Pancake Train, Margate

 We drove 7 minutes to Margate today to look around [like tourists!] The pancake parlour is a popular spot - above, the arancini deep fried rice ball [$15.90] with tomato pesto which was on the specials board. I was really hungry when I started eating it but I couldn't finish it as it was so filling! nice flavours - and comes with a salad.

 this is the beef stroganoff  [$18.90] on pancakes [what a novel idea...replacing the rice with pancakes!] which the hubby said was very filling as well. It may not look like much but he was absolutely stuffed after eating it.

the gorgeous looking berry dream - drenched in rich syrup. Again, very very filling so I think this should be shared with 3-4 people as a dessert rather than one person trying to eat it!

It was fun sitting in the carriage - really felt like we were on a train! minus the noise and shaking....

there was also a very interesting expat grocer in one of the other carriages which I thought was so cool. it had mostly lollies [which i love] from South Africa, the UK, Scotland, The Netherlands and Germany. The Dutch salted licorice fish were something I'd only ever seen in magazines before!

these, and some weird looking dried beef from South Africa called biltong.

Later we stopped by Meredith's orchard grocer and got some really nice Fuji apples for $2 a kilo [which are much bigger & nicer than those supermarket ones]. The place had a nice rustic feel and no home brand items in sight! A nice change from the big bad supermarket chains.

Margate's a nice quiet suburb with water views, a few nice cafes, a butcher, greengrocer and a great fishing spot with Kingston's shopping centre nearby...and a very huge bottle shop!

dakdoritang

One of favourite Korean meals to have at home - this is sort of a Korean "curry" made with chicken, potatoes and carrots. So easy to make - just simmer everything with gochujang, soy sauce, water, onions, chilli flakes, sugar, sesame oil and chopped up aromatics [garlic, ginger, onions, fresh chilli] and you have a satisfying hot meal to have with rice. I wont put a recipe up here as I just eyeball everything according to taste, but there're tons of recipes online. The first time I had it was at uni when some Korean students gave us a cooking lesson! Ideally it's eaten with kimchi and a selection of Korean side dishes.

green tea ice cream

I borrowed a friend's KRUPS ice cream churn to make this gorgeous ice cream - it's absolutely yummy! [if u like the flavour of strong matcha] kitchen gadgets are something i need to resist the temptation to get, coz of our limited space - how many of you use things like these on a regular basis? [and waffle makers, popcorn makers, pasta machines...] so, i just borrow them. I've often ordered this at Japanese restaurants and got the green tea powder from a baking shop last year so thought I'd try this. I love green tea desserts- green tea cheesecake, green tea mooncake, green tea milkshakes [I had a banana green tea shake in Launceston not too long ago that was gorgeous!] and green tea cookies.  So! this one's a winner. I used this recipe.

wonder if an earl grey one would work?

Kelantan Delights in Kingston for snacks

 This place is great to go to on public holidays since they do open for lunch and dinner! we had the deep fried wantons [above] which were filled with a tasty combination of minced pork and shredded carrot. yummy with sweet thai chilli sauce.

 I was hoping to get those karipap "pusing" [with the crispy spirals] as shown in the picture on the menu, but these are just regular shortcrust pastry ones. well, they were tasty too - nice fragrant filling and satisfying bite.

i liked the roti canai with sugar on the side [and curry sauce] it was just as good as any roti in any mamak in Malaysia I reckon!
They've revised their prices so, a bit more expensive now but still well worth it if u're not keen on making these complicated things yourself. Plus, we always double it up as a shopping trip to Fresco's and Coles if we need to. [Fresco is great for chicken, rump steak and fruit!]

Kelantan Delights
Kingston Plaza [on the corner, next to General Practice Plus]
03 6229 8288

daily bread

Luke 11:3

Give us each day our daily bread

As part of the Lord's prayer, this bit made me think about how we need to eat everyday to stay alive. We can't survive a whole week just by eating one day a week. [Although, I wonder why I cant, given the amount I seem to be storing on my thighs, tummy and chin!] and so it is with drawing from God - wonder why I often think I can live without refuelling on His Word and His wisdom, guidance and presence regularly. Each new day is a gift from Him and I need Him to show me how to live it! 

Matt 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

I'm so thankful that His mercies are new every morning. [Lamentations 3:22-23] 

Pizza at Cargo Salamanca

We had this gorgeous hoisin duck pizza today at Cargo which was absolutely yummy, thin crusted, with tasty bits of roasted duck complete with crispy skin and lashings of hoisin sauce which surprisingly, goes very well with the cheese n tomato topping on the pizza. The crispy shreds of capsicum, chili & snow peas contrasted perfectly. At $29 for a pizza large enough for two.
There are some other flavour combinations I'd be looking forward to trying in future  , caramelised pork & peri-peri chicken!