Reds and oranges

Yesterday I participated in the Run for the Kids (see sidebar) and what an exciting event it was! So many people were wearing red event tshirts! It was such a wonderful day. So many people out there supporting the Royal Children's Hospital and the terrific work that they do. It was just amazing to run with so many people around me! ~27,000 other people in fact! They raised AU$750,000 for the hospital.


And then afterwards I popped by the Oakleigh Market and found a chili plant for only $4! What a bargain. Gib has been totally hooked on chilis of late so this was a great find. A fig tree was also purchased at the same time, so hopefully I will have some delicious fresh figs to eat soon enough! I'm not really sure where I'm going to plant that one though...

I have new red shoes! They're kind of clog like, kind of elf shoe like, and a little bit Wizard of Oz. I love them to bits. They're just so cute! I got them from this place in Glen Waverley called "On a shoestring". I love their shoes - so many interesting designs that you don't see anywhere else... and they're cheap (hence the name).

I picked up this little padded orange thingy for the kitchen in an op shop. I don't actually know what you do with it because it isn't heat resistant and it's quite small but it's cute as!

And finally I have made a very small start on my doona cover that I'm going to make out of the fabrics I picked up from the vintage Japanese fabric warehouse. I just like looking at the colours, really. Reds, oranges, yellows and green. I think I need some indigo in there too. I'll pick that up on my next trip there!

Chocolate and banana loaf

Gib's mum made this tonight. YUMMO!

250 g plain flour
20 g cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
120 g butter, softened
130 g raw sugar
2 large eggs
2 very large bananas (~500 g), mashed
60 g shredded coconut
80 g dark choc chips

Preheat oven to 175 C, fan forced
Sift combined flour, cocoa and baking powder.
Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time, making sure each egg is combined before adding the next. Mix in banana.
Fold in flour, then coconut and chocolate chips. Mix until well combined.
Grease a loaf pan (22 x 12 cm) and line the base with baking paper. Spoon mix into the pan.
Bake for 60-65 mins or until the insides are cooked.

Oh gosh...

It's been over a week since my last entry... oopsies! I had intended to post an entry about baking hot cross buns but they were quite a failure and not really worth mentioning...

I've been hanging out over in Adelaide with Gib's relatives. We were staying with his grandmother who is an absolute champ. I want to be as fit and cool as her when I am a grandmother!! She also had a pair of adorable oven mitts that fit my tiny little hands perfectly! And what's more, they had a gorgeous owl print on the outer layer of fabric. So I took a trace and will have a go at making it this weekend. Will let you know how that goes.

Taste Sensation: Fresh Pie

So Gib and I were in the supermarket and we saw this: Fresh Pie. It looked neither fresh nor pie-like and so this was to be our next Taste Sensation. The whole packaging just screamed Taste Sensation!


The outside of the "pie" kind of like foam rubber with a thin plastic coating. Not appealing to me so far and definitely not "fresh" at all. But upon eating the texture was far better than I anticipated! Quite light and fluffy and not entirely foam tasting, it blended well with the mock cream with raspberrry/strawberry conserve. But even Gib, who regularly scoffs down vast quantities of highly processed foods, struggled with the sweetness of these little things. I cannot impart upon you just how incredibly sweet these were. But, as promised, you could actually taste the strawberry and raspberry combination. I think during those times of extreme sugar cravings, these are a definite "yes" to buy again. This was a Taste Sensation success!

Pickled onions!

I made these at Christmas time and have just opened them, and I have to say, they taste delicious. It's all about that bright red chili you can see there and the honey used in the pickling mixture. The weather has been so damn hot that I haven't really bothered to do anything other than eat pickled onions and drink beer -- gosh, I sound like such a bogan. I saw some pickling onions on special for $1.50 for 2kg (only at Oakleigh market) and I'm inspired to make more. Hmm, I should post the recipe for these so I don't have to keep going through the random pile of recipes that I have written out on scraps of paper to find it. I have tried many pickled onion recipes, but this one delivers consistently fantastic results for me.

A goat from the hills

My friend, Kat, who I gave that kitsch 70's picture to (she adored it), picked me up Saturday morning for a drive to the hills, about 30 mins east of Melbourne. There's a puppet shop on the main street of Sassafrass, called Geppetto's Workshop. I always loved puppets as a kid - there was always something magical about them. Even if I saw the hand go into the puppet, my mind didn't really want to believe that that puppet hadn't just become real on its own! I do have a decent puppet collection of my own now, mostly consisting of bugs and creepy crawlie puppets, but when I saw this guy, how could I resist?


He's just adorable and is currently sitting next to me watching TV. But my new goat friend needs a name.

The company that makes these beautiful puppets is Folkmanis. I'm constantly amazed at the intricies and precise anatomical details they put into their puppets. They have just SO MANY puppets you can choose from - if you can think of an animal (real or mythical!), Folkmanis have made it. They're such beautiful, high quality puppets, and given their standard, the prices aren't outrageous either.

Hippo - complete!

So I'm a bit delayed in typing this up. I've been in the process of moving back to our bungalow and haven't really had my computer set up. It's been a slow process getting set up again. Really our bungalow is a shed. A nice, insulated, carpeted room, with a lovely window and pateo area... but still it's a shed nonetheless. And it's been 30-40ºC outside pretty well all week. Not really weather for getting a shed organised.

But anyway, here will be a week's worth of catching up.

I did in fact finish the hippo. I finished him Saturday morning and I have to say I was quite pleased with the result. I reckon the total amount of time to make him, from start to finish, would have been the equivalent of a weekend (and that's including the time I took to stand around and just stare at the pattern pieces, wondering how I'd ever get it finished). I can say in retrospect it really wasn't worth my worrying. It turned out to be quite a simple project to do. The only hassle was the size and bulk of the project, but I had a big table to work on so it wasn't too bad.

Procrastination

I'm starting my PhD next week and wont have as much time on my hands, so today is my final day of freedom. I'm about to head over to the post office to pick up the paperwork for a new passport. I hope to attend many conferences during my PhD and also do some non-PhD related training overseas in Japan. It's a hassle getting a passport done, and I've been procrastinating about it for some time, but today is the day I'm going to get it sorted!

But the REAL reason why I'm getting my passport sorted is because I'm actually procrastinating about finishing this damn hippopotamus. It's really not that hard, but all of the bits are really getting to me. I've nearly done all of the applique and I'm now down to "putting it together". So I'm now up to the bit that requires working with 4 layers of batting and that isn't so fun. The baby is due today and that alone should be motivating me to get it finished. There's all the stress over "what if she doesn't like it?" "what if it ends up looking really dodgy?" "what if... err... I don't know...". I'm relying on the baby being late.

I don't think I want to give him his ears just yet... he'll hear all of my cursing!

I'm also sorting out my fat quaters and scraps at the moment (see? I'd rather organise fabric than sew this hippo) and found some cute little Japanese dinosaur and robot fabric that I'll turn into some little shoes for another friend's baby. So while I'm getting my passport paperwork I'll try to find some suede or leather too.

I'm thinking that even by typing this post, I'm procrastinating about all of the tasks above... I'm at the end of my post now. Better get cracking!

Vintage Japanese fabrics

I spent yesterday hanging out with my mother in Richmond. Specifically, we went to Ziguzagu, a direct-to-the-public warehouse that sells Japanese vintage fabrics, kimonos and Japanese antiques. We spent absolutely ages in there! It was so hard deciding what to buy - there was so much beautiful stuff there. It was all excellently priced too and the scrap bins had a lot to offer. The best part for me was I discovered they give 15% student discounts on fabric and kiminos! Apparently they're getting a massive shipment in and they told me it will be well worth my while coming back in 2 weeks. I don't need to be told twice!

I have decided with the fabrics that I bought that I will make a new doona cover.

What a weekend!

Sassy apron arrival!
My Sassy Apron arrived last Friday! I was absolutely delighted and it came at the best time for me as I did end up having to say goodbye to my little furry friend. I was so excited. Fiona, who created my apron, was kind enough to add some fat quarters in with the apron too! I love the apron: the fabric is so happy and the pocket is nice and deep. I only have a photo of the apron, but not what it looks like on yet. I need to find someone to take the photo! The pumpkin soup recipe she included was used for the remaining half of the pumpkin that my friend gave me the other day.

In the garden...
Saturday I introduced my mother to Kuranga Native Plant Nursery in York st, Mt Evelyn. We came home with about many plants, so Sunday afternoon was spent in the sunshine planting them. Most of the plants we bought are found along a nearby creek and nature reserve, so not only are they native to the area but should survive well in our garden:

Pomaderris prunifolia
Olearia glandulosa
Pomaderris aspera
Goodenia ovata
Bauera rubioides

Gib and my mother, with the Kuranga cafe in the background (they do they BEST coffee and food!)

Our garden is either sand or clay, and our front garden is in a lot of shade thanks to a rather large camphor laurel (a horrid weed in Australia, but my dad is quite attached to it). This one was kind of cute, coloquially known as "pussy tails", and it grows in Melbourne's western plains. I think I'll grow up in a pot. I love feeling the flowers... they're so furry! I'm really developing a thing for furry plants.

The Bauera rubioides grows dainty little pink flowers and is said to be quite a robust little plant, so that one will be planted in memory of Mobius.

Great op shop find!
On the way to Kuranga Nursery we found this great little op shop in Heathmont, of all places. I've just been introducing Gib to the joys of op shopping and after this expedition he is totally sold on them! I was astounded that I found a black tshirt that fitted me there. I'm 4'11" and can't ever find clothes in regular shops, but miraculously I have more luck in op shops. I also found this fantastic, horridly kitch picture which I know my friend Kat will adore! The colours are absolutely wonderful. I'm catching up with her on Saturday, but it's taking all my strength not to just blab to her about it now. I want to keep it as a surprise (because aren't surprises fun?!).

Pumpkins, hippos, new cameras and geriatric pets

Butternut pumpkin soup
The other day an old friend who I went to primary and high school with, but hadn't seen for quite some time, dropped by for a catch up and brought this! I was absolutely delighted! What a beautiful butternut pumpkin, fresh from her father's garden - it was almost a shame to cut it up. But I did, and turned it into a delicious roasted pumpkin soup. I roasted the pumpkin with onion and 2 cloves of garlic (not too much, because the garlic overpowers the delicate butternut flavour). Added a litre of stock, brought it to the boil and simmered for 15 mins. I blended it with a stab mixer until smooth and then ate it with toast. YUM!

Isn't this the most beautiful butternut?

Hippopotamus playmat
Gib and I have been a bit under the weather with a rotten cold, so the soup was delicious. Having a cold also means lots of inside activities, so it's forced my hand in making this hippopotamus playmat. She's due in <2 weeks (which means it'll come any time from now!), so I REALLY need to get my butt into gear. There are so many pieces! And they're either really big or really little pieces! I hope I get my fuzzy head around it. At least it's all cut out now.

My little furry friend
I was going to write a tutorial on how to make some winning rat toys, hammocks etc., but I don't think I can bring myself to do it now. I have a gertiatric pet rat, and I know pet rats aren't everyone's thing, but this one really is a dear. Even my mother, who was petrified of rats, completely went mushy over her when she met her! She's so affectionate and sits on my shoulder for cuddles and she has the sweetest little face. But she is getting on - >3 years old! - and finally her left hind leg has stopped working. She's usually an active, excitable rat, but ever since her hind leg stopped working altogether yesterday, she's gone downhill very quickly. So while I sew, she's snuggled on a little towel, and it means I can keep an eye on her progress. We'll see how she goes over the weekend, but like everyone, I hate having to make 'the decision' on old animals.

New camera today!!!

In more positive news, I pick up my new digital camera today! So no blue-tinged, poor resolution photos from my phone again.

Bulgarian red pepper soup

Sorry I don't have a photo, but Meet me at Mikes had a post about posting your favourite soup recipe! I guess this half way between a soup and stew... a soup with chunks. It's out of a book called 'Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant'. It's one of my all time favourites.

1/2 cup dried lentils
1/2 cup dried navy beans
2 large brown onions, diced
2 medium sized red capsicums, diced
400 g tin tomatoes or fresh tomatoes
3 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried marjoram
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
S&P to taste
3 cups vegetable stock
2 tbsp dry sherry
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup sour cream

Soak the beans and lentils, preferably overnight.
In a dutch oven, saute the onions until clear. Stir in capsicums and saute for about 5 mins. Add tomatoes, herbs, s&p and leave for a minute or two before adding the stock, wine and sherry. Add the beans and lentils. Bring to the boil and reduce the temperature, let simmer on low heat for the next 1.5 hours. Stir in tomato paste, leave for a bit longer. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and some fresh parsley if you have it on standby.

My favourite 15 minute meal: Home made pizza

When I'm feeling lazy after a big training session or on a Saturday night when I want to veg out and not think, I make these. To me a pizza is best with a thin crust and not so totally covered with cheese that you can't identify whatever else is on the pizza.

Today's pizza features:
- Pita bread
- Tomato paste with a mexican blend of spices, just for something different
- Mushrooms
- Spinach
- Tomato
- Spanish onion
- Fresh cut pumpkin, thinly sliced (I usually microwave the pumpkin for a minute in the microwave to give it a head start)
- Cheese (low fat, cos low fat tasty is so tasteless it's almost like mozarella anyway!)

Bake in oven, 200C for 12-15 mins.

Before

After -- ohhh doncha just wish you had dinner at my place last night?

Any leftover pitas (why on earth do they sell them in packs of 5?) are chopped up and popped in the oven for 5 mins to make pita chips. And then, if I'm still feeling lazy Sunday night, I can turn them into pita nachos!

Watermelon sorbet

As a "healthier" dessert I decided to try my hand at making sorbet. This recipe is adapted from this recipe, but I found I prefer to use honey because it gives a more interesting flavour, and lemon gav I don't have an ice cream machine or anything like that, but I do have an 800 watt ice crushing stab mixer and that seemed to do the job just nicely.

• 500ml water
• 1/4 cup honey
  
• 3/4 cup caster sugar
• 2 tsp lemon juice
  
• 1.2kg seedless watermelon, rind removed, coarsely chopped
• 2 egg whites

1. Combine the water, honey and sugar in a medium saucepan and stir over low heat for 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high and bring to the boil. Boil for 5 minutes or until mixture thickens. Set aside for 30 minutes to cool. Add lemon juice and combine.
   
2. Meanwhile, place watermelon in a jug and blend with a stab mixer or blender until pureed. Strain puree through a fine sieve into a jug, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. The recipe said I should have about 600ml of watermelon juice, but I had about 800 ml. This didn't seem to affect the recipe.
   
3. Add sugar syrup to watermelon juice and stir until well combined. Pour into an airtight container, cover and place in the freezer for 4-5 hours or until almost set.
4. Roughly break up the sorbet with a metal spoon and use a stab mixer to blend to a smooth, soft texture.
5. Return sorbet to container and place in the freezer for a further 4 hours or until firm. Remove from the freezer and repeat step 4. Return sorbet to the container and place in the freezer for a further 4 hours or until firm.
6. Place the sorbet and egg whites in the bowl of a food processor and process until sorbet is pale and smooth. Return to the container and place in the freezer for a further 4 hours or until almost firm.
   

This keeps for up to a week. If you're not serving it on the day you make it, you'll probably have to give it a quick beat with a metal spoon before balling it up to serve.

Coconut creamed rice = absolute bliss

500 ml milk
400 ml coconut milk
1 cup short grain rice

Bring milk and coconut milk to almost boiling, add rice, reduce to low. Keep stirring until it's that delicious oh-so-creamy consistency and the rice is cooked through.

Serve with peaches or raspberries or whatever. Keep the left overs in the fridge.
I have found myself doing the whole "Oh, maybe I just need to pop by the kitchen for... errr.. what was I in the kitchen for? I don't remember but there's creamed rice. I'll just have a bit more..." or mysteriously walking past the fridge and winding up with a spoon in my hand and there being not-very-much creamed rice left...