Thursday, March 24, 2011

Waiting for the ferry...










Just happened to be out on the bike and decided to take Berowra Ferry. Glorious morning - apart from all the cop bikes and cars. Middle of the week! I ask you, what sort of behaviour is that? It's rude, that's what it is.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Mice













Looks like a rather large mouse has been secretly sampling my glazed orange and poppyseed cake! Mmmm, I wonder which mouse?


Saturday, February 12, 2011

The best boots in the world?










RM Williams riding boots and cherry red Doc Martins!

Muffins










Cheese, bacon and chive on the left, chocanana on the right and all before the sleepyheads rose!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

42 degrees and counting









Hottest consecutive days on record coming up! The experts reckon we will have 7 days of 30+ temps to deal with. The swimming pool looks very inviting!

Monday, January 31, 2011

Biking on a lazy Sunday morning

We stopped for coffee at Spencer, on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. Not a cloud in the sky! M and G posing, as usual!

Friday, January 28, 2011

My spicy tomato sauce recipe


The secret to a rich sauce is not to rush it!

2 x tbs of good quality olive oil
1 x onion, chopped
2 x red chillies, finely chopped (leave the seeds in if you want some extra heat)
2 x cloves of garlic, crushed
2 x tbs of tomato paste concentrate
1 x tsp sugar
1 x 440g tin of chopped tomatoes
1 x tsp of dried oregano, dried basil, dried parsley - use a handful of chopped fresh herbs if you like
1 x cup of chicken stock

Gently fry onion in olive oil for 5 or 6 minutes until soft. Add garlic and chillies and gently stir fry for 1 to 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and fry for 3 or 4 minutes stirring (this gets rid of the bitter taste of the paste).

Add sugar, stirring for 2 or 3 minutes to partially caramelise the onion/paste mixture.

Add tin of tomatoes and herbs, stirring until bubbling. Add chicken stock, salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, then turn heat down and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

I like to add pitted kalamata olives or a tbs of capers for extra taste.


Thursday, January 27, 2011

Middle age spread has finally won!

Any riders out there looking for an as-new pair of Teknic Racing Leathers? Suit 6' plus rider. Never been down the road.

Monday, January 24, 2011