Cold and hungry?

So now that the weather has turned on us and we take out our winter blankets, it's time for warm winter dinners. Tuesday night was the night I tried a new potato bake recipe. It was a cold rainy night and it went down like a treat! The recipe is from the Australian Women's Weekly's Cooking on a Shoestring.

Here is what you need;
1kg sebago potatoes, cut into 5mm slices
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium brown onion (150g) sliced thinly
3 thin rindless bacon rashers (90g), chopped coarsely
1 cup (250mL) cream- I use Devondale's thickening cream just because the bf is a little dairy sensitive so it's the only cream he can consume safely
Half a cup (120g) sour cream
2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh chives
1 cup (120 g) coarsely grated cheddar cheese

Here is what you need to do;
1. Preheat oven to 200/180 degrees celsius fan-forced. Grease 2 litre (8 cup) ovenproof dish.
2. Boil/Steam/Microwave potato slices until tender
3. Meanwhile, heat oil in medium frying pan' cook onion and bacon, stirring until onion softens and bacon is crisp.
4. Combine cream, sour cream and chives in medium jug.
5. Layer a third of the potato slices over base of dish; sprinkle with half the bacon mixture. Pour a third of the cream mixture over bacon mixture; sprinkle with a third of the cheese. Repeat layering and finish with cheese.
6. Bake uncovered, in oven, about 30 mins or until browned. Stand for 10 mins before serving. Goes well with any grilled meat of your choice and steamed green vegetables.

TIP: Prepare the ingredients before you start cooking, it makes the whole process a lot easier and it also allows you to focus on one thing at a time, cooking can be overwhelming sometimes!

Best gift with purchase EVER!

I’ll admit that I am a sucker for a gift with purchase and until 23rd of May (or while stocks last), Clinique have an awesome pack (only available at David Jones and only when you spend $60 or more in one transaction).

How did I come across this adorable deal? It was during my search for a new foundation, since the cold weather has hit, my foundation and my skin decided not to get along anymore. So I hit the Clinique counter since they have affordable foundations which are of great quality. My friend Elise recommended the Even Better Foundation from Clinique new Even Better range, so I thought, why not! It is ideal for dry to combination skin (which is exactly what’s happening with my face right now) and it also had medium coverage, which is surprising for a light weight liquid foundation.

It also comes in a plastic bottle, which ideal for those clumsy bottle breakers out there (like me). There are 12 available shades and the benefits of using this foundation include covering and treating uneven skin tone, long wearing, natural skin-perfecting look and its mineral enriched.

The foundation cost me $49, so to be eligible for the free gift (spend $60 or more) I decided buy some lip gloss (gal always needs some gloss). So I bought the Full potential Lips Plump and Shine, because I figured sexy name, sexy lips! It does plump your lips and provided a lovely gloss, but it also very sticky. If you wait for the gloss to settle on your lips, it doesn’t feel that bad. I do appreciate the packaging as it comes with a lip wand (I am not a big fan of lip tubes).

So what was included in my free gift? Bottles of skin care awesomeness! This included Clinique's...
- Rinse-off foaming cleanser mousse 75mL
- 7 Day scrub cream 30mL
- Dramatically different moisturizing lotion 30mL
- Moisture Surge 30mL
- Aromatics Elixir 4mL
- Long last lipstick
- Blushing blush 3.1g
- High impact curling mascara in black
AND a super cute beauty bag!

Want to get fresh?

Fresh fruit and vegetables that is! I am very anti-supermarket when it comes to my fruit and veg, especially after a friend revealed to me that supermarket produce is often frozen for up to 2 years, before it is on display. Talk about outrageous and not-so-fresh! So I have been committed to finding fresh produce at a reasonable price.

Marrickville Organic Food market is the answer! Held every Sunday from 8:30-3pm, it is very vegan and vegetarian friendly. This place also has great market food. My vegetarian friends bought a vegie stack which looked delicious (I am a proud meat-eater so that says something). I had a spinach and beef gozleme which was perfect on a sunny day.

We also bought a massive bag full of organic fruit and veg for just $40! Which is how much I spend at the grocery store anyways. The markets also ended up being an educational experience as I learned that supermarket apples are covered in wax which helps keep the moisture within the apples. Although this wax is safe for consumption, I just don't like the idea of eating wax covered fruit... So I bought a bought a bag of un-waxed apples and boy were they crunchy!

So if you're in the area and have a hankering for fresh fruit and vegies, hit Marrickville's Organic Food Market.

When? Every Sunday from 8:30-3pm
Where? Addison Road Community Centre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville

Ruby Smallbone. More like Ruby Big-Inspiration!

Yes I realise that Smallbone is more practical, but when I saw her models strut their stuff last night, there was a massive 'wow factor'.

I'm talking awesome hair and cool threads. I was actually thinking about cutting my hair and adopting the blunt bob look, but when I saw the wispy high buns on her models, I was mesmerised and inspired. The models looked casual yet appropriate for a black tie event. Even though the buns were high, they were also loose, which is great as they probably won't cause headaches (I have thick hair and a lot of it, so I am definitely a hair-ache sufferer).

The clothes were just as gorgeous. I mean pastels, prints and wearable fashion, OH MY! The pastels were creamy and seemed to compliment all skin tons (the seemingly Asian model and Samantha Harris assisted me with this conclusion). Ruby Smallbone made silk shorts look fun and flirty, she also had an incredible white dress which I fell in love with.

The show was no doubt a parade of inspiration.

A big thank you to Elise who let me be her plus one and Renee from Stellar PR for inviting us along.

Cold Wednesday= Bamboo Dumpling Bar= Warm Kat

As it was freezing on Wednesday, so BF and I decided to try out the Bamboo Dumpling Bar in Surry Hills (there is also one at Potts Point). It was just the perfect weather for steamed food.

As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the very friendly chef and the most adorable buddha statue wearing a fedora (don't blame him, his head must have been freezing). The dumpling bar itself is decorated with a bike on the wall, a pop art print with Chairman Mao and my favourite; a blowfish in a bird cage (about time someone put a blowfish in a cage). I love places such as this, where you can spot the little touches of care and thought.

So what about the food? Well, here is what we ordered and what we told about it...

Duck pancakes- They were served hot and were delicious, with just the right amount of sauce and duck.

Pork and chive dumplings- These were my favourite because they tasted exactly like my dad's. It was really creepy. I actually tried to see if my dad was cooking in the kitchen... suspicious if you ask me.

My main was the special for Wednesday night, braised beef with noodles- The beef had soaked up a lot of flavour and the noodles were great, but I did feel like the bowl needed a little more soup.

BF's main was the beef pho- They were ok, it was a great comfort dish.

Beef and lemongrass skewers- Usually I find the lemongrass over powers the beef, but this was not the case. There was a delicious balance of spices and beef.

Overall it was a good Wednesday night, the dinner for 2 cost us less than $50 (inc. tip), the service was good and the placed looked great. What more can a hungry person want on a cold night! I mean a hug would've been nice, but it wasn't on the menu....

Address: 140 Commonwealth Street Surry Hills

Phone:02 9281 1372

Hours: Mon-Sun, 12-10pm

Trying to give good face

I'm am currently 24 years old and I still struggle to give good face. You see I am Asian and I have a serious case of the "Asian eyes". I don't have a visible crease across my eyelid and my eyelashes are very short, in fact sometimes I wake up and freak out because I think they've all fallen out. On the plus side, it has saved me money on buying mascara (which, when I try to apply, there is more on my skin than my lashes) and eye shadow (when I attempt to do a smokey eye, it looks like a black eye).

So I've been trying to find a solution to my face problem and I think I am one step closer. I have discovered a book called 'Asian Faces: The Essential Beauty and Makeup Guide for Asian Women' by Taylor Chang-Babaian. It's a book that has been on the market for a while, but all the information is still relevant. It can also be very helpful for those who aren't Asian, the book doesn't discriminate!

Who is this genius - Taylor Chang-Babaian? She is Korean-American, a celebrity makeup artist and beauty author. She also understands that the way you look on the outside can make you feel good on the inside. In her book she simplifies the whole make up process with great images and a step by step guide to creating the look that she has created.

There is also a play-by-play of the tools you need, a guide to determining your skin type and then there's a whole section on fake eyelashes (yes it's an Asian girls dream!). Chang-Babaian also goes through the type of makeup you should use for your skin type. Something so obvious, yet I had been oblivious to, thus my struggle for good face.

So if you're like me and want to give good face, pick up a copy of Taylor Chang-Babaian's 'Asian Faces: The Essential Beauty and Makeup Guide for Asian Women'. I bought mine from Angus and Robertson for $40.95, but I'm sure you can get a copy from any leading book store.

Best coffee in Newtown!

Yes that's right... I said it. The best coffee in Newtown is Sole Espresso. Bf and I decided to try some new places for breakfast and so we stumbled upon Sole Espresso. For a Sonoma Organic Toast with Vegemite and butter it'll cost you $4.00 and it was so what my tummy needed for breakfast. On another occasion I had scrambled eggs served on organic toast with roasted roma tomato & rocket for $8.50. Yes yummy and affordable!

The service was ok, the staff are friendly, but the quality is really in the food. You can also take your dog down and sit outside. Also important to note, Sole Espresso is eco-conscious.

Sole stands for Sustainable Organic Local Ethical, the coffee beans are sourced from sustainable farms and roasted locally by Single Origin in Alexandria. The bf could not get enough of this coffee, when we left he wasn't on the usual caffeine high, we was relaxed and alert.

They also serve lunch and tapas, I'm talking about soft shell crab & rocket salad with herbed Aioli and Spanish paella with seafood and chorizo. So it's droola-licious! Photo credit: www.soleespresso.com.au

When are they open? Mon- Fro 6:30 to 5, Thurs-Fri 6:30-10, Sat 7:30-10, Sun 8-5.
Where are they? 13/330 King St Newtown
What if I want to call them? (02) 9516 0007

'Pho' I'm hungry!

While watching Masterchef the other night, Luke Nguyen was featured cooking in Freedom Square at Cabramatta, I remembered all the Saturdays I spent there shopping with the parentals. Going into the Asian bakeries and grocery stores, seeing the exotic ingredients that surrounded me.

So while house sitting in the area, we wanted to go to Cabramatta for some Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup). We had heard that there was a great place next to the Commonwealth Bank on John St and we were not disappointed!

We ordered some prawn and pork fresh rolls and 2 bowls of beef pho (with 2 cokes it cost us $33.50) The rolls were fresh and had a great balance of noodles, salad and meat. The beef noodle soup was just as awesome, it had heaps of noodles (just the way I like it) and the restaurant gives you the whole bottle of chilli and hoi sin sauce (both crucial condiments for Pho), you also get plenty of chilli sauce.

We almost had to be rolled out of the restaurant!

This is what we had:


What's it called? Bau Truong Vietnamese Restaurant
Address? 42 John Street Cabramatta
Phone? 9727 7099