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Yum : Potato & Leek Soup

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I made this soup for lunch on Sunday and it was delicious – so here is a classic autumn soup for you to devour:

Potato & Leek Soup

  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 50g butter
  • 1 leek – trimmed and thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic – thinly sliced
  • 500g desiree potatoes, peeled, roughly chopped
  • 1 spring onion, thinly sliced on the diagonal
  • Sour cream and toasted crusty bread (optional) to serve

Method

  • Heat oil and butter in a large, heavy-based saucepan over high heat. Add leek and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until leek is softened.
  • Add potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, for a further 5 minutes
  • Add 1L water to pan and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low–medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender
  • Using a stick blender, blend leek and potato mixture in saucepan until smooth. Season with salt and pepper
  • Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle over spring onions. Top with a swirl of sour cream and serve with toasted crusty bread, if using.

Source:  Taste Recipes

Rektango

I was very proud of myself on Friday night!  Cath (my sister) had popped around to have an after work ‘catch up’ including a beer (for her) and some chippies.  She was going out after our place to Rektango and as I was clearing up after Poppy’s dinner, I said:  “Wow, I would love to

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Vale Bob McMahon

It was with deep sadness that I attended the funeral of Bob McMahon in Launceston today.  I worked with Bob at Tasmanian Expeditions in the late 1990’s and Tasmania has certainly lost one of its true characters. Bob was such a vivacious man who touched so many – I can still hear his infectious laugh.

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Smitten Merino ♥

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Today I am loving local brand Smitten Merino.  As the temperature takes a little dive in Hobart, I am pulling out all of my winter woollies, which consist of Smitten Merino.  Owners Carl and Nic are an amazing couple who I met professionally several years ago.  Each year my Adventure Tour Guiding students are equipped with a Smitten Zip Neck Top to get them through their studies and we have been extremely happy with the quality of the tops. Check out my testimonial here.

Smitten Merino produces premium super fine merino wool clothing and outdoor thermals.

Authentically Tasmanian, we understand rapidly changing weather conditions and the need for base layers.

Our clothing range includes t-shirts, wrap dresses, tops, leggings, crew shirts, hoody’s, zip tops, cardigans, skirts, yoga pants and even underwear for men, women and children.

Spun from premium merino wool our clothing is soft, light, form fitting and easy to care for – giving you a little piece of luxury that looks and feels right.

100% of our wool is sourced from local premier wool growing regions and driving our business is a passion to produce Australian made garments that are natural, sustainable and environmentally aware. Our manufacturing is all done within Tasmania.

Tried and tested by known athletes, outdoor adventurers, thermal lovers and those who want beautiful but classic wardrobe items, Smitten is for everywhere you want to be.

Smitten

Smitten Merino

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Sneaky Peek : Peppa Pig Birthday Cake

Today you get a ‘Yum’ and a ‘Sneaky Peek’ rolled into one – “How to make a Peppa Pig Birthday Cake”!  I had so much fun baking, icing and decorating Poppy’s 2nd Birthday Cake – I can’t wait for all of her birthdays in the future!
 

Simplicity Cake

  • 1 cup self-raising flour
  • ¾ cup caster sugar
  • ½ cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 60 g butter – melted
  • 2 tbsp cocoa
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Method

  • Sift flour and cocoa into a bowl and add sugar
  • Add butter, eggs, milk and vanilla and beat with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes
  • Pour into a well-greased 20 cm tin and bake at 180°C for 30 minutes
  • Ice with butter icing when cold.

Source:  Best Recipes

I doubled this recipe for Poppy’s cake.  Once cooled I then looked at ‘Peppa’ on my computer and played around with getting the right outline. After carefully cutting the cake to get the basic shape of ‘Peppa’ I then iced with a butter icing (using the recipe on the back of the Icing Sugar packet and the Thermomix).

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I bought several packets of Wilton Rolled Fondant which I had never used before and to be honest was a little ‘wigged’ out about how to get the icing on the cake.  I did find it to be quite therapeutic kneading the fondant and adding the right about of ‘pink’ hue.

Surprisingly I found it more forgiving than the butter icing I used for Poppy’s 1st Birthday Cake as you could mould over any imperfections, and believe you me, there were plenty!

Wilton Fondant

So I was quite pleased with how little “Peppa” turned out.  Nick did mention that he thought it looked as though Peppa was smoking.  Mmmmm … now you mention that Nick??

PS:  Today is Poppy’s friend, Luka’s birthday.  Happy Birthday Luka.  xx

Celebrations Galore

Apologies for the delayed post – it has been a busy weekend of celebrations!  On Friday afternoon/evening we had a ‘Peppa Pig’ themed party for Poppy.  I went all out and I bought cups, napkins, loot bags and decorated the house in all things pink! It was wonderful to see Poppy totally enjoy herself, blow

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2 Years Old Today!

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Here is our little cherub when she was a wee baby and today, Poppy turns TWO!  Oh how she has grown.

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It is difficult to articulate the joy Poppy has brought Nick and I over the past two years.  Seeing her in these photos as a tiny little baby almost feels like she was a different person.  This time two years ago I was in a whole world of pain, but it was definitely all worth it when at 10.08 pm she was brought into our world!

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I think I have been more excited about Poppy’s Birthday than anyone.  We are having a party this afternoon for some of her little friends, and I have been baking and decorating her cake, wrapping her presents and reminiscing about the past two years!

This morning Nick and I went into Poppy’s room singing “Happy Birthday” and she repeatedly pronounced:  “Poppy’s Birthday“!  She was very happy about her new Mini Micro Scooter and Nutcase Helmet.

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Beanie ♥

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Today I am loving Poppy’s new beanie from Cotton On.  What a beauty – and a necessity as the days get cooler here in the south!  You can never go wrong with a pom-pom.

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Cotton On Beanie

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Sneaky Peek : 50 Years

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This Sunday we are celebrating my Mum & Dad – Ross & Val Gibson’s 50th Wedding Anniversary!  What a feat – 50 years of happy marriage!

There have been numerous emails pinging between my siblings to organise a community celebration.  Cath took the lead initially with a list of duties to be completed.  My duties included designing the invitation (see below), organising newspaper advertisements and writing the speech.

I love these photos and I used to pour over them for hours when I was a child.  I also love Mum’s stylish dress (which she made herself) and her classic headpiece and veil.  When we were kids we used to put on her veil and dress and dream of the day we would be married!  Check out the photographer with his ‘high-tech’ gear in the photo above.

I am looking forward to spending a family weekend together, celebrating such an amazing milestone!

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Yum: Thermomix Fever

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I don’t have a specific recipe for you today, as I have been too busy with Thermomix® Fever!  Nick’s Mum very generously bought us this little beauty in readiness for our expanding family in August.

I was quickly converted after a demonstration party at her place a couple of weeks ago and couldn’t believe how versatile this appliance was.

Thermomix is the most advanced kitchen appliance on the market today. The product of more than 40 years of German design and innovation, Thermomix unites the functions of over 10 appliances in one compact unit.  Functions include:

Chopping

Beating

Mixing

Emulsifying

Milling

Kneading

Blending

Cooking

Steaming

Weighing

Melting

Over the weekend I have made Mushroom Soup, Chicken & Corn Soup, Pumpkin Soup, Vegetable Stock, Chicken Stock and last night Nick made a delicious Gravy for our Chicken Roast.

It is so quick and easy – so watch this space for more recipes!