~A Gardener's Journal......Block H...and Dinner to Celebrate~

I'm nearly there...

Presenting Block H of A Gardener's Journal by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched

I am part of Stitch-a-long hosted by Chookyblue for this quilt

Woo Hoo one to go.........and I'm excited!!!!!

Violet Wreath

Seed Packets

All together in the block

And waiting for Block I to join in to the rest of this beautiful quilt!!!!!

So after photographing the block I thought this was worth a special meal

I used Donna Hay's 50th issue birthday edition

and chose Veal Cutlets with Sherry Mushrooms and Giant Yorkshire Pudding

I had done this meal in a Cook Up before over here

I'm not a big mushroom fan but I have recently discovered Swiss Brown mushrooms and love them!!!

Yorkshire Pudding all cooked

Mr Armchair, JoJo and I think we should have this pudd more often!!!

Together with vegies a great meal on a cold night....

and I like a lot of sauce!!!

I thought I would include the recipe for Yorkshire Pudding...this one is a gluten free one and is adapted from the donna hay magazine

~  3/4C gluten free plain flour
~1/4t sea salt
~ 2 eggs
~ 2/3C milk
~ 2/3C water
~ 2 T oil...I used coconut oil which made for a very interesting flavour

Oven 220c
18cm round cake pan
Cook 25-30m
Serves 4-6

~  Place flour, salt, eggs milk and water in bowl and whisk to combine
~  Set aside for 30m
~  Pour oil into cake tin and heat in oven for 5m
~  Pour batter into tin and cook for 25-30m or until puffed and golden
~  Serve immediately

Some gluten free pastry from Rick's Pantry

Together with some Pampas Pastry

Topped with Strawberries and Cream......pure indulgence!!!

Bon Appetit......and Happy Stitching ~Dzintra~

~It's All About JoJo...La Scala Restaurant or The Phantom Mask~

We had an unexpected trip up to Canberra a few weeks ago...

JoJo had been looking at this Restaurant sign for months...

Everytime we went there...it was full...or the kitchen had just shut so this time I made an effort to get there at mid day...

What attracted her was the masked signage...

She calls it The Phantom Mask and she was so excited this time that we were on time!!!

La Scala Ristorante

Signage before entering...

Even though it wasn't Christmas it didn't stop JoJo wearing this tshirt...

Looking from the back of the restaurant to the front...

Our table was the end one at the back...

All around the room were these masks...which added to it all...

JoJo loves masks!!!

The menu...

Some of the wines on offer...

JoJo had King Prawns wrapped in Bacon...finished with Garlic, Wine, Cream and a pinch of Chilli...

Served with a Thimbal of Saffron Rice...

She looooves Prawns...

I chose Scallopina La Scala...

Veal Scallops with Bacon, Garlic, Chilli and Cream...

Very very tasty!!!

Chocolate Ice Cream for JoJo..

Casino Citrus...

Grand Marnier flavoured Ice Cream topped with Pistachio Nuts...

served with an Orange and Grand Marnier Sauce...

All so delicious!!!

We had a wander around and found there were many rooms to this Ristorante...

If I'm correct it was named after the famous Opera House of Milan......(above)...

Gorgeous dark setting...

A great idea JoJo......I think we'll have to do this again...

perhaps for somebody's birthday!!!

And check this out...

My Sister gave us a Frangipani cutting 2 years ago......(after we had bought an expensive one which didn't make it) and it has flowered...

just beautiful with a lovely 'beachy' smell...

And stay tuned...we have just had the most amazing week...

A Wedding in Sydney......Congratulations Damien and Thanh

A Roger Waters Concert......Thank you so much James and Danelle

The Harry Potter Exhibition in Sydney

A very special weekend (just the 2 of us) at Rick Stein's at Bannisters with James and Danelle giving us a bit of respite so very much needed...

how wonderful to just be able to laze about.......and enjoy being a couple...walking at our own pace......doing things when we are ready

And generally enjoying some 'freedom'......Something so very rare for us 

We rarely get away just the 2 of us...

I would be happy with a weekend away once a year!!!

Thank you so very very much James and Danelle...

We absolutely loved it...

This was a gift from James and Danelle for Mr Armchairs 'big' birthday last year which was glossed over as I broke my arm right in the middle of it...

I'll be back with pics of it all...