spoilt

It is the little things in life, the ones that are right under your nose, that bring you the most happiness. I have always said that your birthday is a good indication of the person you have been over the year. If you are alone on your birthday maybe it is because you have not treasured and nourished those who love you enough or you have been so worried about your own flights and plights that you have forgotten those little people right under your nose. If you are surrounded by beautiful people and feel a little bit special and a whole lot of spoilt, then you have definitely done something right. I am pretty chuffed to know, that thankfully, I have been on the right track, as my 30th birthday was absolutely perfect. Endless birthday catch ups, long, heartstring pulling cards, perfectly chosen presents with the right touch of sentiment and a room full of amazing people. I feel so very blessed to have such an enriching life bubbling with splendour, laughter and good times (usually over food). Those lovely feelings and scrawls and photos of my favourite people were captured (under my nose) in a beautiful scrapbook of Guests I Have Met and Liked from my brilliant friends Maddy and Karina full of all those little things I cannot live without.

RECIPE - South West spaghetti

Seeing as I am now 30, driving to collect takeaway before midday in your pjs does not seem like an option.  So instead, I opened the fridge and deliberated until the lightbulb flickered with  some South West spaghetti.   I was longing to use my Coat of Arms (kangaroo and emu) chorizo from Margaret River Venison and thought the Oak Valley Truffle Butter from Urban Locavore would add some earthy depth.

Ingredients
cloves garlic, chopped
VOO olive oil
30g Coat of Arms chorizo, sliced
5 mushrooms, sliced
armesan, grated
tbs truffle butter
paghetti
alt and pepper, to taste

Method
dd water to saucepan and bring to the boil, add spaghetti until al dente.
anfry garlic, chorizo and mushrooms in olive oil on medium heat
eason
lace into bowls, top with grated parmesan and a good dollop of Truffle Butter
COFF

japanese dumplings

I sprung out of bed on Sunday morning after my birthday soiree, hangover intact, to throw these little morsels into the frying pan.  The gyoza retained its moisture yet the skin became crispy, allowing your teeth to crunch through in one swift bite to the duck bursting with flavour.  These little  dumplings drowned in the truffle ponzu dressing by Gala Restaurant both from the July Urban Locavore offerings were just divine.  I cannot wait to get my hands on more of these products. You will be able to see Roy and his delicious Jumplings at the Beaufort Street Festival and various other food festivals popping up around Perth.  You can also order a pack of Jumplings and the Truffle Ponzu from Urban Locavore.

Do it.

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Cooking Jumplings 101 by Roy of Jackie's Cooking.

sparkling, treats and sweets

Fennel & Orange Salad

I am slowly sifting through my Urban Locavore box of goodies.  I had forgotten to pack my lunch for work so I grabbed my two navel oranges, a pear and some fennel and ran out the door.  Grace and I take turns making lunch for work.  I am blessed that she is not only one of my dearest friends, but also our Recipe Developer at Thermomix in Australia.  I always feel a little nervous when making lunch for her.  We have been trying to eat fresh, healthy produce and sticking to salads at lunchtime.  I whipped this up:

Ingredients (serves 2)​

• 2 navel oranges
• 1 pear
• 1 fennel bulb, finely sliced
• 100mls olive oil
• 80mls (1/3 cup) fresh orange juice
• 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
• 50mls balsamic vinegar
• Celtic sea salt and ground pepper
  ​

Method

1. Zest one orange and reserve. Peel and segment oranges and finely slice the pear.
2. To make the dressing mix the orange rind, olive oil, mustard, balsamic vinegar and mustard in a small bowl.
3. Toss the orange and pear with the fennel until combined.  Add the dressing and add salt and pepper to taste.

"The WA Citrus Industry have relaunched a blue “birthmark” stcker in 2012 to encourage shoppers to select West Australian fruit.  Used in combination with the industry’s strict quality code for grading WA citrus fruit, this sticker will guarantee that only high quality produce is sold to West Australian consumers.'

little box of yum

I finally got my hands on a gorgeous box from Urban Locavore. I am in love. Each month, the fabulous team at Urban Locavore hand pick 6 to 10 of WA’s best products and deliver them directly to your door.  So each month you are supporting a crop of local producers and get to enjoy a box full of gourmet goodies.

Gala - Truffle Ponzu Dressing

Jackies Cooking - Duck Jumplings

Oak Valley Truffles - Truffle Butter

Over The Moon Organics - Starry Night Camembert

Rochelle Adonis - Hot Chocolate

Hugo’s Patisserie - Chocolate Ganache tartlet

Mason's - Country Fresh Rolled Oats

WA Citrus - Navel Oranges

seventeen years later

curd and scones

Mother's Day treats.  Passionfruit citrus curd and scones.

STRIPES

Table setting envy.  Smoked salmon, creme fraiche and dill pizza.  Spicy sausage pizza. Fennel and orange salad.  Stripes.

harmony

Waffles.  Butter.  Bacon. Drizzled (drenched) with  maple syrup.

Sri Lankan Love Cake

My friend KD sure knows how to bake.

tuna

girl+beer

This is dedicated to my gorgeous lager loving friend Pia Poynton.  You must read her blog girl+beer, it's all kinds of rad.

film fetish

Happy birthday Pippa! x

Game of Thrones

Sex, midgets, magic, incest, blood and dragons. Game of Thrones. We save up a few episodes and feast like kings. So good.

figs and ricotta

beautiful noise

My friend Nai's heart beats in song.  Music transcends her to that happy place.  You can see this in her eyes and it's confirmed in her words.  Happy birthday my beautiful friend.

RECIPE baked Asian salmon

This is one of my favourite simple and healthy dinners. My latest obsession is using coconut oil.  A healthy and nutritious alternative.