A weekend in the Blue Mountains

Last weekend some of the family and I ventured to the Blue Mountains. I must say, I was thankful for my smart phone and its GPS function as the planned route to get to the Blue Mountains couldn't be taken due to a complete road blockage on the Great Western Highway. So my trusty GPS took me via the back roads - on the Birds view line of road, which was very hilly and windy, and FULL of trucks trying to also find their way to the Blue Mountains. Very scary trip, as the trucks were traveling along at full speed on a rather small road. But I made it in the end to Blackheath in the end, and lets just say my family knows how to eat! I would like to travel via that road in not so busy times again though, there was stacks of apple orchards where you could pick your own apples, not to mention lots of apple pies for sale.


I cooked dinner on the Friday night, which went down quiet nicely (I think). I stuck to a relatively simple (and yes, French again!) menu considering I was cooking for 15 people. The menu was:

- Beef Bourguignon
- Ratatoullie 
- Potato and onion gratin
- Garlicky green beans
- Apple and cinnamon Clafoutis (for dessert).


I'm not one to normally include recipes in my blog, mainly because the thought of typing out the recipe doesn't intrigue me ;) but the Garlicky green beans were easy peasy: green beans blanched in salted boiling water for 5 minutes, drain them, then return the beans to the pan and add butter and crushed garlic, then toss until the butter has melted.


On the Saturday some of us went for a drive to Katoomba and we had the most delicious brunch (including scones with jam and cream) at the Paragon cafe. Very cute cafe :)


Then Saturday night my lovely cousins cooked a Christmas dinner (that's Christmas in July), with lashings or roast meat and vegies plus trifle and pumpkin pie for dessert. Sunday morning was followed by a huge fry up of all the left over food, and then it was time to venture home (this time at least via the Great Western Highway which was a blissful drive in comparison to drive in :p).


Thanks to the family for a great weekend and I genuinely hope we can do it all again next year xx

Cheers!