~Cook Up for my Dad~

It's been ages since I've done a Cook Up

This time I did one last night for my dear Dad/mīļš Papiņš

 who is no longer here on Earth with us

It just felt the right thing to do and complete with a Birthday Cake to boot

But first, and very important...which Apron to use

Just this week I received this apron from Trish who recently went over to Provence, France

I already had bought one from there but of course I needed another lol

I also used a Tea Towel with Provence embroidered on it that I purchased whilst over there

Thanks so much Trish......much appreciated!!!

I chose the brown one to use on this Cook Up

My Menu from donna hay magazine Issue 87 Jun/July 2016

(this is why I needed the Quince Paste Annette (no blog))!

Pork and Sauerkraut Meatballs with Quince Glaze 

Savoy Colcannon

Marble Chai Bundt Cake with Maple Syrup

Mr Armchair set the Wine scene

Adding Sauerkraut to the Meatballs gave a real depth of flavour

Next time I'd like to double the Glaze......it was delicious

I'm a bit like Manu Fieldel (French Chef in Australia) and love my Glazes/Sauces lol

The Meatballs here with the Colcannon

Colcannon (Irish: cál ceannann, meaning "white-headed cabbage") is a traditional Irish dish mainly consisting of mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage. It is also the name of a song about the dish.

(from Wikipedia)

In this dish I used Savoy Cabbage, Leek and Pure Jersey Cream from Tilba

And here is part of the verse.......

Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?

With the greens and scallions mingled like a picture in a dream.........

(Wikipedia)

It was very delicious.......together a lovely tasty combination

I ground up Spices for Chai Tea to put into the Cake

And here 'tis

Happy Birthday mils Papins/loving Dad

And to top it off.......Warm Maple Syrup

Also ideal to have with some Cream, Custard or even Ice Cream if you so wish

Recipe for Marble Chai Bundt Cake with Maple Syrup over here

And to keep it all real

Mr Armchair as I sat down took a photo

no make up, no hair neatly done lol!!!!

Lab Apptit......Bon Appetit

Dzintra xo

~January~

Phew here I am back on the blog and January is nearly over

New Year's Day I like to start a new project so why not make it a big one lol

I thought I would do Anni Downs' My Favourite Things Quilt

The Fat 1/8th bundle is the actual My Favourite Things Fabric and the others are the beiges I will be using

I made a simple Quiche and we thought we would open some Christmas Wine.....French of course

I admired my Bookmark brought home from Riga, Latvia 

The little brooch is the colours of the Latvian Flag......maroon and white
Such a history with this Flag

I made a start on the quilt

I opened up a gift to myself of an apron that I bought in Roussillon on Provence, France

I received this beautiful Tagine at Christmas time
Thank You Danelle

I made a Pear and Almond Tart.......recipe from Manu Feildel's book, Manu's French Kitchen
Mmmmm delicious

My Sister came to visit

and we drove around River Cottage country at Tilba

We checked out a new Cafe/Restaurant at the Mariner, all with a boat view

Took a beach walk

Started some colouring in

Did some quick pickling of cucumbers

And took them to my mate Asta's, a fellow Baltic and enjoyed them with some good ol' Black Rye Bread

Had the little Grandies here for a week

and took another beach walk.

Normally one can get around this corner but not with the tide last weekend....

Hope your January was a good one

Till next time.....Dzintra

'Le Tour De France......With A Twist' and a Postcard from PARIS

Recently at The Batemans Bay Writers Festival I came across the above little brochure for 

'Le Tour with a twist'

and all without a bicycle in sight

I hung onto this gem for a couple of weeks and thought on the morning of 27th June I'll go to that

So organised Mr Armchair to watch JoJo (after he dropped me off at the venue of course) so I could partake in the Wine Tastings

We don't often attend events together spontaneously due to caring issues etc so a lot of the time one of us only get to go

On arrival on every table was a map of Le Tour

and I thought this is going to be so good

and it didn't let me down.......it was such a lovely couple of hours there

talking........tasting........eating........talking.........tasting

A little plate and French Flag on the table

Not long into the slides it was time for our first refreshments hence Drinks Station 1

I didn't partake in the Beer Tasting as I was not sure if the Beer had gluten in it as it often contains Barley/Malt but I did try the Cider

I did think of you here Fiona at Bubz Rugz lol

These little sweets were apparently made by accident back in the day and turned out to be very popular hence they are still made today

Oh time for Drinks Station 2

The next Taster......very nice too

All wine served in petite glasses, of course

This Malbec was particularly delicious

I don't have the paperwork for the next Drink Station but it too was very nice

mmmmm the whole night just flowed so smoothly and I'm so pleased I decided to go even if it was by myself

 The following week my Sister-in-Law made a day trip down to visit and brought a bottle of French wine and cheese to share

I'm looking through Shannon Bennett's Paris book as well at the moment

Meanwhile a postcard arrived for me all the way from Paris from my Friend Lindee

Thank You so much Lindee........I was so excited to receive this

I'm spending less and less time here in Bogland due to my upcoming *Paris* holiday with my Son

I'm still reading everyone's blogs but just a tad pushed for time to comment on all of them

JoJo's had some health issues........I've got stuff happening but that's typical isn't it when something big is happening

But I will get there!!!!!

4 weeks and 4 days to go........

Love Dzintra xo 

Can't Hold It In...I'm going to PARIS and Latvija (Latvia)

I have the most exciting news!!!

I've got a few 'Paris' things around the house thinking one day it would be nice to go there but never really expecting to.....

As we care for JoJo it would just be too hard to organise let alone find Care for her

It's hard enough to organise a night out without booking respite in advance

No spontaneous Dinner Dates for us here

This just has to be the next best thing

Last July my Beloved Son rang me and said

Mum, get your Passport......I'm taking you to Paris............eeeeekkkkk, whaaaaaaat

I walked around in a Dream

and then

Tickets were bought.......flights booked

I've got an assortment of books to look through

I'll especially have to study this one

I'm using this as my Planning Book

I even bought an Ink Stamp ages ago

Just part of the fun collecting Paris stuff

This is my Pinning Table which Mr Armchair brings in for me when I am pinning a quilt

and I stuck this stamp on it

I wrote my first letter with this stamp on the envelope to my good Friend Geo (no blog)

This bag is at the end of the table housing a Special Project (next post)

A bucket bought a long time ago now houses Paris stuff for Our Trip

The first thing I bought specifically for the trip......will come in handy as I have no French language

Little Affirmation Cards received at Christmas

The quote today is

The Sea is Everything

Its Breath is Pure and Healthy

It is an Immense Desert

Where One is Never Lonely

For you can Feel Life stirring on all sides

Jules Vern

Even had me an Award Winning Pear Cider

And today courtesy of Allen & Unwin and Goodreads I won this copy of Josephine Moon's 

'The Chocolate Promise'.  All very timely as this book is set in Evandale, Tasmania then goes over to Paris and Provence.......This is my absolute next read!!!

Thank you so much Allen & Unwin and Goodreads........can't wait to get into this book!!!!!

The Biggest Thank You and Love to my Mr Armchair who is going to stay home and care for JoJo whilst I go off to Paris and Latvia

and not to forget my Prince of a Son.....

Thank You So Very Very Much

Words cannot express what I feel for you both

does it get any better than this

Love, Dzintra