One Manly afternoon

The other day, Jeremy and Jaiden visited me at work to take me out to dinner (Jeremy making it up to me/sucking up) and surprised me with roses in hand and then went to Manly for dinner.

We walked the streets and wharf, looking for restaurants to eat, sat down on the stairs/pier enjoying the sunset and just watching people come from work off the ferry and onto their bikes. What a lifestyle they had, we thought.

Here's a few shots I took while out, embracing the moment.

Hariette's 22nd Birthday

Last Friday night, we went out for my 'sister' Hariette's 22nd Birthday.

I ended up going home after work just so I could see Jaiden before dropping him off to my mums for the night and also so I could get ready properly. We drove to the city and ended up getting there way before we expected, which was 30 minutes earlier. So Jeremy and I went to the restaurant (Tony Roma's) early, because we didn't have anything else to do and just sat there for a good 45 minutes waiting for everyone. Jeremy ended up having a coffee to warm himself up lol.

People finally started arriving, but as usual, the birthday girl is always late lol. We got our orders and waited very patiently, giving that everyone was so hungry.. I ordered The Original Baby Back Ribs with corn and a spud as a side. It was so delicious! I ate the whole thing! which is pretty rare for me because I never finish any meal off. Jeremy ordered a burger since he wasn't that hungry.

Afterwards, Hariette and her friends decided to crash at their penthouse while we went straight home because we were just knackered. It was a good catch up though. I hadn't seen and spoken to my '2nd family' properly in so long. And it was a good, quiet night out. Just what I longed for.

Jeremy's 22nd Birthday

On Thursday, 28th July, it was Jeremy's 22nd birthday. We didn't have anything planned for the day though because we both had work that day and couldn't really do anything anyway. 

On Thursday night, his friends took him out for dinner to Hooters, where he apparently got drunk and was forced to dance with hoola-hoops because it was his birthday haha. Then on Friday night, after getting home from work, we went out on a dinner to Meat and Wine Co. in Parramatta. We had such a great meal there, cocktail for me and a beer for Jeremy.

The funniest thing happened in the middle of eating, there was a car chase that was happening right next to the restaurant. The guy driving the car seemed as if he wasn't fussed at all, just cruising along with one cigarette in one hand and there were like 5 police cars just speeding and tailing him lol.

After dinner, we just went straight home because I was so drained and tired. We just watched Teen Wolf until we fell asleep.

Jeremy requested that I have my hair and make up done for that night, like how it was on my 20th birthday celebration night since he wasn't there to see me all dolled up. So it took me an hour more to get my hair done and make up done. I usually only take 30 minutes to get ready. It was such hard work for me, I don't know how people can be so bothered to do their hair and make up everyday.

On Saturday, we had Jeremy's BIL and the kids over (SIL was home sick :( ). I baked a cake for Jeremy, he wanted something 'gooey' and moist, so I made a mousse cake with Oreo icing. BIL cooked some pork belly.

The food was so yum, especially the nice and crispy/crunchy pork belly skin and the moist meat. Everyone loved my chocolate cake. It was better than I expected it to have come out, I thought I was going to stuff up. Though it was a little richer than I thought. Everyone didn't mind and loved it regardless.

Here are photos from the two days, night and day:

 

 

Killa Burger Grill

On Sunday afternoon, Jeremy said he craved for some burgers and since we already had Hungry Jacks/McDonald's earlier that morning, I suggested we go to 'Killa Burger' for a change of scenery, an excuse to go out and a chance to finally see what the all the hype was about. So Jeremy called up his friends and made plans. We waited for Jeremy's mum to get back from work so we could leave Jaiden and then headed off.

When we got there, I didn't like the location of the place. I thought it was just in the wrong place and that they could do a lot better, customers wise, if it were in a more central place. But they apparently get busy sometimes, so I guess it's okay lol. 

Jeremy and I shared the 'Killa Beef Burger' meal, which we didn't finish! Jeremy ate 1/4 of the burger, I ate half of a quarter, gave the other to his best friend Chris & took the other quarter home lol. I also tried their fried ice cream which was recommended by a friend through Facebook, but to my disappointment, it wasn't as great. Apparently it wasn't good all together.. Because it was the first time ever trying it out, I didn't know what was good/bad, but I gotta admit.. it didn't taste great. Then when we were done, we headed back home while the boys went off to play some Aqua Golf.

ladies night

Ladies night with Lorreine, Sarah and Bron on Saturday night.

- Dinner @ City Extra, Parramatta & Collector Hotel for some dancing.

wraps + recipe

I made this Thai inspired mince mix before and just had it with rice which is the original way of having it, then Jeremy suggested that I cook it up again and have it with wraps. So tonight, I made wraps for dinner! I'll be writing up the recipe also, to share with you all because this mix is just so easy, full of taste and is so versatile!

Ingredients:

Mince:

2 teaspoons Olive Oil (I used extra virgin)

1 large red onion, thinly sliced

750g chicken mince (I used Beef)

1/4 cup sweet chilli sauce

2 tablespoon fish sauce

2 tablespoon lemon juice (I used half a lemon)

3 teaspoons brown sugar

* the original recipe also had 1 bunch coriander & steamed baby pak choy to serve

Wraps:

Large Wraps

Lettuce (we used a salad mix of lettuce & red cabbage)

cherry tomatoes

fresh avocado (packed, from cold salad section)

sour cream

cheese *option

Method:

Mince:

1. Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat.
2. Add onion. Cook, stirring occasionally for around 3 minutes or until onions are soft.
3. *Cut roots ends of coriander and finely chop. Remove leaves and set aside. Add chopped coriander to mince.
4. Add mince. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon (I used a normal serving spoon) to break mince, for about 10 minutes or until browned.
5. Add sweet chilli sauce, fish sauce, lemon juice and sugar. Stir to combine. Cook for 5 minutes, until heated through.

Wraps:

1. Spread wrap in a tablespoon of sour cream (more/less depending on how much you want) 
2. Spread 1/2 tablespoon of avocado on top of sour cream (more/less depending on how much you want) 
3. Cut cherry tomatoes into 4 slices, each piece. Place them around your wrap in 3 lines.
4. Grab a handful of the lettuce mix & spread it on top of tomatoes.
5. Get two serving spoonfuls of mince mix and spread on top of lettuce mix.
6. Add cheese on top (depending on your tastes)
7. Wrap it up, by folding the top and bottom together, then the sides together.

(You can make your wrap anyway you like.. this is just how I did it).

I hope you guys get the opportunity to make this dish or even just try out the mince mix with rice or any other way you like. I would say this will be the recipe I'll be following by from now on when I make wraps. Jeremy absolutely loved it.. he even got seconds and said "omg, this is the best"! haha