you literally mix everything up together - I didnt quite believe it, and really believe in more of the creaming method etc, but hey this worked and managed to use my pink pink pink blender for this! I really enjoyed using the blender and am sure it is because of the pink! However, next time it probably would be better to use a cake mixer (check out the flamingo roses from our garden!) - I felt like I was exhausting my blender!!!



Chocolate is welcomed anytime and everytime - crusty on the top and totally moist, full of chocolate oozing goodness and totally indulgent!

Windsor Bar & Restaurant

open scotch fillet steak sandwich, roasted onions,
bacon, mixed greens, tomato relish, aioli & fries
$17.90

The minute I walked into this place, I thought how funky, relaxed, and a fun place to be on a Sunday afternoon! The place buzzed... and I mean buzzed... and the fit outs with plastic red chairs (no, not at all tacky!), wooden tables, modern yet not cold, really made me go "wow" - why hadnt I discovered this place earlier!

What really stole the show, was the outdoor area - or the Garden area as it is referred to. We didn't sit there, but I could see it from the window, and since yesterday's weather was on the cool side, I was not too disappointed. I didnt get to take pictures, so you'll have to take my word for it and check it out yourself!

Prices were fairly reasonable, food was good and well presented. I had the steak sandwich (see above) and you can really rave about this! It was definitely gourmet. Not your usual piece of beef in between two slices of bread with some lettuce and fries on the side. No, this was on ciabatta bread (I think... some type of gourmet bread), a thin slice which was toasted, and piled on top with a good portion of scotch fillet, creamy aioli, cooked onions, roasted peppers with relish, tomatos, english spinach and topped with watercrest, served with a very fresh portion of fries on the side. Totally satisfying. I love it. Must replicate! The scotch fillet was tender, tasty and a generous portion. What I really liked was that there was more ingredients than bread here, really felt like a decent meal!

Spicy Chicken Nachos $15.90

pappadelle pasta, roasted butternut pumpkin,
artichokes, courgettes, toasted walnuts, english spinach,
semi dried tomato cream
$19.90

My friends had the spicy chicken nachos and this creamy pasta - each under $20. They were both yummy, and definitely there was a kick with the nachos! The pasta was fantastic, creamy, al dente and whilst not a fan of vegetarian dishes, I would give this one the thumbs up!

The portions were definitely beyond decent, prices really reasonable as well!

Service was a little on the poor side, it took them quite awhile to get me my drink, quite awhile to get our orders and even longer to collect the bill. We had to ask them to take our money! However, being a Sunday, and it being busy, we forgave them and definitely will return!

The Windsor Bar & Restaurant
112 Mill Point Rd, South Perth
http://www.thewindsor.theguide.com.au/#2986

Cooking with Speed!

I love taking my time with cooking... I like to just slowly enjoy each step, have a cup of tea or coffee during the process, do this and do that, listen to music and end up with something fantastic from the kitchen!

However, I was challenged a couple of weekends ago! I have never cooked with such speed, and was cooking for friends who had high expectation *grin*!!! Thank God it turned out pretty okay, despite the rough approx measurements here and there, and the sauce that turned out pretty nice in the end :) (thanks for the encouragement!!!)

So if you ever run out of ideas of what to cook, although I will say this wouldnt be the fastest thing to cook, (nothing beats 2min noodles), it is pretty awesome for the amt of time that it actually takes you to cook it! So have a go!

Jamie Oliver's puff pastry chicken thing... he calls it "My old man's superb chicken" - this is a dish that I'm sure will win your guests heart! Simple, with really fresh ingredients, not much salt, and fantastic tasting :)

Okay, it doesn't look that great here, we were too hungry by the time it was ready to really take artistic and perfect shots... but with this, all you do is buy ready made puff pastry, fresh chicken breasts (nothing beats this - so much nicer when you eat it the day you buy it!), and to make the stuffing, fry a bit of olive oil with chopped garlic (use fresh if possible, it is WAY better!), chopped fresh mushrooms and a handful of italian parsley (or also known as flat parsley). Add freshly cracked pepper and salt to taste. Simmer till mushroom and parsley is tender.

Stuff the chicken breast with this mushroom mixture, wrap the chicken breast with the puff pastry, and pop it into the preheated oven (approx 180 degrees) for about 45mins.

To make the white wine mustard sauce... just a couple of tablespoons of wholegrain mustard and a glass of white wine, simmer till the alcohol smell is practically gone.

Serve with salad or oven chips.

Next... dessert... self saucing chocolate coffee pudding (taken from Donna Hay's magazine) - now this is an awesome recipe.... it's got self raising flour, almond meal, coffee, cocoa and sugar of course, but hey wow this is yummmmyyyy with a capital Y - baked straight from the oven, and eaten with some fresh cream, sensational! :)






(P.S.stay tuned for a restaurant/cafe review........ this is my new favourite place!!!)

Pretty Pretty Pretty!!!

You have to check out the Rose Farm! It is so cool!!! :) Honestly, it's fantastic... such an eye opener for me - thanks Eehui!!!

It's what every weekend should be like - some time out, relaxation, something different, away from the city, just something different! This place is just 30mins from Perth, and not too far at all, just in the Perth Hills. I felt like I was on my way to camp or the country side... it is another world... and imagine, only 30mins from the City!

We got there about 2pm yesterday and we were probably the only non-asians and non-mothers :P hahahhaa! They have this outdoor and indoor cafe/restaurant. Lovely outside as you're really in the open, and you overlook the roses, but inside was just as lovely as it feels really country-like, with pretty bunches of roses on each table (see photo above). We had a lovely lunch, which was worth the wait...see photos below... all their dishes come with rose petals... ahh so pretty!

The chicken caesar salad was lovely, they mashed the boiled eggs and mixed it with the salad, with crispy tasty bacon bits and slices of slightly marinated chicken. $17.50

Ciabatta... yummm... perfectly toasted, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside... filled with slightly marinated chicken breat, avocado, garlic butter, swiss cheese, roasted peppers and a light gourmet salad on the side. $14

After all of that, we further indulged ourselves (and it wasn't even our Day! Haha!) How could you not have the Devonshire feast - 2 scones (we chose a rose scone and fruit scone... it was lovely! it really did taste like rose... very subtle, very pretty tasting!) which came with cream, jam and a cup of tea $7.70

They have a funny looking animal - who was called Roby... Eehui thought it was a giant Aussie rat... not sure what it was... anyway it added to the fun! Free.

This brings back fond camp memories... but much nicer of course... it is apparently a lot prettier in Spring when the roses are in full bloom!



Me and my new found love - roses! I am holding the Flamingo range of roses - bought 3 different shades of roses for my Mum... they are such pretty shades of pink! :) The Flamingo Hybrid Tea Rose range is perfect for cutting - beautiful long stem roses!

Front entrance... the big rose at the back is apparently the world's biggest man made rose!

Eehui and Peace :) It apparently will change its colour with age! We can't wait!

Flamingo (pink) and some other breed... I can't remember the name...

Melville Nurseries
40 Masonmill Rd, Carmel
Western Australia 6076

http://www.melvillenurseries.com.au/the_roses.php

Sensational....... :)

It has been years since we had the Attrium Buffet at the Burswood Hotel... but tonight we decided we would have a family dinner there, since it was Mum and James' Birthdays this week and also Mother's Day on Sunday.

It was sensational!!! The last time we went there, which was quite awhile back, it wasn't good - so we always ended up going to the Hyatt or the Sheraton. But tonight changed our minds. Not only was the food pretty good, there was a good atmosphere - pretty crowded, live jazz music and quite a buzz in the air! There was lots of variety with the food! There was really nice ice-cream, fresh seafood, oysters were really fresh, good hot food, like beef, lamb, even the sweet asian buns!

All in all, a great time and great food!

I wasn't sure if I would be allowed to take many snaps, so I only took a few..... but boy dont they look just yummy!!!

Burswood Attrium
Cost: $47.50 per adult

This is such a beautiful sight, giant choc fondue, with seamless flowing chocolate... rivers of joy...... with the fresh flowers in the back... talk about picture perfect!
(I forgot to try it, but heard it was nice!)

I think this was an Opera cake? Really yum! Coffee layers... so delicate, will be so good to bake it! But a lot a lot of work I can tell!!!

P.S. More food photos this weekend... cooking lunch for a few friends tomorrow... :)))

Here comes the bride....

All dressed in white... :)

No, it's not me - not yet :) Last weekend was Abby and Arthur's wedding and it was a lovely celebration! Congratulations guys and wishing you every happiness! You guys are a great couple and so happy to see you both sharing your lives together.

Abby's favourite colour is pink - this is something we both have in common! Unfortunately, I didnt get to take many pictures of all the pink stuff that was in the wedding, even the cake was decorated with pink roses... awww so sweet.... check out the few photos that I did manage to take though!

Jelly that Eehui and I made the night before... a night we shall not forget! :P

Left: Refreshments team
Right: (from left) Felicia, Liz and the Bride!

Blossoms!

Camelias

Photos of some of the flowers in my garden... Eehui pruned my rose bushes for me so apparently we might be seeing more roses in the next couple of weeks! Yay!

I was extremely excited to see the first blossom of the Camelias yesterday... isn't the pink just perfect???!!! :P

The Simple Things in Life...

Are the best.... :)

Maybe it is the onset of age, maybe it is just how it is, but really, it is the simple things in life that are the best, that bring a lot of joy and good moments! Like tonight, I was thinking, to eat a piece of chocolate cake (which was freshly baked by my mum) and to watch episodes of Grey's Anatomy would be utterly satisfying. A bit sad on one hand, yet really, the small moments, the small pieces make a really really satisfying picture! Really, maybe it is the onset of age.... or maybe the post trauma effects of having to study and read thousands and thousands of words... :)

Reading a new recipe book or a new food magazine is honestly so joyous... what is it about the kitchen that one can be so passionate about - I think it's the creation of wonderful scents, satisfied "customers" (hopefully!), the ability to create something... honestly, there is just no stopping with what you can create with food!!! The dinner parties, the colours, the yuuuummmy moments with friends!

So what are your favourite simple things in life?

For example... (in no particular order)
1. A good conversation with a friend
2. An excellent cup of coffee, in prefably a nice cup :)
3. An excellent piece of cake - last night the craving was cheesecake... btw, Cakes Delight at Canning Hwy, Applecross does an excellent cheesecake :)
4. Grey's Anatomy & Gilmore Girls
5. A good night's sleep
6. An excellent meal with great friends
7. A trip to the hairdressers
8. Being with a friend, being with family
9. Loving your job
10. Being able to cook and cook loads too, an even better challenge! :)
11. Just having time on your hands to do what you want - whether it be to flip through a magazine, listen to a sermon, read a book, just not needing to rush :)

And the list goes on...

I am so excited that I now honestly, will have some time to bake and cook and do all these fabulous things that I couldnt do guilt-free for months, thanks to the pending exam, assignments.... pages of readings.. etc etc.. blah blah blah!

This weekend is my friend's wedding, and she loves pink (YIPPPPEEE!!!) so I'm making pink layered jelly - it will be different shades of pink... thank God for pink! :)

So watch this space for pictures... and there will be more food pictures... truly there will be this time! :)