BBQ with the Girls

There is a gaggle of giggling girdies that I enjoy frequent get-togethers with.  We gossip, we catch-up, we read the cards and we eat and drink.  I hadn't seen some of my girlfriends since before Christmas *gasp*.  Everyone had begun work @ new schools and were fully immersed in their new positions.  However, these days it would seem that everything is beginning to calm down and we're all coming out of hibernation.  So our weekly round-up has kicked off and unfortunately, I missed the 1st week @ Ciara's ;(

The 2nd week was mine to host - so the lassies joined the Mr and I for a BBQ.  

  

It shames me to admit, but a day disappeared from my week {where the bloody hell did it go?} and as a result I was running around like a headless chook.  So to help my cause, I attempted to set things up to make everyone happy and comfortable in anticipation of my regular absence from the room. The lovelies entered our home {1st time for most} and were offered an Australian / Italian bastardised version of a Kir Royale.  

Kir Bastardo

YOU WILL NEED 

Dodgy IKEA Champagne Flutes   Ï Hibiscus Syrup with Hibiscus Flower Buds   Ï Prosecco  

Ï    Fish out an Hibiscus Flower and gently place it into a champagne flute.  Add a shot of the Hibiscus Syrup.  Top up with bubbles.  Ooh and aah because you've never had bubbles with a flower in it before.

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ALERT ! ! !  NOT AT ALL RELEVANT TO THIS POST . . .  

Whilst writing this, I am listening to a song that has a wicked funny filmclip.  It contains some of the best choreography that I've ever seen nerds pull off . . .
OK Go - Here it Goes Again

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Once everyone was in, and the tour was over, I served up Soup Shots with a glass of wine.  It was a Cauliflower Soup that I had made a week or so ago and was frozen into individual serves.  Ever since last month's Wine Dinner @ The Club, I've been thinking about soup in an espresso cup + I've always wanted to own some Arabic Tea glasses, so the idea of the shots kinda came from a combination of the two.  

On the table, there was a potato salad inspired by an episode of Jamie in OLIVER'S TWIST and some cos lettuce with feta and soy-roasted seeds.  Although I don't recall explaining that the trick was to add the feta & seeds @ will and dress with the balsamic glaze - The headless chook rears it ugly head!

On the BBQ were Chickpea Patties and Vegie Skewers which had not been seasoned and oiled - bugger!  I will make the patties again and freeze a quantity for future barbies - they take me back to my university days . . . 

For dessert, I baked a Date Cake prior to my day @ The Library and I whizzed by the Co-operative on the way home for some vanilla ice-cream.  Regrettably I didn't pick up some soft light-brown sugar and as a result the butterscotch sauce was very dark and very sugary indeed as I only had demerara on hand.

For drinkies, we quaffed Sauvignon Blancs from India, California and South Africa followed by some tasty reds from Argentina and Chile.  I do recall that the Madeira made an appearance with some dark chocolate.

As a side note, Catriona produced a copy of next week's Abu Dhabi Weekly, in which her article From Abu Dhabi With Love features my mates Cheralyn and Mo.