Skillet potato topped seafood pie

It's cold, cold, cold here in Sydney this week and last night I raced home from doing a million things with no clear idea of what to make for dinner and when I looked at the meat I had everything was large pieces that would take forever to cook.

Then I found I had 500g of seafood marinara mix (mixed seafood) so I thought of making a seafood pie.  I did not however have the energy to fiddle around with pastry so a potato topped pie was called for. Even better than that aside from a pot to boil the spuds this was a one dish wonder.

Skillet potato topped seafood pie

500g mashed potatoes
knob of butter and a splash of olive oil
500g seafood marinara/mixed seafood
1 onion diced
1 carrot diced
2 celery sticks diced
6 mushrooms (all I had) chopped
dried dill (about a teaspoon)
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 a cup of cream
1/4 cup each grated tasty/cheddar and Parmesan cheese

1. Heat oil and butter in skillet till hot. Add onion, celery, carrot, mushrooms, garlic and dill and saute on low heat till onion translucent and veggies softening.
2. Add seafood mix and cook about 5 minutes. Add wine and let cook down by half.
3. Add cream and warm through (don't boil).
4. Turn off skillet and top with mashed potato and grated cheese.
5. Place in the oven and cook till top is browned (about 30 minutes).

Enjoy!

Putting some Sydney in mysydneykitchen

So I really haven't down all that much cooking this weekend. After a pretty average summer the weather this weekend has been sunny and hot and frankly exactly the way it is supposed to be. This year, however, we are so over-excited by sunshine that everyone is downing tools at the mere sight of it and heading to the beach or the Harbour.

Last night we had no plans so we decided it might be nice to have fish on the BBQ. We didn't go fishing for a change we ate fish we bought at the shop - leather jackets to be precise. They were very yummy with a delish potato side (I'll post the recipe later in the week), a salad and homemade tartare sauce.

Today was just magic so we took a ferry from Mosman Wharf to the city.

(Sydney is arguably one of the world's most beautiful cities and also one of it's most expensive. In line with that public transport and parking here cost a bomb but on Sunday's there is a scheme called Sunday Funday which means unlimited public transport access  for $2.50 if you have a child with you. It's almost worth borrowing a child if you don't spend all the saved money on hot chips and gelato, but I digress).

Here are a couple of beautiful shots of the city taken from the ferry today and you may even spot me in one.

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Harbour Bridge

My daughter and I on the ferry

After a lovely stroll through The Rocks we met my parents for lunch at the Harbour View Hotel. This is a link to their website which is not so fabulous and is probably due for an update.
http://www.harbourview.com.au/

What I like about this hotel is it does great pub food that you can share with your friends or family. It does all day breakfast. It is not overpriced and you are right there under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and you can see the Harbour.

So this was the view from our hotel. That's the underneath of the Sydney harbour Bridge. At regular intervals people walk along that railing at the completion of doing the Sydney Bridge Climb so if you know someone doing it and you want to grab a photo of them and grab a drink yourself then this is a great spot.

Lunch!

We shared some tasting plates between the five of us. I attempted a photo but I guess my husband was hungry because he couldn't wait and stuck his hand in the picture. Anyway for Sydney the food was delicious, abundant and well-priced pub food. It's a nice place for a pub lunch or a beer just out of the hustle and bustle of The Rocks, especially when the Rocks Markets are in full swing.

Finally here is a shot from the street outside. This is a classic Sydney image.

The Rocks/Millers Point, Sydney