~Our Christmas Food......and a New Year's Eve Wish~

The lighting was all set

Bon bons in place (that we forgot to use at mealtime)

Men folk at the bbq

We had our Christmas just the weekend before

And in the kitchen from Australian Good Food Magazine I was making a couple of salads

Fruit and Nut Pumpkin Quinoa with Yogurt Sauce

Roasted Beetroot, Carrot and Walnut Salad

And then from donna hay magazine

Orange and Mustard Glazed Ham

one of the wines sampled

I managed to make a quick bunting a few days before......blog post over here

Our Christmas tree

and the sweetest sight

whilst everybody was out the back the 2 little grandies found their little chairs and popped themselves in front of the tree

and finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JoJo made something at her day programme and then stuck labels all over the gift with family members names all over it

And check this out...JoJo's gift to me, this cool sewing basket with the Eiffel Tower all over it......

On Christmas morning, from the same Good Food magazine I made a gluten free (yes gluten free) Spiced Stollen (a traditional German cake)

The mixture was a bit 'wet'

I did shape it but it spread

Next time I will try more of a loaf pan

There will definitely be a next time

Absolutely delicious.......I haven't had a traditional European bread like this for years

We took a walk down to the beach on Christmas afternoon

It was an overcast, breezy type of day

Seeing it's New Years Eve tomorrow (who can believe that......this year has flown by) I'd like to raise a glass to all my Bloggy Pals and Readers and wish you all a Happy and Safe New Year with all good things for 2013......2013 holds for me a huge birthday and a huge wedding anniversary...
Gosh where does the time go???????

This pic of Sydney Harbour Bridge New Years's Eve Fireworks 2010 taken off the television

New Years Eve post from then over here

HAPPY NEW YEAR......Dzintra xo

~OPAM...(One Project A Month) Dec 2012

This time I have 3 little items for OPAM......

The first one is some bunting which I hung facing our dining area

This was a nice easy one all made from printed fabric purchased at Shop Handmade Markets

Next are 2 little pouches......pattern by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched

One for me and for Asta (no blog)

Very cute Anni style!

Thanks so much Sweet Peg and Kris for running OPAM again this year......I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of it!

~Merry Christmas 2012~

Decorations above are ones I made by Lenna Green featured in Homespun magazine which actually made it into the magazine and which I wrote about over here

Wow, what a whirlwind week I have had

Spent the week preparing for our other 2 children/partners/grandchildren to come here for a Family Christmas......
I have barely had a chance to go into Blogland and comment on my favourite Blogs although I have popped in now and then to catch up......

Barely any stitching happening here and I think I'm going to have to join a Swap next year!
But I did have my first singing lesson after much encouragement from a few special people
Turns out my voice is alto
The main thing I learnt is breathe....breath....breathe
Turns out this could take 6-8 months to get right.....geeeeeezzzzzzz

Now back on track here
I want to wish everybody a Happy and Contented Christmas whatever you may be doing
Thank you so much for calling in......leaving your wonderful encouraging comments......
It all means so much to me......I've met so many lovely people here!

I'll leave with 2 very meaningful quotes
Merry Christmas......love Dzintra xo

'I believe in everything until it's disproved.

So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons.

It all exists, even if it's in your mind.

Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?'

~John Lennon~

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

~Calvin Coolidge~

~Cook Up with Donna Hay (19)...new Ice Cream Maker and Stitching Update~

I can't believe I've done it again......I've injured my knee again so have been taking it really easy these last few days......Again I am so thankful that Mr Armchair was able to be around to take care of JoJo (and me) while I rested my leg.  He is back at work today and I'm hobbling around here......

Just as well that last week I did a Cook Up from donna hay magazine Issue 65 Oct/Nov 2012

Irina has joined me and Vicki in doing a Cook Up from donna's magazine

The menu was ~Sticky Black Pepper Pork (with a Cucumber and Bean Sprout Salad) and Basic Lemon Tart~

Recipe for Sticky Black Pepper Pork over here

Recipe for Tart over here

Sticky Black Pepper Pork with Salad of Cucumbers, Bean Sprouts, Mint Leaves and Coriander

Lemon Wedges to serve and some Baked Potatoes in Foil

mmmm, very delicious

Lemon Tart setting 

Sliced with a Mint Leaf from the garden

together with Vanilla Ice Cream made with a new ice cream maker Mr Armchair bought for me

JoJo has dairy issues and I have gluten issues so we had been talking about this for a while and what a surprise it was to finally receive one

I experimented with the ice cream mix and used Almond Milk instead of Cow's Milk 

and Rapadura Sugar instead of Caster Sugar and the result was delicious lending itself to the addition of    coffee which I will add another time

Because the only process that rapadura undergoes is the evaporation of liquid, it retains far more vitamins and minerals than refined white sugar. Specifically, rapadura is high in iron, which is essential to the blood oxygenation. Rapadura is also high in silica, potassium, calcium and magnesium in comparison with other sugar alternatives. 

(source over here)

A lovely soft and mellow colour......

And on the stitching front not a lot happening although I have started a little 10" Zippered Pouch after seeing Susan do a few

Tutorial over here

The fabric is Etchings by Moda

How gorgeous is this.................with Eiffel Tower and all

Beautiful writing

I've cut it out and started but waiting till I can bend my knee a little more at the machine!!

Till next time......Dzintra xo

~Lunch with Adriano Zumbo at Rick Stein at Bannisters~~

We are back at Rick Stein at Bannister's again this year...

we were there earlier this year to celebrate Mr Armchair's special birthday....

(read about it over here)

This time for Lunch and a Book Signing with none other than the one and only Adriano Zumbo

The table

The Menu

The view

The wine

A Salad of Lobster, Avocado, Green Beans and Foie-Gras

Grilled Fillet of Barramundi with Clams, Peas, Asparagus and Parsley

Nothing is too much trouble at this Restaurant......my version is a gluten free one......the difference between this and others is the Sauce

Often I have experienced gluten free version meals at other places......yep, all without the sauce

I even had gluten free bread as opposed to other places......they just leave you with an empty plate

The Macaron Master himself......Zumbo giving us Question and Answer time

Signing his books 

Even got a pic of him and me

Amaretto Creme Brulee with New Season's Berries

The Macarons for our table

and here they are with his book as a backdrop

Turning the yellow one over it was all golden......how beautiful I thought

We had a lovely lunch......met other Zumbo fans......JoJo was cared for by Respite Care......what a great  day to kick back and be fussed over

Thank you so much Rick Stein at Bannister's......you've done it again

Howcome everytime we go there I get addicted to seafood all over again!!!

Bon Appetit......Dzintra