As you all may have cleverly deduced, it's almost Christmas.
My sister Sharon and I had this tradition where we would watch The Muppets Christmas Carol every year on Christmas Eve to get into the holiday spirit and all that.
Since we are now both a bit older (ie teenagers rather than tiny humans) we decided to find a new Christmas movie to watch every year.
On our search for a more 'sophisticated' movie, we came across The Hogfather.
The Hogfather is based on a book of the same name by our favourite author Terry Pratchett.
It's a TV movie from 2006, so, the special effects are a bit well, basic, but once you get past that it's a hilarious movie.
Basically, The Hogfather (Discworld's version of Santa) has gone missing, and Death must take his place while Susan, (Death's granddaughter) attempts to get to the bottom of the mystery.
You wouldn't think Death would make a good Santa, but Terry Pratchett's Death does. He really cares about humans and tries very hard to get into the 'spirit of Hogswatch'. However, since he is basically a large animated skeleton, it's rather amusing to watch him trying to play Santa.
There are lots of funny moments (and a few adorable ones involving puppies) but my favourite one involves a snowman and (I won't go into more details because SPOILERS).
I will do another more in-depth review of this movie at a later date, but I thought I'd just do a quick post about how cool this movie is.
You can watch it on Youtube by the way https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaOHaBaKq-8
Anyway, I'd better get back to creating our Christmas gingerbread creation (all will be revealed in a later post).
Merry Christmas!!!
Tuesday 23 December 2014
Tuesday 16 December 2014
Doctor Who Gift Box Part 3 - River Song Journal
This is the third part of the Doctor Who gift box I made for one of my friends.
River Song's 'Spoilers' Journal was one of my favourite props from the show (apart from the TARDIS of course). It's really elegant and simplistic and I love how it reflects the TARDIS, and I have always wanted to have a go at making one myself.
I started by looking at a couple of tutorials on the internet, the main one I used can be found at this link http://indellibleink.com/2011/11/dr-who-journal/
I kind of used it for a reference point, but I made up my own measurements and stuff.
I started out by finding a hardback journal. I didn't want one that was really specific and had the year and all the dates and stuff so I just got one that was filled with blank pages.
I ended up getting a blue hardcover buffalo journal from this awesome shop called Typo.
After that, I basically used the steps I outlined in the box part:
Drew a rectangle the size of the book.
Used a ruler to measure lines I would cut along.
Cut along all the lines.
Trimmed the pieces until they fit properly.
Stuck everything on until it looked like the picture of River Song's Journal.
I cut out a piece of cardboard the correct length and size for the spine.
After that, I looked at a picture of the spine of River Song's Journal and then cut the piece of cardboard into what I thought looked like the correct sizes. Then I glued them on.
Then I mixed up blue paints until I got the correct colour. Next I painted the whole thing, being careful not to get paint on the pages. After that I covered all painted surfaces with glaze.
This diary wasn't too hard to make. The part that took the longest, was all the measuring and cutting out. The size of the pieces depends on the size of the surface you are covering.
Sorry I don't have any detailed measurements, as I said, I was doing it all by eye and cutting off bits as I went.
River Song's 'Spoilers' Journal was one of my favourite props from the show (apart from the TARDIS of course). It's really elegant and simplistic and I love how it reflects the TARDIS, and I have always wanted to have a go at making one myself.
I started by looking at a couple of tutorials on the internet, the main one I used can be found at this link http://indellibleink.com/2011/11/dr-who-journal/
I kind of used it for a reference point, but I made up my own measurements and stuff.
I started out by finding a hardback journal. I didn't want one that was really specific and had the year and all the dates and stuff so I just got one that was filled with blank pages.
I ended up getting a blue hardcover buffalo journal from this awesome shop called Typo.
After that, I basically used the steps I outlined in the box part:
Drew a rectangle the size of the book.
Used a ruler to measure lines I would cut along.
Cut along all the lines.
Trimmed the pieces until they fit properly.
Stuck everything on until it looked like the picture of River Song's Journal.
I cut out a piece of cardboard the correct length and size for the spine.
After that, I looked at a picture of the spine of River Song's Journal and then cut the piece of cardboard into what I thought looked like the correct sizes. Then I glued them on.
Then I mixed up blue paints until I got the correct colour. Next I painted the whole thing, being careful not to get paint on the pages. After that I covered all painted surfaces with glaze.
 |
| Sorry the picture quality is so bad, the light was terrible |
This diary wasn't too hard to make. The part that took the longest, was all the measuring and cutting out. The size of the pieces depends on the size of the surface you are covering.
Sorry I don't have any detailed measurements, as I said, I was doing it all by eye and cutting off bits as I went.
Friday 14 November 2014
The Story of Reading
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| The hectic mess that is my bookshelf |
The first book I can remember reading all the way through by
myself is Sam and the Firefly by P.D.
Eastman. It’s called an I Can Read It All
By Myself Beginner Book.
Sam and the Firefly is about an owl called Sam who wants to have fun, but everyone is asleep. He meets a firefly called Gus who at first seems a nice law-abiding citizen but then goes on to cause some major air and road accidents (spoiler, Gus ‘redeems’ himself in the end and all is happiness and joy. Except for the hundreds of people who probably died in those air and road disasters. You really don’t think about things like that when you’re five years old.)
Anyway, I grabbed this book of the bookshelf, sat myself down in the middle of my parents bed and read the whole thing out-loud to myself. I then nearly keeled over from exhaustion.
I was immensely proud of myself, and proceeded to tell any adult who would listen about my enormous achievement.
It wasn’t even a very good book, even for a five year old child, but it was the feeling of reading a book all the way to the end that I liked, so I kept going.
Sam and the Firefly is about an owl called Sam who wants to have fun, but everyone is asleep. He meets a firefly called Gus who at first seems a nice law-abiding citizen but then goes on to cause some major air and road accidents (spoiler, Gus ‘redeems’ himself in the end and all is happiness and joy. Except for the hundreds of people who probably died in those air and road disasters. You really don’t think about things like that when you’re five years old.)
Anyway, I grabbed this book of the bookshelf, sat myself down in the middle of my parents bed and read the whole thing out-loud to myself. I then nearly keeled over from exhaustion.
I was immensely proud of myself, and proceeded to tell any adult who would listen about my enormous achievement.
It wasn’t even a very good book, even for a five year old child, but it was the feeling of reading a book all the way to the end that I liked, so I kept going.
The first proper chapter books I read were ‘The Famous Five’ and
‘The Secret Seven’ by Enid Blyton (I would hazard a guess that these were many
many children’s first chapter books). Although I look cynically upon those
fictional children’s exploits now, I adored them when I was younger. I must
have read every book about three times each.
From there I moved onto Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew and anything else I could get my hands on, well anything that had a girl as the main character. I should mention, that this was a time in my life when I refused to read anything with a boy as the main character because, boys were gross and I could not relate to their petty problems (Ironically this was also the time where I was a major tom-boy).
After a while though, thanks to The Hardy Boys, I decided that books with boys in them were overall more exciting, so I broadened my reading material somewhat.
At this point, kind of stopped going outside so much and started reading a whole lot more, I blame this for my current sedentary lifestyle.
If I did have to go for a walk or something, I would read my book all the way there and all the way back, ignoring the exclamations of adults who told me I would be run over because I wasn’t paying attention (spoiler: I didn’t get run over).
I would also read everywhere else as well, in the car until I felt like puking, while I was brushing my teeth, way past my bedtime with a pocket torch, and even, I cringe to admit this, under the table when we went to a restaurant for dinner (I had even less social skills than I currently possess ok!)
After the whole Enid Blyton, kids having heinously dangerous adventures books (I am actually surprised I never tried sneaking out of my house at night after reading them) I embarked on a life of crime.
My book with proper crime in it was the complete collection of Sherlock Holmes.
This opened up a whole new world for me, not only did it give me a life-long love of crime fiction, but it also meant I became kind of obsessed with historical fiction.
After that, I moved onto the works of Agatha Christie. This, was entirely my mother’s fault. While we were at the library one day, she said “maybe you’d like Agatha Christie, but they might be a bit old for you at the moment”. I of course pestered her until she showed me Agatha Christie’s books and let me get several out. This is highly ironic, because Mum is the one who now worries when I recount the latest true crime documentary I have watched, or tell her interesting facts about how you can dissolve flesh using only laundry detergent and water.
From there I moved onto Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew and anything else I could get my hands on, well anything that had a girl as the main character. I should mention, that this was a time in my life when I refused to read anything with a boy as the main character because, boys were gross and I could not relate to their petty problems (Ironically this was also the time where I was a major tom-boy).
After a while though, thanks to The Hardy Boys, I decided that books with boys in them were overall more exciting, so I broadened my reading material somewhat.
At this point, kind of stopped going outside so much and started reading a whole lot more, I blame this for my current sedentary lifestyle.
If I did have to go for a walk or something, I would read my book all the way there and all the way back, ignoring the exclamations of adults who told me I would be run over because I wasn’t paying attention (spoiler: I didn’t get run over).
I would also read everywhere else as well, in the car until I felt like puking, while I was brushing my teeth, way past my bedtime with a pocket torch, and even, I cringe to admit this, under the table when we went to a restaurant for dinner (I had even less social skills than I currently possess ok!)
After the whole Enid Blyton, kids having heinously dangerous adventures books (I am actually surprised I never tried sneaking out of my house at night after reading them) I embarked on a life of crime.
My book with proper crime in it was the complete collection of Sherlock Holmes.
This opened up a whole new world for me, not only did it give me a life-long love of crime fiction, but it also meant I became kind of obsessed with historical fiction.
After that, I moved onto the works of Agatha Christie. This, was entirely my mother’s fault. While we were at the library one day, she said “maybe you’d like Agatha Christie, but they might be a bit old for you at the moment”. I of course pestered her until she showed me Agatha Christie’s books and let me get several out. This is highly ironic, because Mum is the one who now worries when I recount the latest true crime documentary I have watched, or tell her interesting facts about how you can dissolve flesh using only laundry detergent and water.
By the time I was fourteen, I had worked my way up through
the children and young adult sections at the library and had embarked on the
rather large and daunting adult section.
I would go home from trips to the library with a bag of books which probably weighed more than I did. And the books would be anything, from Jaimie Oliver cook books to Napoleonic spy novels to Forensic Science handbooks.
I still get massive bags of books out from the library, and sometimes I even manage to get through all of them before they’re due back.
I would go home from trips to the library with a bag of books which probably weighed more than I did. And the books would be anything, from Jaimie Oliver cook books to Napoleonic spy novels to Forensic Science handbooks.
I still get massive bags of books out from the library, and sometimes I even manage to get through all of them before they’re due back.
I am quite a fast reader, so if I’m not doing anything else
I can potentially get through about three books in a day.
The problem is however, I can’t just read one book right through and THEN start another one. Instead, I’ll be reading about seven or eight at the same time, reading a few chapters of one and then another throughout the day. Due to this, I usually finish quite a few books at the same time (usually about five minutes before I have to take them back to the library).
My personal library is at about 200 volumes at the moment and growing all the time. I can see myself potentially becoming one of those people who has furniture made of books because they have run out of bookshelf space.
The problem is however, I can’t just read one book right through and THEN start another one. Instead, I’ll be reading about seven or eight at the same time, reading a few chapters of one and then another throughout the day. Due to this, I usually finish quite a few books at the same time (usually about five minutes before I have to take them back to the library).
My personal library is at about 200 volumes at the moment and growing all the time. I can see myself potentially becoming one of those people who has furniture made of books because they have run out of bookshelf space.
So anyway, that’s basically the story of how I started reading.
What’s the first book you can remember reading? Let me know
in the comments.
If you comment I will reply.
If you comment I will reply.
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| More books |
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| Random places I have used to store books |
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| Another bookshelf |
Thursday 13 November 2014
School is Over
I'm back!
My exams are over and I have officially finished school forever YAY! (Now I only have five years of university to go).
I have four months off before I start university so I will be able to post things more often (that is if my tendency to procrastinate doesn't take over).
My exams are over and I have officially finished school forever YAY! (Now I only have five years of university to go).
I have four months off before I start university so I will be able to post things more often (that is if my tendency to procrastinate doesn't take over).
Monday 20 October 2014
Exams
My exams start next week so I am frantically studying. Due to this I won't be blogging until they are over. See you in November.
Sunday 5 October 2014
Doctor Who Gift Box Part 2 - River Song/TARDIS Box
After making the Sonic Screwdriver, I decided to make a box to put everything in.
I decided to decorate the box to look like the River Song Journal I was going to make as part of the present (I will post about the journal later).
I started by finding a box of the right size.
The box I ended up with was really pretty and I was kind of sad to paint over it, but it ended up looking awesome in the end.
Things I used:
I used this blog post about someone who did a DIY River Song Journal as a reference http://indellibleink.com/2011/11/dr-who-journal/
I started out by measuring the size of the box and then drawing an accurate rectangle of that size onto my cardboard.
Then I used the ruler to pencil in the lines I would need to cut along.
Basically, it looked like this:
When I'd done that, (and it took agggggeeeees) I used a craft knife to cut along all the black lines.
I didn't write down the measurements I used as I basically made it up as I went along, and anyway I had to constantly trim bits off so all the pieces fitted together right.
What I found helped, was looking at the example I found online and then trimming the pieces until they looked the same distance apart as the example.
Then, I stuck it all on piece by piece.
After that, my sister (she's good with colours) helped me mixed up different blue paints until I was happy with the colour. Then I painted it.
I painted in stages, doing one side at a time, using a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.
I then went back and covered up any spots I missed. The main thing to watch out for is the gaps around the squares, the paint tends to pool in there and then dry so I kept scooping out the extra paint with a toothpick or paintbrush.
When I'd done that I mixed up a lighter blue paint and painted the inside of the box and the lid.
Then I used Mod Podge to glaze and seal all the surfaces.
I decided to decorate the box to look like the River Song Journal I was going to make as part of the present (I will post about the journal later).
I started by finding a box of the right size.
The box I ended up with was really pretty and I was kind of sad to paint over it, but it ended up looking awesome in the end.
Things I used:
- A box
- Thick cardboard
- A craft knife
- Glue
- Various shades of blue paint
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Mod Podge
 |
| Original box, this is the bottom, it had a black lid. |
I used this blog post about someone who did a DIY River Song Journal as a reference http://indellibleink.com/2011/11/dr-who-journal/
I started out by measuring the size of the box and then drawing an accurate rectangle of that size onto my cardboard.
Then I used the ruler to pencil in the lines I would need to cut along.
Basically, it looked like this:
When I'd done that, (and it took agggggeeeees) I used a craft knife to cut along all the black lines.
I didn't write down the measurements I used as I basically made it up as I went along, and anyway I had to constantly trim bits off so all the pieces fitted together right.
What I found helped, was looking at the example I found online and then trimming the pieces until they looked the same distance apart as the example.
Then, I stuck it all on piece by piece.
After that, my sister (she's good with colours) helped me mixed up different blue paints until I was happy with the colour. Then I painted it.
I painted in stages, doing one side at a time, using a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.
I then went back and covered up any spots I missed. The main thing to watch out for is the gaps around the squares, the paint tends to pool in there and then dry so I kept scooping out the extra paint with a toothpick or paintbrush.
When I'd done that I mixed up a lighter blue paint and painted the inside of the box and the lid.
Then I used Mod Podge to glaze and seal all the surfaces.
Wednesday 17 September 2014
Doctor Who Gift Box Part 1 - Sonic Screwdriver Pen
Last weekend I went to a friend's birthday party. Since she is a Doctor Who fan I decided to make her a present of that theme.
No Doctor Who Gift Box would be complete without a sonic screwdriver, so that was the first thing I made.
Sadly, I forgot to take step by step pictures as I was making it, so I will just have to make this up as I go along. Below are picture of what the various supplies I used look like.
I removed and discarded the actual highlighter bit and the plastic thing attached to it.
After that I cut the little handle thingie of the lid.
Then, I cut the top off the highlighter lid. The hole this made is where I eventually glued on the round glass bead which is the sonic screwdriver 'light'.
With the bottom of the highlighter, I made a hole in the end, big enough to poke the tip of a pen through.
After that, I mixed up so black and white pain to make a sort of silvery-grey colour and painted Part A and B. After using a hairdryer to speed up the drying process, I covered the paint in glaze.
Following that, I poked Part C through part B until the tip went through the hole in part B and it looked kind of like an actual pen. Then I used a hot glue gun to glue around the tip of the pen, fastening it to the outside of the pen. When the glue was dry I painted over it in the grey and glazed it so it didn't stand out.
Then, I poked some glue down into Part B so that Part C would be a bit more secure.
Wow, sorry this is sounding so confusing, it sounded much easier in my head!
Anyway, after that I got the clear plastic casing I had broken off my INC pen ie Part E.
I put glue all over the opening of Part B and then shoved Part E on as far as it would go.
I now had the bottom of my pen, complete with ink and tip.
I slipped Part D (the spring) over part C and it slid down until it came to the barrier made by the dried glue. The spring serves absolutely no purpose, I just thought it made the pen look nicer.
When I'd done that, I glued Part E into Part A.
When this had all dried, I decorated it.
I glued Part G (the bead) onto the hole I had made in Part A by cutting off the top earlier.
Then, I got Part F and shoved it onto Part A as far as it would go (and so the bead 'light' was sticking out and not covered).
For Part H I removed the rubber grips from two pens and cut them in half longways. I glued one to Part B and then trimmed the other until they fit together and looked like one large rubber grip. Then I glued that one on too.
As a finishing touch, I found a long blue seed bead in my bead box and glued it onto Part A so that it looked like a button. To glue I on I used the mod podge glaze.
Sorry if that was hard to understand, it is waaaaaay harder to try and explain how to do something after you have done it than step by step. If you want to make your own sonic screwdriver pen design, just grab some office stationary and play around until are happy with the end result.
I was very happy with how my pen turned out :)
Here are some more pictures of the finished pen.
No Doctor Who Gift Box would be complete without a sonic screwdriver, so that was the first thing I made.
Sadly, I forgot to take step by step pictures as I was making it, so I will just have to make this up as I go along. Below are picture of what the various supplies I used look like.
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| Highlighters Parts A & B Source: http://24hourwristbands.com/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/Brazil_highlighter_50f72fa05b302.jpg |
 |
| Ball Point Pen Part E |
- Part A and Part B - Highlighter
- Part C - The Plastic Ink filled part of a ball point pen
- Part D - Spring from a ball point pen
- Part E - Clear plastic casing from a INC Alias 1.0 pen
- Part F - Rubber grip from a pen
- Part G - Round glass bead
- Part H - Two rubber grips from pens
I removed and discarded the actual highlighter bit and the plastic thing attached to it.
After that I cut the little handle thingie of the lid.
Then, I cut the top off the highlighter lid. The hole this made is where I eventually glued on the round glass bead which is the sonic screwdriver 'light'.
With the bottom of the highlighter, I made a hole in the end, big enough to poke the tip of a pen through.
After that, I mixed up so black and white pain to make a sort of silvery-grey colour and painted Part A and B. After using a hairdryer to speed up the drying process, I covered the paint in glaze.
Following that, I poked Part C through part B until the tip went through the hole in part B and it looked kind of like an actual pen. Then I used a hot glue gun to glue around the tip of the pen, fastening it to the outside of the pen. When the glue was dry I painted over it in the grey and glazed it so it didn't stand out.
Then, I poked some glue down into Part B so that Part C would be a bit more secure.
Wow, sorry this is sounding so confusing, it sounded much easier in my head!
Anyway, after that I got the clear plastic casing I had broken off my INC pen ie Part E.
I put glue all over the opening of Part B and then shoved Part E on as far as it would go.
I now had the bottom of my pen, complete with ink and tip.
I slipped Part D (the spring) over part C and it slid down until it came to the barrier made by the dried glue. The spring serves absolutely no purpose, I just thought it made the pen look nicer.
When I'd done that, I glued Part E into Part A.
When this had all dried, I decorated it.
I glued Part G (the bead) onto the hole I had made in Part A by cutting off the top earlier.
Then, I got Part F and shoved it onto Part A as far as it would go (and so the bead 'light' was sticking out and not covered).
For Part H I removed the rubber grips from two pens and cut them in half longways. I glued one to Part B and then trimmed the other until they fit together and looked like one large rubber grip. Then I glued that one on too.
As a finishing touch, I found a long blue seed bead in my bead box and glued it onto Part A so that it looked like a button. To glue I on I used the mod podge glaze.
Sorry if that was hard to understand, it is waaaaaay harder to try and explain how to do something after you have done it than step by step. If you want to make your own sonic screwdriver pen design, just grab some office stationary and play around until are happy with the end result.
I was very happy with how my pen turned out :)
Here are some more pictures of the finished pen.
Monday 15 September 2014
The Crafty Turtle
My sister just started a blog called The Crafty Turtle.
She's going to do arts and craft tutorials and stuff like that.
She's actually really good at drawing and doing craft projects so you should go and check her blog out.
http://crafty-turtle.blogspot.co.nz/
She's going to do arts and craft tutorials and stuff like that.
She's actually really good at drawing and doing craft projects so you should go and check her blog out.
http://crafty-turtle.blogspot.co.nz/
Saturday 13 September 2014
Ten More YA Novels
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| Source: Goodreads |
Recently, I have been thinking about a few more YA books I have liked in the past.
So, I have decided to do another list of old favourites.
- Dragonskin Slippers (sequels - Dragon Flight, Dragon Spear) by Jessica Day George.
I remember finding this book really funny when I read it, especially, the bit where the heroine's aunt tries to sacrifice her to the dragon.
I went and ordered it from the library today so I can see if it's still as good at 18 as it was at 13.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/669570.Dragon_Slippers - Fortune's Folly by Deva Fagan.
I remember this book as being quite funny as well. From what I can recall it had elements from quite a few different fairy-tales mixed into it.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4862337-fortune-s-folly?from_search=true - The Moon Riders (sequel - Voyage of The Snake Lady) by Theresa Tomlinson.
This book was the fall of Troy told from the perspective of the Amazon Warriors (a band of female warriors from myth). I really liked it at the time because it had plenty of girls in it who could actually fight, unlike most other books about Troy.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1559895.The_Moon_Riders?from_search=true - A Posse of Princesses - Sherwood Smith
I think I read this book when I was about 13 or 14. I liked it because the main character was quite relatable and didn't have special powers or blinding beauty or anything.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2852832-a-posse-of-princesses - The Season by Sarah MacLean
I just remember this being a really fun book. It's set in the Regency Period and was one of the things that got be hooked on that historical era.
This was one of my favourite books when I was 14. It had spies, balls and fancy dresses so, of course I loved it!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3751593-the-season - A Curse As Dark As Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
This story is basically a retelling of Rumplestiltskin, set in the Industrial Revolution.
When I read it, I was going through a phase where I was obsessed with retold fairytales.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1743390.A_Curse_Dark_as_Gold?from_search=true - Prince of Hazel and Oak by John Lenahan
Firstly, this is not the first book in the series, if you want to read this series, start with Shadowmagic. I read this book quite a few years ago, it was really good, sort of like Percy Jackson. Sadly I still haven't read the first or second books because my library does not own them (cries), it's kind of my life goal to find them one day though!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3061457-shadowmagic - Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan
I still like these books, maybe no quite so devotedly as when I was 15, but they are still a nice, light, humorous read.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60400.The_Ruins_of_Gorlan?from_search=true - Velvet by Mary Hooper
My friend Vida gave me this book for my 16th birthday (thanks Vida :)
I love it because (a)Mary Hooper is a great author (b) because it is set in the Victorian era and (c) you need to read it to find out because spoilers.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9884009-velvet?from_search=true - The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
The Hobbit counts as a young adult's book doesn't it?
Anyway, after I read LOTR which took me about a month, I decided to read the Hobbit. It was way easier to read and I read it in about a day. I want to read it as well as LOTR again this year. Can't wait for the movie as well (FANGIRLS)!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5907.The_Hobbit?from_search=true
Have you read any of the books on this list?
Do you know of any YA books you think I should read?
Let me know in the comments and I will comment back!
Sunday 7 September 2014
Brunch Ramekins
I was going to do a long post about meals I cooked last week, but I'm having trouble locating some of the photos, so, in the meantime here are Brunch Ramekins.
I made this recipe up a couple of weeks ago while I was watching the movie 'Julie and Julia', seeing all the food made me REALLY hungry, so I decided to go cook something. Preferably with lots of bacon. Thus, this recipe was born.
Overall, everyone enjoyed them, but next time I would possibly add less salt.
SERVES 5
Ingredients:
If you make these, let me know what you thought of them in the comments :)
I made this recipe up a couple of weeks ago while I was watching the movie 'Julie and Julia', seeing all the food made me REALLY hungry, so I decided to go cook something. Preferably with lots of bacon. Thus, this recipe was born.
Overall, everyone enjoyed them, but next time I would possibly add less salt.
SERVES 5
Ingredients:
- 7 eggs
- 6 rashers of bacon
- 5-7 hashbrowns
- Dried Sage
- 3 large onions
- Butter
- Salt
- milk
- Cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Cut hashbrowns into small squares. If they are too hard to cut while frozen wait until they defrost.
- Place hashbrown pieces onto a tray and cook in a preheated oven (180-200C) until they are cooked through. Remove from oven. It does not matter if they go cold while you are preparing the other ingredients.
- Fry bacon in a hot frying pan until they are almost done. Transfer bacon to a plate and remove the fat. Chop bacon into medium sized pieces.
- Dice onions and place them in the pan you used to fry the bacon (do not wash the pan before you do this as the bacon fat will give the onions a nice flavour.
Add to the onions: diced garlic (about 3 cloves) and several large nobs of butter. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté until nice and brown. - Grate Tasty cheese onto a plate or board and then grate some Parmesan onto a separate plate.
- Beat two eggs with a little milk, salt and pepper and dried Sage.
- Grease your ramekins with butter.
- Put some bacon in each ramekin. Then add some hashbrown pieces. Squash the bacon and hashbrown pieces flat with a spoon or your finger. Use most of the bacon and hashbrown for the bottom of the ramekin but leave a little over.
- Cover bacon and hashbrown base with onions. Use all the onion mixture.
- Sprinkle a layer of Tasty cheese over. Press down again.
- A little more bacon and hashbrown.
- Crack and egg into each ramekin.
- Sprinkle some Tasty cheese around the yolk.
- Around the yolk place a few bacon and hashbrown pieces.
- Sprinkle some Tasty cheese over the top and then sprinkle some Parmesan cheese over that.
- Place in the oven.
- Leave in the oven until heated through and the egg is cooked to your satisfaction.
- Enjoy!
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| Hashbrown pieces |
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| Delicious caramelised onion |
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| Bacon makes everything better |
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| Bottom layer |
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| Ready to go into the oven |
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| Cooked |
If you make these, let me know what you thought of them in the comments :)
Monday 25 August 2014
Food
From now on I'm just going to post about the meals I make once a week because, short posts about one meal are kind of boring.
Wednesday 20 August 2014
Pizza and Toad in the Hole
On Monday I made Toad-in-the-Hole, which is basically sausages cooked in bready batter thing.
The sausages were really nice, they were beef and sundried tomato or something from our local(ish) butcher. I didn't turn the oven up high enough so the batter failed to rise properly (fail) but apart from that it tasted fine. I served it with baked potatoes, kumara and yams.
I didn't cook anything on Tuesday, we just reheated some curry I found in the feezer.
Tonight I made pizza.
I used these large pita bread things for the bases. I really like pizzas made like this because the base goes really crispy and you can eat more delicious pizza because you're not so full of thick tasteless crust.
I topped my pizzas with pizza sauce onion, cheese, bacon, pineapple, Kransky sausage and potato.
The sausages were really nice, they were beef and sundried tomato or something from our local(ish) butcher. I didn't turn the oven up high enough so the batter failed to rise properly (fail) but apart from that it tasted fine. I served it with baked potatoes, kumara and yams.
I didn't cook anything on Tuesday, we just reheated some curry I found in the feezer.
Tonight I made pizza.
I used these large pita bread things for the bases. I really like pizzas made like this because the base goes really crispy and you can eat more delicious pizza because you're not so full of thick tasteless crust.
I topped my pizzas with pizza sauce onion, cheese, bacon, pineapple, Kransky sausage and potato.
Saturday 16 August 2014
Honey Sesame Seed Chicken
I made Honey Sesame Seed Chicken for dinner last night from this recipe http://lilluna.com/honey-sesame-chicken-recipe/
It was another recipe I found on Pinterest.
I would highly recommend this recipe. Marinating the chicken made it moist and delicious and the sauce was SO GOOD! I'm surprised there was any chicken left for dinner by the time I was ready to serve it, I just couldn't stop eating it!
It tasted like Chinese takeout but better and was probably way healthier too. And the best part, it wasn't hard to make!
I don't have to cook tonight as we always have a massive lunch after church on Sunday.
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| Sorry the picture quality is so bad, I lost my camera so had to take this on a phone |
It was another recipe I found on Pinterest.
I would highly recommend this recipe. Marinating the chicken made it moist and delicious and the sauce was SO GOOD! I'm surprised there was any chicken left for dinner by the time I was ready to serve it, I just couldn't stop eating it!
It tasted like Chinese takeout but better and was probably way healthier too. And the best part, it wasn't hard to make!
I don't have to cook tonight as we always have a massive lunch after church on Sunday.
Thursday 14 August 2014
I Did Not Cook Today
As you might have deduced from the title of this post, I did not cook today.
I have a cold and have been sneezing everywhere, so my family decided they didn't want to be infected.
We had spicy mince, it was nice.
I'm going to go back to being miserable now. Bye
I have a cold and have been sneezing everywhere, so my family decided they didn't want to be infected.
We had spicy mince, it was nice.
I'm going to go back to being miserable now. Bye
Wednesday 13 August 2014
Day 3: Pinterest Soup
I made my first meal from a recipe I found on Pinterest (YAY) and it actually worked.
I cooked Annette's Potato Soup http://www.tipsfromatypicalmomblog.com/2010/01/potato-soup-recipe-machine-shed.html
The soup was really nice, but it was also quite rich. I kind of struggled to finish my second bowl.
Overall though, I liked the soup and I would make this recipe again.
So far, this whole cooking thing isn't too hard (I bet these words will come back to haunt me in the not-so-distant future!)
I cooked Annette's Potato Soup http://www.tipsfromatypicalmomblog.com/2010/01/potato-soup-recipe-machine-shed.html
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| Soup in my favourite bowl |
The soup was really nice, but it was also quite rich. I kind of struggled to finish my second bowl.
Overall though, I liked the soup and I would make this recipe again.
So far, this whole cooking thing isn't too hard (I bet these words will come back to haunt me in the not-so-distant future!)
Tuesday 12 August 2014
Cook All of the Meals
Last week I watched a couple of episodes of Masterchef Junior.
I deludedly thought that watching little kids trying to cook would be cute and funny.
Plot twist, the little kids can cook scallops and lobsters and macaroons.
The final straw came when they asked a 13 year old boy how often he cooked "five or six times a week" was his reply.
Well, I cook about once or twice a month and I want to be a chef.
At that point I decided I had better start cooking more often so I don't make a complete fool of myself when I actually go to a cooking school.
So, I plan to cook dinner for my family for the next four weeks (give or take a few days).
I've made up a four week meal plan and I'm going to blog about each night as I go along (which means I will actually be forced to blog regularly for a change).
Day 1&2 were actually yesterday and the day before.
I made bacon and egg pie with wedges, kumara chips and peas and carrots [with certain tasks delegated to available siblings, cause delegation is an important life skill to learn :)]
The bacon and egg pie was super easy, All you need to make one is:
Spread pieces of fried bacon over the bottom along with chopped onion.
Beat about three eggs with some milk, salt & pepper and dried sage.
Pour egg into pie dish.
Sprinkle grated cheese over egg.
Roll out more pastry and make a lid. Trim edges. Use your fingers to squish the lid and the base together.
Cook in oven heated to about 180C until cooked and golden brown.
I had made two pies, so we just heated the left over one up for dinner the next night.
I also made peach muffins using Alison Holst's fruit salad muffin recipe.
I deludedly thought that watching little kids trying to cook would be cute and funny.
Plot twist, the little kids can cook scallops and lobsters and macaroons.
The final straw came when they asked a 13 year old boy how often he cooked "five or six times a week" was his reply.
Well, I cook about once or twice a month and I want to be a chef.
At that point I decided I had better start cooking more often so I don't make a complete fool of myself when I actually go to a cooking school.
So, I plan to cook dinner for my family for the next four weeks (give or take a few days).
I've made up a four week meal plan and I'm going to blog about each night as I go along (which means I will actually be forced to blog regularly for a change).
Day 1&2 were actually yesterday and the day before.
I made bacon and egg pie with wedges, kumara chips and peas and carrots [with certain tasks delegated to available siblings, cause delegation is an important life skill to learn :)]
The bacon and egg pie was super easy, All you need to make one is:
- Defrosted pastry sheets
- Bacon
- Eggs
- Milk
- Onions
- Salt & Pepper
- Dried Sage
- Cheese
Spread pieces of fried bacon over the bottom along with chopped onion.
Beat about three eggs with some milk, salt & pepper and dried sage.
Pour egg into pie dish.
Sprinkle grated cheese over egg.
Roll out more pastry and make a lid. Trim edges. Use your fingers to squish the lid and the base together.
Cook in oven heated to about 180C until cooked and golden brown.
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| FOOOOOOOOOD |
I had made two pies, so we just heated the left over one up for dinner the next night.
I also made peach muffins using Alison Holst's fruit salad muffin recipe.
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| Clever me forgot to put the cinnamon sugar on top |
Saturday 2 August 2014
My Favourite TV Show Intros
Sometimes, watching the intro to a TV show is almost as awesome as the actual show.
There's just certain things about them, whether it be the intro song/tune or the way it's filmed that makes me not want to hit that skip button.
If you do, please share them with me in the comments!
There's just certain things about them, whether it be the intro song/tune or the way it's filmed that makes me not want to hit that skip button.
- Doctor Who - Whenever I hear this playing I'm like "Do I hear the song of my people!"
When we watch Doctor Who my sister and I like to sing along to the theme song (usually horrendously out of tune) and do a weird little dance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ1kRxgKft4
This youtube video shows all of the Doctor Who theme-songs to date (I think)
Sylvester McCoy's 1987-1989 and Paul McGann's 1996 themes win the prize for being the weirdest (although, they are still strangely awesome) and my favourite is David Tennant's 2007 theme. - The Musketeers - The BBC certainly got this intro right, it's fast-paced and exciting and the music is by Murray Gold - composer of the Doctor Who Soundtrack.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1azrzq_the-musketeers-opening-credits_creation
I was completely sold on this show from the moment I saw the intro.
There's nothing like watching men striding around in leather to awesome music!
Also, Aramis is completely awesome in every way, just saying. - Vikings - The sheer epicness of this intro cannot properly be expressed in words!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmyCRJkKeKs
It's super dramatic and is filmed in a way that I really really like.
Also, there's lots of symbolism and references to Norse mythology and legend.
It really fits with the whole tone of the series, and if I wasn't convinced about watching the show at first, the intro really did the trick. - Game of Thrones - Confession: I haven't actually seen this show, but I have seen the intro, and it is amazing.
It reminds me of the pop-up books I played with as a child, but on a far larger and darker scale.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7L2PVdrb_8
You're basically getting a whirlwind tour of Westros accompanied by a great theme song. - Firefly - This intro is totally different than the rest, but I still love it.
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=309569430991
I adore the theme song (and I will sing along to it VERY badly when I'm home alone).
It defiantly brings across the whole space-cowboy theme! - Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries - I am a huge fan of both the 20s and murder mysteries so I love this show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM5tf3tddlI
The intro is so fun and the music really makes me want to dance every time I hear it.
I also love the way whole intro is designed to look like a watercolour painting.
Miss Fisher's eccentric personality and fabulous style is portrayed admirably. - Elementary - I am not really a big fan of this show, but the one thing I did really like about it was the intro.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7JT3iMzS4k
It reminds me of a game my sister has called Mousetraps where you have to build this elaborate chain reaction which will eventually lower a cage trapping the plastic mouse.
The intro has a vaguely steampunkish (is that even a word?) feel, what with all the spinning guns, wire and cogs (sadly this is not really carried through into the show).
The music is really cool too. - Sherlock - First of all, I am over the moon to hear there's going to be another season FANGIRLS UNCONTROLLABLY!!!!!!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=166WMvLQ8ss
I pretty much love everything about this intro, especially the music and the bit with the title.
It feels really busy and conveys to me a sense of how big and busy London is and how hard it actually must be to solve crimes there.
For any of you out there who play a musical instrument, I'm pretty sure you can find the sheet music for the theme on the internet.
If you do, please share them with me in the comments!
Friday 1 August 2014
The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
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| Picture source - Goodreads |
READING LEVEL: Young adult - adult
PAPERBACK: 384 pages
PUBLISHER: Allen & Unwin
Summary:
This book was written by a Swedish author - Jonas Jonasson, it became so popular that it was translated from Swedish to English.
Basically, the book is about a 100 year old man called Allan Karlsson who decides he doesn't want to be at his own 100th birthday party, so, he climbs out of the retirement home window and makes his escape. The excitement really starts when he accidentally steals a suitcase of cash from a bunch of thugs.
The book alternates between his current escapades (which are numerous and involve, among other things, several deaths, an elephant, incompetent police, an almost-vet and a semi-retired thief) and his extremely picturesque past history (think European Forrest Gump but with a WHOLE lot more Vodka).
Review:
A librarian at my local library recommended this book to me and I'm glad she did because it was absolutely hilarious!
And how could it not be with such an awesome title!.
I liked the way that the author had alternated between Allan's current predicaments and events from his history.
Everyone thinks he's just this ordinary old man (who's only claim to fame is turning 100) but in reality, he has influenced some of the most momentous events of the twentieth century.
The writing style was really quirky and was both fun and easy to read.
I wish more books were like this one.
The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared was a thoroughly enjoyable book and even made me laugh out loud in some places.
I enjoyed it so much that I passed it on to my sister, who must be enjoying it too judging by the giggles issuing from behind the book every time I walk past her.
FAVORITE QUOTES:
“I shall destroy capitalism! Do you hear! I shall destroy every single capitalist! And I shall start with you, you dog, if you don't help us with the bomb!'
Allan noted that the had managed to be both a rat and a dog in the course of a minute or so. And that Stalin was being rather inconsistent, because now he wanted to use Allan's services after all.
But Allan wasn't going to sit there and listen to this abuse any longer. He had come to Moscow to help them out, not to be shouted at. Stalin would have to manage on his own.
'I've been thinking,' said Allan.
'What,' said Stalin angrily.
'Why don't you shave off that moustache?'
With that the dinner was over, because the interpreter fainted.”
"Allan may be old, but he is also one hell of a rascal and he damned well does exactly what he feels like."
"Boss had the idea of importing Swedish meatballs from the Philippines, cheap and by sea. With the right amount of formaldehyde the meatballs would stay fresh for three months if necessary, even at 100 degrees.
They would be so cheap that the partners wouldn't even have to label them as "Swedish" to sell them at a profit. "Danish" would suffice, thought the Boss, but his partner said no. In his opinion, formaldehyde was fine for embalming corpses, but not for giving eternal life to meatballs."
Saturday 5 July 2014
Today in History
1189: Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England
1483: Richard III is crowned King of England
1560: England and Scotland sign Treaty of Edinburgh
1483: Richard III is crowned King of England
1560: England and Scotland sign Treaty of Edinburgh
Wednesday 2 July 2014
50 Facts About Me
I am super tired and can't think of anything interesting to blog about, so here are 50 random facts about me.
- I am named after Anna, the prophetess in Luke 2:36
- The origin of my name is Hebrew and it means graceful/merciful
- I am a born-again Christian
- My middle name is Rose
- I am 17 going on 18
- My birthstone is the Peridot (and I always forget it)
- My birth-flower is the Gladiolus or Spear-Lily (I know this because I just Googled it)
- My favourite flowers are the Forget-me-not and the Rose
- I have a massive obsession with tea (my friend's think it's scary)
- I have my Queen's Award (through Girls' Brigade)
- I want to have a book published one day
- When I find a song I will listen to it repeatedly until I can no longer stand it
- My favourite historical period is the Regency Period (go Jane Austen)
- I have always lived in New Zealand and I love it here!
- My favourite TV show is Doctor Who (DOOO WEEE DOOOO)
- My favourite Doctor is 10 (HIS HAIR!!!!!!!!!!!)
- The fandoms I am in are too numerous to mention and merit a list all of their own, but seven of them are: Doctor Who, Sherlock, Pushing Daisies, LOTR, Star Wars, Vikings and Firefly
- I collect Doctor Who tee-shirts (I only have six so far)
- My favourite numbers are seven and nine
- I like it when things come in groups of three
- I am heinously afraid of spiders (and most other bugs)
- The most terrifying experience of my life was when I nearly drowned at the beach last summer
- I play the flute and 'can' play the recorder and guitar
- I don't play any sports because I am basically a couch potato
- I like to eat weird food combinations, like beef mince pie with vanilla ice-cream or peanut-butter and salami sandwiches with tomato relish
- My hair colour is somewhere in-between Medium Ash Brown and Light Golden Brown with a Dark Chocolate Base.
- I tend to fall for the bad (or slightly sinister) guys in books and movies
- I am incredibly terrible at singing but I like to sing along to songs when I am home alone
- I really hate looking in the mirror when I go to the bathroom at night because I have an irrational fear that I'll see someone other than myself looking back
- I am embarrassingly bad at geography
- I get waaaaaaaaaay too emotionally attached to fictional characters
- I really want to go to Comic Con one day
- I have a serious Pinterest Addiction
- I am soooo not a morning person, in fact I am basically a zombie until after 10am (unless I have lots of caffeine)
- I like to over-analyse movies for metaphors, imagery, foreshadowing and other plot devices
- I have met two authors and had books signed by them (George R. R. Martin and Christopher Paolini)
- I cry really easily during movies and TV shows
- I am a massive geek and proud of it
- I spend most of my free time reading. I will read pretty much anything
- I like watching documentaries and reading books about history
- I love shopping when I'm in the right mood (especially for books and shoes)
- My favourite animals are cats and wolves
- One day I want to have a themed tea shop/book shop.
- I am addicted to buying stationary, half the time I don't even use the stuff I buy, I just hoard it
- People who don't know me sometimes think I am antisocial and or socially awkward
- I'm pretty sure I have Trypophobia (a fear of objects with small holes), which is a totally random thing to have a phobia of
- The library is my happy place
- I spend 85% of my life in my room
- My favourite colours are blue, silver and black
- I think that you are a very patient individual if you've read this whole list
Friday 20 June 2014
My Top Ten Young Adult Novels
This is a quick post about ten of my favourite Young Adult Novels.
These are all novels which I read when I was younger (about 12-14), but still enjoy reading now.
After each book, I have put the link to the goodread's page where you can read the summary and people's reviews.
I really recommend joining Goodreads by the way. If you review enough books, you get recommendations based on the books you've read. I have found heaps of new books to read with the help of Goodreads recently.
My username on Goodread's is Anna Astolat, so if you do join (or are already a member), feel free to add me as a friend :)
- Entwined https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8428195-entwined?from_search=true
- I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend (sequel is Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9391959-jane-austen-stole-my-boyfriend?from_search=true
- Wrapped https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8689927-wrapped?from_search=true
- The Red Necklace https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1948904.The_Red_Necklace?from_search=true
- The Silver Blade https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6261533-the-silver-blade?from_search=true
- The Black Heart of Jamaica (#5 Cat Royal series) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2953244-black-heart-of-jamaica?from_search=true
- Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (#1 Percy Jackson series) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28187.The_Lightning_Thief?ac=1
- The Case of the Missing Marquis (#1 Enola Holmes series) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/606928.The_Case_of_the_Missing_Marquess?from_search=true
- Fallen Grace https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7575762-fallen-grace?from_search=true
- Ella Enchanted https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24337.Ella_Enchanted?from_search=true
What did you think of them?
What are your favourite young adult novels?
Monday 16 June 2014
Some Useless Websites
Top Ten Completely Pointless Websites.
There are a LOT of websites out there that cause me to wonder why they were ever created and what purpose do they serve.
http://www.theuselessweb.com/ is a useless website that shows you bunch of websites that have no apparent purpose, such as one with nothing but a picture of a tiny crouton in the left hand corner, or another one where you can slap someone with an eel.
Here are a selection of websites I found on the site:
There are a LOT of websites out there that cause me to wonder why they were ever created and what purpose do they serve.
http://www.theuselessweb.com/ is a useless website that shows you bunch of websites that have no apparent purpose, such as one with nothing but a picture of a tiny crouton in the left hand corner, or another one where you can slap someone with an eel.
Here are a selection of websites I found on the site:
- http://ducksarethebest.com/ this website turns your cursor into a little yellow duck
- http://www.patience-is-a-virtue.org/ how long will you last?
- http://www.sanger.dk/ watch a pug licking your screen for hours
- https://isitchristmas.com/ tells you if it's Christmas today
- http://cat-bounce.com/ watch as bouncing cats fall from the top of your screen
- http://www.pleasedonate.biz/ asks you to donate money to an unspecified person for an unspecified cause
- http://hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com/ in case you were wondering if the world has been destroyed while you weren't looking
- http://www.pointerpointer.com/ finds a picture of someone pointing at your cursor
- http://crouton.net/ stare at a picture of a tiny crouton in the left hand corner of your screen
- http://www.wwwdotcom.com/ welcome to the last page of the internet
High Tea at Home
High Tea is basically where you sit down and eat fancy little cakes, scones and savouries off posh plates and drink tea.
Well that's what it is called where I live (in New Zealand) anyway.
Traditionally however, High Tea was a hearty, late afternoon meal eaten by labourers, Afternoon Tea was the one where rich people ate the tiny cakes.
Afternoon tea is thought to have originated around the early 19th century when Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford (a woman after my own heart!) complained of having 'that sinking feeling' in the later part of the afternoon. Her solution: a pot of tea and snacks in her boudoir.
After inviting a few friends to partake of this 'afternoon tea', the practice became so popular that other hostesses started copying her, and thus Afternoon Tea was born.
Recently, people seemed to have decided that High Tea sounds fancier than Afternoon Tea, and have reinvented it.
Going to a restaurant or café for High Tea is an awesome experience.
I went for High Tea at the Hippopotamus Hotel in Wellington for my 16th http://www.hippopotamus.co.nz/high-tea/ and it was really cool, but quite expensive ($39pp).
And that's the thing, going out for High Tea is fun, but it can cost a LOT, especially if lots of people are going.
My solution: High Tea at home.
Over the last few years, I have hosted several High Teas, all of which I enjoyed almost as much as the hotel one.
All you need is:
- A couple of layered plates (see photo)
- Tea cups and saucers
- A teapot
- An assortment of Teas
- Various miniature cakes, savouries etc
- A nice table cloth
- A table and chairs (obviously)
- Maybe some decorations if you are doing a themed one
Foodwise, just make whatever you fancy, but try to make sure that everything is bite-sized.
It's also a good idea to try and ensure you have a good balance of savoury and sweet options.
To give you some ideas, here is a list of all the food pictured in this post:
Blue and White Table Cloth Tea
- Miniature Bacon and Egg Pies
- Citrus Slice
- Cheesey Bread Roll-ups
- Raspberry Macaroons
- Chocolate Whoopie Pies
- Egg Sandwiches
- Miniature Tea Cups filled with either jelly (topped with meringue), or mousse (topped with blackberry jam.)
- Chocolate Truffles
- Samosas with Mango Chutney
- Cream Cheese and Cucumber Club Sandwiches
- Egg and Parsley Club Sandwiches
- Ham, Lettuce, Tomato, Cheese and Relish Club Sandwiches
- Chicken (mixed with Mayonnaise and Parsley), Lettuce, Cheese and Relish Club Sandwiches
- Miniature Lemonade Scones with Cream and Jam
- Raspberry, Double Chocolate Blondies
- Miniature Red Onion Pies
- Miniature Lemon Meringue Pies
- Tarts filled with Cream Cheese (mixed with brown sugar) topped with grated chocolate
- Miniature Ginger Loaves (sliced)
Have you ever had High Tea? If so where?
Did you enjoy it?
Have you held one at home?
Let me know in the comments!
Sunday 15 June 2014
The Red Necklace - A Story of the French Revolution by Sally Gardner
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| This is the cover I own, isn't it pretty! |
READING LEVEL: Young adult
HARDCOVER: 378 pages
PUBLISHER: Orion Children's books (2007)
Summary:
The novel begins in 18th century France, on the cusp of the French Revolution and centres around a mysterious Gypsy boy name Yann Margoza (who possess the uncanny ability to throw his voice and know what others are thinking).
Yann's life changes forever when the magician he works for agrees to stage a private performance for a rich nobleman. This ill-fated performance brings Yann into contact with shy but kind Sido and the sinister Count Kalliovski,(a man as feared as the devil himself). Though Yann does not know it yet, these two people will send his life spiralling into a tale of love, danger and magic.
During the revolution no one is safe.
Review:
I first came across The Red Necklace at the library when I was fourteen.
At that point, I was going through a phase where I pretty much exclusively read historical fiction (I went through a lot of phases, the most memorable being when a twelve year old me refused to read anything that wasn't written from the point of view of a girl) so this kind of book definitely appealed to me.
Also, the cover was stunning, which I always consider a point in favour of any book.
Last year I bought my very own copy, in near mint condition from a library sale, which caused me no end of satisfaction. Since then, I've probably read it another two or three times.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I really really really like this book, like a lot!
Unlike a lot of young adult novels I've read, The Red Necklace kept me enthralled to the very last page.
The characters are well written, especially Kalliovski, who pretty much oozes evil-I-will-kill-everyone-sinisterness.
The rich descriptions and imagery, as well as the setting gave the book a kind of gothic feel which I really liked!
Overall I would highly recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of stories that are set in the French Revolution and have great villains!
It's not a super hard read, you could easily get through it in a couple of days (or hours depending on the speed at which you read).
The audiobook version (though abridged) is read by Tom Hiddleston (he could read the phone book and make it sound amazing) so I would really recommend listening to it!
If you like the Red Necklace, Sally Gardner has also written a sequel, The Silver Blade.
If you have (or do) read this book, tell me what you thought of it in the comments :)
Favourite excerpts:
'"But you said sir, that he can see into the future, into the minds of men. I am merely asking what he sees."
"Watches, snuff boxes, trinkets, bonbons, and the like," said Topolain. He felt he was losing his grip. What on earth had come over Yann, that he would say something so dangerous?
"Humour me," the young man persisted.
Yann looked out at all the fine ladies and gentlemen, at the emeralds, rubies, and diamonds that glittered on wilted flesh. Louis de Jonquieres appeared to be holding his blood-soaked head under his arm. Yann blinked, hoping the vision would go away, only to see Death walk into the room. He wanted to keep silent, but it was as if he were possessed.
He heard the Pierrot say, "I see you all drowning in blood."'
'Many rumours circulated about Kalliovski, which he encouraged. When asked his age he would say he was as old as Charlemagne. When asked about his great black wolfhound, Balthazar, he would say that he had never been without the dog. One thing, though, was certain: Many were his mistresses and no one was his wife.
The secret of his success lay in the absence of emotion. Over the years he had learned how to empty himself of sentiment, to keep himself free of passion. Love he considered to be a blind spot on the map of the soul.
He had an iron-clad heart. His motto was one that should have warned all who knew him of his true nature, but a greedy man only sees the purse of gold before him.
Count Kalliovski's motto was simple: Have no mercy, show no mercy.'
I'm Back
Sorry about the massive amount of time in which I posted nothing!
I should be back to posting regularly now (or what passes for regularly to a procrastinator like me).
I should be back to posting regularly now (or what passes for regularly to a procrastinator like me).
Friday 2 May 2014
I haven't blogged for ages
Just a quick post to apologise for not posting anything for ages.
My family is going through a difficult time right now so I don't know when I'll be back to posting.
Just thought I should let you guys know.
Anna
My family is going through a difficult time right now so I don't know when I'll be back to posting.
Just thought I should let you guys know.
Anna
Thursday 10 April 2014
Little and Friday's Steak and Potato-top Pies
I found this recipe in the Treats From Little and Friday cookbook (by Kim Evans).
I love Steak and cheese pies, but the ones you get from the supermarket or bakeries are sometimes a bit disappointing and often lacking in flavour (not that it stops me eating them).
As soon as I saw the recipe, I knew I wanted to make it, the picture in the book looked so tempting!
The resulting pies were delicious, and this has become one of my all time favourite recipes.
The first time I made the pies, I made them in the little ceramic ramekins like the recipe said, however, the pastry on the bottom was quite soggy. I'm not sure what went wrong, but the second time I made them, I just used a large metal pie dish, in the hopes that the bottom would cook better.
This recipe makes heaps of the steak filling, I got two large pies and one small pie out of it, with a bowl full still left over after. The filling is so good that I had to stop myself eating it all before it went into the pie!
FILLING:
- Dash of olive oil
- 1kg beef steak, cut into 20cm pieces
- 4 onions roughly chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 3tbsps fresh Thyme
- 1 1/2 cups of red wine
- 2 1/2 cups of beef stock
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 2tbsps of cornflour (you will probably need heaps more than this)
- 3tbsps of water
- 4 large Agria potatoes, quartered
- 3 tbsps. cream
- knob of unsalted butter
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- Grated cheese
- Puff Pastry
- Preheat oven to 180C or 356F. Grease six 9cm pie tins, (or any pie tin you want to be honest).
- To prepare filling, heat oil in a large frying pan and sauté steak, small portions at a time to prevent stewing. Transfer to a large casserole dish.
Dice steak - Sauté onion and garlic until golden. Add to casserole dish with bacon, thyme, red wine and stock. Season with salt and pepper, cover and cook in oven for 1 hour.
Saute onion and garlic
Ready for the oven - Mix cornflour and water to form a paste. Stir through meat mixture until well combined.
You will probably need to use more cornflour paste than indicated. The mixture needs to be thick enough to put in a pie.
Thicken steak mixture (thanks Mum) - Return to oven for 30 minutes, until meat is tender and mixture is thickened. Leave to cool before filling pies, or pastry will become soggy.
- To prepare topping, boil potatoes in salted water.
Drain and add cream, butter and salt and pepper. Mash and set aside to cool.
Mashed potato - On a floured surface, roll pastry out to 4mm thick. Cut into 15cm squares (or whatever size fits your pie tin.) Ease into prepared tins, do not trim edges. Allow pastry to rest in fridge for 2 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 200C or 392F. Place a tray in the oven to heat.
- Fill lined tins with steak mixture. Cover with potato and press grated cheese on top.
- Fold overhanging pastry over onto potato to form a seal.
- Place pies in tray on oven and cook for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
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| ENJOY |
Thursday 27 March 2014
White Chocolate Caramel Oat Cake
If I had to pick a favourite cake, this would be it.
I remember when I was about 5 or 6 Mum and Dad would take me out to this place called Evan's for lunch and we would always share a piece of an oaty, caramely cake with sour yoghurt. When Evan's closed I thought I would never get to eat my favourite cake again :(
About ten years later I found this recipe in a Jo Segar cookbook. It looked very similar, and when I baked it I was amazed to discover it tasted exactly how I remembered the cake from Evan's tasted.
Everyone who has tried this cake loves it too. It's kind of like a really nice Anzac biscuit with caramel.
INGREDIENTS FOR CARAMEL:
- 1 x 400g can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tbsps. golden syrup
- 150g butter
- 1 1/2 cups wholemeal flour
- 3/4 cup flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar (firmly packed)
- 3/4 cup desiccated coconut
- 2 eggs
- 250g butter melted
- 1 tbsp. vanilla essence
- 1 cup white chocolate buttons/white chocolate pieces
To make the caramel, place all the ingredients in a small saucepan and still over a medium heat until well combined and smooth. Allow to cool. (If there is too much butter and some is floating on top, just carefully tip of the extra butter.) Don't worry if your caramel seems to catch on the bottom a little so long as it doesn't taste burnt.
Cake:
Preheat your oven to 180C.
Line a 25-26 cm spring form tin with baking paper.
To make the cake, place all the dry ingredients except the chocolate buttons in a large bowl and mix well. Beat the eggs, melted butter and vanilla together, then mix into dry ingredients. Press three-quarters of this mixture into the prepared tin (so there are no gaps).
Pour caramel over base, then crumble the remaining cake mixture on top.
Bake for 45 mins until golden brown.
Cool completely in the tin.
When cold melt the white chocolate in the microwave or stovetop, and drizzle over the top of the cake.
Keep cake chilled in fridge or serve warmish.
Serve with thick yoghurt, whipped cream, ice-cream or all three.
ENJOY
(From Jo Segar, The Cook School Recipes, Random House, New Zealand).
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| And no, the Ready Clingwrap is not a subtle product placement, I just forgot to move it. |
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