{quilt} while you're ahead

60//2012

Wordless Wednesday

59//2012

Random Friday is back.

Because it's Friday and my mind can't focus on one thing for more than 10 seconds.  It's bad.

- First of all... Simon Cowell's dog is just like my Lilli.

(Simon's dog)

Lilli.  In real life the similarity is kind of spooky.

- Second... who invented this stuff?

O.M.G.

Don't try it.  You won't be able to stop eating it.

Sigh.

(little black dress little black dress little black dress party party party...)

- Third and last (because I must go do some housework now!)... what the heck is this?

And what do I do with it?

37//2012

Mr M was given a big box of green tea by a Chinese supplier.

At least we think it's green tea. 

It's broken leaves in green packaging.

So I got out my gorgeous 'tea-strainer' (bought in Stockholm of all places) and filled it with let's-hope-it's-green-tea-leaves',

added water to the mug

and watched the magic happen.

It tastes wonderful.

I do hope it's green tea. (Or even tea!)

36//2012

The problem with Tiramisu is

I won't stop eating it till it's gone.

Sigh.

17//2012

My little cousin came to stay with us for the weekend.  (She's actually not so little anymore, but comparatively speaking  - her age compared to mine - she will always be 'the little cousin').  She's studying for a degree in  'pure Math and applied Math' at Newcastle University.  

Yeah, I know.  WHAT?  Is there more than one Math?  

Whatever.

Let's talk food instead.

If you've ever visited Italy around this time of year you'll know it's "Carnevale". (Venice is a popular destination this time of the year and totally amazing).  Lots of dressing up, parties, tricks.  

And food.

One my favourite is "Chiacchiere" - 'chats' - a fried pastry covered in icing sugar.  Each county or even town has its own name and shape for them and let me tell you... they are delicious.

Little cousin and I decided to make some in order to recall some taste of home.

We got the machine out of the cupboard (and dustied it off...)

Made the dough.

Cut it into pieces and fried it.

And then we ate them all up.

Down to the last crumb. (Not just us... Mr M and the boys' contribution was noticeable).

 

You can find the recipe here.  (we skipped the liqueur).  It'll take you longer to make them than to eat them!!

 

15//2012

Random post

- A few weeks ago we started getting a weekly vegetable/fruit box from Abel and Cole.  I'm not sure this is the most economical way of buying stuff BUT what it has done is definitively making us eat more seasonal products.  It made me realise how stuck in a rut of buying/cooking the same things over and over again and it's been good for my brain to diversify.

- And what bizarre vegetables are out there.

- It hasn't made a difference in the qty of vegetable nor in the variety of vegetables my kids eat AT ALL.  sigh.

- They did however try the famous 'salsify' (boiled and then sauteed in butter).  It tasted very bland and they were bribed with ten extra minutes of 'staying up time' if they did.  Calling it a success might be stretching it a little...

- When you next peel salsify wear rubber gloves.  STICKY.  Like tree sap.  You think the soap washed it off and then you find the tea-towel you're using to dry your hands has stuck to your finger like glue. Weird.

- I've got a huge bunch of 'chinese lettuce' to use.

- I should buy myself a copy of Nigel's book on vegetables.

- The latest 'leeks and potatoes' soup was delicious.

- Isn't it weird to have daffodils out already? And crocuses and snowdrops?

- I guess in the same way we have very cold winters we can have very warm ones but I can't remember a winter without going below zero at all (Celsius that is).  Feels almost ominous.

- I'm not complaining.  I don't particularly like minus zero temperature.

- Especially when I have boys who constantly play matches that require adult support. Urgh.  

- If I had girls it might have been indoor ballet performances.... sigh.

- Should have encouraged swimming more.

- You can sit and knit during swimming lessons.

- You can't knit standing on the sideline of a football/rugby match.

- You'll damage your children.

- Or will you?

- Today the weather is quite glorious.  The only rain cloud appeared (and unloaded itself) during the 30 minutes I was out walking Lilli.  Honestly.

- Must do laundry. 

- Now

-  Bye bye.

 

11//2012

Does anybody have any idea of what these are and how am I supposed to prepare/cook them?

They're thin and long and kind look a bit like parsnips but they're straight... not shaped like carrots if you know what I mean.

Weird.

Any idea?

163/2011

Finish quilt top in record time

tick.

Play cards with No 3 whilst working on long abandoned ufo

tick.

Dinner out with friends

tick.

New karate belt

tick

Bicycle ride in the forest

tick.

Phew.

And that was only the weekend.

 

153/2011

I'm slowly re-gaining control over the house after the siege of the weekend

and listening to this

  

136/2011

Let's talk granola.

I first fell in love with the stuff on my walking holiday with my sister.  Fresh homemade yogurt and sweet crunchy granola.

Divine.

When in Stockholm a couple of weeks ago I found the same thing again and I should have brought some home... because you see... it's really hard to find any granola without nasty raisins in this country.

Know what I mean?

Why raisins? Why raisins/currants/and the other types all plumpy and squidgy in cereals?

The stuff in the photo is "Dorset Cereal - chocolate granola & macadamia nuts".  Not the real thing but at least it doesn't have RAISINS.  (And it tastes pretty good too).

Maybe I should start an anti-raisins movement... wanna join me?

(Alternatively, do you know of any good recipes - without the evil ingredient - I could try?)