Yet Another Milestone - Dale's 70th Birthday

It seems we can never let a birthday go by, without some form of celebration and the occasion this year, was Dale's 70th birthday.

The Birthday Boy

From a Beautiful Baby to a Handsome Old Man! Great Years Dale

Luckily, we seem to have plenty of photos to illustrate that, no matter how old we are, we still have a great time, with Family and dear Friends. Katie put this Video together for Dale's 65th, with Soundtrack by Craig. I discovered it a couple of days ago.
Great family history. Friends might recognise a few faces


The actual day of birth was earlier in the week and we had lunch with Terry and Lois who unfortunately weren't able to join us at the Bash, Same place, different time.

Lois and Dale

Terry and Dale

So we all gathered at the Windsor Castle on Sunday April 6th. So thrilled so many people were able to come.  Visitors from out of town, Los Angeles, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Lower Hutt, Mt Maunganui, Hamilton and even the North Shore!

Of course it was a great occasion. Celebrating 25,550 days of a full on life. Thank you Deb for the calculation, NOT

Dale and Ngaire

Some visitors from out Of Town

George, Annie, Jane, Sunflowers and Dale

Big Hugs Pale Dale from the Sperms, Glimpse of Darran on the right

Penny, Diana and Marianne

George holding court

Two Wrighsons and a Visitor from Hawkes Bay

Our pride and Joy. Mia, Cleo, Sophia and Joseph

Rocky, Dan, Johm and another visitor from Hawkes Bay

Gilli, Helen and Jeannie

An Aries Selfie, could almost be twins

Looking very quizzical!

Just got off the Devomport Ferry. Jan, Gerry, Sharon, Pete, Elpie and David...The Arrival

The Departure - Took a while - Costing the taxpayer a fortune. Old people On The Buses

Old People waiting for the bus

Looking a little like Browns Cows

Just thought it was very funny at the bus stop

Sorry I digressed Back to the party

Henizie between 2 of his dancing partners Lana and Julia

Dale with Karen, John and JT Lurking in the background

Who's holding court, Craig, or Jules

Larry preparing for his Job as Team Photographer

Dave, Diana and a touch of Marianne

Star of the Day not bad for 70 really

Ms Sherl, Dale and Johnny

The thorn between 2 roses. Sheryl and Debbie

Craig and Dave

Lucy, Sexy and Jules and a surprised Jeannie

Annie and Debbie,, lurking ion the back Penny, Lana a touch of Gilli and John Hughes

In their own shot Penny and Lana

Deb, Barry and Dale

Barry and Dale

Add Craig and it makes 3

2 Debbies and 1 Elpie

Cath and Lana

Brian and Barry, with Rocky lurking in the background

Gerry and Diana in deep conversation behind Sharon and Jeannie

Daddy and Daughter, Like Peas in a Pod

Deb and Dale

Chris, Rob, Annie and Rocky

Debbie and Lucy

Karen and Shannon

Jeans and Karen

Mr Dan

A Rob Thorn, between Faine and Jane

Tina and Tim, John and Grunter

Jude and Bridgie

Ms Cara

A slightly surprised Helen, watch out for your finger Shannon

What a lovely couple,

Another lovely couple

Katie and Debbie

Larry and Elizabeth

Jeannie, Annette and Birthday Boy

Lana, Jeannie and Johnny

Catching up Heinzie and John Morton

Lisa and Ms June

Two J's, June and JT

Debbie Flanked by two Older Men John Mac and Dale

Lovely to have the family around us

Marianne, Gerry and George

John Hughes and Ms Sherl

It's been about 20 years since Dale last met Brian

So far So Good

Dale being wrangled into Place by Jane and Bridgie, so he could watch his Mia perform

Done

Dan getting Mia ready

Mia, you did us proud

Dale surrounded by Women again... Sophia and Gilli

Mr Knig with Mr Cullimore Two beards No waiting

Always plenty to say from Ms Gilli. Poor Gerry

Two Heinzies surrounding Steve.

Debbie and Jeannie D

Lovely shot ladies, Jules and Elpie

Anne and Murray, now that's a good looking couple

A Photo Bomb - Elpie, Debbie and Catherine

Anna chatting to Elizabeth, Shannon engrossed in the Montage of Photos

Nice back Nigel. Better than nothing I guess

 Of course, what a Wrightson Party be without Music and Dancing

First Up Mr John 'Hank B' Morton

A Medley of The Shadows Greatest Hits

Who needs Hank Marvin?

 So When John Finished.
Along Came Craig
He opened with
"Those were the Days My Friends"
So appropriate - there should be a song "These Are Our Days My Friends"
and "Still Crazy After all These Years"

Craig

So back to The Present, Dan and Grunter, the Very Famous in New Zealand and  Dubai
The CVE

Grunter and Dan

ACTION

Heinzie - The Girls Favourite Dancing Partner with Lana

So while Heinzie works out, the next generation Chat... BK and Tim

With Bridgie

With Cara

With Julia

Crowd goes wild

CVE in action

Looking like a Congo Line has formed

Finally found a shot of Lisa on the left and Glenys on the right, dancing of course

While the girls play. Tim watches

There are some people who have manged to escape the camera or only appear in a small way

That's OK, I have pictures of them

Bert and Ernie AKA Shaun and Darran with Ms Jeannie

Two extras from the Sound of music AKA Ian and Lisa

A Dancing Elsje

An elusive Brian taken with our dear departed friend John at RCYC party a few years. Wish you were here John

Finally

I have to finish with a montage of some shots of the mad friends at our events, over the years.

Thank you for joining us, Without you all it would be nothing

The Launch of The Royal Cajun Yacht Club

Sexy and CJ Sperm

Dressed by Andy, Dan, Michael and Dale set for Journey North

When Joyce visits ,we always have a lunch or two

Revels in Raro

Look what a few drinks do to people

Donny and Marie aka Helen and Dan

Larry Deb and Bridge

Ms Mary and Moi at one of my birthdays

Geoff and Laurian

Ha ha Mr Heinz

Ha ha again with Ms Heinz

Outing on Cajun Moon , Auckland at it's best

Boys trip to Barrier

Chef Pete's pants getting caught in the rubbish locker

The Launch of Cajun Moon

More Fun on Cajun Moon

Mmmm reflections at another RCYC party

Go Elpie and Bridgie

Tepanaki with Gerry in "Rower Hutt"

Wonder woman with a Little House on the Prairie refugee

Ha ha Dancing partners

$12M dollars worth of men, Dave and Shannon

Lovely Karen

Ian and Lisa, not quite as Glam as when they were Nazis!

Pearl's a Singer

Dave and Ms Mary

Mr Green, Ms June and Ms Penny

The Plane, The plane

Annie, Lana and Jules

Bridesmaids

Lana, Jan and A stunned Mullet aka David 

JT in Paris

Warrior Deb in Croaria

Birthday Boy bit under the weather in Croatia

Who needs a walker when you have Larry and Geoff

Cheers Queers!

Ahhh Sexy

Couple of friends in Hawkes Bay

Cousins and Longtime Friends, Anne and Sharon

Nice One Rocky

Annette with Jan and in the background Katie and Fi

Wrightson Girls

Steve, Moi and Cath Reunion Lunch at The Windsor

Sorting out the world Terry and Steve

Our Day at The Cricket Years ago

Dale's 41st birthday. Ms Sherl

The Smoking Days Pete, Debbie and Glen

Tripping the light Fantastic, Edgar and Catherine

Lois, Jeannie and Jan

Jude with Bridgie

Gerry and Diana

Heinzie Photo Bombing the Raro Team

Classic Sound of Music Shot

Mmmmm Birthday Boy

Cajun Moon with the Burts

Rugby World Cup Stu, Sherl and Dale

Nice One George

Barb and Terry

Rock n Roll Gerry, Dave and Dale

It's Allllll Right

Hostess on the floor

Brian, Our own Elvis

Mr McCready and Mr Burt

California 1988 with Lucy and Sharon

Girls, Joyce here, another Lunch

Another Wrightson birthday with Jeannie and Annette

Mich and Karen

Brad and Dale

Nice one Steve

Whay Hay, Joyce, here again, more food and drink

Quiz Team 2012

Breakfast with Lana and The Rubins

Whakatane, rest time between drinks

Ms Jeannie circa 1971

Nice One Rocky?

Club Mac Rocky, Rog and Gerry

Sometimes it is just too hard to stand

Ha ha Ms Cleo

Rotoiti 2013

Home again

Motley Crew

Nice shot Mother and Son

BK living the good life

Dale surrounded with longtime friend and a constant companion

Girls on Bacchus

Cullie and Lana

Angry Bird

Andy surrounded by lovely ladies

Mmmmmm

Mmmm again

Let's go around the Horn Dale

1980's excesses

Arabs on Cajun Moon

Kampai

John Hank B Morton

You want to smoke your pipe Terry,? Outside please. Portofino Parnell Rd

Attractive look Laurie and Ngaire

Got them before they nodded off Tony and Dale

In good voice Churton Street Party

Anyone for tennis? or Maybe Jolly Hockey sticks

Cool couple. Cardboard Cutout

In UK with Barry, Chris, Annie, Jules and Laurie

Perfectly Placed Laurie

At one of the Napier weekends with Laurie, A, the Stewarts and Gay

Loie, Jeannie and Jan Reunion at The Windsor

Friends for over 40 years

1986 with Jan, Dave and Linda

Johnny and Dale

Pete and Dale

I feel a song coming on

In London with Glen Cullimore 1968

Photo Bombed by Heinzie

Murray and Michael At The Villa in TuscArney

1967 with Ricky in Tahiti

George and Marianne at Jazz Fest in Hawkes Bay

Hiria in Raro

Mr King The Plumber

Joseph's 12 Birthday in Rotoiti

Tipatinas at Katie's Love Boat Birthday

The Love Boat, Your Captain and Your Bartender

Our precious Jewels 

Churton Park 1969 Dave and Craig

Sisters in Law 1970

Two Jeannie...no waiting

Lana's Japanese Night with Glen Cennano

Anna and Elizabeth at The Love Boat Party

Drinks in Oriental Bay. 1966?

Auld Lang Syne Farewell to us September 1967

DJ and Lu's wedding

The Unilever Gang

Love this shot, Stu's 40th

Milton and Dale, Twins and Erin and me almost Twins

Dale with Gerry and Dave V

Ellen Vaughan with us

Knackered

Rock and Roll Phil 1978

Sheryl, Vicky and Michael

Wine please Vicar

Dale's Favourite Girls

Mr Heinz with one of his favourite Dancing Partners Bridgie

Tony and Annie

Rocky Bay with Debbie and David

Old friends and Colleagues Derek and Dale

Annie Dales Trusted Companion for many years

Cant have a party without the Band

God This life of Mine...Exhausting

And for the final word,  Thanks Everyone for Making this day Special.
So many wonderful Memories
So much Fun

Things to do with Grated Cheese - How About Pinwheels?

I have found a couple of fab easy things to make, when you have people coming around for drinks
Pinwheels
If you go to this link you can get my original post.
These have been very popular.
Often you don't have the correct ingredients and have to improvise

I have been playing with some flavours and my Judges (The Grandkids) have given both of these the thumbs up. Aren't they gorgeous?

A bag of ready grated Tasty Cheese is quite handy to have in the fridge, all done for you.
I wouldn't use it for a sandwich, I'd  rather grate fresh. BUT it is very useful for cooking.
Had some friends coming over unexpectedly for a drink, cupboard was a little bare
I did have the aforementioned Grated Cheese and in the Pantry was some Beetroot Relish
In the Freezer some Flaky Puff Pastry sheets
I love these sheets they defrost really quickly

So to make this Pinwheel version
2 sheets Flaky Puff Pastry
1 cup grated Tasty Cheese
3 large tablespoons Beetroot Relish
Freshly Grated Black Pepper
1 egg beaten with 1 teaspoon of water to Glaze

Lay the pastry on the bench
Mix together the relish and the grated cheese
and spread over 3/4 of the pastry leaving 1 edge free for rolling
Grate Black pepper over the top

Brush the exposed pastry with some beaten egg
Roll up and push the roll together firmly
The egg will seal the parcel

After you have completed your rolls,
Wrap them in plastic...let them rest in the fridge, preferably for about 2 hours
15 minutes will do if you are in a hurry

When you are ready to bake
Heat the oven to 200C
Remove rolls from the fridge and cut into slices
Each roll should yield approx 10
Place on a Baking Paper lined Tray

Brush tops with more beaten egg and cook for about 15-18 minutes
Just keep an eye on them after 15 minutes, nice and golden
Serve

You will be very popular

The kids requested Pinwheels for their lunch
Had a fossick around in the fridge and found leftover Tomato Sauce from the day 'befores' Pizza.
A wedge of Parmesan Cheese, Bacon, a Red Capsicum, and some Olives
Just like a Pizza, but encased in Pastry instead

3 Sheets Flaky Puff Pastry
1 cup Tomato Pasta Sauce (recipe follows, at end of post)
1 teaspoon Olive Oil
3 Rashers Streaky Bacon finely chopped
1/2 Red Capsicum finely chopped
Black Olives, stoned and finely chopped
Enough Finely Grated Parmesan Cheese 
1 egg beaten with 1 teaspoon cold water

Lay out the pastry on the bench
As it thaws, cover 3/4 with tomato sauce

Meanwhile put Olive Oil in a cold pan
Add bacon bits and chopped capsicum
and fry till bacon crispy and capsicum soft

Let cool for about 5 mins
Sprinkle  Bacon and Capsicum over the Tomato Sauce 
Throw over Olives
Cover with finely grated Parmesan Cheese
Grate over some Black pepper

Once again brush the uncovered edge with the egg wash
Roll up and press roll down firmly to seal
Wrap in plastic wrap

Leave in the fridge for 2 hours if you can but 20 minutes would be OK
Pre Heat oven to 200C
Remove Rolls from Fridge
Slice and place on a baking tray lined with Baking Paper
Should get 10 slices from each roll

Brush with beaten egg to glaze
Into Oven cook for 15-20 minutes

These little pies are still really good at room temperature
So invite people around so you can make them

Tomato Sauce
2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cloves garlic peeled and crushed
1 tin crushed tomatoes
 Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
Slosh of vinegar (white or red wine, cider or rice wine you choose)

On a medium heat add olive oil and garlic
Just cook for about 2 minutes to get the garlic going, (Oooh that divine aroma)
Add the tin of Tomatoes, rinse out the tin with a little water, no waste please
Season with Salt, Pepper and Sugar
Simmer for about 10 minutes, longer if you have time but not really necessary
Add Vinegar

Voila 
Make a double batch, its handy to have on hand

Excellent Gazpacho - Summer Perfect for those on The Paleo Diet

Watermelon Gazpacho

My Friend John is a Celiac, on a Gluten Free diet and recently he has embraced The Paleo Diet.
It’s a challenge this diet but through John and through his wife JT, I have access to a couple of Paleo Cookbooks
I found this recipe in a book called
Nom Nom Paleo- Food For Humans

This is probably the nicest Gazpacho I have ever had.
I guess it is the Watermelon... it adds a sweetness.
The coriander was an odd choice I thought, but it was just there in the back ground.
Little added back taste

I have only got an average blender, so I found that the best way to get the vege pureed was to whizz them in the food processor
Then when I added the liquids and watermelon
I finished off in the blender

1 kg ripe tomatoes
1 hot house cucumber  approx 450 gm peeled
2 small shallots peeled and coarsely chopped
1 med red pepper seeded cored and diced
4 fresh stalks of coriander with leaves chopped
3 cups cubed and seeded watermelon (about 500 gms)
1 extra tomato for garnish chopped
2 tbs sherry or cider vinegar
⅓ cup extra virgin Olive Oil
Plus a little extra for garnish

1 tsp sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional

Fill a a large pot with water and bring it to the boil
Prepare a large bowl with iced water
Make a small cross on the bottom of each tomato

Cut a small X on the bottom of each tomato and drop them into the boiling water
Blanch for 30 seconds
Remove and drop into iced water

After a few minutes the skin will just peel off easily
Core and roughly chop them

Finely dice ⅓ of the cucumber and set aside for garnish

Roughly chop up the rest of the cucumber

Toss the tomatoes, cucumber, shallot, red pepper and coriander into blender and puree until the vegetables are liquified.

Add the watermelon, vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes (if using)

Taste and adjust for seasoning

Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until fully chilled

If the soup separates, just pop it back into the blender for a quick whizz

Ladle into cups or bowls

Garnish
Toss the diced cucumber and tomatoes with Sea salt and Freshly ground black pepper and couple of teaspoons of olive oil

Top the soup
 I served little dinner rolls with the Gazpacho
This is from the recipe from this post Easy Bread

The main course was simple,
Sicilian Fish  For the recipe click here
Roasted Kumera and a Rocket Salad

Naturally there were some left overs
Pre-dinner I put out some prawns and smoked mussels
There were leftovers
So next day what did I make BUT
Fish Pie
In The Save With Jamie Series. He mentioned that it was a good to keep some Frozen Fish in the Freezer. It is snap frozen immediately it is caught.
Not that great to pan fry but perfect for Fish Pie or Fish Cakes
A great standby

Turned the Bread Rolls into Crumbs
Grated 100 gms cheddar cheese
I had some cooked Kumera, no necessary but an added extra

Made a simple Bechamel Sauce

1 litre whole milk
1 bay leave
1/2 onion studded with 3 cloves
8 black freshly ground black pepper corns
75 gms butter
50 gms white flour
2 tablespoons Chopped Parsley
 

Heat milk with the bay leave, black peppercorns onion and cloves to infuse flavour
The melt butter in pan
Add flour and cook for about 5 minutes to get rid of raw taste
Strain milk and add to pan



Whisk well to combine and bring slowly to the boil stirring all of the time
To make sure there are no lumps
Simmer for about 5 minutes

Take off heat set aside

Meanwhile prepare seafood
10-12 cooked prawns
10 smoked mussels
2 filets Frozen white fish



Chop mussels into 3
Cut up fish
Remove tails from prawns

Add to Bechamel sauce
Add cooked Kumera



Pour into Gratin dish
Mix Breadcrumbs and Grated Cheese together
Sprinkle over the top

Bake 180C for 30 minutes
Till bubbling and turning golden

 Dish up and devour

Easy Bread Dough - Thank you Jamie

I have been making bread for quite a few years, and have many different recipes for making dough.
This particular technique, I learnt from Jamie, in his "Save With Jamie" Series.
Make the  dough in the food processor,,,which I have done before, BUT instead of turning out after mixing, then kneading and placing into an oiled bowl
Leave it in the food processor to prove
Saves on Washing up too
Punch down and turn out onto the bench and shape into required rolls or bread

It makes a very nice soft white bread
Yes I know... White Bread!
Well I'm sorry, but there is a time and place for white bread, especially when it is home made


Had two of our Gorgeous Granddaughters for a sleeplover...
I made buns for Hamburgers for them.
Very popular

and today I made a loaf for our lunch, for some delicious fresh bread sandwiches

This is so so simple
I like to have more tepid water on hand, than I need.
It depends on the day, humidity etc... as to how much water you will need for your dough.
Set some aside.

500 gms plain strong flour
1 pkt dry Yeast
Good pinch salt
Glug of olive oil

450 mls tepid water

Dissolve the yeast in 300 mls of the water
Let sit for about 5 minutes to let the yeast start to work

Place flour, salt and oil in food processor
Whizz to combine

Add yeast and water
Whizz and then add more of the reserved water in through the hole at the top as you need it
The dough should be more on the wet side
Let the machine work the dough
It should start to ball and leave the side of the bowl

Stop... put the stopper on the top
Leave for about an hour
the dough should have doubled in size

Turn out onto floured board
Punch down and knead for a minute to combine

Break into  balls
just fold each ball under itself to make a nice smooth ball

I made 4 rolls from this quantity but I think they were a bit big
So make 6
Cover with a clean tea towel and leave about 20-30 minutes to prove and double in size

Into 200C pre-heated oven and cook till golden
Should take about 15-20 minutes

If you want to make a loaf
Split the dough into 2
Roll into balls
Tuck them into themselves to make a nice tight surface and place into
a greased loaf container

Leave to prove about 30 mins and bake in 200C oven about 30 minutes
till golden and sound hollow when tapped

Look at the crumb

This is what it looks like when you rip it apart
Great "pickings"

Then, this is what I call a real sandwich
Door stop fresh bread
Cheese, Salami, Beetroot and Lettuce

 Tastes as good as it looks

Pizza Pie - More Good Ideas from Save With Jamie

So, Jamie Oliver has come up with yet another good idea for the home cook

I, of course am the Leftover Queen.
Waste Not, Want Not, my Motto
But so many people, throw perfectly good food away
So good old boy Jamie, has come up with another best seller

"Save with Jamie"
Bringing more great ideas, for getting the best out of your budget

I am lucky enough to be able to watch the series on my ipad
So this morning, I was planning to go to the Supermarche and top up the fridge
I was watching him make a Chicago Pizza Pie, using the leftover from another dish in the programme

Hey don’t go shopping girl... use what you have

In the fridge was some leftover White Castello Cheese
A cold sausage chopped
Some remains of salami chopped
 ½ a red pepper
Grabbed an onion from the pantry and finely sliced it
Some cheddar cheese in knobs and some grated Parmesan


Now this is a thick based pizza
It fed 3 of us for lunch, dinner and breakfast

You can also use this dough to make bread or rolls
Or a thin based pizza if you'd rather


I made the dough... very simple, in the food processor, barely kneaded
I like to have more tepid water on hand than I need.
It depends on the day as to how much you will need for your dough

500 gms plain strong flour
1 pkt dry Yeast
Good pinch salt
Glug of olive oil

450 mls tepid water

Dissolve the yeast in 300 mls of the water
Let sit for about 5 minutes to let the yeast start to work

Place flour, salt and oil in food processor
Whizz to combine

Add yeast and water
Whizz and then add more of the reserved water in through the hole at the top as you need it
The dough should be more on the wet side
Let the machine work the dough
It should start to ball and leave the side of the bowl

Stop... put the stopper on the top
Leave for about an hour
the dough should have doubled in size

Turn out onto floured board
Punch down and knead for a minute to combine

I made 2 pizza pies from this amount of dough
Break into  balls
just fold each ball under itself to make a nice smooth ball

Meanwhile prepare 2 pans
Oil and then sprinkle with dried breadcrumbs
This will help to make a non stick surface and will also give the bottom of the
Pizza Pie and nice crunchy bottom

Stretch out the dough and push into pie tin

Cover with a clean tea towel
Leave for about 20 minutes to prove
it's very similar to what I make, but I normally cook mine
Actually I think simmering it for at least 10 minutes makes a richer thicker sauce
but you don't have to, just follow this procedure

1 tin of best tomatoes
2 cloves garlic finely chopped
1/2 chili chopped or  1 tsp fried chili flakes
Little salt
Pinch sugar
2 tablespoons good vinegar
Good sprinkle dried oregano

Pop everything into blender and whizz till smooth

Meanwhile, gather your toppings
Spread sauce over bases

And build, using whatever you want on top

Into pre-heated 200C oven for about 20 minutes

Voila

Pizza Pie
Yum