Good Wives and Warriors

Making web sites has always felt like a process cloaked in magic codes and secrecy to me. I attempted to teach myself how to do it several times only to get tangled at the start and give up again. I thought I should be able to do it, I have a handle on many other computer programs but it wasn’t to be, so lonely and website less I have never had much of an Internet presence… until now!! Last night my dear friend Becky came over and ate won tons with me, and chocolate, and within a couple of hours had laid out all the formulas in such an easy and understandable way that now I think I can do it. Becky and her friend have made their own site for their company Good Wives and Warriors and you can also see their beautiful illustrations and paintings there.
So over the next few weeks I am going to chip away and learn as much as I can and fingers crossed at the end will be a gleaming web site with my name on it. How exciting.

Making and Doing

I have been doing a bit of sewing and made some little spring chicken toys like the one I made for the bush fire appeal and a bunch more boats in bottles. The Ships are on their way to be sent out as Birthday presents, House warming and Congratulations gifts for all my friends. The boats are a bit difficult to photograph but they look quite lovely in real life

Sailing away

I have got a little obsessed with making ships in bottles I don't know what the point of it is yet, maybe there is none. I found these beautiful tapered rubber stoppered ones and with a fair bit of finagling I worked out the best way of getting a tiny ship into it. One slipped out of my hand like a banana out of its skin and smashed into a thousand pieces on the kitchen tiles. Damn it! Although I have to say there was something quite poetic about the boat being released from its glass prison. One is for a birthday present. Happy Birthday Tom.

Rock and Roller

This week I feel like a stage mum as I have been busy sewing costumes for a rock and roll band i=it. They are pretty evil looking but apparently just what they wanted. You can see them in full flight this Friday night. It should be a great show.

Recipe- Ratatouille Baked Aubergine

All my cooking is done with a use what you have attitude so feel free to substitute any of the ingredients. You can change the recipe as the mood takes you. Use any vegetables you have, corn and carrots or pumpkin would all be good. You could also put in some cooked brown rice with the sauce mixture if you felt like it.

:Ingredients:

:Vegetables:
1 Onion
3 Cloves Garlic
3 Aubergine/ Eggplants
1 Red Capsicum
2 Zucchini

:Herbs and Spices:
2 Spring Onions
Sprinkle of Rosemary
Oregano
Pinch or so of Salt
Pinch or so of Sugar
Pinch of Chilli
Pepper
Grated cheese - Parmesan or pecorino are fine or sliced mozzarella if you are feeling fancy.

:From the Pantry:
Tin of Tomato
Tin of Red Kidney Beans
Tomato Paste
Salt for preparing the eggplant

:Meat:(optional)
500grams or 1 lb mince
I use Kangaroo, its very low in fat, always free range, has low impact on the environment and is very tasty, but beef is fine or leave it out all together and put in an extra can of beans to make up the protein.

:Method:

• Cut the eggplant lengthwise into 1cm thick slices.Salt each side well and place in a colander. Leave in the sink as the salt will draw out the bitter juice and drip everywhere.
• In a large pan with a drop of oil cook the sliced onion and garlic. Add the oregano, rosemary, salt and pepper. Any herbs are fine just use what you have. Cook until the onions are soft then add the mince. Stir and cook until brown.
• Add the chopped vegetables, tin of tomato, tomato paste, spring onions, chilli, sugar and a cup of water. Cook for half an hour or longer if you have time. If it starts getting too dry add a bit more water.
  
• Add the red beans at the end.
• Wash the eggplant well to remove all the salt.
• Place a layer of Eggplant in the bottom of a baking dish. Spoon the sauce on top until all are covered then layer more eggplant. Cover with more sauce, sprinkle some cheese on top and bake covered with foil for forty minutes in a 180 C or 350 F oven.
• Uncover and cook until the cheese is brown.
• Eat up

Ship in a Bottle

I have to say I am feeling a little hemmed in at the moment. I wish I had a fancy trip overseas on the horizon but alas there are none coming up this year. I spent the morning in my studio feeling frustrated and not sure what to do, I did some drawing which I didn’t like and cut out some fabric but didn’t feel like doing anything with it and then I started making a tiny ship. I put it in a bottle I have been saving and now it can sit there reminding me of all the potential trips I can take until the next real one comes along.

Band Aid for a Guilty Conscience

I have been having a terrible attack of the guilts and haven’t known how to remedy it until now which is why I have been a bit quiet on the old blogging front. I felt so bad for being excited about the extremely hot day only to find out later just how devastating it was. It made me feel strange about writing anything as my life is very insignificant compared to what else goes on in this world and putting up a recipe or nattering on about nothing seemed very pointless. Anyway after some navel gazing I think I have found a way of making myself feel a little better and hopefully doing a tiny bit to help out too. There is a new site on Etsy called Oz Bushfire Appeal and you can donate things to sell, or buy things to help raise money for the Red Cross. So far they have made over $15 000 which is pretty fantastic. I made a little toy to sell on it and will make some more soon. There is more bad weather predicted tomorrow which strong north winds so hopefully everything is ok. It really has been an unprecedented disaster but now its craft to the rescue.