I love love LOVE Annie, she’s awesome. She was a great inspiration to me as a kid (remember Sisters Are Doin It For Themselves with Aretha?). Little Bird is one of those brilliant yet underplayed songs from the 90s.
Image of Annie via: Billboard
The flavours of summer right here in this gorgeously cheesy, tomato & basil tart. I whipped up a quick, fragrant and rustic pesto to have with this and it was perfect for a light lunch.
Blimey it’s hot here at the moment! So over Christmas I made some lovely iced coffee with spices and cream. I’ve always wanted to try coffee with cream from watching American movies and TV where they often ask for cream in their cups of coffee (it always sounds so lovely!). Anyway, it tastes wonderful but not necessarily good for the waistline at this time of year I suppose, so milk on it’s own would be just as refreshing and flavourful.
Widower Walter, a humble, quiet university professor plodding through a fairly institutionalised life in Connecticut years after the death of his wife, reluctantly travels to New York to read a research paper for a colleague in The Visitor. On arriving at his flat, he finds two asylum seekers living there and from that moment, his quiet, comfortable and mundane existence changes. I really don’t know how I missed this 2007 movie and I’m glad I found it as the characters are so lovely! I found myself caring so much for their wellbeing and happiness.
The film is largely character driven and looks at life for immigrants in the USA post 9/11 and is seen from two sides; refugees seeking a new home who simply wish for a modest life, democracy and safety, as well as a kind, gentle man who wants so much to help and do the right thing and in doing so, truly connects with people. This movie is ultimately about immigration, cultural identity and the rigid unfairness of detention centres and bureaucracy however, through learning the African drums, music and friendship, you also see Walter evolve and come out of his shell. Walter’s character is wonderfully sympathetic without being cloying and patronising (it’s difficult to make a movie about refugees or those seeking asylum from the perspective of a privileged westerner without going down the path of being pitying or insincere, however this movie manages to do it well).
The lack of obnoxious technology also sold me on this film because I generally think technology ruins movies, particularly movies where you care so much about the characters, 2007 being a world where people still read papers, before the influx of social networking and when mobile phones were, well, mere mobile phones.
If you liked Sideways and the Station Agent (same producer/director) you’ll enjoy this lovely and thoughtful film. A timely movie to watch now, even 7 years after it’s release, as the world we live in now has changed so much.
Images from the movie: The Visitor, USA, 2007, Groundswell Productions
This is a lovely, fresh and healthy salad I made recently. Now just to warn, it’s quite onion .. y so if you’re not into raw onion I would (Obv), leave out the red onion. The paper thin slices of vegetables aren’t mandatory but texture wise and as far as flavour goes, they do make this salad very light and crisp and the onion less sharp, however if you don’t have a mandoline, just use a sharp knife and slice as thin as you can. You could have this just on it’s own as a low carb and energy giving lunch but it was lovely with some buttered baguette, as most things are!
The Byron Bay Cookie Company giveaway has now closed and out of 171 entries (156 post entries + 15 email entries), the winner has been selected by random and contacted. Congratulations Merryl from New South Wales!
Thank you to everyone who entered and for such creative answers.
I love this lemony, fresh and sparkly cocktail; perfect for an aperitif (before dinner drink) around Christmas time.
(Limoncello is a really lovely, intensely lemon flavoured liqueur which is great in cocktails (obv.), champagne or even baking and trifles)
I’ve been neglecting my friand tin lately. It’s really just the egg yolks left over that throws me a bit but it’s always a good excuse to make luscious, home made custard or crème brulee.
Anyway, raspberry season is the best because I enjoy baking with berries more than anything and these look quite festive.
Woop! This is an awesome giveaway you guys.
Byron Bay Cookie Company make the most wonderful gourmet cookies which I’ve been buying for years and house three brands; Byron Bay Cookies, Falwasser Crispbreads and Luken & May Biscuits. They are an Australian company situated in Byron Bay who produce and sell a huge variety of these award winning cookies; they also have bars, crispbreads, gift tins and there are healthy options such as gluten free. They’re the closest thing to home-made cookies and treats you can have and can be found at the Byron Bay retail store, David Jones, Woolworths, IGA and various specialty gourmet cafes and stores; they also have an online shop for all your cookie needs.
Click here for more info on Byron Bay Cookie Company’s environmental philosophy, their journey from humble beginnings to becoming an award-winning company and where you can find their products.
Scroll down for the giveaway rules and have a go at entering.
The total value of the hamper is $104.35 including the basket and consists of:
o 1 x 150gm Seasonal Range gift box: Triple Choc Fudge flavour
o 1 x 25gm Bon Bon seasonal gift: Gluten Free White Choc Chunk & Macadamia Nut
o 1 x 25gm Bon Bon seasonal gift: Milk Choc Chunk
o 2 x Gluten Free White Choc Chunk & Macadamia Nut bars
o 2 x Cranberry & Almond Muesli Bar
o 2 x large gluten free Chai Latte cookies
o 2 x large gluten free White Choc Chunk & Macadamia Nut cookies
o 2 x large gluten free Dotty cookies
o 2 x large Triple Choc Fudge cookies
o 2 x large Rocky Road cookies
o 2 x large ANZAC cookies
o 2 x large White Choc Chunk & Macadamia cookies
o 2 x large high fibre muesli cookies
o 2 x large Milk Choc Chunk cookies
o 2 x large Dotty cookies
o 3 x Twin Pack White Choc Chunk & Macadamia Nut baby buttons
Thank you to Sarah from Keep Left and the Byron Bay Cookie Company for this delicious giveaway.
Some info you need to know:
