MIDSUMMER NIGHT

We call it Noc Swietojanska back home and it is celebrated always on 23rd of June

Today it is 24th of June and last night I kept on thinking how it was when I was young living back home and celebrating that magical night with my friends.

And it was crazy, warm, magic, sweet, wild night full of stars when dreams come true and you celebrated until you can't move anymore.

It lasts all night until sunrise.

People dress in traditional Polka dress, and girls throw wreaths  made of flowers into rivers.

We used to go for swim in local lake and made big fire, all girls ( sometimes boys too) wearing beautiful wreaths and throwing them in the lake.

I have found some pics on line to give you feel of that magical night (didn't have my slr back than)

I have played it on and on last night in my head so it feels like I was there with my friends being young and wild again.

Family cooking book

I always had on my mind to create family cooking book.

We have a draw in our kitchen where I collect all good recipes hoping one day I can put them all together and create our family cooking book for my beautiful boy.

I think the easiest way to achieve it will be to use my blog to start working on it.

The book is going to be a collection of my mum's polish recipes, some great staff I have tried while traveling and from my hubby's family.

I will start with our favorite bfast recipe - my first one will be French toast with fruits.

It is actually my hubby's recipe he saw it one day on telly and start doing for me as a treat on Sundays very soon regretting it as I love it and he is sick of doing it every weekend.

It is very easy one for sweet tooth people.

All you need is:

* French brioche
* egg
* milk
* butter
* icing sugar
* fruits (best with apricots)

Slice brioche, soak in milk/egg liquid.

Fry on butter, serve with fruits and icing sugar

What my hubby does he slices apricot and put inside brioche creating little pockets filled with fruit, fries it and put in the oven for 10 minutes so apricots get soft and warm and this is the best way ever to do it.

... downside he does get grumpy as he doesn't like peeling and slicing apricots ...

Enjoyxxx

Queen's birthday

Not that I think I am a Queen but last weekend I had my bday and luckily it was also a long weekend celebrating Queen's bday here in Oz.

I had whole 3 days to celebrate in style like a Queen.

Having said that my nan always was telling me we have royal blue blood in our family  - I would have to investigate it one day:)

Coming back to reality I had a ball last weekend.

All started at work with nice German cake from my favorite bakery King of Cakes and finished in amazing Euro restaurant.

I haven't heard about it before but I have heard about Euro's award winning sister Urbane the ultimate foodies experience.

The great thing about it is that food comes from the same kitchen but it is much more affordable than Urbane.

I am using pics from their website as it didn't feel appropriate to take pics during dinner.

First things first - food:)

For starter I had ham hock terrine which was ok as well as creme caramel for desert but what blew me away was main - a beautiful cabassi wagyu eye fillet with  portobello mushroom puree and madeira sauce
It did top my list as I have never had such a beautiful meat dish in my life before.

The venue is very nice has a New York style feel and service was great felt like royal bday for me for sure.

*SPRING*

Going back down memory lane my first cooking class was in London @ Jamie Oliver cooking school in Clapham Junction. I did it with my lovely friend Megsie, I still remember it was Thai green chicken curry.
It was great fun and I loved that place. There I learnt my favorite dish smoked makrel pate.

When I have first arrived here in BNE in 2011 I was lost couldn't or didn't know how to start my life again, left all my friends back in UK and all places I loved and knew behind.

I did think about doing cooking classes again but once you stop doing something it is so hard to start doing it again.

 All was grey until last week when I got a surprise present for mother's day - a cupcakes baking/decorating master class.
And yes I got the bug back I loved it and I want to do it again.

The cooking school is part of Spring restaurant in the city. I love the venue very fresh and modern. Cooking room is very well equipped with all advanced technology and cooking toys (kitchen aids).

The chef was great sharing own secrets and showing how to beautifully decorate yummy cupcakes.

She even let my boy to pick me up earlier and have some fun with me.

The best thing was that I have found new place down under for cooking classes.

I did have a pleasure to dine there again with my friend Edyta and we both had pumpkin risotto with goat chesse followed with yummy panna cotta.

I am planning to do French classics next as we have winter starting here and a home made cassoulet would be just perfect.

Lavender farm

Last weekend we finally made it to Kooroomba lavender farm.

I don't know if we felt like doing "walkabout" or I was just  missing Europe so deeply and wanted to feel like in France again for a while.

The website says: Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm provides a southern France experience on the doorstep of Brisbane
Well it was not really doorstep as it was about 90 km from home and not much lavender there:(

Even a bit disappointed we did manage to have a nice afternoon exploring the vineyard, having nice afternoon tea, doing wine tasting and stocking up on wine.

We did enjoy peace and nature around and beautiful scenic rim country drive as we got lost a bit.

It is a beautiful place to explore but be prepared that there is not much lavender around, not really southern France experience.

50 shades of grey

Well it has been a very difficult week for me as we have finally reached the deadline of choosing exterior color for our beloved Queenslander.

It was everything else but not an easy choice.

We spent whole Sunday morning driving around Windsor, Norman Park, Ascot … and many more trying to find a house we would like and copy it.

From all we have seen with my indecisive husband we only liked dark colors with white trims.

But when it came to painting and we saw it on the wall (thanks God only bottom part) he almost got heart attack as it was too dark for him.

As I do love my husband and want him to stay alive  I had to nicely ask our painter ( great man) to make it as light as possible for the rest of the house.

I am a little bit angry at myself for listening to everyone opinions and getting so confused at the end.

The only moral I have learnt from that is always listen to yourself and stick to your first choice.

Sad but true ...
Photo of our house before painting below… and end product.

Breaking the routine/the leadlight workshop

Being Mum, full time state credit controller and having own ‘ The Block’ happening at home (most of the  weekends) doesn’t give you enough time to do something for yourself.

One of my NY resolution was to start doing things only for myself and breaking routine as life will not wait for your kid to grow up or for closing a month at work.

After weeks of  thinking what should it be I chose lead lighting. I did it a bit while living In Berlin so decided that it is a very good idea to continue and make something for our bedroom’s bay window.

I found a leadlight workshop held at Brisbane Institute of Art with beginners and advance classes. I am doing a refresher class where you have option to purchase own tools and do a small project if you wish to continue later at home and not to do advance class.

I am loving it, all things I knew came back to me and the best thing is having time for myself.

The team is lovely and teacher very open minded and supportive sharing all his knowledge with you.

I am almost about to finish first part and starting to design/copy project for my bay window.

Like all of us I started my research on Google and found my new architectural love Frank Lloyd Wright – just loving  his style.

All stained windows I have picked from Google were his design and this is how I discovered him. I am copying below my favorite ones  for you to see how great he is.

For further info about workshop please check out my reviews on weekend notes

Pics of my first project coming soon…