What lovely friends

I mentioned my gorgeous pink KitchenAid yesterday when I told you all about my successful baking challenge. Well I couldn't help but share a picture of it with you. Isn't it divine!

My beautiful Hong Kong buddies gave it to me for my birthday last month, and I couldn't have asked for a better present. I am totally in love with it (and have even been known to whisper sweet nothings in its bowl)!

The best thing about it (aside from the fact that it will outlive me, oh, and of course its colour), is that it is not just a mixing bowl. There are a load of attachments that you can use with it, and I am just dying to get my mittens on some (well ok, I may have one already)! There is a citrus juicer (whose fruits of which I am actually sitting sipping as I type), a grinder/mincer and a sausage stuffer (both of which I have begged my mum to buy me for Christmas!), as well as a whole range of pasta making devices.

I know it may sound daft to want to make your own sausages, but I can't wait. One thing about living in Hong Kong that annoys me is that we have no proper butcher shops, and hence no proper sausages. Now we have a balcony, and a BBQ (squeal) I can't wait to be able to make some homemade treats to share with friends... any ideas for combo's ? I am thinking chicken, macadamia and honey; lamb and mint, good ole fashioned pork (with perhaps a hint of apple)... the possibilities are endless!

I am a bit concerned that I may not be able to find the sausage skins over here, but I live in hope!

Image via http://www.everythingkitchens.com/

I did it !

Ok, so I told you the other day that I was contemplating cooking a roast last Monday (which was a public holiday in HK). Well that plan never got off the ground... however, I did manage to do some baking, and I am very please to report that I succeeded!

I have a terrible reputation (I mean terrible!) amongst my friends in Hong Kong (and in particular my work buddies) for being the worlds WORST baker. There is a long story behind that, which I might share with you some day if I can bare to go through the pain again.

Anyhow, since we have moved and I now have an oven - yes, for some of you that's not a big deal, but for us Hong Kongers it is a HUGE deal - I wanted to re-attempt some baking to see if I really was that bad. Ok, so hint, the last horrible experience was blamed, only partly I have to admit, on the fact that I was using a portable bench top oven with no proper temperature controls/regulation etc. This coupled with the fact that my lovely (and very generous) friends gave me a baby pink KitchenAid for my birthday (this deserves a post all on its own), there really were going to be no excuses if my baking didn't turn out. It was a brave move.

Anyhow, we had some very ripe banana's and so I got the idea to make banana bread. I settled on a Nigella recipe from her "How to be a Domestic Goddess" book, and began my quest....

Don't you just love the smells that come out of the kitchen when you are baking! This was no exception, and I almost felt content that if it didn't turn out - the aromas alone were enough to have made it a success. Ha, don't worry I wasn't going to let myself off the hook that easily.

Obviously the cake turned out (perfectly I might add), otherwise you wouldn't be reading this post. I certainly could not have publicised another failed attempt at baking, and would have quietly went to my room and cried!

Coincidentally, this morning on facebook a friend was asking for a good banana bread recipe and I couldn't refuse the opportunity to gloat about the fantastically scrummy banana bread I made on Monday. I know after reading this, you are all dying to try the recipe yourself, and don't worry, if I can pull it off, anyone can! So here it is:

100 sultanas
75ml bourbon or dark rum (I actually used frangelico cause I didn't have rum or bourbon, and it was amazing)
175g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarb
1/2 tsp salt
125g unsalted butter, melted
150g sugar
2 large eggs
4 small, very ripe bananas (about 300g weighed without skin)
60g chopped walnuts
1 tsp vanilla extract
23 x 13 x 7 cm loaf tin, buttered and floured or with a paper insert.

Put the sultanas and rum or bourbon in a smallish saucepan and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat, cover and leave for an hour if you can, or until the sultanas have absorbed most of the liquid, then drain.

Preheat the oven to 170 degrees and get started on the rest. Put the flour, baking powder, bicarb and salt in a medium-sized bowl and, using your hand or a wooden spoon, combine well. In a large bowl, mix the melted butter and sugar and beat until blended. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the mashed bananas. Then, with your wooden spoon, stir in the walnuts, drained sultanas and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture, a third at a time, stirring well after each bit. Scrape into the loaf tin and bake in the middle of the oven for 1-1 1/4 hours. When its ready, an inserted toothpick or fine skewer should come out cleanish. Leave in the tin on a rack to cool, and eat thickly or thinly sliced, as you prefer. Makes 8 - 10 slices.

DISCLAIMER: OK, so I have a little confession to make. I didn't leave the loaf to cool in the tin and tried to turn the tin upside down and get it out to cool on a wire rack. Obviously it was still too hot, and the bottom of the cake stuck to the tin. You wouldn't have believed how my heart sank after relishing in the joy of seeing the bread rise perfectly, and then having this happen. I tried to salvage the bottom and you know what, no one could tell...

I have to say that Will was so impressed with my baking, it tasted soooo yummy, that I might 'just' have salvaged my reputation for now!

Rach - let me know if you try the recipe, and how it goes!

Weekend Flowers

I always love to fill the house with flowers for the weekend, but this weekend I went where I hadn't dare go before (as far as flowers are concerned that is)!

I have often looked at these bright (I dare say "artificially" so) flowers in the market and thought how awful and fake they look. For some reason, I felt different this past Friday and wondered how the bright colours would go all mixed together... well, I have to report - I was impressed!

Living in Hong Kong we are blessed to have a huge variety of flowers available in the markets at super affordable prices. That's right boys, there is NO excuse in Hong Kong not to treat your gal to flowers every week! As a point of comparison, a dozen roses in Hong Kong would set you back about $15Aus (and that's for long stem - gorgeous colours). Not bad hey!

The flowers must have set the mood for the long weekend, cause it certainly was bright & cheery! I will definitely be purchasing these little beauties again.

Tennis

Today we are off to Macau with friends to watch some tennis at the Venetian. Not just any tennis I might add, we are watching Sampras v Agassi ! Should be a good match. Oh, I am sure we will manage to fit in a little chow down at Fernando's too - after all, what would a trip to Macau be without visiting this famous institution? I have a confession to make - this will be the first live professional tennis match I have ever seen (gasp)! Have wanted to go to Wimbledon (mainly to have the strawberries and cream I must confess), or even the Australian Open, but have never managed to get there!

Anyhow, its a long weekend here in Hong Kong (Monday is a public hol) - so the best thing about heading to Macau (and getting back around midnight), is that we have all day tomorrow to rest and relax. Hmm, thinking I might make a lamb roast or something homely like that! Fancy coming round for dinner?

Our divine little baby - CoCo Dumpling Holden

Introducing our little baby CoCo !

We had been discussing adding a new member to our family for quite some time, until I happened to think it was a good idea to take the next step and visit the pet shop - crazy idea!! I instantly fell in love with this little toy poodle - and we just had to keep her (others may tell you a different story, including rumours of panic attacks etc) - but don't believe them!

We have had Miss CoCo for about a month now and she is settling into life with the Holdens quite nicely - that is, aside from the toilet training, crying, etc. etc. I tell you puppies are hard work!

She is just adorable though, and has become quite a part of our family. Some say her daddy is too protective, but her mummy thinks it is so sweet :) I am sure CoCo likes the attention too!

So you aren't alarmed - we don't intend to cloth her - but Grandma Gail sent her over a gorgeous little pink coat and we just had to get some pics with her in it for Grandma:)

Note of warning: I would advice against a visit to the pet shop, unless you are certain that you want to buy a pet. It is so easy to fall in love with the little things and before you know it, they will have accompanied you home!

i LOVE icecream

It has been so hot in Hong Kong recently. Its not so much the temperature - which has been up around 35 degrees most days, but the humidity that is the killer. Cause we have had a lot of visitors recently, and have consequently been spending time in the great outdoors, I have noticed it more than normal (what am I saying - the truth is I have taken a few days off work to spend with visitors and have had to venture outdoors instead of staying in the comfort of my air conditioned office)! Pathetic hey!!

One small comfort, loads of yummy icecream - my fav!!!

What's your favourite flavour?

Mine you ask - hmmmm, well I would have to say liquorice if I can get it (rarely), otherwise, Ben & Jerry's caramel cup - yummmmoooo! But the best of the best would have to be Massimo's on Hastings Street in Noosa (if you have been there, then you know what I am talking about!). They make THE best icecream eva!!

So, here's to the hot weather and the perfect excuse to indulge in some frozen delights:)

Image - l&coolj

Blogging drought

So sorry about the blogging drought. We have been flat out this year and time has just flown by. I have had plenty to write about, but as time passes and updates get missed - it becomes such a mammoth task to get up to date that I end up doing something else and not bothering - slack attitude I know!


Never mind, all that's about to change. I can't promise to write chapter and verse about what's happened since Chinese New Year - but a few pics here and there should bring you up to speed.


Image via It's Mary Ruffle