My birthday dinner!

In a previous post I promised that I would put up here any photos I took of my Beef Wellington creations.

Well, needless to say I forgot to take photos until I've started eating, but here is what the Wellington's looked like after a few bites were taken out.

The dish actually looked a bit more appetising when I served it because it also had some green asparagus on the side.

Mind you, anything that could go wrong on the night did.  I arranged the dinner for early Sunday night - as it was a school day the next day.

So everyone came over by 5.30pm as invited.  To begin, I lost track of time and didn't even start cooking until almost 5pm.  I thought, that's plenty of time, but what I hadn't taken into account was that I also had to create a vegetarian version for my only vegetarian friend.

Dinner was finally served around, I think, 8pm and the asparagus was overcooked, the carrots were a bit undercooked and the puddings were almost as hard as rocks.  At least both types of Wellington's were beautifully done and nobody could complain about them!  The entrees of Bruschetta dressed with Balsamic Vinegar were also nice and very tasty.  Sorry I forgot to take photos. :-)

We still managed to have a good night with chatting and catching up and drinking responsibly.



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Please vote!

This is very important.  It's my son's 12th birthday party and I offered to bake him a minecraft cake.

Which one do you think I should do?

I think this one is out, since nothing is round in Minecraft!

We've watched the YouTube instructions on this one - and it looks great!

I think this one looks a bit bland and boring!

The cake is needed by Saturday.  His preference was for number 4 and the one in the following YouTube video.

And this one:

What do you all think?  Please leave your voting suggestions in the comments.

Thank you



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Upcoming Events in Queensland!

Girls' Day Out

DATE: 23 Mar 2013
VENUE: Brisbane Racing Club - Doomben Racecourse
Hampden Street
ASCOT
QLD 4007
W: www.brc.com.au

The stilettos and eveningwear will be out in full force when the Search for Miss Universe® returns to Doomben Racecourse for this year’s Girls’ Day Out on Saturday, 23rd March.

Brisbane ladies aged over 18 years can register for the Miss Universe® Preliminary online at www.missuniverseaustralia.com.au .

In addition to the Miss Universe® Preliminary, the Skinny Girl Ultimate Girls’ Day Out precinct will offer racegoers plenty of trackside entertainment throughout the day.

Skinny Girl Ultimate Girls’ Day Out precinct tickets are $45 and include racecourse and precinct entry, 2 beverages including a choice of Skinny Girl Cocktails, lunch, DJ entertainment and a pamper marquee as well as access to the Hunk Bar with male waiters and the Gentlemen to Help who will be prepared for any fashion emergencies with band-aids, hairspray and sunscreen.

EVENT TIMES

Saturday

11AM

St Paddys Day at Eagle Farm Racecourse

Brisbane, 16 March 2013

Celebrate St Paddy's Day at Eagle Farm Racecourse at the St Paddy's Party in the Stradbroke bar at Eagle Farm Racecourse. Get into the Irish spirit with a pint of Guinness, plenty of entertainment and a few shamrocks thrown in for good measure.

Tickets include: Racecourse admission, entry into the St Paddy's Party, a pint of Guinness, a meat pie. 

Check out their website

Website:

• www.brc.com.au
• 
  

VIP News

World's Greatest Shave takes place this week.

For four fabulous days Australians will be brave and shave between March 14-17.

Check the latest on our Facebook page.

And the latest fundraising total in your state.

More information can be found at http://www.worldsgreatestshave.com/.

The above video is not mine; however if this person is genuinely going to shave and raise funds for this much needed cause then please support if you can.  Other participating members and locations can be found on the World's Greatest Shave website (link above).  If you send me any videos I will post both on my YouTube and here.

Thank you


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Iron Deficiency

Do you know anyone who is Iron Deficient?

I do and I never realised the implications of not having sufficient iron in the body.

The information below is from the Better Health website.

Causes of iron deficiency

Some of the common causes of iron deficiency in adults include:

• Inadequate dietary intake – the two types of iron include haem iron (found in animal foods) and non-haem iron (from plant products). The body absorbs haem iron much more easily than non-haem iron. There are many reasons why the dietary intake of iron could be inadequate, including a poorly balanced vegetarian diet, chronic fad dieting or limited access to a wide range of fresh foods – for example, as a result of living in remote areas or having a low income.
• Blood loss – iron deficiency easily occurs in situations of chronic blood loss. Common causes include heavy menstrual periods, regular blood donation, chronic disorders that involve bleeding (such as peptic ulcers, polyps or cancers in the large intestine) and certain medications, particularly aspirin.
• Increased need – the adolescent growth spurt, pregnancy and breastfeeding are situations when the body requires more iron. If this increased need isn’t met, a deficiency can quickly occur.
• Exercise – athletes are prone to iron deficiency because regular exercise increases the body’s need for iron in a number of ways. For example, hard training promotes red blood cell production, while iron is lost through sweating.
• Inability to absorb iron – healthy adults absorb about ten to 15 per cent of dietary iron, but some people’s bodies are unable to absorb or use iron from food.

Signs and Symptoms of Iron Deficiency

• Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency may include brittle nails, swelling or soreness of the tongue, cracks in the sides of the mouth, an enlarged spleen, and frequent infections.
• People who have iron-deficiency anemia may have an unusual craving for nonfood items, such as ice, dirt, paint, or starch. This craving is called pica (PI-ka or PE-ka).
• Some people who have iron-deficiency anemia develop restless legs syndrome (RLS). RLS is a disorder that causes a strong urge to move the legs. This urge to move often occurs with strange and unpleasant feelings in the legs. People who have RLS often have a hard time sleeping.
• Iron-deficiency anemia can put children at greater risk for lead poisoning and infections.
• Some signs and symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia are related to the condition's causes. For example, a sign of intestinal bleeding is bright red blood in the stools or black, tarry-looking stools.
• Very heavy menstrual bleeding, long periods, or other vaginal bleeding may suggest that a woman is at risk for iron-deficiency anemia.

Treatment for iron deficiency

Your iron status is easily checked by a blood test.

Treatment depends on your iron status and may include:

• Treatment for an underlying problem – it is very important that the cause of the iron deficiency is investigated and, if it has a medical cause, that it be treated appropriately.
• Iron depletion – information on iron-rich foods is given. Another blood test is taken around six months later to check that your iron level has improved.
• Iron deficiency – dietary advice is given and is closely monitored. Iron-rich foods are encouraged, while foods and drinks such as bran, tea and coffee that can interfere with iron absorption are not recommended. Iron status is regularly reviewed and supplements may be prescribed.
• Iron deficiency anaemia – the diet is targeted as for iron deficiency and iron supplements are prescribed. It may take six months to one year for the body to restock its iron stores. Your iron levels are regularly reviewed with blood tests.

Iron-rich foods

Iron absorption by the body can be affected by the amount and type of iron consumed, dietary factors that enhance or inhibit iron absorption and a person’s need for iron (when the body is low in iron, it absorbs a higher percentage from food). Absorption of iron from food is about 18 per cent from a typical western diet (including animal foods) and about ten per cent from a vegetarian diet. 

Consult with your doctor for more information about building iron into a healthy diet. Some suggestions include:

• High-risk groups such as vegetarians, adolescent girls and women athletes need to eat iron-rich foods each day (combined with foods that are high in vitamin C).
• Wholegrain cereals, meat, poultry and fish are good sources of dietary iron.
• Liver is an especially rich source of iron, but pregnant women should avoid this source because of its high content of vitamin A.
• Choose iron-fortified breakfast cereals and breads.
• Vegetarians who exclude all animal products from their diet may need almost twice as much dietary iron each day as non-vegetarians. Sources include dark green leafy vegetables,such as spinach, broccoli, prunes, dried apricots, raisins, nuts, seeds, dried beans and peas, and iron-fortified cereals, breads and pastas.
• Vitamin C increases iron absorption, so eat more brightly coloured fruits and vegetables.
• Cut back on the amount of tea and coffee you drink, especially around mealtimes, since the tannins in tea and coffee bind to the iron and interfere with absorption.

Crisp Lemon Calf Liver

Ingredients:

12 slice bacon
118.29 ml all-purpose flour
19.71 ml dried dill weed
2 to taste salt and pepper
453.59 g calf liver, cut into bite size bits
88.74 ml butter or 88.74 ml margarine
59.16 ml fresh lemon juice
29.58 ml fresh parsley, chopped
29.58 ml lemon zest, grated

Directions:
1 Cook bacon until crisp.
2 Drain on paper towel.
3 You may remove some of the bacon fat but leave a generous amount, do not clean skillet.
4 Crumble bacon.
5 Combine flour, dill, salt& pepper in a paper bag.
6 Add liver and coat well, shake off any excess flour.
7 Fry liver in the "bacon" skillet over high heat until crisp on outside but still moist inside (about 4-6 minutes).
8 Remove liver but keep warm.
9 Discard fat from skillet but do not scrape the pan.
10 Over medium heat melt butter scraping in all the brown bits.
11 Stir in lemon juice, parsley and crumbled bacon.
12 Put liver back in the pan to ensure it is hot.
13 Sprinkle with grated lemon and enjoy.

Read more at: http://www.food.com/recipe/crisp-lemon-calf-liver-10759?scaleto=4&mode=metric&st=true&oc=linkback

Summary

Causes of iron deficiency in adults include inadequate dietary intake, chronic blood loss (through menstruation or other causes), times of increased need such as pregnancy, inability to absorb or properly use iron, and vigorous exercise. Iron deficiency can lead to anaemia. Treatment includes dietary changes and iron supplements.

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Easter Baking

Easter Egg Cake Pops

Ingredients:

125g butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup caster sugar
2 eggs
150g self raising flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted
100g cream cheese, softened
1 cup icing sugar mixture
3 x 250g pkts Cadbury white chocolate melts
3-4 drops blue food colouring
3-4 drops pink food colouring
Desiccated coconut, to decorate
Hundreds and thousands, to decorate

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180C. Grease and line the base of a round 20cm cake pan.
2. Use an electric beater to beat butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in flour and cocoa powder until just combined. Spoon into prepared pan. Bake for 35-40 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
3. Break up cake. Process in a food processor until resembles breadcrumbs. Transfer to a bowl. Process cream cheese and icing sugar in a food processor until smooth. Add to cake crumbs. Stir until well combined.
4. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Roll table spoonfuls of mixture into egg shapes. Place on prepared tray. Cover and place in fridge for 4 hours or until firm.
5. Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan half filled with simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Stir with a a metal spoon until chocolate melts.
6. Dip the end of a lollipop stick into the chocolate. Insert into a cake ball. Repeat with more chocolate and remaining cake balls. Set aside for 5 minutes or until set.
7. Place 60ml (1/4 cup) of chocolate in a small sealable plastic bag. Cut 1 corner off the bag to make a small hole. Divide the remaining chocolate between 2 bowls. Add blue food colouring to 1 bowl. Stir to combine. Add pink food colouring to the remaining chocolate. Stir to combine. Dip half the cake balls into the blue chocolate. Dip remaining cake balls into pink chocolate. Decorate cake balls with coconut, hundreds and thousands, white chocolate. Stick cake pops into polystyrene or an empty egg carton and set aside for 30 minutes to set.

Braided fruit loaf

Check out the recipe here!

Rich chocolate Easter egg tart

The recipe for this delicious easter tart is available here.

Tie Dye Cake Pops for Easter

by Sarah Jones in Food, Tutorials on April 2, 2012

Ingredients (makes between 40 and 50 cake pops in 6 different colors)
- 1 box butter cake mix (bake as directed for a 9” x 13” cake)
- 1 tub vanilla frosting (16 ounces)

- 2 (12 ounce) packages Wilton candy melts
- 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Wilton candy gel food coloring
- Cake/cookie/lollipop sticks

Materials:
- 1 medium-sized basket
- 2 floral foam discs (make sure they fit inside your basket)
- 1 small to medium-sized package of green paper grass
- assorted ribbon to tie bows on your Easter eggs (optional)

Full step by step instructions with pictures can be found here.




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Upcoming Events!

DR GABRIEL COUSENS "ENDURING, RADIANT HEALTH" LECTURE & BOOK SIGNING IN BRISBANE

March 13, 2013

Wednesday   6:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Cnr Merivale and Glenelg Streets
Brisbane, Queensland

EVENT DETAILS

DR GABRIEL COUSENS "ENDURING, RADIANT HEALTH" LECTURE & BOOK SIGNING

Gabriel Cousens, M.D. is considered to be a leading medical doctor in the holistic medicine and raw and living food movements today. In this lecture, Dr Cousens will present new insights on how to use a lifestyle based on organic, plant-source foods in their live, natural state, plus other complementary practices, to create a life full of vitality and joy.

Southbank – Wednesday March 13th 2013
6:30pm Book Signing
7:00pm Lecture
9:00pm Optional Meditation

Cost: Payment required - $49 for all tickets

Alliance Francaise French Film Festival

DATE: 14 Mar 2013 - 4 Apr 2013
VENUE: Palace Centro Cinemas
39 James Street
FORTITUDE VALLEY
QLD 4006
W: www.affrenchfilmfestival.org

The Alliance Française French Film Festival (AF FFF) is once again returning to Brisbane!

This is a fantastic opportunity to experience some outstanding contemporary French cinema including action, romance, drama, comedy, thrillers, children’s films, animation and documentaries.

During the Festival there will be three special events with a glass of wine, a taste of French cuisine and themed atmosphere as well as a special event for children with live entertainment and refreshments provided!

More information can be found here. 

2013 National 4x4 & Outdoors Show

DATE: 15 Mar 2013 - 17 Mar 2013
VENUE: RNA Showgrounds
600 Gregory Terrace
BOWEN HILLS
QLD 4006
W: www.rnashowgrounds.com.au

Queensland's BIGGEST 4×4 & Outdoors Show returns to the RNA Showgrounds from Friday 15th to Sunday 17th March 2013.

Co-located again with the Brisbane Tinnie & Tackle Show, this event will be a one stop shop for those who love everything about 4WDs, the outdoors, fishing and boating.

Admission Prices:

Adults: $15.00
Senior: $10.00 (Must show valid Senior Card)
Adult Two Day Pass: $24.00
Kids under 15: FREE

Tickets available at the door or online from February.

For more details, visit www.4x4show.com.au.

Kokoda Grunt

DATE: 16 Mar 2013
VENUE: Camp Kokoda
CAMP KOKODA
629 BURNETT CREEK ROAD
MAROON
QLD 4827
W: kokodachallenge.com

Have you got grunt?

The Kokoda GRUNT is an obstacle course event, and will have participants in the 5km category confronted with 15 obstacles and those in the 15km category challenged by 25 obstacles, before crossing the finish line!

Teams will be challenged by rope climbs, mud, trenches, wall climbs, more mud and tough terrain!

The Kokoda Challenge has since grown to attract more than 3000 participants each year with over 10,000 spectators, expanding to other Kokoda Challenge events held in Brisbane and Melbourne, ensuring the story of Kokoda is shared.

Click here to register a team.

EVENT TIMES

Saturday

Any other events you would like mentioned here, please send me an email.

Thanks

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