I love a tasty local! It's been a long, hot summer here in Ballarat. It's 8pm and the sun has gone down. It still and quiet and my toil is done for the day. This Cold IPA from Hepburn Springs Brewing Co. is hitting the spot perfectly. It's a really nice balance of crisp bitterness
Well, my friends, I made it. 365 days of Tiny Pleasures. A quiet sense of satisfaction for sticking to my word and showing up every day is sitting with me as I sit at my desk to write the last one. It’s been a year of ups and downs and roundabouts, but the pleasures have
Calvados is one of my favourite tipples. It is literally liquid apple distilled into a glass. All the most delicious flavours of apples in sippable form. And it transports me instantly to the wonderful year I spent in Dinan, Brittany just after I finished uni. Yec'hed mat! (That's 'cheers' in Breton.)
A good sour should still taste like beer. This barrel-aged cherry sour from Ballarat brewer, Dollar Bill, is excellent. It has a real depth of flavour, a clean finish and an all-round well-balanced flavour profile. On tap at the moment at Midtown Cellars.
The old songs very often had introductions that went by the wayside when jazz standards became de rigeur. It's a shame because they give context and contrast to the song. Yesterday a friend sang me After You've Gone (written in 1918) with the preamble and it made me smile. It's now on my 'to learn'
Ah, the long summer evenings are a treat. What better way to enjoy the sky turning a deep shade of blue than to wander the streets after dinner?
Underpants and books - the perfect Christmas presents. I am a happy woman with a comfy bum and pile of interesting reading.
Bring bread and wine, Mum said. Like Jesus at the Last Supper, I thought. I made the bread, but not the wine. Fingers crossed no one expects any miracles at lunch.
My grandmother's basket is a very practical thing. Our surname is written in big black marker on the bottom (just in case it gets forgotten somewhere) and it fits all kinds of things. Today it is loaded with presents, bread and wine, and Nan's smile tucked in the side.
I do enjoy making little pastry tart cases and filling them with deliciousness. I had both my kids for dinner tonight and made them fruit tartlettes filled with frangipane cream (almond custard). The fruit flavours, acid and fresh texture of the strawberries balanced the almond cream beautifully.
