Jikana Damaru: 09/27/11

wordless wednesday

Playing along with the lovely Sarah here.

wordless wednesday : then & now

welcome to the day of the week that we celebrate images without the need for words.please enter your wordless blog post in the list below. link back to here so others can join in. & enjoy visiting some of the other entries too. thank you ♥

Delicious Pannacotta Recipe

I have had lots of success lately with mini pots of panacotta on my dessert tables. They are super easy to make and taste delicious. They have been really popular with both adults and the kids.

My recipe is one that my lovely friend Jacki from Blissfully Sweet Cakes gave me - Jacki has some wonderful and simple recipe's up her sleeve so go forth and make this easy panacotta for your next party (or just to eat when you feel like!) - the Balsamic Strawberries garnish recipe is also included below.

Vanilla Pannacotta

1 1/2 cups (375ml) cream

1 1/2 cups (375ml) milk

1 vanilla bean

1/2 cup (115g) caster sugar
3 tsp gelatine powder

1. Place the cream and milk in a saucepan. Use a small sharp knife to split the vanilla bean lengthways, then scrape the seeds from inside the bean. Add the seeds and bean to the saucepan. Slowly bring to the boil over a medium heat. Remove from the heat and set aside for 10 minutes.

2. Discard bean from cream mixture. Add sugar and return to a a low heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves.

3. Place 2tbs of boiling water in a small heatproof bowl. Sprinkle over gelatine and stir until dissolved. Cool slightly, then stir into the cream mixture.

4. Sieve mixture and then pour directly into serving pots. Refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight.

Balsamic Strawberries for garnish

1 tub of fresh strawberries cut in half (or quarter if large)

2 tbs aged balsamic vinegar (can use normal balsamic, but the thick balsamic glass or syrup is great)

50g white sugar

1/4 cup water

1. Cut strawberries and place in a saucepan and combine with the sugar and water.

2. Place over a low heat and simmer until the sauce thickens but the strawberries are still holding their shape (the should be soft but not mushy).

3. Add in the balsamic vinegar, then taste for correct acid/sweet level. Refrigerate until ready for serving. Can be done a day ahead

To serve top the pannacotta cups with some strawberries and syrup

Enjoy!

Don't forget you can find those cute little pots in the Sweet Style store here

The sun shines and shines and shines and...

I thought I might come back to blogging as a kinder, nicer, less judgey me.

Yeah. I don't think I made it.

You see, I need to talk about those parents (see, my use of 'those' is immediately judgey) who talk a lot about their own amazing, red-caped gats* but have no interest whatsoever in feigning interest in yours.

Don't they know the rules?

'Angelica is doing an incredible job at learning to read,' she says. 'She is quite possibly the most gifted reader in the history of the English speaking world. I wouldn't like to say the whole world as that seems a little delusional, but she is just so talented.'

Now, in normal parent conversation, we all know that the rule is that you have to take turns in these conversations. She gets around 2 minutes to talk about how brilliant her child is and then it's your turn. It's the law of playground chit chat.

'Oh, that's great,' you say, feigning interest. 'I know what you mean because Stevenson is at that kind of level with somersaults. The other day a girl who looked like she could be a real Olympic gymnast except she was chubby said that she thought he must be at least three to be doing somersaults like that - at least 3 - and he's only 2 and a half. Do you think I should consider enrolling him in a high school with a strong gymnastics program?'

And on it goes.

See, unless you're related or super-close to the child in question, no-one really, truly cares what other kids are doing or not doing but we do need to know so they can serve as a yardstick to our own. Depending on the level of achievement, we'll either feel like she's a freak of nature and really deserves to be a gat. Or we'll feel like her feat is certainly do-able with a bit of hard work and we'll have a quiet word to our offspring about picking up their game.

Either way, the rule is that you have to patiently listen to the Parental Boast so you get to do your own boast. It's the only fair and honourable thing to do.

So why don't some mums get it?

Are some kids really just that much better than the others?

* Gifted and Talented. I find the whole GAT thing endlessly judgeable.**
** Disclaimer: I sadly have a child who has been labelled a GAT.
[Image by Monika Elena]

My Winter Wonderland craft supplies

Small pots of glitter, bird buttons

Winter Wonderland Christmas colour palette

Winter bird decals

Folklore bird ribbon, wooden spool, pink pom pom ribbon

Plywood deer, pale aqua mini pom pom trim

Winter Wonderland needle felting supplies

Antique pink, teal, off-white, pale jade, moss green wool for felting

Yesterday I shared with you my Christmas theme, "Winter Wonderland", and today I am showing you some of the craft supplies I have collected so far. I am thinking hand glittered bird cages to hang on my tree, pom pom trimmed stockings, ribbon tied treat bags, hanging deers and needle felted toadstools and roses. For where to buy just click the links below the photos.

Have a sweet day!