Post party post

The family party was civilised enough.
We ate al fresco, it was a beautiful day. 

 Pork Belly marinated then slow cooked for 3 hours. Didn't get enough crackling on it though. Pork Ribs marinated o'night then grilled.

Apple Coleslaw goes beautifully with the pork. 

Wouldn't suggest writing on cake after discovering a great wine. Hard to redo.' White' chocolate is a bitch of a thing, do not like icing with it. A rich chocolate cake with marscapone/berrry filling[the only filling I do these days] and giant raspberries on top.  And yes the jewelled jelly again.

Then came the teens'party.....

Preparing pinata; Minecraft TNT Googled, got great image showing all sides, Rick printed off almost A3 sides. After stabbing cardboard all over to weaken it, glued on paper  then used clear wide tape to secure joining sides.

No finished photo!! but it looked great strung up on hills hoist with black wires coming off the top. Filled it with confetti, lots of poppers and Marvel tee shirts for everyone courtesy of Ricks' workplace.

Loved painting a sweet bar backdrop. Here's the start.

Louis only wanted to invite 10 even though I said he could have 20. The usual gang, some of who are now going to different high schools. All great kids.
As one parent said '10 teens are the equivalent of 30 kids' Wise words I was soon to understand.

5.30 Waiting for everyone to arrive, I'm in kitchen wondering where last 3 hours have gone and the kids are in the backyard popping the 80 balloons covering hills hoist!!!!!!, including water and glo stick filled white balloons hanging down in white stockings waiting to look fabulous after dark!!!!!!

The scavenger hunt seemed to go well. 30 min time limit then come back to get score. Winning team each get a GIANT popper to pop. Even though almost everything was to be found in and around house with a few things within 100 meters down street, 45 mins later Rick drove around looking for the last straggling team. Soon found.

Next the Pinata-the Minecraft TNT bomb looked great! Big hit!! Someone then wore pinata as a hat and brought it inside for some reason. Lots of confetti and popper streamers all over floor. Not sooo bad.

No didn't snow here! googled this because I didn't have a photo.

7pm time to Eat. Glad we did this outside too. Spotlights, tealights, lots of glo sticks and streamers. Filled 7 balloons with coloured water and froze- to keep drinks cool but they looked so good had to put them down lit path where they sparkled like giant marbles. Lamb cutlets [crumbed with panko], mini hamburgers, nachos and chorizo went down really well. Couldn't find steamer inserts anywhere so no dumplings.

After that they had Jello shots. In plastic shot glasses I prepared unset jelly in 3 flavours-extreme sour, salty soy and chillie[Harissa paste]. Put 30 on a tray and they helped themselves not knowing which was which. Weren't sure whether to do this with alcohol connotations. A BIG hit!!! Also got them drinking lots of water.

Cake time. Put Jewelled jelly[yes again] on plates with a bit of cream from an air pressured can on side. Never bought cream like that before and don't know why I did. Of course kids got hold of said can and a number of cream paper plates were thrown at a number of heads. But I have to admit...I threw the first.
 BIG hit.

Did the cake ceremony with amazing super duper Chinese sparklers[no photos of those in action]. Only 2 people wanted cake. That happens.

After a few false starts they decided to watch The Terminator in loungeroom lit by fairylights and glo sticks. If nothing got thrown and noise levels were low enough they were told the Sweets bar would open. Rick and I prepared it in the kitchen. When we saw how much sweets there were we left out the lindt balls and a few other things. We gave them treat boxes to fill. It was a great idea to let 2 kids at table at a time. Told them not to panic- enough for everyone-even for seconds. Surprisingly civilised. HUGE hit!!!

Fairly quietly watched movie and sugared up.
8.30 filled dishwasher while Rick filled rubbish bag with outside debris. 9 pm cleaning done except filthy floors that can wait.
9.30 everyone leaves but one sleeping over. Happy to say Louis finished off cleaning next day.

 

Last 6 caught with the flash

 

 

Without flash

Monday  at school talk of party spread. Declared a success!

Rainy day at home with a few kids. Everyone has a banana cake recipe. Here's my favourite!! Moist, full of banana goodness and a hit of chocolate.

Oven 180 degrees
125g butter, melt in microwave add 1/4 cup of caster sugar and 2 tbsns of honey, mix till creamy
Add 2 eggs beat thouroughly. Add 1 tspn vanilla paste and 4 over ripe bananas. Dissolve 1 tspn of bicarbonate of soda in 1/2 cup yoghurt. Fold 2 cups SR flour with 1 tspn of cinnamon alternatively with milk into banana mixture. Stir till all just combined and pour into tin. Grate chocolate on top to cover lightly. Spoon into slice, round, bundt, or loaf tin that has been greased. Baking time depends on tin used. Dust with cocoa before serving.

Just have to get some corn syrup to test these 'unpoppables'. Where do you get that? What if amounts were adjusted for acrylic paint [or powder would be better].mmmm no don't have to use joy 

Update;MYTH BUSTED- THIS DOES NOT WORK!!!

Raspberries

And Blueberries, Strawberries, Blackberries, Goji.......
Can't get enough.
Made my version of this. Delicious!

 To balance the meal a little-roasted beetroot, carrot, zucchini, tomato and eggplant. last five minutes of roasting- mixed in fetta that I'd  marinated in lemon,capers and olive oil and some grated halloumi.
Out the oven and topped with lots of chopped parsley.
Simple, quick prep and cooks itself. 
yum yum. 

  Here's a pic of my son Louis, about to tuck into my  dessert. Green tea icecream with green tea[matcha] jelly with matcha mousse with...I don't know what else was there but it was one of the best things I've ever eaten. A variety of matcha textures. Heaven in a bowl.

 

  My sweet niece Nina looking suitably impressed with her heart shape Raspberry/chocolate 16th birthday cake. Yes, lindt balls on top. Marscapone and raspberry filling

 

 

Love that Easter Break

The whole family hanging out for four days. Bit of socialising, chocolate, movies, gardening and sleep ins.

Great to see good old friends on friday night.

Did the Jewelled Jelly thing for the first time. A hit!! Soooo easy and delicious.


Also a surprise visit from good friends living the coastal life now.Always great to see them.


Ranchos Huevos. Sunday brunch with family at brothers. Garliced portobello mushrooms, Chocolate brioche, croissants and chocolate Marshmellow bites.

  

 This little bunny has finished her bowl and will eat carrots now for the rest of the week.

Don't you love celebrating Easter a bit?


Still buying supplies for birthday party.
Popping candy, M&Ms, Sherbet, Sour straps, chocolates, gum, etc for the Sweets Bar, Poppers for Pinata , plastic shot glasses for sour jelly shots, glo sticks, balloons. I get some supplies each time I shop so I'm not hit with the bill all at once. At the supermarket noticed a few empty and nearly empty lolly boxes like sherbet[black tongue!!],  popping candy and others so asked if I could take some "of course" was the reply. They'll look great on table even with different things in them. Looking for packing foam to stick skewers and test tubes into. Work places getting new computers or such will have it. Half a melon shell might do it.
Bought a cheap white single sheet at op shop to paint Sweet Bar backdrop on. Some candy bags have great graphics so I'll stick those on[or get ideas from to paint on sheet].
I' ve got three large M&M guys- pull down their waving hand and m&ms come out into the other hand. They are coming out of retirement!!