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Thursday 16 January 2014

55 years young

On Monday I celebrated my 55th birthday with Lea, my oldest daughter Kate, my brother, Vincent and his partner, Dixie. It was a small affair but a special time.

 
Dixie and Vincent

As Lea was working I decided to cook up a dish that I had never tried before. It was Moroccan lamb with a range of condiments to enhance the flavour. The dish had onions, carrot, almonds, cinammon, orange zest, cumin, raisins soaked in sherry, beef stock and was served with rice.




I was really pleased how it came out.




Some pretty flowers helped created the festive mood.




For dessert I made chocolate and cinammon ice-cream with chocolate sauce, served with strawberries.




My brother and I played some Leonard Cohen.


 

Lea had baked a chocolate cake which Kate had decorated.


 
 
I really enjoyed celebrating my 55th birthday and occasions like this makes me appreciate those who are close. Though my circumstances have changed family and special friends have been there for me and I happily look forward to many more birthdays!
 
 

30 comments:

  1. dude...the lamb looks awesome...playing cohen as well...happy birthday to you man...still young...smiles...your brother, i can see the resemblence

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    1. The lamb was very tasty with the spices! My brother and I enjoyed playing cohen! Thanks for the birthday wishes, Brian! Keep up that writing!

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  2. Happy birthday!!
    Good portion control there,Paul...but not cake...portion control where cake is concerned is just wrong!
    Jane x

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    1. Thanks for the birthday wishes, Jane! Portion control is not usually my thing! Still eating the cake though past used by date!

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  3. Happy wonderful birthday, Paul! What an amazing cook you are! I can't remember seeing chocolate and cinnamon being paired before. Sounds like a great combination and doubly healthy. :-)

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    1. Thanks Kay for the kind wishes! Chocolate and cinnamon worked well! Would like to be an amazing cook one day as it is fun experimenting and trying new dishes! Not sure about the doubly healthy!

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  4. Happy Birthday, Paul! It's great to see you! Your birthday dinner looked delicious ~ Loved that cake with allsorts on it. It's hard to get fresh allsorts here! May you have many great years ahead of you! Take care!

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    1. Really enjoyed the meal and I'm a big lolly fan! Allsorts is my favourite. Thanks for the kind wishes! Will post the recipe!

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  5. A belated Happy Birthday to you, Paul!
    Mmm, I wish you could have posted not just the picture of the Morroccan lamb dish but also the scent. I'd have joined you gladly in getting rid of it, and would have taken an extra helping of the ice cream.
    Here's to the next 55 years!

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    1. Thanks for the birthday wishes. Will post the recipe so you can cook the meal yourself. The lamb sure smelt and tasted beautiful. Ice-cream was simple and easy and a lovely follow up dessert! Another 55 sounds good!

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  6. Happy Birhtday Mr. Paul hope you have a gread day! All he best wishes from Brazil!

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    1. Thanks for your kind wishes, Victor! Was a wonderful birthday and great having Kate with us. She is with us for the next few weeks before going back to uni!

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  7. Happy Birthday Paul. I would say you had a wonderful celebration with those you love.

    Your Moroccan Lamb sounds fabulous as does your ice cream. I just made a Moroccan Chickpea chili last night and it was really delicious with all of those different spices. I looked at lamb yesterday but the price is so high that I only buy lamb at Easter for my Easter dinner.

    Enjoy the rest of your birthday week ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Thanks for the kind words, Lorraine! Would love to try your chickpea chili. The spices sure made my dish a success. They were easy dishes to prepare! We have an abundance of sheep in New Zealand so our prices aren't too bad!

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  8. Hope you enjoyed your day Paul. Your meal sure looks delicious :))

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    1. I did thanks, Ellie! The food worked out better than I imagined. Will post the recipe soon as it is easy and yummy!

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  9. Belated birthday greetings. Gosh, Paul, you don't look your age. Love the food you prepared, you certainly have a flair for cooking.

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    1. Thanks for the birthday wishes, Valerie and your lovely compliment! I do love cooking and trying new dishes!

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  10. Belated birthday wishes! We're just a year and a couple of months apart! So good to be able to celebrate with those you love! Glad to hear you are riding your heart out again!

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    1. Thanks so much for the kind wishes! Many of my followers are around my age. We have the cycling in common. Most impressed with your snow ride.

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  11. Many happy returns of the day to you!

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    1. Thanks for the kind wishes, Messymimi! Had a wonderful day with family!

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  12. Happy Birthday Paul! You sure don't look 55...35 perhaps? I'm glad you enjoyed your day and all the food looks fantastic..that cake is amazing! It's good to have friends and family to support and uplift us...looks like you hit the jackpot with yours!

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    1. I'll take 35 any day! Really enjoyed cooking the meal and surprised myself. Still eating the cake though its about had its day.

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  13. Happy B-lated Birthday!

    It sounds like you had a wonderful B-day. Anytime you can be with family and friends it always makes it special. Love the cake, so very pretty...and the flowers...the food you made sounded really good, too.

    Wishing you a most blessed year filled with family, friends and great success, too. :)

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    1. Thanks for the kind wishes, Stitchy! The food was a great success...I surprised myself. Might do a post soon with recipe!

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  14. Oh, Happy Birthday to you! What lovely looking food and cake!
    I am just a WEE bit older than you, and here I was thinking I was LOTS older than you! You shouldn't look so young, you tricked me! You're almost the same age as one of my brothers, so I will consider you my brother in New Zealand. Yeah, that sounds good to me, bro! Ha! Take care!

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    1. You are so kind, Kay! I am happy to be your bro in New Zealand, sis!

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  15. Happy Birthday! I will be joining you in the 50's in March!

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    1. Thanks Becky...they are good years. Will look out for your birthday post in March!

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