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I just spotted the Shop-A-Docket advertisement for Windang Hotel Bistro's "All You Can Eat Mussels for $15" and I'm excited!

I can't wait for Saturday so I can sit down to some Mussels "succulently steamed in white wine and served with crusty bread"

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Don't know what to get your loved one who loves to cook?
Know someone who loves quirky kitchen gadgets?
Why not spoil them with one of these Christmas gift ideas or
as a hostess gift at your next Christmas or New Years Eve party.


BonJour Salad Chef Salad Dressing Mixer


Salad chef® is designed to perfectly emulsify ingredients to prepare delicious salad dressings effortlessly. Simply pour the ingredients into the carafe, push down to activate the battery powered salad chef® and watch as the ingredients quickly become a tasty salad dressing. There are four recipes on the carafe and an interactive recipe book with additional recipes. Includes an airtight stopper to retain dressing freshness. This mixer has a unique push-down mechanism for easy ergonomic use, non skid base that holds the carafe in place while in use, and a comfortable soft touch santoprene top.
( Read more... )
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BREAKFAST BANDAGES From Accoutrements Boo-boos come in all sizes. Some only need a wee bandage, while others require something a little more substantial. Each 3-3/4" (9.5 cm) tall metal tin contains two sizes of latex-free, vinyl, adhesive bandages (seven 3" (7.6 cm) long bacon strips, seven 1-1/2" (3.8 cm) fried eggs) with sterile gauze and a FREE TOY to take your mind off of the excruciating pain

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Dachshund Salt & Pepper Set Add your favorite 'seasonings' with this Dachshund Salt & Pepper Set. Simply shake the dachshund and you will find the extra flavor coming out of its rear end. It will definitely bring some laughs at the dinner table!  ( Read more... )

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Tic Tac Toe Toast Bread Stamper The Tic Tac Toast stamper combines the fun of tic-tac-toe with the tastiness of toast. Just press this 3-3/8" x 3-3/8" plastic stamper into a piece of bread, then put your bread in the toaster on a dark setting. The resulting toast will be branded with a tic-tac-toe grid When the toasted gameboard is ready, all that's left to do is pick some tasty toppings and play a game Winner gets to eat the toast Great stocking stuffer ( Read more... )

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WHAT'S COOKIN' SHELLHARBOUR?

Generations of family secrets have been revealed in a new Shellharbour City Council cookbook featuring over one hundred of the area's favourite recipes.

The new book, What's Cookin' Shellharbour?,  features a diverse range of tried and true family favourite recipes allowing interested community members to learn a whole new series of easy to cook and wholesome dishes.

Residents were asked to provide Council with the recipe to their favourite family recipes with the end result seeing an innovative mix of entrees, mains and deserts.

"We have received an amazing amount of input from the general community in creating this cook book with local residents only too happy to provide recipes to their favourite family celebration dishes," said Shellharbour City Council Good Neighbour Coordinator, Craig Swaney.

"Each of the recipes featured in the book holds a special meaning to the person who provided it with many of the dishes having been handed down through the generations.

"All of the ingredients used in the dishes are purposely easily accessible, with the end result being an easy to cook, wholesome, family meal.

"The first cook book Council released in 2004 had the desired effect of bringing the community together and creating stronger neighbourhoods and we are looking forward to achieving the same positive outcomes through the release of What's Cookin' Shellharbour?"

A free copy of What's Cooking Shellharbour? is available at Council's Administration Building Ground Floor or by clicking here. Tweet This

I was watching Jamie's US Road Trip and he sampled a cocktail which is famous in New Orleans - The Hurricane. The below information is from Wikipedia

Recipe

• One part dark rum
• One part white rum
• passion fruit syrup
• lime juice

"The hurricane is an extremely sweet alcoholic drink made from lime juice, passion fruit syrup and rum. It is one of many popular drinks served in New Orleans.

The creation of this passion fruit-colored relative of a Daiquiri drink is credited to New Orleans tavern owner Pat O'Brien. In the 1940s, he needed to create a new drink to help him get rid of all of the less popular rum that local distributors forced him to buy before he could get a few cases of more popular liquors such as scotch and whiskey.[1] [2] He poured the concoction into hurricane-lamp-shaped glasses and gave it away to sailors. The drink caught on, and it has been a mainstay in the French Quarter ever since. It is more commonly served in a disposable plastic cup, as New Orleans laws permit drinking in public and leaving a bar with a drink, but probibit public drinking from glass or metal containers.[3]
The hurricane is also the local name of a different cocktail on the islands of the Bahamas. The drink is composed of various measures of coffee liqueur, Rum 151, Irish cream and Grand Marnier, and is commonly found in the bars in and around downtown Nassau. Another variation on the Hurricane cocktail calls for 10 Cane light rum, Navan (a vanilla liqeur), orange juice, cranberry juice and a splash of lime. "

References

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Turkish Gozleme stall at Viva La Gong, MacCabe Park, Wollongong:Vanessa Pike-Russell



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More Illawarra Food and Restaurant Reviews at http://illawarrafoodreviews.blogspot.com
Photography by Vanessa Pike-Russell http://www.vanessapikerussell.com.au Tweet This

Portugese Kitchen Chorizo sausage with salad $6, Viva La Gong:Vanessa Pike-Russell



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More Illawarra Food and Restaurant Reviews athttp://illawarrafoodreviews.blogspot.comPhotography by Vanessa Pike-Russellhttp://www.vanessapikerussell.com.au Tweet This

It's a lovely day to be in McCabe Park, Wollongong celebrating 
Viva La Gong, Wollongong's multicultural festival. 


See a slideshow of images from last year's event












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I was reading through the Woolworths brochure and spied these Italian Style Meatballs with free sample of Leggo's Tuscan Meatballs simmer sauce. I used to buy my meatballs from a butchers in Shellharbour Square but I decided to give these a try. Very nice!


The meatballs were fairly lean and the flavours in the simmer sauce were great. No seasoning was required and it was a quick an easy meal which was cooked three ways. First, with gluten-free pasta made from rice and corn; secondly served with vegetables and lastly as a makeshift hamburger with gluten free bread, lettuce and some bacon. Yumm!

Definitely worth having in the fridge or freezer for a quick and tasty meal starter.
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Add RSS feed of Illawarra Food Reviews to your Gmail clippings:Vanessa Pike-Russell

Open up Gmail, click on 'Customize Clips' link to add Illawarra Food Reviews feed to your gmail



Open up Gmail, click on 'Customize Clips' link to add Illawarra Food Reviews feed to your gmail



add_illawarrafood_to_gmail_rss

More Illawarra Food and Restaurant Reviews athttp://illawarrafoodreviews.blogspot.comPhotography by Vanessa Pike-Russellhttp://www.vanessapikerussell.com.au Tweet This

Maryann's view of Cathedral Rocks, Kiama Downs:Vanessa Pike-Russell

Spending the day with my friend Maryann at Kiama Downs

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More Illawarra Food and Restaurant Reviews athttp://illawarrafoodreviews.blogspot.comPhotography by Vanessa Pike-Russellhttp://www.vanessapikerussell.com.au Tweet This

Made from Master Tean's curry mix that I won from a competition hosted by A Table For Two.



Other ingredients include Spinach (Silverbeet), Chinese mushrooms, marinated mussells and broccoli




More Illawarra Food and Restaurant Reviews at
http://illawarrafoodreviews.blogspot.com

Photography by Vanessa Pike-Russell
http://www.vanessapikerussell.com.au Tweet This

On Thursday October 15th I photographed the Opening Night of the new branch of Crust Pizzas in 53 Crown St Wollongong. I had a great time photographing the many patrons and friends and family of the Crust Pizza Bar owners, business partners and staff.




I was lucky enough to sample some delicious pizza (I am in love with their Mediterranean Lamb Pizza - Drool!) and they have even achieved what sounds impossible - the healthy, heart-friendly pizza that tastes delicious! One of the things I was really impressed with is the ability to watch the making of the pizza from the fresh ingredients. There are so many gourmet items that you can use to custom-make your own pizza or choose from their extensive menu. The possibilities are endless!





Costa Anastasiadis, (right, in above image) founder of Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar, is proud to say that Crust’s six Heart Foundation 'Tick approved' pizzas were launched in early 2008 and reported to have up to half the fat and saturated fat of comparable pizzas from other takeaway outlets, between 50-70 percent less sodium, virtually no trans fat and each provide up to 80 percent of the recommended daily fibre intake for an adult. Crust's Creative Chef Peter Augoustis tracked down the best gourmet ingredients to create six of the best tasting and heart-friendly pizzas that are winning awards and fans around Australia.

 [ Wild Mushroom Pizza with asparagus ]




[ Shephard's Pie Pizza ]


[ Seafood Pizza ]



“We spent a considerable amount of time in product development to ensure that the Tick pizzas could offer a higher quality, healthier choice of takeaway to our customers while still tasting great,” says Costa. “The feedback we have had from customers has been fantastic, and awards such as this are further testament to the fact that there is a growing market in Australia for healthier takeaway foods..”



Crust is located next door to the Oxford Tavern in lower Crown St and offers Gluten-free options for all pizzas. Most definitely the best pizza I've enjoyed in Wollongong and wonderful service from staff who are more than happy to provide gluten-free options for pizzas and really know their pizza .

The Wollongong branch of Crust will have a slightly different layout to most Crust Pizza outlets, almost a piazza style with ability to dine in or takeaway.



Some of the patrons at the Opening Night who were really enjoying the great tasting pizza and fun party vibe.







 More images from the night:
 http://www.vanessapikerussell.com.au/food-photography/crust-pizza.html


Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar
53 Crown St Wollongong
http://www.crust.com.au



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