Sonoma Rose...a new book and pin!!!

Very excited over here...

a little while ago I saw on Facebook that Jennifer Chiaverini was giving away an Elm Creek Pin to the first 100 people who responded...

I thought, why not give it a go!!!

Jennifer responded to me and I ordered her latest book Sonoma Rose and blow-me-down...I received a pin all the way from The Next Chapter Book Shop in America...

Sonoma Rose...As the nation grapples with the strictures of Prohibition, Rosa Barclay lives on a Southern California rye farm with her volatile husband, John, who has lately found another source of income far outside the federal purview. Mother to eight children, Rosa mourns the loss of four who succumbed to the mysterious wasting disease that is now afflicting young Ana and Miguel...

~from book jacket~

Now I have my very own first edition of Sonoma Rose complete with Jennifer's signature...

How awesome is that...I'm really going to enjoy reading this book!!!

I really enjoy reading all of Jennifer's books...but must admit I am a bit partial to Anna in her kitchen (The Quilter's Kitchen) at Elm Creek!!!  Gotta love that she made patchwork biscuits to take for an interview to become a tutor and ended up being a Cook in the kitchen...how I would love to work alongside her!!!

Happy Reading...Dzintra 

A few very very special days...

We had the most beautiful February...

Roger Waters concert courtesy of our son...

Harry Potter exhibition...

a celebratory birthday dinner at a local restaurant, Monet's Cafe Restaurant...

Why so special?

Our son very generously gave of his time (along with his partner) to have JoJo for 3 nights so we could go out for dinner to celebrate Mr Armchair's birthday...

plus as a special birthday gift for us he gave us a weekend away at Rick Stein's at Bannister's (next post)...

We rarely get to go out as a couple...we are more a threesome whilst caring for JoJo so dinner out for us is rare...and if we do go out it involves organizing respite care...knowing when to be back...plus nothing is spontaneous for us as I imagine it would be in 'the real world' when you can 'just do it'...

especially as 'retirment' is on the horizon...

Retirement for us means we will still be caring...

still doing bedtime.........bathtime.........caring....

whilst other retirees will be sitting back and choosing what life they lead...

Back to the moment......outside the restaurant on the boardwalk...

Mr Armchair had Tempura Prawns......fresh Prawns in a fine crispy batter with a spicy Thai Cucumber and Peanut Dipping Sauce...

My choice......Bay Scallops.....pan seared then served on Caramelized Leek with a chilled Lime Dressing...

Mr A's Pepper Steak......prime Sirloin Steak topped with a creamy Greenpeppercorn and Brandy Sauce served on a bed of chips...

with a Side Salad...

My choice......Eden Kingfish......panfried with Coconut Cream......Pomegranate Molasses and Chilli Jam served on Thai style salad and Coconut Rice... 

Fig Affogato......warm Cinnamon Tea with Vanilla Ice Cream and fresh Mint...

Monet's Mocha Tart......shortcrust pastry filled with a rich dark Swiss Chocolate Cream and topped with Milk Chocolate and served with orange and Star Anise and Creme Anglaise...

At the entrance and exit...

the food was absolutely delicious...

and we loved it that we could book in to suit us and come home when we were ready!!!

Thank you Monet's for the special Birthday Offer of buy 1 meal......get 1 free plus a small bottle of bubbly......it came just at the right time for us......

and we are sure we will be back another day!!!

Cook Up With Donna Hay No 14...Pork Belly with Garlic, Caramelized Onion and Quince Sauce...

Another delicious Cook Up with Vicki  has happened here from Donna Hay magazine Issue 60 Dec/Jan 2012...

Menu tonight is:

Spiced Carrot Dip

Pork Belly with Garlic, Caramelized Onion and Quince Sauce

Roasted Baby Vegetable Salad

Mini Strawberry Tarte Tatins

Cumin and coriander seeds roasting for dip...

Add carrots, cayenne pepper, honey and chicken stock...

and the most delicious dip is ready after a little while...yummy...

The recipe called for malt vinegar (not gluten free) so after some research for a substitute I bought Red Wine Vinegar...

Pork Belly ready for oven...with our thyme on it...

And out of the oven...

Roasted vegies...beetroot, parsnip, carrot and kipfler potatoes...

There was even a heart shaped potato!!!

This meal was full of flavour...we thoroughly enjoyed it!!!

Patchwork placemats and table runner bought at my local Needlework Group...

These were made by a lady who cannot sew anymore...

Butter, sugar, water and vanilla bean for dessert...

Strawberry Tarte Tatin out of the oven...

recipe for these over here...

looks a bit of a jumble but this sure packed a punch...so very very tasty!!!

Now I'm looking forward to the next Cook Up...

Bon Appetit......Dzintra

A Wedding...Roger Waters AND Harry Potter!!!

Part of our 'Whirlwind February'...

Tickets to Harry Potter the Exhibition at Power House Museum, Sydney

and at the same time invitations to an Australian/Vietnamese wedding...

JoJo and I all set for the wedding...

Damien and Thanh...

This wedding was made more special in that the couple had to wait another an extra 3 years to become married as Thanh's Father had passed...

the menu...

the tickets...these were a surprise Christmas gift for us from our Son James who is an avid fan of Roger!!!

The Concert was called 'The Wall'...

JoJo with her 'Hammer' Tshirt that she purchased...

Walking over to the stadium...

Entrance to the Roger Waters concert at Olympic Park home of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games...

Venue filling up...

Part of the magic!!!

Hotted up car outside...

Sunrise...and Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background...

Parramatta River in the foreground...city in the background...

James and JoJo...

Thank you so very very much James for this special gift...we had a ball!

Coming up to Harry Potter at Darling Harbour...

A terrace on the way...

A train at the entrance...Locomotive No 1 which hauled the first train  to run in New South Wales in 1855....

The Flying Ford Anglia, the car used in the film....

Sitting in the chair outside the exhibition...

A fabulous exhibition...and I got to sit in Hagrid's Chair!!!

Of course I had to purchase some souveneres...couldn't resist this satchel...

Paper bag...mug and bookmark...

My set of HP books...

My Harry doll that I found at a garage sale...unfortunately the Philosopher's Stone is missing from his hand...

This little sparkly box brought home by JoJo from her Art Group...

Lots more to tell in my next post...

Happy Weekend...Dzintra