Aussie, Aussie, Aussie ...

My Australia Day began luxuriously ... with a sleep in.

What a glorious start to the day.

Then it was into the kitchen.

Eliza's new year resolution is to make every recipe in the Junior Masterchef cookbook - a promise she is taking very seriously.

Today she tackled an Aussie classic - bacon and egg pie.

She made the pastry from scratch and carefully cracked the eggs so the yolks didn't break. The recipe is one from Stephanie Alexander, so she's learning from the best.

And the result was scrumptious.

Lunch was quickly followed by afternoon tea.

Eliza was at it again. Fancy some chocolate fudge cake with chocolate icing and hundreds and thousands?

What can I say ... It's fabulous having a 10 year old who loves to cook.

In the afternoon I finally put my Christmas decorations away, had a snooze and fixed some leftovers for dinner.

Happy Australia Day.

Oi, Oi, Oi

We joined my sister, Zoe and Georgia in the park tonight for Jazz in the Gardens to celebrate Australia Day.
The girls got into the spirit.

Earlier Eliza and I attended a citizenship ceremony in Malvern Town Hall. What a happy, happy day.

Eliza told me she felt very proud of her country.

Us

Georgia @ 7 months !!! Apple custard is a new fave. Xxxxxxx

Aussie Aussie Aussie ...

Some chilled out jazz, a mild evening in the park with the family and my sister's inspired mini pavs were the envy of all around us!

What a great desert idea for our Australia Day picnic ... and they tasted as good as they looked.

We didn't have room for seconds so my generous sis offered the treats to a couple of ladies who'd been drooling. Turns out one lady from South Africa become an Australian citizen today. It was her first Australia Day as a brand new Aussie .... and her first ever Pavlova - so a day to remember.