Macaroni & Cheese Please!

The only mac and cheese I've eaten is the Kraft boxed variety....I remember being addicted to it when I lived with my sister during university.

I found this recipe on one of the blogs I am becoming fond of....The question is whether I should try making it knowing how much fat and cholestrol is in it!

http://www.lottieanddoof.com/2009/04/mac-cheese-lottie-doof-style/

Christmas Stroll

Balmoral Beach is my favourite place to go whether it's to contemplate life, to feel the breeze or listen to the waves to sooth or clear my head. I love going for a stroll here especially in winter!

And so, this is where I took a Christmas morning stroll today to reflect on the meaning of today - a celebration of God's perfect gift to us in His Son Jesus.

'The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.'

- John 1:14

Some gifts...

Some cool gifts from generous and thoughtful friends....they certainly know what I like! Showers of blessings....

The old wooden print stamps are from one of my favourite stores called DavidMetNicole. I've made numerous purchases here including my old work desk come dining table and chapel come dining chairs.....S-O-H-O are the letters which spell out Soho - the nickname some of my close friends at church have given me! Given the Christmas season coming up I could probably use the stamps to print HoHoHo - the nickname they revert to during this time of year!

The Frankie mag is a cool Australian mag featuring art, fashion, music, craft etc. (Might try and post some pages from it later)....

The M-cups are measuring cups (I love to bake) but in a cool Matryoshkas design.

I have such COOL friends who give very COOL gifts! : )

Forbes & Burton - Brunch

A lovely brunch with some dear friends this morning to celebrate another year for me.

I have been to Forbes and Burton for an enjoyable dinner twice before so was hoping brunch would not disappoint and it didn't.

Service was laid back but attentive at the same time. Food was generously portioned and good quality.

The staff are also very fashionable in their own way!

Will return....

http://forbesandburton.com.au/

Corner Forbes and Burton Street

Darlinghurst NSW Australia

L'etoile

Tonight a dear friend J, took two of us out to dinner for our birthdays. We had a lovely afternoon and evening of fashion, food and fellowship.

We all started with the same entree of Boudin de St Jacques, Bisque de Crustaces (Silky sausage of scallops with crustacean bisque). It was silky and full of flavour....two of us mopped up the remaining puddle of bisque with the freshly baked baguette...Yummo!

For mains two of us had the Boeuf de Boucher Sauce Roquefort Sauce (Butcher's cut of beef with cheese sauce) and J had the Jarret D'Agneau Facon Navarin Printanier (Braised shank of lamb with baby vegetables). I normally eat beef medium rare but the french waitress (all the waitstaff are french) highly recommended I try it medium as it is best eaten 'this way' with the cheese sauce. You could still taste the beef as it was not drowned in a rich cheesey sauce. It was just right.

We had a side of chips and salad....the presentation of the salad was quite clever like a flowering lettuce.

We were served a watermelon granita to cleanse out tastebuds.

I was too quick to eat dessert and totally forgot to take a picture but the creme caramel was just the right silky texture, generously laid out in a oval ceramic dish with that lovely caramelised top which you could crack into with the tap of your dessert spoon.....Mmmm.

Manu Feildel was eating his dinner at the bar when we arrived and I caught him doing a bit of a jig on the way back to the kitchen. When I was at home during the week before I started working this year I often saw him on 'Ready, Stead, Cook'. He is quite a character and quite cheeky.

Dinner tonight was one of the better meals I have had this year in addition to a recent dinner in Melbourne at Pearl Restaurant.....All hope is not lost as it seemed to be earlier in the year.

THANK YOU J for such a special birthday treat!

http://www.letoilerestaurant.com.au/

211 Glenmore Road

Paddington NSW Australia

Colour, texture, design...

A lovely birthday treat from a fashion-tastic friend.