It's one of those days. You know the ones that just wander along at their own speed and despite the determined plans you started the day with, nothing is achieved. The washing is half-done, the paperwork at the office is half-done, the kids homework is slightly supervised, the wardrobe is only half-cleaned out. Well there is really only one thing to do on this kind of a day, tuck in the children and retire to bed with a glass of wine, a handful of chocolate buttons and a book.
Monday, 11 August 2014
Saturday, 9 August 2014
white chocolate cake
It's been a beautiful winter's day here. The sun shone all day and it was almost warm. I took the kids and the dog to the beach and they are just nicely exhausted.
It felt like a baking day to me. I wanted to make something new and so turned to my current crop of library books. The Birthday Cake Book by Fiona Cairns had a nice looking recipe for a blackberry, lavender rose, and white chocolate cake for which I had almost all the ingredients except for the blackberries -coz it's winter, and the lavendar-rose water- coz who actually has that kind of stuff? So really I just made a white chocolate cake.
The recipe is straight forward, but a little more time consuming than I usually have time for ( god bless lazy Saturday afternoons).
This recipe makes two 20cm cakes which are joined together with blackcurrent compote , or in my case jam, then the whole is smothered in white chocolate ganache.
Chocolate ganache and I are not friends. I usually swap it out for another icing, but I felt a determination burning within to finally master this runny topping...I didn't succeed. Grrrrrr.
Still I managed a somewhat thickened icing that didn't immediately run off the cake to lie in puddles on the serving plate. I think I'll have to stick with butter cream frosting.
The cake itself was lovely and really tasted white chocolatey. It was almost crisp on a the outside with a dryer ( but still soft) crumb inside.
This is my version of the recipe.
180g butter ( I used salted...yes be horrified)
200g white chocolate buttons (the original recipe called for white Swiss chocolate, but I'm not that flash so buttons it was).
200ml whole milk
280g self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
250g fine sugar (castor sugar)
3 eggs lightly beaten
1tsp vanilla extract
Heat the butter, milk, and chocolate together in a saucepan. Leave to cool a little.
Sift the flour and baking powder together into a large bowl. Add the sugar, then the eggs and mix. Once combined, add the chocolate mixture and the vanilla. Mix together and pour between to 20cm round cake tins ( I greased the sides and lined the bottom).
Bake for 35-45 minutes. When you think they are baked through. Check by inserting a skewer or a knife into the centre, if it comes out clean, the cake is done. Don't use the spring back method, when you gently press your finger into the centre of the cake and if it springs back it's done, because the outer is crispier than a regular cake, you end up cracking the shell instead.
This is the finished cake. I tried to deflect from the ganache disaster by making it pink and adding some cherries and coconut.
It really does need the fruit jam in between the layers it adds a little tart to the sweetness.
It felt like a baking day to me. I wanted to make something new and so turned to my current crop of library books. The Birthday Cake Book by Fiona Cairns had a nice looking recipe for a blackberry, lavender rose, and white chocolate cake for which I had almost all the ingredients except for the blackberries -coz it's winter, and the lavendar-rose water- coz who actually has that kind of stuff? So really I just made a white chocolate cake.
The recipe is straight forward, but a little more time consuming than I usually have time for ( god bless lazy Saturday afternoons).
This recipe makes two 20cm cakes which are joined together with blackcurrent compote , or in my case jam, then the whole is smothered in white chocolate ganache.
Chocolate ganache and I are not friends. I usually swap it out for another icing, but I felt a determination burning within to finally master this runny topping...I didn't succeed. Grrrrrr.
Still I managed a somewhat thickened icing that didn't immediately run off the cake to lie in puddles on the serving plate. I think I'll have to stick with butter cream frosting.
The cake itself was lovely and really tasted white chocolatey. It was almost crisp on a the outside with a dryer ( but still soft) crumb inside.
This is my version of the recipe.
180g butter ( I used salted...yes be horrified)
200g white chocolate buttons (the original recipe called for white Swiss chocolate, but I'm not that flash so buttons it was).
200ml whole milk
280g self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
250g fine sugar (castor sugar)
3 eggs lightly beaten
1tsp vanilla extract
Heat the butter, milk, and chocolate together in a saucepan. Leave to cool a little.
Sift the flour and baking powder together into a large bowl. Add the sugar, then the eggs and mix. Once combined, add the chocolate mixture and the vanilla. Mix together and pour between to 20cm round cake tins ( I greased the sides and lined the bottom).
Bake for 35-45 minutes. When you think they are baked through. Check by inserting a skewer or a knife into the centre, if it comes out clean, the cake is done. Don't use the spring back method, when you gently press your finger into the centre of the cake and if it springs back it's done, because the outer is crispier than a regular cake, you end up cracking the shell instead.
This is the finished cake. I tried to deflect from the ganache disaster by making it pink and adding some cherries and coconut.
It really does need the fruit jam in between the layers it adds a little tart to the sweetness.
Friday, 8 August 2014
Spain
I'm going to Spain. Woohoo. I am beyond excited. I love to travel, I'll pretty much go anywhere that involves a passport. But Spain is so exotic. The history, the architecture, the food, the sangria, oh my!
The countdown is on, only 45 sleeps to go...
Wednesday, 6 August 2014
A sunflower purse
I've finished my first embroidery project. It uses two stitches, chain-stitch and colonial knots. The design was sketched straight onto the fabric and three colours were used, yellow for the sunflower petals, then two shades of dark green for the centre. It is an ideal first project, easy but with the satisfaction of finishing something that doesn't take four months!
I've started my next project, a small pillow decorated with nine felt circles overstitched with decorative bright DMC stranded thread.
This design gives room to incorporate as many different stitches as you want to. A great way to practice all my new learning.
While I'm on a crafty subject. I went to a wool shop in Milford a couple of days ago. It's called Crafty Knitwits in Kitchener road. If you've ever thought about launching your creative spirit this would be the place to do it. No-one could leave this place without a little something to be going on with. Plus inside is a quaintly stylish café with great food served on mismatched china with linen napkins. Just georgous. They have knitting and crochet classes for the uninitiated too.
Feel free to leave a comment about any other really great crafting places you've come across.
I've started my next project, a small pillow decorated with nine felt circles overstitched with decorative bright DMC stranded thread.
This design gives room to incorporate as many different stitches as you want to. A great way to practice all my new learning.
While I'm on a crafty subject. I went to a wool shop in Milford a couple of days ago. It's called Crafty Knitwits in Kitchener road. If you've ever thought about launching your creative spirit this would be the place to do it. No-one could leave this place without a little something to be going on with. Plus inside is a quaintly stylish café with great food served on mismatched china with linen napkins. Just georgous. They have knitting and crochet classes for the uninitiated too.
Feel free to leave a comment about any other really great crafting places you've come across.
Monday, 4 August 2014
Miss B
For some reason, after the success of clearing out Miss A's room, I envisioned a similar experience in Miss B's space. But that would just be too easy wouldn't it?
Miss B is known in the family as our little rat baby. Not because she has a love of cheese either. No, Miss B likes to gather her possessions around her and burrow down into the mess. She has inherited her father's hoarder gene, and loathes throwing out or passing on anything.
So it was fairly foolish to take on her room while she was still in the house. She has an answer and a plan for everything in her room.
It goes a bit like this,
"B, why do you have a draw full of empty toilet rolls?"
"No mum don't throw those out, I need them"
"B, why is there a pile of rocks in the corner here?"
"Mum, leave them there, I need those rocks"
"B, this doesn't fit you anymore"
"No mum no, that's my most favourite dress in the whole world!"
and on it went.
Every move I made was countered. Every item I removed from her room made its way back in. A few hours in it became clear that I was wasting my time and energy.
I'll need a different plan to deal with Miss B's room. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment.
Meanwhile, I arrived at work today to this stunning view. It's not a bad view is it?
Miss B is known in the family as our little rat baby. Not because she has a love of cheese either. No, Miss B likes to gather her possessions around her and burrow down into the mess. She has inherited her father's hoarder gene, and loathes throwing out or passing on anything.
So it was fairly foolish to take on her room while she was still in the house. She has an answer and a plan for everything in her room.
It goes a bit like this,
"B, why do you have a draw full of empty toilet rolls?"
"No mum don't throw those out, I need them"
"B, why is there a pile of rocks in the corner here?"
"Mum, leave them there, I need those rocks"
"B, this doesn't fit you anymore"
"No mum no, that's my most favourite dress in the whole world!"
and on it went.
Every move I made was countered. Every item I removed from her room made its way back in. A few hours in it became clear that I was wasting my time and energy.
I'll need a different plan to deal with Miss B's room. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment.
Meanwhile, I arrived at work today to this stunning view. It's not a bad view is it?
Sunday, 3 August 2014
Regaining control
Have you ever noticed that after a bout of illness you become enthused to put the world in order? It's a need to regain control and show that you're back at the helm of life. So once I was feet-back-on-the-floor and upright, a continuation of the great cull seemed in order.
But where to start? For a real feeling of control this had to be something much bigger than the kitchen junk draw. The Bloke must have seen the fanatical light in my eye because he bolted and wasn't seen again until the evening.
What space really annoyed me? What room made me rush to shut the door when unexpected visitors arrived? What room broke most of the health and safety laws of this land? Of course, I thought eyeing Miss A sharply.
"There's no escape for you today", I whispered under my breath.
"Why are you staring at me Mum?" Said Miss A looking up from the T.V.
"No reason love", I replied. "But I do need your help with a little job"...
Ten hours of hard labour, several meltdowns (Miss A, not me), and three trips to the Red Cross charity shop later, I feel completely back in control!
Before...
And the after...
Now all I need is a wardrobe surround and a door!
But where to start? For a real feeling of control this had to be something much bigger than the kitchen junk draw. The Bloke must have seen the fanatical light in my eye because he bolted and wasn't seen again until the evening.
What space really annoyed me? What room made me rush to shut the door when unexpected visitors arrived? What room broke most of the health and safety laws of this land? Of course, I thought eyeing Miss A sharply.
"There's no escape for you today", I whispered under my breath.
"Why are you staring at me Mum?" Said Miss A looking up from the T.V.
"No reason love", I replied. "But I do need your help with a little job"...
Ten hours of hard labour, several meltdowns (Miss A, not me), and three trips to the Red Cross charity shop later, I feel completely back in control!
Before...
And the after...
Now all I need is a wardrobe surround and a door!
Friday, 1 August 2014
A few of my favorite things
While you're at home not doing terribly much, you start to look at things more closely. I think the pressure of time is directly related to the volume of things that need to be done in that time. Once the volume dwindles (like when you're on holiday or sick) the expanse of time grows proportionately. That's when you find yourself noticing things more than you might have for some time.
As I looked around today I noticed some of the items I really like, here are a few of them.
My Grandmother's teacup set.
I love this little set. I love the tiny roses and leaves. I love that the pattern covers the inside of the cup so as you bring it to your lips for a sip, you still see the floral design. I love the delicate feel of the cup and saucer. Most of all, I love that my lips touch the same place my grandmothers lips touched, as if sending me a kiss across all the years. She died before I was born, so we have never met, but I think of her every time I have my tea.
Miss A's artistic endeavours.
A bowl full of lemons
What is not to love about a bowl of lemons? They smell divine. They look gorgeous but simple. You can grab one and throw is in the dinner, grate one into dessert, or squeeze one with some honey and hot water to soothe a sore throat.
The lovely wooden bowl is one of the forgotten treasures I found when clearing out the storage shed. A good wash and a few coats of food-grade oil later and it's perfect.
It's also the name of a great blog about organising and decorating your home. Read it at a bowl full of lemons.
Evil Child drinking chocolate
Despite the ominous name this chocolate drink is heavenly. The canister is retro pink and just too cool to be put away in the cupboard. It's gluten free and pretty environmentally friendly too... maybe not so evil after all?
As I looked around today I noticed some of the items I really like, here are a few of them.
My Grandmother's teacup set.
I love this little set. I love the tiny roses and leaves. I love that the pattern covers the inside of the cup so as you bring it to your lips for a sip, you still see the floral design. I love the delicate feel of the cup and saucer. Most of all, I love that my lips touch the same place my grandmothers lips touched, as if sending me a kiss across all the years. She died before I was born, so we have never met, but I think of her every time I have my tea.
Miss A's artistic endeavours.
Miss A's art is all over the house. These sunflowers are one of my favourites.Happy colourful
bright blooms.
What is not to love about a bowl of lemons? They smell divine. They look gorgeous but simple. You can grab one and throw is in the dinner, grate one into dessert, or squeeze one with some honey and hot water to soothe a sore throat.
The lovely wooden bowl is one of the forgotten treasures I found when clearing out the storage shed. A good wash and a few coats of food-grade oil later and it's perfect.
It's also the name of a great blog about organising and decorating your home. Read it at a bowl full of lemons.
Evil Child drinking chocolate
Despite the ominous name this chocolate drink is heavenly. The canister is retro pink and just too cool to be put away in the cupboard. It's gluten free and pretty environmentally friendly too... maybe not so evil after all?
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