Jun 30, 2009

Foods I miss - from my childhood....


SOME FOODS I MISS



Bovril!!! This is a beef extract that can be used to make a broth or else on buttered toast. YUMMEEE..I think there is something similar that is vegetarian called Vegemite which is also yeast based but Bovril is the best.
















Kinnie! This is an acquired taste...
in Italy you can get something similar
called chinotto - but not the same!
Kinnie is made of a blend of herbs and citrus.






Twistees! Great cheesy
Snacks - I guess you could
compare them to cheetos
but they are unique!











Pastizzi! made with ricotta cheese filling or peas. Also can be found in some parts of Canada and Australia - UNIQUE! They are called cheesecakes but have no resemblance to cheesecake as you would know it!

Jun 25, 2009

English Trifle

Trifle is one of the oldest English deserts..and my favourite.
The word trifle derives from the Middle English trufl which in turn came from the Old French trufe (or truffle), meaning something of little importance.
Originally, in the late 16th century, the culinary meaning of the word trifle was a dish composed of cream boiled with various ingredients... Trifle is the one of the richest English desserts and it is served on special occasions like Christmas.
This is an easy way to make it.

Ingredients:
About 2 pints of custard - see the previous recipe.
I sometimes make on pint of chocolate custard and one pint vanilla, just to vary
1 pre cooked sponge cake - or you can make one yourself, cut horizontally in thin slices
Some Sherry
Some apricot jam
2 tins Nestle's Cream (this give the best result - if you can't find it whipped cream will do)
Method:
You can use a round or square glass bowl - i prefer the square one.
Take some of the sponge and place on the bottom of the dish.
Melt the apricot jam and spread across the sponge.
Add a good splash of sherry
Add the custard.
Repeat the above except for the jam as that it just on the first layer.
End with a think layer of nestles cream.
You can always drizzle some chocolate on the top and make a pattern.
This is DELICIOUS!

English Custard

Serves 8
INGREDIENTS
2 cups (500ml) milk
6 egg yolks
1 cup (200g) sugar
1 vanilla pod
rind of one small lemon - thickly cut

PREPARATION
Heat milk in a saucepan with the vanilla and lemon rind
Bring to the boil.
Remove from heat and cool a little.
Beat egg yolks and sugar in a mixing bowl for about 10 minutes or until light and fluffy.
Little by little, stir in warm milk until well mixed.
Cook stirring constantly with a whisk untei mixture starts to thicken (Do not allow to boil). Remove from heat, place over a pan of ice and allow to cool completely, stirring from time to time.
You can serve this custard as a dessert or use it as garnish or filling of another dessert like the ENGLISH TRIFLE....which will be my next post!

Jun 20, 2009

Mitred corners (knitting)

Such fun to knit!
SQ1: Cast on 16 stitches R1: K6, K2tog, k2tog, K6
R2: and all even rows Knit
R3: K5, k2tog,K2tog, K5
R5: K4, K2tog, K2tog, K4 -
see a pattern forming??
R7: K3, K2tog, K2tog, K3
R9: K2, K2tog, K2tog, K2
R11: K1, K2tog, K2tog, K1
R13: K2tog twice
R14: K2tog
For the second square, leave the stitch on the needle. While looking at the front of your work, pick up and knit 7 stitches along the left side of the diamond, then using the knitted cast on, cast on 8. - 16 sts in all
Repeat the 14 rows above.



You can knit a strip like this and use it as an edging.























Here are the pics of the hat i made using mitered corners. I made 6 of the squares, joined them together then knitted up 80 sts. The top was formed by sewing up 4 sets of 20 stitches to form the star points.

This was fun!

Blog Promotion

Here's a list of blog promotion sites that are free..and rather good at getting traffic to your blog


Entrecard:

Blog Catalog
Adgitize your web site.Spott

Track your Visitors

Jun 19, 2009

Look like a millionaire.....whilst living on pennies


Looking (and seeming) well off is more of a way of life than due to your bank account.

If you can give the impression of being rich and classy - people actually believe it!


However i need to emphasise my definition of CLASS. Unlike popular belief, class is not something that can be bought - it is a way of behaviour, a certain respect for others and yourself that is only acquired through upbringing or, in some rare exceptions, by re-invention. Money has NOTHING to do with class.
A classy person always does some research on the people he/she will be meeting or socializing with. (the Queen DOES NOT LIKE to be touched - its breaking protocol! And do not try to shake hands with a Japanese dignitary - that's also a no no! DO YOUR HOMEWORK!)
Do not chew gum - at least not in public



So having established that - lets move on to looking rich.

Classic clothes always beat the latest fashions which, unless you are exceptionally good looking and slim, can rarely seem classy - they are, after all, a fleeting moment in fashion.


The must have little black dress, a string of pearls (they don't have to be real but must not look fake so read up on colour and size), skirts no shorter than 3" above the knees, leather shoes or pumps (better have a few leather shoes than many plastic ones!) all these items are a good start.


Look for bargains at second hand stores - I bought a cashmere sweater for $10.00 and a Versace black dress for $25.00 as well a some Max Mara tops for a few dollars.


Clothes don't have to be new, they just have to be good quality.


Short skirts and most sleeveless tops can be a disaster unless you have perfect legs and arms. If you have a big ass DON'T wear pants. If you have big boobs DON'T show them off with a low cut top...that's just trashy!!


Don't go overboard with jewelry - less is definitely more in this case. If you have a great pair of earrings don't wear loads of necklaces - stick to a ring or two to space the distance.


If you have a great bracelet, do not wear an overpowering ring.


And, diamonds are still a girls best friend but cost a pretty penny! buy cubic zircona instead - as long as you don't go over 1 carat, zircona will look like diamonds to everyone except the most discerning. If you go for a mega stone - then your charade may fall flat!
On the beach, unless you are under 35 or have an exceptional figure wear a one piece. Nothing looks more ridiculous than mutton dressed as lamb!


DO NOT TALK ABOUT MONEY - or ask people how much they earn -that's the epitome of bad manners. People with money don't need to mention what things cost, nor do they appear to care.


Be well groomed - you don't have to have a $200.00 hair cut - try hair dressing schools - you can get a great cut for pennies.


Make up should be kept to a minimum - unless you are an expert in putting on makeup. Too much makes you look desperate!


Having said that, I am sure i am betraying my age by writing this but, as i said before, class cannot be bought - you either have it or you don't!


Think of Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn - now that's class!!
(ps - i just read some comments of an article where people were criticising the author who recommended dressing well for an interview - most of them thought that what they looked like shouldn't matter. I think they forget that the first impression is STILL the most important. Most people do not have the time or inclination to dig deeper and chances may be lost because your visual impression did not reflect your real worth.)

Jun 18, 2009

Blog Backgrounds

I came across the following sites that really make your blog unique.
Thought I'd share them with you.
Suzanne Woolcott - blogger backgrounds Really pretty designs
Cutest blogs on the block - various designs
Simply Chic - more great designs

I used a suzanne woolcott background on my blog.

Its great to see that some things are still free- so please visit these great sites!

Jun 16, 2009

Recycle Towels and create Soapies!

I was going through a pile of towels i had bought (and that did not match with my bathroom) and decided to put them to good use. I remember having a kind of bath mitt as a child, that i could fill with bits of soap and wash with. So i made some Soapies!

They can be easily slipped over the hand. I ran some elastic through the top of one of them to make a mitt.

I have some for sale in my online store but if you would like to buy a set just e mail me and i'll make you one in any colour you like. They make great little gifts!



Jun 15, 2009

Yummy Breakfast Mask!

The Breakfast Mask


Complete with protein and whole grains, this breakfast-themed mask is used to correct and calm oily skin.

1. Combine an egg yolk, a tablespoon of honey, then a tablespoon of olive oil (yes, olive oil) and half a cup of oatmeal


2. Apply to the face for 15-20 minutes



3. Rinse with lukewarm water and then moisturize



(try not to eat!!)

Jun 14, 2009

Organic Banana Face Mask


Organic Banana Face Mask

Your skin will have a healthy glow after applying this tropical mask to your face.

This recipe is designed for all skin types.

1. Mash one half of a banana




2. Mix in a tablespoon of orange juice

and

a tablespoon of honey

3. Apply to the face and keep the mixture on for fifteen minutes

4. Rinse with lukewarm water and then moisturize
YUMMMYYYYYY!!!!!

Jun 13, 2009

Crazy Tourists



Some crazy things people ask when booking a vacation:

q: could you request good weather when i am on vacation

me: Ill put in a request

q: oh thanks!

*********

q: i will only go on vacation if there are at least 5 girls to every guy

(desperation)

*********

me: how many people will be travelling?

q: myself and any female who will come with me

*********

q: i am worried that my 6 month old baby will drink the bath water.

me: eh?

q: she bathes alone....

(and these people have kids???)

*********

q: how do i get to the bahamas?

me: we have a charter...

q: I live in florida, can i row my boat there??

me:(speechless..and i cant publish my thought there!)

*********

q: i just came back from france and didnt like it..

me: im sorry..what was the problem?

q: it was full of foreigners

(ajma!)

*********

q: do you know if there are any undiscovered ruins in cancun?

me: speechless

*********

q: could you ensure that I will understand the Tunisians?

me: do you speak arabic or french

q: no

me: well i am sure someone will speak english

q: that's ok I will speak canadian

(HUH??)

*********

q: we weren't allowed on the plane!

me: oh no what happened

q: well, my passport expired so i took a copy of it and a letter explaining that i forgot to renew it...

me: hmm and that didnt work?

q: no - they were very inconsiderate

(yes, you'd be too stupid to be a terrorist!)

*********

VERY SAD BUT TRUE!!!

Jun 12, 2009

Something to think about......

This is something we should all read at least once a week. (Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio)

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.. it is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret,you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19.. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone for everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Free Knitting Patterns


I am always on the look out for new knitting patterns so here is a list of some of the sites i came across that have FREE patterns!

Knitting pattern central
Knitting on the net
Craft town
Vintage knitting patterns
Little Cotton Rabbits

There are lots more but these are my favourites.

If the patterns are not for commercial use please respect the owners wishes!

Jun 11, 2009

Maltese Food


The cuisine of a nation very often reflects its history and maltese cuisine is a perfect example.

The influx of so many different dominant cultures before Independence in 1964 have, over the centuries, left their indelible mark on Maltese gastronomical tastes as well as lifestyles.

Most of Maltese food is typically Mediterranean, with (as to be expected on an Island surrounded by a rich sea) a predominance of fish.

But there is so much more to Maltese food than just fish. Snails, for example, play a huge role in Maltese culinary life as does rabbit, cheese, tomatoes and a wide variety of meats.

Maltese food is rustic and based on seasonal produce. Although many vegetables and fruit are grown locally all year round, the average Maltese housewife takes advantage of seasonal gluts to stock up and feed her family economically. Generations of Maltese womenfolk in the past combined thrift and creativity to satisfy the appetites of their large families, unintentionally bequeathing to the nation the cuisine it enjoys today.


Read all about malta on 101malta.com

Jun 10, 2009

Throw away or keep?

My sister's closet is full of clothes....some bought over 20 years ago..that have come back into fashion! To part with anything kills her!


Result- she rarely buys anything new...her closet is too full!!


Me? I throw stuff away about four times a year - my local goodwill houses most of my clothes. If I lose or gain weight, out with the old and in with the new. I have discovered a great 'recycled' clothing shop where i buy designer items for a fraction of the cost - and sometimes they still have tags on!

PLUS- i always have clothes that fit and can afford quality I would otherwise not be able too.


Who is doing the right thing? I'd love to know what you all (y'all) think!!!

My Online Shop

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
LouiseFelice.etsy.com

Jun 5, 2009

My Favourite Yarn


Zara combines the finest quality Merino wool with the total ease of Superwash care. It is available in a wide variety of classic solids and chiné overdyed heathered shades that coordinate with Zara Print shades. I first discovered this yarn when I lived in Switzerland - it's amazing as are all the filatura yarns.



Content:
100% Wool
Care:
Machine Wash Gentle Cold, Dry Flat.
Weight/Yardage:
50g/137yd
Gauge:
5.5 sts = 1” on US 7
Knitting Weight:
DK


This yarn is great for any project - like most Italian yarn its fantastic!

Jun 2, 2009

Feather and Fan Stitch

In the Feather and Fan stitch, the increase is a basic, open Yarn Over (YO) and the decrease is simply knitting two stitches together (k2tog).

The patterns in lace are created by the location of the decrease in relation to the increase, as well as the type of decrease used.

Cast on any amount (divisible by 18) plus any amount for border.
Keep these border stitches in Knit Only (both sides).
Work 8 rows of knit only at the beginning and ending of your piece.

Row 1: Knit to end of row
Row 2: Purl to end of row
Row 3: K2tog 3 times, (YO, K1) 6 times, K2tog 3 times, repeat across the row
Row 4: Knit to end of row

Repeat these 4 rows for pattern. Work until desired length. End by working 8 rows Knit

Variations of the Feather and Fan work with multiples of 18 plus 1 and multiples of 18 plus 2, adding the stitches at the beginning and end of Row 3.

Lacy Stretchy Knit Stitch

Works on multiples of four stitches, need at least 12 to start.

Row 1: Knit 4, *(yarn over) twice, knit 4. Repeat from * across.

Row 2: Purl 2, *purl 2 together, purl 1, knit 1 (those are the yarn overs from the previous row), purl 2 together. Repeat from * across, end purl 2.

Row 3: Knit 2, yarn over, *knit 4, (yarn over) twice). Repear from * across, end knit 4, yarn over, knit 2.

Row 4: Purl 3, *(purl 2 together) twice, purl 1, knit 1 (those are the yarn overs from the previous row). Repeat from * across, end (purl 2 together) twice, purl 3.

Repeat these rows for pattern.
Note: stitch count will vary as increases on right-side rows are not decreased until wrong-side rows.

Looking for a gift?

Check out Lucindas Designs for unique handmade fashions
and Felice Sereno for European Collectables