Favourite restaurant meal

Living in the inner west of Sydney leaves me totally spoilt for choice when it comes to Italian restaurants. And thank goodness! I could live on pasta alone for as long as I shall live. Thankfully, so could my two offspring.

My favourite restaurant meal, therefore, would have to be anything pasta related. Admittedly, I find it so hard to go past the old classic of spaghetti bolognese. But have been known to branch out and try a ragu - this was because I wasn't sure what was in it exactly, my husband told me I was better off not knowing.

We do have a favourite local restaurant. Little miss calls it "the one with the silver hair man" because, surprise, surprise it is owned by an older gentleman who has silver hair.

Whenever we go there they are so hospitable, there are always cheek kisses and family updates. They seat us at little misses favourite table, right next to the pizza maker, who always spins the dough in the air for her.

Little miss and I always seem to order the same dishes when we go there; Penne Siciliana for her and Fettuccine with creamy chicken & sun-dried tomatoes for me. Hubby does mix it up with either pasta, calzone or pizza. Our little man will have something of everything.

What is your favourite restaurant meal?

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Only five foods for an entire year

Admittedly, I often think how great it would be to just have a "food tablet". One that was for breakfast, one for lunch, one for dinner...I'm sure you get the idea. Most of the time preparing food that everyone likes and will eat is a down right pain. Wouldn't a "food tablet" just be awesome.

So for today's prompt, You can only choose five foods to eat for an entire year, what do you choose, I just thought of the first five foods that came in to my head....I thought they would probably be my favourite foods at least. While in the back of my mind I am still thinking of my "food tablet".

1. Bread
2. Mango
3. Fish
4. Pasta
5. Strawberries

What five foods would you choose?

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My favourite image

There are so many images that I love and will cherish forever. It is so very difficult to pick just one.

Any one of the photos from our wedding or honeymoon! Various pictures of our kids, friends and family. All so wonderful.

I think one of my all time favourites though, is this one. It is my beautiful mum holding my brother and I just after we were born. She is still at the hospital.

I only came across this photo about four years ago. It was one of many from this time that were on slides. I converted them to digital for my parents wedding anniversary.

I am pretty sure that I am on the left and my brother is on the right....I think?? I just love it though, my mum is simply gorgeous and fresh faced.

What is one of your favourite images of all time?

Out of all the ice cream in the world, the best is…

"You'll never forget your first magnum" was the catchphrase of Magnum when it was introduced back in the early-mid nineties...or something along those lines anyway.

They were right. I have never forgotten my first Magnum. It was only CLASSIC back then. There was no need to stand in front of the freezer section at the shop for an age deciding which flavour would most suit you that day. It was simply CLASSIC.

I was 15. My BFF at the time had just moved to QLD with her mum, after her parents divorced. She was visiting her dad for the school holidays. He lived in Balmoral. We went to the local corner shop (I love a corner shop) and got ice-creams, CLASSIC Magnums. We sat on a park bench opposite the beach and ate them. I was in heaven. It was the tastiest ice-cream I have ever eaten.

It has been my favourite every since. That CLASSIC Belgium chocolate lovingly encasing the smooth creamy vanilla ice-cream...mmmmm. Nothing beats it.

What is your favourite ice-cream?

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A favourite movie

I am sure it will come as no surprise to those who know me well that The Goonies is my all time favourite movie.

Why? I hear you ask.

When I first saw this movie I wanted nothing more than to be a Goonie. To find a treasure map in the attic and be on your way to the adventure of a life time with your best mates is what dreams are made of, especially when you are ten.

Slowly over the years these characters and Astoria become so familiar and safe. If ever I was in need of comfort I turned to The Goonies and somehow all would be right with the world once more.

For those who have no idea what I am rambling on about, The Goonies are a "gang" of four friends. This motley crew is made up of Mickey, the brains and leader, Mouth, the charmer, Data, the gadget man and Chunk, the lovable story-teller.

The story unfolds in Astoria, where a development group are looking to buy up houses to build a golf course. It seems unlikely that the kid's parents will be able to raise the money in time to save their homes from foreclosure.

Queue the finding of One-Eyed Willy's treasure map in Mickey's attic and the adventure beginning.

Side stories include Mickey's older brother Brandon having to chase him down for the sake of an over-protective mother, while also in a tug-of-war with one of the developer's sons, Troy over the head cheerleader, Andy.

The Fratelli's, a criminal family, are also thrown in to the mix and therefore the hunt for treasure when the boys stumble upon their cabin as the most likely starting point on One-Eyed Willy's map.

This movie has got it all, FBI agents, first kisses, slick shoes, truffle shuffling, giant octopuses, booby traps, walking the plank, gems in marble bags and of course, Sloth.

If you haven't already checked it out, you really should and perhaps Astoria will be a place of comfort for you too and just maybe you might want to be a Goonie.

What is your favourite movie?

Joining up with the lovely Claire at Clairey Hewitt for Blog Every Day in May.

The new favourite...

As I title this post I am trying to think what the old favourite was but can't for the life of me figure it out.

I know what meals have not been the old favourite because they have been met with, "I am not eating that, it is disgusting." Thanks little miss. At times like this I have to explain that it hurts Mummy's feelings when she has cooked a healthy meal for her family and is told that it is disgusting before anyone has even tasted it.

What is with that? Kids!

Anyway, the other night I had some left-over sausages and really didn't want to just BBQ them - as BBQ sausages seem to be at least one of the meals each week in this house.

I turned to my trusty friend and new addiction Pinterest and found a recipe for a sausage casserole. The recipe was all arse about but I had all the ingredients it listed and didn't think it would take that long to cook - a must for me - so I pieced it together and cooked for the family and it was met with enthusiasm!

I couldn't believe it. I thought because it was new it would be poo-hoo'd!

Little miss had three serves and Hubby had two. And that is a winner in my books, so I thought I would share it here....

Recipe for the new favourite Sausage Casserole

Ingredients

3 medium potatoes
1-2 tbsp olive oil
4 sausages, cut into 1cm pieces with the skin left on
2 tin diced tomato
1 red capsicum, cut into strips
1 small onion, diced
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 beef stock cube

Method

1. Parboil the potatoes. (If you leave them to cook with the casserole, you could be waiting a while.)
2. Heat oil in a large saucepan over moderate heat, add the onion, garlic and capsicum. Fry them until slightly softened.
3. Add the sausages and cook until browned.
4. Add the tin tomatoes and crumble in the beef stock cube.
5. Reduce the heat to allow to simmer gently.
6. Once the casserole has reduced to a consistency you are happy with, add your potatoes and stir to heat through.
7. Serve in a large bowl.

And there you have it.....watch out Hubby and little miss, you will probably be getting this once a week now ;)

What is your families favourite meal at the moment?