Thursday 29 March 2012

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland
So that time of year is almost upon us and I have started to dig down deep into my drawers to find my winter waldrobe.
Cannot wait to rug up on the couch with a good book and a cup of hot choc!!

What are your staples for winter?

Till next time.
Nic xx


Sunday 25 March 2012

Chop chop chop

Have you ever had a day when you go out shopping and you find everything that was on your list? Well that was my whole weekend!! Think karma was certainly on my side as everything that we did or were looking for got ticked off the list. Successful weekend!!

So yup got my hair cut again and this time even shorter.....



Stunning Sydney Saturday afternoon

I finished my cross stitch and framed it along with a couple of doilies that I picked up at the vintage markets on the Saturday.


Ok so in preparation for winter I bought myself a pair of black ankle boots (Lipstick $59 on sale from Myers) and a black wool hat ($19 from Ruby shoes).

I think I might be the only person who is excited about winter just being around the corner. Bring on being able to get rugged up on the couch with a good book and a cup of hot choc!.

Till next time.
Nic xx

Vintage Follies

On Saturday Maz and I went along to the Vintage Markets that were on at Horden Pavillion in the Entertainment Quarter.

OMG there was sooo much vintage goodness on show and couldn't resist picking up a few pieces.

* Sorry this is a long post - just so much to show you all.

1940s - Dinner and dancing

1940s - Day look

1950s - Dinner and dancing - this one had a gorgeous scoop back

1950s - Day look

1950s - Day look

1960s - Gogo Dancing anyone

Eeeek!



Who would have though that this was ever fashionable.






This lady had a bit of a nip slip so had to help fix her up :)

Will have to post pics of what I got soon.

Till next time.
Nic xx

Custardy Goodness

Oh my word I have been a busy bee.

Last Friday we had Harmony Day at our work and I organised a morning tea for our floor whereby everyone had to bring a plate of something from their culture or one that they associate with. Traditionally being kiwi everyone thought that I would be making a Pav but alas I wanted to test my baking skills and made the most delish GIANT Custard Square!! (custard made from scratch I should add).


I searched high and low on the internet for the perfect recipe and in the end I merged a few together. Used the overall idea from http://ourkitchen.fisherpaykel.com/recipe/geoffs-mums-custard-square/ and found a custard recipe for the filling from http://www.lovelyrecipes.com/recipe.php?recipeid=4199.

Easy just sandwich the cooled custard filling between two sheets of cooked puff pastry and ice when cool.

Thick custard:
  • 600m1 full fat milk
  • 200m1 single cream
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 6 medium egg yolks
  • 100g caster sugar 
  • 4 level tbsp cornflour
Icing:
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 cups icing sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • Water
  • Desiccated coconut

Step 1: Prick pastry sheets all over and cook for 8 mins at 180deg (or till slightly brown)

Step 2: Prep all ingredients (this is just the organised me coming out)

Step 3: Mix eggs with sugar and mix cornflour with 2 tbsp of water

Step 4: Add milk, cream and vanilla to a pot and heat slowly till ever so slighly bubbling

Step 5: Once milk mixture is ready add egg mixture slowly to the pot along with the cornflour mix. I cheated and used my trusty wizzmix. Have to do this slowly so the eggs don't scramble.

Step 6: Return pot to stove and simmer till it thickens - trick is to keep stirring so that it doesn't burn on the bottom.

Step 7: Once the custard has cooled and you have made the icing its time to assemble.

It was really hard not to consume the pot of custard this stuff is like liquid goodness! I am never buying premade or packet custard ever again. Yum really want some now. 

Enjoy.

Till next time.
Nic xx