FREEDOM: High Tea with the Girls

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. Happy 2014 everyone!

I still remain in contact with 5 girlfriends from High School days. We finished High School in 1984. I still can't believe where the years go!!??

Anyway - we had our first High Tea together last year - and then decided we could do it better (!!) ourselves.

So. I co-ordinated three girls to make a savoury dish, and three girls to make a sweet. We then made a date and time and gathered at the beautiful house of one of our group who happens to be a doctor. No husbands or children....... genius!!

What we didn't plan for was the Hottest February Day in years and years and years!! Was 44.7 degrees celsius in Adelaide (113F) - but we had air conditioning to keep us from melting away!!

I made ribbon sandwiches with Chia bread. The two fillings were Cream Cheese and Cucumber and Lemon Cream Cheese with Smoked Ocean Trout. I got carried away and made Rye Mountain Bread Pinwheels which contained Roast Chicken, Light Mayo and Shredded Lettuce.

The other platter up high contained Prawn Yum Cha with Kecap Manis Sauce (Sweet Soy).

Another dish was Cream Cheese Vol-au-vents with Smoked Salmon and Dill.

Sweets courses next. These were Fresh Fruit Jelly with Coconut Meringues. The friend who made these was delighted to use (FINALLY) these lovely glasses that she received for a wedding gift ..... won't tell you how many years ago!!

Mini Banoffe Pies and Custard Tarts.

Cubed Watermelon and Mango. Much appreciated given the weather!

Mini baked Cheesecakes - soooooo good!

We proved that High Tea is do-able at home. Just grab some good friends and allocate a savoury or sweet dish - then meet. No-one is left to do the lion share of the work and we could laugh, gossip and natter to our hearts content..... and not have to be mindful of the next table of diners!!

FREEDOM: "High Tea"

Today I had a really nice outing. I organised "High Tea" for 5 of my girlfriends from High School. I snapped up an internet offer and thought we should give it a go. (I am wary of these "offers" because sometimes they can be a surprise - but not in a good way!! LOL!)

The internet reviews of the High Tea venue were good..... so I was 90% confident that it was going to be OK.

First impression of the venue (Orchid Garden Tea Room) - really nice!

I loved looking at the display of pretty China .... I have a HUGE weakness for flowery, delicate, pretty china.

We could also purchase the special blends of tea if we wished. Not me - I'm a strict coffee girl!

First plate - prawns in a creamy sauce

Second plate - "Royal Duck with Mushroom"

Third plate - little mouthfuls of yummy things

Couldn't resist a close-up of these gorgeous little jellies!

And this - is a momentous occasion ..... my FIRST EVER FRENCH MACARON!!! It was orange flavoured and was simply divine! Now I know what all the fuss is about!

I must say that it was great catching up the girl talk and just have a little bit of delicate luxury for 2-3 hours (we lingered) before we had to return to normal life.

If we could put this kind of experience (Girl Talk and High Tea in a lovely place) into a little bottle and sell it ...... it would be worth thousands.

We must do it again girls. Love Ya lots!!!!

FREEDOM: (Eating Again) Lunch with Friends in the Country

Last Saturday, we got together with the group of friends which we went away with for the House-boating holiday back in May. They are three people my husband and I knew through our workplace (including two partners) - so we are a merry band of seven.... and very much enjoy catching up.

We booked a table in a historic hotel - a country pub in Willunga which started operations in 1840. I'm sorry I forgot to take a photo of the very beautiful street view of the hotel. We actually had the entire dining room to ourselves which was lovely - we said it was like eating around the table in houseboat!!

As soon as I read the board on the left - there was no further need to peruse the real menu! Duck (especially confit leg) is my FAVOURITE!!!! 

In this room is a secondary bar.... with an interesting addition above the bar!

This is real life size rubber version of a great white shark caught in a seaside town, Robe. I'm not sure what is has to do with Willunga.... but the new managers here are from Robe - so maybe there is a connection there??

Our friends all arrived and after much chatting the food started coming too - this is the beer battered fish and chips

This is the Salt and Pepper Squid that the husband ordered

Last but not least - two at the table ordered the Confit Duck Legs - smothered in Red Wine and Garlic  Jus...... I was a happy girl!

Can you believe we squeezed in dessert too!!

My husband has announced that he has already put on 2kg over the last couple of weeks - blaming the socialising and eating that happen prior to the Christmas Season. 

Tis the season to be Jiggly...........