The Great Ocean Road: Melbourne to Aireys Inlet

Our holiday started off with a late departure, followed by a missed connection. So, our leisurely afternoon drive to the Great Ocean Road, turned into a drive in the dark to our hotel with a quick stop in Geelong for a bite to eat. Fortunately, our quick bite turned out to be at a tapas restaurant with excellent food. We fueled our drive with some rich hot cocoa and chai tea for dessert. It was after 10pm when we arrived at our hotel, but we were just happy to be there!

Melbourne Preview

It has been awhile since we have had the chance to write on the blog.  We just returned from a week long trip to the state of Victoria and city of Melbourne.  Here are a few pictures from the trip to wet your appetite.

This picture of Laura is on the Great Ocean Road at the 12 Apostles.

On the top of the Grampians

In the city of Melbourne on the walkway to the Melbourne cricket grounds (the stadium where we watched the footy game on Sat.)

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

By popular demand, here is the recipe for the bread I made on St. Paddy's Day:

5 cups flour
1 cup sugar (I think you could use less)
1 tbs baking powder
1 1/2 ts salt
1 ts baking soda
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces, room temperature
2 1/2 cup raisins
3 tbs caraway seeds
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 large egg

Preheat oven to 350.
Butter a 10-12" ovenproof skillet.
Whisk first 5 ingredients in a large bowl.
Add butter using fingertips.
Stir in raisins and caraway seeds.
Whisk buttermilk and egg in bowl to blend, then add to dough.
Blend until well-incorporated, dough is VERY sticky!
Place dough in skillet.
Cut X in top of dough using small, sharp knife.
Bake approx. 1hr 15 min or until knife/tester comes out clean.
Cool 10 minutes in skillet.
Let cool completely on wire rack.