Rest of trip

Day 1 - Tuesday, 18th March
Had nasi lemak at the Airport Restaurant before we left. And feeling really bored on the flight. Arrived at 8.45 pm, and Z and her son D, were waiting for us at the airport. Arrived at her apartment at around 9.45 pm. Both of us were very excited while we planned what we were doing the following day.

Day 2 - Weds, 19th March
Z cooked breakfast - beef sausages & scrambled eggs on toast. Of course, our first stop was here!!! Gorgeous weather. Broke for cake and coffee early afternoon to strengthen ourselves for more shopping. Headed home at 5 pm to cook dinner. Steak with a garlic butter and non-alcoholic red wine sauce. Grilled assorted vegetables and potatoes fried with onions.

Day 3 - Thurs, 20th March

We thought Target opens at 8.30 am, that will explain why two anxious looking ladies were at their doorstep just before to find that they opened at 9 am; so we headed to Coles for a quick look around. Went back to the apartment heavily laden down with more shopping/beddings at 11 am. Had the famous Nando's chicken (extra spicy) with chips before we headed to China Town for Z's weekly stock-up of meats and vegetables. Dinner tonight was a simple Chicken and Mushroom Cream Sauce over pasta. Today was a wonderful shopping day - lots of great buys.

Here's Z entering Oroton.

Day 4 - Friday, 22nd March

Go to this post!

Day 5 - Sat, 23rd March

Last day of shopping so things were a bit frantic! I had Vietnamese Beef Noodle and Z had some Indian food at a Food Court nearby. Mine wasn't very good - too much msg and the beef was terribly overcooked and flakey. Z's food was very tasty though. Another great shopping day.

To make up for my terribly inadequate lunch, I insisted on stopping here to have 'tea', which turned out to be Fish & Chips for me and Squids in spice salt for Z. They were delicious.

And for dinner, I made Seafood Pasta which was quite popular with the boys.

Day 6 - Sun, 24th March

Easter Sunday - our lunch was this. And dinner was this. And plenty of snacks (wasabi macadamias, ice-cream, cheesecake, cookies, fudge cakes, nougats and more) in between.

Flight was at 1.30 am; and I left the apartment at 10 pm to get to the airport in plenty of time to shop around to find that all the shops were closed. Slight flight delay so I sat around trying to amuse myself by taking random pictures.

Arrived home 6 hours later after a fabulous break. Here's a sneak peek of Z with me in her kitchen. Thank you for having me!! xxx

And that concludes my Brisbane trip!

Photo taken from their alfresco dining area just before I left.

Fri, 21st March 2008 - Day 4

We had Mamalobengs for lunch today! (oops, that sounds wrong) - Mamalobengs came for lunch today (that's better) :)

As it was Good Friday, ALL shops were closed (sigh) so cooking preparations started early before anyone stirred.

The kitchen was in a flurry of activity with one cook, chopping, dicing, blanching, stirring; happily away. I've already done a quicky post here but this is a more detailed one.

Roast Honey Mustard Chicken (Before and After) - left the tongkeng intentionally on. The big lumps under the skin is butter/chopped fresh parsley.

Roast Beef with Herb Crust (Before and After)

A simple green salad with lettuce/asparagus/corn/tomatoes/cucumbers & brocollini. With a dressing made with crushed garlic, dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, chopped parsley, salt/black pepper and olive oil.

The Sauces - Creamy Mushroom Pepper Sauce for the Beef and a slightly runnier honey mustard sauce for the chicken. Salad Dressing is on bottom left.

Jacket Potatoes served with Sour Cream and Chopped Spring Onions

Hazel's 10th birthday party - Thurs, 27th March 2008

We had the kids come from the neighbourhood come round; they were incredibly cute, funny and insisted on some games. So we had inpromtu statue dance, musical chairs, imitating robots, animals & cartoon characters and balloon blowing.

The 10th year old had a heart shaped cake and 10 doughnuts.

My room was turned into a temporary gaming centre by Mark and his friends.

And for food, we had honey/mustard chicken wings on skewers, gingery drumsticks, rosemary garlic lamb cutlets, noodles, salad with homemade dressing and a potato salad; chicken and beef sausages on skewers.

Sauces were Coleman's mustard for the steaks, Nando's Extra Spicy Peri-Peri Sauce for chicken, and chilli oil for the noodles.

Happy kids.

Mark and his friends.

Searching high and low for cooked food pictures, I realised I only had one of the steaks so here it is.

Happy birthday again, Hazel!

The children giddy from dancing, food and sugar, and laden with party bags, leaving on their little bikes.

And something I am very proud of - the helper and I made a magnificent fire for the BBQ today; here is the heap of gorgeous white hot charcoal perfect for grilling the meats.