Raspberry Swirl Ice-cream cake

A sweet and creamy ice-cream cake with pretty berry swirls, topped with fresh raspberries.  




Ingredients:

- 2 cups cream

- 395 ml sweetened condensed milk

- 1/3 cup frozen or fresh mixed berries, thawed and pureed

-  150 g fresh raspberries


Method:

1.  Line base and sides of a 20cm round cake pan with plastic wrap and non-stick baking paper.


2.  Using electric beaters, beat together cream and condensed milk until soft peaks form. Pour into prepared pan. Dollop berry puree over cream. Gently swirl over top with metal skewer. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze overnight.


3.  Remove from freezer and gently ease cake out of pan and place on serving plate. Scatter over raspberries. Sit at room temperature for 5 mins before cutting into wedges to serve.




Source: www.taste.com.au 

New homes trends to watch for 2016

The year is drawing to a close and we are already wondering what will the ultimate home style for the year of 2016 be?

1. It’s time to shine
The coming year is your home’s chance to shine with a touch of metallic. “From acid wash metallic cow hide rugs to brass cylindrical vases for your flowers through to brushed brass side tables, there aren’t many homewares or interiors products that don’t work well in metallic tones,” says interior designer Emma Blomfield. You don’t have to spend much to get in on this trend, she adds: “Metallics should be considered the jewellery for your home with things like drawer handles and copper catchalls through to candle jars.” 

2. Nature comes inside
If you don’t have a backyard with access to greenery in its natural habitat, then bring it to you. “Urban living comes with a detachment of the natural sources that generate our food, longer supply chains and less personal interaction with what we eat,” says Emir Lopez from Fluid Growers, who make portable gardens to grow in your kitchen. “We all long to be connected back to nature and back to food, and to learn and teach our children where food really comes from.”

3. Practical items become features
The practical parts of your home no longer have to be boring, as more interesting designs become accessible. Aaron Lee, co-creator of online emporium Prinkbox, says it’s all about creating conversation. “People desire something they can socially share to start that conversation,” he explains. “Many interior designers are shifting towards the reinvention of everyday items as a way of reinvigorating living spaces.”

4. Bathrooms go au naturale
In the bathroom, vanity units are going au naturale. “2016 is well and truly on track to be the year of the timber top,” says Scott Beechey, Design and Selections Specialist from Mitcham Plumbtec. While stone tops have been cast aside as drab and cold, Beechey says, “timber allows a new dimension in adding a natural warmth and feel.”

7. Colours are deep and moody
With four trend-setting colour palettes recently released, Dulux is declaring 2016 the year of moody shades, futuristic inspiration and throwbacks to times past.

(Picture Source http://bedroom891.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/this-is-cool-space-saver-to-do-twin-bed.html)

Their first offering is dubbed Infinite Worlds. “This is inspired by a growing focus on space travel and research,” says Dulux Colour Planning and Communications Manager Andrea Lucena-Orr. The dark blues and purples are contrasted with flashes of red, pink, coral and space age metallics.

Two palettes, Future Past and Retro Remix, see us looking back to the 60s and 70s. Browns and caramels are making a comeback, as are the more vibrant retro colours. Lucena-Orr says it’s all about creating a look that suits your personality: “Colour combinations can be used in unexpected ways to help create a more youthful and playful space.”

Finally, the Bio Fragility palette takes its cues from nature, with soft greens, beige and grey. “Scheming these colours together creates a beautiful, tranquil setting that’s easy to live with in most rooms within the home,” says Lucena-Orr.

9. Sustainability is king
The human conscience isn’t letting up, with people caring more and more about where the items in their home come from. “Sustainability is becoming a must design element in 2016,” says Lee. “We’re seeing more experimental ideas of mixing new sustainable and old upcycled materials, and people are opting for organic recyclable accessories.”

(Picture Source: http://builditbackgreen.org/bushfires/in-the-media/sept-2011/bushfire-rebuild-wins-highest-honour,-building-design-of-the-year.aspx)

Source:  domain.com.au 

Bathurst 1000 Recap

After 161 laps and a dramatic second half that saw rain, carnage and split-second calls it was race veterans Craig Lowndes and Steven Richards take the honours at the 2015 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.  

Over the four days, different cars starred and looked as if they could take the honours. Everyone had their own story and there were plenty of great drives – here’s a few picks for the top pair.

Craig Lowndes and Steven Richards – Red Bull Racing Australia

Yesterday’s victory took their total number of Bathurst wins to 10.

Lowndes and Richards came from 15th on the grid to take the win by 1.365 seconds over Championship leader Mark Winterbottom and Steve Owen in strategy-fuelled final stint.

Lowndes cemented himself as a Bathurst great clocking up number six at Mount Panorama and soared back up in the points to trail by 399 with four rounds remaining in 2015.

Mark Winterbottom and Steve Owen – Pepsi Max Crew

Also starting outside the top 10, it was a remarkable comeback from Winterbottom, who was desperate to win the race not just for himself, but for injured teammate Chaz Mostert and the crew.

Owen dropped back in the pack after a poor start, but throughout the day the two clawed back into contention.

The team had to put a hard Friday behind it and Winterbottom kept his eye on the prize, which also meant extending his Championship lead to a dominant 399 points.

Garth Tander and Warren Luff – Holden Racing Team

These guys started outside the top 20 and the force was surely with them, with the Star Wars themed HRT Commodore finishing third.

Tander’s run home was remarkable with his trademark aggression put to good use in the closing stages – particularly the move on Scott McLaughlin and Fabian Coulthard at turn two.

Up 19 spots, car #2 was the biggest mover of the day and this year bounced back from the horror story that was 2014.

Article Source: www.v8supercars.com.au

We had the prime position for the PANTECH truck parade! Here are some shots we got on the day.