Happy New Year!
In the end we had a very quiet night in. I made Smitten Kitchen's Vermontucky Lemonade (which I make often) and some spicy parmesan popcorn that was inspired by some popcorn that I spied here on Helen from Grab Your Fork's blog. We were able to see the top of the fireworks from up the street so we went out and saw the 9pm and the midnight sessions. It was a lovely, chilled out way to ring in the new year.
Shortly after Christmas I went around to my friends house for a picnic in their beautiful garden. We progressively ate and drank the following over several hours:
Fresh prawns with Tabasco or lemon or herb aioli, my salmon rillettes spooned into vol au vent cases, sparkling wine, Aperol and sodas, a ridiculously good salad made with leftover turkey, home made limoncello and a few bites of beautiful trifle. It was like Christmas day all over again.
The same friend made what thousands have pinned on Pinterest (but will probably never actually make, this includes me) - a pallet garden! He made it a few months ago and the succulents have really grown in. My friend has an amazing green thumb.
I had a night out with my cousin. We went to see Les Mis (I loved it and I cried because I am a sucker for musicals) - but before that we checked out Bar H in Surry Hills. The food here is spectacular but my top three dishes would have to be the steamed clams with XO sauce & saltbush, the Prawn toast with sriracha mayonnaise (pictured) and finally, because of a tip from this lovely lady on Instagram, the steamed beef bun with kimchi. I would have photographed it for you but we ate it before this was even considered - I will be back.
Did you know I am on Instagram? You can follow me here if you like!
I spent the last few days visiting my parents in Orange. I haven't been here in ages. It is very hot and extremely dry at the moment (my favourite time here is in Autumn). I liked the way the sun lit up the heads on the paspalum.
We went out to Hillside Orchard to get some peaches for an upcoming post. I ventured out into the orchard and was so happy to see these baby apples which will be ready for Autumn. I see apple pie in my future...
And that was my first week (and a bit) for 2013.
happy new year anna! may 2013 be even more delicious!
ReplyDeleteDear Anna,
ReplyDeleteLove those 2 big pieces of prawns toast! I have such fond memories of Orange with its food and wine culture so I know I would want to go visit again one day.
Wishing you and your family a great 2013!
Anna - I just love your photos and these week in review posts. Hope 2013 is a great year for you !
ReplyDeleteDear Anna,
ReplyDeleteI trust you had a marvellous New Year and by the sound of it you ate very well. I'd love to head out to Orange sometime to soak up the country air and pick fruit to my hearts content.
Your pics evoke the essence of summer holidays. Have a great 2013!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Anna! I loved Les Mis too and also cried. Dying to see it again! I love fruit picking! Never thought about going to Orange - I always go to the blue mountains for my apple picking fix hehe.
ReplyDeleteLooks to me like it's been a great start to the year for you Anna. There are some gorgeous shots here and those apples look very promising - unlike the ones in my own orchard which have been devastated by the birds who are eating them all while they are rock-hard and green. Just like last year. :-(
ReplyDeleteHappy NY! That pallet garden looks amazing...so pretty with the succulents (though I'd be stuffing lettuce and strawberries in one if I had it).
ReplyDeleteLovely beginning to the New Year: may it continue!! I love the pallet garden too - suddenly a lot of people are trying these out! Wise to use succulents for the first one as they are pretty hardy . . . great photo!
ReplyDeleteLovely post Anna, so much good stuff and so summery and relaxed. Looking forward to seeing what you did with the peaches...and the apples in the future! Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a wonderful holiday, Anna! The salmon rilletes vol-au-vents sound amazing, and I love anything with shrimp! In fact, my recipe newsletter was almost all shrimp recipes this month. Mark and I recently had a drink called a Venetian Spritz - Aperol and prosecco. It was delicious - my first Aperol. We went out and bought a bottle. Good stuff, that! Happy New Year! ~ David
ReplyDelete