Well, where do I begin!? Such a fun weekend was had and a huge thank you to all who made it!
Friday night saw Amy and I doing some last minute baking,
followed accompanied by wine and lots of chat or should that be chat and lots of wine? Oh, and a film - good old Finding Nemo - one of my all time favourites!
The next morning was a bit of a panic of timing the last minute bakes and I couldn't have done it without Amy (she made up all the rolls (which were baked by my wonderful hubby for the occasion!) with chicken, tuna and cheese and generally helped out/kept me calm), so thanks Amy!! Everyone arrived so I popped the savoury bakes in (Yorkshires with roast beef & horseradish and sour cream & chive muffins with parma ham) as they're best hot!
Everyone arrived and the food was served...
I made the above mentioned savouries along with some of my old favourites...
Lemon & Blueberry drizzle cake
Oaties with added dark choc chips
Cherry Cola chocolate cupcakes
Macadamia Nut Slice
and we had a cheese board with
home-made chutneys and jams, oh and percy pigs ;)
We also had some very scrummy cherry brownies from
Lara! And of course, tea and fizz!
Obviously I had to wear
my Olive Dragonfly apron! (For other outfits
see here!)
We all got changed into our fluoro gear, puff skirts and tutus and headed off to the ROLLER DISCO! A few others met us there and we had a fab time with much hilarity skating round to 70s, 80s & 90s music before being shown a few moves by the wonderful Siobhan (otherwise known as
Penny version 2!) and trying to skate under an ever lowering bar!
It was SO much fun but hard work and we all went back to the flat to chill and have more fizz and nibbles. Before we started getting ready for the night out, Roz instigated a mass trying on of my wedding dress and everyone had a turn!...
We eventually got ready and headed to Grill on the Corner for dinner and cocktails and then finished our night dancing away at the Shed!
Four of the ODPers stayed over at mine and after proper girly chat in PJs on my bed, we all had a good sleep and went out for brunch the morning after to recover! It was super sunny and actually quite warm so we sat outside at Tribeca and enjoyed some major hangover food and drinks (oreo cookie milkshake for me)!
It was a huge success but people who couldn't make it were missed and there was even some chat on twitter about people not feeling they could invite themselves along - it was
always supposed to be for anyone who
wanted to come, you just had to tweet/email/comment to let me know! Lara did and it was a pleasure to meet her as the only 'new' person, I was so excited when she emailed me! So, what I'm getting at is... there will be another ODP and we want you all to come! Sometime next year, we'll have a take 2 and I'm thinking there will have to be another Roller Disco!! :D
Chop 4 or 5 fat garlic cloves into thin slices.
Roughly chop a large man, sized portion of white mushrooms, the mis-shaped ones are the best.
Put a drizzle of olive oil into a large frying pan/wok and apply heat.
Fry the garlic until just turning brown, then throw in a big teaspoon full of coarse ground black pepper.
Add 3 or 4 big tablespoons of butter, real salted stuff is best but spreadable will do. Stir it up to disperse the garlic and pepper.
When all the butter is melted and bubbling, throw in the mushrooms and stir around for about 4 or 5 minutes until all are cooked and the mushrooms start to release their juice.
Meanwhile make 3 slices of blonde toast and butter (to hell with the calories)
Add half a tub of St Agur spreadable to the pan and stir in well.
When it all is bubbling, turn out the contents of the pan onto the toast and dust lightly all over with ground black pepper.
DO NOT SHARE!! Eat it all while hot, do not allow to get cold, washed down with a can of smooth British bitter beer.