Summer Treat

Summer has been in full swing in Melbourne recently. Though we haven't had many 40 degrees days yet, thank goodness. :) But we have been coping well by doing what else? Having ice cream, of course!

My husband has been into cooking recently and he made this easy mango ice cream based on Jamie Oliver's 30 Minutes Meal.

Ingredients:
Frozen mango cubes from 1 large-sized mango
Lemon zest
2 tbsp of honey
About 3 mint leaves
A small tub of yogurt

How to make it:
Blend all these ingredients together!
Then re-freeze it by occasionally breaking it up to prevent ice crystals from forming.

Easy, isn't it? :)

Anyway, this has sparked my interest in making home-made ice cream. I found this amazing blog dedicated to ice creams: Scoop Adventures

During summer time, what is your favourite treat?

Love,
from me to u.

Cupcakes make everything better...

... don't you think? :)

What else am I loving this Monday? I've finally started working on reducing my wardrobe. But what I love most is the fuzzy feelings I get when I think they will go to good homes and for a good cause. :)

What are you loving?

Love,
from me to u.

This post is part of Anna's Much Love Monday.

Catching up at 1000£ Bend

About 2 weeks ago, my friends and I caught up at the lovely 1000£ Bend for brunch. I must admit, it was the first time I was there and it was such a delightful place to catch up with friends. Brunch was lovely with a pretty extensive menu. I had the salmon ontop of mash potato on salad accompanied by Earl Grey tea (my favourite!).

Lovely Paulina was also wearing one of my necklaces! She's wearing Beetlebug!

Beetlebug

Overall, it was a fantastic catch-up and I might have found a new favourite place for brunch. And who doesn't love the great idea of using old records as table numbers?

Love,
from me to u.

Making heart-shaped eggs

I've been trying to make this based on these instructions. This is my second attempt and finally a bit of success! I broke the first one because I pressed too hard. On top of cooking, I also love being able to catch up with my crafty activities.

What do you love on Mondays?

Love,
from me to u.

Part of Anna's Much Love Monday

Indulgence

I was at La Belle Miette yesterday and couldn't decide which flavour I wanted. So I got one of each flavour. My indulgence for the approaching weekend.

Happy Friday! ^^/

Love,
from me to u.

Addicted to ....

... cream cheese and chocolate rice on digestive biscuits.

A productive Saturday

We had a productive morning on Saturday. I hosted a tea party as I was lucky enough to get a Twinings Tea chest for a survey that I answered. All the girls brought a platter of morning tea food each, and chose their own tea-for-one set. I just realised how many tea pots I have that morning...Anyway we had a ball (forgive the pun), knitting projects were started and continued. Cookies and cakes were munched. Tea was sipped. A delightful catch-up morning overall. ^^

1. Twinings Ceylon Orange Pekoe Tea in a tea-for-one.
2. The table spread with more teapots and cookies courtesy of Anna.
3. Penelope's striped scarf.
4. Evelyn's 1st scarf.
5. Breanna's moss stitch scarf.
6. Anna's scarf for her brother.
7 & 8. My diagonal rib scarf in mustard yellow (YAY~!).
9. Cookies courtesy of Penelope.

I love Tea Parties!

I was really excited on Friday morning when the postman came. A couple of weeks ago, while farming on farmville (I am a farmville addict...yes), I saw an ad by Twinings looking for people to host tea parties. Anyway I thought since I do enjoy Twinings tea why not try for it? I was extremely excited when told that I qualify and will be receiving my tea sampler pack in a Twinings tea chest! So when it finally arrived, I was extremely happy and excited to plan my tea party.

I've decided to have my first one as a Knitting Morning Tea Party which was a similar activity to a knitting get together that I did before. The girls invited will bring their knitting, try tea, have cookies and cakes. The perfect activity for a winter morning.

What type of tea parties do you love? What type of tea party would you organise? ^^

of food & summer knitting ideas

Continuing my food blogging... ^^ Tonight's menu is Chicken Baked Rice. I've done this recipe for many times now and my mum helped me come up with the original one ages ago... But I've decided to improve on the presentation by garnishing it with the parsley that Shanwen had suggested I put into my pasta.

This is it, full view and presented. ^^ BTW I'm working on putting some of recipes together in a little book... I mean a book for myself. ^^ But that means that I'll be putting some of them online on PDF format when I can. However, my style of cooking is anything goes... I'm the type of cook who rarely measures anything... ;;^^ So chances are my recipe would not have much measurements... everything is kind of done to taste.

On the knitting front, I'm thinking of a summer project... I have this nice silk yarn. I guess it's going to be another scarf... But I'm hoping to merge the jewellery making technique with this one... hope it'll work! ^^

BTW Melita, when you asked me the vest I was confused... lol I was talking about my supposedly quick knit vest. ;;^^ But later I realised you were talking about the vest I borrowed from you...haha. Sure I'll bring it down to Wool Baa when you are coming down. Please let me know in advance. ^^

A little bit about food...

My parents are wonderful cooks though I used to have doubt about my cooking talents. I mean when I have wonderful food cooked for me, I certainly find it easier to eat rather than cook. Hence, when my parents are not around, I just do the easiest thing which was go out and eat! ^^ But recently, after finishing university and realising that I do need to find a full time job, the importance of being economical hits home and I've been cooking. It also certainly helps when my bf prefers to eat home cooked food...;;^^ Anyhoo, just like what my mum said...cooking is easy, but you need to have the interest to do it. ^^ My mum also always said beautifully presented food always taste good...so ta dah!!!! ^^

This was on Monday's dinner menu. Chicken Congee garnished with fried onions. I am quite proud of this recipe. I found out the secret to the taste and fragrance is in the initial garlic, onion, ginger and spring onion, and the eventual chicken stock. This is the first time my congee is actually flavourful! ^^

Then on to Tuesday's menu... Spaghetti cooked in Alfredo Sauce with roast chicken ham and mushrooms. I got a bit creative with the presentation as I'm watching a Japanese drama that showcases food a lot...;;^^ So got inspired. ;;^^ Shanwen, you are right about the herbs... I added a sprinkle of parsley and the flavour is deeper than what I had done before. The tomatoes also added a lovely tangy but fresh flavour to the food. ^^

All in all, I'm quite proud of myself... I'll definitely try and cook this for my parents when they are in Melbourne again and see what is the verdict... ^^

Lunch Idea!

This is an easy and cheap lunch idea I had. Made this for bf...;;^^

Mini tonkatsu (comes in a pack and was about $7.00, I think) and deep fried beancurd (comes in a pack of 12 for about $2.00) served in a bed of rice sprinkled with dried seaweed and sesame seeds. This lunch pack comes with a serve of seaweed kimchi (about $3.00) and completed with tonkatsu sauce and wasabi mayonnaise. While the total comes to about $12, but this is actually enough to feed one person 4 times. ^^ So technically, the whole lunch only cost about $3! ^^ Nice and easy and delicious too! ^^