Saturday, January 31, 2015

Picnic at Garden Cove



This is why I feel so lucky living here on our beautiful Island out in the Hauraki Gulf, to be able to enjoy the wonderful sea and sunshine.

Our friends kindly invited us out on a picnic lunch last Saturday where we met at their place along Onetangi Beach.
It was so much fun to be able to take a trip out in their Sealegs boat - driving down their drive, along the road which turned into the sand and then wait until the time and surf was right, to effortlessly launch into the water.

We sailed along the waves at a good clip around to a beautiful spot called Garden Cove, where a few other families were also enjoying this little secluded horse shoe shaped bay.
 
Under the shade of the trees we set up our picnic Jo and Grant had made some delicious salads, with juicy watermelon, and green beans. My husband made his terrine which we had with French bread, a cheese platter with crackers and washed down with a glass of cold Rosé from the chilly bin.

To finish off our lunch, I had baked some Madelines with a lemon glaze and we all had a second one as they were so good, if I may say so and will definitely be baking these again.

I had told my husband for Christmas I wanted a Madeline tray, after watching Rachel Khoo baking some on her show. 
Have always wanted to try baking them.

My daughter bought me the cook book 'Patisserie made simple ' by Edd Kimber {From Macarons to Millefuille and more} 
Edd was the first winner of 'The Great British Bake Off', a show I really enjoy watching. Anyway there are some lovely recipes in this book and I look forward to trying some more from the book.

Makes one feel healthy after a day out, with a swim in the sea, breathing in the salty air and having a light golden tan from the sun
All too soon it was time to head back home.

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shinning, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing and the lawn mower is broken.
~ James Dent

Have a happy weekend
hugs
Carolyn

38 comments:

  1. What a fabulous day Carolyn! Hope all are keeping well,enjoy your weekend:)
    ~Anne xx

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  2. Hello Carolyn,

    This looks a perfectly idyllic way to spend a day.

    The picnic looks incredible. A very far cry from some old, corners turned up, dried up sandwiches that we remember from our childhoods. Gosh, even the Rose wine was chilled.....how wonderfully civilised it all looks to be. And, the salad with melon and green beans and your Madeleines look totally delicious.

    Yes, we can well imagine that it was all over far too soon. But, it is a good thing to finish something whilst still wanting more. There will be a next time!

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  3. What a beautiful day...love your pictures!
    Take care,
    Titti

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  4. Hi Carolyn! This is a nice place for a pic nic!
    Have a nice sunday!
    Monique

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  5. That does sound like a perfect summer day ... especially while I sit here in the cold surrounded by snow ;) I love spending a day on the water, you end up being so perfectly exhausted in a good way. And your picnic lunch looks quite amazing! Wendy x

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  6. Dear Carolyn what a perfect and beautiful day you had with your friends. Must be a wonderful feeling to just "drive" into the sea- and then again to the shore !! The meal sounds and look so very delicious, and your beautiful Madelines sure topped the meal, in the most elegant way !! So glad you enjoyed such a lovely day. Thank you for your note, I`m so happy you recieved my card and love it, dear friend.
    Hugs from Dorthe

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  7. Enjoy your beautiful summer while eating some of your madeleines dear Carolyn!
    Happy weekend!
    With love,
    Geli

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  8. love carolyn, at the picnic I would have liked to been there !!!
    see the dining sooo yummy and the beach is gorgeous !!!
    Here in Germany it is cold, but we have snow in northern Germany luckily no, I like the winter and not hope for an early spring !!!
    love greetings from angie from Germany

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  9. What a wonderful way to have a picnic, with the sun swimming and beautiful setting. You are a lucky girl. Happy Weekend! Suzy x

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  10. I make Madelines from time to time! Very good choice to tea!

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  11. How I needed this soul sunshine therapy here in Ontario Canada where yet another winter storm is expected tonight. Thanks so much for this. Lovely indeed. Love Jeanne

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  12. What a fantastic day out. I wish I could come too. Groetjes,

    Hetty

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  13. What a fantastic pic nic! I 'm glad you enjoyed your day.Beautiful pictures.
    Kisses
    Alessandra

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  14. Wow this sounds and looks like an absolutely perfect day :)

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  15. Hi dear Carolyn !! Que picnic más rico ..Espero que tengas un bendecido domingo
    Cariños

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  16. What an elegant picnic! The madeleines with a glaze look intriguing. My mother gave me a Madeleine mold years ago and a recipe “Recette de madeleines dorées et moelleuses” but I never tried to bake them – we have a good French baker in town and they make delicious ones.

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  17. Dear Carolyn,
    What a beautiful day! Nothing more refreshing that the sea and sunshine.
    So happy you enjoyed your day with friends.. Your Madelines look wonderful!
    blessings,
    penny

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  18. That was a wonderful picnic, a perfect
    day by the sea. Enjoyed seeing your
    photos.
    Hugs/AM

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  19. The day out at Garden Cove looks idyllic! I enjoy watching the Great British Bake Off series. I love making cakes so the words 'made simple' in the title of the cook book your daughter gave you appeals to me! The madeleines with a lemon glaze look delicious.

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  20. Great picnic.....enjoy your sunday.....live from me Ria...x!

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  21. Dear Carolyn, what a lovely picnic on the beach. Looks like the perfect day with friends enjoying sunshine and feasting on delicious food. Your little Madeline's look so delicious. Perfect dessert for a day by the sea. Thank you for sharing the warmth. Have a wonderful rest of the weekend and sending hugs your way.
    Blessings and Joy
    xo

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  22. A slice of heaven! How beautiful, Carolyn!!! So glad you had a wonderful time!!

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  23. Hello Carolyn,
    It looks like you really had the best of days, how wonderful. All the food looked scrumptious, especially your Madelines. It’s almost sunset in the UK. I’m looking out of my window at a very chilly evening with snow forecast, but your pictures made me feel warm and happy. Barbara x

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  24. Carolyn, It's always a treat for me to stop in at your blog and read what you are up to. Seeing the pictures is fun. Your Madeline's look beautiful. I can only imagine how delicious they are for I have never had one! Yum. I know they must be a wonderful dessert. You did a great job. You're living right having a picnic! Our Kansas wind is howling today as we had snow powdering the environment. Having some snow. Brrr. Blessings to you as you enjoy the sunshine!
    d

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  25. A picnic at the beach - how wonderful, Carolyn. The sea looks beautiful. Me and husband went to the lake yesterday, and the water is very low. Still, it was great to be around water again. Your Madelines with lemon glaze look scrumptious. I wish I could try one while sipping on my morning coffee.

    It sounds like a pleasant day at the sea, Carolyn.

    love, ~Sheri

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  26. Dearest Carolyn,
    What a lovely beach picnic with your dear friends and yummy, yet healthy food!
    Your Madeleins look wonderful and sure you will get lots of use out of that pan.
    Sending you hugs,
    Mariette

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  27. Sounds like a perfect day out and your picnic looks amazing, those madelines look delicious!! xx

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  28. Such a beautiful place to go for a day out. How lovely of your friends to invite you. The picnic looks and sounds delicious, but gosh, those Madeline's! How wonderful are they!!!! xx

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  29. What a lovely day! Madelines just made it PERFECT.
    I start craving Spring in here. Not even Winter seems longer this year he's meaner too and now to see your picnic made me wish for it even more.
    Thank you for putting in me the smile that says: "Soon!".
    I love that pan and I'll be looking for one for me.
    Take Care,
    Teresa

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  30. I have to say this is the most gorgeous picnic I have ever seen! The assortment of food you all had coupled with that view is straight out of movie! Life doesn't get better than this friend! And thank you for sharing that book...I would love to have a look at it! Wishing you a glorious week ahead!!! Nicole xoxo

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  31. I wish I lived this close to the sea and could have picnics like this, looks so very lovely! And those Madelines sound delicious. :)

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  32. Being able to enjoy picnics with friends in such a lovely setting is indeed a wonderful treat. And it looks like you had the perfect weather too Carolyn! Your madeleines look absolutely delicious! Hope all is well!

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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  33. Your post made me smile right from the start! I always look to share the opposite of our seasons! Your picnic looks so lovely and those madeleines look so tasty, I'm surprised you stopped at 2! Sarah x

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  34. Pure bliss! And wow, I've never seen a Sealegs before. That is awesome! A picnic by the sea sounds like paradise, and everything looks so delicious, especially your gorgeous madeleines.

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  35. Dear Carolyn
    Wow.... that is a wonderful picnic. Thank you for the nice post.
    I wish you a happy rest of the week and send you a lot of greetings from Switzerland. Love and hugs Yvonne

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  36. The Madelines look delicious! So jealous of your sunshine; everything by me is covered in snow.

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  37. At this point I am really missing how the other half lives. I am buried in SNOW.
    This is an awful Feburary for Maine. Oh to walk in hot sand. Enjoy.
    yvonne

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  38. Hello Carolyn
    Garden Cove is one of our favourite bays at the bottom end too!
    I can’t wait for next summer when our boat will be back in the water! To have a Sealegs is the ultimate, although I haven't actually had the privilege of being on one - they are a great way to get ashore without so much as a wet toe!
    What a picnic - a veritable feast - delicious!
    I loved Rachel's Little Paris Kitchen program too.
    I'll add Edd Kimber's book to my list, it looks like a ‘must have’!
    Carolyn your madelines are divine I love the lemon glaze.

    Hugs
    Shane

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Carolyn xx