Seems a while since I posted my last blog entry. Here we are in December, so I thought I should bring you up to speed. Our summer way down south here in New Zealand has been very slow to take off. The tomato plants are yet to make much growth but the strawberries are doing well and lots of roses out in full bloom. I'll post a pic from my garden of a beautiful purple Rhododendron. I have a number of them in the garden all do very well and make a colouful display. The soil must be acid (although I have never done a soil test)...as lilies and azeleas love it too. I have been painting over the last few weeks with a limited palette, using complimentary colours of crimson and greem (also white). Produced two hat pictures with these colours and have one more to go in the series, the last will be the Brown Hat. I took three paintings in to the Otago Arts Society gallery today for a Pic and Mix Exhibition which will be held over Christmas and the New Year. All artworks have to be under the $300NZ price tag. The gallery is housed on the upper level of a beautiful old railway station here in Dunedin. Many tourists visit the station so I am hoping for some sales. If an artwork sells, I can replace it with another work. I've just posted a watercolour and pen work called Lucy's Koi on here. It was my youngest daughter's birthday during the week so I mafe her a card, thought I would take a pic of it so you could see too. It can be purchased on www.redbubble.com/people/anni/art/4260826-1-lucys-koi if your interested. My partner has also been working hard on my new website wih my own domain name now: www.annimoris.com On Lucy's birthday I made her a most wickedly rich chocolate cake from the BBC Food website, it is called the Ultimate Chocolate cake on there if you want to locate it. Not overly sweet, it uses dark chocolate. Small slices are sufficient. Last night we went to a dinner party and I was making the dips. They were very well received and I want to share the recipes with Christmas coming up they might be useful and are very EASY to prepare. Much better than those bland sludges you buy in the supermarket. Here are the dip recipes: Zingy Bean Pate 400g cooked kidney beans or 1 can 2 cloves of garlic crushed 1 Tbsp capers or 6-8 olives 3-4 Tbsp chopped mint 3-4 Tbsp chopped parsley Juice of 1 lemon 2 Tbsp oil preferably sesame Process the beans then add other ingredients and process to a spreadable consistency. Taste and adjust flavours as required, if a little too beany add more lemon and mint. This is zesty dip is very more-ish! Serve on crackers or bread as a pate or use as a sandwich spread, pack in grown ups lunch boxes and picnic hampers. PS Pauline I used Johnny’s Mammoth Black olives for this, not capers….got them from the Gardens New World…my preferred olives. I put in more garlic and did use sesame oil as suggested . Smoked Oyster Spread INGREDIENTS • 1 (3.75 ounce) can smoked oysters • 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce • 1 pinch lemon pepper • A little freshly ground black pepper DIRECTIONS 1. In a medium bowl, mash oysters with a fork. Mix in cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon pepper. Notes You can use hot pepper sauce instead of Worcestershire sauce as a variation. Spread on baguettes, or dip with crackers. My choice is thin wheat crackers. Guacamole The best guacamole dip ever! If you've ever wondered how to make guacamole, this recipe is the answer. It takes just minutes to prepare. Guacamole Dip • 3 ripe Hass avocados, peeled and pitted • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt • 1 Tbsp. lime juice • 1 serrano chili or jalapeno pepper, chopped finely • 1 Roma tomato, seeded and diced In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients except tomato. Pulse several times until you reach the desired consistency. It can be as smooth as youlike. Stir in tomato. Cover and chill in refrigerator at least 30 minutes. Serves 16. Well had better sign off now, hope you won't get too stressed about Christmas, I think the Internet makes life much easier than scurring around the shops being elbowed. I will post again just before Christmas. Warm wishes to all from a little faraway island in the south. ~ Anni