No mincing my words

I am getting really good at 'pantry pie'. All different versions.

Most of them always include a legume of some sorts, tinned tomatoes and sometimes corn.

After my indulgent weekend in Melbourne (pics to come soon), I am running low on cash and need to get creative with my pantry staples.

Luckily, my freezer is full of meat from my recent trip to Jourdanne's farm.

So this morning I took out some sausage mince, with no real idea what I was going to do with it.

Enter the world's best sausage rolls. If I do say so myself.

They have an almost Moroccan edge. Almost.

Now, I threw it all together on the spot and have no idea how much of what I added, so just go with it.

Ingredients

Sausage mince

Fresh mint, chopped

Sunflower kernels

Red onion, chopped

Wholegrain mustard

Egg, whisked

Breadcrumbs

Cumin

Coriander seeds (ground)

Fennel (ground)

Craisins

Chilli flakes

Dukkah (for sprinkling)

Puff pastry

Extra whisked egg (for brushing)

Fry up the red onion with the spices and then add the sunflower kernels to slightly toast

Leave to cool

In the meantime, combine the mince, egg, mustard, breadcrumbs, fresh mint, craisins and then add the onion mixture

Spread the mince mixture down a sheet of puff pastry (I could fit two per sheet)

Cut into small pieces (about five per roll) and brush with extra egg

Sprinkle with dukkah and lay on a baking tray lined with baking paper

Cook in a preheated oven at 180 for about 20 minutes

Craze or crazy?

Got my regular Mecca Cosmetica email today (their branding/comms team is brill, I love their work) but I'm not sure I'm sold on their most recent 'craze'

Caviar nails by ciate.

Yay or nay?

Humphrey Style

Humphrey B Bear, you silly old bear!

Eastbound

Hello dear Readers

I'd love for you to meet Nicole. The gorgeous one on the left.

Nic and I used to work together - we yoga'ed, we shared lunches, we drank (lots) and we laughed (even more).

This Thursday, we're heading to Melbourne for four days of Spring Racing craziness.

The Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday is the highlight of our little getaway but we're fitting in lots of other adventures along the way.

Just to name a few . . . dinner at MoVida, shopping at Chadstone, drinks at Trunk, breakfast at St Ali, recovery at Riverland, Sunday Session at Little Creatures, lemon tart at Laurent on Little Collins, boy spotting at the Collins Quarter, dumplings in Chinatown. 

Hmm, and that's just a start!

I've got my hat all sorted but still swinging between two different dresses. And I can't find my black shoes or clutch.

Lucky we can fit in a spot of shopping before Saturday!

PS. Pic from the cricket a few years back. Bring it.

Snaps to Mary

Here

Here

Here

Here

She's nailed it. 

Again.

Princess Mary looked perfect, yes perfect, at the wedding of Prince Guillaume Of Luxembourg and Stephanie de Lannoy.

I think I might need a hat like that for The Races.

Will never be able to do that frock colour though - too many school uniform memories! Love that her classic look is embracing an on-trend almost peplum frill. 

Snaps to you Mary.

(PS. Mez . . . did you see your birthplace featured in the Lonely Planet's world best cities for 2013? Double snaps, girlfriend!)

In the Palm Springs of my hands

I'm trying to work out what to do for my 30th.

Do I want a brunch, long lunch, dinner party or swanky soiree?

I can't decide!

But I do know that if I lived in Palm Springs, I think I'd like to hose the partay - whatever style I decide - to be held here.

The Colony Palms Hotel.

Beyewtiful.

Imagine the gorgeous outfits my guests would come dressed in, and the sublime cocktails that would be served.

It's indoor. It's outdoor. It's perfect.

Those red and white striped cabanas? Divine!

It'd make for gorgeous photos, that is for sure.

Any other suggestions for how I could celebrate the day?

Pics from here and here

No guilt here

So if you're like me, you get home from work and want something quick and easy that excites the tastebuds.

Something that's filling and satisfying but not heavy on the calories.

Well, I think we may have found a winner, lovely readers!

(Actually, credits to my Mum who whipped this up after our Zumba class last night!)

Enter the Weight Watchers No Guilt Pizza.

I've experimented with a few of their suggested toppings before, but this one was a bit left of centre and really fresh and light.

And soooooo easy. Were there enough 'Os' in that sooooo?

Here we go . . .

Take one wholemeal pita

Spread with a tablespoon of pesto (we just used the stock standard basil)

Scatter a shake or two of chilli flakes over the pesto

Thinly slice zucchini and layer over the pizza base

Top with halved grape tomatoes (not too many otherwise it goes soggy)

Dollop low fat ricotta cheese on top

Bake in a pizza oven (or normal oven) until crispy

Serve with a scattering of torn flat leaf parsley and fresh mint on top

(We added chicken and grated cheese to Big John's - being a retired meat wholesaler, he's not really down pat with the whole vegetarian thing)

TDF readers. It's amazing.

Enjoy x

Please come to the land down under

I may be slow off the mark, but I am very excited to find out that Laduree has opened in Sydney!

Flavs sent me the pic above on a recent trip to the Harbour City. Oh how I was jealous. Apparently the line up went out the door and around the corner so Flavso missed out on a visit herself. I'll come with you next time, my dear!

The only other thing that would make me this happy in the food world would be a Dean & DeLuca opening, or a Hummingbird or Magnolia Bakery opening up an Australian branch (specifically, in Adelaide!)

I don't ask for much, non?

Top pic from here

Alter-ego alert

I had a friend's 30th birthday party on the weekend and it was an alter-ego dress up theme.

It was a no brainer for me - I went as Kate Middleton. One of the ladies at work even calls me the Duchess.

I went for a simple, low key look that I remembered from the Olympics hype. 

Coral red jeans, blazer, white tee and silk scarf. Oh, and cut out mask.

I had to call into Granny's to pick up the scarf and it's gorge, we found it buried deep in one of her drawers and she's let me keep it. Bless.

Someone else turned up in the exact same outfit. Bugger. Of all the Duchess outfits to choose from! It was very funny, great to see someone else with good taste, ha!

The guest of honour dressed up as Beyonce and her husband played along as Jay-Z. It was gold. I hate to think how many bottles of fake tan they went through!

There was also a pair of nuns, a devil, Madonna, Scooby Doo, a few catwomen and my favourite . . . Sharon Strzelecki complete with neck brace.

Who is your alter-ego?

Tu tu cute

Aren't these pics just tu tu cute?!

Collette Dinnigan is the latest designer to collaborate with Target to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Australian Ballet.

When can we get Ruby into ballet, Mum? Let's hope she doesn't take after her aunty . . . 

Pics on dustjacket attic

A touch of pink

Look at these pretties that Miss Hunter from navy & orange found over at dustjacket attic.

I love what she had to say about needing a girly bachelorette pad before moving in with a boyfriend.

I've definitely got the girly down pat! Just need to work on the boy . . .

It's a cheesey kind of world

I've got cheese on the brain.

Soft, hard, blue, gooey, melted . . . however it comes.

Camille Styles featured some brilliant cheese boards the other day, and I love how lots of brides are using cheesecakes for their ceremonial cutting. Yum!

I saw Jamie Oliver sprinkle some cheese with honey and instant coffee the other day and it got me thinking. How do you like your cheese?

I'm in love with a particular French cheese that I can get from the gourmet deli (hello Lucia's!) at my local shopping centre. It's a d'affinois and it's TDF.

Love the suggestion of honeycomb and blueberries in the last pic above. And pears seem to be a staple.

Any other mindblowing discoveries that you've experimented with?

Pics from Martha Stewart, Camille Styles and Polkadot Bride

Mad hatters

The countdown is on.

Less than three weeks until Nicole and I hit up Melbourne for the Cox Plate.

We're making a real girls' long weekend of it with dinner at Movida and drinks at Trunk amongst the fun and frivolity. There's also shopping expeditions to Chadstone and indulgent breakfasts at St Ali.

We're like the country cousins coming to visit the big smoke!

I have a milliner working on my hat as we speak (I feel so posh saying that!). I've used the black and white polkadot hat above for inspiration - isn't it divine?

I figure I'd invest in the hat this year rather than the dress - I have so many dresses to choose from as a result of my many bridesmaid duties over the years and classic black and white should go with lots of different outfits.

I haven't ruled out a last minute purchase in Melbourne before the big day though . . .

I hope the hat's ready soon as I have a friend's 30th at the races on Caulfield Cup Day in Adelaide, I want to get as many runs as I can out of it. We all know the 'cost per wear' justification we go through in our head when forking out for an expensive piece!

Melbourne, here we come!

Pic from Magic Millions. Oh how I'd love their marketing budget - they do the BEST fashion shoots every year

An open letter

Working in marketing and with a love of the written word, I take a great interest in creative and innovative marketing campaigns. 

The recent open letter from the Mayor of Christchurch struck a chord with me. I love it when people can have a bit of a laugh and not take themselves too seriously.

Good work Bob Parker!

It even generated a story on Channel Seven News!

In all seriousness though, go and visit Christchurch! Let's get their tourism industry back on track!

I'm off to NZ in December and am very excited to experience some kiwi hospitality. Although I won't be enjoying the beauty of the South Island this time, I have been to Christchurch before and had a very very big night out with the girls.

It's a pretty city - sister city to Adelaide in fact!

Snaps to the creative agency that came up with this campaign, it certainly got my attention.

See the campaign website here

Power to win

I think it was time I was honest with you all.

Some of you may be shocked but I make no apologies.

Yes, I have a full set of teeth and yes I wear pearls . . .

. . . but I am a Port Power supporter.

And proud of it!

Exciting times ahead.

I LOVE Kochie!

xo

Spring nose best

Two of the best things about going for a walk after work . . . 

The smell of jasmine creeping over front fences

. . . and BBQs cooking in backyards.

There's no smell like it (Dad would be proud!)

Spring is in the air . . . and not long until daylight saving.

Happy times x

Pics from Pinterest