Here comes winter

It hasn't been too cold here yet but today on the last day of autumn we had the first taste of winter,a very cold morning.But happy i could finally take out my new trench coat, Yay!!
Sat in the sun with Lisa enjoying lunch near the fountain at Hyde Park.I'm finally regaining my appetite and have been able to enjoy other foods apart from just bread.
Have noticed i'm very tired at work due to lack of caffeine,will have to slowly introduce milk into my diet.

Out of action

This is where i've been spending most of my day,in bed recovering from a stomach virus the past few days,why does this always happen to me,argh,feeling very blah and not getting up to much except reading and watching tv.I know that my pillows don't match everything else but i'm too sick to care.
On the weekend i completed my first ever Ikea creation,i know i wrote earlier how much i hated the place but once i'm finished with it it won't look like it came from there.I'm planning on painting it and then adding some peacock feather patterned paper either just at the front or allover.I thought it would be difficult to construct but after building the exterior i didn't have to follow the instructions and it was quite therapeutic banging away with a hammer.



Sunday i had a very frustrating afternoon trying to cook and i had lost my cooking mojo,started making polenta and it just started sticking onto the bottom of the pan and since the instructions said to leave it on for 30mins i knew it would only get worse and out of frustration i threw it in the bin.
After that i tried making creme caramel and the syrup was meant to turn brown but mine was still clear so i put it into the cooking mould anyway and it stuck to everything,i had huge lumps of syrup that had hardened and i thought i had ruined everything but everything eventually came off after a few hours in hot water.

Yay,it's finally Friday again and i can start to relax even though i'm sitting here at work,but there is always a different mood on Fridays.Didn't get a lot of sleep last night so i'm surving on coffee today.
I got the biggest cold sore ever this week and have been using Zovirax as soon as i noticed it and it doesn't work,the biggest waste of $15.No going out for me this weekend looking like this.everytime you speak to someone you just know they're staring at it.
I've been in the mood to clean this week after hearing some decluttering expert talking on the radio and have cleaned out my bathroom cabinet to just what i use,i have a habit of keeping things and saying i'll use them eventually but i never do,got rid of some makeup i've had sitting there not being used,and sorted my mail and bills and put them all in a folder,it's true you feel so much lighter after a big clean up.
So i'm staying in all weekend and i received a new bunch of magazines from Heidi last night,so i can start on those,i need to change to flanelette sheets and use my warmer winter quilt as it's quite cold every morning and evening.I bought some small storage boxes from Ikea so i'll have to build that and try not get frustrated.
I might even enter this competition,i did buy a cork board last week.

Work and play

Saturday morning breakfast went on until the evening.
Beautiful sunny autumn day with beers and a few bottles of wine at The Australian Heritage Hotel.

It was so lovely walking across the Harbour Bridge from The Rocks over to Kirribilli,It's such an easy walk,even in heels,all flat and such a beautiful view.

Put up a few prints,a leaf print from Port2Port Press,My Keep Calm and Carry On poster finally came out of storage,and my Florence Broadhurst butterfly wallpaper.I'm not sure if i should frame it or just leave it up like a poster as it currently is,might visit a craft store and see what my choices are,anybody have any ideas?

Thank God It's Friday

Another long and busy working week has passed.Time to unwind,started tonight with some much needed drinks after work and a good bitch session.
Looking forward to a champagne breakfast tomorrow morning and catching up with everyone since our trip.Our breakfasts turn into lunch and carry on until the afternoon on most occasions.
Can finally give my friend her wedding present.
Have quite a bit of framing to finish this weekend,one small one for a print i bought from Mav at Port2Port
Finally took out my Keep Calm and Carry On Poster and have trimmed it and just need to frame it and put it up or i might just leave it up leaning against the wall above my bookcase.
And i need to decide how large to cut my Florence Broadhurst print and how to display it.
Fix resume and apply for a few jobs
Go out for lunch and shopping with a friend.

Who knew Kmart could be so cool

I found this mug in the kitchenwear section and they're from the Living with Deborah Hutton range,they have some cool things and very cheap.I don't think the image of Deborah Hutton as a Martha Stewart type works,she just looks odd in those ads,out of place.

Banana bread

I was given some very ripe bananas so of course i had to make banana bread.

Makes 1 loaf

265g (1 ¾ cups) self raising flour
40g (1/4 cup) plain flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
140g (2/3 cup) brown sugar
125ml (1/2 cup) skim milk
2 eggs, lightly whisked
50g butter, melted, cooled
2 overripe bananas, mashed

Preheat oven to 180 °C. Brush an 11x21 cm loaf pan with butter to lightly grease. Line the base and 2 opposite sides with baking paper allowing it to overhang.

Sift the combines flours and cinnamon into a large bowl. Stir in the sugar and make a well in the centre. In a separate bowl place the milk, eggs, melted butter and banana and stir until just combined. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the surface.
Bake in preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from oven and set aside in pan for 5 minutes.Cut into slices to serve

Portugese custard tarts

I'd recently had an addiction to Portugese tarts and would try one from a different bakery each week and finally decided to try them myself.
Like many things that i bake,i made these one night after work and didn't have much time so i think next time i'd have more time and cut perfect round pastry to make them all look identical.These actually tasted better later in the day after a few hours in the fridge.

Makes 12
From Bill Granger's Every day

3 egg yolks
115g (1/2 cup) caster (superfine) sugar
2 T cornflour
230 ml cream
170 ml milk
2 t natural vanilla extract
1 sheet ready rolled puff pastry

Put the egg yolks, sugar and cornflour in a saucepan and whisk together .Gradually whisk in the cream and milk until smooth . Place the pan over medium heat and cook, stirring until the mixture thickens and comes to the boil. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Transfer the custard to a bowl, cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent a skin forming and leave to cool.
Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius. Lightly grease a 12 hole muffin tin.Cut the pastry sheet in half, put one half on top of the other and set aside for 5 mins. Roll up the pastry tightly from the short end and cut the pastry log into 12 1 cm rounds. Lay each pastry round on a lightly floured surface and use a rolling pin to roll out until each is 10 cm in diameter.
Press the pastry rounds into the muffin tin. Spoon the cooled custard into the pastry cases and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry and custard are golden. Leave the tarts in the tin for 5 mins then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Eames

I love many of the Eames chairs and hope to own some pieces one day but for now will have to do with my mini eames chairs and other accessories.

More macro

Observing

This afternoon i left my office to get some fresh air outside and just observed.

A business man walks out of the store and is greeted by his driver and whisked away.
An elderly lady is dressed up in a lovely felt hat and chic Ferragamo flats for her trip into town.
A homeless man is happy with some food he has scored.
Those lucky enough board the bus to go home after a busy day.
Countless others stand in the corner for a much needed cigarette.

Brampton Island Holiday and Wedding

Experimenting

I made some black and white prints and one sepia from recent photos i took. Images just seem to evoke a different mood in these tones.

Growers Market

First Saturday of the month is time for the growers market at Pyrmont outside Star City Casino.It had been over 6 months since our last visit so it was time to return.A lovely sunny day brought along a large crowd.


It isn't hard deciding where to begin and this time again we began at the bakery stall for pastries and coffee from the next booth.A portugese tart and berry mascapone tart for myself and coats cheese tart and strawberry tart for my friend.Also some peach and mango juice with a refreshing taste exploding in our mouth with the first sip.Unfortunately the wagyu beef stall wasn't making their sausage rolls but i don't think i could have fit one in.
As we walked past the flower stall i saw these flowers that were purple in the middle and then surrounded by green leaves that made it look like leaves,i had never seen these before and had to have one,it's looking lovely right now on my vanity in a turquoise vase.


Speaking of purple,one stall had purple potatoes called sapphire that are purple in the centre and is good for mashed potato,that is purple!Now that would definitely be a conversation starter at your next dinner party.
In the end i bought a wagyu beef pie for dinner,chicken,leek and tarragon ravioli,next time i'm bringing my freezer bag to walk away with some butter and ice cream sandwiches.

Quiet Sunday afternoon

Quiet Sunday afternoon spent reading the papers on our veranda.Needed some sugar but there were no treats in the house so made some raspberry and coconut mini muffins.Enjoyed with a cup of Prince of Wales tea.

Last minute summer cooking

Well not really but last week i still had February Delicious magazine to go through,with March,April and now May still sitting in their plastic.The issue was full of easy simple recipes after all the extravagance of December and January issues.A simple and tasty garlic and coriander chicken with saffron pilaf,it was exciting for me as it was the first time i had cooked with saffron,i was always interested in what those little threads were capable of.And pineapple carpaccio with minty sugar,simple and low fat,will need that one handy for next summer.The oaty choc chip cookies below are very easy,very rich and were eaten very quickly by everyone at work.My colleagues are now my guinea pigs.

Oaty choc-chip cookies

Makes about 25

125g unsalted butter, softened
½ cup caster sugar
½ firmly packed cup brown sugar
½ t vanilla extract
1 egg
1 ¼ cups rolled oats
1 cup plain flour
½ t baking powder
½ bicarbonate soda
175g dark chocolate, chopped
150g roasted hazelnuts, peeled, chopped

Preheat the oven to 170°.Line 3 baking trays with baking paper.
Using electric beaters beat butter, sugars, and vanilla extract until pale and thick. Beat in egg until just combined. Using a wooden spoon, fold in oats. Sift flour, baking powder, soda and ½ teaspoon salt over the mixture. Scoop balls of dough onto a prepared tray 4cm apart. Flatten slightly, then bake for about 10 minutes or until golden. The cookies will feel soft, but will crisp as they cool.