Monday, May 18, 2009

Pizza! Lawrences Pizza, Crestmead

Our ongoing quest for the perfect pizza continues....

We ventured to Lawrence's Pizza at Crestmead.



Janet had the BBQ Meat Lovers (singel size $7)


I had the vegetarian, minus mushrooms, plus pineapple (Single size, $7)



These were very good pizzas! Great crusts, great toppings, great price! I would have liked the sauce on mine to be a bit better, but I am being picky. This was a busy little place, and we shall be back!


Cheap Cake!

For my Mum's birthday, I looked in an old handwritten cookbook that I got from my Gran. It was kind of a late-minute decision to make a cake, so our ingredients were a little limited, so this cake, titled "cheap cake" seemed to be just the right thing!



Cheap Cake



1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon cocoa

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1/2 cup boiling water

1 egg

1 teaspoon baking powder



Cream butter & sugar (this was difficult, so I just beat it together for quite a long time). Add egg, well beaten, then dry ingredients, then milk and lastly boiling water. Bake 1/2 hour. (I baked it at 180 degrees, since it didn't specify)

I iced the cake with a butter cream icing, lightly tinted with cocoa, with a drizzle of maple syrup also added.







Out to Dinner - May (#5) Simple Pleasures, Kenmore

We joined my Mum & Dad for dinner at Simple Pleasures, Kenmore. (for my Mum's birthday)


The menu scared us a bit. But eventually Janet & I both found something to order!
Mum & Dad both had the same thing - Rump of Wagyu Beef w fricasee of asparagus, potato & shallot, green peppercorn butter, cognac jus.



We shared 2 bowls of fries between the 4 of us. The fries were good.





Janet ordered from the entree section - wagyu bolognese and potato croquettes w artichoke puree, lemon & basil salad.




This is the rocket salad my parents shared. It was quite delicious.







I also ordered from the entree section - salad of vine tomatoes, buffalo bocconcini, herbs, south burnett evoo, 25 year old balsamic.
I enjoyed this, but really, how hard is it to put a sliced tomato on a plate and throw arond a bit of cheese?


For a rather posh expensive place, the service was rather lacking. We had to ask to place our drinks order, waited a long while to place our meal order, the wine was dripped on the table when it was poured, and our water glasses were never refilled until after we had finished and received the bill, when they were refilled twice in about 5 minutes. Rather odd that!

Out to Dinner - May (#4) White Bull Tavern, Roma

For our homewards stop-over in Roma, we headed to the White Bull Tavern for dinner







We shared this delicious garlic bread - it was melted garlicy butter on toasted turkish bread!






Janet had Crumbed Lamb Cutlets with Beer-Battered Chips.




I had pumpkin and ricotta ravioli, which tasted like the sauce came from a jar. But I liked it!





Lunch! - Caltex Servo, Morven

Lunch at the Caltex Servo in Morven was fantastic!







Yes, I had a salad sandwich. This one came with everything under the sun! Lettuce, tomato, capsicum, carrot, onion, beetroot, pineapple and cheese! Magnificent!!







Janet had a bacon & egg roll. FIlled with heaps of bacon!!


So if you are ever in Morven, stop at the Caltex for a great meal!!



The Black Stump, Blackall - found it!

On our way to Longreach, we tried to find the Black Stump in Blackall, and failed. On our way home, we made it our mission to find it. And we did.





EXCITING HEY!!

Heading Home - Sunrise @ the Machinery Mile, Ilfracombe

We stopped on our way home at Ilfracombe, to wander along the Machinery Mile, and to take in the sunrise.....






































Out to Dinner May (#3) Outback Restaurant, Longreach

We decided to give the Outback Restaurant another go. This time, it was open, so we had a more successful dining attempt :-)





We both ordered from the specials Blackboard. The same dish actually....


I had the Spagetti & Meatballs, without the meatballs.



Janet had the Spagetti & Meatballs.


Both came with a nice piece of garlic bread, with Parmesan cheese on top. Quite delicious!!


Afternoon Tea - The Station Store, Longreach

Because we hadn't eaten enough yet, we decided to have afternoon tea from The Station Store. This is where you can go on a Cobb & Co. Coach ride. We decided to just have the Tea & Scones :-)


I had a chocolate milkshake, since I am a non-tea drinker.



THe Cobb & Co Coach arrived while we were eating!





We shared a plate of Scones. Very fluffy scones with delicious jam & cream



Janet had a giant pot of tea.


Everything was garnished with gum leaves!

Railway Museum - Longreach

Following the "Things to Do in Longreach" Pamphlet, we took a trip to the Railway Museum (which is at the station). Luckily it was a short trip, since it was a very small museum.....the entire thing is pictured below -







After all that museum-ing, a rest was in order! hahahahaha


Time for Lunch! - The Merino Bakery, Longreach

We had lunch at the Merino Bakery, Longreach. Its a great set up, with your normal bakery items, as well as a great sandwich/roll bar.










I had, yet another salad sandwich. This time, with lettuce, onion, beetroot, carrot, tomato, on fresh bakery bread. Delicious!!



Janet had a sausage roll....




And what has now come to been known as the Best Cream & Jam Donut ever.

Stockman's Hall of Fame, Longreach

No trip to Longreach is complete without a visit to the Stockman's Hall of Fame.








Something new (to me) was the daily Stockman SHow. ($5 extra) It was an entertaining show - we got to see some sheep rounded up by various dogs, and heard lots of stories about the life of a stockman











Friday, May 15, 2009

Breakfast - Dot's Central Cafe, Longreach

WHile we were away, most of our breakfasts consisted of fun size boxes of cereal (Janet) or Up & GO's or Museli bars (me) that we brought from home.



We bought breakfast only once. From Dot's Central Cafe in Longreach.








I had a toasted tomato sandwich. Yum!!



Janet had bacon & eggs, which also came with 2 slices of toast. One of which I ate with the grilled tomato that also accompanied the meal. SOmething about being on holiday makes me hungry!

Billabong Boat Cruise - Longreach

We were picked up from outside our motel by the Billabong Boat Cruise bus and taken down to the Thompson River. And onto the boat we went....












We cruised along the river waiting for the sun to set, eating some cheee and crackers. and drinking nothing. (its BYO drinks - ALL drinks)


So the sun set, and was lovely reflected in the water....















Then it was back on shore for some music, bush poetry, and of course some dinner. We had Stew & bread, followed by apple strudel and cream, followed by damper with syrup, and of course, billy tea. (no food photos, as it was very dark!)




It was a great night! Very enjoyable!!