Australian Nationals 2013

Is it really a week since Nationals finished?!

I had an awesome long weekend, releasing lots of pent up band-geekiness!

Friday was our hymn and Test Piece- "Northern Landscapes" - which is a big work that all the bands in the section have to play. The euphoniums had the opening notes and we managed not to split them, so we knew it would be all good from there. 

Saturday morning was the march contest, through the streets of Northbridge. There was a decent crowd watching the rare spectacle. Western Australia only has about 7 bands, spread across its vastness, so nearly 30 of them marching down the street is definitely not what you expect when you go out for brunch!

And Halt! Marching through Northbridge

On the inspection field prior to marching off

Then Sunday was the final day of the big competition. A stage march and our own choice test piece - "Rhapsody in Brass". We pushed pretty hard in our test piece, probably a bit too hard. Its normally a test piece for the grades above our lowely C-grade status, but we felt we pulled it off pretty well. We had a great time playing and preparing, and felt that our final performances of each piece were just about the best we'd ever played. 

In the auditorium performing our test piece

We ended up coming 3rd, behind two bands that were on the very top of their game. 

The band in general was a little disappointed to hear the results read out, but after some time to reflect it was a great first attempt at the national competition (the state competition isn't much of a competition...) and a great base to build on. 

During the week we had a party instead of rehearsal. 

And I made cakes :)

Red Velvet, and White Chocolate and Passion fruit.

In band colours. 

Bring on next year!

And the pep talk from our conductor:

"I could not be happier with the way the band played today! We went in each day and played exactly as we had rehearsed it. Everything went exactly to plan (well as much as one can expect on contest day). All the comments from the adjudicator were very complimentary- nothing on the tapes is worth hanging our heads low about! There were 2 bands there today who are at the very top of C Grade at both nationally and state level and even in one case really should be in B grade. Lets think back to before the adjudication when we all agreed that the band never sounded better in this whole lead up to contest! I have never been prouder of this band and you can bet ill be singing the praises of the band to the guys at work on Tuesday!! I am so proud of this band- and I hope you are too!! Well done!!

Christmas Pudding Treats - 2012

We went to a christmassy gathering yesterday afternoon.
I took one of my stockings filled with small mainly chocolate based treats, plus some extras for their dog. (liver treat reindeer poo, anyone?)
Plus I made some more of my favourite easy christmas treats - recipe here - that look pretty cool but are sooo quick to throw together.

This time they have gummy lollies chopped up on top, and some of them had a splash of amaretto mixed in with the orange juice. 10 minutes work, but they look pretty fancy!

Also- last night was The Boys work christmas party. My 1 real time to dress up for the year :D

And *shock horror* I actually made my dress! Following up on a plan? me?!

Heres a teaser :)

I can't wait to get back to try this!

I had something like this in the really good restaurant in town.

So good! Though ours was with a local crumbly cheese sauce.

Broccoli Flan (12 portions)

Flan mixture:
300 gm blanched green broccoli
200 gm whole eggs
90 gm egg yolk
100 gm heavy cream 
60 gm parmesan cheese, graded
S&P to taste
1tsp extra virgin olive oil

Method: In a blender, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth texture is obtained, use 3.5 oz muffin mold to fill with the mixture, and bake in preheated oven at 350F for 15 minutes. Allow to cool down before serving.

Brie sauce:
200 ml full fat milk
100 gm brie cheese

Method: In a sauce pan over low heat, combine cheese and milk until completely melted and use a hand mixer to smooth the sauce season with salt and pepper, hold it in a warm spot until service, and garnish with a sliced of your preferred prosciutto.

Almond and Raspberry Biscuits

I forgot to buy biscuits... and my sweet tooth was calling while I was finishing the second draft of my research proposal. So I quickly whipped up a batch of these. So easy and very tasty!

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Almond and Raspberry Biscuits

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1/2 cup sugar

125g butter/marg

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla essence

Some Orange zest 

(though I used the juice of a clementine...)

3/4 cup Almond Meal

1 cup plain flour

Raspberries or jam

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cream together sugar and fat, then slowly add the eggs and other wet ingredients.

Fold in dry ingredients

Spoon out onto baking tray in about 1 inch wide blobs (mine spread- beware!)

Put a raspberry or a small blob of jam into the middle

Mine made maybe 25. I'm not sure. I ate lots before counting!

Cook in oven at 190 til slightly browned.

Very tasty, but very moreish!

You could also add slivered almonds for an extra nut hit and a different texture.

Cold, productive winter nights

We've had a really cold, if not miserable weekend, and while yesterday was a bit warmer it was much more miserable.

On saturday I spied this fabulous flannel material, and knew I had to have some for new PJs. 

The dino ones have shrunk slowly, so now they graze my ankles, and the ones I made last year from froggy fleece are awesome, but a bit too warm to sleep sometimes.

I want to use the left overs from the PJs in another project (the fluro pink is a hint there), and I'm keen to get on with that, so needed the PJs made so I knew what I had left to work with.

So last night I got home from work, made that great comfort food of Toad in the Hole, and while that was cooking I got on with the PJs!

 They are nearly done, and probably only took me an hour. I'm getting better!

Because I wanted to preserve as much left over fabric as possible, I split the pattern so that the crotch and legs are separate pieces, with the pattern going in different directions.

All that is left to do is finish the leg cuffs. I couldn't decide if I want to make elastic cuffs, to stop the legs riding up in the night. I think I do, so I'll get onto that and take some piccies!

Oh, and 

Toad in the Hole

Serves a greedy one, or two if you maybe add more sausage.

Toad: 

Sausages (I used pork and leek)

Hole:

75g plain flour.

75ml milk

35ml water

1 egg

salt/pepper to taste

Put the sausages into an oven proof container. I used a loaf tin because the "hole" - actually yorkshire pudding- rises best in something, metal that transfers heat.

Cook sausages until almost done.

Mix up batter by whisking together all ingredients other than the sausages!

Check fat in pan. If your sausages were like mine and quite lean, you need to add enough oil/fat to cover the base well. I used olive oil, but I would have preferred duck fat or dripping if I had any, as that gets hotter.


Arrange sausages and pour batter around them. 
Place in a hot oven (mine goes up to 225 degrees) and don't open the door until batter has risen and is crispy. Probably about 20 minutes, but keep an eye on it! Everyone has different preferences for yorkshire pudding. I love mine crispy on the outside but still soft on the inside, so you be the judge of when its ready!

Serve with peas, broccoli and gravy for a hearty warming meal!

Mini Pudding bites in 5 easy steps!

These are another festive favourite of mine, and so easy!

Mini Chocolate puddings

100g dark chocolate

400g fruit cake 

1/3 Cup Orange juice (mixed with your favourite tipple if you want)

50g or so white chocolate, for coating

Red and green decorations 

Dark fruit cake is probably more festive but it is very rich, especially in our climate! So this year I used a light fruit cake and it seems good so far.

1.   Melt the dark chocolate and crumble the cake into it. Pour the juice over and mix well.

2.   Chill until firm.

3.   Roll into small balls. These are probably about an inch in diameter.

4.   Melt the white chocolate, and either dip the top of each ball in, or pipe in a "custard" pattern,  for stereotypical Christmas puds.

5.   Top with something festive! These are red and green jelly beans cut in half, or you could use sprinkles, or glace cherries and mint leaves. What ever works!

Christmas Gingerbread

I make gingerbread every year for Christmas, often as gifts to hang on the tree.

The last few years I've made a big batch of christmassy shaped biscuits to take into work and share around, especially as I'm work through the holidays.

I use the following recipe:

• 
  
• 125g butter, at room temperature
• 100g (1/2 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar
• 125ml (1/2 cup) golden syrup
• 2 egg yolks
• 375g (2 1/2 cups) plain flour
• 1 tbs ground ginger
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Depending on my audience I add double the ginger (I love ginger!) and this year I added some chopped "naked ginger" for an extra layer of flavour.

Cream the butter and sugar, add the yolks and golden syrup and beat some more, then add the dry ingredients. It doesn't feel like it will make a dough, and the dough ends up quite brittle, but after 30 minutes rest in the fridge it should be right to go.

Make a hole in the top of your shapes for ribbon if thats your plan. These were just for eating :)

I cut out snowflakes, stars, doves, angels, christmas trees and bells.

Bake at about 180oC for about 10 minutes,until they're are still soft but slightly browned.

Turn out onto a rack to cool, and they'll harden up but still have some give to them.

Cook for longer if you like them with bite!

I love the combination of ginger and white chocolate, so I coat most of them in melted good quallity white chocolate, leaving some bare for those who don't like it. I love the look of the draped chocolate as you pull them out of the gooey molten white chocolate.

Try not to eat them all until you've given them out as gifts!

Poorly Grandma :(

Everyone send good vibes to my Gran:

I got a phone call from my parents yesterday evening to tell me that she was in hospital :( Apparently she was taken ill on friday, with unknown pain. She phoned my dads sister (who I don't remember ever meeting and didn't know existed for a very long time- long story that I'm not even sure of) who said ring the doctor who said ring an ambulance.
They thought it was a heart attack at first, but now they think its her kidneys. She is 94 ish, so she's had a good innings and you have to kind of expect these things, but you never do. I knew that when I left the UK 2.5 years ago that there was a good chance it would be the last time I saw her, but still...
My parents went to visit her yesterday afternoon their time, and said that she was looking OK, sitting up out of bed. They did a full MOT (does that translate into Aussie? full service) and were going to give her some scan thing today and hopefully they will figure out what it is and all will be good. 


The worst part is that my dads sister didn't even tell my Dad she was ill for 2 days (taken in on friday lunch time, told him sunday). If it had been something more critical and the worst were to have happened he wouldn't even have got to see her before... I know that anyone that I care about could be run over by a bus while I'm writing this, and its not something I should worry about tooooo much, but things like this just make you think. I love my life over here, but at times you remember the bad stuff.




On other notes, had a lazy weekend. Managed to go to pump on Sunday, but other than that... I walked home from work on friday night, which is about 12km at a fast pace. My hips were aching from that (from the different style to running I guess) so I excused myself out of proper exercise on saturday, but did do some Wii time. Then put my bike into the shop on sunday for a quick once over- break tightening, gear tweaking  etc etc so not much exercise today, but i have decided I am NEVER taking the Cat again (inner city run around free bus). It doesnt take much longer to walk given the route deviations and constant stopping and its a fairly good hike from the train station to where I work. Every little helps!


Picked my bike up this evening after skiving off work a little bit early and running across the city to get there before the shop closes at 6. All good so cycling everyday this week is the plan. I'm aiming for Pump again in the morning. 


Chick Pea Curry
I made yummy and fast curry for tea:
Cook up a small onion with a tablespoon of curry paste (I used rogan josh) then add a drained tin of chick peas. Cook them through a bit to soften, then add a grated carrot and some peas and a tun of crushed tomatoes and cook until the tomato looses its acidyness (if you know what I mean?!).


Makes 2 big bowls. I couldn't finish mine:


268 calories, 
12g protein
15g(!!) fibre from the chick peas and tomatoes mainly
8g fat (from the paste, if i was less lazy today it would be real paste so very little fat and 70 whole cals less ish!)


I think what I have left will do 2 lunches this week in my bento style box. 
Perfect :D