Escape2Create No 5 ...

So tomorrow after work I head down to join Amanda and Sue to help with set up for our 5th retreat ... I can't believe that we have done 4 and now our 5th!!

Here are a few photos from last year ... each year there is a theme with logos etc created by the exceptionally talented Amanda Hall :-)

Really looking forward to seeing those who have come before and meet those who are attending for the first time :-)

Facebook has been going crazy with excited attendees writing about what to bring, what to wear, what to drink ... http://www.facebook.com/groups/129083937124479/

Stayed tuned for some photos from this year :-)

A few more snaps of the kids ...

Yesterday ...

A kangaroo on the neighbour's lawn in the middle of the day ...

Usually we see kangaroos on the nearby yacht club lawn in the middle of the night or evidence that they have been on our lawn or in the backyard but not in the day time.

We headed out in the boat but the weather wasn't quite as good as the forecast said, a bit rough.

We had a fish at the Brothers (caught 2 garfish and 2 tommies) and then tried at Kellidie (no luck) ...

Then we headed out for dinner at The Oysterbeds ...

And another failed attempt at a photo of the kids!

Dinner Friday night ...

So I cooked Pete Evans's recipe for Blue Swimmer Crab Linguini (from his book Fish) but used vongole / pipis / cockles instead. and also added a splash of white wine and a spoon of light cream.

Subtle flavours and a tasty dish :-)

early morning cards ...

Time at the shack involves busy times catching up for the adults and the kids but now we are in the chill out time after Easter ...

so cards have become popular!

the oldest and youngest were asleep still :-)

Dinner Friday night ...

I am looking forward to what we cook Friday night ... John and the kids and the two gorgeous girls next door, Macey and Nigella, went cockling today and we are having vongole / pipis for dinner Friday night!!

Maybe spaghetti vongole

Can't wait :-)

Dinner tonight ...

So tonight we had some Kinkawooka Mussels to cook ...

And I had seen a recipe in the Weekend Australian lift out magazine for Spiced Mussels by David Herbert (7th - 8th April 2012) so I gave it a try ...

very tasty and easy!!

We didn't have any Fives Loaves Bakery sourdough or ciabatta so we made do with some naan bread :-)

Dinner tonight ...

We were lucky enough to be given some abalone today (still not entirely sure if it was black lipped or green lipped!)

I have never had it before and John had only had it on a footy trip years ago!

Source

Luckily I had borrowed some cookbooks from our local library and one of the books was Fish by Pete Evans ... published originally in 2007 it is one I am definitely going to buy ... living in such a great seafood area of the country!

In his book Pete says that this is the most expensive seafood to come from the sea. 

So there was a recipe for abalone ... page 16 ... abalone schnitzels ... basically crumbed in panko crumbs.

I was a bit nervous as I had heard lots of people say it is tough but tonight John cooked it and it was so tender and delicious. Really yummy and Jack and Hannah liked it too, Lachlan tried a bit but not Rohan!!

So thank you Jack H for harvesting them and letting us try them :-)

Easter 2012 ...

one mode of transport in CB ...

and the other mode of transport ...

the Easter box ...

the view ...

the friends ...

the stash ...

Penny board fun ...

lots of fun!

Happy Easter :-)

Project and photo from Lark Crafts

We have been enjoying great company, lovely drinks and yummy seafood and coping with the not so great weather!!

some kingfish and Atlantic Salmon sashimi

David's oysters with shallot, soya sauce, sesame and vinegar dressing - delicious

Enjoyed with a lovely glass of champagne :-)

We also enjoyed some delicious calamari, whiting, scallops, seafood marinara, sushi, tuna ... so lucky to live close to all this great seafood :-)