Stationary Prize Arrives & Meal Photo's!

Remember I won some stationary for naming a notepad (the 'Big Note' pad)? I finally put my order in..and quick as a flash, the stationary was delivered to me! I happened to order 3 'Big Note' pads - all personalised. The "with compliments" note below says "Enjoy Maria!". I photographed the cute doggies-in-chairs close-up too which happen to be one of the designs available to order.

I feature the yellow felt tip pen in the photo's to cover my full name. See Tiffany, I'm using the pen already! The paper in this notepad of 50 sheets is of amazing quality. Laser quality is that the term? It's definitely not the standard printer-style paper you buy at your local supermarket or department store. I couldn't resist getting a travel-themed note pad. This is from the "Carrie" range.

My name close-up, which features at the top of the notepads.


I also couldn't resist getting a cooking theme.. of course!

I haven't photographed the third notepad because it's a plain pad with mine and hubby's name in the top right hand corner. Our surname is done in a unique 'signature style' in big red font and our first names are in plain capitals underneath.. it's really classy, I love it.

Ok...

WHAT I'VE BEEN EATING lately
I have good quality tinned tuna often (usually in springwater) and this is one way I'll have it. On toast with plenty of salad ingredients like rocket, baby spinach, tomatoes, capsicum & red onion. This is a lunch or even breakfast for me.

The other night I poached some pork meatballs in some vegetable broth (my first pork in over a month). It was very lean, much less fat than lamb or beef mince which oozes grease when cooked). Though it depends on where you get your mince too! I mixed pork mince with Ketcap Manis (a thick, sweet soy sauce) and plenty of chopped, fresh coriander, an egg and some breadcrumbs. I remembered this shallow-poaching technique of cooking meatballs from a Jewish lady I once worked for. She taught me how to make chicken matzo meatballs for her elderly mother (I was her Mums carer). When I referred to these being Jewish style meatballs.. hubby called them a "bastardised" version considering the meat I used. The meatballs were firm, yet soft..and very flavoursome. As they poached in the vegie broth, I added some soba noodles and a frozen Asian vegie mix (just to be quick)..and then drizzled Hoisin sauce over the top to add that "Chinese 5 spice" touch. I'll be making this again.. it even agreed with my very sensitive tum. Just for the record.. I usually steer clear of chunky frozen carrots with ridges.. but I'd sent hubby to the shop..and oh well... ;-)

This lunch was a couscous salad which I served with a good quality peach & ginger chutney and some chopped cucumber.

This was my first bit of red meat in over a month. Excuse the blurry photo! It's a butcher-bought scotch fillet steak (lean.. but I was careful to slice-off any visible fat.. ie. the extra yummy bits) - a baked desiree potato in its jacket, some broccoli, cauliflower and my fav green beans..and a thin, watered down gravy.. that was still tasty. Since I get full quicker these days, I gave half of my steak to hubby (who cooked it some more in a pan.. as I like mine medium-rare). I also left half of my potato for later.. supper I think, which I had on a piece of toast.

My girl actually ate every morsel of this salmon meal last week (below). We shared a salmon fillet that had an "Aegean" spice rub over it, being dill, lemon zest.. hazelnuts etc. I cooked the peas in some choppped tomatoes.. the kind you can get in a tin with added basil and onion (I don't buy these flavoured kinds often, preferring the taste of organic Italian tomatoes). My girl isn't really a fan of peas and hates fresh tomato, but she loved the peas like this. There is also a rice timbale on the side. I used the measuring cup from my new rice cooker to get the shape.. and yes.. the rice was done in the new rice cooker! It was just plain jasmine rice (my favourite Koala brand) with some quality soy sauce stirred through before putting it into the 'timbale' mould ;-)

If I were to host an online "stationary party".. like a Tupperware party, but online.. would anyone be interested? I don't think we need to be online at the same time. It just takes place during a nominated period of time. And anyone that buys anything gets a gift which isn't the case if you just purchase directly from the website. If you'd be interested in being part of an "online stationary party".. please let me know. I'd love to try it.. something different! If I don't know your email address, you can leave it on one of my blog posts (doesn't have to be this one.. I'll get it wherever you decide to plant it). I'm in the market for some address labels... and some smaller personalised note pads possibly.. and a gift or two. It doesn't cost you anything to be included! Won't you join me?