I can’t quite believe it but Hotly Spiced has just turned one! Before I started Hotly Spiced I had only ever read one blog and that was a real estate blog and now I read hundreds of blogs and none of them are about real estate! My first tentative steps into blogging were lacklustre, unremarkable […]
Chicken with Chorizo and…Mrs Hull and Jan Spick-and-Span
March 25, 2012 By 46 Comments
When we moved to Australia just after Abba had been here for their ‘Arrival’ tour and Elvis had sadly passed away, Dad had more overseas business trips and took mum with him. We were left with more hired help. One of them was Mrs Hull and she was really, really old. She was probably only […]
Pilaf and…Just A ‘Little Niggle’
March 20, 2012 By 45 Comments
From the age of four Archie had episodes where he complained of ‘a sore tummy’. I took him to various doctors and asked if it could be his appendix but they all said he was too young and it was probably just ‘a niggly appendix’. The ‘niggles’ came and went but one Monday morning when […]
Chicken Tagine and…We Have the Dress
March 8, 2012 By 52 Comments
In three months Arabella will be off to her Year 12 Formal. It is being held at the Taronga Function Centre that is on the grounds of the Zoo and overlooks Sydney Harbour. She has her partner organised and that would be Fred from Gunnadah who is Archie’s mate and has been visiting our house […]
Coq Au Vin and…Entertaining Perils
March 2, 2012 By 51 Comments
Entertaining can be full of perils and the perils absolutely multiply if you’re trying to pull off a dinner party with your own small and unpredictable children under your feet. My mother didn’t like to do things by halves so instead of inviting a manageable amount of six guests, she would invite 12. And there […]
Penang Chicken Curry and…I’m on a Stretcher
February 14, 2012 By 30 Comments
I haven’t exercised since last year. Not entirely my fault. I like to go to swim squads at my local pool but towards the end of last year they closed the facility for renovations. Then came the school holidays but they don’t run the program at that time so I had another forced absence. But, […]
Chicken Chasseur and…The Lord’s Day
February 10, 2012 By 43 Comments
Sunday was the Lord’s day when I was growing up. You went to church. And you didn’t rock up in any old thing, you brushed your hair, cleaned your teeth and wore your Sunday best. And you didn’t only attend church, you went to choir practise as well. Choir practise was on for an hour […]
Twice Cooked Chicken Wings and…In the Spirit of the Super-Bowl
February 6, 2012 By 38 Comments
Here in the Southern Hemisphere we are a long way from that Nation-stopping event, The Super Bowl. But that doesn’t mean we don’t do our bit to join in on all the excitement. I read on the Three Cookies blog this morning that while watching the Super Bowl, Americans will consume 1.25 billion chicken wings. […]
Chicken with Chilli, Paprika and Lemon and…Toes, Goannas and Wait-A-Whiles
January 30, 2012 By 32 Comments
Sometimes children don’t injure themselves. Sometimes they injure their mothers. When Alfie was two we went on a family holiday to tropical Far North Queensland where our plan was to go snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef. To get there we had to fly to Cairns. Alfie couldn’t remember being on a plane before and […]
Chicken with Sweet Chilli Sauce and…A Pampering Nightmare
January 21, 2012 By 35 Comments
In my Christmas stocking was a pampering package to a Day Spa. I vaguely recalled hearing very positive things about this Spa. Yesterday I set out for what I expected would be a relaxing and rejuvenating and indulgent day out. When I walked through the door I immediately just loved how serene and clean and […]
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