~Cook Up with Donna Hay (No 17) Red Wine Braised Beef Cheeks with Paris Mash...and Mindy's Chocolate Mousse Tart~

Last week I did another Cook Up from the donna hay magazine Issue 63 June/July 2012

Menu was Red Wine Braised Beef Cheeks with Paris Mash

I've never cooked Beef Cheeks before but they were oh so melt in the mouth tender...and cheap too!!!

Lovely thyme in the casserole...red wine...beef stock amongst other ingredients

The Parish Mash was sooooo smooth, creamy and silky

The pic above shows the dish without parsley

And we had freshly ground trio of peppercorns on ours!

We also enjoyed some Bodalla Dairy Sage and Saltbush cheese...

We all enjoy watching MasterChef  here and JoJo occassionally gets the magazine for me on one of her shopping programmes

This time I thought I would try Mindy's Chocolate Mousse Tart for Dessert

I used White Wings Gluten Free Flour for the pastry

Mr Armchair had seen this pack of Orgran Gluten Substitute and bought it for me

I've never made gluten free pastry so added the substitute to the flour and the result was that the pastry was not brittle and didn't break easily

Now I'll have to play around with it a little more

Orange Caramel on the Tart

I asked Mr Armchair to go out into the backyard (in the dark) and come back with a few mint leaves for the top as we had no basil...

He came back with Lemon Balm but hey, it still tasted good!!!

Served with Mascarpone

A delicious, delicious meal

and I don't know how Mindy made this Tart in the time allocated!!!!!!!!

Mindy's Chocolate Mousse Tart recipe over here

Irina has decided to join Vicki and I in doing a Cook Up from each issue of donna hay magazine

If anyone else would like to join us just let me know and I can put you up on my sidebar

No pressure......just cook something out of each issue and blog it!!

Bon Appetit......Dzintra

A new button...and a very special dinner at The Little Restaurant!!!

Here is the little button from my Stitching Day in the previous post...

I had this lovely house fabric and thought it fitted in just nicely...

I found a spot for 'my house in the hills'...I cut out a little house and will applique it onto the green hill behind the house on the left...I think this is called fussy-cutting?

Mr Armchair and I don't get a whole lot of time to go out with each other due to caring for JoJo...

my DD suggested she come down one Friday evening and be with her while we go out and the next evening she will go out with her DH while we babysat for her...

Great idea I thought...let's do it!!!

We chose to go out to this little place that seats 25 people...

when I knew we were going out I booked 2 seats 2 weeks prior to the evening (just to make sure we got in)...we also went to the Bay Theatre Players that evening and pre booked our tickets as well...

Lookout...here we come!!!

Coming up to the restaurant...

our table...

the wine...

Wild Rabbit and Pistachio Nut Terrine with Beetroot Relish, Red Onion Jam, Cornichons and Crusty Bread...absolutely delicious!!!

House made Pita with Pumpkin, Potato and Beetroot Dip...

The kitchen was very obliging when I asked for some carrots for the dip as I am gluten intolerant...

HOT chips...

Soft Shell Crab crisp fried with Nam Jim...

Aged grass fed Sirloin, Potato Mash, Mushrooms, Red Onion Jam and Shiraz Jus...

Chocolate Mousse with Orange and Pistachio Nut Praline...yum, yum, yum!!!

Banana Pudding with Coconut and Palm Sugar Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream!!!

A great meal...a great show...and next post I'll write about The Woman in Black that played at the theatre!!!

Thanks Gary and staff for this very tasty evening...Dzintra

A New Project...and Cook Up With Vicki No 11...Spiced Beef Pie followed by Stitching on the Bay...

Here's some fabric that I bought back in 2003...can't believe it's been that long that I have had it...

just perfect colours for Winter...and cozy and farmhousey and full of one of my favourite vegetables...pumpkins!!!  

Not gone to waste though sitting there...I have pulled it out...admired it and put it back...and then this week starting cutting it out for a little Patchwork Travel Case...

one for me and one for my Daughter!!!

Isn't it just so cute...gorgeous warm colours!!!

I have never tired of looking at it after all these years so hopefully will have the cases done real soon!!!

After quite a few months (due to my broken arm) I have managed a Cook Up With Vicki...

Vicki and I thought we'd do a Cook Up with each new issue of Donna Hay magazine when we could manage it...anyone can join in if they like...just cook something from the magazine and blog it!!!

This time I chose Spiced Beef Pies (above)...no pastry base or top...

just some torn bread sprinkled atop the beef...

and being gluten free I had some Deeks Onion and Parmesan bread in the freezer...perfect!!!

Before going into the oven..

and just out...

Served with Sour Cream and Coriander...and I added Cauliflower Cheese!!!

This dish is perfect for the cold weather and tasty too...along with a glass of red wine!!!

Tomorrow I'm off to a day of Stitching...Stitching on the Bay hosted by Fiona and Sylvia and I'm looking forward to that...

then having my little Grandson Ryan here for the week...

so it's all go for the weekend and next week...

Happy Stitching...and Bon Appetit, Dzintra

Happy Anniversary To Us!!!

Here's a Chocolate Cake I made on the morning of our Anniversary last week intending it to be for later on that evening...

Mr Armchair took us (that is me and JoJo) out for a celebration dinner so this little heartcake is patiently sitting in the freezer all ready to be decorated with strawberries and cream another day!!!

We went into town to our favourite Restaurant 'On The Pier'...

here is the view awaiting us...

Rusty old anchor out the front...

'Boatsheds' on the deck...

The view up river...

Looking across the famous Clyde River Bridge...

Looking towards the Oyster Sheds...

The Clyde is well known for its Sydney Rock Oysters which are used locally...in Sydney and around New South Wales...

Starting off with a cocktail...

A delicious red from the Geelong Wine Region (Victoria)

JoJo started off with Rosemary and Parmesan Grissini, marinated olives and Persian Fetta...

We had Oysters Kilpatrick!!!

Char Grilled grass fed Beef Fillet, Garlic Potatoes, Crisp Crab Ravioli with Soy and Green Chilli reduction for Mr Armchair...

Tempura Prawns, Spiced plum Sauce and Lemon for JoJo...

and my choice...twice cooked Pork Belly with warm Salad of Grilled Scallops, Chilli Pineapple and soft Herbs...

A hot chocolate for JoJo...

Delicious dessert...Pavlova Mess...Strawberries in a light rice biscuit (can't think of the name...it's very popular and I have never seen it gluten free before...normally wound round a wooden spoon straight after cooking..it'll come to me and I'll slip it in) and sorbet!!!

Thanks to Amy who has spurred me on and suggested Tuile...I'm pretty sure it was a Brandy Basket!!!

Here we are!!!

JoJo took herself out on the deck after dinner...

A couple of moored boats...

Part of the interior...

And I couldn't resist a snap of the sugar in a glass!!!

We had a wonderful evening...

wouldn't mind dining like this a bit more often...

beautiful views...delicious food...

and a great venue!!!

Happy Anniversary Hubby!!!