Happy Birthday Mum

July is my mum’s birthday and this year she celebrated her 60th milestone in 3 parts (I think she secretly wanted it to last for longer).

Part 1: Steam Boat Feast (pre-birthday weekend)
We all gathered at my mum’s best friend’s place (also known as my Aunty Connie) over a ferociously steaming hot pot, otherwise known as steam boat. It’s one of our favourite ways to eat during winter, mainly because it is so cold and this definitely warms your heart and delights your soul – with great friends + family and great conversation all sharing one big meal.

Aunty Connie prepared so much food, we pretty much ate from 3-9pm and there will still so much leave over.

Tiger prawns, fish fillet, octopus, fish balls, cuttlefish balls, tofu fish balls, meat balls (and every other type of 'ball' you can think of), sliced meat, liver, shiitake, choy sum and other green veges

Followed by Bread Top green tea cake, fruit salad and white cherries

Part 2: Family Dinner and Birthday Cupcakes (actual birthday)
Putting the skills learnt from cupcake class in good use, Christine, Belinda and I slaved all night to make and decorate cupcakes. Belinda baked organic vanilla cupcakes, while I made Guinness chocolate cupcakes (these are delicious…I’ll include a recipe the next time I make these).

Adding the final touches

Happy 60th Birthday mum! She loved her cupcakes...

...and I love my bows (Christine created the bow up-do)

Part 3: Brunch at Bills (post-birthday weekend)
Finally my mum loves a good celebrity chef, so to top of her birthday we took her to Bills in Surry Hills for brunch (actually it was more like lunch by the time we got seated).
We all order corn fritters (is there anything better?!) and Steak sandwiches.
We really wanted to order the Banana Ricotta Hotcakes – but we were so full. Next time...

A summary of mum's bday: Food, food and more food! We definitely ate our way through her birthday. Can’t wait to do it all again next year.