Monthly Archives: April 2010

It’s back

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Masterchef Australia is back and we are already hooked.  Last night we watched the first  episode introducing the fifty finalists then eliminating the first five.   The first two challenges were a barbecue and a pavlova.  Now, I’m no masterchef, but I can make a pavlova, it is not that hard.   Although the ten people making it were given a recipe there were still a couple of disasters, the most dramatic being the pancake pavlova!

I know the producers are setting us up with some contestants to love and some to hate.  Maybe that’s why I already like Claire, because she is going to be one of the darlings of the show.  I just liked the way she was cool and calm; she didn’t gush and carry on like some of the others.

Tonight we watched the signature dish challenge which gave 7 a chance to cook in the pressure test for a position in the top 24.  Some of the recipes in the “Signature challenge” inspired us.  The crab curry did look great as did the twice cooked duck with coriander salad, I’m not so sure about the avocado chocolate mousse.

The repetitive  comments and the hype is just as annoying as it was last year but no matter, we’re in!

Sprung

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Some years we have skated during March break and worn our winter clothes on Easter Sunday, but not this year.  Apparently Ottawa has broken a record by having no snow in March.  Even our yard which retains its snow piles longer than most is now showing a little green grass and some daffodils.

During the Easter weekend we had warm temperatures and plenty of sun.  On Good Friday Andrew, B9 and I went on a bike ride following the Rideau River from all the way to where it meets the Ottawa River.  We were able to stay on a bike path nearly all the way.  We then rode into the Byward Market which was packed with people enjoying the sunny weather.  We had to wheel our bikes through the crowded streets and footpaths until we found  a place to have a drink before taking the bike path which runs along the canal all the way home.  Andrew called it a “warm up ride”.  Maybe for him, but for me 20km was a pretty decent ride.  Apparently it didn’t tire B9 out because within half an hour of getting home he was out playing street hockey and roller blading!

The weather continued to be beautiful on Saturday and Sunday so we pulled out B9’s slackline and put it up.  He received it for his birthday in October so really only enjoyed a month or so with it before it was put away for the winter.  When he got back on yesterday he was a little shaky but I don’t think it will be too long before he can make it from one side to the other, probably about 7 metres.