Your Chance To Win A Gift From The House Of Mrs Walsh.

(Or if you are a dude ...a pair of slippers for your mum/your wife/girlfriend/nan/buddy/lady over the road/Effeminate man friend or whoever takes your fancy!)

(Vintage Mrs Walsh modelling slippers eyemask and an unamused baby)

I am a coffee geek. It is the only way I can describe my unnatural fascination with coffee. The intricate flavour of coffee is like appreciation of fine wine. The complexity of flavour, from the many different types of beans make coffee, as diverse as the grape on the palate. I have long worshipped the bean and like the black gold straight up in a double espresso. My love affair with the brew began when working in Italy, stopping each morning at the local cafe for a coffee. I was young and had been brought up in a Nescafe family where the coffee machine was an electric kettle and the drip-o-lator only came out for the really posh guests.

Mrs Walsh’s Cooking 

School For Kids

Do your kids love to cook?

Mrs Walsh’s Cooking School for kids is a perfect mini master chef experience for all little prospective foodies & budding chefs this school holidays. Kids will have a fun filled day creating their own morning tea of berry delicious muffins, then moving on to the delectable lunch including fabulous frittatas, mama’s home made pastas and delectable deserts using premium organic produce.

(Bespoked Chef's hat by Makenzie Walsh)

Children will get to personalise their very own chefs hats, create a special menu and place mat to take home along with the last dish of the day all from the First class facilities of the Bondi kitchen cottage home to the Stephanie Alexander kitchen garden program at Bondi Public School.

School Holidays Program

Ages:          5 – 8yo

Dates :       Tuesday 10th April 9.30 am – 3.30pm  (booked out)

                    Wednesday 11th April 9.30am – 3.30pm

Location: 

                    Bondi Public School Kitchen Garden Cottage,

                    5 Wellington Street Bondi

Cost:          

                    1 Day $75

                     2 Days $140

Book on line:

Click on:     Mrs Walsh Store

You can pay by CC, PayPal, direct desposit or Cheque

                     PH: (02) 93652581 

                     michelle@mrswalsh.com.au

Upon payment a registration form will be emailed

What will be provided?

                    Aprons, chefs’ hats and all meals for the day

What to bring?

                    A healthy appetite!

Mrs Walsh X

The Dolly Model search is back!

Want to get a kick start in the most awesome job in the world?

Want be represented by Australia's leading agency?

Don’t beat yourself up about how much weight you’ve put on since you decided to make you own people. The experience of having children is magnificent but they can turn you from ‘Little Miss hottie’ in to Big Mrs Blobby. Instead of getting grumpy on some low carb; high protein, no alcohol, sugar free, kill joy diet; take the celebrity approach to looking seriously skinny. The two key items you will need to immediately drop 10 kilo in perceived size are a bucket size takeaway coffee and some novelty size sunglasses.

Sang Choi Bao is an awesome dish but often has chicken or pork. The great thing about this recipe is that you place the prawns on last meaning there is a vegetarian version without making a separate batch. You can add just about anything you like in place of the prawns, such as rare tuna, salmon, crab or lobster making it more versatile than Jeffery Rush.

Mrs Walsh's Mushroom & White Truffle Oil Soup

This recipe is no pedestrian mushroom soup it's richer than Gina Reinhardt yet as simple as Paris Hilton.

The Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards (SOYA)

Quick hurry!! Only two days to go for entries in brand new catagory 'The Written Word'

Calling all young writers...are you the next next JK Rowling’s? Are you in touch with your inner Dan Brown? There is only 2 days to go to enter the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards.

Mrs Walsh’s Medicinal Martini’s

A wise person once told me Martinis are like womens breasts…one is not enough and three is too many. The modern housewife will find Martinis a great multi purpose fix it for most situations. Applying the one is too few and three too many rule to your Martini intake and service you will be in good stead for even the trickiest of situations.

A modern housewife wants to remain wrinkle free at all cost. The obvious answer to the novice housewife is a trip to the Botox clinic for an iron out. The down side of Botox is you can never actually get angry at anyone and even when someone says something obvious you will unfortunately still look surprised.

Last minute gift for new parents!!

For delivery by pre Christmas Friday, get your order in by 4pm this Thursday.

Gifts under $20

A mini gift of a bib is a tiny $12 ! Comes gift boxed and with postage anywhere in Australia is less than 20 bucks!

Sea scallops with carrot puree and parsley oil.

What could be more gorgeous than a seared sea scallop with a tasty puree? (Well perhaps a bit of George Clooney smeared in a tasty puree!)

Matching Wine : Bainton Wollemi 2010 Chardonnay

What Mrs Walsh Says:

I'm not a religious person but this Chardonnay is divine. My husband brought home this charming drop and I said to him after tasting it (In the voice of OB1from Star Wars) "Husband...The power of finding good Chardonnay is strong within you" I then said "Husband there is an old saying 'Well Chardonnayed wife ..happy life'. After I prevented him from calling mental health services he did admit, he too thought it was an extraodinarily delicious oaky buttery Chardonnay of outstanding proportions.

Brilliant Bargain Baby Wear Bundle!

2 long sleeve baby stretch suits + 2 short sleeve stretch suits +

2 gigantic wraps + 1 Bib for $49!(normally $132)

Both my babies needed more outfit changes than Diana Ross when they were newborn as their milk used to enjoy making a second appearance. It was therefore delightful to have an enormous wardrobe of baby clothes that ensured I didn't have to drag my sleep deprived butt to the laundry every five minutes.

It's that time of year when people become festive and livers get nervous. Kick off is spring racing in Melbourne where socialites do there best to drink France out of bubbly and Bloody Mary's are the new breakfast. I headed down for Derby Day and this year was one of the most awesome race days to date.

Asparagus with King Prawn and Wasabi cream

This is like the Kylie Minogue of entrees as it’s small, sexy and loved by all.

Matching Wine: Piper Heidsieck Brut

What Mrs Walsh says:

It’s comes in a Christmassy bottle.

Winter in Sydney is usually a mild affair with the odd sunny day warm enough for a short sleeve or afternoon barbeque. This year has been as warm as Threadbo with no end in sight. When I found out about Celebrity chef and Bondi local Peter Evans doing a cooking master class on Vomo Island in Fiji I booked a ticket quicker than you can say the word ‘Flambé!’

I have taken Neil Perry's zucchini soup recipe and done a variation of it which is more divine than a shirtless Mark Wahlberg yet as simple as a Jersey Shore cast member.

Matching Wine

Rabbit Ranch Pinot Noir 2008

What Mrs Walsh says:

It's awesome with notes of total awesomeness. I've already paired this once before and frankly my cupboard is full of the stuff!

I find writing at 5am in the morning strangely cathartic. I set my alarm the other morning to write a column and was a bit parched when I woke up, however being 5am was reluctant to turn lights on and wake the whole gang. I instead went to the kitchen, grabbed what I thought was just a regular bottle of water off the sink and took a really big swig. As I swallowed I couldn’t help but notice a Chernobyl like odour coming from the bottle and a very funky taste. I went to the laundry where I could switch on the light without waking the whole house and realised to my horror......... it was my 7yo’s science experiment!!! My first thought was what have I drank and am I about to turn in to Victor Yushchenko?

My mind went in to psychosomatic over drive as my chest began to feel constricted pondering the possibilities of my chemical cocktail. If it’s Poison then I remember reading somewhere that you should drink milk but maybe it’s really just for healthy bones and strong teeth? I couldn’t think straight as my mind was racing with thoughts of dying alone in the laundry, discovered wearing a really ugly tracksuit and bad hair. (All the important things)

I thought maybe I should wake my husband? Then considered the fact he’s not a doctor or a pharmacist and even if he was I have no idea what I have ingested. After further paranoid deliberation I decided throwing up was the right course of action. Who’d have know I’d make such a useless bulimic! As hard as I tried to eject the contents of my stomach, the most I could muster was a strange noise reminiscent of an injured duck and my face going as red as an 80 year old functioning alcoholic. I now still had the offending experiment in my stomach but the added bonus of now having it all through my nasal passages, just to really keep that anxiety firing. After more consideration I got to thinking what chemicals could a 7yo really be using in an after school science club? So with all my fingers crossed I kept myself occupied writing my will and so forth until I could make some enquiries at 9am. I rang Bondi Public School at 9am and spoke to Margret at the front desk to get the number of Dianne the science teacher and couldn’t help but tell her about my unfortunate mishap. After Margret stopped laughing and thanked me for some comic relief, she gave me her number and I rang to work out what the mystery cocktail consisted of.

Dianne like Margret found this to be side splittingly funny. She went on to say she had not killed any children in the last 12 years because she would not have anything dangerous in a 7yo’s science class. It was with that I breathed a huge Chernobyl breath of relief and saw the utterly madcap side of it. The contents of the bottle were nothing more than water with plasticine however I could swear that there was a strong chlorine type smell to it but according to Dianne no such chemicals were used in the making of the experiment. Later that day I had a friend over with her children who also attend Bondi Public school’s science club and relayed the wacky caper of this morning. I then CSI style (wearing a white bath robe to replicate the lab coat) presented exhibit A the experiment and opened the bottle to get a second opinion on the smell. She definitely smelt a bleach smell, which at least vindicated my hypocondriatic reaction at 5am. Maybe it was a recycled bottle that had some bleach or maybe my inner drama queen had taken over either way it certainly gave me melodramatic material for my next ladies luncheon on the dangers of being a modern housewife!

Mrs Walsh X

Are You the next big thing?

Do you want the opportunity to be the face of an exclusive range of fine jewellery and be represented by Australia's leading Model agency?

The first time I experienced action packed Hamilton Island race week was in 2009. There’s glamorous super yachts, runway shows, celebrity chef dinners, and a who’s who of famous folk making the pilgrimage to the Whitsundays for this exceptional week that has as much action off the water as on!

This pasta is the most rocking dish of the Walsh household at present. I love it because it takes all of ten minutes to make leaving me more time for wining and dining. It's perfect for the kids minus the chilli and spectacular for the adults with a lovely Chardy! 

Matching Wine - Tower estate chardonnay 2008

Estee lauder held a lush launch for it's latest product the 'New Idealist Skin Tone Illuminator'. A delicious lunch of tuna Tartare, slow cooked King Salmon with lemon emulsion and Raspberry Lille Fuille at Bennelong in the iconic Opera house was a wonderful way to preview Estee Lauders latest wonder serum.

Why you should try it?

It evens out skin tone and gives your skin a luminous quality. As a mother of two I am always on the lookout for a product that promises to even out skin tone but few actually deliver.  After two pregnancies and the resulting pigmentation, I have tried just about every product on the planet. I have been using Estee Lauder New Idealist Skin Tone Illuminator for three weeks now and have noticed a huge change in the evenness of my skin tone without any redness or sensitivity. The serum is light and perfect for under your regular moisturiser with an illuminating quality, which gives your face instant radiance.

Why You should not try it?

You should not try it you think a mottled skin is in and Brindle is the next big thing!

By far my favorite quote of the lunch was in the video which featured a panel of prominent women talking about caring for their skin "There is no such thing as an ugly woman just a lazy one!"

RRP $105 -  30ml

          $150 - 50ml

Link - www.esteelauder.com.au

Mrs Walsh x

The Julia Roberts

Unlike the Lyle lovett, the Julia Roberts muffin is one pretty muffin. Sometimes you just have to say 'To hell with the Oat bran just give me some butter!" Coming from a lady who likes to lunch let me tell you healthy and fun rarely go together. 

The Lyle Lovett

I call this muffin recipe the 'Lyle Lovett' as it's quite unattractive but is undeniably a big hit. The Lyle Lovett, packed with goodness yet positively delicious! The perfect lunch box filler or healthy desert, served heated with custard. It's a butt ugly muffin with a heart of gold... Yumbo!

Avoiding the slippery slope of leisure wear and bad hair...

It's been five months since launching my swanky new web site and keeping the content updated regularly has proven to be as challenging as saying the word 'Innovative' when you are drunk. Writing five blogs per week in between being a soccer mum, Stepford wife, columnist and running the empire of Mrs Walsh has proven to be a mission impossible. Manicures, pedicures and facials seem like a retro past time and it's starting to feel like I am only one step away from bad tracksuits and home styled hair.

(Mrs Walsh 2010)                           (Mrs Walsh 2011)

My new 'Awsomeboots'

Like big granny undies beneath a mini skirt, Ugg boots are a necessary evil in the winter months.  They are highly functional footwear for the colder weather, but about as fashion forward as Donald Trumps hair. Since the mercury dropped I fished out my slightly manky looking Ugg's and thought it might be time to retire them to the wheelie bin. My last pair were the classic bogan natural sheepskin lace up numbers that would see me welcomed almost any trailer park across the globe. Since it had been many years since my last ugg boot purchase I found that one particular brand has taken the ugly out of ugg boot. I am now in possession of a sexy pair of fabulously directional, fashion forward, on trend chocolate brown with leather strap detail boots, which will actually make it out of the house proudly! They are hotter than shirtless Mark Walberg meaning I will now refer to them as my 'Awsomeboots'.

The style I chose is 'Naloo' and they retail for $219.00 (available in chocolate or natural)

Useful Links : www.emuaustralia.com

After a busy week I realised I would have to get something from my own wardrobe for "The Golden Slipper' Race day on the weekend as time had run out to visit my milliner or entertain the notion of shopping. It was like I had one hour to complete a Project Runway challenge of finding or fashioning something from my own wardrobe. Fortunately after years of race day attendance I have a hat collection to rival the queen and more fancy frocks than a trophy wife. I had a seven year old and a four year old to play the parts of Michael Kors and Heidi Klum as the lounge room judging panel. I started the show with a black full skirted vintage dress and a wide brimmed felt hat. Mini Michael Korrs seemed to like it but midget Heidi thought it looked a bit like something for a posh funeral...

If I could apply the same degree of creativity to my writing as I do for the justification of my wardrobe, I would be up for a Pulitzer by now. Finding reasons for why I need that 87th pair of shoes that although is remarkably similar to a black pair with a four inch heal and an ankle strap currently residing in my wardrobe, this pair has white stitching! I have started to question not just my spending habits which require 'employee of the mob' style creative accounting but also my carbon footprint. Gideon's sustainable, sweatshop free, sexy sneakers are the answer to my prayers. All profits go to the Noffs Foundation street university, meaning I can justify my purchase as being charity minded. As far as being more environmentally aware how better to give the earth a hug than buying a pair of shoes utilizing cane toad hide?

Gideon has opened it's flagship store at 142 Chalmers Street Surry Hills

Shop online at www.gideon.com.au

Autumn racing carnival Fashion: Vintage Vs Modern

I love getting dressed up for the races as it's about the only time you can wear a hat and gloves without looking like you are impersonating the queen. I think it's a time when you should make the effort to follow the rules and really dress like you are from Melbourne. Partly because of it's more inclement weather and partly due to geography (it has no harbour and the bay beaches are bay beaches) Melbournians dress with a classic elegant style. Sydney, Melbourne's wild child northern relative has the weather and geography that makes for a more casual dress code with an emphasis on more flesh and colour. Actually the further north you go, more clothing comes off and footwear becomes optional. The races should be about dressing for the races not frocking up in last nights disco dress. For many years Sandie Bizys has been my milliner and has also dressed me. Sandie has a wonderful vintage clothing boutique in Annandale and has kitted me out in a spectacular navy blue Christian Dior dress with matching felt, a divine Jackie O suit with pillbox hat and a terribly Madmen chic black vintage frock with a stunning black felt masterpiece and a fun 60's number with felt riding hat. What I love most about vintage is it just feels so ye olde worlde glamourous.

Crispy skin salmon is a classic fish dish that's utterly delish! The secret to crispy skin is in applying pressure to the fish and I don't mean to start talking to the fillet in a forceful way...

Matching Wine - Dalwhinnie Moonambel Chardonnay 2008

What Mrs Walsh says:

I was first introduced to Dalwhinnie by a friend of mine who had cellared several cases and had a dinner party in honour of its debut. It was do or die time for the wine and so with the gusto of a Bingo winning pensioner we quaffed an impressive amount and were left like crack addicts needing another hit when it was all gone...

The Melbourne Grand Prix has finally reinstated the celebrity race. I could never work out why it was pulled?  There is no greater TV gold than watching celebrities with no racing experience and an over supply of confidence sprinkled with a pinch of ego let loose on the track to battle it out for supremacy!

Pay TV is a goldmine for find all manner of wacky programing deemed unsuitable for free to air. Thank God it is there however, as regular telly is about as ground breaking as Paris Hilton's first album. Trawling though the trash and treasure of pay TV is a guilty pleasure I indulge in regularly and this week I found new two new shows which make Jersey Shore like a highbrow documentary. The first, 'Bridalplasty' is a reality show which pits brides  against each other in a competition to earn rewards of cosmetic surgery procedures and play for the unltimate prize of a complete plastic surgery overhaul. On episode one contestants had to complete a novelty size wall puzzle of themselves, which was a computer image of what they 'may' look like if they are the chosen one to become the winning Frankenbride. As contestants completed their puzzles they had to run to a table to pick up a syringe ( I promise I am not embellishing) which would be their reward. Ten contestants competed however there were only eight syringes meaning two unlucky brides would have to sit and watch as the others all got matching expressions. Then there was the vow challenge whose winner got a nose job.

To wrap it up, the brides had to vote one bride off. This is went from ridiculous to magnificently mental as Brides started forming Survivor type alliances with other brides in an effort to not be kicked off and sent home without surgery and potentially remain an ugly bride.  For the vote, the bottom three ladies are sat at what looks like bridal tables in a reception. Remaining brides picked a table to sit at and the bride with the least guests had to leave. The fat brides bonded and booted the skinny one who had survived breast cancer and was hoping for some reconstructive surgery, yet even this back story couldn't sway the somewhat meatier bridal mafia. They had mixed up their reality shows, gone all 'Survivor' tactics and knocked out the one who could be competition later on. Never mess with a bride that needs surgery as they will do what ever it takes to become someone else before there big day! The most amazing part of the whole program is when host Shanna Moakler says to the loser  "Your wedding will still go on, it just won't be perfect." .... Amazing.

The other Foxtel folly I flicked to was Lingerie League Football. I don't really need to say more do I? Ladies in helmets, shoulder pads and lingerie playing American football.... Amazing. I have always said that anything from household vacuuming to chess will gain an instant audiance if it's done in Lingerie. Granted men like sport but they could dispense with the big costs involved in staging a football match and just have Lingerie League knitting and would probably garner the same audience numbers.

This week I have also blogged on Jess Hart in the Australian Grand Prix celebrity race not only doing for the ladies but more importantly the models!I have cooked up a delicious 'Crispy skin salmon' and paired it with you guessed it a really lovely Chardonnay. Hopefully you now get it, and have given up on your Sauvignon beige cardigans and Pinot Gris Boring that countless uninspired people have told you to drink. Instead you are now hopefully opting for the only white variatel with actual flavour that is Chardonnay.

Mrs Walsh x

I was reading yet another article the other day about being '40 and fabulous' and thought 'what about the gals that want to remain unpleasant?' Is there an opposite tag like 40 and frowning? I guess with Botox being as common as Paris Hilton that tag would make as much sense as a surgical butt enlargement.  The whole 'let's make getting older look cool' bandwagon is like saying liver spots are the new black! Some time ago I heard that 30 was the new 20 and then heard that 40 was the new 30. I figured if this sort of thing keeps up death will be the new 80! Whatever the new best age in the world is I intend to keep behaving in the highly immature fashion that amuses my children and try not to focus on the brutal yet apparently fabulous aging process that will no doubt one day see me sporting a big old set of Bingo wings and yelling 'Don't you know 80 is the new ... ummm what was I saying dear?'

Nothing says 'I'm getting old and no longer care' than manky yellow teeth. This week I have blogged on my favorite coffee and consequently how to get my preferred brew off my teeth all in one hit! I have a six cup a day habit and I refuse to apologise for it or ever vow to cut back. People are giving up the bean like it's crack which makes me question if they will one day have their own support group too? What would they drink at the meeting given coffee is the crisis beverage of choice? And could anyone stay awake listening to ex-coffee addicts telling their stories without any coffee? My adoration of the bean which I like straight up means an endless battle with my teeth in getting rid of the black aftermath. The new electric tooth brush, the Oral B Triumph 5000 is like an industrial cleaner for your teeth. There is no espresso too stubborn for this stain removing brush. It so effective I am thinking of taking my coffee intake to warp speed.

I have been cooking up my favourite super fast pasta, Barardoni with truffle cream. It's simple, chic and ready to eat in minutes. I have paired it with one of the most awful wines I have tasted in some time, but it has a very pretty label. It's awful flavour means it has a host of other positives with regard to getting rid of guests quickly or distracting palates from food disasters. 

Finally there is my cat Linda looking spectacular as Bett Davis in 'What ever happened to baby Jane?'

Mrs Walsh x

Barbardoni with Truffle cream

My recipe for Barbardoni with truffle cream comes from memories of dining at restaurant 'Villa Verde' in Capri. The pasta's they served had an elegant simplicity. The greatest part about my recipe is the limited ingredients and lack of preparation time needed to enjoy this Italian superstar dish...

Matching Wine - Christian Moreau Merlot

What Mrs Walsh says:

I like a good Merlot for when I feel like a red with a little more oomf without knocking me into a heavy Shiraz coma. This particular wine is something we will just refer to as 'random selection from a useless bottle shop' which I chose pricipally because of it's very pretty label. It is a flavourless insipid wine with the bouquet of a tradies armpit...

I discovered a while ago that my cat Linda is about the size of my daughters Madeline doll and therefore fits her clothes. Madeline has quite an extensive wardrobe and Linda now has an outfit for just about every occasion from an afternoon of equestrian endevors to a ballet class. Just as I thought I had exhausted the dolls wardrobe I came across the Build-a-bear workshop where there are literally hundreds of teriffic outfits for bears that happen to be Linda's size. I got Linda a teriffic Christmas Tree outfit for the Christmas Card and have now decided dressing Linda is so funny that a new weekly outfit on my blog should be just as important as a recipe or half arsed wine review! So this week Linda is 'Bett Davis in What ever happened to baby Jane?''

My school holidays have finally come to an end. I say my school holidays as since I am the activities coordinator it gives me a valid excuse to do kids activites without looking like Bett Davis in 'What ever happened to baby Jane". I like to scooter, which with my children looks really sweet however without them, a little bit mental. Painting art molds at a 'Plaster master workshop'... with the kids adorable although without them, part time nutjob. I have enjoyed loitering around Moore Park stables whilst my daughter attends horse camp like some would-be geriatric horse camper! Watching her ride and pining for another pony of my own. Walking a tight rope, jumping on the bungee cord trampolines and trying to sneak on to the jumping castles under the guise of just being big for my age. We visited friends in Byron Bay where we surfed and swam and ended our break with a trip to the Hyatt at Sanctuary Cove to spend a few extra sunny days by the spectacular lagoon pool catching up on some premature aging...

Welcome back me! I gave myself some annual leave which was super generous since I only started working for myself in November! I have three very good reasons for the month of blogging silence and they would be my two adorable children and my gorgeous husband. With Christmas festivities, a birthday, visitors from abroad and children's activities, I have been more focussed than a short sighted grandma doing needle point in making sure the families holidays are nothing less than spectacular. This year's festive season was the best yet starting with the Chadwick models Christmas Party...

  

   

Hardly a ground breaking recipe but one of my families faves.  The key ingredient is fresh flat head from a good fish monger and instead of home made crumbs from some whizz bang bread of the moment, cornflakes crumbs make a golden crispy crumbed fish that's unbeatable. It's the perfect family dish and tastes unterly delish!

Matching Wine - Fleur Du Cap Chardonnay 2009

Hippie Rice salad (Vegetarian & Gluten Free)

More hippie than a crystal deodorant using Nimbin resident this healthy dish is a great way to use up what ever is left in the fridge. You can substitute any vegetables making it a great way to clean out the crisper and cater for your Combi loving, tree hugging, environmental crusading friends. It’s awesome for BBQ’s, as an accompaniment to a main or just to have in the fridge as a snack. Make sure you only use organic vegies...non organic tend to frighten hippies.

Matching Wine

Krinklewood Bio Dynamic Chardonnay 2009

What Mrs Walsh Says:

It just seems like if you are going to have a vegetarian, gluten free, 'My bodies my temple' type of meal then you might as well accompany it with a 'Goody two shoes wine'! I actually do like this Chardonnay as it's on the wine list at a local sushi bar and makes me feel like I'm drinking some sort of health elixir with it's scientific sounding name.

And we're off and racing with Sandie Bizys leading the pack in 'The fabulous hat stakes'! I just went this morning to pick up my Sandie Bizys creation for Derby Day in Melbourne and it was an emotional moment ... because it was just so awesome!

What’s Hot? Prive` that's what!

Why Prive`?

Prive` intensive mask enriched with Jojoba and sesame herbal blend makes hair more norished and rejuvinated than Mrs Walsh on a week without wine!

Mrs Walsh’s Fritatta with Spinach, parmesan, sour cream, chives & chilli oil

This is a great dish as a starter when you have a lot of people as you can prepare and refrigerate the mix for a couple of hours ahead of time. It plates up looking so pretty it will make you look like a Mrs Master chef extradinaire no matter how remedial your cooking ability may be.

I was out of ingredients for a soup I wanted to make and by complete accident made this with what I had on hand. It's so delicious it's gone straight to the entertaining really good guests menu! (which is naturally served in the good dining room with the good crockery, the special occasion napery and hoity toity manners)

Matching Wine - Stoneleigh Marlborough Pinot Noir 2009

Sophie Moran's sweet new range of sweaters that are super smart and selling like hot cakes. (Despite the fact I don't actually know anywhere I can get hot cakes...I guess be because they sell so fast!)

What's Not?

You if you're not wearing them!

Miskin Martinez is a new swimwear label by Eve Miskin and Sarah Martinez, two avid swimwear collectors who have joined forces to create lucious swimwear that is a glamorous, modern collection in shades of precious jewels that epitomise high-end luxury. With it's signature bright green lining, titanium rings and MM motif the label has a modern edge that is timeless yet sexy. The collection features two one pieces and six bikinis in a colour palate that is sublime. If you are heading to Hamilton Island race week you can see this hot new range at the Qualia resort shop.

This is one of my signature dishes. It is a great winter meal on it’s own if you are after a light dinner or a great entree for dinner parties as a lot of the preparation can be done prior to your guests arriving. It will make you look like some kind of kitchen magician!

Matching Wine - Rabbit Ranch Pinot

Matching Wine - Woodlands 2008 Cabernet Merlot

The world's best Champagne, divine food, chic setting and great company pretty much sums up this night in a sentence. What a perfectly wonderful evening was had by a mixture of Sydney social types, high end Sommeliers and food media at the very chic Sepia restaurant and bar in Sydney's CBD for Laurent-Perrier...

Coming out of Michelle

The last time I did a Robert Oatley wine tasting was at Audi Hamilton Island race week. For the uninitiated this is a spectacular event staged annually at Hamilton Island which combines sensational action out on the water with the yacht racing and equal measures of fun on land with fashion shows, chic dinners and of course wine tasting! My husband and I had just arrived and went straight in to two hours of wine tasting with the fabulous Darren Jahn guiding us through the many splendid variatels. Staged in the super chic Yacht club and with the absence of spit buckets we merrily drank our way through the tasting until I came out of Michelle completely! The Robert Oatley wine dinner at Swell restaurant in Bronte was a great opportunity to try a few new vintages of the wonderful Robert Oatley wines. It was great to once again have Darren expertly guide us through the vino with great style and humor whilst our lovely host Sandy Bruns took us through the fabulous accompanying fare. From the comfort of a banquet we tucked in to the food Swell is famous for and enjoyed the warm intimate setting, perfect for a chilly winters night. My favourite drop of the night was the Montrose Black Shiraz and as a consequence I thought it would be rude not order a case.

On the menu

House Cured Salmon Betel Leaves - Robert Oatley Margaret River Pemberton Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Alaskan Crab Avocado King Prawns - 2010 Montrose Stoney Creek Chardonnay and Robert Oatley Craigmoor AC1 Chardonnay

Confit Duck leg roast with pumpkin cranberry relish and greens - 2009 Robert Oatley Mornington Peninsular Pinot Noir

2009 Montrose Black Shiraz

Duo of cheese: Morbier and Cantal entre-deux with date and tarragon paste - 2009 Robert Oatley Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon

Useful links:

www.robertoatley.com.au

www.swellrestaurant.com.au

My husband and I discovered the ship tavern after a long day at Portobello markets. We had bought everything from a view master circa 1910 to a leather tape measure, set of dominos and some boxing gloves! With our booty of bits we decided, a cleansing ale at the pub might not be such a bad idea and stumbled on this brilliant old classic English pub. As they had a restaurant section upstairs we decided to stay for a pie and a pint whilst having a game of dominos with our super new set. A bottle of red, two pies and several games later we started playing with all our new purchases much to the amusement of the bar staff. It was only when my husband got up to measure something that one of the staff told him to put it away as the pub has been here since 1549 and it doesn't need measuring! We got to know the very friendly bar folk over our week long stay and can not just recommend it for a quick beer or light dinner but thoroughly endorse it as being one of the highlights of my last trip.

www.theshiptavern.co.uk  12 Gate Street Holborn

There's nothing I like waking up to more in the morning than flapjack's served with maple syrup & fresh berries. (well nothing except for perhaps my naked husband, great hair and an unchipped nail but other than that, flapjacks are pretty awsome!)

My names Michelle Walsh and I'm a coffee-o-holic it's been five minutes since my last brew.

I start my morning with an espresso to get the party started and a have a long black to keep it going.

Valentines Day Competition

Valentines Day has always been a bit of a non-event for me because....

Every day is Valentines Day! (Ok get you head out of the bucket and read on)

This is only one of so many quotes that will be wheeled out on February 14th

Along with classics like 'Heaven called to say they must be missing an angel'

'Do you have a map? Because I keep getting lost in your eyes' and my favourite

'Are you an overdue book? Because you've got FINE written all over you.'

Everyone has a Valentines day story, line quote poem or disaster and I want to hear

about them. They can be funny, sweet or a complete tragedy.

In 25 words or less 'What your Valentines Day Story'.

The best five stories will win a pair of Mrs Walsh red fluffy Slippers and eye mask.

Email you answer to michelle@mrswalsh.com.au with your name & address

Hyatt Regency Sancturay

Years ago I was at Sanctuary Cove for a shoot and thought what a great place to take kids, which was odd as I didn't have any. Fast-forward a few years to now the memory has come in handy when navigating the ocean of possibilities on the Gold Coast accommodation front. The aspect most delightful is not being in the heart of Surfers, which can be like holidaying at the Royal show. The Hyatt Regency splits the difference between being kid friendly yet still very grown up. It's like holidaying on a lagoon in Fiji with white sand and aqua water making it a child's paradise...

Jewfish with Salsa Verde and fennel salad

Jewfish is a mild flavoured fish which is great on the Barbecue and works fabulously with fennel...

Matching Wine 

Peteluma Chardonnay

What Mrs Walsh says:

Having a 'Sauvignon Bland' with a fabulous meal like this delicious Jewfish is like wearing a pair of crocs with Colette Dinigan. It needs something to compliment the rich flavours not cheapen it. You want to marry the wine to the food in holy matrimony not have it ending up in a nasty divorce in your stomach with reflux acting as the attorney for that acid tongued Sauvignon Bland. Peteluma is a wonderfully buttery Chardonnay with oak that's nicely integrated rather than having all the balance of a legless unicyclist. It has flavours of white peach and smokey bacon which, given I am a vegetarian is confusing to say the least? Peteluma is just so chic...

Mrs Walsh's Scallops with chilli lime and garlic

At home I am as likely to put meat on the BBQ as I am to wear a pair of MC hammer pants with a skivy. Seafood is a BBQ delight yet many feel intimidated by fish breaking apart and crustaceans turning in to the texture of a dunlop volley. It's time to put down the cow and embrace the fish...

Matching Wine - White Sangria

Sangria is like a Brazilian bikini it's a little bit cheeky but a massive crowd pleaser. Not exactly a wine more like wine in fancy dress! Sangria is like a fun friend you met in Ibiza. Sure you won't hang out all the time but once in a while is a great break from the serious wine types....

Kangria 

I was recently making up a jug of Sangria when my daughter asked if she could try some. Faster than you can say 'DOCS is on the phone' I said 'No way' Jose!' The sangria looked so pretty with all the fruit that I thought without the wine surely we could create a mocktail that is cooler than P Diddy, as wholesome as Taylor Swift but with the excitement of a Justin Bieber concert. Together we created the Kangria...

Pepper Crusted Tuna, topped with king Prawns

And Wasabi Mayonnaise, served with roasted

cherry tomatoes and wilted spinach.

It's like a party in your plate prepared in minutes ....

When I came across Burrawang Village it was like a trip back to my childhood.

• It’s like an eyelash coiffure leaving no need for mascara. Next time you are out at the movies watching a tear jerker you can cry safe in the knowledge there will be no tell tale panda eyes on the way out.

It’s a tricky looking entree that is surprisingly simple

6 sea scallops (make sure they are large and high) 1 tablespoon of clarified butter ½ leek finely sliced ½ teaspoon butter ¼ cauliflower chopped 1-tablespoon butter 1-tablespoon plain flour ½ cup of milk ½ teaspoon truffle oil Sea salt Cracked pepper

What’s Hot?

‘Butter Nail Polish’ ...  because having a freshly manicured nail in a fashionable colour is crucial in avoiding the slippery slope of unshaven armpits, tracksuit pants and an oversized brief.

Entree of Caprese Salad with Buffalo Mozzarella

If you are cooking for a crowd, or just after a fabulously chic super quick snack a Caprese salad is the hero of all of the above. Everyone loves a Caprese and the key is the quality of the produce. Don’t buy cows Mozzarella, unripe tomatoes or cheap olive oil as it will make the Caprese seem about as apertising as a prawn cocktail from the local RSL club. You need to unsure you have Buffalo mozzarella and vine ripened tomatoes for a rock star Caprese .

Serves two