the simple life (aka pink lemonade)

via Pinterest

On Friday I was handed a lovely big shopping-bag of farm-fresh lemons from a gentleman whom I work with. He's fortunate enough to own a farm with cows, lemon trees and dozens of different types of roses (amongst other things).


Immediately my head started to conjure up images of lemon tarts, lemon curd and home made lemonade. So when I got home with said lemons, I googled pink lemonade recipes. 


Frankly I wasn't happy with the results of the search as I was quite specific in the ingredients which I wanted to use. So I made up my own recipe and thought you might like to try it for yourself. I've since emailed the recipe to B-Fab and she's made it and tweeted me to say she's glad she'd made a double batch!


Pink Lemonade Cordial

It should be noted that the following measurements will make a cordial which you should then mix at a ratio of 1:1 with sparkling mineral water or just plain old still water. Good luck to you if you attempt to drink it un-mixed!

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 8-10 fresh strawberries

Method

In a saucepan pour in the water and heat until boiling. When it reaches boiling point, add the sugar and stir until all dissolved. Set aside to cool.  Crush your strawberries with a potato masher or in a small food processor (you may add some lemon juice if using a food processor). If so desired, strain the strawberry mixture through a sieve to remove any large chunks. I left mine in because I don't have a problem with small delicious pieces of strawberry floating in my drink.

Add the lemon juice and strawberry mix to the cooled sugar water, pour the entire mixture into a sterilised glass bottle, give it a good shake (after popping the lid on of course), and chill for a few hours.  

Delicious and refreshing. And full of sugary goodness.

P.S. it would also be nice with vodka.

P.P.S. I had all good intentions of styling a beautiful shot of my home made pink lemonade, but with everything that I've got to do over the next few weeks, I'm trying to eliminate any non-essentials. In times like these it's fortunate that we have Pinterest to turn to. Upon entering my search term of 'pink lemonade' I was instantly presented with the cream of the crop of pink lemonade shots.

P.P.P.S. I didn't get to making any lemon tarts or lemon curd. But I still have about 20 lemons left, so it might even happen in between the great big shop tasks list. Which is where I'll be today. And tomorrow.

things to do on the school holidays

We were lucky enough to send Jaxon to Brisbane for school holidays.  I say lucky enough because with the way things are financially these days, you're lucky to fork out enough money to do anything remotely entertaining with kids during school holidays.  


We have family who live in the sunshine state and they don't get to spend nearly enough time with their only grandchild, so he's always spoilt rotten whenever they're together.


So I'm not going to tell you about what to do with kids on the school holidays.  Oh no.  This is a rather different story about how to spend your holidays if you're lucky enough to be child-free.  Maybe use it as a things to do and things NOT to do kind of guide.


WARNING: the following post includes some photos of food which may offend some readers. If you find food offensive, we ask that you look away.

ladybirds in jar (none were harmed)

IKEA ball pit

chicken roti at Queen Victoria Market

making polish pierogi

pierogi up close

zines at space invaders exhibition

space invaders exhibition

mixed berry, white chocolate and almond torte

Lindt cafe hot chocolate

Europa cakes through window on Acland Street, St Kilda

• Travel interstate with five year old whilst you're sick with bronchitis and the flu (I had a photo to share, but it's not pretty so I left it out).
• Wonder whether you're actually going to make it onto the flight or if you'll be stopped by quarantine or border patrol.
• Cancel ALL plans in your home state because you're so sick you feel as though you're going to cough up a lung.
• Attend your mothers' birthday party periodically wearing a surgical mask to protect innocent bystanders from catching a horrible deathly sickness. Watch for strange side glances from party guests.
• Eat home made Polish Pączki for breakfast. 
• Spend four days on your mother's couch wishing you were back at home in the comforts of your own surrounds.
• Catch a large pickle-sized-jar full of ladybirds. Ladybugs. Lady-beetles. Whatever they're called. Lots of them. Last count = 36.
• Travel back home and go back to work for four days whilst preparing your home for the arrival of your mother and safe return of your child.
• Watch a movie with your husband or significant life partner while indulging in some quiet, blissful and uninterrupted couple time.
• Paint. A wall, a canvas or a piece of furniture. Whatever tickles your fancy. In my case, I painted a wall (in le shop).
• Eat something strange and not child friendly for dinner, such as 5 bean mix and tuna. Because you can. And because you don't have to satisfy fussy little taste buds.
• Don't do four loads of washing a day. I dare you.
• Explore the new mega IKEA at Springvale and do something completely out of character like taking the child to the kids playground and watch them enjoy themselves in the ball pit without turning a thought to the possible disasters which line the floor of the ball pit.
• Make pierogi with your mum. Or just let her do most of the pierogi-making while you go to the Space Invaders exhibit with your significant life partner (read: cash in on some free baby-sitting while you still can).
• Take many awesome photos at the Space Invaders exhibit before being told that "you're not allowed to take photos in here". Oops. Sorry.
• Check out the Queen Vic Market and peruse the many Ugg Boot, cheap plastic knock-off licensed toys, even cheaper looking clothes, fresh produce and bric-a-brac galore. Eat lots of yummy things including a chicken roti.
• Get up really early and hit the Camberwell Rotary Market (read: the best flea market in Melbourne and possibly Australia). Pick up a brand new dusty blue mohair top with black velvet buttons for $5 with the added bonus of it's previous owner never actually wearing it since its original purchase.
• Scenic drive to Tyabb to indulge in vintage wares, antiques and food including a splendid mixed berry, white chocolate and almond torte, buttery, crusty, ham and cheese croissant and english breakfast tea (not in that order). Yep. I said torte.
• Introduce your mum to the delights of the Lindt Cafe
• Visit the Europa Cake Shop in St Kilda and take in the scrumptious scents of sugary goodness.

And that my friends is how you spend two weeks of school holidays. I may not be in school, but school holidays are very much a part of my life now that I have a school-aged child in my company.

And today, the end of the school holidays, I have one more little luxury. A new modem arrived today which means connectivity to the outside world again. At high speed. So you'll be seeing lots more of me.

easy chicken soup

Comforting chicken soup.  For me there's nothing more soothing.  Well, except for maybe a warm cuddle from my loved ones.  Because I'm in a comforting, sharing is caring kinda mood, I'm going to share my chicken soup recipe. It's best made in a large pot so that you have enough for a couple of days.  Trust me, you'll want enough for a couple of days.


Ingredients

• 1 tbspn olive oil
• 1 onion finely diced 
• 6 medium button mushrooms, roughly chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 500ml chicken stock
• 1 litre water
• 3 chicken drumsticks
• 3 chicken wings
• 1 can chickpeas (drained)
• 1 can corn (drained)
• 1 can peas (drained)
• salt and pepper

Method


In a large heavy based pot heat some oil and gently fry onions, mushrooms and half the garlic for about 5 mins on a medium heat.  Pour in chicken stock and water and bring to a simmer.  Add chicken pieces and simmer for about 10 mins.  Then add chickpeas and simmer for another 10 mins.  Remove chicken pieces and set aside to cool.  Add corn, peas and remainder of garlic to the soup.  Once chicken has cooled a little (enough that you can stand to touch it without burning your digits), remove the meat from the bones and add it back to the pot and simmer for a further 5 mins.  Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir, pour into bowls and serve.

If you could be bothered, you can also add diced potato in with the chickpeas.  But only if you could be bothered.  Will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.


Enjoy.


P.S. don't forget about the just reality challenge this Friday. It's not too late to play along. Watch this space on Friday and add your link. I dare you.

Apple fritters or racuszki

Apple fritters #yum #polish, originally uploaded by The Craft Revival.

You may not know this but I'm a Polak, born and bred. I moved out to Australia with my mum when I was a little girl. Even though I call Australia home, I still have very deep Polish roots. I still speak Polish and embrace Polish culture at every possibly opportunity.

And what better way to embrace Polish culture than with food. I could eat Polish food all day every day.

One of the dishes I remember my mum making for my brother and I when we were little was racuszki (pronounced ra-tsu-shki) or apple fritters.

Today, I introduced our 5 year old son to Polish apple fritters. He's quite the little master chef in terms of his kitchen interests. So we made them together. Needless to say, he was very impressed with the taste and asked if we could make them every day.

It's an easy recipe and makes for a nice morning or afternoon tea snack with a lovely cup of tea.

Ingredients
3-4 apples, peeled, cored and sliced into 1/4 inch slices
1 cup flour
2 eggs
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 cup milk
salt
cooking oil
icing sugar

How
Add egg yolks, a pinch of salt and olive oil to sifted flour. Pour in milk whilst mixing. Mix the batter in a blender and leave for 15 minutes covered with a towel. Whisk egg whites until stiff and gently fold them through the batter. The mixture should now be light and creamy. One at a time dip each apple slice into the batter and fry in hot cooking oil on a moderate heat until golden brown. Sprinkle with icing sugar whilst still hot (after you've removed them from the pan).

Na zdrowie (to your health)!

Ming Makes Cupcakes

Hello lovelies


I hope you're having a lovely weekend.  It's raining here in Melbourne, so I've resorted to looking at some baked treats on the internet.  One site which I've been meaning to share with you for some time now is Ming Makes Cupcakes.


If you haven't heard of Ming Makes Cupcakes, you're in for a real treat.  Literally.

With cupcake recipes such as cupcake #13 - Sour Cream Fig Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

via Ming Makes Cupcakes

and cupcake # 8 -  Chocolate Cupcakes with Mint Marshmallow Frosting

via Ming Makes Cupcakes

You're going to die and go to heaven when you see Ming's cupcake recipes.  Oh and at the top of the site, there's also a section for cookies.  Not as extensive as the cupcakes, but still delectable nonetheless!


Happy weekend baking. Oh and I accept cupcakes in the mail. Just saying.

Delicious... anytime of the day

So as I sat here drinking my first cup of tea of the day and eating banana bread for breakfast at 10:30am, I wondered to myself:


a] is it wrong that I've been up for over an hour and instead of settling my tumbling tummy with some food I instead chose to catch up on reading the blogs I subscribe to?


b] is it bad that I just ate banana bread for breakfast?


Well the answer is no and no.  


Firstly, a girl needs her crafty inspiration for the day and I certainly get that at all the fabulous blogs I read.  There are so many freakin' talented people out there with so much to offer, how could I not be interested?


Secondly, anything that comes from the Martha Stewart stable, you know has to be good.  And that banana bread I mentioned was baked compliments of the Martha Stewart site.  I have to tell you, this was the BEST banana bread I've ever made.  My husband and I have been eating it at all hours of the day since I baked it yesterday.


Check out the recipe for banana bread here... you won't be disappointed!