The antidote

... to our hot weather is homemade icy poles. This one is mango, natural yoghurt and cardamon. Not too sweet, but so refreshing. Experimenting is the key.

11 things in 2011

10 things in 2010 could only be followed by you guessed it, 11 things in 2011.
A mix of personal, crafty, sporty, life-y goals. I like focus you see, oh and ticking things off a list.
Here they are, in all their glory
1. Gold Coast marathon. 42kms. Oh yeah.
2. Rejoin running group (see above)
3. Try kickboxing. It was on last year's list
4. Volunteer on a food bus. Or in any capacity really. Time to give back.
5. See some live music. I haven't done this in ages and used to go all the time.
6. Read 20 books.
7. Go camping. I've been bugging Mr T for ages. He's totally onside.
8. Knit socks.
9. Finish the crochet blanket
10. Rock red lippy for a week. Man that stuff is scary. I want to tame the fear.
11. Dare I say it - get a new job.

10 things in '10: Final update

1. Take French language lessons: Not done. But I do have plenty of listening material on my iPod. 2. Read 12 books: Done! 15 books. Nothing outstanding, but I do credit the Stieg Larsson Millennium series for getting me back on the reading wagon. 3. Climb the 1000 steps (left over from '09): Done, sans hangover. 4. Run something with the word marathon in the title (half or full - I haven't decided): Done! Half marathon ran in July. 5. Finish the large cotton crochet blanket started last year: Still going. 6. Rack up 10 hours of windsurfing: Not quite 10 hours yet, but summer's here and I'm keen to get out there again 7. Engage a personal trainer/run coach or join a running group: Joining a running group saw my times improve dramatically. So worth it. 8. Continue Botanical Illustration classes: I think I only did a term, but I did enjoy it. 9. *Insert Financial goal here* You can never really have enough. But I should be set for my six months off work including two months in Europe. 10. Master 5 fish dishes - including a whole fish. Not quite the five dishes mastered, but I do feel more comfortable cooking with fish (and meat as it turns out). This chicken satay dish converted really well to fish (see above) and of course a whole fish was cooked. I also had a go at curing fish.

Summer's here

Happy New Year, belatedly! The hat is getting a good workout at the beach. Hope there's time to wind down and relax where ever you are.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

With the impending OS trip, my family decided on a no presents year and Mr T and I decided that instead of Christmas gifts we'd treat ourselves to a night of decadent food and wines in the new year. Of course I'd bought a couple of gifts during the year before we'd made the arrangement, so there will be a present or two opened.

However in my household, no Christmas is complete without homemade food gifts. Beer & Chili peanut brittle and Irish Cream (sans almond essence).

I will not let the fact that on the eve of Christmas eve our olive tree was stolen for the third time (this time I reported it to the police). My neighbour noticed first thing this morning and gifted me another replacement tree.

Not long to go now...

It's been a big couple of weeks, sadly my Nan passed away, but we know she is in a much better place.
I caught up with the Girls for our Christmas breakfast and through a white elephant gift exchange I stole the gorgeous olive bowl.

I've clocked up over 10 years at work and while it would usually calm down at this time of year, it appears to be ramping up. Not helped by an office move. 20 years worth of stuff to be sorted and packed. It's daunting to say the least!

That said, from Thursday I have two and a half weeks off. And it's official, my long service leave has been approved. Six months leave starting mid February. It's no secret to those who know me that 2011 is the year of the new career! Exciting times ahead to say the least.

Stick 'o Hot Choc

These have totally done the blog rounds, but I thought I'd have a crack, because I think they make a nice little gift. I breakfasted with my girls this morning, and while we did do a Kris Kringle I wanted to give something a little extra.

Of course I had to taste test too. It makes for a pretty decadent hot chocolate.
I'm looking forward to experimenting with a more flavour additions (I added vanilla extract) but wouldn't mind trying cinnamon, orange, coffee and most of all chili.

Bubble tea

While shopping for wonton wrappers last weekend, I stumbled across dried tapioca pearls used in bubble tea. This household likes bubble tea. But making it yourself means you can dial down the sweetness.

First I made tea. Any black tea will do.
I prepared the tapioca pearls according to these directions.
For best results serve the tapioca pearls slightly warm or at room temperature. When cold they're hard in the middle, not soft like they should be.

• 1-2 tbs prepared tapioca pearls • 1 cup cold tea • 1 tsp sweetened condensed milk (low fat is fine) • 1 dash milk.
Add all to a glass and stir stir stir to dissolve the condensed milk. Drink the deliciousness wishing you had one of those fat straws to assist with eating of the pearls. Though a spoon will do and it's far more environmentally friendly!

More bunting

Oh and a little bit more bunting for the tree. Made with floss and Japanese making tape.

My creative space

A longer than anticipated visit to Bunnings on the weekend saw me come out with a stack of paint chips. I spray painted the back of them silver and they've been turned into bunting for our tree.