At my house....

Yesterday, we had a bbq lunch at home, Dad, Tiya Ning, Berry, Poppy Don, us and the kids. Mr Moo had requested a potato salad I hadn't made in a while. I dug out the recipe and that's what Miss Moo Moo and I were making when Spunky Monkey came into the kitchen. He wanted to make his own potato salad, he went into the garden and picked some fresh herbs and them came back in and took a potato for his salad. Once I realized that his potato salad was going to taste really good, I passed over half of the cooked potatoes, suggesting that we make two different potato salads, for everyone to share.



This is what went into Spunky Monkey's potato salad:

• parsley, picked and chopped by him
• basil, picked by him, the leaves torn or left whole, his choice
• garlic, chopped by him, chopped finer by me
• boiled potatoes
• sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped by him, roasted by me
• lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper, all added by him, after asking, "Mum, what else do you think?"

It was nice to know my opinion counted.

Everyone loved the salad made by my little masterchef. However there were also requests for my potato salad recipe.

Tiya Ning and Berry, you are not the first people to ask for this recipe. I thought I'd better share it.

Potato Salad with Sour Cream and Mustard Dressing

Serves 4-6

• 1 kilo new potatoes (halved and cooked)

for the dressing:
 
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 1/4 tables. dijon mustard
• 2 anchovies (finely chopped)
• 1 clove garlic (finely diced)
• 2 tables. parsley (finely chopped)
• 1/2 tables. capers (rinsed and roughly chopped)
• salt and pepper
 
• extra parsley for garnish (finely chopped)

In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix well. Gently fold through the potatoes and sprinkle over the extra parsley.

Cooks tip: I would add the dressing to the potatoes, not the potatoes to the dressing, as this may be to much dressing. It has been a while since I have made this dish and yesterday, Spunky Monkey took half of my potatoes, so I could not re-check the quantities.

I hope you are sharing some summer love in your kitchen too.

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At my house.....

This weekend has been lovely stay-at-home weather.

With lots of rain, we mostly hung out with Poppy and Tiya Ning, eating soup and drinking tea. The boys watched a bit of the Bathurst 1000 and had a quick walk in between downpours. The girls talked craft, books and food. There was also reading, board games, audio books (Fantastic Mr Fox), craft, puzzles, drawing, riding bikes in the garage, long bubble baths (the kids, not me, unfortunately) and ABC kids.

And.... No cooking.

On Friday night, Mr Moo and I went out for a belated anniversary dinner. We went here and ate amazing food with amazing service. Even the torrential rain could not put a damper on a lovely night. See Pitchfork's full menu here. We ate this:

Prawn stuffed zucchini flowers, rocket and aioli
Crispy skinned duck, asparagus, roast pumpkin, goats cheese, honey pine nut salad
Mixed leaf salad, apple balsamic dressing
Hot soft centered chocolate pudding, hazelnut praline ice-cream
Espresso brulee, choc amaretti biscuit ice-cream

With a good bottle of red wine, that was a gift and a couple of perfect macchiato's to finish off.

Then on Saturday night, we went to the club, our usual thing when Dad is here for the weekend. Here, we ate, as usual, their amazing roasted pork belly. Yummo!

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Also......

I would like to welcome my newest follower, Saskia from 'join my joy'

At my house.....

This morning, I whipped up these drawstring bags from some vintage sheets and op shop fabric. Hopefully this will keep the piles of dolls clothes more organised than they have been in the past.

With plans for this afternoon cancelled, I may even get some more small sewing projects done.

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At my house......

I have always wanted a English-style cottage garden. Rambling roses and a sprawling walled kitchen garden. It has taken me about 20 years to realize, that where I live, that is simply not possible.

So, it is with new eyes that I look today at the blooms in my own subtropical garden. It's grey, rainy and miserable here, but as I walk around our garden, delightful jewel coloured discoveries are being made.......

And they are brightening my day.

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