Hello 2012: One word



Again I say it: happy, happy new year. The year is kinda new every day when you think about it. We can achieve our goals, create possibilities and keep that uplifting feeling of 'maybe' for as long as we want. Encouraging when I look back at all the broken 'new year' resolutions I've made. There is still time.

I don't really do them, resolutions I mean. Instead, I focus on a word for the year. Generally I come up with some lame play on words for the year (this was last year's feeble attempt and the year before that was two thousand and zen, god love me). But I'm having none of that this year, and not just because twelve is, like, really, really hard to work with. Twelve basically rhymes with nothing useful and with one short syllable I was venturing into territory even more rocky than last year's two thousand health-heaven. No, I'm having none of that silly word play business. It's... distracting.

This year, my word is going to be...

Better.

Everything I do, I want to question whether I could be doing it better. Am I using my resources as well as I can? Am I focusing on the task at hand enough? Are there other ways to tackle a problem? Am I being present enough? Can I save more, do more, be more and give more?

Can I be better?

I think it's essentially a year of mindfulness and purposefulness and many other important nesses. I just want to make sure I'm that kid in the front row of the class with my hand stretching into the air so bloody earnestly that you can see most of my pants and my face is red and contorted with the effort of getting that hand up there and I'm waving and screeching 'pick me, pick me'. That's the kind of year I want to have. I want to be better.

What's your word for 2012?



[Image by Sopranda Alegria]

when


i was a little girl Summer was Summer. the days were hot & sometimes the nights seemed hotter. we made trips to the supermarket to cool down. it was extra cold in the frozen food section! icy poles were a daily treat & the slip n slide was always set to go. Summer clothes were a staple & we never needed jumpers. but since my little girls have been growing up Summer to them can be a mixture of hot days. hot nights. cold days & rain. they are confused as they have a choice of Summer clothes one day & long sleeved tops the next. i long for those hot aussie Summer days that never end & hope they come back soon!

Chocolate snowflake mousse

Chocolate snowflake mousse by Torie Jayne

A few weeks back my sister and I made some delicious chocolate mousse that went down a treat! To fit in with my colour scheme on my Winter Wonderland dessert table I made aqua chocolate snowflakes filled with a rich, velvety chocolate mousse. I will definitely have to make these again, maybe in pretty egg form for Easter!

Chocolate snowflake mousse (makes 6 snowflakes)

Ingredients


Snowflake mould



Cooking instructions

  • Melt white chocolate and stir in food colouring.
  • Pour coloured white chocolate into moulds and, using a brush, coat sides of moulds in chocolate and leave to set.
  • Place cream in a bowl with a pinch of caster sugar and whip until soft peaks form.
  • Melt 200g of dark chocolate in the microwave on a low heat or in a double boiler on the hob, continuously stirring so as not to overheat.
  • Stir melted chocolate into whipped cream until you have an even coloured mousse.
  • Spoon mousse into chocolate coated snowflake moulds and place in fridge to firm.
  • Melt remaining 100g of dark chocolate and coat the top of the mousse with dark chocolate to seal in mousse.
  • Place in fridge to set.
  • Turn out snowflake filled moulds just before serving.


Chocolate mousse filled chocolate snowflakes
Chocolate mousse filled snowflakes
Chocolate mousse filled snowflakes


Have a sweet day!