The week in brief
Happy Sunday! This week: mashed cauliflower, Australia Day picnic, mini burgers on brioche, ice cream cone cupcakes, and piggy piggy piggy on a spit.
This was dinner one night this week – I fried up some lamb rump steak, sauteed baby spinach and onions, and ate it with mashed cauliflower. Oh. My. Gosh. Mashed cauliflower is SO GOOD. The cauli was steamed until soft, and then I processed it in the food processor with a little bit of water, salt, pepper, and a teeny tiny amount (not even half a teaspoon) of coconut oil. I think… it is better than mashed potato. Yes, I swear it’s true. The small amount of coconut oil gave it a bit of fragrant nuttiness. I have a new love, mashed cauli is its name.
For Australia Day, we went to a picnic. (These aren’t my jandals. I’m not a jandal kinda gal.)
While at the park, an ice cream truck pulled up and *naturally* I wanted an ice cream. đ I really like trashy soft serve…
Whenever I go to a picnic, I seem to make mini brioche buns. This time I made meat patties from pork and beef mince and put together some mini burgers. They were delicious, natch.
I love making brioche – it’s so rewarding. Will blog the recipe soon.
I also took dessert along – chocolate ice cream cone cupcakes with Swiss meringue buttercream. Ah. Maze. Ing. Will also blog this soon. (Please ignore the fallen over cones in the background. I was devastated when they fell over in the car ride to the park. Devastated!)
Oh – hehee – here’s me with a massive box of chocolate. đ
I took Friday off to enjoy a four day weekend and headed into the city during the day. Yes, I visited Snag Stand yet AGAIN. I am obsessed. This time I tried the toulouse – with onions, rosemary mushrooms, truffle aioli and a brioche bun. It was delicious, tho (and I say this every time) the chilli dog is still the best so far.
That night we had dinner at Chillipadi in Flemington. I had teh peng – perfect for the hot night.
Alastair and I shared a roti telur, and I also ordered a nasi kerabu ayam percik. I’d never tried it before, and unfortunately I didn’t really like it. The chicken had a very floral note and wasn’t seasoned enough. Oh well! At least I tried something new.
Yesterday it was pigs and cider for Daz’s birthday. All guests were tasked with taking along a couple of kinds of cider for a cider tasting. Maz throws great parties, and she had clipboards all ready so we could score the ciders. Everyone’s clipboards had different quotes / sayings on the back. Apparently I like long walks on the beach and movies that make me cry – bhahaha.
There were three categories for cider tasting – pear, apple and fruit. We sampled and scored about 12 different ciders overall in blind tests. Alastair and I had to bring pear cider and we won our category. Whooohooo. Ours was the Napoleone & Co apple and pear cider which was slightly controversial because it wasn’t straight pear. Whatever. We deserved to win.
When all categories were judged and scored, there was a final taste test for the top over all cider. The people who brought the winning ciders weren’t allowed to vote so we wandered inside while the others choose their favourite.
And – ours won. YAY. Winner winner chicken dinner!
Warning: pig on a spit photos coming up. They look a bit macabre.
While cider was being consumed, the pig turned away on the spit.
And after eight hours of cooking over coals, it was finally ready to be eaten. And guess what? I got to take the head home! đ It’s currently sitting in the fridge – I haven’t decided how I’m going to deal with it yet. Any ideas?
Oh yeah, the piggy rocked. đ
Well, that was my week. How was yours?
Fatbooo
January 29, 2012 @ 6:57 pm
Such a home-style and food-filled week for you! Please do blog the brioche recipe, please please please… đ
Agnes
February 6, 2012 @ 9:34 pm
Done – just for you đ
Cara @ Gourmet Chick
January 30, 2012 @ 1:40 pm
Wow I am so jealous of the cider judging party and whole pig on a spit – looks amazing!
Agnes
February 6, 2012 @ 9:35 pm
It was so much fun đ
Hannah
January 30, 2012 @ 7:53 pm
Raw cauliflower, roasted cauliflower, mashed cauliflower… it is all THE BEST.
BFF, is there honestly any competition you don’t win?! You got skillz, yo.
Agnes
February 6, 2012 @ 9:36 pm
Haha well to be honest I’m not at all competitive. So yes – many comps. :p
No, YOU’RE the best.
Ashley Ng
January 31, 2012 @ 12:02 pm
Oooh, what the cider party sounds like a totally awesome idea! How fun đ And can’t wait for the ice-cream cone cupcake recipe! đ
Love the speech bubbles too. Hehe!
Agnes
February 6, 2012 @ 9:36 pm
Gotta love photo props đ
msihua
February 5, 2012 @ 8:11 pm
GOSH! A whole pig! SO Jealous!!!
Agnes
February 6, 2012 @ 9:36 pm
That’s right – a whole pig all for me. Mwahahahaha.
Jennie
February 13, 2012 @ 2:12 pm
Twinsy, try this recipe for the left over piggy:
http://panlasangpinoy.com/2010/03/07/lechon-paksiw-recipe/
Thanh
February 23, 2012 @ 9:58 pm
We call them thongs in Australia. Jandals are for sheep đ
If they made high heel thongs, you’d wear them I think.
I want to make cupcakes in ice cream cones, but they look #fatty. My trainer won’t approve.
Random photo of massive box of chocolate, LOVEEEEEEE!
Snag, I so want to try. Mmmmmm.
A whole roast pig, now that’s how I would roll.
Agnes
February 26, 2012 @ 9:48 pm
Jandals are for sheep? Are you crazy?? And I would NEVER wear high heel JANDALS. (I think they do make them…)
After a whole roast pig, you would definitely roll. Your trainer wouldn’t approve of that either.