Food Moshing at Luxor Functions!

Time flies yet again... the big brother has finally graduated from his high school life! Tonight he was officially granted his certificate of Year 12 completion. Wow. It just seemed like yesterday when we were on the floor wrestling for who gets to have a turn with the good ol' playstation.

But every celebration whether they be sad or happy, always mean...FOOD! And Luxor Functions did mighty well with providing thee best!

Vhat vas on thee menu?

Entree

Chicken vol au Vent

or

Panzerotti

Main

Roast Beef and vegetables

or

Chicken Parmagiana

Dessert

Pavlova with Passion fruit Sauce

or

White and Dark Mousse Cake

For Entree, I really wanted the chicken vol au vent so I swapped with the dadsy even though he actually wanted it, being the sly fox and just the bestest daughter ever! For Main, we were both losers since dear mother took the chicken parma which we both were after and for dessert, I swapped my pavlova with his mousse cake but we eventually halved because he thought I was unfair for taking the good ones! Love you dad! 

Chicken Parmigiana

Best chicken breast ever cooked that I have tasted in my life...and that's saying something! It literally, cut like butter. There was no need to put so much effort with cutting a piece off, much like a saw and embarrassing yourself in front of many random eyes. Sauce had the perfect acidity and everything was just gorgeous! Too bad I got the roast beef...

Roast Beef with Roasted Potatoes, Capsicum and Beans

Though my heart favoured a good ol' parma, this dish was still very delicious and enjoyable to eat. I particularly love that crunchy bit on top. I can't seem to put a finger on what it's called, exactly, but I loved it! Downside: not enough sauce.

Half Marbled Mousse Cake and Pavlova

Two great desserts! I particularly loved the mousse cake. It was moist and oozing with flavour and the cherry coulis/sauce was gorg. Not a big fan of pavlova, I still quite enjoyed it but it's just so sweet! The un-captured passionfruit sauce complemented it well, though.

Whew! What a foodie night and thy tummy filled to the brim like a dwarf's pint and a half. Food Moshing at Luxor was a 4.5/5.

Healthy eating: Sammy & Bella's way.

Here we go, another holiday added to the year and it's time for some healthy but delicious eating! A big fan of My Kitchen Rules, especially the deserving winners, Sammy and Bella, I've dropped by in their very own website to have a quick look at their very own recipes.

Sammy & Bella: Food Explorers 

Coming from a Polish background, I was immediately interested with what the sisters offered to the culinary scene. Restaurant variety mostly include your Italian, Greek, Asian and Indian. Don't get me wrong, I love the stories behind each dish; from the high quality, top-hatted restaurants, to your grandma-and-grandpa's bistro at the corner of the street.

But I thought that I would definitely love to have a try of something different...and that's where the Jakubiak's Polish cuisine comes to mind.

Beetroot Broth with Wild Mushroom Tortellini

Remember this dish? Probably not...and that's where I feel the depravity of a show with a franchise not even close to the Masterchef giant, finally sinks in. This is Sammy and Bella's 10/10 dish which they cooked for their famous Olka Polka restaurant in MKR season 2. Beetroot Broth with Wild Mushroom Tortellini was their most traditional dish and a true testament to their grandmother's influence. Immediately when I heard the words 'Polish' and 'traditional' in the same sentence, I knew there was already something special about it.

So joining the band-wagon of supporters, I supported the sisters all the way through till they were crowned winners, disappointment and all after my much-loved Italian mummas were eliminated by them in a final that should have been a grand finale. But enough about the reminiscing and continue on with the recipes.

Food Confession 1: I do not eat lamb. 
Often my friends have told me off for this, especially dear R who believes that lamb is an absolutely gorgeous meat if cooked. I don't know, I just feel icky around lamb and the face cringes when people offer some to me.
But I just cannot resist how deliciously gorgeous this dish looks!

Korean BBQ Lamb & Nashi Pear Slaw Wraps

It looks so morish and though I dislike the word 'salivating' it does make one feel like that. Lovely, crispy greens, nicely coloured lamb and those lovely cut pears, julienned rather thickly. Exquisite stuff.

I soon must change my mind about lamb and attempt this dish. I must also let go of the junky junk of your ice creams in this ice-cream season of 28°, humid and getting higher holiday break and opt for the fresh and healthy.

 

Les du dis.

 

ps. don't forget to visit Sammy and Bella's website for their foodie adventures and delicious recipes! (Must hold back on the scented chocolate pots and homemade honeycomb!)

Garden Fresh

With dad being a keen gardener, I was ecstatic to find these seeds sitting comfortably on our bbq while I tried grabbing the ping pong ball, I embarrassingly didn't hit while the fam and I were having a little family sesh.

I'm really excited to see how they'll grow in the cold Melbourne Spring and the hot-as-ever Summer, but I'm sure that they'll be blooming in no-time! Not a gardener at heart or much of an outdoorsy and hands-on type of person unless you're talking about computers or sports, I will try my very best to go out once in a while and see the progress of these young seedlings and help out with some watering or two.

I'm already excited of the things I could make with them! But what makes it even more exciting is that when the seeds have gorgeously turned into their supposed vegetable or herb, there's no need for me to wait a good couple of days before we go grocery shopping or opt for the packet ones! All I need to do is to have a little walk outside, breathe in the fresh Spring air and pick out the best ones. 

Spring onions for some nice steamed fish, tomatoes for some home made pizza sauce and parsley for anything, really! Radish... I'm still thinking of what to do with them but I'm sure mum or dad (who's a good cook himself) would have something up their sleeve.

Fresh is best. Soon, I shall recommend growing some basil too.