Brunches should be so

I'm not quite sure what I'm suppose write.

I just find this food comforting. It reminds me of brunches in Perth. Don't ask me why.

I got so desperate for such meals I got my sausages in Perth, flew them back here- served them with good old baked beans and a gooey sunny side up egg. Just the way I like it.

Does that make me a little bit freakish?

Dinner-In-A-Box Sequel

....I got home to this. Pretty darn good I'd say!

..he set up the table, got flowers and even lit the candles!


And look at these cute labels!

I can't lose to my wife's candlelight dinner -H remarked.


And look!! He even took some photos in between- though I'm not sure if it's for my blogging purposes or for him to keep as a record of his first ever carbonara.

The taste? Magnificanto! Lovely. Though H remarked I didn't draw the shape and size that onions are suppose to be, I guess he got the gist of everything.

Either way..I think we should have more 'Dinner-In-A-Box' nights. As H puts it:


Bon Apetite.

Dinner-In-A-Box

Nearly.


It was one of those nights where I had a late appointment and couldn't make it home in time to cook dinner. So H offered he will- providing that I wrote out clear instructions, in his words 'specific'..and he'd do the cooking.


Now H, as much as I love him..just isn't a kitchen kind of guy. He's never needed to be. He's grown up with the luxury of maids/housekeepers and a doting mum. So he's never needed to lift a finger- until he met me. That's when his nightmare started. 


Let's just say, the last time he cooked for me was around three years ago, on my birthday. Sweet enough, he took a whole day's leave from work, baked up a cake and did the whole kaboom for dinner. But let's also say, when I showed up at the doorstep: he was sweating, his hair was in a mess and was in his now kitchen-oiled home clothes. He realized cooking is a full time job, was totally tired and called it a early night after that. He hasn't done much cooking since unless he's assisting me somewhat.


So come last night's dinner and I didn't want to scare him off too much. Afterall, it would be nice knowing he could look after himself if I'm not around..okok..AND its beneficial to me too 'cause I might just bribe him into cooking more meals. 


So I wrote very specific instructions..and I mean specific..and gave him a easy dish.


Fettucine Carbonara. And just incase he hasn't learnt his spaghettis and all..i just left it as 'Spaghetti' as not to confuse him.

I packed everything..well nearly everything in a box and left it in the fridge. I left  kitchen utensils/pans/knives/chopping board on the bench because I could just imagine my mobile ringing consistently if I didn't. 

How much spaghetti? How much garlic? What size are the mushrooms? How much salt? Which pan? Where's the herbs? What's saute? How many minutes?

I could just imagine all the potential questions- so I made sure everything was easily visible, all the ingredients were already portioned and left the scribbly instructions on the kitchen bench.

..see..I even drew mushroom shapes and all just incase he didn't understand me!

.. and signed it off..

.....................




Just to keep the suspense going..no phone calls came. Not even one SMS.


Was it a disaster? Did he blow up my kitchen? Did things burn? ..Or did he opt for take out?


...I'll show you what he came up with in my next post...stay tuned.




Ps. Just incase you're wondering..I haven't murdered the birds yet..though I just might..because they didnt stop chirping until 9pm last night..and started chirping at 3am!!


Pps. Thought you'd like to know some bird-lover-roof-climber is on their way...tomorrow. sigh. another chirping night!

Another New Toy and some Urgent housekeeping

Meet Mr Breville. Isn't he a sexy thang??

It turns this..

Into porky-choppiess...yummy porky-choppies like this.

It gives awesome grill marks..

And it makes my dinners look so try-hard professional.

Its so darn healthy ... I might just do all my dinners for the rest of my life the week on this.


On a separate note all together..[or maybe I should relate it to the griller]..I'm nearly gonna kill some birds! WAIT! Don't call the RSPCA just yet. Hear me out!. Some bird decided to make a nest in my roof! Gawd knows how it got there in the first place and now little birdies are chirping happily all day ..AND night...above my bedroom!! Its irritating...it makes me deaf! It wakes me up at 4am! 

..Sorry- my vulgar birds kinda look like ducks/dogs ...I had to vent my anger and frustration somehow. Crazy birds.

Dinner for 2

H and I are good at being silly and having weird competitions....but in terms of romance..lets just say we left it out the door sometime in dating year number xx.

So..I thought I'd up the romance up a notch- with the new house and novelty of being the 'just the two' of us. I think it was one of those toilet revelations- and I suddenly went 'Ah HAH! Candlelight dinner!'.


So I did up a menu..

Printed it, rolled it up..and set the table...

Lit some candles..and even got some flowers..

Made sure I had the purrfect environment- overlooking my courtyard and all..[but then the mossies came in and I thought forget al fresco]..

..And presented the man with some decent food.

Garlic bread with shredded parmesan cheese..served with French Onion soup. Only I forgot to take pics of the French Onion Soup cos I'm just forgetful like that.

Roasted Lamb with mushrooms and salad.

Ahh..desert....Chocolate ice-cream with naval oranges...


My first candlelight dinner [though it might just be the last] didn't go too bad,....atleast there was no mishaps with food...


So...anyone wanna hire me? Tutera II??

Bearmilk

Pfft. What is Bearmilk you ask? Never mind. Personal joke between H and I. 


Just incase you're wondering, nothing raunchy- more like something silly, we're always silly- as if you haven't found that out yet. 


Bearmilk is only launched once a year- during the celebration of our engagement.


Anyhows..A year ago, I made this- Milk Immunity. Thank goodness H didn't have to use it- much.

This year, I'm all for it again- with a twist and my chubby fingers.

They sit cute together don't you think?


Cut, mod-podge, decorate.

And these are my new tokens. They're suppose to be like tokens- the 'Admit One' kinda thing.

Technically, if you go by one year with my tokens..I'm kind of stingy- but hey, his tokens last year didn't get used..AND....atleast he got tokens right?!..I choose not to explain the 'tv hogging session'...or the 'model aeroplane'...or 'one baby' for that matter. But I made sure I gave more tokens where I benefit too. lol.

They're complete with perforations. H gives, I tear. Done.

Maybe I'll make a limited edition each year- but I'm fast funning out of token ideas.

1 Meat + 1 Vege + 1 soup

I'm having a hard time thinking of meals for two. I know there's endless possibilities, but when you cook for 2- it's hard- I nearly always cook too much because I want variety. Bad thinking.

So I figured this- Nothing magical, not even slightly innovative..but I suddenly realised I could kill two birds with one stone with Vege-soup. Durh! What took me so long?!

One fine night- Friday 5th March to be precise, I came up with my Chicken Rice combo. And I know my chicken looks ugly..I can't chop chicken for nuts. -Or chop ducks or poultry..or anything for that matter... But to make up for it, I de-boned it. That's gotta earn some wife points right?

Come vege-soup everyday!!

Perth Eats

Perth v.2010 just wasn't filled with photos. Maybe because H and I were otherwise occupied with settling errands and housekeeping this time around. The sad part is..I realised I only took photos in two Perth eateries. TWO! Argh..I tell myself I must of been surrounded by too much good company.


John Street Cafe- John Street, Cottlesloe.
You can't miss this quaint blue converted house. One of my all time favourites. Hands down. I Love the vibe, the food, the place. Everything on the menu is delicious! And nothing can beat the sunshine and a stroll to the beach later. 


I apologise in advance for the photo..it really doesn't do the place justice. But I was too occupied with plomping myself on the seat, sipping my coffee and waiting for my breakfast than getting up and shooting a better shot.

H's Veggie Lot. Soooo yummy. It doesn't even look vegetarian- but it is. 

My poached egg n ham with hollandaise sauce. I have a on-going thing with hollandaise sauce. It makes me go all gooey inside. Somehow...and I can have this right about now.

Do you need another picture to make you salivate?

Sorry..couldn't help it.




Mr Goz- Subiaco Markets, Subiaco.
I tried making gozleme once...it was ugly. H didn't even realise what it was trying to be. It really was more like a blob..so I realised I wouldn't be going that way again until I find a recipe that doesn't use yeast. I hate yeast. 


We'll just stick to Mr Goz. They do the cooking and I do the eating. Works better that way.

I guess Mr Goz wasn't around that day...and maybe this is Mrs Goz?

My kitchen needs this grill. It would be so handy. Imagine the bbqs I could do on that thing!

Our spinach and cheese gozleme. Nice.


..So there u go peeps..the measely TWO places I took photos of food in Perth...maybe you should wait for Perth v.2011?!

Perth v.2010

I've left Perth for a good 4 years now, but theres always something alluring...something that brings me back. I think it's the idea of home, a place I'm totally confortable with. 

People often ask what's there to do? Or comment that Perth is slow and subsequently boring.

But you know what? I won't deny Perth is slow moving...infact that's the beauty of it. But I also wont say it's boring. I don't think a city has to be filled with lights and action to make it lively. It's what you choose to do that makes the difference.

So ever since I met H, I've told myself each time he goes to Perth, we'll do something we dont do in our daily lives- whether that be laying by the beach or going somewhere we haven't been.

Come 2010...we took a short trip to Perth during Chinese New Year.

And our new encounter this time?? Bus-sing it. Yes. I've had a good life. I haven't bus-sed in Perth for a solid 10 years atleast. I felt like a school girl going on a day trip. And H? He loved every minute of mocking my weird understanding of bus timetables.

I'm glad years later we still do silly/weird things together. Don't you just love us? Freaky eyes and all? Lol.

Post-Lunar New Year

I have a valid excuse to be missing this time- Chinese New Year got me all worked up. 


New Year + New house = not exactly a good combination when Chinese people love house visits and I'm a spotless kinda girl. Nevertheless, a big wave to those that popped over! Thank you so much for visiting and sorry the house was still a tad messy. [ ok, maybe more than a tad].


I promised H, I would make his favourite cookies and adorn the table with all sorts of snacks and nibbles ...Well, I didn't quite manage to make all the things I wanted..but ah well- life goes on.

This is what Chinese New Year looked like for us this year- yes Tupperware. Full on Tupperware. Colourful Tupperware. Nearly a Tupperware party I'd say- one that promotes my new level of being a domestic aunty. But you know what? I love them. They're reliable. So there.

And cakes...ooh how I love cakes. Some done by me, some by my mother in law and some by a great cake baking friend.

H and I lurve Cornflake cookies- they literally spell New Year for us..and after numerous times of trying, I think I finally have one up my sleeve! 

Chocolate crispies...making full use of my leftover cornflakes.

Pineapple tarts- took me forever..and they're still ugly. Someone help me. But atleast they taste ok. Maybe I just shouldn't cook my own jam next time.

Kueh momo! Three words- soft, soft and Soft!!

I'm not quite sure what you call this. H told me something he ate before..his exact words were 'Longan with this milky jelly thing'- and I was suppose to know?! Thank goodness I got it right.

Here's my love. Cheese-Pineapple Agar Agar..my mum use to make these when I was tiny. So this year I introduced it to H ..and he hearts it too. Hurray! I love the mix of salty cheese, tang of pineapple and sweetness of agar-agar- it all goes together, I promise.


I also did some cheesecake cupcakes..or shall I call them cheesecups? Ah..I don't know...but they were finished in a jiffy and I forgot all about them until now.


I do apologise for the blurred photos..guess my hands weren't up to snaps that day.

And..flowers..a girl's gotta have some sort of flowers for a Valentines new year...ahhhh... but then I realised I left the kitchen strainer sitting on bench and my glass walls reflected it. bleh..

..thats better.


Happy Tiger year!