Tinkerblue

Australian Bushfires

There are bushfires every summer in Australia,  you almost get used to it.  But not this year.

 www.smh.com.au

Fires are raging out control.  Not helping are winds at over 100km/hour and temperatures up to 46C.

www.smh.com.au

Over 100 people have lost their lives.  700+ homes are gone.  Not to mention the wildlife.

www.smh.com.au

Please say a prayer for the communities, for the firefighters, for everyone involved.

And they may have been deliberately lit.  Fire and police officers believe it may have been arson.  Our Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd was quoted as saying, "What do you say about anyone like that?  There's no words to describe it, other than it's mass murder."

Just watching it on the news made me cry!

The google map shows the extent of the Victorian fires.  Green is safe,  yellow is controlled, orange is contained and red is going.

Holy Cow Cake

I have a friend who says she doesn't like cake mix cakes, only cakes made from scratch.  If only she knew that most of the cakes I make are made from mixes.  I am working my way through the Cake Mix Doctor.

I made the Holy Cow Cake for absolutely no reason, other than I felt like baking.

This is very rich. What do you expect the recipe calls for devil's food cake mix, caramel topping, sweetened condensed milk, 4 bubtterfinger bars, whipped topping and cream cheese?  But it's so good. Next time I'll have to make sure we are having friends to visit.  A whole pan of this is not good for our waist lines.

The 2nd cake - raspberry dacquoise

I saw this recipe on Chocolate and Zucchini.  I emailed it to my mother in law, cause she's more likely to make it than I am.

And I was right.  She made it for my welcome to Canada party.  It was awesome.  Absolutely delicious. You should try it.  Thanks Barb.

Welcome to Canada Party

Hubby and Steph threw me a party to officially welcome me to Canada.  

There was a lot of food, Canadian flags, friends (old and new) and one Australian flag.  

Hubby and I were thrilled to see so many of our new friends.

A big thank you to everyone who drove out to our neck of the woods to help celebrate. 

Jacqui and Sean, Melissa and Jonny, Laura and Dan, Ulrich, Jeanette, Maria and Julia, Steph and Scott, Manfred and Ulrich, Alecia, Kyla, Sophia and Clara, Chris, Andrea and Alex, Kim, Joanna and Deka, Michelle, John, Mark and Julie, Tom and Donna, Barb and Stew and of course Hubby. 

I apologise if I missed anyone.  

I almost forgot.  There was cake.  Two cakes.  Steph provided the first cake.....

Crafting Adventures - Lemon Drop Cookies

Kelli and Finny set a new adventure for 2009.  Each month they'll select a challenge to two from Craft Magazine's website.

January - Lemon Drop Cookies or Men's Hoody.

I can't see hubby wearing a hoody.  He owns one or two and doesn't wear either very often.  In fact in 10 years I don't really remember him wearing either of them.

So Lemon Drop Cookies it was.

Cream butter, sugar and cream cheese:

Combining sugar and lemon zest:

1" balls ready for baking:

All baked and cooling.  This recipe made almost 48 cookies.  And my kitchen smelled all lemony good.

I think I overbaked them a little.  The are more crispy than chewy.  But they are still good.  I like having one with a cup of tea as a late afternoon snack.

Hey Kelli or Finny, what's the challenge for February?

Now I am Austranadian

Last Tuesday, January 20th I officially became a Canadian Citizen.  

J'affirme solennellement que je serai fidèle et porterai sincère allégeance à Sa Majesté la Reine Elizabeth Deux, Reine du Canada, à ses héritiers et successeurs, que j’observerai fidèlement les lois du Canada et que je remplirai loyalement mes obligations de citoyen canadien

I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her MajestyQueen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.

Yep, we had to say the oath in French and English, because Canada is officially a bilingual country.

It was a long morning.  Hubby, my in-laws, my sister-in-law (Jen), my niece (Taylor), my friend (Steph) and I all arrived at the Surrey Immigration office at 8am.  

About 20 mins later they let everyone in.  I had to stand in a long line up to sign in.  

There were 91 people from 24 countries taking their oath of citizenship.  It took over 1/2 an hour to sign everyone in. 

 

Finally around 9:15am the Judge entered the room and the ceremony began.  The Judge thanked everyone for choosing Canada over everywhere else and then proceeded to almost insult every other country in the world.  I'm sure that wasn't how he meant to come across, at least I hope not.  

We had cookies and coffee afterwards.  Then Steph and I headed to work, and everyone else went out for breakfast!

Steph thought I needed moose ears.  

It's only January and already it's Easter

I'm still getting over Christmas.  We still have to take the lights down. But the stores are already getting ready for Easter.  

I had hot cross buns for breakfast. Store bought.  I have a recipe for them somewhere, in Australia Ithink.  Sure I could google one, but hey they were cheap.  And good.

And a Cadbury Creme Egg for dessert.  

I have a weakness for these.  

I really wish they only came out the week before Easter, not months before.

Yum, Double Chocolate Rum Cake

From the Cake Mix Doctor by Anne Byrn.

Chocolate Devil's Food cake mix, chocolate pudding, rum and chocolate chips.  Topped with more rum and raspberry jam.  The recipe calls for gold rum, we didn't have any, so I used dark spiced rum.  

Ooey, gooey, chocolately goodness.  This cake didn't last very long.

Duqqa, Duqa, Dukka, Dukkah? However you spell it, it's good.

Dukkah is originally an Egyptian dish.  It's full of nuts and spices and is so good.  Serve it with french bread and olive oil and vinegar.

I made a big batch before Christmas.  We had a secret santa exchange at work.  I gave a jar of Duqqa, a french stick, a bottle of olive oil, and two white dishes.  I think the recipient enjoyed it.  I had a lot left over, so quite a few people received a jar at Christmas.

We still have some in our fridge.  I like to snack on it.  It's also good on scrambled eggs, sprinkled over salad, or as a crust on chicken (and probably salmon).

1/2 cup Macadamia or Brazil nuts (I prefer Macadamia)

1/4 cup hazelnuts
1/4 cup sunflower or pumpkin seeds (I use both)
1/4 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut
1 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup coriander seeds
1/4 cup cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt (I use a pinch)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

On large baking sheet spread hazelnuts and sunflower seeds in single layer. 

Roast in 350 degrees oven for 9 minutes. 

Sprinkle with coconut and bake for 3 minutes or until nuts and coconut are golden brown. 

Let cool and chop in food processor.

In a large pan over medium-high heat heat sesame, coriander and cumin seeds, stirring often, for about 8 minutes or until sesame seeds are golden brown. Finely chop. 

Mix nuts and seeds together.

Add salt, ground cumin, pepper, cinnamon and cayenne; stir to combine. 

Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 2 weeks or freeze  for up to 1 month.

I really should join the library

I read a lot. I buy a lot of books.  A lot. I know it's not good for the trees or reducing consumerism.

Does it count that I do reuse?  I read most books multiple times, lend to friends, give to friends, donate to book drives and occasionally sell at a garage sale.

I can never find what I want at the library.  Or I'm too impatient to wait for someone else to return the book I want.  Or if I do take books out I never remember to return them on time and end up paying big $$$ in late fines so I might as well just purchase the books.

These are my book shelves (there's another one on the other side of the room).  Books here have been read, usually 2 or 3 times.  Some of them more.  The first Harry Potter has been read 7 times.  Each time a new book came out I'd re-read the set from #1.

The books in the drawer beside my bed?  These are on the go, I read a chapter or two, move onto something else and then come back for another chapter.  Except the flying book and the wine book, I reference those frequently.

The pile at the end of the bed?  Chicklit, easy read books.  They were not bad the first time round.  They will get a second read, then find a new home.

Books on the floor in the office?  Read once.  Not a big hit.  I don't need to keep.  Will go to garage sale or friends.

Books I read in the week we were on the island for Christmas...

• Two Little Girls in Blue - fluff
• The Little Lady Agency - fluff
• Book of the Dead - I've always been a fan of the Kay Scarpetta series, but I think I'm done now. These characters deserve some happiness.
• The Nasty Bits - I didn't know what to expect. I haven't really watched Anthony Bourdain's TV shows. This is a collection of his essays, articles and anecdotes from over the years. Mr Bourdain is a very entertaining writer. A good read.
• Twilight - I had to see what all the fuss was about. Now I'll have to read the 2nd book. I enjoyed Twilight. Yes it's definitely a book aged at teenagers, but it's still worth a read. I ended up giving several copies as Christmas presents.
• Friday Night Knitting Club - a novel about friendships, old and new and renewed. It made me cry. You should read it.

Up next...

• Pride and Prejudice - this is a re-read, but it's one of my favourite books. I'm about half way done.
• New Moon - the 2nd in the Twilight series
• The Year of Living Biblically - One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible - as Literally as Possible.
• Sylvia by Bryce Courtenay - one of my favourite authors.
• The Lucy Family Alphabet - a christmas present from my closest friend sent from Aus.

I blame my mother.  She always had (has) a book in her hands.  I can almost guarantee that I got at least one book every birthday and Christmas. I had wall to wall, ceiling to floor bookshelves that my dad built in my childhood room.

And now Kelli has gone and recommended 2 more - Winterdance and The Ridiculous Race. Anyone else want to add to my list.