Eat Me. BSKT, Nobbys

I went to BSKT last week, the latest Gold Coast hotspot for all things foodie. This quaint little cafe/resturant is tucked away at the back of Nobby's by the beach. I went for dinner but I also hear the breakfast is fantastic; there's a little deck out the back that would be devine for summer brunches.

The interior is minimalist but in a cool and welcoming way. The menu is very impressive and I had difficulty choosing what I wanted to order because everything sounded so good. The menu is written in a very 'foodie' style and I think at first the boys at the table had a bit of trouble deciphering what they'd like but in the end they all managed to choose something that came out looking great, plus there's a steak on the menu for anyone having trouble.

I ordered the 18hr slow cooked sticky pork with raw salad and chilli vinegar (sorry the picture is a little dark). It was really really good. The pork was very tender but had a yummy crunchy outside that somewhat reminded me of KFC chicken, but a healthier version of course! And the raw salad, translation: coleslaw, was just the right accompaniment. It was crunchy and fresh where the pork was slightly heavier. All in all a really good dish. Others at the table had the lamb curry which smelt and looked amazing; those eating it could only mumble how great it was through their delighted mouths.

The service was really great and the waiters were so friendly. We were there for my friend's birthday and we brought in some cupcakes and I was so happy to see the waitresses made it a lovely evening for her. They snuck the cakes out to the kitchen when we arrived and then came out later with the candles lit and waving at us to start singing. It was a really pleasant, especially when a lot of restaurants these days act like you're a pain for bringing in cake.

I'm really keen to return for dinner to try more things on the menu, and when the days are a little warmer breakkie outside looks devine. 4.5/5

Where: 4 Lavarack Road, Nobbys QLD 4218
Bookings: recommended
Phone: (07) 5526 6565

Photos by Krissie and BSKT

One Day. Cupcake Decorating

When my friend asked me whether I would be keen to do a cupcake decorating course the other week it only took me all of 0.5 seconds to say yes! Afterall as a burgeoning blogger/foodie I thought I ought to try my hand at something new and particularly something that I thought would be a challenge for me. Those who know me are aware that I suffer from a case of "careful shaky hands", that is when I'm trying to be extra careful (and sometimes even when I'm not) I get terrible shakes! So I knew that this would be an obstacle I'd have to overcome in the name of pretty cupcakes!

Off we went a little cafeteria slash cooking school in Southport. You can do a range of classes here, from cake decorating to pasta dishes. If you go to one of their night time classes you can even drink wine while you're cheffing it up! I arrived to see a mixture of faces, ages and nationalities; it seemed everyone was keen to give it a go. First we made our buttercream icing (250g of very soft butter and a packet of icing sugar, beat until well combined); 10 minutes in and I'd already made a bit of a mess! The beater ends got stuck and in my effort to pull them out I pressed the 'on' button and icing went flying everywhere! Not my proudest moment, but moving on... We made our icing our preferred colour, opting for an orangey red; to create, make your icing red and then add a dash of yellow. Simples!

Our teacher took us through some different styles and techniques and looking at her example cupcakes I was definitely apprehensive as to whether I could recreate them; shaky hands and all. But I needn't have worried. It actually turned out to be a lot easier than I first thought and with a bit of practice you find that you pick it up really quickly! We learnt the piping bag technique and how all the different ends work. There are so many types which all create a different kind of icing decoration and then each can be used several different ways so suffice to say there's a lot of many options!

Here are a few of the ones I perfected. I'm very proud of the ones I made and can say that I did indeed master a few of the techniques she showed us. When I've saved enough to buy the kit I'll definitely be trying these a home!

Must Have. Eggling Wild Strawberry

I absolutely love this idea. It looks and feels just like an egg but you crack it open [note: carefully] to discover a little garden ready for sewing your own strawberry seeds! Great for those who don't have a garden at their place. I think it would look perfect on my window sill. Plus there's a whole collection; you can also have basil, mint, petunias and lavender. Isn't it the cutest thing? $24.95. Shop here.

Suitcase. How to tackle carry-on luggage

I travel more than the average person and I’ve always been one to take a nice large wheelie suitcase, at least 40 litres, so I can pack a multitude of outfits for all occasions and seasons; that is, virtually my entire wardrobe and bathroom cupboard. But lately I’ve come to realise that it might just be necessary to start managing that tricky little thing called ‘carry-on’. And if I, the person who could never pack light, can do it, than you certainly can! Yes it means you’ll have to give up a few outfit changes, hair appliances and make up palettes [sigh] but it really does make travelling so much easier. Plus with carry-on I especially love the fact that now I don’t have to go through that ‘panic stage’ when I'm waiting at the baggage carousel for my bag to arrive and it’s no where in sight – “Someone’s pinched my bag… It hasn’t made it off the plane... It never made it on to the plane… There was a hole in the plane and it fell out somewhere over NSW… I’ll never see it again!............... Oh there it is.”

Anyway, I’ve had my fair share of weekend trips lately with my new best friend; carry-on luggage. So here’s a little guide on how to make your relationship a successful one.

1. Get the right suitcase. You’re going to want something light because you don’t want to give away precious kg’s to the bag when they could be allocated to your dresses.
2. Make sure you have outfit options; by that I mean 2 or 3 outfits that can be mixed and matched to create say 5 or 6 different options. Think basic bottoms and a few fashion tops that go well with everything.
3. Accessorise. If there’s a cheat’s way to make any outfit look different without actually changing it, it’s with accessories! In this case, scarves are my best friend, they easily change your look and you can also wear them in a multitude of ways.
4. Dresses are a great option for a complete outfit if you’re travelling somewhere warm and, bonus, they don’t take up too much room.
5. Have only one set of going-out options; by that I mean one clutch and one pair of heels. Unless you’re travelling for weeks on end (in which case stop reading because you definitely need a 40 litre suitcase!) you’ll only need one option for night time. You can change it up with your clothes.
6. Pack only one pair of daytime shoes. Yes I know it’s difficult but shoes are heavy and rather bulky so pick a great all-round pair!
7. In terms of make up, try and pack samples. I have a little container of my favourite makeup samples just for when I go away: foundation, mascara, lip gloss, moisturiser. Just ask your cosmetic consultant for some samples to try and then stash them away for trips! Sneaky but so much better than big bottles.
8. Always remember that on holiday, especially if you’re me, you’re more than likely to go shopping which means you’re going to need more space coming home. So always leave a little in reserve!

Wherever you head I hope you have a stylishly fabulous time with these tips and it makes your time at the airport a little more streamlined. Remember to take lots of pictures!

Photos by Wikipedia Commons Images

Plate Up. Homemade Canneloni

Ok, I’m giving you plenty of warning here. Do not attempt this dish unless you have plenty of time to spare and thrive on the feeling of intense pressure! This is a time and labour intensive dish. Having said that it really does taste amazing and if you are feeling adventurous I can guarantee you’ll feel so proud of your efforts when you take the first bite. I love making my own pasta but it does depend on whether I have the time. The fresh stuff truly tastes so much better so if you haven’t tried it then I encourage you to. If you don’t have a pasta roller you can still make this dish, just a little more effort required as you will have to hand roll the dough with a rolling pin. Serves 4.

What you’ll need

Pasta

200g plain flour

2 eggs

Mince

500g beef mince

1 brown onion, diced

bunch of basil

1 dessert spoon oregano

2 tablespoons tomato paste

Tomato Sauce

1 tin diced tomatoes

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 brown onion, diced

2 cloves garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

200g tasty cheese, grated

What to do

First make your pasta. Place flour on bench-top with a well in the middle. Crack eggs in. With a fork in one hand and the other supporting the edges slowing whisk eggs whilst gently bringing flour in together. Once combined, gently knead the pasta dough for about 5 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when you push it with one finger and it springs back. Wrap in cling-wrap and set aside for 30 minutes to rest.

Now make your mince filling. Brown off onions and mince, add herbs and paste and leave to cook on a low heat until the mixture is dry.

While that’s slowly cooking away, make your tomato sauce by browning off onion and garlic in olive oil. Then add in diced tomatoes and paste, stir well and simmer gently for 15 minutes.

By now your pasta should be well rested. Split dough into 2 sections and punch down until it’s thin enough to fit through the widest setting of your pasta maker. Roll through and fold into 3, rotate 90 degrees and roll through the pasta maker again. Continue this process until the dough is the width of the machine. Now begin to roll your dough thinner, going through each setting until you reach the second last. Repeat with other ball of dough. Leave pasta to dry for 5 minutes on a chair lined with a tea-towel.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Check on your mince and sauce. By now they should be about right to turn off. Place a new saucepan on the stove with salted boiling water ready to blanche your pasta.

Cut your pasta into 15cm lengths (you should end up with about 16 rectangles). One at a time place the pasta rectangles into the boiling water and let them blanche for about 2 minutes each. When you pull them out of the water, lay individually to dry.

Meanwhile place your tomato sauce in a large, shallow casserole dish. Once pasta sheets have dried spoon mince along the shorter side of the pasta. Roll up gently and place with the sealed side down in the tomato paste. Repeat for all pasta sheets, ensuring the cannelloni are well coated by the tomato sauce. Sprinkle with ¾ of the cheese and bake in the oven for 40 minutes.

Serve sprinkled with remaining cheese.

Photos by Krissie.

Must Have. Suboo Delphinium Overlay Dress

I’ve always been quite the lover of Suboo since it emerged as a designer beach umbrella brand in 2007 and then when it’s ready-to-wear line launched at the 2012 Sydney Mercedes Benz Fashion Week I’ve spent many hours frothing over their designs. I particularly love this chic overlay dress. A printed mini dress is softly shielded by a light layer of silk. Currently on sale so get in fast. $200. Shop here.

Photo by Suboo.

One Day. Interview with Nat Kent Jewellery

The Burleigh Village Markets have become quite the local hotspot here on the GC so I figured it was about time I checked them out to see what all the fuss was about... And boy am I glad I did.

I visited the markets back in May on a sunshiny weekend. Wandering the stalls there's a great feel about the place and some really cool things on offer particularly at (my now favourite stall) Nat Kent Jewellery. Her beautiful jewels caught my eye and when I asked her to be a part of my blog's first birthday giveaway that's currently running (enter here) she was thrilled.

Nat's gorgeous designs came about by chance (however her creative skill isn't completely random; as a child she was inspired by her grandma who was an avid knitter, and she even sewed her own formal dress!). Whilst on maternity leave she turned her hand to crafts with the aim to create bespoke creations for consumers. Her range includes some spectacular necklaces and bracelets and I've fallen completely in love with her debut collection. It's so nice to see designs that stand apart from today's "typical" jewellery that's available in all the chain stores. With Nat's range you're sure to find a one-of-a-kind piece. The range emulates high-quality, luxury designs at an affordable price.

Nat credits her inspiration to international brands such as Mawi London and LuLu Frost. You'll find her pieces contain spectacular coloured stones and statement settings; these are sure to draw attention and plenty of compliments!

Her debut range releases this month. Check out her collection here. I hope you love her creations as much as I do. Let's support this fantastic emerging designer.

Photos courtesy of Nat Kent.

Eat Me. The Mess Hall, Melbourne

I made a quick trip down to Melbourne on the weekend to visit the family. I had a great couple of days catching up with Dad, shopping [way too much] and dining with friends. Saturday morning I had breakfast at The Mess Hall; a little cafe at the top end of Burke St near Parliament House. The venue for this cafe is full of old world Melbourne charm as it's housed in a historic city building not unlike a terrace house; narrow at the front and long to the back.

Mess Hall is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and after experiencing it's quirky, friendly feel I'd be keen to return. I ordered the museli with yoghurt and poached rhubarb which was really nice. I'm in a bit of museli phase at the moment after discovering an amazing homemade recipe for it (I'll be sure to share with you soon), so now I feel rather inspired to poach some rhubarb at home to add to mine! They also have a good selection of herbal teas, I had ginger and lemongrass which was very refreshing.

Overall a yummy, carefree breakfast; perfect for a catch up with old friends. 4/5

Where: 51 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Bookings: not neccessary
Phone: (03) 9654 6800