Pimp my Lemonade

South Coast Winter Weekend

We are heading down to the NSW south coast today for the weekend!

Staying at my parents cabin - last time we were there it was 47 degreees (celcius!!) AND we got engaged! (lots of piccies in this post!) This time we were going for a mountain bike race....which has just been cancelled due to the horrible weather, but we are still going to go anyway! We are meeting our wedding celebrant today, which im really quite excited about & going to do a bit of a hotel reccie for places to suggest to our guests. This time instead of chilled champagne & swimming in the lake i think it might be more mulled wine with the fire going! Yummo! Oh & i have also booked us in to go for lunch at Rick Steins Bannisters (where we went with our parents the night after we got engaged & had the most ammaaaazing seafood meal!) so really looking forward to that again! Its a bit pricey but was totally worth it!  Here is my veriosn of mulled wine - give it a go - a bit like hot sangria!

2 unwaxed oranges

1 lemon, peel only

150g caster sugar

5 cloves, plus extra for garnish

5 cardamom pods, bruised

1 cinnamon stick

2 bottles of fruity red wine

1. Peel and juice 1 orange, and add to a large saucepan along with the lemon peel, sugar and spices. Add enough wine to just cover the sugar, and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved, stirring occasionally. Bring to the boil and cook for 5 – 8 minutes until you have a thick syrup.

2. Meanwhile, if you’re serving the mulled wine immediately, stud the second orange with 6 vertical lines of cloves, and then cut into segments to use as a garnish.

3. Turn the heat down, and pour the rest of the wine into the saucepan. Gently heat through and serve with the orange segments as a garnish.

Kick back by the fire & enjoy! yuuuum!

Mai Tai's here i come!!

Woohooo!!! Off to Fiji tomorrow!
This is where we are headed for 7 nights....Matamanoa island resort. I want all of you to cross your fingers last trips cyclone doesnt make a second appearance & we have perfect sunny hot days!

Saw this gorgeous collection of photos & the recipie for Mai Tai's over at coco & kelly a few weeks ago & i thought id re-post it to get me (& you !) all in the spirit! Bring on the cocktails!!!

The Mai Tai

2 tablespoons light rum

2 tablespoons orange curacao

1/4 cup orange juice

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 dash simple syrup

1 tablespoon dark rum

mint, a pineapple slice, and a paper umbrella for garnish

Fill a glass with ice. Pour in light rum, orange curacao, orange juice, lime juice, orgeat, and simple syrup.

Then drizzle dark rum right on top. Garnish with mint, pineapple slice, and a paper umbrella for panache!

My other half mentioned the other day that i was a little bit fixated on the cocktails apsect of the trip..yeah?! so!?