The drama continued

Further to my post old post about a bad day
http://mychampagnedreams.blogspot.com/2007/01/you-know-its-going-to-be-bad-day-when.html

From the 2nd of January when i first called the bank,it took until the 16th January to receive both the new card and pin.
I rang the bank after 1 week of waiting with nothing to be told that my card was stopped but not reissued,i was livid,there was obviously nothing i could do besides wait,i thought about writing a letter of complaint but i never do in the end,i can't be bothered giving them more of my time.

Lamingtons

We can always find a reason for celebration at work and Australia Day was no different but this time there were no drinks catered for by work. And since everyone at work knows me as the baker and they've loved everything else i've baked for them,there were requests for home made lamingtons to celebrate.
I already had a recipe but wasn't so keen at first as i knew it would be a long process.On Wednesday morning i woke up early and baked the sponge cake,let it cool while i was at work nd cut it up in squared at night after work.Then i made the chocolate coating using 500g(yes,the whole packet) of icing sugar with cocoa.Then using 2 forks i dipped the sponge in the chocolate mixture,let the excess chocolate drip off then rolled it in dessicated coconut.
I left them to set in an air tight container overnight and when i work up the next morning,i saw my nephew starting to open the container but luckily i got them back which he wasn't too happy about.as soon as i opened the container at work,the coconut scent hit you and they smelled so good,tasted even better and plenty of people went back for seconds and even thirds,even i was impressed by my effort.
Now what to make for next week?


Makes 15
110g (1.5 cups)caster sugar
3 eggs,at room temp
2 teaspoons butter,softened
100g (2/3 cup) self raising flour
2 tablespoons cornflour
500g (3 1/2 cups) pure icing sugar
50g (1/2 cup) cocoa powder
170g (2cups) desiccated coconut

Preheat oven to 180degrees Celsius.Grease a 16cm *26cm cake tin and line the base and long sides with a piece of non-stick baking paper,allowing it to overhang the sides.

Use an electric beater with a whisk attachment to whisk the sugar and eggs for 5 minutes or until very thick and pale, and a ribbon forms when the beaters are lifted.

Combine the butter with 1 tablespoon boiling water and stir until it melts.Sift together the self raising flour and cornflour over the egg mixture. Pour the butter mixture down the side of the bowl. use a large metal spoon or spatula to fold until the mixture is just combined. Pour into prepared tin and gently smooth the surface. bake in preheated oven for 12 minutes or until the cake is just cooked(the top will spring back when touched and the cake will come away from the sides of the tin).Cool the cake in the tin.

Remove the cake from the tin and cut into 15 pieces.Sift together the icing sugar and cocoa powder into a heatproof bowl.Add 150ml boiling water and stir until smooth.

Spread the coconut over a tray,Use 2 forks to briefly dip a piece of cake into the icing to coat.Allow the excess to drip off.Roll in coconut to coat,then place on a wire rack.repeat to coat all the pieces of cake.Set aside for 1 hour or until the icing is set before serving.


*Although it says 500g comes to 3.5 cups,it does not,so i would see how much is in per packet and estimate 500g,i was lucky that i had a 500g box so just put all of it in.
*It is a good idea to make the cake mixture a few hours before or even the day before.

Happy Australia Day

We've had some very patriotic people at work this week and even if the Big Day Out organisers didn't want to see any,everywhere else in Australia,people put them up with pride.It's weird thinking that 10 years ago one of the hot topics in Australia was trying to change the Australian flags,i quite like the good old Aussie flag,probably because of all the controversy around it this past year with some idiots burning the flag.
I spent Australia day like a true Aussie,slept in and moved from my bed over to the lounge and then back to bed,a very quiet day,was meant to go away but was struck with a virus so had to stay put while the others enjoy the sun and beach down the coast.

I found it!

The dress to wear to a friend's wedding in April.
I wasn't going to start looking until about March but i found this dress and knew it would be perfect,it's hard finding things i like at the moment and i didn't want to be stuck with only autumn/winter clothing available in stores if i left it until the last minute,and the wedding's at Brampton so will still be quite warm.And it was on sale at a very good price for Saba.You can see the square neckline in the pic and i love the shape of the sleeves,it comes in at the waist and then slightly flares from the waste down,and it even has hidden pockets.I'm hoping to buy a silver pearl multi strand necklace from Jan Logan and simple black open toed sling back heels.

Hot,Hot,Hot

That's the only way to describe the past weekend,up to an unbearable 38 degrees Celsius,i decided to stay indoors most of the weekend in air conditioning and only left home to attend a cocktail party at my friend's place in Potts Point with an amazing view,every time you visit you just really want to be able to live so close to the city and wake up to that view.
I don't think enough lights were on in the city and my camera couldn't pick up the lights of the harbour bridge,and i thought i had taken more photos that night but i think i was using other people's most of the time,great,so i helped everyone else with theirs but neglected my camera.
Today was a little cooler but the trains were a nightmare this afternoon and it took me over an hour more to get home.It;s still Shittyrail.

Champagne and Sex and the City

I took Friday off and originally had plans to go out and also see a movie,as Friday morning arrived i just couldn't be bothered and spent most of the day in my pajamas relaxing online,cleaning,reading and watched my SATC dvds, I'm up to the 4th season,I've been watching them all again from the beginning and it was lovely lying down with a glass or two of champagne while watching.

Quail

Officially the hardest food i've tried to eat,so many bones,such a shame as it tastes great,picked some up from AC Butchery marinated in garlic and herbs.

iittala

Above:Aino Aalto Tumblers
Above:teema mug,turquoise is on top right corner

I love this brand,simple designs and beautiful colours.
This week i bought turquoise teema mugs,this week i have a set of Aino Aalto tumblers in light blue arriving from homecouture.com.au

I love...

Walking past the Hermes store on my way to work each day,a girl can dream and it adds a bit of glamour to an otherwise boring day at work.They used to always update their windows when they first moved in,hopefully they start again soon.

Already?

I only ordered from Signature Prints on Sunday and i've received my package today,great news considering the website said up to 2 weeks.
Only problem is that they wrote Do Not Bend on the a4 envelope and the postman rolled up the envelope.Aaargh,Not happy Jan!
The wallpaper samples have a sticker on one corner and i've just spent the past hour unpeeling them while watching Sex and the City,they have left a mark but hopefully won't be too noticeable.

I love Strawberrynet

Image courtesy of Strawberrynet.com

Discounted makeup and cosmetics,free postage,and dispatched half an hour after i ordered,love,love,love it.

I recently discovered that Signature Prints who produce Florence Broadhurst prints will send you an A4 sized sample of each print available for $4 each,i went on a bit of a spree yesterday and easily spent over $50,don't quite know what i'll do with them yet but it was a great chance to get a bit of everything,especially since a roll sells for over $300.
I may select my favourite print and order more to place in large frames and decorate my room.

I'm sorry,i can't,don't hate me

You may remember these words from Burger to Carrie in Sex and the City that he used on the post it to break up with her.These are the words i kept hearing on my trip to Ikea on the weekend.I've heard many people sing its praises around the world,good design at affordable prices.
It all looked great upstairs in the display area,intimate rooms created to set the mood and get you excited,then as i entered the isles where you collect things it all looked so unappealing,then the market floor where things are dumped in boxes and you see hundreds of the same item repeated and think,how many people around the world have the same thing, I'd rather find something more original and something that hasn't come of the production line of thousands or millions.
But i did also get to see an example of my dream kitchen,white and simple with wood bench tops and white cupboards as seen below



I felt like i was just a number in a production line,especially when you get to the checkout and the assistants don't even speak to you,just try to get rid of you.
I've realised i'm the type of shopper who needs to enjoy the experience and not have to do everything myself,some might say you pay extra for the convenience,but hey,that's just me,anyway who has time to waste a whole weekend building furniture

Summer spaghettini

Pasta boiling
The finished product

Making the sauce

The original recipe is for Summertime Tagliarini from Jamie Oliver's latest cookbook Cook With Jamie, but as i had none in the cupboard i opted for spaghettini.
Basically you cook the pasta and add a sauce made from pine nuts,lemon juice and zest,parmesan and pecorino cheese and olive oil.Even though i added more cheese than was required it was still too sour for me and i only hd a few bites before giving it to the bin.Oh well you lean from your failures.

My Summer Breakast

A few blobs of plain yoghurt,drop some fresh blueberries in,and there you go,instant yum,healthy and full of antioxidants.Blueberries aren't in season for long so it's time to use them as much as you can while they're cheap.

Finally

I didn't want January to pass without having completed the first month in my calendar.
I've started with blue for january,the colour of summer for me,blue skies and blue oceans and i just love it.There's green mixed in there as well,i think those 2 colours look great together.
And the blue Dibbern teapot is on my wishlist right now,i love it.

Just walk on by

I definately couldn't walk on by yesterday morning as i walked past a flower merchant on my way in to work.There they were,a gorgeous pink bunch of roses.I don't buy myself flowers very often but like to splurge on a bunch occasionally.They were a great treat as well to an otherwise busy,stressful day.

Resolutions

Of course i had to make a list,it's a pretty big one but there are so many things i need to do.
I need to note them down otherwise i always forget,and it just seems more concrete once it's published,more incentive to stick to these.

ExerciseI need to start again,i've become lazy.I don't need to be able to get into a bikini but i do have an island holiday in April and need to look better in my swimmers,and i do need to get rid of the weight i've gained.

Computer training
I need to find some courses that aren't too expensive but reputable to give me more qualifications which will hopefully mean better salary.

Save
I was doing so well last year but i lost track in the second half of the year,too many celebrations,i started splurging again,need to cut down again,and with saving i need it to travel and buy a place later this year.

Read more books

I have plenty top read as i bought loads before Christmas and have rediscovered my local library.I've been very slack with reading since i left school.

1 new recipe per week
I love cooking something new.I'd say i'm an ok cook,no expert.So far i have kept this up for this year,i'm just lazy and don't have enough time to write them on the website,i'll try and start posting them and try to remember to take photos while cooking.

Expand Wine knowledge

I've subscribed to the Wine for Newbies podcast,it's simple and easy to understand,i'd like to learn about other regions and try their wines as well.More drinking,yes i can do that.

Driving
Start lessons again,i feel like i'm 15 when people ask me if i can drive.

Start new hobby
I've never been very artistic in the past and wasn't interested in crafts beyond primary school,i'd like to learn how to knit to make gorgeous scarves and just learn the basics of sewing from my mother.

Expand social circle
Too many friends are in coupledom and i just need to meet new single people.

Currently Reading

My Mother's Wedding Dress by Patricia Picardie

My Weekend

Included...
Sleeping in,dusting,passport application,groceries,Marie Antoinette the movie,browsing bookstore,podcasts,The View,my favourite coffee,Walnut,gorgonzola and baby spinach salad,new Ren exfoliator,Korres shampoo and guava body butter,getting stuck in the rain,Beautiful French discounted bed linen at David Jones,chicken,mayo,chives and parsley sandwiches,passion fruit biscuits,Scottish white chocolate.

Inspiration

I bought one of these do it yourself calendars from Kikki-K,January is already here and i haven't added anything.I had a look at my magazine clippings i've saved and it looks like i've thrown away alot as i couldn't find many that i thought i still had,cut a few things from recent magazines,i've decided January will be about the colour blue,i'm loving it at the moment,must be because of summer.Found a picture in the latest Vogue Living of a new florist in Melbourne which has a blue interior and the picture has lots of beautiful flowers.Today i received the latest Australian Vogue as well so i may find something beautiful in there as well.

You know it's going to be a bad day when...

As soon as i walked out yesterday morning i knew it would be a bad day.
I hadn't even left home when water from the rain began entering my shoe,great, i thought my feet are going to feel icky all day.
Later on the way to work the atm decided to keep my card and not spit it back,even though somebody had just used it before me and it looked ok.Rang the bank to have it stopped and reissued and was so frustrated by the girl on the line,so i had no cash and no debit card,i thought i could go back home because there's no use going to work if i have no cash,then a very generous passer by offered me $20,i told him i couldn't take it and felt bad,he insisted and said he wouldn't be standing there offering if he didn't mean it,i took it so grateful for his help and even hugged him,strange,then as i walked on i thought, i should get his bank details to transfer the money to him but he was gone.
Si i've been putting everything on my credit card in the meantime and even have about $5 left from yesterday's $20,haven't had the chance to go to the bank,might ask my brother for money,a very generous workmate offered to lend me some as well.there really are some kind people in this world.

Friands are my friends

I had nothing to do last night and some blueberries i needed to use and was dying to make these friands i found at Milk and Cookies
http://ilovemilkandcookies.blogspot.com/2006/12/where-its-at.html
I used pudding moulds and only made about half as i don't need so many,they are so tasty which will help me get through work this week,i'll just need to make sure i don't let co workers see them.