Yep, I've been a little busy lately.

Broc hurt his back and has been home from work all week, plus there's a few Birthdays this week: My nephew Braedyn turned the Big 5 yesterday, Tonia & Brent's little man George turns 2, and Broc's Mum, Lateena, turns 60 today!

Of course, all little Boys want an awesome Birthday Cake, and Braedyn wanted a chocolate Motorbike cake. I went through a few different plans before I finally came up with this one!



It's a shop bought sponge cake (the big square ones you buy & fill with cream yourself), filled with chocolate top 'n' fill (the stuff you get in a can), and covered with chocolate icing. The motorbike is made from icing, which I then painted for a vibrant color (rather than coloring the icing). It's the same as the motorbike on the birthday card we gave him ;)

A pretty lazy cake compared to what I usually do, but you can't expect too much with a killer headache, lol!

I managed to score a 3ft Hexagonal fish tank a couple weeks ago, and it has since been sitting on a couple bits of pine on the dining room floor, waiting for us to do something with it. I asked Broc to take a look...

After some deep thought (see facial expession above), my lovely Broc decided he'd indulge me and build a great big cabinet spanning the full length of the dining room!! So, a couple hours and a load of sawdust later, we moved it in...

Then came the fun task of catching 5 Goldfish, 1 Bristlenose Catfish, 3 Rainbow Fish and 1 Hillstream Loach so I could drain the existing 3ft tank enough to move it without cracking the thing. And where, might you ask, did I put them while draining the tank? Well, where else of course, but in a 30L Esky! Except for the Bristlenose of course - she has a bit of an attitude problem, so I lifted her out, plant, cave and all and put her into her own tub.

So now, after much sloshing about and heavy lifting, our dining room looks kinda like this. I'll post another picture once the front of the stand is closed up, and the place isn't so trashed ;) (Err, excuse the plumber bum).

Yep, it has come and gone (last night in fact!). A smaller turnout than usual, since some people went away for the long weekend, or are away on holidays (damn you!).

Despite the low party populace, a good time was had by all... I think - I had fun anyways! :P

As requested, below the picture slideshow are the recipes for my awesomely yummeh party foods!




Crispy Bat Wings
1.5Kg Chicken Wings
2 Tbsps Tomato Sauce
2 Tbsps Soy Sauce
2 Tbsps Honey
1 Tbsp Barbeque Sauce
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)

• Place chicken wings in a large lightly oiled/greased baking dish.
• Mix together sauces, honey and garlic and drizzle over wings.
• Bake in a moderate (180°C) preheated oven for 1 - 2 hrs, turning a few times until chicken is well glazed, starting to crisp on the outside and is cooked through.
• Serve hot or chilled. Makes approx. 12


Witches' Fingers
2 Sheets Puff Pastry, slightly thawed
¼ Red Capsicum
200g Shredded Ham
200g Pizza Cheese (mixed Cheddar, Mozarella and Parmesan)
Can of Sliced Water Chestnuts (optional)

• Cut Capsicum into thin strips. Could substitute oven roasted peppers, tinned capsicum or semi-dried tomato.
• Cut pastry sheets into 4 thin rectangles.
• Place capsicum strips, cheese and ham along one edge of the pastry, and roll into a tight roll.
• Cut each long roll into three finger-length sections, and twist to form gnarled fingers. Mark knuckles with a sharp knife. Repeat with remaining pastry.
• Bake on a tray in a moderately hot oven (220°C) for 15 - 20 minutes or until pastry is crispy golden and cheese is melted.
• Drain Water Chestnuts and slice into fingernail shapes. Stick one into the end of each finger.
• Serve hot from the oven with Tomato sauce. Recipe can be easily doubled or halved. Makes 24.