vw combi van salt and pepper shakers.

My friend Kelsie (yeah she has the same name as me, go figure) had a trip to Australia over Christmas and she brought us back these gorgeous things! Aren’t they fab? She got red to match my mixer and pasta machine.

Can’t even wait to crack them out at the next dinner party.

 

In answer to the complete lack of recipes here at the moment, I am sorry! Hash browns sorta counted and tomorrow I’ll discuss the perfect buttermilk pancake. But my main issue at the moment is that I am trying to master the macaron, and it is hard. But I’m not too worried seeing as David Lebowitz took seven attempts. My fourth attempt is in the oven now, and they are by far the best I’ve done so far.

karen walker jetplane.

My boyfriend got me this for Valentine’s Day last year, and now, three weeks away from Valentine’s Day this year, I’m just getting around to posting it.

new years haul II: mortar and pestle.

No, I didn’t have one of these. Sue me.

But my cousin got me one for Christmas – she knows me so well! And even better – it is RED. So it matches my mixer! And my pasta master!

I can’t wait to use this for: nutmeg, cinnamon, garlic cloves, fresh ginger, fresh herbs, lemon zest, etc. etc. etc.

Isn’t it pretty?!

christmas haul II: board games.

Tomorrow night is New Year’s Eve, and my boyfriend, a friend and I are headed to my parents house to celebrate. We’re taking board games, because we’re geeks. Just kidding. We used to drink a lot … then we realised it was more fun to drink a little, while doing something that’s fun on its own. Like playing board games.

Boyfriend and I have a mutual love of board games that dates back to a camping trip to Coromandel before we were together. The game we really fell in love with was one called Starfarers of Catan. It’s an offshoot of a more popular game, Settlers of Catan. And it appears they only made a few batches of it, because when I’ve tried to buy it online it’s been hideously expensive. Seriously – Amazon has one listed at $429. It’s out of print and now apparently quite a collectible.

If anyone reading this has a copy that they don’t want … *wink wink*.

For now, I may have to be satisfied with eventually picking up Settlers of Catan, which I have played and do love, though not with the same passion as Starfarers.

Anyway, we figured we’d start expanding our board game collection a while ago, and to this end, one of our great friends, Jin (see the link to his blog, 1 + 1 = 3, in my blogroll) gave us Monopoly! Even better: it’s New Zealand edition.

Monopoly, the first board game I ever fell in love with. Also known as: the game that will make you want to hurt your friends.

On our way back from doing some boxing day shopping, boyfriend was sad because we didn’t get anything for him – so I suggested we hit another mall and buy some board games. He was stoked with this suggestion, so we picked up both Risk and mini Cranium, which I believe is called Cranium Brain Breaks.

I’d never played Risk! I’ve heard it’s good, but until the other day had never played myself. I dominated my boyfriend at it. Felt a bit mean, really. But ah well, that’s board games.

And finally, Cranium Brain Breaks. I wanted to get real Cranium, but couldn’t find it anywhere so we got this instead. And it was cheap! Well, for a board game. Cost us about $17.50 from Farmers. Sweet!

 

Hope you’re all having a fabulous New Year’s. Somewhere, I am drinking cider and playing board games (as you may have guessed by now, this is a pre blog).

christmas haul.

Tomorrow’s post has no pictures. Not cool. So, this one will have ALL the pictures. Or at least, quite a few.

These are the pretties that my boyfriend and I received for Christmas, or went and bought in the boxing day sales. I love cooking gear. Sue me.

From my uncle and his lady friend, an oil can! I love this! Isn’t it freaking adorable? Being a poor student, I have filled the can which is clearly marked olio d’oliva with canola oil. I am sure they won’t mind, though. They also gave us some boutique olive oil, presumably to go in it. I shall be using that for dressings!

12cm ramekins. I’ve been after these for ages. Got 4 for $13 at Farmers – they’re on sale for half price. I wanted them primarily to use for making pot pies, but at the moment they’re in the fridge full of homebrew hummus (which you’ll get to see soon!).

Unsure what the official title of this gadget is. To me, it is a gnocchi skimmer. Cost $8.49 or something equally ridiculous.

A new mini-muffin pan. It drives me crazy when making tiny tarts that I can only do 24 at a time. Now I can do 48! Also, this is a Baccarat pan – they are AMAZING. And they come with lovely silicon grippy handles.

A frilly pie dish! I now have no fewer than three pie dishes. Isn’t it just gorgeous? And it matches my lasagne roaster and my 9cm ramekins. Success.