A Wynnum Morning Fix - Dramanti

A couple of times a week I like to go walking along Wynnum foreshore. This morning was spectacular. The water was calm, there was a slight breeze, and the sun shone like jewels on the water. What better way to start the day..... a few stretches and sit ups on the equipment as I walk around (that's for the benefit of Lisa, my trainer at Barbelles who isn't sure if I do anything when I have a day off from gym...).
When I've finished I always head to Dramanti just off Tingal Road by Pizza Hut. Tucked into the back of the carpark you might miss it if you don't have a good look.  They are open;
Mon - Fri 6.30am - 1.30pm
Sat - Sun 7am - 1pm

 We first came across Dragan in his Ann St shop in the city, just down the road from where Big Red works.  Dragan is a passionate coffee roaster and proud of his brew.  We usually have a bag of Dramanti coffee at home just in case the coffee urge hits. You'll find a great selection of the usual lunch fare.   The Wynnum store is coming into it's own.  I arrived there this morning to find that it has had a refit; the new shelving and layout looks great! The small outdoor area catches the sun and makes a nice place to sit on a cool day.

The staff are friendly, especially young smiley guy, and they make a consistent coffee. There are gluten free and gluten filled options, though at $4 a piece they aren't very generous.  I have to admit I have tasted a couple and they pass the niceness test.  They also have lactose free milk - thank you!

There is a good vibe in this place.  A great mix of people are there and they have provided excellent high tables along one wall to sit on and work at should you be free to move your office around with you!

Definitely worth a try if you are in the area.

Industrial Caffeine

Bilsens Bistro sits in the heart of the Geebung industrial area.  I dropped in there on Monday morning to have a coffee with a friend from my last workplace.  Bilsens is an oasis in a dreary work area. It sits unobtrusively on the corner of Robinson Road and Lisgar Street providing a quiet and pleasant space away from work.

The efficient staff, fresh, tasty and beautifully plated food and the excellent service sets Bilsens apart from other eateries in the area. Coffee is consistent and my piccolo today was just the wonderful hit of silky smooth caffeine that I needed.

I can't comment on the full menu because every time I have eaten there I have had the Salt & Pepper Calamari.  The entree size is perfect for a lady's lunch and at $14.50 is a reasonable price for a great dish. And,  they have no problem selling you just an entree.  It is served with a lovely salad and chips (ok , so they are a bit naughty but...). The calamari has been perfect every time and I have left been satisfied with my meal.  I have never heard any other diners I have been with grumble so overall a satisfying menu.

A Daily Specials board provides alternatives to the menu.  I have to admit the best one I have seen was the plate of Smoked BBQ Ribs, they smelt divine and the plate was so big that they seriously could have fed a small village.  I saw a few guys tuck into that meal and thought they might have had some explaining to do at night when they were trying to finish their dinner.

Next time you are visiting Geebung, Bilsens Bistro is worth searching for.

 

Magnificent Myanmar

At the end of 2009 I had the privilege of traveling to Myanmar (Burma) with an organisation called MyKids to work in an orphanage. It was an amazing experience. Too long because we got terribly sick but not long enough because the people were amazing, the food was good (except that one breakfast...), the sights were incredible and the need was enormous. We were based in Yangon but managed a trip up to Mandalay and Inle Lake for 3 days.

I also got to spend a few days traveling into the markets to buy household good for the orphange -  what an awesome experience. The matriarch of the family holds the purse in Myanmar. She is the one who you have to "seal the deal" with and it takes time to discuss the transaction, check that every item was in good condition and then count the money. Burmese people can count money quickly, you are dealing in huge wads of notes so you have to be smart about what you are doing. I would count first and then our interpreter would check the count and then the matriarch would check our check!!. Everyone was very concerned with getting a fair deal but bargaining was expected. 

The people were warm and friendly, the kids cheeky and beautiful. The women and children often wear thanaka, which is ground bark,  on their faces, ground bark. The beautiful young girl above had a lovely leaf pattern on her cheeks. She followed us for an afternoon and evening, chatting away in English and managing to sell us all beautiful cards.  She, like a lot of the kids, was persistent and cheeky but not unpleasant. she worked hard for her earnings and at the end of the day we treated her to a meal and a ride down the hill with us in the taxi. Unfortunately she  had to work to supplement her family's income. I do wonder what will become of her.....

We hired a taxi for a whole day / night.  Our driver was fantastic. He patiently waited for us, took us to good eating places and advised us on things to see and do.  The cost for the day was minimal for the convenience of having transport all day / night and the safety of having someone looking out for us.

We viewed the daily ritual feeding of 1200 monks at Mahagandayon Monastery. I personally found it an overwhelmingly sad experience.  There was no joy in any of these men, some of them very young. In fact, I felt really out of place watching the sight of them all coming out of the buildings and lining up for their one meal of the day. 

The monastery sitting on the top of Mandalay Hill was an opportunity for some great pictures. I managed to capture this one at the end of the day as the sun was beginning to set. While the view from the outside balcony is amazing and the sun was a fiery ball, the smog was horrendous.  It seems that plastic has made its way into Myanmar and the only way to get rid of it is to burn it which creates an horrendous stench usually in the afternoons.  The sun reflected on the mirrored tiles of the walkways and arches to produce a beautiful image. We also crossed 1.2 kilometre U Bein bridge, stopping to look at the artists painting with razor blades (amazing), the rice fields and the bird boats on the lake (see below right). The bridge itself is made of teakwood and is over 150 years old. Some parts of the structure looked dubious but we walked on it anyway.

 

Inle Lake was beautiful.  We spent the night at the Gypsy Hotel - $25 a night gets you a double room with sheets on the bed and your own bathroom plus breakfast - two eggs and tea.  I'm not sure how clean the sheets were,  and there was the midnight visit of the RAT, but that's a long story.  The next morning we set off with clear skies and freezing temperatures in a motoroised long boat to head across the lake to visit a church that was held in a large home that stood on stilts over the lake. We were provided with life jackets but I am pleased that we didn't have to test their float-worthiness! We were thankful for pashminas we had brought the day before.

All the homes were built over the lake. They had floating gardens defining the boarders of their "property". There were abundant crops and we passed many long boats full of tomatoes and other goods. The water in the lake is clear, there are water hyacinths everywhere (these are used for weaving) and the views from out on the lake are breathtaking.  We passed numerous fishermen rowing their boats by wrapping their leg around a long paddle at the back of their boats.

The food was lovely but there was nothing western to eat at all. When you order your meal the bowl you receive is actually quite small but the table is then laden with condiments and you are spoilt for choice. Food was cheap and fresh.  Our interpreter and our taxi driver were able to guide us to good eating places.

Vehicles were cheap to travel in but it was actually a difficult decision to get into some  because they had no seat belts, holes in the floor, windows that didn't wind up, and drivers that were chewing Betel nut which is a stimulant.  As a manager of WHS I had to switch on a different part of my brain, there were just no safe options! Motor scooters are everywhere, thousands of them, and they all belch thick black smoke and fumes that clog the back of your throat.


We saw great craft (weaving, silver ware), art, clothing, and handmade brightly coloured parasols. The parasol maker enjoyed my friend Deb's rendition of Singing in the Rain!  Jewellery is abundant with pearls, gemstones and silver in all the market places. Quality was not always great but the stall owners don't mind you checking the goods and finding the best ones.

I suspect that I traveled just on the cusp of the toursim wave hitting Myanmar so we didn't see many tourists. We traveled with a young interpreter which made life easy for us especially during negotiations in markets that were not for the tourists. However, many of the younger kids could speak English and were willing to try their skills out. 

Would I go back? Yes, in the blink of an eye.

Winter Warmers

It has been cold in Brisbane this year - really it has! So this year I pulled out a favorite recipe and made good old Bacon Hock Soup. YUM.  I have made this for years.  There isn't really a recipe because it changes according to what I have in my fridge or cupboard. 

I used to make this on Saturday mornings after a visit to the markets and in time to be eaten after morning rugby, soccer, hockey or netball.  There was nothing better than arriving home to the smell of warm soup when you were frozen to the bone. Hot showers, clean clothes and then a line up for pies, fresh bread and soup.  My kids always liked this soup.  While they weren't particularly fussy eaters, except for No.3, this was a great way to get fresh vegetables into them.

I recently took a pot of this soup to a communal dinner and it disappeared really quickly. When I feed it to others I am usually asked for the recipe so here you go for a nice winter warmer.

Bacon Hock Soup
1 Bacon Hock, throw the whole thing in skin and all
1/2 small Pumpkin - I prefer the grey skinned ones but any variety will do, skinned and chopped
3 - 4 medium potatoes, skinned and roughly chopped
2 - 4 sticks of celery, cut into small dices, chop the leaves and add these too
3 - 4 carrots, cleaned and diced
1/2 - 1 Leek, cleaned well and finely diced
These ingredient form the base and then I add anything else that needs using up like that odd 1/2 a tomato that no one will eat and will go to waste. Throw that in. I don't usually add too much tomato as it alters the favor too much. However mushrooms, zucchinis, broccoli, cauliflower and corn can all be added. Sometimes if I am short of fresh veges I will add some frozen ones if I have those in the freezer. The pumpkin and / or potatoes can be substituted with sweet potato if preferred. Add in some herbs if you like them, parsley and thyme work well. Dont season until the end because the bacon and the celery leaves will add saltiness to the  soup.
Method
1. Cut everything up and add it to a large pot (use one with a thick bottom so that nothing catches and burns) with the Bacon hock.
2. Cover with water and boil for a couple of hours.
3. Remove the Bacon hock from the pot and place on a cutting surface - it should be falling apart by this stage so be careful beacuse its hot!
4. Carefully remove all the skin and fat and then shred the meat off the bone.
5. a. For a chunky soup, use a potato masher mash to break up all the larger chunks of potato and pumpkin. (This is why you need to cut the other ingredients into small dice).
or
5.b For a smooth thick soup, through all the vegetables into your food processor and process until blended. 
6. Add your meat back into the vegetables, check your seasoning and add if required and then it is ready to serve.

I like to  cook this in the morning if I have time and leave it to sit with the bacon hock in it until closer to when it is eaten.  The flavours develop the longer it stands.  It is great the next day if you are lucky enough to have some left over.  Enjoy!!

Aotearoa - The Land of the Long White Cloud

OK, so you could say as a Kiwi I can't add New Zealand to my travels folder but...... I live in Brisbane and I do travel back to NZ regularly so I think it counts.  Plus, NZ is SUCH a beautiful place.

If you live in Australia then a trip to NZ is affordable. If you haven't been you might just like it.....

The multiculturalism in NZ will surprise you. The cafe culture is bountiful. The grass is green. The cows and sheep are in the paddocks beside the roads just out of the towns - our grandies thought that was amazing! With 40 million sheep in the country you are bound to see a few in your travels.

It's the land of Lemon & Paeroa (a drink only Kiwis love), Jandals, Edmonds cookbooks (essentail for learning the basics), the best deep sea fish - blue cod, black sand beaches and the best fish and chips! I could go on but I wont (very restrained my friends would say). Ah yes and then there is pavlova...... but we wont get into that here.

 
So just to give you a wee taste of why I love my homeland here is an amazing video called Aotearoa, the Maori name for New Zealand which translated means Land of the Long White Cloud.  When I saw this I just felt SO homesick. It is a beautiful land and my heart belongs there even though I call Australia home right now.

Mid Winter Christmas - Mains

I know it's not Christmas but how much fun is it to pretend that it is because its cold outside?  We have been holding monthly dinners with the family which involves any of the extended family and some close friends.  Sometimes we eat in, sometimes out, usually we have a theme and everyone brings something. It has been great to catch up regularly particularly when everyone leads busy lives.

So, we decided that July was time for a Mid Winter Christmas Dinner. I put the tree up, made a gingerbread house, and had them ready for when the grandies arrived - they were in decorating heaven!! The result was a rustic gingerbread house and a lopsided tree but they thought the results were wonderful. I think a few more lollies went into their bellies than onto the house though.

Starters were little skewers of tomato, bocconcini and basil, and then little morsels of salmon served on cucumber to whet our appetites. The main meal consisted of Guinness Baked Ham - the best ham ever and so easy - prepared by my son (yes my boys can cook) and adapted from a House & Garden recipe. He cut down the sugar and added some seeded mustard, the recipe is below. Chicken, roast veges, broccoli and lovely wines rounded out the main course.

Guinness Baked Ham
1 leg ham
750ml Guinness Extra Stout
Whole cloves
Glaze
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 teaspoons seeded mustard
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
3 tablespoons Guinness

Method
1. Heat your oven to 160C.
2. Cut the skin around the knuckle and then peel back the skin off the fat.
3. Place your ham in a roasting pan and pour in the guinness.  Reserve a few tablespoons for your glaze.
4. Cover ham with foil and bake for 1 1/2 hours, basting it a couple of times with the Guinness.
5. Mix all glaze ingredients in a bowl to make a thick paste.
6. Remove the ham from the oven, pour out the Guinness, score the fat into diamonds, stud each corner of the diamonds with a clove and then spread half the glaze over the ham.
7. Return the ham to the oven and turn up the heat to 200C. Bake for 30 mins and baste every 10 mins with the rest of the glaze.
8.  Rest the ham for 30mins and then enjoy!!



 

Mid Winter Christmas - the trimmings

Sometimes it is hard to wait.....

Mid Winter Christmas Dessert was to die for! A fabulous Cassata and chocolate coated Truffles came from Georgia's kitchen, and a Chocolate Almond cake topped with Gingerbread and Chocolate Macarons (gluten free) made by the fabulous Nadine of The Divine Family Tree. YUM! The smells, laughter and warmth of the night were worth the effort. Georgia's truffles are simple to make but morish, and she passed on her recipe. These are easy peasy so give them a try for your next dessert treat.

Georgia's Truffles
2 packs of Toffee Pops (but you could also use Mint Slice biscuits)
1 tub of cream cheese.
Chocolate Melts
Apricot (or any dried fruit) morsels for decorations
Method
1. Process the Toffee pops in a food processor until crumbly
2. Gradually add cream cheese to the mixture until the consistency is good for balling.
3. Pop them in them fridge for 30 minutes
4. Put the chocolate melts into a bowl and microwave until melted. If unsure, microwave in 30 second bursts
5. Dunk the chilled balls into the melted chocolate and place on baking paper to set. 

My Morning Fix

Blue Poppy can be found at 32 Asquith St, Morningside QLD, in the middle of suburbia. That's what is special about it, I've even seen the neighbours in their PJ's getting a coffee! On Saturday and Sunday mornings they serve their amazing Blue Poppy Boigers. I've found Big Red there a few times having a sneaky chomp. We started going there before Nick owned the place but we keep going because he's there! Keep up the great work Nick.  We love that your business is growing and we are even prepared to wait in line for a coffee. Open from early till about 1.30pm.

I have one coffee a day. OK, on the weekends maybe I sometimes have two but, they have to be good. I can be pretty grumpy if I get a bad coffee, I feel ripped off! So I figure the 6km round trip from home to Blue Poppy is worth it.  We have on occasions walked there, yes it's true.  6km is a plesant journey and there are enough routes to choose gentle or substantial hills. The crew at Blue Poppy provide efficient service, the atmosphere is warm and cosy on a cold day, there are free newspapers to read, Jenga to play (the grandies love that), casual music and a good vibe.  Plus there is a newly revamped playground and dog run just around the corner for those who have energetic kids and pets.

 

New Begininings

This week has been a week of new beginnings for me. I've started the blog (well, that has taken me a few weeks to start but I have "launched" it.  This is exciting because I am writing.  I've told people for years that I have a book in me but I just needed to start writing and here I am.  It's funny because I know that I have a voice for a purpose and I have always thought that was to speak (and yes, I do like to do that too, the bigger the audience the better....) but I am also finding my voice as I write and that is a discovery.  

I've started a new business this week; TWO HR, my Human Resource Consultancy. I needed a change from the 9 to 5 constancy of full time employment. I wasn't sure that I could keep doing it and maintain good levels of energy.  My creativity had dried up as my mind was consumed with work issues. It was time for change! I want to work collaboratively with clients and other businesses to create fabulous solutions in workplaces. My work will make someone else's life better. If you are intereted in how I can work with your business you can email me; denise@twohr.com.au

I have participated in the launch of Lifecity Church.  We had a great morning this morning, Sunday 27th July, celebrating the beginning of the church which is the result of a merge between River City Church and the Princess Church. We meet at the Princess Theatre which is an amazing historical building in the heart of Woolloongabba. I'm part of the creative team there and sing and lead with the band. New people, new experiences, new beginnings.  

 Finally that was all capped off by the news that a special friend and her husband had just welcomed their new son into the world in London. It's been an exciting few days.