Simple pleasures

There is a microwave oven in the house. For the first time since I was a teenager and living at home. It's on loan from the relocating MIL.

Jms and I don't know how we've survived this long without one.

I've regressed to my favourite after school snack. Rice cake + cheese + 10 seconds.

Mmmm. Melty polystyrene joy. Perfect while I catch up with the interwebs.

My only nod to personal culinary development is that at least it's Emmenthaler now rather than Kraft single.

Reminds me of some vases I've seen. Perhaps the Transglass vases by Tord Boontje? Or maybe I've just eaten too much cheese.

4 years in the baking

My husband thinks I'm a geek for making these biscuits. Like he can talk. Mr Magical Cardboards.

I've had these earmarked in my recipe folder since - well possibly Barcelona. The last time I actually watched the Olympics. Before I became "too cool" and uber intellectual for major sporting events and "national pride". To be Aussie equaled Ocker and thus the cultural cringe seeped into my everyday life.

Fortunately I eventually realised that being so exclusive cut you off from what was going on and the reality was that while you were busy poo-poohing something, you were actually missing out on all the fun.















Besides (appalling channel 7 coverage aside) it's rare to have such an abundance of "good news" on the TV. (Good meaning celebration of human sporting achievements not the glossing over of human rights abuses/pollution/poverty etc in China). If you step back and analyse the "news" you could reasonably assume that we, as a nation, seem to be thoroughly addicted to the trauma and appalling in this world. It is as though only the shocking can rouse our interest. That only the painful can be real. I vehemently disagree.

Happiness is NOT superficial.

It doesn't have to be all sunshine and lollipops, to quote the great (?) Leslie Gore. We just need a little more balance.

Perhaps some Very Silly biscuits.

Fiddly, silly biscuits at that.

With stupid amounts of artificial colouring.















Biscuits, that despite the fiddle and the inexplicably blotchy icing, were perfect and delicious. Worth doing again regardless of sporting events.

So, its almost over for another 4 years. We can go back to our regular programming. We can stop sooking about our position on the medal tally, the "they spend more than us" keeping up with the Jones' type behaviour and remember that we are actually, in the scheme of things, a very small nation. That our achievements are fabulous regardless of what happened last time or who did better this time. That participation is the reward not the precious metals. I'm sure the athletes would agree.

And that perhaps the Arts deserves a piece of the funding pie too.

Mmmm. Pie.






















Olympic Rings Biscuits
(recipe from Cadbury newsletter "A Taste of Chocolate" circa 1992)

125g, butter softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 cup grated dark chocolate
1 cup plain flour
1 cup S.R. flour

Icing sugar and food dye (use Cocoa for black)

Pre-heat oven to 160 degrees Celsius. Cream butter and sugar, add egg and vanilla and beat well. Then mix in chocolate and finally the (sifted) flours.

Mix will be quite tacky and crumbly. Form a ball with hands and either refrigerate before rolling out on a well floured surface or place between two sheets of baking paper.

Roll out to about 6mm thick. Refrigerate again till firm. Cut out circles using a large circle biscuit cutter. Then cut out centers with a smaller cutter (these can be cooked as small biscuits or added to dough to make more rings).

*I forgot till this step that I didn't actually own round cookie cutters so I used a well floured upturned Whisky glass and a narrow shot glass. These were fine and actually made really nice large biscuits*

Place rings on a lined baking tray. Cook for 12 - 15 minutes or until lightly golden brown at the edges.

When cold, ice with icing that has been coloured with blue, red, yellow and green food dye . Add cocoa to the icing mix and make as dark as possible for the black rings (tho' bear in mind it may not set rock hard if you add heaps as I discovered). You could just use melted dark chocolate instead.

Makes 20 large biscuits.

Marketeering Racket

These girls all went to market on Sunday. During the now obligatory last minute trip to Spotlight, I fell under the evil spell of their printed cotton fabric sale. So instead of 4 sets I potentially over committed and slated 7 in total.

















And yes I was sewing up till 10pm Saturday night (Jms was a champion "stuffer") but I finished them, every single one. As I cursed slightly wonky faces and unmatched side seams, Jms reminded me graciously that that is the whole point of being handmade.















And I think I finally get it (yes I'm a bit slow at times). Ordinarily I finish a project and think "meh". But this time I was really proud of the results.

Unfortunately due to the usual erratic Melbourne weather factor, there was a lower than expected turn out at the market. But I did sell a couple and they garnered lots of positive comments. As soon as they return from Jean-bean's house I will post photos of the remaining for anyone who is interested in giving them a home.

More Matryoshka

Can't say I didn't warn you.

Though rather than threesomes I'm trying to instill a bit more of the KISS principle (keep it simple stupid) in my life.

So pairs it is. I really liked doing the larger doll - and will do some more eventually (especially on request) but these guys have a deadline and trying to finish eight smaller softies seems a lot less arduous. Plus I'll have four finished sets rather than only two or three, which when trying to pad out a market stall is a very serious consideration.

"Oh pairs" was a name I trifled with initially, but I guess I've watched too many English TV shows where the aging Dad has run off with the nubile Nanny. So the "au pair" homewreaker connotation is far too strong in the face of a flimsy pun. These girls are far too cute to have to carry around such baggage.

So hopefully, if my arm holds out, these wee lassies will be joining my friend Jeanni who is having a crafty stall at the May Armstrong Childcare Centre's Childrens Market on this Sunday (17th August).

(mind the quick plug)

It is the Centre's main fundraising event of the year (I think entry is $3, kiddlies free) and there will be all sorts of entertainment, crafty bits, cakey bits and some pre-loved bargains - all for a good cause.

It's at Phoenix Park in Malvern East - a park with THE best kid's playground in Melbourne (but then what would I know, I'm just an adult). Well worth checking out anytime of year if you are in the area and have some rug rats of your own. In fact I'd be tempted to "borrow" some just for an excuse to visit. Do a good turn for some frazzled folks you know and steal their kids for the morning!

Starts 9am, with more info here.

Time for Tea (Cake)

Hankering for a little bit of something - with a scantily clad pantry - I actually made these up in 1/2 an hour from start to 'licking buttery fingertips' finish.

Dodgey-arm egg white whipping included!

Tea Cake (made as 12 Cupcakes/Friands)

1 cup S.R. Flour
1/2 cup castor sugar
30 gms butter
1/2 cup milk (room temperature)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg, separated

Extra butter
Cinnamon sugar

Beat the egg white till soft peaks form and whip in sugar, vanilla and yolk. Meanwhile melt the butter and add to milk. Mix in with egg mixture and then fold in flour gently.

Pour into greased cake tin (or cupcake pans) and bake at 180*C for 30 minutes or till cake tests clean (for cupcakes it should only take about 10 - 15 mins).

Brush cooked cake with more melted butter and sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar.

Note. I had a wee apple hanging about - which I peeled and chopped up (1 cm x 2 cm ish chunks) and placed a chunk in each pan before baking.

Oh so many shades of yum (practically begging to be eaten while still warm) with a nice cup o' cha!

Belles for Mirabel

Sheesh. Two weeks went by just like that (snaps fingers).

I was planning to deliver these folk to Mikes last week, but alas, my arm has deigned otherwise. And damn it, every time the sun came out, I found myself wandering off to the park with the dog.

I regret nothing.




















































I also did some chain stitch embroidery on the backs (poxy photo warning) to emulate the real thing. I think I want to play around with patterned fabrics next and I might even try making some with actual little headscarves ...

I can see these getting more and more elaborate if I get half the chance!

The Winterwood felt is divine to work with - definitely worth the trip across town. Next time I might just buy every colour they have in stock. Though that might be just a tad greedy.

(Group hug)

The days are getting brighter

I must apologise for the quality of posts lately. Its not that I don't like you - I've just been going through a bit of a blog fatigue patch. Add to that a bit of craft fatigue, cooking fatigue, work fatigue, injury fatigue and of course fatigue fatigue.

But I think it's on the cusp of breaking and when it does I think there will be a gush of new ideas and happenings around here.

The black cloud that threatened to settle in on my mind has been given its marching orders. Starting with a bit of pre-emptive spring cleaning and project completion around the house (plus a little dose of "Ikea Therapy"). If I'm going to be spending more time at home convalescing it might as well look nice and inspire positive thoughts.

So Bernard - the fish who claimed he was not long desitined for this world last Christmas, has new digs. He still "plays dead" just to keep me on my toes but at least I don't shudder everytime I look at the hideous pine stand his tank used to be on. The addition of a bright shiny piece of red furniture has truly transformed the feel of the room instantly.























Not the best photo I managed to take but the only one without a blur of dog with his new chew toy in the foreground.

I also got rid of my giant "hard rubbish" monitor (that used to sound like a WoMD everytime it turned on). The desk has been cleared and for the first time is not covered in random paperwork, giant dust bunnies and crap. Much more conducive to creative works. (Note. Charles Christopher wallpaper - more on that later)























Poor Europa though, has had to find alternative sleeping arrangments (and yes, he did try to climb on top - nearly cutting the new monitor and his own life drastically short). But I think the lack of radiation constantly frying his brain will do him some good in the long term. He has been acting a little strange since the new monitor has arrived. Maybe he's just coming down.

AND I finished my Mirabel sofie(s). But I'll post that later because otherwise I'll be here for hours fiddling with photos.

The final bit of news is that one of my best friends has just bought a beautiful house (today infact - at auction) that is only 20 minutes away. Which is MUCH better than nearly 1,000 kms away.