Red Shoes Blurbs

April Lovemaking...

2012-01-27T13:15:00.000+11:00

So many January babies... what is it about the month of April that make so many people conceive? Maybe the Easter Bunny is a turn on.

On Wednesday night, I went to my cousin's place to help celebrate her son turning 18. My other cousin was there pumped up on cold and flu tablet and feeling like crap but I did not know this when we hugged and kissed hello... seriously who goes out in public when they're germ-infested? So mean. Anyway, I now have this tickle in my throat that I can't shake. I'm full, and sick to death of tea with lemon and honey. Is it any wonder people are all flu-like with this stupid weather we're having. The days are hot and the nights are cold... stupid summer!

I really cannot afford to get sick right now. I am trying in my minds eye to will it away and not let it come out. So far it's working. I've pretty much eaten garlic and ginger with every meal, aside from breakfast, but the taking of pills is just not going to happen. I am pretty much banned from all sorts of cold and flu remedies, I'm allergic to most of them and have no choice but to do it the natural way. I have a jug of water next to me at all times and meditating keeps me calm. Tomorrow night it's Lena's birthday party at a Spanish restaurant and I'm really looking forward to it, I don't want to be sick AGAIN... I want Paella damn it!

Today I am making Lamb salad. I haven't had much meat the last couple of weeks so I bought a lamb fillet steak which I will grill on the BBQ and slice it up for the four of us for dinner. Seriously though, I'm not liking the fact that chewing is making my ears pop and crackle...

On a happier note, I've been surfing some kitchen porn and I've decided that I want this ↓

I hope it comes in red

Isn't it divine? Of course I'll have to import it from the UK but that's ok. I plan on winning the lottery soon anyway....

Just let me dream a bit people...

Well it's time to put my washing out on the line and have another honey and lemon drink. Have a happy weekend people. I hope life shows you just how wonderful you are even if it's only for 5 minutes.

Drink your milk from a Martini glass at least once in your life

Happy Australia Day

2012-01-26T14:11:00.002+11:00

Sweetheart Teacups, 100% Australian Yarn, Clover crochet hooks, Organic Chocolate, a two-seater couch and homemade soda bread all make for a gorgeous holiday...

Yarn Love

Yummy

Happy Australia Day Bloggers

Chester... the Little Jack Russell

2012-01-19T15:12:00.001+11:00

Total spin in my day... quietly minding my own business in my own backyard, reading, when I feel something sniffing at my leg and I look down to see a cute Jack Russell dog at my feet.
"hello, who do you belong to?" I ask expecting an answer...

Door knocking at the neighbours, nobody owns him, nobody cares. This little guy was running all over the road and as I live on the crest of a very big hill with cars flying over, panic set in for me about this little guy. He was friendly enough to coax him into my backyard that has no side gate. What was I to do? He wasn't a young dog, he had a collar but no ID.... surely he was chipped. I had to call the pound. I HATE DOING CALLS LIKE THAT. This was someone's beloved pet and now they were going to have to bail him out to bring him home. But that wasn't as awful as having this dog get hit by a flying-over-the-hill car.

*light bulb moment*

Remembered my neighbour was home on holidays from work and owned a Staffy named Kobe, so called him up and asked him to bring over a dog leash to keep the Jack Russell in one spot. How long was I going to sit here for keeping this shaking dog calm? I gave him some water and we sat and had a chat...
"Don't fall in love with me little doggy, you can't stay here"
The more he kept looking at me with those brown eyes the more I wanted to keep him.

Damn it! The Ranger's car just flew past my house. How the hell do you find a wandering Jack Russell driving that fast up the road? [See what I mean about flying cars?]
My neighbour Michael ran after the Ranger's car to flag her down. The little dog was obviously not used to a leash and was fighting it to get free. All I wanted to do was go inside to my air-conditioned home and keep reading my book, but NOOOOOOO, I had to be a bloody good samaritan. Sheesh!

The Ranger Lady came and scanned little Jack Russell and we found out his name is Chester who lives one street over. Sounds close but it's not. Where I live the next street over is about a 15 minute walk down and up hills, not to mention along a main road. So the Ranger said she was taking him home. I hope the owners are home so he doesn't go to the pound. It breaks my heart to know that any animal is in a pound.

What a great country I live in. A country that looks after the welfare of Animals, Elderly people and underprivileged kids... if only we could do something about our Hospital system....
We really are 'The Lucky Country'

A Post for Demy

2012-01-17T21:12:00.000+11:00

Yesterday I mentioned that nobody comes to visit my blog page anymore and whaddaya know?
So here's the Potato Kibbeh recipe for Demy who was nice enough to not only visit, but leave a comment.

This recipe is traditionally made at Easter time when Christians don't eat meat [I just don't understand that but anyhoo....]

You will need:

1 1/2 Cups of fine cracked wheat [burgul], washed and drained
I small onion, finely diced or grated
4-6 medium potatoes, peeled & cooked
teaspoon or 2 of salt [to taste]
White Pepper to taste
some Olive Oil

For the filling:

1 cup of chopped walnuts
2 large onions, chopped
1 Tablespoon of Pomegranate Molasses [Dibas Reman, found in all Middle East Bakeries]

Wash & cook potatoes, peel & mash and mix in salt, white pepper and the finely chopped medium onion to make like a mashed potato. Add to a food processor and add the washed cracked wheat and process to a smooth mixture
In a frying pan, add the 2 chopped onions, cook until opaque, add the chopped walnuts and dibas reman
Grease a baking tray with olive oil, divide mash mixture into two portions. Flatten half the potato in the bottom of the greased baking tray, spread walnut mixture on top evenly and then flatten the other half of the mash over the top. Score in diamond shape or square shape [whichever you prefer] drizzle about 4 tablespoons of olive oil over the top and cook in moderate/hot oven until golden brown.

Bon Appetit

Even though it is complete vegetarian, it has quite a meaty taste to it. The Walnut is the most amazing nut in all the nut family in my opinion, no wonder it is a staple in most Lebanese cooking.

Enjoy Demy, I hope you make it and if you do please post some pics

Blah Day... Mish-Mash

2012-01-16T17:59:00.000+11:00

Monday!
My favourite day of the week.
I got all my housework done by 2pm [including floors]. Now this doesn't seem news worthy, but to me it's a bloody headline in a major newspaper. This is the first time in MONTHS I've been able to tackle dusting, vacuuming, mopping, organising... you know all that fun stuff.. 0_o Of course my body is so sore now, but it's all worth it because my house looks AWESOME!

The weekend went ok. Saturday my family were invited to my Uncle's place for a BBQ and it was a beautiful night. It was just us and them and it was so nice to just hang together without other people there like there usually is.
Sunday I crocheted all day, I made a cushion cover for my bed [red of course] and didn't go to bed until I finished it. No cooking, no cleaning, NOTHING! Just sat and watched episodes of 'Revenge'. This show is a big hit with me. Firstly I love Madeline Stowe, she's just stunning and secondly, it's like a modern day 'Count of Monte Cristo' and for those that know me, know that is my favourite book EVER! It's well written for a show that has lines like -
Man: I just want to fix our relationship
Woman: Well you shouldn't have slept with my best friend then

Whoa!!!! OK I'm not for soapy-type shite, but this show has me hooked. Hahahahahahaha... I must be getting trashier in my old age

Confucius once said that if you ever embark on a journey of revenge, you'd better dig two graves... Well said Dude! But what the hell do I know about revenge anyway, I've never hated anyone or anything in my life. Bless!

Today I wear my cape around my waist and make things in the kitchen. I'm trapped at home unable to go to the shops so I had to make stuff using the basic ingredients I had on hand for dinner tonight.

So I made some potato and bacon hash and I'll top that with a poached egg but the magic underneath this hash is some homemade olive and sundried tomato soda bread that I whipped up in no time. I'm following Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's advice and making my own daily bread. Too many preservatives and chemicals in shop bought bread and really there are so many recipe's out there, if you have no time there are heaps of instant bread recipe's. It just takes planning.

The second thing I made was potato kibbeh. This will require me to write out a recipe it's not so readily available seeing as it's a family recipe. Usually I steer clear of Lebanese cooking because it takes TOO long to make, but this was relatively easy. But I can't see the point in writing the recipe out because I don't even think anyone reads this blog page anymore which renders all these words a moot point. Excuse me while I file that comment under 'Screw It'

If you want the recipe comment below and I'll post it for you.

So it's a real summer's day today. So confusing! The Air-Con is on, the couch beckons, I've done enough today. It's time to make some old fashioned granny squares for a cushion cover while I sit on my butt, watching more episodes of 'Revenge'

Have a happy day and remember to eat Cake for breakfast every now and then...

Ripper Ripple...

2012-01-12T20:17:00.000+11:00

No post yesterday

The hot water bottle was my best friend yesterday as I sat and watched episodes of '2 Broke Girls' which I have to say is really funny. Errands were a pain as I got caught in the rain and to top off the day, I didn't win the lottery so it's another day of being a pauper. Now that I've accepted that, I can move on....

It's another grey sky day here in Melbourne and I'm starting to worry that we'll never see the sunshine again. Dont' get me wrong, I thrive in this weather and don't like the heat at all, but it just doesn't make sense that I'm cooking Boeuf Bourguignon in January. My fruit trees are rather confused not to mention my tomato plants AND I had to put the heater on... What the hell is that?

I've learnt so many new stitches in crochet but there is one that I want to learn before the week is out and that's the 'ripple stitch'. So off I go in search of a pattern to get me started on this beautiful acrylic yarn I got from Woolybutt last year. Nothing beats a good quality acrylic yarn for crochet projects. I really need to go and get some more colours for the ripple stitch blanket but I thought I'd just learn on the cheap stuff first.

Since writing the above I've come to the conclusion that the Granny Stripe blanket is annoying me and I'm unravelling it and trying the ripple stitch with the pure wool. The only reason is that I can't get the edges in a clean line and if it's not clean looking, then there's something wrong. I may try it again another time, I think it's a matter of maths. That, or I just suck at crocheting... I'm thinking the latter is right.

OK, it's time for breakfast now, I'll be back later

8:17pm
Well it took me all of 5 minutes to learn the ripple stitch... I had no idea it was so easy. It's looking so much nicer than the Granny Stripe. I'm tucking ends as I go so there's a lot less work to do when I finish it. Of course this stitch requires a lot more wool so it looks like I'll have to stock up some more.
Here's a sneak peak...

Ripple Stitch Blanket

Well, we had Fish n Chips for dinner because I spent all day winding wool and resting my back. Tomorrow is a day off and and Osteo appointment and the weekend is finally free of any sort of social activity. I'm hoping to get to some markets this weekend, I just can't allow any sort of distractions to sway me from it.

Mood - Happy
Creativity - Med
Productivity - Med
Reading - Nil
Cooking - Nil
Social Outings - Nil
TED Talks - 2
Naps Taken - Nil
Movies Watched - 2
Painting in Studio - Nil
Times I went to check Facebook - 1

Cricket season has me on edge, so it's time to leave the communal TV room and move up to my room with my own TV, Foxtel and DVD player. I don't want to crochet, read or write anymore today, I've had enough and my eyes are going cross eyed.

Have a great day/night wherever you are in the world

Days Off Make for Good Things...

2012-01-10T22:40:00.002+11:00

Today I had the Nurse from 12-6pm and I welcomed the force-you-out-the-door, go-on-get-out-of-here shove I seem to need the last couple of months. I took some soup to my Aunt who is sick with fever at the moment and sat with her for a couple of hours then my little brother took me out for lunch in Box Hill for some Nasi Goreng.... OK it was seriously the BEST Nasi Goreng EVER! As we were walking around all the shops he said there was no need to go to Singapore because Box Hill seemed to be a small replica of it... Personally I'd still like to go to Singapore. All the Asian food is westernised here for our weird taste and I'm rather pissed off about that.

I then went to one of these huge-packed-to-the-hilt Asian supermarkets and bought all sorts of good things. Dried Chillies, Mushroom Soy, some hot curry paste, saffron, that pink dye they put on pork, ya know? Good things! The stuff you can't buy in hick towns like where I live.

Then I came home, threw on some stretchy pants and started to crochet... and look what I made....

I call him Pancake

Yes my very first Amigurumi... I saw this ages ago somewhere on the web and do you think I can find it again to get the pattern? NOOOOOOO... Do you think I remembered to bookmark it? Nooooo.... so I made it up. Now, I call him Pancake because of the Pancake rule... you know, throw the first one out because it's only to season the pan and never tastes right... yeah well Pancake here is riddled with mistakes but I have no pattern and in my life, it's a learn as you go kinda way... Say hello to Pancake, he's going to sit on my desk to remind me that perfect is in the eye of the beholder because I think Pancake is just perfect, crooked nose and all.

Well of course I know I should've reversed the colours..... NOW! But it's ok. I have 20 eyes to use yet, I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.

Mood - Happy
Creativity - High
Productivity - Med-High
Reading - Nil
Cooking - None
Social Outings - 1
TED Talks -Nil
Naps Taken - Nil
Movies Watched - Nil
Painting in Studio - Nil
Times I went to check Facebook - 1

OK so tomorrow my family and I are being filmed for a friends music video... not sure why but we're here to help the arts, so I guess I'll be filling you in on that when it happens.

Hope you're having a peach of a day filled with lots of great stuff

Blah Day... Waiting

2012-01-09T18:09:00.000+11:00

What a completely wasted weekend. Sick as a dog on Saturday, in bed for most of the day, I past the time watching all 9 episodes of 'New Girl' and the first episode of the new season 'Sherlock' and drifting in and out of consciousness.
I'm thinking it was something that I ate on Friday night because when I got home I wasn't feeling the best and I was up all that night going out of my mind. Sunday I woke up not 100% but not feeling sick, just zombie-like.
Today, Monday, the sun is struggling to come through the clouds, so my washing is taking far too long to dry and I need clothes. I have errands to run, but I have visitors here, my leg aches but I can't rest because the visitors have me up and down, running all around... So it's pretty much back to normal at my place.... Yay!

I've started a new blanket. Every couch and chair in my home will have it's own blanket, ready for when we have movie nights in winter here. This one that I'm making is made from soft pure wool, so it's MINE! Everyone else gets high grade, no-pill acrylic... hey I'm not freaking rich enough to make blankets out of wool. The only reason I have this wool is because I've been gathering it over time every time Spotlight have a sale... it's beautiful Australian wool and I love it.

Quick and Easy... What I need right now... no fiddly bits

I got the pattern for this from a lovely blog that belongs to a very creative lady named Lucy over at Attic 24 . Lucy has a plethora of stuff over there waiting for busy fingers to create. She also doesn't charge for her patterns, but she does have a 'Donate' button which I think is a lovely idea, it reminds me when I was little of the 'honesty' system we used to see on the side of country roads when we went on day trips and bought chestnuts etc... anyway, I guess it's not obligatory but I'm very in to Karma and balance in life... I am, after all, a struggling artist myself so I get it.

Mood - Unsettled
Creativity - Med
Productivity - Med-High
Reading - Still going on with Life of Pi... so far it's just a history of zoo keeping. Struggling a bit to be honest
Cooking - Kibbeh & Salad
Social Outings - Err... NONE for the last 3 days now
TED Talks -2
Naps Taken - Nil
Movies Watched - Nil
Painting in Studio - Nil
Times I went to check Facebook - 2

I am kind of missing Facebook in that I miss documenting my day and I have no idea if my cousin in Lebanon has had her baby yet. That's the thing about Facebook, it's a great tool to keep in contact with my family overseas, I mean, I actually text my cousin in New York today to see if he got back OK but that just doesn't work with my cousins in Lebanon. Never mind, I'll get a nice surprise in March as to whether it's a boy or girl.

So that's pretty much it from me on a Monday... I plan on doing more boring things tomorrow even though I have a day off to go exploring I am on a very tight budget this week. It's New York and London in October and the only way I'm getting there is to be a real tight-wad about things... Off to sell some of my guitars on eBay now...

Have a great day

Unicef...

2012-01-08T12:00:00.000+11:00

Have you been to 'Meet Me at Mike's'? All sorts of great stuff happens over there.
This week Pip has some really important stuff going on and for those of you that know me know how I am about charity.
I'm not saying that everyone should donate to charity, but it feels good when you do. I am on a Pension that helps me care for my Mum full-time and anybody who is on a pension will know that it's not really enough to get you through, but I am so grateful to this country for allowing me this time I get to spend with my Mum instead of having to put her in a home. Never to look a gift horse in the mouth, I donate 10% of my income to 3 charities. I know people who earn shite loads of money and never give a cent, but that's their journey, not mine. I just threw that in because it makes me kinda sad that people think that by ignoring a situation it won't exist.

Anyway, why don't you head over to Pip's page and see some of the wonderful stuff she does... go on

Bleugh...

2012-01-07T21:57:00.000+11:00

Bloody awful day... don't want to talk about it.

How are you?

Real Men Don't Eat Quiche...

2012-01-06T17:24:00.001+11:00

Learning New Things...

Flowers from my Garden...

Apparently real men don't eat quiche! The men of this household will be rendered eunuchs tonight because that's what we're having. I am never a Domestic Goddess on Fridays. Usually it's take-out night but I am so over all the crap food around where I live. Nothing bugs me more than people buying food places with no idea on how to cook. Thank you Michel's Patisserie for making my dinner tonight, I'm too busy crocheting a new granny blanket and I'm in the groove.

Tonight I'm out, hopefully having a great time, if not then it will be my fault. [Deep huh?]

Mood - Great
Creativity - Awesome
Productivity - Medium
Reading - A little
Cooking - Quiche and Salad
Social Outings - 2
TED Talks - Nil
Movies Watched - Nil
Painting - Nil
Telescope Viewing - Maybe later

How's your day panning out?

Be awesome!

The Inconvenience of Banking...

2012-01-05T16:49:00.000+11:00

Mood - OK
Creativity - In my mind High, physically Low
Productivity - High
Reading - Maybe later
Cooking - Beef Rendang and Steamed Rice
Social Outings - Nil
TED Talks - 1
Movies Watched - Maybe later
Painting - Nil
Telescope Viewing - Maybe later

Today I did a stupid thing, I took my Mum's ATM card and lost it! So now its a real pain in the butt to get a replacement card because Mum couldn't answer the security questions over the phone... fair enough too, he did have a heavy accent. So now I have to take paper work into the branch and probably do a song and dance act, maybe show them my underwear, who knows! I avoid walking into a bank at all costs... I don't like them. So on top of being unable to paint in my studio because I'm shit and I have no talent, I am also losing my mind.... GREAT !

Since writing the above, I have been contacted by a friend who is at the NAB who is going to help me with the paper work... Hurrah !!!!

A friend sent me a message asking me to go out for her birthday dinner on Saturday night, and I was really upset that I couldn't because I had a family function on, so we organised for her to come up for a visit on Friday night... then I found out that the family day is on the Friday not the Saturday so I contacted my friend to tell her I got my days muddled up and that I can make it Saturday night, but not the Friday. So I get to go out and have fun after all...

Aaaannnnd I have a new crochet project to start today, only I cannot for the life of me, find my No.4 hook. There's a lot of Ying and Yang going on around here, with every step I take, something shoves me back, then pushes me forward. I'm not going to fight it today, I'm just going to ride it out and declare today, the 5th Day of January in the year two thousand and twelve to be a 'EAT MY SHORTS' day. Enough said!

FREAKY.... Since writing the above [again] I found my No.4 hook... OK Universe, you win. You're clever and I'm just a whinny mole. I get it.

How's your day panning out?

Back to my Old Self

2012-01-04T16:35:00.003+11:00

Mood - Awesome
Creativity - High
Productivity - High
Reading - Not enough
Cooking - All kinds of yummy stuff
Social Outings - Nil
TED Talks - Nil, but emailed a few to friends to inspire them
Movies Watched - Nil
Painting - Nil
Telescope Viewing - Nil

OK so the weather has changed. We have sunshine, cool wind and a beautiful t-shirt wearing kinda day. I'm baking & Cooking! It's amazing what the hot weather can do to me, it renders me useless.

Yayayayayayayay It's not a scorching hot day.... Let's dance!

Anyway, anyway, anyway.... I'm making

Maybe a soup, depends on my energy after I make the below...
Roast Vegetable Scrolls
Gnocchi in a garlic aioli
and if any bread dough is left over I may make a few small cinnamon scrolls for a treat tonight

OK so my bread dough is pretty basic

You need to put a 7g sachet of dried yeast into a bowl with 1 cup of warm water and a flat teaspoon of caster sugar, cover with cling wrap and let it sit for 5 minutes until it goes all foamy

Then I need you to sift into a dough mixer or however you usually make dough:

4 cups flour
2 tablespoons milk powder
1 tablespoon caster sugar
1 teaspoon salt
Pinch of love

When the yeast is ready, add 1/4 cup of vegetable oil and the yeasty water to the flour mix and mix with a dough hook until it forms a ball. Turn out onto floured board and knead for a good 5 minutes. This is a great workout for you upper arms and you'll deserve a cuppa in the end, or depending on the time of day, even a glass of wine. Place kneaded ball in a greased bowl and let it sit for 1 hour in a warm place.

Punch down the risen dough, knead for 5 minutes and form into loaves, buns, rolls... whatever. Leave to sit for another 45 minutes covered in plastic wrap or until well risen. Brush lightly with whatever glaze you prefer, I use a whole beaten egg with a tablespoon of water for a deep crust colour.

Bake in tins in 210 degree oven for 10 minutes then lower the heat to 180 degrees for an extra 30-40 minutes... free-form loaves may only need 20-30 it really depends on your oven. This recipe is enough for 1 large loaf, 2 medium or 16-24 rolls.

I made this:

Roll the dough out flat as you can

Place your roasted vegetables, spices, sauces,
top with some cheese and...

Roll it up like a big cigar

Cut into desired widths

Place on a baking sheet/tray and bake until
bread is golden

I serve these with a side salad, they're a meal in themselves. I call them "rustic vegetable pinwheels for giants"

No! I don't think that name is too long...

The Gnocchi:

4 {750g}desiree potatoes, unpeeled
200g [about] flour
salt
ricer or mouli
Pinch of Love

Place potatoes covered in cold water, on the heat and bring to the boil. Let it gently boil for about 20-25 minutes until tender. Don't go piercing the damn thing too much because it makes the potato gluggy and water-logged. Just check after 20-25 minutes it should be fine.

Drain potatoes and while they're still hot put potato in the ricer or mouli. I don't bother peeling because my ricer discards the peel upon squishing.

Add salt and flour and knead until it forms a ball. Add more flour if necessary but be very careful here. Too much flour make the balls tough, and too little makes it mushy when cooked. You're just going to have to go by feel here. Roll sections into logs and cut out size and shape accordingly. I can go on about using a floured fork or a grater to make ridges, but seriously, I'm not Italian and I have no idea. I just keep mine plain and it works just fine.

OK so boil some salted water in a big pot and drop them in, when they surface to the top, use a slotted spoon to scoop them out and into a strainer.

Toss in your favourite sauce and Bon appetit

Yes I'm very tired now... I guess I can change the above Reading - Not enough to Reading - The rest of the evening.

I'm beat.

Happy Cooking and don't forget to dance

Oh, by the way...

Yummy!

Learning New Things

2012-01-04T12:25:00.000+11:00

Some of the things I am meant to be doing while off Facebook is taking more photos, reading more, creating more, blogging more and learning how to use Blogger properly... Look what I just created.... my very own signature. Aren't I clever?

Yeah I know, not really... go here and make your own then

I'm signing off now. [Hahahahaha, did you see what I did there?]
Ciao

Jan 3, 2012 - What a wasted day, but great night

2012-01-04T09:51:00.000+11:00

Mood - Blaaah
Creativity - Moot [Slept all day bloody hell]
Productivity - see above
Reading - Nil
Cooking - Bangers & Mash with Onion Gravy
Social outings - 1
TED Talks - 6
Movies Watched - Nil
Telescope Viewing - Nil
Painting - Nil

I woke up at 5am thinking that I would fall back asleep, but I didn't. The house was so quiet, obviously everyone else was in the middle of their Rem cycle and I lay awake for an hour before I started to get hungry. I showered & dressed, then carefully walked downstairs to make myself a coffee and some breakfast, took it back up to my room and sat on the balcony and watched the sun rise. There is something magical about early mornings, like a huge secret that only the birds know about. I guess most people who get up that early are busy getting ready for work, taking no time to look out their window, or going for a jog and need to look down to see where they are going, but when you just sit and watch and meditate with it, it is unlike any other part of the day. I wish I could get up that early every morning and be able to sustain consciousness for the rest of the day. I could train myself to wake up that time everyday, but I live in the wrong house for such a life. Musicians usually come home from work at 5am...

So today was respite day and I had a carer coming at 10am for two hours then the nurse relieving her at noon and staying until 5pm. I had the whole day ahead of me with nothing on the agenda. So up I went to my room to get changed into clothes that were suitable for a hot muggy day. I sat on the edge of my bed and that's the last thing I remember until I woke up again at 2pm.

What the???

Somehow I had fallen asleep and slept like there was no tomorrow. WHAT A WASTED DAY! I was so upset. OK I'm tired. I haven't had a proper nights sleep in 17 years and I haven't had a holiday in 8 years but who sleeps the day away?

Anyway I certainly felt refreshed when I went out for dinner with my cousins. It was Anthony's last night in Australia and we had a goodbye dinner for him, then we all piled into our cars and went to George & Gina's place for drinks... I'm talking to you like you know these people... all you need to know is that this is my super-fantastic-wonderfully-awesome side of the family and I love them dearly. We had a great night and I got home too late to post this on the proper day, hence why you're reading it on the 4th.

So today I must be more productive. I can't have another day of 'blah' where nothing gets done and I just regret it. It is completely a different season out there today, rain, thunderstorms and cool wind... bloody Melbourne!

Have a happy day Peeps

Who would have thought....

2012-01-03T16:35:00.002+11:00

Inspirational

2012-01-03T16:33:00.001+11:00

I love this video

Jan 2, 2012 - Monday - Blah Day

2012-01-02T17:23:00.000+11:00

Holy crap it's freaking hot today. Far too lethargic to do anything today. Second day off Facebook and I've found time to do nothing still.

Mood - Agitated
Creativity - Low
Productivity - Low
Reading - 3 chapters
Cooking - Too hot, make a sandwich
Social Outings - Err... getting a foot massage, does that count?
TED Talks -2
Naps Taken - Nil
Movies Watched - 1
Painting in Studio - Nil
Times I went to check Facebook - 4
Pamper myself - 1

I must admit, getting up early and going to the plaza for a 1 hour Foot Spa/Massage was probably the best idea I've had all year [ Ahhhhh, did you see what I did there?] This tiny little Asian guy absolutely killed me in some places to the point where I could've given him a back hander to his head, but the end result was great. I still have the ache in my left leg but I do feel better.

It's far too hot to cook so I went and got Deli stuff and some fresh rolls and everyone can feed themselves. The only thing that is getting me off my chair is the regular re-filling of my water glass, which results in frequent trips to the loo. I don't do well in the heat and people who thrive in this weather deserve a kick in the head from me.... just because I'm cranky.

I really need to change the sheets on my bed and I"m hoping this makes it to the list tomorrow. Other than that nothing! If my life got anymore boring, I'd be dead.

Have a happy day

January 1, 2012

2012-01-02T17:12:00.000+11:00

Today is a new day, fresh, with no mistakes in it... My first day off Facebook for the next 2 months.
This may not seem like a big deal to you, but let me tell you, addiction can creep up on you without you realising it until too late. I stopped reading on trains & cafe's because I was Facebooking, I stopped writing poetry because I was busy reading everyone else's poetry on Facebook, I stopped getting anything creative done because I was too busy being creative on Facebook. My link to the outside world!!!!!!

SCREW THAT!!!!

My little brother and I made a pact that we would de-activate our Facebook for the first 2 months of 2012 in order to finish our creative projects. He, his second album, me all those unfinished paintings and unedited poetry that get left behind with the promise that I will return one day.

Monday 1st January 2012

Mood - Relaxed
Creativity - Med-low
Productivity - low
Reading - 2 chapters
Cooking - Steak Sandwiches & some Banana bread when the sun goes down
Social Outings - Nil
TED Talks - 5
Naps Taken - 1
Movies Watched - 1/2
Painting in Studio - Nil
Times I went to check Facebook - 6

No Telescope viewing on the Balcony tonight. There were stars out but my leg ached all day and I went to bed to try and rest it. I'm hoping tomorrow will inspire me to paint a bit, but it's going to be a scorcher of a day. We'll see.

Have a happy day

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T14:43:00.001+11:00

I feel obliged to write an end of year post here.
As a new year dawns on us, on this merry eve I am sorry toward some of my friends who have invited me to some exciting places tonight. Alas nothing excites me more than staying home with my brand new telescope stargazing and having my journal nearby to see what words will inspire me to ring in the new year.
As I look back I can see that this year was a pretty crappy one with not much that was positive or happy. Two friendships ended, one that was necessary and one that was completely bizarre and put down to bi-polar disorder (well they're not interested in explaining and I find passive-aggressive too loose a description here), the loss of a family Patriarch and also a dear friends Father, friends letting me down by finding other things to do than to spend time with me, Mum's health, and me falling off the path that I worked so hard to build for myself.
Goodbye 2011...
I will not miss you, but I will salute you with a drink or two and thank you for the constant lessons that seem to occur just when I think to give up.

My mind is made up in that I will make sure that 2012 will be more about me and less about others. I will catch up with people if the time is right and it suits me, I will cherish moments with family that I love in case they're not here tomorrow and I will certainly think twice and act once.

May the universe bring you all much strength to do the same for yourselves, and I hope 2012 is the year that you realise that only you can make things happen... So stop waiting for others.

I apologies for any errors here I'm posting this from my phone and can't be fagged checking it.. Happy new year

Silent Night

2011-12-19T11:31:00.001+11:00

With Christmas at our door, we start to look back on the year that was and wonder where the time went. What did we do, how many goals did we achieve, who has remained a constant in our lives and how many friendships have gone past their used-by date, or "I'm unhappy doing this, I'm not doing it next year" kinda days.
It's this time of the year that people start mentioning words like 'Resolutions'. Everyone has ambitions of creating lists for New Year Resolutions, things that they feel inspired and have strength to actually believe it's going to happen. But how long does it last?
I don't do resolutions on New Years Eve/Day. I do them all year around. People who do it only on the first day of the new year rarely keep up the pace and because they call it a New Years resolution, they think it can only be done at that time. This pact that we make between the Universe and ourselves has to be a constant thing. For me, keeping a journal, as I have done since I was 14, is one of the best ways to keep track of your life and resolutions. And one thing we must remember is that resolutions change. Who we were back then and what seemed important back then may not be what we want now.
Every night, before I fall asleep, I make resolutions. The silence of the night helps me think clearly. My meditation has become stronger every day that I practice and the more I meditate, the more clear life becomes.
The only resolution that I want to make on New Years Day is to keep making resolutions. Keeping the goals short and achievable then extending them accordingly.

So this is the week of Christmas. I have 15 people to feed on Sunday, about 30 people on the 27th and I haven't done a thing. The important thing here is to make lists and break everything down over the next 5 days because when you make a plan that is easy to follow, you can achieve anything.

Today I must:

making the garlic paste for Christmas day
finishing touches on my handmade/homemade gifts
looking after my Mum who doesn't feel very well today
make dinner
editing my blurb/poem
be nice and respectful
make an extensive shopping list for tomorrow so I never have to go near the shops again until the new year
clean out two fridges to make way for all the yummy food that will be stocked in there for the next week.
Meditate and breathe.

Have a happy day bloggers

Xx Red xX

Fears

2011-12-17T17:34:00.003+11:00

The gaudy painted faces
Oversized pants with braces
Something scary in their cases
Loopy multi-coloured laces
They're four hundred and thirty kinds of wrong

Wearing shoes twice as big
Displaying a bright red wig
Dancing a crazy jig
from the bottle they take a swig
Which is four hundred and thirty kinds of wrong

Gesturing sleight of hand
I wish they'd all be banned
I want to bury them in the sand
Banish them to no-man's land
And shout 'They're four hundred and thirty kinds of wrong'

For there is nothing really funny
about a clo-wn making money
They're better off selling honey
the kind that's gooey and runny
As it really is, four hundred and thirty kinds of wrong

© Susan Yammouni 2010

The word 'clo-wn' is hyphenated for safety reasons. I believe that every time you say/write this word complete, another one is born somewhere in the world.... stop the cruelty & never utter this word or write it out whole again

I.AM.POEM

2011-12-17T17:30:00.003+11:00

I am not a poet!
I am a person to whom poetry happens.
This fundamental creative act of language
evokes an emotional and sensual response
A power that finds new meaning to a word
Then that word becomes apparent
Exposing the intangible soul,
one that a few will attempt to grasp at,
but most allow it to slip through unnoticed
For surely it is a sad thing in this world
that people live unpoetically
As a poem is not just isolated to words on paper
A poem is a way of identifying the world
And of identifying oneself

© Susan Yammouni 2010

22 Hour Love - Ends in Cliche

2011-12-17T17:29:00.000+11:00

Love hung in the air
curled around a liberated
weed-smoked mist
Twenty two hours later
the thick haze diffused and
with it, all inhibitions
The love was gone
and so was I
Sorry, it's not you
It's me

© Susan Yammouni 2010

Academia...

2011-12-15T15:58:00.000+11:00

If only my desk was that clean

I've just been offered a part scholarship to finish my Degree in Art History, and last night, while I was out dancing at a Russell Morris gig, I got the email to say that it has been extended to complete my Masters as well... that was the nice surprise! All this talk of doing my Masters when I haven't even worn the cap & gown yet is all a little overwhelming for me right now and this is not something to be taken lightly. A Masters Degree costs a lot of money!

I love Australia. The Government want to educate us so badly they are willing to subsidise part of our fees to help us on our way to Academic unemployment. It was about 8 months ago when I was sitting in my backyard with a glass of wine, wondering why I was bothering with a Bachelor Degree. Where was it going to take me? I always let gremlins creep into my psyche and razzle me up and convince myself that I'm not that smart or that I don't deserve it. FORGET THAT SHIT!!!!!!

I lost my way. And my problem is that I listen to everyone around me and never to myself. Starting this degree in Art History was one of the better decisions I have made in my life. OK I may not become the Art Historian that I want to be, but the knowledge is what excites me. Reading makes you worldly. Yes Uni is hard. It requires a lot out of me and being a full-time carer isn't something that you can do when it's convenient and on your time, it's downright annoying and interruptions are guaranteed. But I've come this far already and I've managed.

My nightlife!

So this morning over toast and coffee, I've been online trying to work out the sequence I need to complete my degree. There is such a formula involved and you kind of need a PhD in that just to work it out. My Student Advisors are great, but they keep me on the phone so long and have a real hard-on for just wanting to enrol me there and then and I'm not impulsive like that. I need to mull over my classes and make sure they are what I want. If it was all about Art History, I'd be set, but it isn't. I have all these electives to choose and some of them are just not my cup of tea. *** sigh ***

Wouldn't it be great if a Genii would appear & fix it all for you?

Yeah! That's me!

So I need to write a letter to myself, have this blog post to remind me that I am my own person, who is grown up enough to make my own decisions and people's opinions of me is none of my business. My social life will be next to non-existent but hey, who cares? Most of my acquaintances let me down on a daily basis anyway, but that is an entirely different post anyway.

I'm starting to fear that I cannot retain it all

Thinking back on the very first unit I took and I can still recall how difficult it was handing in my very first Academic Essay. I was petrified. Now I look at a Unit and see that it only requires 3 essays at 2,500 and I say that's 'shit easy'. Of course you're all going to hear about what a dreadful time I'm having while I'm studying and wondering why I put myself through all this crap. It's what I do. I whine when I don't study and I whine when I do... well you putting up with me is your choice, but don't forget I'm loyal and incredibly awesome.... you will miss me if you go away.

So it's nearly 4pm and probably the ideal time to call my Student Advisor because they'll be wanting to go home and won't keep me on the phone for long.

Cheerio Peeps. I'm having a really lazy day today and loving it, but I must get ready for my Christmas Party tonight.

Laters

xX Red Xx

Blah Day... Blocking

2011-12-12T16:19:00.002+11:00

It's blah Day...

It's been a great weekend because the back and knee pain has subsided a bit. I haven't been all hazy on painkillers because I've only needed them at night before bed, so productivity is up.... Today I'm blocking which is the boring part of yarn manipulation, but necessary. I ran out of starch so I ventured out to buy another can and was amazed at the craziness at the shops... people everywhere and none of them know how to drive. Anyway, anyway, anyway, I'm blocking... I think I mentioned I'm blocking...

I know, I know, crap photo, but crap cameras do that!

On Thursday I stumbled across a site I found on Pinterest which made me click on another link, which led me to something else & that link led me here to learn the new stitch below. I am loving it even though the yarn I have on hand is not really suitable, but it is good enough to practice with... yay! So a very happy Thursday for me

Learning new stitches

Friday was the low point of the weekend. My Osteo killed me with treatment and I came straight home to lie down and feel sorry for myself until the nurse left at 5pm and then I had to ignore it all and carry on with my Carer duties. Thankfully I didn't cook and we were naughty and had Fish n Chips for dinner... YUM!!!!!! So while JY was watching 'Mission Impossible' on the telly, I made this Rainbow centre piece that I gifted to my brother and his partner. I didn't have time to block it, so I told them how to do it and hopefully it will be ok because trimming it without blocking it can equal disaster... we'll see. Goodbye Friday, you were OK, but I've had better...

Rainbow table center piece that I gifted to DY & CH... they LOVED it!
[that's CH's shoe in the photo btw, heehee]

Saturday was spent doing nothing of significance. I crocheted my new stitches to practice, hung out with my Mum & Brothers and stopped myself from bursting into tears about the pain so as not to alarm my family. By the time DY & CH left, all that was left to do was hop into bed with a good DVD & pillows everywhere and allow myself to be entertained by the idiot box. There is something quite comforting in the fact that my Saturday-night-out-drinking-blowing-all-my-wages-in-one-night days are over. I just can't do it anymore, I'm too old. Not to mention that it doesn't interest me anymore... in fact, I don't think it ever did. So it was this version of Jane Eyre, a cup of tea & a small copy of Dylan Thomas by my side. Perfik!

Sunday I spent making and cutting out Labels that I needed for my homemade-handmade Christmas presents. DY gave me a lesson on Saturday on how to make pretty labels to print onto recycled cardstock as the finishing touch to my gifts. Yes, like last year, I've given away the commercialism hype associated with Christmas and going back to the beginning... Other than buying the best produce I can get for cooking and eating my Christmas dinner, I will not buy one more tin of bloody biscuits or give one more JB Gift Certificate away. All gifts will be made by me and in return I ask that you make me something or donate what you would spend on my gift to either the Homeless or to a Charity of your choice. Seriously, I have too much stuff and unless it's a copper baking dish, a huge copper mixing bowl or a copper saucepan, I have everything I need. Thank you and have a Merry Christmas.

How was your weekend?

XxRedxX

la Soupe...It is French for Soup

2011-12-01T13:22:00.001+11:00

French Onion Soup. When the weather turns cold on the eve of Summer, there are two things you can do. You can get all shitty asking why is the Universe so pissed off, or you can embrace it and make all the sorts of food that you dream about making in Winter.

You will need:

Onions

Beef Stock or White Wine

Salt & pepper

Loads of butter

Baguette Bread for Toasts

Gruyere Cheese

Pinch of Love

Sliced onion in butter [the French love their freaking butter]

Go on then, slice up some brown onions, I used 4 smallish ones here, that's all I had.

Melt some butter, here I used about 30g [wowee, the recipe asked for 60g] add your onions and using a heavy based pan, cover them and stir occasionally for about 15-20 minutes until soft. Remove the lid and keep stirring occasionally until they are caramelised.

Now I used some stock but you can use white wine too, it all depends on your taste. All up you're going to need about 3 cups for this amount but only add one cup at a time

After adding the first cup of stock, boil it until it reduces and goes thick

OK, now adding one cup at a time hereafter, bring it to the boil in between cups, add a bay leaf [fresh is best] some salt and fresh ground pepper... It really is very simple isn't it?

A fresh bay leaf is best for this recipe

Voila... Cut up some baguette on an angle, toast them, top them with some gruyere cheese. Ladle some soup into some oven safe soup bowls, top with the gruyere toasts and grill or oven bake until melted and gooey... it really is necessary to the soup, the soup is nothing without the cheesy croutons.

Bon Apetite .... that's French for Bon Apetite

Cupcake, Oh Cupcake!

2011-11-24T13:20:00.000+11:00

OK, I've got a birthday party on Saturday night so that can mean several things... one is, 'yay it's not a funeral' two is, 'well I have to make something because we don't rock up empty-handed, that's what separates us from the animals', and three is, 'HOMEMADE STUFF ROCKS MY WORLD'... there are several more points but seriously, I know you've already scanned the photos out before reading this and you just want the damn cupcake recipe already, right?

If a cupcake recipe got any easier than this little beauty, I'll slap my butt and come up singing dixie... herein lies the danger my friends, because it IS so easy, you're in danger of making it more often than you should. This is my very first attempt at making cupcakes and they came out a treat. OF COURSE IT'S A NIGELLA RECIPE, why are you even asking? Let me get on with it before I get distracted by something shiny and lose the urge to write this out....

OK, OK, OK, so you're going to need some basic baking ingredients for this.

125g Self Raising Flour

125g Caster Sugar

125g softened butter

2 eggs

Approximately 2 tbls Milk

Half a teaspoon of real Vanilla extract

and LOVE... always Love!

Righto, here's the side note: I took out 2 tbls of flour and added the same amount in cocoa so I could make chocolate cupcakes... Yummy!

and some icing... I made ganache because I'm just an indulgent domestic goddess but make whatever you want. Surprise me!

Preheat your oven to 200C

I used cupcake cups, but you can use a muffin tin or cupcake tin, OMG use whatever just adjust the cooking time accordingly. Line and grease... whatever, yadda, yadda, I can't hold your hand here, you're just too smart for me.

Now here is the REALLY HARD PART.... throw it all in a processor/blitzer (that doovalacky that has many names, you know it looks like this, except for the milk, and then blitz it till it's smooth... so this is where you need the butter really soft so plan ahead friends for less hassle later....

Pulse while adding milk, to make a soft, dropping consistency, like beautifully whipped cream. Spoon it into whatever cases and bake those beauties for 15-20 minutes

I know, it's soooooo hard!

How Lush! Raw Batter.

Beautiful mounds of chocolate goodness

What's a cupcake without sprinkles? A BORING one!

And this is what it's meant to look like in the end!

Ta Dah........ THE END

Happy Cooking

Xx Red xX

Cable Knitting Scarves in the Hot Weather... Bonkers!

2011-11-18T22:17:00.001+11:00

Cable Knit Scarf

So this little baby feels and looks gorgeous. I'm asking the Universe for a camera that takes decent photos, but right now, you lovely readers have to put up with my iPhone or iPad camera because this Vagabond [me] has chosen poverty over the bourgeoisie! {ok, ok the iPhone & iPad were both gifts from my wonderfully generous brothers who spoil their only sister rotten, I'm not complaining really} But the button is a beautiful sea green that shines like a pin [see? distraction of shiny things is my weakness]... I have sooooo many buttons.

♫BUTTON LOVE♫

MY FELLOW AUSTRALIANS.... ARE YOU USING AUSTRALIAN YARN?

*sigh* this yarn is just beautiful but it's made in Italy... it's OK because Italy need some money right now so it seems.... and it's just so darn nice, I couldn't help myself. Merino/Alpaca blend and it's heavenly against the skin, which is important because it is a neck scarf. But I try to buy Australian every time. Just like American's buy American and New Zealanders buy New Zealand.... yadda yadda yadda...

So every now and then, while I'm either knitting or crocheting, I stop myself and think, 'Summer's almost here, I shouldn't be doing this now'.... I then squash that thought and cast it out with the rest of the social pre-conditioned thinking I got rid of years ago and keep hooking my needle[s].

So I'm not really a knitter... I'm teaching myself, I only know the basics, but it's the same old story of me being left-handed and the WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD IS RIGHT HANDED or so it seems whenever I want to learn something. Lucky, I'm a take-charge kinda gal! OK so if the recipe doesn't make sense, I deeply and humbly apologise, but nothing can be done about it because my craft recipe book is in my language and maybe one day I'll make an Audio CD so you can learn it [it has words like flibbergobber, and doovalacky in it, it's AWESOME!].

You will need to know how to knit and purl and do a basic one cable stitch for this OK? It's freaking easy, if I can do it, ANYBODY can!

So... I used 8 ply yarn that is 1 x 50g, and size 7 needles because I wanted a loose effect.

Cast on 20 Stitches

[OK I'll wait]

Then we're going to do 8 rows of garter stitch [knit every row]

OKAY, now we're going to

Knit four [4]
Purl two [2]
Knit eight [8]
Purl two [2]
Knit four [4]

Got it?

Now we're always going to knit the four [4] on each end to keep the garter stitch, because this stops the scarf from curling... we don't want a curly scarf for this. Maybe you do, and that's OK, but I don't, so learn the rules, then break them in your own way later, right now I need your attention!

I used markers for the four [4] and the two [2] so I could knit while watching the idiot box but you don't have to [watch the idiot box I mean, because it's idiotic]. But with the two [2] and the eight [8] you must knit the knits and purl the purls.

Meaning on the next row, you're going to:

Knit four [4]
Knit two [2]
Purl eight [8]
Knit two [2]
Knit four [4]

Now you're going to alternate this for 5 rows up and then on the SIXTH row, you're going to cable.. YAY... SOoooooo

Row 6:

Knit four [4]
Purl two [2]
Slide four [4] stitches on the cable, to the back of your work
Knit the next four still on the needle [4]
Knit the four [4] on the cable
Purl two [2]
Knit four [4]

Now you cable ever sixth [6] row, I used a stitch counter because I think I'm addicted to gadgets...*sigh*

You bloody superstar! Just keep doing that until the scarf is desired length. Don't make it too tight, we're looking for comfort here.

OK ask me questions! Sometimes things only make sense in my head, but you never know, you may get it and I may be an undiscovered genius. Hmmm.... I'm getting ideas!

Happy Creating you Beautiful People

Knitting on Chairs

2011-11-14T14:33:00.003+11:00

Yes I'm knitting away, sitting on a kitchen chair for my back, which is no good for my knee, so I sit on the couch, with my leg up, to relieve my knee, which is no good for my back! Phew!

Can you see why I'm at my wits end? Anyway, anyway, anyway, I'm cable knitting some scarves. Why? Oh because I am addicted to manipulating yarn into all sorts of shapes.

Monday is my 'blah' day, and the 'blah' is about working with two needles instead of the usual one. Tonight's dinner is Lebanese Chicken Rice Pilaf, some white wine and to round this day off, what is supposed to be relaxing but is more like forced laziness, I'll be watching a very funny movie. Tonight it's The Birdcage with that fabulous all-star cast. Why Nathan Lane or Hank Azaria didn't win Oscars for that movie eludes me... Hollywood just plain sucks!

Happy Monday my friends and happy hooking or knitting, or whatever it is that you're doing. In fact why don't you tell me what you're up to...

Xx Red xX

Brilliant Movie

They both should have won Oscars

My Cable Scarf

Crochet Socks

2011-11-13T22:00:00.000+11:00

I am SOOOOO going to learn how to do this... This lady has the most amazing how to videos, so please subscribe to her channel

Happy Hooking

xXRedXx

Malaysian Beef Rendang

2011-11-07T18:50:00.003+11:00

My friend's Dad, Nick, who happens to be Malaysian, would be proud of my Beef Rendang, if I may say so...

Falls off the fork

Today was the first day in about 4 weeks I've felt well enough to stand in the kitchen and make a curry from scratch. Yes, my back is healing and my knee is starting to behave itself a bit, but I'm still not signing up for any marathons... Actually, that'll never happen, so scratch that.

Today the aroma wafting though the house like a silken haze is dry roasted desiccated coconut, something that I've decided I'd like to be buried in, it's just heaven. My notebooks are strewn all over the table, the couch and in the kitchen, while I potter around, very carefully, doing this and that and some light exercises in between. Going down to the Supermarket was an ordeal that took longer than usual, but it was nice to be out buying some fresh produce again. Hanging on to my shopping cart for dear life as my walking aide and even the annoying people who dare to shop at the same time as me didn't seem to bother me this time. Yay! I was out walking.... slowly!

So here's a little gem of a recipe I picked up, so long ago now I don't even remember where. Rendang is my favourite curry ever and I've never attempted to make it myself until now.

For your enjoyment....

6 long dried chillies, seeds removed & torn in half (keep seeds if you like it hot)

1 1/2 - 2 Spanish onions, chopped

5 cloves garlic, chopped

3cm knob galangal, peeled & sliced

3cm knob young ginger, peeled & sliced

1 lemongrass stalk, finely chopped

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3/4 tumeric leaf, rolled & cut finely (if unavailable, leave out)

6 lime leaves, rolled & sliced

1KG topside or chuck steak, cubed

1 cup coconut milk

4 Tbls curry powder

1/2 cup water

1 cup desiccated coconut, dry toasted over low heat & ground

Salt to taste

1-2 Tbls thick caramel soy sauce

Soak chillies in hot water until soft. Place chillies, onion, garlic, galangal, ginger & lemongrass into a blender. Blend to a paste, adding a little of the soaking water from the chillies.

Heat a heavy based pan. Add oil & then fry the paste adding the turmeric & lime leaves. Mix & cook for 3-4 minutes, until fragrant. You really do need that much oil because the paste goes too dry & burns. That's not nice. Just eat lettuce all day tomorrow OK?

Add beef cubes, stir in the coconut milk & then the curry powder. Add the water & the desiccated coconut. Stir and simmer for 1- 1 1/2 hrs, or until meat is tender. Lastly season with salt and soy sauce, which is what makes the curry appear darker. Please do not use normal soy sauce. If you can't find Malaysian caramel soy, then Sweet Soy Sauce is available even at a Hick-Town market, like mine. It's is quite Molasses-like.

Serve with steamed rice.

OH YEAH!!!

It came out sooooooo good

My Favourite Piece...

2011-11-06T21:56:00.000+11:00

Pumpkin & Seafood Curry, Nigella Style

2011-11-05T22:08:00.000+11:00

OMG this is so lush, you just gobble it up and get happy for days about it. So quick and easy and perfect if you're having guests over for dinner and time is short. This can be prepared up to a certain point, then you're only 5-10 minutes away from eating it from then on. Do yourselves a favour and write this one down, it's worth having in the recipe box.

Nigella's Thai Yellow Pumpkin & Seafood Curry

You will need:

400ml can of coconut cream

1-2 tbls yellow [or red] curry paste

350ml if fish stock

3 tbls fish sauce

2 tlbs palm sugar or caster sugar

3 lemongrass stalks, bend and tie, bruise the stalks a bit

3 lime leaves, de-stalked and cut into strips

1/2 teas turmeric

1kg Pumpkin, peeled and cut into chunks

500g salmon fillets, cut into chunks [I used white flesh fish]

500g peeled, raw prawns [do not use already cooked]

Pak choi, or any other green vegetable of your choice

Juice of half a lime, to taste

Coriander, chopped, to serve

Skim the top off the tin of coconut cream and put it over medium heat into a large saucepan or casserole dish with the curry paste. Let it sizzle and using a whisk or spoon beat cream and paste until well combined
Still beating gently, add the rest of the coconut cream, fish stock, fish sauce, sugar, lemongrass, lime leaves and turmeric. Bring to boil and add the pumpkin. Cook on a fast simmer until the pumpkin is tender.
You can cook the curry up to this point in advance, maybe leaving the pumpkin with a bit more bite, it will cook more as it cools. Either way, you are about 5-10 minutes away from eating
To the robustly simmering pan, add the salmon and prawns [if you're using frozen prawns, they need to go in before the fish]. When the salmon and prawns have cooked through, which shouldn't take more than 5 minutes, stir in your green vegetables, sliced, chopped or shredded as suits - tamp down with a wooden spoon.
When the veg is wilted, squeeze the lime juice, take off the heat, decant if you want and sprinkle with chopped coriander.

Serve with plain basmati or jasmine rice.

Holy Moly it's so yummy.

Happy Cooking

Xx Red xX

Crochet

2011-11-03T20:38:00.002+11:00

All I need is a Garden, my Library, Stocked Kitchen & my Yarn
Oh... and my Art Studio! Of course

Bamboo Yarn = Love

Have you tried Bamboo Yarn?

It is adorable. It falls so well, has a really nice weight to it and it's so soft you want to wrap your whole body in it.

OK, it's a bit excessive to crochet a blanket in Bamboo Yarn, but this is for my gorgeous Mother to put over her knees when we take her out in the wheelchair. So I don't care that it's going to cost a gazillion dollars when it's finished.

You really must try this new Bamboo Yarn, it's just lush! I got mine from the cutest Yarn shop near me called WoolyButt . How cute is that name? Lovely lady working in there, I'm only upset that I didn't ask her name. They have a knitting/Crochet club on Tuesday mornings at the Cafe a few doors up from there and apparently all are welcome, beginners too.

Are you Yarning something? Let's make all those morbid terms like 'Dying Art' a moot point.

Show me what you're making.

Xx Red xX

Soups On...

2011-11-03T19:33:00.001+11:00

I choose soup every time...

Roast Vegetable Soup just makes my mouth water. Most times, it's whatever vegies are left over from the Roast the night before magically morphs into tomorrow nights soup, but I didn't have a Roast last night and I had a real hankering for this dish.

This hardly needs a recipe, but I'm sharing it anyway because it's too scrumptious people!

OK.... Go!

8 Vined-Ripened Tomatoes

2 Red Onions, quartered

3 small potatoes, halved

3 carrots, halved & quartered

1 red capsicum, seeded & cut into 4 big chunks

few cloves of garlic, skin on but crushed slightly

These are the ingredients that happened to be in my fridge, but feel free to jazz it up with a bit more, there are no rules to this except doing it with love.

Place vegetables in a roasting pan, drizzle with a good olive oil, pink salt, fresh ground pepper, dried oregano. toss it about to combine and glisten and give it a good roasting for about 45 minutes in a moderate oven.

When roasted, put it all in a pot, add some stock, [chicken or vegetable] enough to cover and about an inch above level, bring to boil and simmer for about 10-15 & let it think about what it's about to become.

Blend until creamy. Serve with some creme fraiche [optional] and crusty bread and drool....

Happy Cooking

Xx Red xX

One Night in Melbourne

2011-11-03T19:21:00.001+11:00

Bourke St at 1.54AM

Creepy Building, Bourke St 1.54AM

I like to think it's a fairy door

Superman's Closet

Melbourne during the week, late at night is such a magical place. It's always magical, but at night, it shines like a brand new pin. There is always places open to eat and drink at, whatever time you go. From dusk til dawn in the warmer months, Melbourne City is my stomping ground. I am completely happy with all my iPhone camera apps that I have purchased over the years, but my favourite one would have to be the Toy Camera, which are the result of the images above.

So everyone in Melbourne gets a hug from me

What's it like in your city?

A Poem.... for Jet

2011-11-03T19:02:00.000+11:00

I went in search of creative words
through hills and dales and chirping birds
Advice that could look so small on a page
But big enough to take the stage
On how I feel about being Godmother to Jet

It occurred to me that my search was all wrong
This cannot be saned into word or song
What I felt was chaos and complete misrule
harping on definition of a hearsay rule
On how I feel about being Godmother to Jet

A Godmothers role is defined so clear
Rules and regulations that one must adhere
And I have a little surprise for you child
Nothing heavy, embarrassing or even a bit wild
On how I feel about being your Godmother Jet

A Godmother's love is weaker than a Mother's
Weaker than a Father's, but stronger than other's
You are their Angel child, and Godchild to me
In the dearest part of my heart there could ever be
And that is simply how I feel about being a Godmother to Jet

Susan Yammouni © 2011

My First, and Probably Only, Sonnet

2011-11-03T18:55:00.000+11:00

Destined for exile atop dusty shelves
Aroma of pages, old and new
Into Author's mind, one deeply delves
Permits any reader to silently pass through
Six and Twenty letters laid out
Words toyed with 'til resonating awe
Similarities of prosaists throughout
write of love affairs in perfection and flaw
Perfect like you - marred like me
forever be but read once, maybe twice
As I sit and read under a still living tree
I imagine knowledge must come at a price
One must care for a book, it is without lie
For every book made, a tree says goodbye

Susan Yammouni © 2011