Danielle
♥ The Paupered Chef – I may have put this one before.
♥ Oh, Sunday School – cute
♥ Red Bubble – for all you artsy folk, they’ll make cards and t-shirts and prints of your work for your customers.
♥ Quick Indian Cooking – because someday I’ll make it from scratch.
– 28 September 2008
Wow, so today ends the three-week vacation of 2008. My parents left on Thursday, and I’m still a little bit sad. The introvert in me didn’t always love the constant being with people and all the go-go-go we scheduled, but overall, it was so great. I think the best part is just being able to talk to them about stuff now, and they will have a better picture of what we’re talking about.
We really did pick up the pace, which was good considering the amount of rich food we also ate. But I am really hoping that we can continue that on our own. Sure we won’t be hiking through the Bunya Mountains or walking along the rocky shores of Western Australia, but it’s not too much trouble to find a park or bush trail around here.
I also have had a bite from the travel bug. I’m excited about finding new treasures in new places, even places close to home.
That being said, I’ve heard about a new park, we’ve got the foodstuffs for a picnic on hand, and we have yet to try out our new picnic blanket. Today might just be the day!
Posted in Nothing in Particular.
– 28 September 2008
Our flight path to Perth went right past Uluru. It was pretty amazing to see, even from that distance. I am hoping that we get there someday.
** Check out Seeking the Centre: The Australian Desert in Literature, Art and Film
Posted in Creative, Exploring, Photographing.
– 23 September 2008
With sunrises like this, can you see why I didn’t want to leave?
Posted in Creative, Exploring, Photographing.
– 22 September 2008
We’ve been busy.
We’re tired.
But we are having a great time.
Posted in Creative, Exploring, Photographing.
– 16 September 2008
We got up before dawn and managed to get the parents from the airport. We had an easy day with hanging around the house and a light lunch. Then we took them to Queen’s Park in Ipswich. Their nature centre is really quite good. It’s not quite Australia Zoo, but it IS free. No koalas or crocs, but it has wombats, goannas, wallabies, emus, kangaroos, lizards and birds of all sorts.
We also had a walk around the Nerima Japanese Garden. While you can tell it has been affected by the drought, it still is the greenest place I’ve seen in quite a while. It really is so peaceful and beautiful. I reckon we’ll be having a picnic there one day soon.
Then tonight we cooked dinner for both sets of parents. No culinary catastrophes to speak of. No embarrassing childhood stories. No lack of conversation. It was quite impressive for a first-time meeting.
Now we sleep.
Posted in Exploring.
– 11 September 2008
I have to say that things are looking… good. It’s not really the “finding places to stash clutter” that I’m worried about, it’s most definitely the “finding it all back again” part.
So now that it’s crunch time, I’m starting to re-look at what I REALLY need to have done before they get here. So the curtains may not get washed, but since they are staying in our room, the contents of bedside table drawers are getting repositioned, if you know what I’m saying.
It’s going to be good. Trying not to stress.
I have to say that things are looking… good. It’s not really the “finding places to stash clutter” that I’m worried about, it’s most definitely the “finding it all back again” part.
So now that it’s crunch time, I’m starting to re-look at what I REALLY need to have done before they get here. So the curtains may not get washed, but since they are staying in our room, the contents of bedside table drawers are getting repositioned, if you know what I’m saying.
It’s going to be good. Trying not to stress.
Posted in Nothing in Particular.
– 5 September 2008
Since I don’t really feel like doing anything anymore, I’m using this as a distraction:
Here’s a chance for a little interactivity for all the bloggers out there. Below is a list of 100 things that [very good taste] think[s] every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food – but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers.
Here’s what I want you to do:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.
The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:
1. Venison – I don’t think so
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp – ahh Minnesota summers
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J; sandwich – I’ve had bites but never an entire one; gross.
14. Aloo gobi – this is one of the dishes we get at our new favourite Indian place
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes – plum wine, mmmm
19. Steamed pork buns – perfect sweet and savory combo
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries – my aunt the mountaineer pointed some edibles one out on a hike
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans – one of our specialties
25. Brawn, or head cheese – I’ve been in close proximity, but don’t think I tried it
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl – I don’t dig the clams
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut – we had it for our Oktoberfest last year
35. Root beer float – oh how I miss A&W;!
36. Cognac with a fat cigar – separately but not together
37. Clotted cream tea – most recently at Newstead House a couple weeks ago
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more – $40 short
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut – meh
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads – nearly striken, but I could probably try if I didn’t know ahead of time
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake – I’ve had them all but would argue that they should be separate
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky – I love the strawberry ones
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. – not looking good with none in AU
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers – violets in my salad a couple weeks ago
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox – waste of a good bagel
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake
Posted in Cooking.
– 5 September 2008
