from the blue shed

Garden Club

2013-05-16T11:30:00+10:30

After a busy bee at our girls primary school on Saturday, the students were all set to meet today for their first Garden Club session. Along with implementing a gardening program at the school, the brilliant mum helming this ship has come up with some fantastic recycled art installations that has the kids and me very excited. The first crop to be planted has yet to be decided, however there is a plethora of upcycled ideas to keep the kids busy - forever.

Hub caps, fan grates and salad spinners were sprayed in bright colours.

Cellophane, Caution tape and pink and red plastic ribbon were laced around each painted face to create big bright flowers.

Secured to the fence with cable ties, these waterproof burst of upcycled joy have everyone pumped for the next project.

Having spent the day with this clever lady who can look at a roll of Caution tape and see a sunflower (yes Helen, I'm talking about you) I am truly inspired. I have so many projects I want to get started right now in our own garden. After a day in the sun I am pooped. Brilliant day. Thanks Helen.

zzzzzzz

Adios Sangria Summer...

2013-04-11T10:30:00+10:30

We are experiencing an Indian Summer here in Perth and it's dang hot - still. I am at the point, 30 odd days into Autumn, where I look into my wardrobe each morning with a 'nothing to wear' sigh. Like the heat has some how scorched my summer wardrobe to nothingness leaving only layers and jeans to taunt me. Yes, I know, and if you were here mum, you could slap me.
BUT having the foresight to know that within six weeks I will most likey be groaning about the cold, I thought I should toast the end of this fabulous summer - The Sangria Summer as it is now fondly known- with a few favourites studied, enjoyed, rediscovered and repeated this summer...

Traditional Sangria. Thank you for the memories. I love you.

White Sangria? Why does red get to have all the fun! Made the same way as the traditional but using Prosecco instead of red wine and only peaches and oranges as the delicious fruity accompaniment. Oh man. You were a good one too.

Experimental Sangria (and a jug of Pimms thrown in for good measure)
Bit a this. Bit a that. Good stuff.

If I had actually documented each recipe concocted this summer, it would be a bit embarrassing but I ask you, whats not to love about a refreshing drink with a fruity snack all wrapped up in one fancy glass? Nothing I tells ya. Nothing at all.
Overseas visitors arrive this Sunday to a warm 30 degrees, I think a jug is in order, to toast the end of summer of course.
Any favorite recipes you wish to share??

Sculptures by the sea

2013-03-25T01:00:00+11:00

We made it for the final day of Sculptures by the Sea at Cottesloe beach today. Little did we know we had a very educated tour guide in our midst. Piper who is in year 2 has been studying the sculptures and their artists in Art Appreciation at school which she announced only as we arrived at the beach. Nice. As we passed each one she gave a little spiel, some background information and announced a few must sees. And here I thought we were exposing the kids to something new. Double nice.

Here are a few highlights.

It is always such a joyous event to see the beach thriving with people of all ages enjoying all works of art. From the interactive and funny to the colourful awe inspiring. Sculptures by the Sea is not to be missed. And here we almost did! I must pay a visit to the art teacher tomorrow and thank her. We (and the near by art appreciators) really enjoyed the artistic education through the eyes of a 7 year old.

Pie series no. 4 - Sweet Potato Pecan Pie

2013-03-24T20:35:10+11:00

Many years ago now, my Auntie Shrew took my not yet husband and I to the famous Dinosaur Bar B Que Roadhouse in Syracuse N.Y. It's a wondrous place where locals tourists and bikers stand in a queue lined with Harleys to wait for a table. Families with small children stand nestled between big burly leather clad folk covered in tattoos. It's fantastic! Once inside you order let's say, a rack of ribs, which comes with none other than three sides, everything comes with 3 sides. It's the thing. Your meal arrives at the table with what looks like the entire rib cage of a cow and three enormous sides. It's fantastically obscene, and yes, a wee bit wrong.

Photo curtousey of the Dinosaur Bar B Que cookbook

My Aunt gifted us this cookbook years later, a must have in the comfort food section of any library - Dinosaur Bar B Que, An American Roadhouse. It is full of indulgent American style food. Even though it is packed with pages ladden with meat it is a go to for this vegetarian more often than not. One of my absolute favorites is the Sweet Potato Pecan Pie. It combines the spiciness of a pumpkin pie and and the sweet sticky top of a pecan pie. Drool!

Sweet Potato Pecan Pie

Pastry

See post here

The Filling

2 cups mashed sweet potato
3/4 cups sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk

The Topping

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
2 large eggs, beaten
2 tbls softened butter
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup dark corn syrup (although I used light)
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
a pinch of salt

Directions

1. Pre heat oven to 325 (160)
2. Roll out pastry and fit to pie dish approximately 1 1/4 deep. A deeper dish is needed to hold all the good stuff.
3. Place the pie dish in the freezer until you are ready to fill it.
4. Mix together all of the ingredients for the filling and put aside.
5. Mix together all the ingredients together for the topping and put aside.
So far easy peasy right?
6. Pull the pastry out of the freezer and spoon in the filling, spreading it evenly.
7. Pour topping over the mixture.
8. Bake in the oven for 1 1/2 hours, or until crust is golden and filling is set.
9. Serve at room temperature with cream.

A very simple to construct pie with a big presence. Thank you Dinosaur Bar B Que. Still drooling..

cubby refurb

2013-03-17T16:28:54+11:00

Our girls have just celebrated their birthdays and they seem significantly older this time around - just like that! With the beginning of each new year I have this overwhelming urge to purge and rearrange. In with the new sort of thing. In the midst of all the culling we brought up the cubby house with the girls. It hadn't had much attention for sometime so we suggested that the chickens move in. Luckily that idea was met by resistance, so we decided to keep it as is but move it around the back. I stumbled across these photos of the cubby house in its hay-day. When potions were made in it and it was home to every doll and stuffed animal in the house, when I had time to make bunting, scrub labels off old squeezie bottles and sew matching aprons. When did I ever have time for that?!?

When the cubby was moved to a new spot, I had this overwhelming need to sew some bunting - metaphorically speaking. So on a sunny Sunday we set to work. We made a list with a plan of action. We went to buy supplies, everyone co-operating, agreeing on a paint colour (phew) and choosing the extra special touches. It was all going so well. Once home we set ourselves up to get painting with the "adult paint". Now I have to admit that we ran into an anxious, panic stricken slightly cranky bump when the blue covered more than just the sky. Seriously, what did I think was going to happen?? But I took a few deep breaths, pulled myself together and we were off again. I was sure the blue footprints could be scrubbed off of the paving.. (insert panic faced emoticon)

Once the fence was painted, the flowers planted, the clouds sponged, and the paint splattered area repaved (seriously) We stood back and admired our work.

Now that the girls are older, they have their own ideas of how they want their spaces to be decorated. The control freak in me just needed to take a step back (take a few quick photos) and let them do their thing. They do know how to bling up the place marvelously.

A new location and a lick of paint and the cubby house is now the hub of activity once again. Just when I thought the Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber posters were going to replace the dolls, they start cranking out potions and playing house.

Change really is as good as a holiday. Thank goodness.

savoury birthday cake

2013-01-22T11:43:31+11:00

Inspired by a Swedish layered sandwich and spurred on by my desire to practice my vegetable carving skills I learned in Thailand this year :) the triple decker savoury cake was born. A friend and I made made this for our sugar intolerant friend for her 40th last month. Little did we know she had never had a birthday cake that she could actually eat before.
She cried. It was awesome.

Savoury cake

1-2 round sourdough loaves, crust removed and sliced into three layers
1-2 dips of your choice to ice each layer
1 pack of cream cheese whipped with 3 tablespoons of mayo to ice outside of cake
1 cucumber peeled and thinly sliced to wrap around the outside of the cake
Cucumber, tomatoes and carrots to garnish.

Hope you have a fabulous year Kez! We love you.

terracotta apple pots

2012-12-20T09:47:44+11:00

I still get that 'schools out for summer' thrill at the end of every school year, even though it's been many years since my own. We are only 2 days into the holidays. The backpacks are still lying on the floor where they were dropped a couple of days ago, and the last minute Christmas prep is still lingering. In spirit though, we are already south for the holidays. Watching the girls do laps of the caravan park and chatting with 'Jeff and Sue' from Whatchacallit swapping camp stories. Ahhh, summer!!
The girls are one year older. They have reached many new milestones this year, gained a little independance and have become a little braver. Perhaps this summer they may even head to the caravan park shop for ice creams on their own! I am so pleased for them with their achievements this year and for the people that helped them along the way. I found this pinspiring project for the end of the year teacher gift. Here's a few snaps of our apple making factory. The end result is so stinkin' cute!

The original how to can be found here at craftymoods.com.

Wishing you all a very happy holiday. I'm off to pack the caravan. Yippee!!!

Pie series no. 2 - pumpkin pie

2012-11-18T18:21:41+11:00

My children have discovered pumpkin pie. I have discovered that being 85% health food (not an official stat, just my opinion) it's the perfect dinner! It's like a spinach milkshake decanted into a MacDonald's cup... or something. The following is a recipe for a whinge free dinner.

Pastry

Recipe found here

Filling

1 cup brown sugar
1 tbl cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cup evaporated milk

Pre heat oven to 425 degrees (210) Line pie plate with crust. Chill the crust in the fridge while you make the filling. Combine all the ingredients together using a beater. Pour the mixture into the pastry and bake for 40 minutes. You want the pie to be firm to the touch but not too brown.

I have baked just the filling in individual ramekins for the gluten free pie lovers in the family. They come out like little pumpkin pie souffle's! You will need to adjust the time though.

So do yourself a favour and make pie for dinner. While you're at it, get dessert done as well and put a scoop of ice cream on top. It will blow your kids minds.

Pie series no. 1 - the perfect pastry

2012-10-31T01:43:42+11:00

Oh how I love October. The weather is warming up, the birds are full of song... and it's (was) my birthday! I found myself pondering life a bit when I hit my birthday this year. Where I have been, what I want to do, where I'd like to go etc etc. when it dawned on me that I have lived in my home country for as long as I haven't! I was shocked when I came to that conclusion and perhaps a wee bit sad. This time of year has me longing for home the most. A beautiful changing season, pumpkins, turkeys and ghouls! I am getting to the pastry bit, I promise. Having spent so much time away from home you would think I would have lost touch with some of my roots and Canadian traditions. I am a traditional girl at heart though with a strong hope that my kids grow up with a whole lot of Canadian in 'em. With Thanksgiving now a few weeks ago and Halloween around the corner our house has been a flurry of pumpkin carving, Halloween preparations and ...wait for it...wait for it...pie baking! Whew! She got there! I guess the conclusion I have come up with through this long online rambling is that you can take the girl out of Canada, but you can not take the Canada out of the girl.

I have discovered a simple pastry from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Roadhouse Cookbook. I have made it 4 times in the last three weeks and it hasn't let me down. I don't normally make my own pastry this often but it's pie season people! So in honour of the awesome pies out there and my love for them I give you...

Pie series no. 1 - The Perfect Pastry (in my opinion)

Place flour and salt into food processor and pulse until combined. Cube the butter and lard and add to the processor. I just used 1/2 cup of butter and omitted the lard. Once the mixture resembles small peas slowly add iced water until dough is just combined. Don't over work it. Turn out onto floured surface. Roll and place in 9 inch pie pan. Chill in fridge while you make your filling.

I may be missing the beautiful autumn and my family at home, but spring is in the air here. There is only 7 weeks left of the school year before it's the summer holidays filled with beaches camping and Aussie sun. So I guess, I am one lucky girl who can have her pie and eat it too.

suburban farm update - we have worms!

2012-08-14T22:55:50+10:30

This glorious weather has had us out in the garden a fair bit this week. We had quite a surprise yesterday to find two ducks having a little paddle in the pool. Perhaps it needs a clean. Rowen decided to keep an eye on the ducks and have a dig in the dirt when she discovered our compost is home to some lovely slimy worms. I can hear my grandmother squealing in horror as I type this. Anyhow, she quickly scooped them up, named them and asked if they could sleep in her bed that night. Once the disappointment subsided, she set about making them a bed outside when one of the ducks swooped down and ate one of the worms. Well, that's her version of the events. I thought the poor girl would never recover.

Our suburban farm is really starting to establish itself. Our first winter crop, along with the reliable rocket and lettuce, is producing zucchini and broccoli. Adam has built a compost area. Mixed with fresh poop from the girls out the back we (I use the term "we" loosely) have created some fantastic soil. Our radish and chilli seedlings have started to sprout and we are ready to start it all over again.

Pinspired by Closet Cooking and produced by our wee suburban farm it's Zucchini Carbonara for dinner. Yum!