Tomorrow is my thirty-fourth birthday.
Some blokes say it with flowers. Some blokes say it with chocolates. This year Bearhands said it with a bobcat. 
This is not the first out- of-the-ordinary gift I've received from him over the years. For Valentine's Day a few years back, he bought me the fridge I'd been lusting after for months.
My folks and my in-laws are coming to the farm for dinner tomorrow night. My Mother-in-law is dairy-free, so for a starter I've made baba ghanoush.
baba ghanoush
ingredients:
3 small eggplants (500g)
olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon tahini
2 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoon water
salt and pepper
method:
Preheat an oven to 180°C (fan forced).
Using a fork, prick the eggplants all over, cover with oil and bake on an oven tray for 40 minutes or until the eggplant is soft. Allow the eggplant to cool.
Once cool enough to handle, peel the skin from eggplant.
Combine the eggplant and the remaining ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.
verdict:
This was so very easy! I popped the eggplant in the oven before I did the afternoon school run and it was cool enough to peel by the time I got home - how cool is having an oven with a functioning timer? I'll serve it with toasted flatbread tomorrow.
It's lucky that this was a simple recipe, because I had way more exciting things to do this arvo than cook...
Funnily enough, the bobcat wasn't the best birthday present I've scored - the compulsory kindy AGM that was scheduled for 7pm tomorrow night has been postponed 'til next week - huzzah!
what's the best present you've ever received?
any tips for emerging from my first kindy AGM unappointed?
Sit Down Mummy says
Love the dainty pink bow on your new black bobcat! Happy birthday 🙂
cookerandalooker says
Thanks Kate!
Anne @ Domesblissity says
No. Can't top that. I find it hard to believe you won't be appointed something from the Kindy AGM. They're always looking for 'suckers' (oh, I mean committee members). LOL xx
Lydia C. Lee says
I second the comment above! (love the bobcat with the ribbon!)
iSophie says
Wow! I'm impressed. That is certainly one of the most unique gifts I have heard of!
cookerandalooker says
Unique in that we'll be paying it off for ages Sophie?!? 🙂
Fran Arnold says
Martyn and Sam are soooo envious of your present!! Have a very happy birthday. xx
cookerandalooker says
Thanks Fran! Tell they're welcome to have a drive any time! 🙂
Beth Mantle says
Wait... wait... I was all excited that you'd been given some cute, fluffy feline-looking things with tufty ears, and instead you got a grown-up version of a Tonka truck!
By the way... what is it for? (spot the city-slicker)
cookerandalooker says
Ha! A bobcat would be about the only feline gift that I'd happily receive Beth! This one will be pulled on a trailer behind the turf truck for deliveries and site preparation.
coloursofsunset says
Wow! What was your response? "Ummm, thanks honey...you, shouldn't have?" ha ha -Aroha #teamIBOT
Keeping Up With The Holsbys says
Brilliant. I did chuckle at your gift. Say it with farm machinery is a Hallmark card waiting to happen!
Chicks on bobcats are hot, FYI.
Enid Bite'Em says
Maybe role into the Kindy AGM on your bobcat ... then they'll take any no appointment concerns from you very seriously 🙂
Lauren says
Happy Birthday beautiful girl! Enjoy your new toy!
EssentiallyJess says
Happy Birthday!!!
I'm assuming the bob cat was to hire not to keep? But if it is, that would be pretty awesome!!! 🙂
Annaleis from Teapots and Tractors says
Happy Birthday Amanda. Looks like a present my hubby would get me! Practical! I'm sure you will have lots of fun with that.
Honestly I love getting involved but getting an important call at the time you need to nominate is always a good out.
Robyn says
Happy birthday! When we were firstvdatingvmy hubby once bought me a veggie steamer!! He has come a looooong way since then!!
Have a laugh on me says
I LOVE that you always make me laugh and smile with your first sentence or two!! Happy Birthday Amanda - have a fantastic day and don't be too sad, you're younger than me 🙂
cookerandalooker says
The feeling's mutual Em! x
Sabeen says
Happy Birthday Amanda - hope it's been a special day 🙂
Haha love the pressie and the babaganoush looks totally devour worthy. Yum!
cookerandalooker says
Thanks Sabeen. x
Alicia - One Mother Hen says
Look at you go! You would have to be one of the few bloggers that could combine driving a bobcat and a recipe into one post! All in a days work 😉 Happy Birthday.
cookerandalooker says
Thanks Alicia - I'll need lots more practice before this becomes "Bobcatter and a Cooker" x
Di from Max The Unicorn says
Happy...... Bobcatting?? LOL Visiting from TUST Blogs & PR 🙂
cookerandalooker says
Thanks Di. x
Monique (@YrCheekyMonkey) says
Yummy recipe! thank you 🙂 Monique @ Your Cheeky Monkey via #TUST xx
cookerandalooker says
Pleasure Monique. x
Dorothy @ Singular Insanity says
Very impressive present and recipe. Enjoy your bobcat!
cookerandalooker says
Thanks Dorothy.
Sydney, Kids, Food + Travel says
A bobcat!? So thoughtful. I do love baba ganoush, but am the only one in the family who does. More for me!!
cookerandalooker says
Winner!
Yvette @ Little Bento Blog says
Happy Birthday!!! Gosh not sure what the best present I received was.. I remember getting fish for Christmas that I had wanted all year... when I was little... 🙂
visiting from #TUST Blogs and PR!
cookerandalooker says
Thanks Yvette. We're considering a fish for the Big Sister's birthday later this year - I'm adding your vote to the pile. x
Have a laugh on me says
Aww nothing says love like getting stuff done around the house - I LOVE IT! Happy belated birthday xx
cookerandalooker says
Thanks lovely.
jarrahjungle says
What a romantic ... at least he put a bow on it!
Saying hi from Blogs & PR link up 😀
cookerandalooker says
A pink bow at that!
Lisa@RandomActsOfZen says
I hope it was a fabulous birthday Amanda! Surely no one could top this awesome present, although one year my hubby did get me a donut maker that HE really wanted : /
Lisa x
cookerandalooker says
I may have bought my husband a telescope for Valentine's Day early in our courtship. He doesn't share my interest in the stars, but I covered it seamlessly with a dodgy card about loving him to the Milky Way and back. I didn't fool either of us!
Madeupmaiden says
Happy Birthday, honey!
What a wonderful present from the hub, it did give me the biggest laugh!
Actually though I have had a chance to play with a backhoe/excavator before (work purposes) and I must say it's good fun!
Do you need to get a license to operate the backhoe?!
The Baba Ghanoush looks amazing.
PS. Found you through Blogs and Pr but I will definitely be visiting again!
xx
Donna-Caroline Khoo says
Hi There, I have just found your blog. I am a melbourne girl - Donna with two little kids and I also have a blog - nectar and stone. Glad to have found you. Great site.
Donna
Marina McHutchison says
Ha ha - I just found your blog - love the posts.
You've either been voted in or left free and easy from your Kinder meeting.
For the next round might I suggest sitting on your hands and popping in 2 or 3 minties into your mouth - works every time!
cookerandalooker says
Minties? Genius! Thanks for popping over Marina.
Rita Azar says
Happy very belated Birthday! I hope you had a great day. I love baba ghanoush. So simple to make and so delicious! What a great present you received!
Valmai Sellers says
You make me laugh Amanda. have a special birthday.xx