Monday, March 31, 2008

Weekend

Weekend was great. Really busy saw about 7 of my friends. Its been over shadowed though... lets just say eclipsed. I am feeling so down and on the verge of tears. I wont go into it.. but its not good. In this family when we are ahead, we suddenly turn for the worst.

Cant explain it here. Just know that its not a good thing to talk about. So my mood... ive just wanted to curl up in bed and sleep all day. Instead i have been painting and reading i want to watch stardust neil gaimans novel come to life.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

about

Went out and about today. Library didnt borrow any books... its snowing on the alps too. Its really quite cold in the house. I have been drawing pictures in my mood diary. drinking lots of tea and doing nothing much today. I have to decide what i am going to wear for the weekend. So i can pack.

I havent heard a peep out of tammy at all.Might have to give her a call. All other arrangements have been made. The brownies are ready to roll out the door.

lol

anyhow... will write more later.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Autmn at last!

Autumn has arrived... looks like it might rain. I went for a walk and did what i have to do down the steet. Got enough stuff to make more brownies so i will do that tonight/tomorrow morning. Some for tammy and lib, some for justyna and the rest for the picnic on sunday. YAY.

I was talking to my friend on the internet... he has a few other bars to check out. Which will be great. I will do that. What else? Oh its such a slow day.. the books that i ordered will be another week to get here. Dman i was looking forward to reading it too. I will just have to keep reading salman rushdies midnights children. I cant remeber it ..as i read it about 10years ago, so im just reading books i cant remember the plot to.

I have started to keep a mood diary, i draw a picture to represent how im feeling, its for my new psychiatrist. Who seems nicer than my other one and more interesting. He picked up on a lot of things...s pecially that i lack confidence., well i do!

anyhow.. i better go make my first brownie batch.. i have to do double then one single. As they have to sit in the fridge over night.


cioa
love albell

Autmn at last!

Monday, March 24, 2008

yesterday

Yesterday lingered for a long time. I just read a few things..nothing special.. spent it at home.. dad watched me bake the cake. Its here and ready to be taken to my cousins house. Its funny he watched me the way i watch mum cook. I wonder in awe at the way she just pops a recipe off the top of her head. Quite an accomplished cook.

Wish i could just list the things off my head i remember one tarot reader telling me "you have taken the back seat in life" I think she was spot on. Im not sure what i am capable of. If i took charge of my life i could probaly do a lot more. I guess laziness is part of it all too.

I know my pitfalls... and im trying my damdest to get over them. Its hard..i have started my mood diary,.. i draw pictures and write how i feel. Its really good for me to do that. I just had a proper coffee... so im waiting for that to kick in.

I dont know where the morning has gone... its noon now. Dad is still in bed, sore back..not surprised since he sites on concreate all the time.. i cant tell him that though! He doesnt listen.

Well i better go fix me some lunch..

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Beach

Off to the beach for easter sunday.. to inverlock... such a lovely place. Heaps of people out there. The weather was cloudy but not cold.. althought it rained a bit! Oh well sat in the beach..gorging ourselves on smoked cheese cracker, grapes, wasabi cheese... brownie and the cookies... So im making them again to take to tammys house... and take to Justynas house next weekend.

Started off driving listening to the cds that i havent listened to yet. All good and chatting about things. To listen to the waves is just so relaxing... and good company makes all the difference.

I needed a coffee towards the end of the day. I resister and kept having tea.... greentea though.. anyhow. I will just have to get some sleep.. im so tired at the moment..thinking of crawling back into bed and its only 9:10am.. oh well...
must go make myself a coffee.....


back later alligator

Friday, March 21, 2008

No Baking

No baking today... will do it tomorrow morning. I will also make another gluten free brownie too. I think. Sincew the other one has gone far far away. I cant rememeber being sick but i was sick last night i have no recollection.
*shrugs shoulders*

I have the super food ideas book sitting next to me... i will flip and see if i can find anything to cook during next week.I know baked beans are on the menu so is some of gillians recipes too. I wrapped justynas present and it looks so nicely wrapped.. i used a silver butterfly i had left over.. and sone blue ribbon from my ribbon stock.

I tell yer what the supermarkets are running out of easter eggs they are pretty low in stock. Or sagfeways is anyhow. At the moment I am waiting for louise to arrive home.. so i can go down to kmart with her and get some black trouses...

Wonder what the weather will be? I will check tonight. I will write more later alligator!

much love
albell

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Brownie

This brownie is amazing, I popped it in the fridge overnight... and its come up trumps.
I will make potato leak and onion soup tomorrrow night for tomrrow nights tea
Today it is fish day.. although dad is allergic so he is having scrambled eggs. I have made this soup before... it is light has a great texture... i will use vegeat... a vegetable stock that is wheat free. It tastes so delcious. I hope they have re-stocked the shops with easter eggs or else.. i have missed out. I was going to buy a bag and give a small handful out... that is my way of thinking if i cant get the eggs i want. *sighs*

POTATO LEEK AND ONION SOUP

Ingredients
# 4 large leeks, washed and sliced
# 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
# 1 medium onion, chopped
# 2 ounces butter
# 1 1/2 pints chicken stock
# 1/2 pint milk
# heavy cream(to taste)
Directions

1.
1
Melt butter in a large saucepan.
2.
2
Add leeks, onions and potatoes and stir.
3.
3
Cover saucepan and sweat veg for 10-15 minutes.
4.
4
Add stock and milk and bring to boil.
5.
5
Replace lid and simmer for 20 minutes.
6.
6
Blend the soup and return to the saucepan.
7.
7
Season and add cream to taste.


Now lets see... it is good friday so nothing is on and i am here at home . I finished the book. Its such a great book... it took her about 13 years to put it all together... though she said she had the book in mind for the past 30 yrs. WOW is what i say to it. It left me breathless..stunning Im heading out to chinese food next friday and then to a few bars. I am not sure what they are like but I have to find somewhere to have my birthday.. an di dont want a crap bar as in the past few years have been.

So what now? Well lets see.. i going to photograph the garden.. and dads tomatoes for roman. Also photograph stuff so we can sell it on ebay. Finally getting my arse into gear about it. I am going to make a flask of tea up for the beach.

Well i will write more later alligator

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

gluten free brownie

Ingredients

* 200g unsalted butter, chopped
* 200g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 3 eggs, lightly beaten
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3/4 cup gluten-free plain flour
* 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Method

1. Preheat oven to 190°C. Line a 5cm deep, 18cm (base) square cake pan with non-stick baking paper.
2. Heat butter, chocolate and sugar in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth. Transfer to a heatproof bowl. Set aside to cool slightly.
3. Add eggs and vanilla to chocolate mixture. Mix well. Sift flour and cocoa over chocolate mixture. Stir to combine.
4. Pour brownie mixture into pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until just set. Set aside to cool. Once cooled, lift out. Wrap in plastic wrap. Place into an airtight container. Stand for 1 day. Cut into pieces. Serve.

Source

Super Food Ideas - March 2005 , Page 78
Recipe by Alison Roberts

Now lets see here.. i made this but it just falls apart like your wouldnt believe. So ive wrapped it up and put in the fridge for a day and a half and see if that will set it. I hope so. I tasted a few crumbs... its soooooo evily rich. You only need a small morsal. I may take some photos later. I also bought some of her fav cheese.. smoked cheese. I just have to buy gluten free crackers too.

Wish you could all taste this. Tonight I am making the cake. I have this book that i think will have to be for someone else now.. its by elizabeth david... but its cooking italian food. So that will go to someone perhaps angiebear.

*sighs*

I cant believe how windy and storm like it is outside. Very much so. It has gotten dark now. I went a little bananas last night and bought all the jewelery from realisationcreations its all beautiful unique pieces..one offs.. which is what i like about her work. I wish i had more money to spend. Although what i got is a pretty penny to me.

Anyhow i feel a little ill. Must have eaten too much. *sighs*

ciao for now

peanutbutter cookies

# 1 cup kinnikinnick all-purpose gluten flour(or other GF flour)
# 1 cup peanut butter
# 1 cup packed brown sugar
# 1/2 cup butter
# 1 pinch salt
# 1 egg
# 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
# 1 teaspoon baking powder
Directions

1.
Mix together all the dry ingredients.
2.
Mix together all the wet ingredients.
3.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
4.
Roll into 2-inch balls.
5.
Place on cookie sheet about 1 inch apart.
6
Flatten slightly
7 Bake in preheated 350°F oven for about 12 minutes.

Baking

The gluten free cookies turned out well. I must say im very happy with them. The brownie is cooling in the pan.. it doesnt look cooked, oh well it if its not i will piff it..ii have enough to make another lot. Im such a twit.. i got to the bloody bus stop and remembered i needed to get sugar... so now I have to go down the road again and grab some..

Oh well. I have two things made... which is good. I got smoked cheese too. I know justyna loves that, not sure if shell be able to eat it..but the thought was there. So now I cant make the sour cream cake until later, *grumbles*

Its very windy outside so I dont think i will walk down. Bus is a good option. I already walked down the road today. Think i will go again or let mum get it. I cleaned up the kitchen as it looked like a bomb had hit it. A messy cook am I.


The cookies melt in your mouth... a bit like melting moments i think a lot of it has to do with the peanut butter and the flour. Anyhow... on with the show

Novel

At the moment i am reading a novel called The Last Chinese Chef, it is great. The whole story is really beautiful. All about a womans journey to china as a food writer.. and more. I recommend this. It is by Nicole Mones... she also wrote Lost In Translation.

Anyhow aside from that I am planning a picnic for saturday/sunday... going to make some gluten free food for a friend. Should be good. I am making a floiurless orange cake, blueberry sourcream cake and some flourless peanutbutter cookies. I found all these recipes on zaar.

So cook I shall. I havent made anything to write about in a few weeks... due to the heat. Now it has cooled down i can bake again. YAY. Wonder what else i will make. Perhaps some iced tea to go in my flask. Just normal with some lemon in perhaps.
Or chai if it is going to be a cool day.

I will make my cheaty risotto rice tomorrow for dinner. Welp I will see how these recipes go.. i'll do a test run on the cake tomorrow, if it doesnt work i will make a different one. The sour cream cake is for my cousin.

I will take the photos tomorrow too for ebay. My fav store on etsy is having a 20% off her jewelery. SO think ill go shopping now!

take care

albell

Monday, March 17, 2008

hot spell

it has been such a heat wave lately the air conditioner has packed up and gone on holiday elsewhere. Damn. The house is like a sweat lodge. LOL. I cant wait til it is fixed/ the weather turns. I tell ya.. its boiling hot and the scary thing is its supposed to autumn,

So what to do.. im on here at the moment just playing scrabble.. and have a new book to read which sis called the last chinese chef.. its really good.. lots of food been talked about. I really like it. I think angiebear will love it.

I have been drawing too. I remember a Few drawings from my past. I should have them somewhere. I must dig around for them lost in some sketchbooks. I am going to get going now.. have some lunch...

take care out there

ally

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Slowly

The frist part of the went fast..before i knew it it was noon. Then afternoon lunch with family... we had chinese last night..it was really delicious. So i spent the rest of the day reading the dark heavens book. I will probably finish that within a another few days.

I hope the books arrive this week. Mum and lou went shopping for clothes for roman.. slightly getting carried away. So now there is another parcel to send. I guess all up its been a quiet day.

I went to play scrabble and instead of ticking 2 games.. i clicked 20 games... holy shit! They all had to be fast too. Damn. If i didnt play them my rating (which isnt that high) will go down.

Anyhow chugalugging along

goodnight

Friday, March 14, 2008

lazy day

Super lazy today... i wet to bed at 2 i watched a movie at midnight... i couldnt sleep.. ive been up since 7am so i am reasonably tired now. Its 4 and i ought not to nap now. I have been so engrossed in dark heavens book. I have almost read half now.

I am drinking strawberry and vanilla tea. Louise is pleased with her earrings. I am glad. She is thinking about getting some jewellery made by her for her wedding. They are up at aunty annas. I have two trashy magazines to read too. Its ever so hot outside. I got an email from someone the other week. I have missed their company but its the way it has to be.Faraway so close. *sighs* Im suprised. Its a turn up for the books. Its made feel a whole string of emotions. Oh well. lets forget that. Move on.

I have to go bar hopping in order to find a place for my 30th.. its creeping up on me a lot... just over a month away. Just going for dinner and drinks, not sure about dancing. Perhaps.. not sure. I dont know many places to eat in the city anymore.
perhaps if itto itto is still open. O r perhaps the place down victoria street... thats not so far away from the city. But the city is probably the best for everyone.
So ill be on a mission.

take care out there...

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Bookish kinda day

Its a bookish kinda a day today. Head down, read read read. I slept in til almost 10am. OOOOPS No gym. Will have to go tomorrow morning whilst mum is getting her hair done. I will go. I just have been sitting here enjoying the aircon escaping the heat. I have not been out there.. but i care not to today.

Had a good chat to Shiralee today. Talked a lot about things. Giving me pointers so ill look up those websites soon. Am waiting for the washing to finish so i cant hang it out on the line to dry... itll dry within an hour.

I had aloe juice and a lime drink and lots of water. Not that hungry. Though i have pulled some nectarines out of the fridge so they wont be so cold on my teeth. I know i have to have myh wisdom teeth removed but im holding out for as long as possible. So i avoid a few of the foods.

Well i better have a coffee now.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Made Up

Mum and dad have put their differences aside... thank goodness. The silence was driving me batty. It was like I had two 3 year olds living together. I just watched a movie,, some chick flick. I went to the gym already. Now im keeping the house rather cool.

The earrings have arrived. They look so nice. Mums are just stunning.. louises ones look beautiful too. I hope lou will like them. Cant wait to give them to her. I think realisation creations uses quality beads etc.

I feel like a drink , cointreau, lime soda. i like lolly water . Although i do like gin and tonic too. I have started to read the book. Its a cracking yarn. I love it.I have not made/baked anything in almost a week. I thought about making some damper or something like that.

I will see. What else.. i avoided going to the shops today... just caught a taxi home
so i saved myself a lot i think and put myself out of temptation.


Where to gumshoe?

Stepping Out

Stepping out walking down to mums work. I got the last book in the series of dark heavens. Shall be good. I will read it with great joy. I hope she puts out another book soon.

Had a day mainly indoors... tomorrow i shall get up early... and go to the gym seems as its going to be 37 later on.


Well i'll write more later,

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Trouble

So i ownder if mum and dad will talk to each other today? Hmm. Anyhow. I didnt write in y blog yesterday.. due to little happening. So today Im going to go to the gym and then do a small shop, put money into mums bank account for the books i bought off the internet. Banana Yoshimoto Asleep. Women and Money and mum got a patricia cornwell novel that came out this year.

I was unable to get tickets to nick cave concert due to my lack of experience using a credit card.. so i missed out on getting tickets. DAMN. I so wanted to go too. I really wanted to go. *Sighs* I am so angry with myself. Until mum came home and made me use it to buy the books. It is fairly simple.

*SIGHS*

cant have everything can you? NO. So yesterday I was so furious with me. Anyhow. Doesnt matter. I am going to go for a walk later. I have a few things to buy at shopping. Just mainly tea bags and dinner. We are having spinach and ricotta rolls they are my fav.

Welpers... i will write more later

alligator.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

blue

Today i have doe little. Stayed around the house. With parents acting like children not talking to each other. Its really sad. I am thinking of going to a friends house for few days. We shall see. Depends how they act. Big Blue. There is nothing i can do, I feel a bit helpless and i hate that feeling.

So what will I do? I went shopping yesterday.purchased three books. Im almost got all the presents for everyone already. As i have got them over a period of time doesnt seem to have cost as much. I bet if i ot all the receipts it would be horrific.

I feel like i need a sleep right now but its 4pm and i wont sleep tonight if i do. I have a headache... that is probably from the heat, stress and reading. So i think i should get cracking. We are having pasta for tea. Got some tomatoes, wine, mushroom, garlic, onion etc.

anyhow best be off

Saturday, March 8, 2008

hello

hello again. I went and had a good time. Yesterday stayed around the house as louissse wasnt feeling well. So i just sat round freading Im almost half way through the red pheonix its really great riverting stuff. I have been engrossed in the book i read for a good 5hours yesterday. Not a bad effort.

So what else? Well went out for tea last night.. to a pizza type place... i ordered the calamarie not what i expected... rubber rings with a realy nice batter on the, and chips that tasted like maccas fries/. I think we were all a little disappointed. What was really delicous. is alan grandmas cake. Its an apple cake.. it is so yum.. served warm it was even better. I really like it. I must get the recipe off her. Tasted amazing.

So today i lived off coffee . I had about 6 so im buzzing// i was able to read all the way home and not fall asleep. So lou and allen have set their wedding date.. now the challenge is for me to get healthy by it. I treated myself to a book. WHich is good. I also saw mish..good to see her. I am going to go to her opening in a couple of weeks.

I have to stay well. I have not read the paper yet. Which will be a good thing to do. I am ok. Im going to see if i can get my mitts on nick cave tickets. I wish to. I so want to go to it.

Anyhow... for now i better put this puter away and read again.


will write more later alligator

Friday, March 7, 2008

Away

Heading away for the next few days. To visit louise and allen and family. Louise is taking us to where she wants her wedding to be.. just going to take a lookskies. Then to a winery or something like that for lunch. All i know is lucky i have a bit of money saved.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

I think not.

24 today? I think not.

Got up early, went to the gym. So now i'm home. Its easierto spend a good half hour in safeway and wait for the bus than it is to get a taxi. Oh well. I bought some earrings and i tell you what.. they are somewhat not like the picture was. They looked longer in the photo. So im a little disappointed.

This was another lady. I think i'll stick to realisation creations Her work is much better quality. Anyhow.. you never know unless you try ha? Cant wait for the other ones i bought.

I have cried myself to sleep the last few nights. I think I am still reeling from a few things. Things that i cannot change. I just lie there before i sleep.. love lost and unrequited love. Perhaps if I give more of myself.. i will receive more back. I see now how selfish i was. I can change that.
\

Am listening to patti smiths new album. Gee i like her.


anyhow...

time for me to get going

ciao

Library

Went and borrowed a book from the library the second book in a series that i started reading last year. It looks good, lots of chinese mythology in it as well. I am looking forward to reading it i read the first few chapters.. i'm hooked again.

Cant wait for the weekend, am heading to visit louise and allen at the halinkas house.
It shall be good i feel. So i'm buying a few things. A few books off the internet and i paid for the jewelery and it should be in the post.

I got louises earings custom made.. they look so smashing. Just great looking. Cant wait to give them to her. Also Nick cave is giving talks and I hope to be able to go to it.

Anyhow... I better go now. Tired.

albell

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

bacon and egg pie anyone?

My golly gee.. its not a quiche,its bloody bacon and egg pie! I didnt have enough cheese and i could have used an extra egg.. the pastry wasnt as nice... its all WRONG but mum said nothing wrong with that, its tastes good. So i have learned a lesson.

I just had a coffee but i feel more tired than ever,...its only 10am im off to the gym in an hour. I have been drinking a lot more water these days... thats good for me. Now i just have to work on myself.


Well will write more later alligator...

love allybelly

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Quiche

I am making a simple quiche for dinner. The pastry is in the fridge.Im using the recipe from Cookery the Australian Way an old book that we all had in high school. It has the basics of most food.. most food that is simple is best.

Quiche Lorraine

Short crust pastry
(i made mine)

6 spring onions chopped
2 bacon rashers chopped
1 cup of milk
4 eggs
pepper
1/2 cup of grated tasty cheese


1 set oven to 200
2roll out pastry and line tin
3 combine the rest of the ingredients except cheese and put into base
4sprinkle cheese over top
5 bake 15minutesat 200 reduce temperature to 160 and bake until set
6 serve (with salad)

I put extra bacon and used a spanish onion also added some semi sundried tomatoes. So im a hoping it turns out. Im also baking it at a constant heat of 170. So it may take an hour to cook. I only had about a quarter of a cup cheese as that is all we had. I used what we there was around the house.


Aside from that my day has been quite uneventful. I stayed home all day.. wrote some letters (long overdue) and just did basic house chores. I have a pile of ironing that i have just been putting off and putting off and slowly the pile has gotten rather high.

So i have a few birthdays coming up and not sure what i should get for them both. Well we will see. I would love to be someones personal shopper what fun it would be. o go to their house.. get a feel for what they like and go shopping for them. Dream Job and buggered if i know how to get a job like that!

Anyhow better go check on the quiche.

the earrings i ordered are in the post so i should have them in my hot little hands by tomorrow.
signing out

parcel

Parcel.got 3 of them today. felt like it was christmas. One had heaps of ribbons, the other had heaps of jewellery i can use in art work. The other had a cd of the secret on audio. I will give it a listen.

Didnt go to the gym but did some house cleaning. Didnt bake anything either. So tomorrow i shall make something nice for tea. Like a quiche. I know fattening as but yumbo to eat.

Anyhow. Brat camp is just about on... got to go...

Monday, March 3, 2008

etsy

Etsy is evil, in a good way. I have been buying jewellery off it. Its a great spot the showcases so many handmade items. I think I have gone overboard. (just a tad)Oh well. I have started teh chic lit book. I shouldn't admit to reading it but oh well.
*sighs*

No cooking adventures today. I will tomorrow though. I intend to bake something Not sure what yet.. maybe something healthy. Perhaps some sort of mushroom dish. Anyhow back to the gym for me today.

I almost scoffed when they told me the price had gone up $10. That makes it roughly $18 a week, if it keeps going up i won't be able to afford it. That irks me.

So I better be off now. Pillow and nap calls.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Sunday and Sunday

Sunday and sunday.. yay i finished the elziabeth jolley book. The ending was almost heartbreaking. So now onto another elizabeth jolley book? Or should i start this chick lit book. Im not sure. Oh well. Maybe a chick lit book.

So what now? Well we went out for lunch and then got the paper and that was it. Back to the gym for me tomorrow, turning over a whole new leaf. I will have soup for lunch tomorrow.

What else? Not a lot was on my agenda today. I have been introspective as of late. Shedding some light on some things. I can't help it. It just zips into my head. I have too much time to mull over things.

Sunday and sunday. Next weekend going to the city. Meeting up with mish. Can't wait.


anyhow ciao for now.