Triple almond pavlova stack with dessert wine figs

Iteration 1

This dessert is based very loosely on Donna Hay's Almond Pavlova Stack with a few tweaks.  It is one of the easiest/simplest desserts I have ever made and a huge hit.  My Dad, the dessert-hater, had seconds and scraped the bottom of the serving platter.

This has been through 2 iterations and I think the second one is a winner.

For both iterations I cut the sugar back to 2/3 cup (I can't stand sickly sweet desserts).  I subbed the peaches for figs because it's coming into winter and there are no peaches at the supermarket.  I used about 4-5 figs.  I found a hand mixer was better and faster than the electric mixer but the electric mixer does work if you don't have a hand mixer.

For Iteration 1 (don't laugh) I couldn't find a corkscrew to open the bottle of dessert wine so I made a brown sugar syrup instead.  It was a decent substitute but Iteration 2 with dessert wine had much more of a kick.

For Iteration 2 I made 3 meringue discs instead of 2 (I prefer thinner and more layers) using the same 4 egg whites and also spread 3 layers of cream.  Belissimo!

Iteration 2

PS - these 2 pics go to show how much of a difference lighting and background make to food photos

Sydney Real Estate whilst Wedding Planning?

I don't know if I'm just a sucker for punishment but I've decided to get back in the house hunting rat race.  Because my crazy job plus wedding planning just isn't stressful enough.

We've found ourselves wanting bigger and bigger houses (the one we inspected yesterday had TWO dining rooms!), being willing to renovate (which we had previously ruled out) and expanding our budget (because seriously, Sydney real estate is cray cray).

I've been stalking domain.com.au, sending off enquiries and attending Saturday open inspections.  For the wedding I've also been stalking the internets, sending off enquiries and attending wedding expos.  If anyone knows of a ceremony location in Sydney metro which is outdoors-y (and maybe undercover) that can handle over 150 people PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!  Something like an outdoor balcony that has a roof is perfect but I haven't found one big enough for all our guests.

In other news, we have signed on the dotted line with our reception venue.  Another thing locked in.  So excited and relieved that I no longer have to think about this stuff.

Lastly, if you are an eBayer please change your password asap.  eBay was "compromised" and they are recommending all users change their passwords "just in case".

Getting my exercise on. Portugese tarts. Mutually exclusive.

Ever since daylight savings ended 7 odd weeks ago I found myself unable to walk home as it was way dark when I was ready to leave the office.  Then I had this hairbrain idea to..... WALK IN THE MORNING! It's brilliant - I'm still sleeping in til 8am but I'm in the office by 9am.

Here are some pics from my glorious walks:

You know what's coincided with my morning walks to work?  My consumption of Portugese tarts.

Also, is there a honey shortage in Sydney?

Do you slow-cook?

My slow cooker probably gets the biggest workout out of every appliance in my house during winter.

Why?

1. It's so easy to use
2. It's cheap to run
3. It makes a big batch which I can freeze and defrost on weeknights
4. It requires such little cooking effort from me
5. It's generally quite healthy (no oil and lots of veg)
6. You generally use cheap cuts of meat and root veggies which are both cheap
7. Minimal cleanup

I got an el cheapo slow cooker from the Good Guys for I think $25 but it has great reviews.  I usually chuck everything in at about midnight and leave it on low all night.  The next morning I wake up to the most amazing aromas floating through my apartment.

What?

In the last few weeks this is what I've cooked in my slow cooker:

• Potato and leek soup
• Pea and ham soup
• Chicken and veggie soup
• Massaman curry
• Beef stew

If you don't own a slow cooker, GET ONE.  It will make your life so much easier in winter.

If you slow cook, what are your fave recipes?

The weekend where I was social

Had a very social weekend which didn't involve work, score!

On Thursday I was able to pick up my finished wedding dress.  It is so beautiful and I absolutely love it.  Here is a sneak peek:

Friday night we took another couple to watch the Swans.  Kev's from Scotland so Tom talked him through the rules (Kevin: "Oh I think I get the game now.  The aim is to run around touching each other's bums?")

Saturday was family dinner night at the local Japanese restaurant.  Zomg love Japanese.

After dinner I took my parents to see Michael Buble in concert.  The opening act, Naturally 7, were amazing.

I managed to sleep in on Sunday which was amazing.  We headed over to my extended family's Mothers Day lunch.  Asians don't understand the concept of under-catering.

The rest of the arvo was spent doing some wedding-related stuff.  I opened a package to find some broken glasses we had ordered for the wedding.  Not cool.

For dinner we had potato, leek and bacon soup with chives and croutons.  I am in love with my slow cooker.  More on that next time.

More Louboutin love

Seems like I'm on a roll.  I have a few more pairs of Loubis coming my way.

I've been wanting Corneilles for a long time now and they have been SO hard to track down.  You know what hurts?  Finally finding them available in my size and then PAYING ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY DOLLARS to ship it from NYC to Sydney.  The things I do for red soles....

The material is called 'jazz calf leather' which is a polished calf leather meaning it has a slight shine to it.  I love this because patent is unforgiving in terms of comfort but the shine factor means it won't look as old and weathered as normal leather.

I love the super skinny stiletto!

A lot of people don't like the "beak" at the front but I love it.

I also trekked into 160mm territory which a pair of Daffodiles (affectionately known as Daffs).  I never really liked the look of them but I tried them on at David Jones and actually didn't mind them.  Plus they have my short tree stumps look so long normal.

Hooray for red soles!

Uluru

It was only a few weeks ago I was here but it honestly feels like last year!

Uluru was such an incredible experience, honestly worth visiting and ticking it off the bucket list.  I was doubly excited because it was my first ever trip with my friend S who I've known for 15 years.

What were the highlights?

Eating crocodile (before you ask, it tastes like canned tuna), seeing Saturn and Jupiter through a telescope (honestly mind-boggling) and sunrise + sunset at both Uluru and Kata-Tjuta (The Olgas).

I learnt some really cool things there.  Like one end of Uluru is 50 million years older than the other end.  We only see the tip (348m) of Uluru - there's actually 6km of rock underground.  The rock is similar to sandstone (likened to a sponge cake) whereas Kata-Tjuta is more like a fruit cake with bits and pieces of rock in it like this:

They call it the Red Centre for a reason!

If you go, be sure to book yourself into the Sounds of Silence dinner.  It's hard to think a $190 dinner is justifiable but it really is.  It's such an amazing experience and the food is honestly the best buffet I've ever had.  There's a video on instagram if you want to have a dig around :)  Just be wary there are dingoes walking around where you eat dinner but they are harmless and totally cute.

Dusk at Uluru is a very special time.

Kata-Tjuta is made up of 38 stones and 550m tall at the tallest point so almost double the height of Uluru.  Somehow it's not as grand as Uluru though.

Between 2 of the stones in Kata-Tjuta:

One thing I found interesting is that when a couple marry, the man goes to live with the woman's family/tribe.  Also they trace their ancestral lineage through their mothers and they say this is because they always definitely know who their mother is.

Anyway, definitely worth a trip if you can get out there.  48 hours is all you need if you're time poor.  Make sure you see both sunrise and sunset at both Uluru and Kata-Tjuta!!