Sunday, July 25, 2010

7 things sunday - my 7 favorite fruits






1. Mango.
My #1 favorite fruit is mango.

I love it when you can buy boxes of them in the summer and we can all have one each for desert.


This is the best way to eat a mango.
Slice the 'cheeks' off each side. Score across the flesh into square with a knife, but don't cut the skin.
Then turn it inside out and bite the little cubes of mango off!
Wipe chin.

2. Raspberries.
Raspberries are the best berries.

photo from field fare

You can make raspberry jam - this is the best jam.

Or you can serve with meringue and cream.
Or make a cake.
Or make muffins.
Or make a raspberry sauce to pour over a vanilla cake.


3. Nectarines.
I love summer.
I love summer fruits
I love nectarines - especially white ones.

They are so fragrant and pretty.

The best way to eat them is take them in your hand and nomnomnom!

Or you could do this -



4. Cherries.

Cherries are beautiful to look at as well.

Cherry jam is pretty good.
But who can be bothered doing all that fiddly de-pipping!

Cherry pie is very good too.



5. Figs.

Figs are not very common in the shops and when they are there they are the same price as gold!
Yet people who have fig trees cannot give them away!

I like sliced fig with a sharp crumbly cheese.
And I have a recipe for a salad with figs, but I can't find it.

However I did find this while googling -

image from gourmet.com

One of Michael Laiskonis’s favorite grilled desserts is charred figs, topped with hazelnuts, honey, and creamy mascarpone cheese.

6. Mangosteens

Mangosteens are even harder to find than figs - unless you are in south-east asia!
There they are so common you would think they grew on trees!

Hands up if you dont know what a mangosteen is?
Keep your hand up if you've never tasted one?

This is what they look like -


When you cut them open they have a soft pearl white centre that tastes like champagne.

7. Rambuttan.

I have to include rambuttan because they look totally inedible.
I could do the hands up thing again, and if you go to south east asia you will find them there - so cheap it hurts.


Peel the cute fluffy skin off and you get a firmer more flavoursome lychee!

And here are some fruity treasuries to inspire you -




Is rhubarb a fruit?

What's your favorite fruit?

final giveaway



since there were only two entries in yesterday's giveaway, they both get a prize!

Thanks to everyone who supported this little flurry of altruism.

Here's a walk I did last Sunday -

Blue Gum Swamp in the Blue Mountains.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Giveaway! #5

This giveaway is now closed!
Many thanks to everyone who took part.


Hurrah! for Caitlin. She won the crystal earrings!

This one is for Australia only! Due to very large earrings and enormous postage!




Large balls of coral and black czech glass beads.
Balls are nearly 2.5cm (1") across, drop is 6cm so they are not for the faint-hearted!

Please leave a comment here including a way to contact you if you win.
Closes 6pm Sunday 25th July.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Giveaway! #4

this giveaway is now closed.
Thanks to all who entered.

Yesterdays winner is Kottage Kreations!

yay! for Kottage, thanks so much for taking part.

Today's giveaway is for girls who like a bit of sparkle in their life!
and who doesnt?


Clear, red and amethst crystals dangle gracefully to 6.5cm.

Please leave a comment here.

This giveaway closes @ 6pm Saturday 24th July.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Giveaway! the third

Tada! Yesterday's winner was Carmel!

congrats to Carmel.

Todays earrings are somewhat bold.
But they are not bold in colour, they are neutral, earthy colours - but not beige!

They are rectangles of stone, a type of jasper with balls of citrine on the top.
They dangle down 7cm (2 3/4")

They were originally a partner for a necklace but there was a divorce and the necklace went overseas to a better life.
So if you would like to give these poor lonely earrings a good home please leave a comment.


Closes 6pm (Australian Eastern time) Friday 23rd July.

Wednesday wishlist

um, bit late! What can I say?

sorry!

Here are a few things I covet from my favorites.

I do have a 'thing' about fingerless mitts, armwarmers, wrist warmers - call them what you will.
There are many things to love about these particular ones by BlueKimonoStudio.

1. the bright colours
2. stripes make me smile
3. reusing, recycling
4. the look warm
5. they look soft
6. it's a great product photo.



A market friend of mine Brooke from Trove is sadly closing down her shop and has reduced prices.
I'm so tempted by these earrings, sooooooooooooo tempted.
She also had lovely pendants and necklaces. Have a look before they all go!



Lastly I spotted this new seller and am in lurve!

petitbirdsings has the cutest artwork and I couldnt decide, but this selection of four mini works is irrresistable.
Which one would you choose?



Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Giveaway! #3

This giveaway is now closed.
New one opening any minuye now!

Tada! Yesterday's winner was Carmel!

congrats to Carmel.

Todays earrings are somewhat bold.
But they are not bold in colour, they are neutral, earthy colours - but not beige!

They are rectangles of stone, a type of jasper with balls of citrine on the top.
They dangle down 7cm (2 3/4")

They were originally a partner for a necklace but there was a divorce and the necklace went overseas to a better life.
So if you would like to give these poor lonely earrings a good home please leave a comment.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Giveaway! the second!

This giveaway is now closed.
there will be another one shortly.....

I am very pleased to announce that the winner of yesterdays giveaway is Del! RAAAAA!


These earrings were for sale for $20.
They are sterling silver with czech glass leaves and flowers.
Measure 3.5cm across.

Pretty? yes?

Leave a comment here to have a chance to win them.
Make sure I know how to contact you.

closes 6pm Australian eastern time Thursday 22nd July.

Tuesday's treasuries






Thanks to all the lovely people who have picked my creations for their treasuries this week.

Members of the DUST (down under street team) have been creating treasuries called "..... gets drsssed"
What a gret idea!
I havent done mine yet but have been included in 2 more.

Verity of Joiedetea picked my olive green mitts from BoosTees.

Verity blends beautiful teas like this lovely ginger tea.


ginger tea by Joiedetea


Meg of Artnomadix included my bracelet in her treaury - I just love all the colours of this one!


Meg makes the most amazing crocheted fire things! I'm in awe of her skills.
Dont you just love this stand-out-in-the-crowd hat?


autumnal spiral hat by artnomadix


Bri of petaliferous always creates such gorgeous treasuries.
This blue bird one is so sweet!
I'm so happy she chose BoosTees brid tshirt and I love so many of the other birds in it.


Petaliferous obviously has a thing about birds because she has a lot of pretty ones in her shop, but I choose these owls.


midnight owl earrings by petaliferous

Chakrabird had a book/movie theme.
I loved the movie 'Atonement' although I havent read the book.
I was thrilled to see my green 'atonement' earrings here -


Chakrabird knows a thing or two about vintage and retro wares as you will see in their shop.

I'm an 80's child - this takes me right back!!


And lastly one from me to go with my eggplant blog post and my monday mad about purple blog post.


Se you next week!

Giveaway!


This giveaway is now closed, but there is a new one!



I'm a bit fed up with seeing the same earrings I've had for ages and they haven't sold, so I'm going to give them away.

Starting today!


If you would like these somewhat bold earrings - leave a comment here.

Closes 6pm (Australian eastern time) wednesday 21st July.

Then there will be another giveaway after that and another until I have got it out of my system!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Mad about purple!




It had to be purple didnt it?
After blogging about eggplant and making a purple treasury and buying a purple hat!




Purple is amazing!

It is everywhere in nature



People write songs about it.

When the deep purple falls over sleepy garden walls
And the stars begin to twinkle in the sky—
In the mist of a memory you wander back to me
Breathing my name with a sigh...
by Mitchell Parish

Name bands after it -




Isnt that the most recognisable riff ever?

Wear it -








Paint about it -


The Purple Noon's Transparent Night by Arthur Streeton

Give it legendary status -




Ok and eat it!

haha!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

7 ways with eggplant





or aubergine.

Eggplant is a difficult proposition on it's own, it needs a friend or two.
It ia great absorber of flavours and goes well with a range of foods in a variety of cooking styles.



You can find eggplant in middle eastern and asian cooking.
When cooked properly it had the soft texture of eggs (apparently).
Some recipes advocate sprinkling the slices of eggplant with salt to draw out the bitter juices, but I never bother!

So here are just a few ways with this purple veg!

1. Baba Ganoush

2 eggplants (roasted and skinned)
Juice of 2 small lemons
3 tablespoons Tahini paste
1 -2 large garlic cloves
good drizzle olive oil
Blitz it all up in the blender - add salt to taste

To roast eggplant pierce the skin a couple of times and put them on a baking tray and roast until all pooped (about half an hour or so)

2. Moussaka. The classic Greek dish.
Reminds me of summers spent in the Greek islands, ouzo and retsina and the smell of the pine trees.
However since pure moussaka is made with lamb, and I am now vegetarian, you will have to find your own recipe for this.
There are veggie versions, with beans or tofu - but I won't go there!


3. My favorite is a recipe from "The Complete Wholefood Cuisine" by Nikki and David Goldbeck which I have had for years and I'm sure isn't available anymore.

Barbequed eggplant and lentils.

It has nothing to do with being put on the barbie, but refers to the BBQ sauce type thing.

1 cup lentils
2 cups water
1 medium eggplant
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup oil
2 onions, thinly sliced
2 cups chopped tinned tomatoes
2 tbs wine or cider vinegar
2 tbs soy sauce
1 1/2 tbs honey
2 tsp chilli powder (or to taste)

Cook lentils in water until soft, about 30 mins.
Cut eggplant into 1" cubes. Place in a paper bag with the flour and shake until eggplant is coated.
Heat oil in heavy pan, add eggplant and cook for about 10 mins stirring to brown all sides.
Add all the other ingredients, except the lentils, bring to gentle boil, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 mins.
Add lentils and simmer until everything is cooked.

Serve over rice, pasta or toasted buns.

4. Another classic, this one I think is french.
Ratatouille.

It is basically a stew of eggplants, capsicum and zuccini.
(Or aubergine, peppers and courgettes!)
Plus onions, garlic and a good olive oil!

5. Eggplant Parmesan.
There are many versions of this popular dish.
The one I love is when you slice the eggplant into rounds, dip in flour, then beaten egg, then breadcrumbs and fry.
Then layer with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, top with parmesan and bake until bubbly.

I also have a different version, but I havent made it for years, and I cant find the recipe. sorry!




6. Stuffed.
Eggplants are a great receptacle for stuffing.
Cut in half lengthways and hollow out.
Fill with your favorite stuffing and bake.
Easy!

7. In anything.
We add eggplant to our tomato sauce for pasta.
It goes great in curries and stews.

Try it!

Friday, July 16, 2010

this week




I went on three bushwalks.

One to Mount Hay on not a very nice day.
Sometimes there were views -


and some bits were scarey -


One around the eastern escarpment of the Blue Mountains.

Down to the old Knapsack bridge - a wonderful feat of engineering.



And the third one in the Glenbrook section of the Blue Mountains National park, along dappled tracks -


down to the Nepean River gorge.


Then I made some tshirts -


How was your week?

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Wednesday wishlist

Some very tempting items from my favorites -

This is handknitted and it's only US$86 (A$97). So much work and such a prettty design.


I'm a big fan of these soft neckwarmers.
They are so practical, they are light and dont get in the way like scarves do.


And I think a lot of us are in love with this frock shop!

It's hard to pick a fave from it as there are so many gorgeous ones.
I just love this fabric!


navy blue floral prom dress by digforvictory

What are you wishing for this week.
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