Gado Gado on Sunday evening

Joining in with Anna's Sunday Night Supper Club (a vegetarian perspective). Great idea, don't you think?

(Only problem is I left cooking the meal a little late so the light wasn't great in my pics)

This is one of my favourite summer meals. It's also a goodie for communal-style eating/'bring a plate' gatherings, and the colour spectrum on your plate is limited only by the range of veggies you have at hand. Oh - and the peanut satay sauce is freaking moreish. This was copied from a book by the Heart Foundation I think (apologies for terrible referencing), and although there are more authentic recipes out there, this one is fast + easy + yummo.

Gado Gado

1 teaspoon olive oil

2 cloves garlic

1-2 fresh chillies, minced

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

2 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 cup evaporated milk (or you can use coconut milk for full-fat option)

3/4 cup water or stock

+ couscous

+ veggies of your choice

What I think works well: cucumber, bean shoots, potatoes, red capsicum, carrots, pineapple (yes!), eggs (not a vegetable I know), tofu (as before)

For the sauce:

...heat olive in a saucepan and add garlic and chilli - cook for 1 minute

...stir in peanut butter, sugar, soy sauce and lemon juice - cook for 5 minutes (gets gluggy)

...add evaporated milk and 1/2 water/stock - stir for 4-5 minutes until sauce thickens, constantly dipping in tasting finger to slurp up nutty saucy goodness

...if it becomes a little too thick add the rest of the water/stock

Arrange veggies on platters, whip up some plain couscous (maybe with some coriander leaves thrown on top?) and pour sauce into cute jug.

What do you think? Have you made this meal before? Any super ingredients to add?

Australia Day Picnic

Threw together some roast veggie baguettes and headed out to meet some friends at the National Museum of Australia for an Australia Day picnic. Found a shady spot and enjoyed the view. Feel a bit unpatriotic but Australia Day doesn't stir any national pride in me particularly. So I guess it was a little funny that we went to the Museum.

Really wanted to check out The Canning Stock Route exhibition but the crowds put us off. Ended up heading home for a lazy afternoon cool down in the pool and some more Mad Men. We must be the last people on earth to see it. I'd love a nighty like Betty Draper please.

Incy Wincy

I've noticed quite a lot of spider webs around the village lately, and I'm embarrassed to admit that I tend to scamper past them with my head down, eyes closed and fingers crossed that I won't feel the scurry of little legs on my neck. It must look a little strange if you're watching from afar.

A lovely colleague at the gallery flicked me the link to this beautiful series of mended spider webs the other day which I'm hoping will help me overcome my fear. Nina's careful work and fractured patterns astound me, but what I find most interesting is the behaviour of the spider who rules the web.

I think I'll try and look up a little more on my wanders and try to imagine those little spiders as clever makers and artists rather than the creepy pests I've been imagining all this time...

all images via here

Hello Friday evening, my old friend

Took ourselves out for a Brodburger down at the lake to welcome the weekend. Felt like Friday took for ever to come this week. K played around with his birthday present (the treasured Nikon) and we lay on the blanket enjoying the warm evening. We were joined at first by seagulls and magpies, and then K&D turned up (happy coincidence) - and of course Miss Mims.

The veggie burgers are pretty ace at Brodburger - fat with roast vegetable fillings and served out of a little red caravan. It looks a little basic in the dodgy long shot, but what you can't see are the fairy lights around the serving window and the menu burnt into the wooden board - all sexy 1950s tattoo style, if that makes sense?

What happens when K is away...

...I eat melting moments as an entree

...I get miffed that I have to wash up and cook

...I lose myself in blogland for 3 hours and 10 minutes

...I look for someone to laugh with when Shaun Micallef cracks a funny

…I surprise myself by feeling really rather lonely and missing him more than usual on Day 2 (although, really it's Day 1 without overnight visitors as J stayed last night to keep me company)

K is in Tassie for work and he rang to tell me how much fun he's having. He told me they'd been driving down around Richmond so I went searching for some pics from the Tassie holiday we took this time last year. Tasmania to me is old, treasured buildings, weatherboard cottages, fine food, and clean air. There's just something wholesome about the place.

Up in the treetops

Wish all evenings were like this. Happy-tired from a sunny day in the pool with kiddies (belonging to others), crispy noodle salad for dins, muggy and moody summer skies and Meu Amor nattering away in front of me.

Our balcony looks out over the trees and there are so many shades of green in the leaves - it's beautiful. I feel really at home being surrounded by the treetops. It's like having our own luxury treehouse.

Wednesday night dinner

Made a yummy and simple tofu stir fry for dins. Have been trying to keep weekday meals low-fuss but tasty and think this guy fits the bill. The best parts about this meal are the crispy tofu cubes that get slathered in tahini sauce and the juicy florets of broccoli.

K came home after his first Cross Fitness session and looked rather awkward walking up the stairs. He was trying to suggest that I might like to try it out too, but I'm happy doing my mountain walks in the morning...

Garage sale haul

Very successful garage sale-ing today. Mum and I got some great buys between us.

*What a cute idea! Definitely the most stylish garage sale sign I've seen.

*Genuine Flokarti rug (100% wool)...extra cosy in the living room now.

*Interesting Danish vase set.

Heaven is a lake in Guatemala...

Am enjoying flicking through all my old photos (iPhoto I love you) and reliving the Central American trip. Particularly my photos of Lake Atitlan. Arove at our destination after dark on a crazy chicken bus ride and woke up to this view. So magical.

Project of the Week

*My 30th birthday present from world's best fiance...and the sweetest card and wrapping job too! What a darling...This really deserved it's own post, but that would be rubbing it in, wouldn't it?

*Dug out my Diana Mini and found a roll of film still in the camera. Love that! Could be Miami, Rio or Buenos Aires...

*To be a list-maker is a fairly common thing these days, no?

Too many times in the day I think to myself, I should do that, and then the thought flies away. Can't trust my memory. So I've tried to keep a track of all the potential projects on my TO DO wad of stickies. It's growing quickly so I'm choosing one task off the list and giving myself a week or so to do it (or at least get stuck into it).

This week's project is getting my photos in order. Actually printing them out and slipping them into albums. Nothing better than a matte 6 x 4" hot off the press. Inspired by the recent slide night and my love for order.

A very happy start to the new year

Had a lovely relaxing couple of days over Christmas and NYE. Feel very lucky as usually I seem to be flat out and frazzled around this time of year. I turned 30 on Christmas Eve and rather than plan a festival of large events I kept my promise to myself and just kept things easy and simple.

Turned out to be a great move. Had some of my most special people over at Mum and Dad's (those who weren't overseas) for a birthday dinner and slide night on the 23rd. One of my favourite memories as a young girl was when my parents would crack out the old projector and we'd lie on the living room floor giggling at Dad's 70s hairdos and outfits. There's something magical about grainy slides and the click of the projector carousel. On my actual birthday K and I met a few friends at the NGA members cafe, ate lunch up high looking over the silver gums and sculpture garden. It was lovely to have the time to wander through the gallery together without all the crowds.

Our first Christmas in the village felt special...although we really missed Meas and Rich. Mum and Dad popped over in the morning to open up presents and then we headed down the road to Uncle Tim's for lunch. It was all very relaxing and low key. Lovely.

Some of my most treasured friends took me for a birthday day trip to the country a few days ago. We barely planned a thing (apart from the lunch booking) and ended up strolling into sweet art and design stores, poking around in antique stores and eating cupcakes in a country town park. It's true, I may have turned 40, not 30. But we loved every minute. Missed a crucial part of the gang though :(

Last night we saw in the new year in a relaxed, contented fashion: a gathering out on J's property, surrounded by beautiful people, lazy sunsets and a bounty of food. I hope this is a taste of what's in store for each of us this year.