Friday Flowers....

So much spring... just amazing.

Date Night For One....

Sometimes it's not going to be about special meals etc...

Tonight it's been a big hot long shower (the hot water service was out for 2 days)
left overs for dinner, and talking to friends...
All's good....
just enjoy the music!

Finger Food...

Toasted Pita with Hummus, Bacon and Yellow Capsicum with Eggplant and Mushroom

You have to get in there and get a bit messy.

Just the thing for a relaxed Sunday afternoon snack, or brunch or early supper...

Friday Flowers...

Flower seller in Hanoi.

Cupcake Day...

Chocolate Mud Cake, with Chocolate Frosting and Strawberry...

Citrus and Almond With Orange Frosting and Tropical Jelly Beans...

Chocolate and Pistachio, and sprinkles...
it's for a RSPCA fund raising morning tea tomorrow...

I'm sure it's going to go ok...

Basically Black...

It's 'Date Night For One' again and tonights' theme is basically black...

Field Mushroom cooked in the pan, then filled with Sun dried Tomato,
 Black Olives and Basil...with a bit of Vinaigrette.

Pickled Baby Octopus dipped in
 Ketchup Manis and cooked in a non stick pan
 until it's all caramelised and delicious.

Home cooked Beetroot with Lemon Dressing and
Eggplant with Anchovies and Green Peppercorns.

Too good and the results speak for themselves.

Desert was Poppy Seed Loaf,  Chocolate Ice Cream and Orange Segments.,
with Pistacios and Currants

It's such a treat and I enjoyed every crumb...

Memories...

It's just under two years since Marg and I were in Italy,
time flies, but it's lovely to look back.

Such lovely architecture, the stone is really beautiful.

Looking back over the valley.

Such a beautiful place, such fond memories.

Memories...

Coffee...first night in Roma, magic...

Friday Flowers...

Almost Spring.

Date Night...Bed, Bath and Books...

I'm thinking that Wednesday's good timing
for 'Date night for one'...

I've loaded up the day bed with books and rose petals
and surrounded myself with candles.

Sleeping somewhere else is like a little holiday,
you feel different and special.

Can't have enough Rose Petals...

I had Smoked Salmon Couscous, just delicious...

A big bath strewn with petals and infused with Rose water,
not to mention something cold with Rose Ice Cubes...

Just to finish Pecan Slice and Strawberry and of course more Rose petals.

Bar Eighty One...

With friends on a Sunday after noon.

Chorizo with Black Olives and Tomato  in Cider...while listening to some live music...nice

In The Hills....

Something from Cloudhill.

Walking In Birds Land...

It's so green and lush at the moment.

The Wattle's just starting to open.

There's still lots of water around.

The weekend weather has been just perfect for a walk around Birds Land.

What's On My Kitchen Bench...

Beautiful Pears and Strawberries.

And a few more bits and pieces.

Bread Dough.

Pizza with Tomato, Garlic, Pear, Capsicum and Fetta.

Pizza with Tomato, Garlic, Potato and Bocconcini with Rosemary.

White Chocolate dipped Strawberries with Dark Chocolate drizzle.

Yum.

Date Night...

The first thing is to make a body scrub...

This one's Honey and Sugar.

Mix equal amounts of Olive Oil and Honey with twice the amount
of Raw Caster Sugar.

It's ready to go and will keep for ages.

Something delicious to eat ...

My choice is Natural Oysters with Lemon and Rosemary Flowers,
on ice.

 Something Sweet...

I've made a chocolate sauce by melting Butter and
 Brown Sugar, adding Cream,
 Spice Essence and Dark Chocolate...
just 30 seconds at a time in the microwave and stirring.

Instead of Praline I've just smashed up some Werthers Originals.

And served it with Indulge Vanilla Ice Cream.

Now To Relax...

Time for a great big bath with lots of candles...

And of course a glass of French Champagne...
Who says you can't have a date for one?.