Pot Luck Dinner and Other Things

 

Last night I was invited to a potluck dinner, where each person contributes a plate or two of something for the meal.  I took Savoury Eggs (sometimes called Devilled Eggs, but mine are sweeter) as my dish and was most happy to see them all get eaten.

(I will let you into a little secret – I hate taking a plate somewhere and having it only get picked over or ignored and then end up bringing a whole lot home again – it makes you feel like a failure somehow).

During the morning yesterday, Son and I watched a replay of the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing.  The live coverage was at 1am, so a bit early for us!

I was very impressed with the light show at the beginning, as it was quite spectacular.

This photo shows the New Zealand contingent entering the stadium.  We first sent a team to the Winter Olympics in 1952 and have only ever won three medals – a silver in 1982 and two bronzes in 2018.

The Ceremony wrapped up with the obligatory fireworks display after the Olympic torch had been lit.

We are meant to have rain today – which we are becoming in desperate need of – but so far there has only been sporadic bursts of light drizzle.  Even the other side of the city has been getting more than us!

But I am not complaining.  The cloud cover, the air moisture, and the cool wind, are all combining to keep the temperatures down into the low twenties (Celsius) which is much nicer than what we have experienced recently.

It is also a long weekend here, with Waitangi Day being a public holiday.  It is not something that we observe with anything special, although some regard it as our National Day, because it has become too associated with protests and Treaty of Waitangi settlements. 

Being of European descent, it unfortunately appears to now have little relevance to our lives although we used to celebrate it as a time to remember and be proud of our country.  How times change.

Wishing everyone a Happy Weekend 😊

Margaret.

 

WOOHOO! I just had to add this on (4.30pm):  New Zealand just won it's very first Gold Medal at the Winter Olympics 🥇😄

Well done, Zoi.  Congratulations from all of us!

RECIPE FOR SAVOURY EGGS

Hard boil several eggs and peel and cut in half when they are cool.  Mash the yolks with salt and pepper and bind them with some salad dressing.  I use Condensed Milk Salad Dressing, a popular retro-kiwi salad cream.  Spoon the yolk back into the whites and press down lightly to hold it in place.  Serve them on a platter and decorate as desired.

Condensed Milk Salad Dressing: put 1 tsp dry mustard powder in a jug and add ¼ cup vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar).  Whisk together to dissolve the mustard.  Pour in a 395g can of sweetened condensed milk (must be genuine condensed milk, not palm oil) and stir until it is mixed together and become thick.  Store in a lidded container in the fridge, where it will last for a few weeks.