mosaic road

Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts {of food]

And the reason for that is that it never stops. Platter after platter followed last night at Jim's Greek Taven. The place was heaving with people eating and talking, there were at least 200 people eating in that cavernous restarant. 

We had hot bread and dips and antipasto type pickled vegetables, saganaki, vine leaves, fish, calamari, lamb from the spit, Greek salad, spicy rissoles, skewers of lamb and then finally dessert appeared.

And what wonderful desserts they were - baklava, Turkish delight, halva and my favourite galaktaboureka. No plate throwing allowed anymore by the health and safety regulations so instead we ate, drank and chattted till very late . Consequently today has been a bit of a lost day spent in recovery mode.

 

Jim's Greek Tavern: citysearch

'No menu', you cry, 'but how will I know what to eat?' Do like the locals do and consult the clued-up waiters who, amid the demands of  clamouring patrons in this bustling taverna, never miss a beat. Most of the action is out the back and, on a warm night with some BYO ouzo in your belly, you could almost be in Athens.

via melbourne.citysearch.com.au

I am off to this restaurant for dinner tonight - I love Greek food but often make the FATAL trap of eating way too much of the hot bread and dips then not being able to squeeze in another thing !!!

No Evil Spirits Here !

Yesterday I was given this enormous bunch of rosemary so I have hung it upside down to dry . Apparently rosemary is meant to ward of evil spirits and also another fact, unknown to me, is that in gardens where rosemary grows profusely a woman usually heads the household !! The only thing  I really know is that it goes brilliantly with roast lamb and makes a marvellous hedge.

I Never Thought I'd See the Day !!

I do list on Ebay and sell things for friends but I got a surprise phone call yesterday from a young Irish gardener who did some pebbling/gardening for me some time ago. He asked me to list a CONCRETE MIXER for him !! He came round, dropped it off and I listed it! I am unsure how many people are keen to bid on such an item but it's here in my yard awaiting !! Pick up only !!

Summery Thoughts

A perfect balmy evening on the deck

A glass of champagne

Hearing the birds early

Warm dusk walks with the dogs

Long hours of sunlight

Buying sunscreen and needing it

The smell of ripe mangoes

Seeing the end of coats and extra blankets

Watching the tomatoes and basil grow

What's for Dinner ?

Well the answer to that age old question for tonight is risotto, pea and mushroom. I am not a patient risotto maker so this would be the "philistine" version where all the stock and wine goes into the pot in one hit, the timer is set and the cook returns at periodic intervals to check it hasn't boiled dry !!! End result is a good mid week family dinner.

Can I do it ??

Yesterday's post "Kelly's Cake" was a fabulous recipe from a blogging pal in Ottawa.  Today I intend to try and add the link to her gorgeous blog so you can all enjoy her interiors, articles, giveaways and dog pages. So here goes - click here ! It worked - I must admit not on the first go though ! Now I want to add a link to her exciting Christmas bake'n blog - I am looking forward to participating so click here for all the goss on this.

KELLY"S CAKE
I combined the wet ingredients separate from the dry ingredients, then added the dry to the wet, then the raisins & choco chips. I baked it at 350 for 60 minutes, and it came out perfect :-)

1/2 cup melted shortening or Mazola oil
1 cup white sugar (I used half white & half brown)
2 eggs
1 cup pumpkin
1-1/2 cups flour (I used 1 cup white & 1/2 cup whole wheat)
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup raisins
about 1/4 cup chipits or more if you want!
The recipe calls for 375 degrees for 45 to 60 mins. I usually use 350 (depends on your oven) for approx. 60 to 75 mins.

Warm and Doughy

Last weekend I was handed through my door a warm, steamy and damp paper bag full of delicious doughiness. Inside were doughnuts, not of the Krispy Creme variety but a type I had not seen before. They had been purchasd in a bakery in a far off suburb, apparently a highly sort after speciality that vanishes very fast and very early on Sunday mornings. The baker is a Nubian man. I discovered via Google that this means he comes from Northern Sudan and these doughnuts, full of sultanas and doused in a heavy coating of "sugar lips' castor sugar are called lagaymat.

A Horse is a Horse, of course of course.......

How cute is this - a mini minor horse !! It is 10 days old and 15 inches high. Currently the size of a new born lamb, it will grow to 24 inches by adulthood. It was born in rural Victoria and the local community is having a naming competition.