SOUTHPORT

During the school holidays we went to Southport. We stayed in the Hutchin's cabins (one of Matt's perks). It's a great set up. 4 cabins with bunks lining the walls and a 'main block' containing showers, toilets, kitchen, dining area, lounge area, and some open space with ping pong tables and other games. There is a wood heater and ceiling heaters (I discovered on our second last day!!). One of the cabins is the 'teacher's cabin' and has ensuites -basic as they are- which is handy. There are foam matresses on all the bunks and pillows galore. You need to take all your own linen. There is also one innerspring mattress in the teacher's cabin and you guessed it, I get it every time - one of my perks!

We try to go down to Southport once a year and invite some other families to come and share the joy of open spaces, beach, bush, toasted marshmallows and late nights. We usually have the BEST time (except for that one year hey Bride and Jus!!!).

This year we were joined by the Toselli's and Parsons' and they all proved to be fun company. Once again the kids and adults got on exceptionally well.

As soon as the toselli's arrived we headed for the beach to use up some of the energy the kids (and adults) had accumulated gearing up for this little holiday. What better way to do that than beach soccer?

Next morning was Father's day. The kids showered their dad's in home made and handpicked gifts while Kirsten and I cooked up a yummy Father's Day Gourmet Brekkie.

One evening we built a campfire and let the kids play with it!!!!! They had a blast lighting the ends of their sticks and writing messages in the dark. look at the cool way the camera caught the sparks from the fire in the photo below. Not a great photo but I like it anyway.

A campfire wouldn't be complete without gooey, sticky burnt marshmallows!

Of course we took Rosie with us. She loved all the free running space she had and all the attention she received from little Izzy Toselli.

Time out with Chelsea wouldn't be complete without a little bit of 'camera talk'.

and a few photos.
You can't go as far as Southport and not include a visit to Hastings! By all reports the thermal pool was fun but maybe 'tepid pool' would be a more accurate description. The kids had a blast. Thank goodness for dad's (eh Chels???) who have to do those things the mum's don't want to, like swimming with the kids on a Freezing, overcast, wet day!! Thanks Matt 'n' Dave.

Something the kids have enjoyed doing over the years is building forts in the bush. A couple of years ago they were fortunate enough to have 'supplies'. Adam Rea supplied, timber, nails, axes etc and the forts were awesome. This year they had to do it survivor style and rely totally on what they could find in the wild. Isaac and Reuben couldn't leave without photographic evidence (to show the Rea boys) that they could do it without the supplies!! So they took these few photos. I love the skull and crossbones :)

And this last photo I have included simply because when I took it I said

"that's going on the blog!"

There are several things I didn't take photos of but you can check out Chelsea's blog for her take on the holiday. I'm happy to say that I was way too busy having a relaxing few days away from the phone and the tv -( although we did have Chris' projector for a couple of nights and enjoyed a movie or two!!) To take photos of everything we did.

MUD CAKE

Several people have asked me for the recipe for the Mud Cake I made for Matt's party.

So here it is. It's a long recipe but it is super easy to make and it totally luscious!!!!

Chocolate Mud Cake Recipe (serves 16...at least!)

Note: USE A WHISK TO STIR INGREDIENTS TOGETHER

Cake ingredients

250g cooking chocolate (half dark, half milk)

250g salted butter

1 tsp instant coffee granules/powder (decaf is fine)

¾ cup (188ml) water

2 cups + 2 Tb (325g) plain flour

¼ cup + 2 tsp (30g) cocoa powder

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 ½ cups (550g) caster sugar

4 large eggs (min weight 59g)

2 Tb (40ml) peanut oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ cup (125ml) buttermilk

Ganache

150g milk chocolate

150g dark chocolate

1/3 cup (84ml) thickened cream (not lite/fat reduced cream)

Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celcius (150* fan forced)

Grease and line (with non stick baking paper) sides and base of a deep 23cm or 24cm diameter deep cake pan. If you have a spring form tin it will be a little easier to remove. Extend the paper above the top rim of pan.

Place chocolate, butter, coffee, and water in large saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. When choc and butter have melted, remove from heat and allow to cool to room temp.

Sift flour, cocoa and bicarb together in very large bowl.

Add sugar to flour mix and whisk together until well combined.

In a medium bowl, place eggs, oil, vanilla and buttermilk. Whisk together until well combined.

Add the egg mix to the flour mix and whisk until well combined

Add choc mix to egg and flour mix in three batches, stirring until combined after each addition.

Pour mix into prepared pan

Bake for about 1hr +15mins (24cm tin) 1 hr +30 min (23cm tin). Insert a thin bladed knife or a wooden skewer into centre of cake to test whether cake is cooked through. If the knife/skewer comes out clean or with moist (not gooey) crumbs attached, it’s ready. If not, return to oven for further 5-10 min before testing again.

Cool in pan (cover with a tea towel)

When the cake is room temp remove from tin. Cake may have a crusty edge, you can remove if you wish (but make sure you eat it or share it with someone because it’s yummy)

Turn cake upside down to give a flat surface for icing.

Make ganache and spread over with a palette or flat blade knife.

Store cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator and allow to come to room temp before serving.

Ganache

Place chocolate + cream in a medium heavy-based saucepan over very low heat. Stir frequently, and remove from heat when chocolate has just melted and mixture is smooth. Allow ganache to cool slightly to obtain a spreadable consistency.

If you have larger or smaller pans you wish to use, just shoot me an email at mksayers@iinet.net.au

and I can give you the quantities for your particular pan.

Far Out Man...

This post is a little late but I was unable to put any photos on because I took all of these on mum's camera on the night and only today had a chance to get them onto my computer. Anyway better late than never I guess. Plus Matt will be 40 for a whole year!!!

Matt's 40th birthday party was held during the school holidays. As it turns out school holidays is probably not the best time to have a party, everyone goes away! It was a bit of a shame that quite a few of our friends were away or unable to come but we had a fun night nonetheless.

Seeing as though Matt was born in 1969 - the year of Woodstock, the first moon landing, the time of Sonny and Cher, the Beatles, Jimmi Hendrix, Bob Marley and the Vietnam War. to name just a few, we thought a '69 dance party would be fun. We hoped that everyone would channel their inner flower child and get into the groove. Almost everyone got into the spirit of the night and did dress up. These photos are just in random order. I have no time to organise them sorry.

Mum and dad looked fabulous as 'woodstock hippies'

Toni Menzie looking very cool

It was great for Matt to have all of his siblings there. Lou and Dan came down from Sydney and Jimbo and Aimee made the trek from Shearwater. It was so wonderful to meet our new little Nephew, Oliver (Lou and Dan's bub). He's a cutie. We think he looks a bit like his daddy.

PEACE NOT WAR

Sonny and Cher

(I actually didn't recognise Keith when he walked in)

The Birthday Boy and Me (the boots were great Bride!)

Our next door neighbour and good friend Karen and her daughter Holly. Simon (Hubby) was on babysitting duty with Charlotte and baby twins Max and Ben.

Reuben made and Awesome Jimmi Hendrix

Neighbours (on the other side) and good friends Paul and Jen.

Jen also turns 40 at the end of this month and is having her own 'woodstock party'

in a few weeks.

My cousin Joel (not a great photo of him - sorry Joel) and Bruce Menzie.

A few other guests, Sue Smith, Debbie Carmichael, Andy King, Steve King, and Garry Carmichael- notice how the 'didn't dress up' lot stuck together!!!!

Matt with his family

Louisa, Amy, James, Joe, Paul, Dawn & Keith

getting our groove on

this was a delicious mud cake - I'll post the recipe later cause it's a good one!

I made the cake and mum decorated it. Unfortunately it was very hard to photograph. But it did look 'cool'. Mum put a lot of effort into it, making all of those musical notes etc. The golden 'stuff' on top is toffee, it looked like hair! and the choc tipped strawberries were perfect and nicely matched our chocolate fountain (yummo)

The most gorgeous Hippy award goes to.... Aimee (and Meg of course)

Our family with Ma and Pa. Isaac didn't want his photo taken but he is there hiding behind me!

Thanks everyone for helping Matt to celebrate getting to the top of the hill.

He wants everyone to know that the view is totally amazing!!

Girlies

I have been borrowing a lens from Chelsea to see how I like it before I go ahead and get one of my own.

So today the girls came with me to check out some good spots

for taking photos.

We went all over the place and took heaps of pics.

They both got totally sick of it but we did manage to find some great places.

These are my favourites.

silliness makes for fun photographs

Charli and her 4 braids.

the water at the warf was like glass.

sharing a giggle

just about had enough.

sisterly love.

I also took Matt with me the other day

and I quite like these two of him

I am starting to notice the limitations of the lenses I have. They were part of the kit that came with the camera. For their price, I think they are ok but I would like a 'nicer' lens. I have done so much reading of reviews it's not funny and I've spoken to all of the camera savvy people I know. I have pretty much dedided to get a 50mm but I also like the idea of owning the 17-40mm but I'm not sure how it will perform on my 450D. Chelsea I might have to play with yours when I come over to give the 50mm back!! I wish I had stacks of $$$ so I could get both!