Monthly Archives: April 2013

Introducing Forster

Good morning, afternoon, twilight, dawn, dusk, whatever, wherever you are, to you all… wow… that greeting went much longer than expected… 🙂

I want to share with you the loveliness of a small, quaint town called Forster that I visited with my parents a couple of weeks back at the beginning of the holidays. According to Wikipedia and my lack of direction sense, it is a ‘large coastal town in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia’.

They say large but really, psssht, it is pretty small considering you can walk roughly from one side to the other in 2-2 ½ hours 🙂
Why do I say it is quaint? Why is it not a full on, up and coming, technologically raging city?

Because it focuses on

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ANZAC Day 2013

ANZAC – The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

Respected, admired and commemorated for their efforts in saving their nations and allowing the freedom in which we live today.

Lest we forget.

http://germanamur.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/anzac-day.html

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Meet John Smith. He is a 15 year old boy of the early 20^th century, living by cricket and just starting to get those hormonal ticks which make him interested in Elizabeth, whose hair he used to pull when they were little.

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CCU Undercover: Enigma at the Piazza

CCU cracked up once again while watching Big Fat Greek Wedding. The popcorn was flying around as she clutched her stomach and she tipped over her drink in a rush to grab the remote and rewind to the scene where Aunt Voula thinks lamb is not meat!

She began to dream about her own Greek wedding. Despite not being Greek and not knowing any Greek men. Hmmm… So she settled for the next best thing and found a darling new Greek restaurant hidden to the side of the Piazza of her local shopping haven…

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The name is just so fitting for this restaurant. Located right on the edge of the Piazza, it is not the most obvious making it quite mysterious 😉

http://www.facebook.com/EnigmaDining

I suppose it is also more mysterious because of the cuisine it serves. How many of you actively know Greek cuisine inside out (If you are Greek, refrain from answering!) and say, ‘Oh, I want to go eat Greek tonight.’

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Part One…

This is short, sweet and delicious – Part two will be coming in a few days time, I promise, just keep that patience 😉

And I mean short. Honestly, you guys will be majorly surprised considering I have trouble stopping my typing 😉

For now, enjoy the first part of this massively awesome dessert to come!

As you all know, ANZAC Day is coming up to commemorate our brave soldiers who fought in the world wars. I promise there will be more on that in Part 2.

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Bread Can Be Such A… Witch…

April 19, 2013
Choc Chip Uru
77 comments
bread, butter, dough, garlic, garlic knots, olive oil, parsley, soup side, yeast

Obviously, I meant witch. Gosh, get your mind out of the gutter! 😉

Come on guys, we are keeping this blog G-rated right? Ok, perhaps PG but nothing more, I promise, cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.

Oh dear.
Did I just go all Saw-style, M/MA 15+ on you? Oops… honest mistake 😉

Anyway, let me go back to the topic on hand. Bread. Dough. Yeast. I may have made it, used it, before but honestly, it is the kitchen bad boy.

Moody.
Delicious.
Rebellious.

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CCU Undercover: Maharaja’s Haveli

It was time to get CCU’s bhangra on again as she channelled her inner Indian and decided to swivel her hips into another restaurant where the smell of curry, paneer and fresh mango lassi permeated the air.

Grabbing the bottom of her sari, she sashayed in, followed by her equally dressed up, jewelled up family and like royalty, they seated themselves to be transported back to Old India…

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Do you remember I went to another Indian restaurant and reviewed it? Castle Taj? Well, that was good. Now, in comparison to the review I am about to show you today, it seems to-tahl-ly average. Legit. And I suppose this is to be expected when Haveli has the reputation for having the best chaat in Sydney. But more on that later 😉

You walk into Maharaja’s Haveli and BAM, I don’t know if you subconsciously fell into the DeLorean or into the Doctor’s Tardis but you feel an instantaneous connection with old India. I wish I could have taken photos to show you but there are models everywhere, of beautiful old fashioned weaving, rickshaws and scenes from the time of kings, when India was at its peak!

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Getting Back Into It

So, after a long haul of dragging my butt to the library, writing countless pages and walking around my house like some sort of noob, repeating facts over and over again, I am finally back to enjoy cooking and blogging and eating! Ohhh boy, especially eating!

Weird Fact: Did you know that while I study, I am not a fan of eating? How weird is that! (But then again… when I am not actively studying, I eat like a horse that is high and has a case of the munchies…hmmm…)

Anyhow, HI HOW ARE YOU? Honestly, I feel like someone kicked me off to boot camp and on returning, I have become a bit of a stranger, trying to get comfortable again in my apron skin with whisks for hands! 😉

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Guest Post #9: Peanut Butter Quinoa Oat Muffins

April 9, 2013
Choc Chip Uru
98 comments
muffins, oats, peanut butter, peanuts, quinoa

Bonjour mes cheris, get excited for me! After I finish these exams I am wading through right now, half of year 12 will be forever finished and over with! YAY!

Mais non, focus, FOCUS! It certainly is not over yet no matter how much I dream about year 12 formal. Ah, c’est la vie!

Anyhow, while I am not here to give you recipes, tips, tricks and well, my blog, I have some pretty fan-friggin-tastic fabulous chefs lined up to do so instead! A whole range of dishes for you to enjoy while I am on this undesired break – You won’t even notice my absence I promise!

See you soon for the April holidays and wishing you all a marvelous Easter break! Promise me you will chow down on what that Easter Bunny brings you/your chocolate loot stashed in the bottom of your drawer – Yes, I am on to you all!

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Well my friends, it seems that we have reached our last but far from least guest poster!
Meet Erika. Pancake obsessed, cake obsessed, sweet obsessed Erika. Yeah, I think you all will get along just fine with her, especially when you see the muffins she has to share today 😀

Please welcome The Pancake Princess, with her flair for sugary treats and fantastic blogging style as your final guest poster 🙂

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Hi everyone! I’m Erika from The Pancake Princess. I’m very excited to be guest posting on Uru’s blog—not only does she write entertaining blog posts and bakes up some of my favorite nutella creations, she’s also one of the most supportive and best commenters around. Basically, she is super cool.

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Guest Post #8: Diabetic Friendly Taco Pizza

April 7, 2013
Choc Chip Uru
49 comments
diabetes, health, information, pizza, taco

Bonjour mes cheris, get excited for me! After I finish these exams I am wading through right now, half of year 12 will be forever finished and over with! YAY!

Mais non, focus, FOCUS! It certainly is not over yet no matter how much I dream about year 12 formal. Ah, c’est la vie!

See you soon for the April holidays and wishing you all a marvelous Easter and break! Promise me you will chow down on what that Easter Bunny brings you/your chocolate loot stashed in the bottom of your drawer – Yes, I am on to you all!

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Hello all, I thought I would mix it up a little and give you a taste of something you are not used to on this blog. Health 😉 – Please welcome Tracy Rose, who has been so kind as to write up an incredible post about those with Type II diabetes and even include a delicious pizza recipe mixed with Mexican! To learn more, please visit Health Line!

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For some people, the doctor’s diagnosis of type II diabetes is like being told they will never be able to enjoy any food again. After all, giving up sugary sweets can be hard, especially if you love cakes, chocolates, and pastries. However, just because you found out you are diabetic doesn’t mean you have to give up everything you love. There are plenty of tasty foods that you can still enjoy. All you have to do is change how you think about your meals and foods. With simple changes, you can still say “yum” when you pick up the fork or spoon.

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Guest Post #7: Gluten-Free Double Choc Brownie Cookies

Bonjour mes cheris, get excited for me! After I finish these exams I am wading through right now, half of year 12 will be forever finished and over with! YAY!

Mais non, focus, FOCUS! It certainly is not over yet no matter how much I dream about year 12 formal. Ah, c’est la vie!

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Where should I begin with our next guest poster – mother of both creativity AND cooking? Yes, you may call her ‘a regular Martha Stewart! The fact that her life is right now totally upside down in a good way as you shall soon read, it is so truly appreciated that she still managed to guest post here, and her inaugural one at that!

Please welcome Miss Marzipan, she plans to make many fall in love with her cupid inspired treats today…

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