Rainy Day

 

  

 

 Was it only last weekend that we sweltered in 37 degree heat?  Hard to believe that sitting here rugged up in wooly cardigan and chunky socks. Its rained all day.  My heart goes out to those battling flood waters in the north of the state.  Hope the rain lets up soon for them.
 
Its been a good day to be inside.  I spent this morning tracing some patterns from a lovely Japanese pattern book, Sewing Naturira Vol 5.  I'm impressed with the way these slit pockets are made - just by clever folding of the side panel.  This afternoon I sewed while listening to the live broadcast from Adelaide Writers Week on ABC Digital radio extra - bliss!

I hope you got to do something you enjoy today, too.
 

zucchinis

 

 

The first day of autumn and already the leaves are falling.  The garden is loving the rain, though.  Especially the zucchinis.  Which is good because  the more zucchinis the more I can make Zucchini and Haloumi fritters.  They're equally great for an evening meal, served with salad, or for a party served as tapas  - it's the same recipe though.  They are really delicious hot or cold.  The recipe is based on one from this book.

Zucchini and Haloumi Fritters
300g zucchini (i used 3 mid sized ones)
200g haloumi cheese
2 T chopped chives
1/4 cup flour (i used buckwheat coz it is gluten free)
2 eggs

coarsely grate the zucchini and the cheese (food processor makes this very quick)
combine all the above ingredients
heat a small amount of oil in heavy based frying pan
form fritters using heaped spoonfuls of the mixture and cook in batches - about 2 minutes each side or until golden and firm.  Drain on crumpled paper towel.

Delicious served with tomato relish and/or Greek style yoghurt.

For tapas make the fritters smaller.  decorate each with a wee dob or relish and a wee dob of yoghurt and a few sprinkles of chives.  Could also be made a bit more rectangular for dipping into an accompanying sauce

Can be served hot or cold.

after the storm

Look what i found on my front doorstep after Monday's storms!  I dont know what it is but the iridescent blue is just amazing.  Sadly, it was dead.  Wonder what it is? And where it came from?

I adore that blue. it is like the finest shot silk, only more beautiful.

This Sunday

Hope you can come!

Yarn Bombing in the City

 

Just thought I'd show you the pictures I took when I was in the city last week of the dressing of the trees in the Melbourne City Square (corner of Collins and Swanston Streets).  My camera battery was flashing empty but, joy of joys, there was just enough umph to get some shots of these beauties.  I'm so in awe of all the work that has gone into this project (not to mention all the yarn or the patience of stitching each piece around it's tree ).  What a generous offering!

Steamy Day Cooking

Tidying up the fridge this morning, I came across some apples that were way past their best. Removing them and just millimetres away from the bin I decided it was such a waste just to toss them.  So what to do with them?  They could be stewed to have for breakfast but fresh fruit rather than stewed is preferred in this house.  Yesterday I made sugar free ice cream - I could have made it apple flavoured.  Too late for that.  So, probably not the smartest thing to do in today's steamy heat, I turned them into gluten free, sugar free muffins.  A bit of an experiment, really.  They turned out reasonably well. Next time though I think I would add something else with a stronger flavour to the mixture - say some raspberries or freshly grated ginger - or some raw cacoa powder (which is finding its way into almost everything since I quit eating sugar).  Anyway, if you're interested, here is the recipe I made up:


Gluten Free, Sugar Free Apple and Cinnamon Muffins

2 cups of almond meal
1/4 tsp bi-carb soda
1/2 tsp gluten free baking powder
1 Tablespoon buckwheat flour (or any other gluten free flour)
3 eggs
3-5 apples, grated
2 tsp cinnamon
3 Tablespoons butter, melted - or nut oil
3 Tablespoons milk
7 drops of liquid stevia

1. Preheat oven to 180C, line 12 hole muffin tray with paper cases
2. Put almond meal, carb soda, baking powder and flour into mixing bowl and combine.
3. add the apple and cinnamon. mix
4. In separate container, whisk eggs until light and fluffy, add milk and melted butter (oil) then add this liquid to the dry ingredients and mix until combined
5. spoon the batter into the muffin cases and bake for 20 minutes (or until skewer inserted comes out clean
6. cool on a wire rack

only a week ago

This time last week I was in Hobart on the edge of a brand new year.  What a grand day that was: browsing Salamanca market under  shady trees,  cheering the yacht crews who'd finished the Sydney to Hobart,

drooling in the bookshops, mixing it with the taste festival. Such yummy cheese and cherries!

it was a warm day. There were many magnificent buildings to admire and lots of creative talent to inspire. We were even lucky enough to  spot one of those elusive tigers.

Well that was last week and today I am home, after 12 days in Tasmania, much of it spent in the wilderness or near it.  I'm washing and unpacking and pausing to delight over a few things that came home with me.

These beauties came from the market: recycled leather covered blank journals

 

This book from Fullers Bookshop

Cant wait to make up some of the patterns.   Its in English. One of the best things about the reprinting of Japanese pattern books into English is that the pattern size range is expanded and larger sizes are included.  Yay! Mmm, what to make first?

This tunic top? Simple, elegant.  Or maybe this  very cute dress:

This dress looks really comfortable, as well as retro and fun.

Or these, so perfect for bike riding but still funky and feminine looking:

ah, decisions, decisions.  Perhaps my fabric stash will help me decide. I'm off to check it out.