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.   

Lamington Slice

Here is a modern twist on the classic Lamington we all love! 

1:00 To Prep

0:50 To Cook

10 INGREDIENTS

EASY DIFFICULTY

20 SERVINGS

Equipment

•  18cm x 28cm (base) slice pan

Ingredients

•  1 1/3 cups self-raising flour
•  2 tablespoons cocoa powder
•  2/3 cup caster sugar
•  125g butter, melted, cooled
•  1 egg, lightly beaten
•  1/2 cup raspberry jam
•  60g dark chocolate, chopped

Coconut topping Method 

•  2 egg whites, lightly beaten
•  2/3 cup caster sugar
•  1 1/3 cups desiccated coconut
• 
  

Method 

1. Step 1
   Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan-forced. Grease an 18cm x 28cm (base) slice pan. Line base and sides with baking paper, extending paper 2cm above edges of pan.
2. Step 2
   Sift flour and cocoa into a bowl. Stir in sugar. Make a well in the centre. Stir in butter and egg until well combined. Press mixture over base of prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until base is just firm around the edges.
3. Step 3
   Meanwhile, make Coconut topping Combine egg white, sugar and coconut in a bowl.
4. Step 4
   Spread hot slice with jam. Evenly top with coconut mixture. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden. Cool completely in pan.
5. Step 5
   Place chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH (100%) for 30 seconds or until melted and smooth. Drizzle slice with chocolate. Stand for 20 minutes to set. Serve cut into pieces.

Source: taste.com.au 

A peek inside the homes of our A-List Celebrities

Don't we all wonder what the celebrities go home to at the end of the day?  Here is a peek at the homes of some of our top Australian celebrities.

Hugh Jackman's NYC mansion is sleek and classy. 

Nicole Kidman's modern Beverly Hills abode suits her family of four because it is spacious and functional.

Russell Crowe’s Rose Bay Manor is a 1909 house with 1927 architecture updates.  

The Hemsworth brothers' Malibu home has a relaxing ambiance perfect for unwinding after their busy filming schedules.  

Mirander Kerr's Malibu residence is the ideal place for her and her young son, Flynne.

Source: homehello.com.au 

Which home improvements pay off?

WHICH HOME IMPROVEMENTS PAY OFF??

Now that the spring selling season is here, and more people are thinking about putting their property on the market, many of you will probably start thinking about what you can do at your property to help achieve a higher selling price.

Renovations are a popular way to maximise your sale price, however you need to be careful not to overcapitalise. You should have a clear budget in mind for any renovations you plan to take out and it’s a good idea not to spend more than 5% of the purchase price of your property.

Some of the most popular renovations for sellers include:

- Creating an open plan layout;

- Replacing kitchens and/bathrooms;

- Adding large entertaining areas;

- New floors;

- Fresh coat of paint;

- Adding extra bedrooms or bathrooms.

You don’t need to choose the most expensive products to make a big impact; many buyers are simply looking for a fresh, modern home they can move straight into, so prioritise the areas that need the most work.

Don’t rush straight into renovations without doing a little bit of research though. Find out what similar homes in your area are selling for and compare this with renovated properties. Would the amount you spend on renovations help you achieve a significantly higher sale price? If your property is already in ok to good condition it might not be worth renovating.

Your Professionals agent can give you some extra pointers to help make your home’s sale successful, including renovating advice or other ways to help achieve a higher selling price. There are plenty of things you can do to help get your home noticed, such as the use of floor plans, videos, professional photos, home staging services and so much more. Our agents have knowledge and experience in marketing andselling in the local area so we can offer the best advice to make sure that your home sells for the best price.

If you would like to have a chat about selling your home then get in touch with us at Professionals Bathurst Real Estate.

Bathurst 1000

The Bathurst 1000 is fast approaching, so join us in the countdown to the big day! 

With so much to see and do over the four fun filled days you might need a map.          Follow the link to download a high resolution copy of the map below.  

V2.pdfhttp://d508o84lonf06.cloudfront.net/live/files/dmfile/BTH2015-Events-Map-V2.pdf

TRACK SCHEDULE

THURSDAY OCTOBER 8 TO SUNDAY OCTOBER 11

Times displayed are in local event time

Thursday 8 October
Start	End	Series	Session	Duration	Results
07:45	08:05	Touring Car Masters	Practice 1	20 mins
08:15	08:35	Aussie Racing Cars	Practice 1	20 mins
08:45	09:05	V8 Ute Racing Series	Practice 1	20 mins
09:15	09:35	Porsche Carrera Cup Australia	Practice 1	20 mins
09:45	10:05	Touring Car Masters	Practice 2	20 mins
10:20	11:00	Dunlop Series	Practice 1	40 mins
11:15	12:00	V8 Supercars Championship	Practice 1 (All Drivers)	45 mins
13:20	14:05	V8 Supercars Championship	Practice 2 (Co-Drivers)	45 mins
14:15	14:35	Aussie Racing Cars	Qualifying	20 mins
14:45	15:05	V8 Ute Racing Series	Practice 2	20 mins
15:20	16:05	V8 Supercars Championship	Practice 3 (All Drivers)	45 mins
16:15	16:45	Porsche Carrera Cup Australia	Practice 2	30 mins
16:55	17:15	Touring Car Masters	Qualifying	20 mins
Friday 9 October
Start	End	Series	Session	Duration	Results
07:55	08:20	Porsche Carrera Cup Australia	Qualifying	25 mins
08:30	08:50	Aussie Racing Cars	Race 1	7 laps
09:05	09:50	V8 Supercars Championship	Practice 4 (Co-Drivers)	45 mins
10:05	10:25	V8 Ute Racing Series	Qualifying	20 mins
10:40	11:20	Dunlop Series	Practice 2	40 mins
11:35	12:20	V8 Supercars Championship	Practice 5 (All Drivers)	45 mins
13:45	14:05	Touring Car Masters	Race 1	7 laps
14:15	14:45	Porsche Carrera Cup Australia	Race 1	10 laps
15:00	15:40	V8 Supercars Championship	Qualifying	40 mins
15:55	16:25	Dunlop Series	Qualifying	30 mins
16:35	16:55	Aussie Racing Cars	Race 2	7 laps
Saturday 10 October
Start	End	Series	Session	Duration	Results
08:40	09:00	V8 Ute Racing Series	Race 1	7 laps
09:10	09:30	Aussie Racing Cars	Race 3	7 laps
09:45	10:00	Dunlop Series	Warm Up	15 mins
10:15	11:00	V8 Supercars Championship	Practice 6 (All Drivers)	45 mins
11:30	12:00	On Track Entertainment	Mustang Parade Lap	30 mins
12:30	12:50	Touring Car Masters	Race 2	7 laps
13:00	13:20	Aussie Racing Cars	Race 4	7 laps
14:00	15:40	Dunlop Series	Race 1	41 laps
15:55	16:15	V8 Ute Racing Series	Race 2	7 laps
16:25	16:55	Porsche Carrera Cup Australia	Race 2	10 laps
17:10	17:55	V8 Supercars Championship	Top Ten Shootout	1 laps
Sunday 11 October
Start	End	Series	Session	Duration	Results
07:50	08:10	Touring Car Masters	Race 3	7 laps
08:25	08:45	V8 Supercars Championship	Warm Up	20 mins
08:55	09:15	V8 Ute Racing Series	Race 3	7 laps
09:25	09:55	Porsche Carrera Cup Australia	Race 3	10 laps
10:00	10:15	V8 Supercars Championship	Driver's Parade	15 mins
11:00	18:00	V8 Supercars Championship	Race 25	161 laps

Times displayed are in local event time
Courtesy of  www.v8supercars.com.au

ILLUMINATE BATHURST STREET FAIR

Illuminate Bathurst sees a series of digital projections transform the city, lighting up buildings and creating a new canvas for storytelling. At sunset be amazed by a series of motor racing themed projections on prominent city buildings including the Court House, Carillon, TAFE Building, Ribbon Gang Lane and Pedrottas Lane.

Not only does the street fair include incredbile light displays but also live entertainment, food, market stalls, kids activities and much more.

WHERE TO FIND

The street fair is focused around Kings Parade (Russell Street) and a number of buildings around the city will light the night from Saturday the 10th October until Sunday 18th October from 10.00pm to 8.00pm.

Source:  www.v8supercars.com.au