Chocolate and Apricot Hot Cross Buns

These hot cross buns are very good, even after spending nearly an hour on this post due to blogger being uncooperative! I found the recipe here but changed it quite a bit. I added chocolate! And apricots! And lemon! And I took out some of their ingredients, such as candied orange peel, orange juice and sultanas. The chocolate bits melt through the dough as you are kneading, making it a lovely dark colour.Instead of making flour paste crosses, I used lemon icing and did the crosses as the final step. This tastes divine (which is appropriate for Easter) and uses the rest of the lemon that provided the rind. Nice and thrifty! (Btw, thrifty has a lovely meaning: careful and diligent. Much nicer than 'frugal'.) Here is the recipe, changed to how I did it (if you want the original recipe, click the link above).

Chocolate and Apricot Hot Cross Buns
Serves 16

Buns
5 cups plain flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 tspn dried yeast
1 tspn allspice
1/2 tspn cinnamon
250g chocolate chips (I used an equal amount of milk and dark choc)
100g dried apricots, finely chopped
1 lemon, rind only (save the juice for the icing)
300ml milk
100g butter, chopped
1 egg

Glaze
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tspn allspice
1/4 cup water

Icing for Crosses
1 Tbspn lemon juice
1/4 cup icing sugar

Method
1. Combine flour, sugar, yeast, spices, chocolate, apricot and lemon rind in a large bow.
2. Gently warm milk and butter over a low heat until butter melts and mixture is tepid. Add the egg to the mixture and whick until smooth.
3. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture, add milk mixture and stir together.
4. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes or until smooth.
5. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp tea towel and leave until doubled in size, about 40 minutes.
6. Knock back dough and divide into 16 equal pieces. Knead each piece into a ball, place on a lightly greased tray, cover, and leave until doubled in size, about 40 minutes.
7. Heat oven to 220C. Bake buns for 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 200C and bake a further 10 minutes or until golden. (They are ready when they sound hollow when tapped).

Glaze
Combine ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1-2 minutes. Brush glaze over hot buns.

Icing
Combine ingredients and mix with a knife until smooth. The icing should be of a runny consistency. Put icing in a piping bag (or a plastic sandwich bag with the corner cut off - cut off the corner after the icing is in the bag) and make crosses on the buns.

Transfer the buns to a wire rack to cook. Or just start eating them... Your choice!

Strawberry Jam - Drought Friendly!!!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Strawberry Jam with lots of lumps! My husband is in heaven!
I have made jam quite a few times, but I have never made it without adding water. Well, I am a convert to this method - so easy and so tasty! But what about the water? When you add the sugar to the strawberries and leave it to sit a little while the sugar draws out the water contained in the strawberries - it's an awsome little process called osmosis (this is one of the only things I remember from year 12 biology). You can find the recipe and many others that centre on strawberries here.

A shot of all the water that has been drawn out of the berries.

Just make sure that you use a 1:1 ratio of strawberries and sugar and add some lemon juice or fruit pectin (e.g. Jamsetta) and you are ready to go. The recipe below uses a kilo of sugar and a kilo of strawberries, but when I made it the other day I used 55og strawberries and 500g sugar. You can add less sugar, but sugar is needed for its preserving qualities. Using a 1:1 ratio will mean that this jam will store for at least a year (though I doubt it will last that long!).

STRAWBERRY JAM

1kg Strawberries, chopped into small pieces.
1kg Sugar
Juice of 2 lemons or a packet of fruit pectin

Put the strawberry pieces into a bowl together with sugar and fruit pectin/lemon juice.

Leave the bowl (covered with a towel) in a cool place til the next day (if you are strapped for time, 1 or 2 hours should be sufficient). Stir once in a while.

Boil mixture then simmer for 5 - 10 minutes. Stir frequently. When finished take off the foamy top layer of the mixture.

To test the jam to see if it will set, put a teaspoon of the hot mixture onto a cold plate, if it gels, the jam is ready.

Pour the hot strawberry jam in hot sterilized jars.* Make sure to fill it up to the top. Clean the jars with a damp towel. Close tightly. After 10 minutes turn around and place jars on the lid. Let cool down, turn around again and store.

This would probably make about 4 medium jars of jam. Sterilize 6 to be on the safe side!

*To sterilize jars: wash in hot soapy water; rinse, put in oven heated to 110C - 120C for at least 10min; after 10min turn the oven off but leave the jars in there to keep them hot until you are ready to fill them up.

Sorry about the reflection... but you get the idea: JAM!!!

Interested in making your own laundry detergent? Check out this post from my other blog, Purify.

Orange and Lemon Marmalade

My SIL and I are making hampers for Christmas, as presents for our parents and one or two others. We will be making somewhere between 6 and 10 hampers. The list of things to go in the hampers is long and impressive - jam, chutneys, shortbread, florentines, choc covered with crushed candy cane, knitted/crocheted dishclothes, crocheted market bag (possibly), sets of magnets... you get the idea. We will also be making green shopping bags, which will also act as the hampers. Today, with the hampers in mind, I made marmalade. It took about six hours from start to finish, but I did leave it alone while I made tea. It is really cool!!! Here is the recipe that I used. I ended up using about a cup less of the sugar, as my water, juice and peel mixture reduced to about a third, instead of just to about a half. Also, before slicing the peel, I turned each skin inside out and peeled off the membranes leftover from juicing (some of which went into the "muslin" (gold coloured gauzy stuff) to flavour the mixture). This huge jar is for my MIL, who apparently loves mamalade. I think the long strips of peel look absolutely gorgeous! You can tell I took the photo right after putting the plastic covers on. I have since straightened the rubberbands, but still need to wipe the outsides of the jars.

According to the recipe this will keep for a year unopened. Once opened it will keep in the fridge for a month. I think I will probably be doing another batch of marmalade as this only made 3 jars that I am happy to give as presents. One jar doesn't have enough peel in (the one right at the front), and Julian and I will be eating this ourselves!This was so cheap to make - I really encourage you to try it if you are on a tight budget. These four jars used: 5 oranges (or was it 6 - can't remember anymore!), 2 lemons, water and 1.75 kg sugar (though I used less). Really economical - and one batch could well last you an entire year.

Cute Free Online Games!

One of my facebook friends posted a link to a wonderful, musical, beautifully animated site called Orisinal. It is full of free online games that are just absolutely adorable. As in the SOOOO CUUUUUUTE sort of beautiful. Take a look!

Little Things

Drying cherry tomato seeds.Checking the progress of The Onion that Wanted to Grow.Wondering how long it will be until the rose bush outside my kitchen window will burst into all its yellow glory.Sticking my thesis around my loungeroom wall...... so I can edit it more easily.
It's been a good day.

50 Things I Want to Do

Here is just a little list of 50 things I want to do by the end of 2009. I have printed off a copy that I am going to stick to my wall, though I would like to get it laminated first. I hope this inspires you to think about specific things you would like to achieve over the next year!

1. Become proficient at making all our bread (sourdough)
2. Start having homemade pizza regularly (sourdough bases)
3. Make yoghurt regularly (every second night)
4. Make Quark (cheese from yoghurt)
5. Make soap
6. Make dandruff hair rinse for Julian (1:1 white vinegar and water, rinse before shampooing)
7. Go to the gym regularly (twice a week)
8. Get a job over summer
9. Grow my own mushrooms
10. Do the dishes every day for 30 consecutive days. Go out to dinner after completion of this goal!
11. Knit dishcloths (set of three would be nice—could do cool thematic thing)
12. Make some more kiwi fruit jam. Yum!
13. Knit a hot water bottle cover
14. Finish off all my embroidery projects
15. Get my ‘frame-worthy’ embroidery projects framed (Teddy bears picking apples longstitch, teddy bear fishing cross-stitch, house longstitch)
16. Finish quilting my lapquilt. Or pay my husband's sister to do it!
17. Grow my own herbs
18. Make fruit cordials (and another link)
19. Make chutney
20. Make red onion jam (great for pizzas, apparently!)
21. Make all my Christmas and birthday cards—have a stash of handmade cards on had for all card emergencies!
22. Acquire a preserving kit and jars
23. Make a nativity set (dough or fimo)
24. Get into a routine of cleaning my bathroom/toilet every week
25. Get my driver’s license
26. Learn how to make cheesecake. Become comfortable with making it!
27. Get into a routine of getting up at a regular time (6:30 or 7) to have my ‘Quiet Time’ with God
28. Get a pasta machine and start to make my own FRESH! pasta
29. De-worm my cat, and perhaps get him vaccinated too!
30. Make ice cream (or frozen yoghurt) that is light and fluffy
31. Switch from commercial cleaning products to homemade ones
32. Make my own crackers and dips
33. Grow sprouts
34. Start a cell group (kind of like a Bible study group but different!)
35. Stop biting my fingernails
36. Go to the dentist
37. When tomatoes are in season preserve a whole lot (sauces, chutneys etc.)
38. If I find a cool way of preserving cherries, do so when they are in season
39. Make my own apple sauce
40. Make my own vinegar
41. Make whipped butter for spreading on bread (for every cup of butter, add ½ cup water, and if you want also half a cup of olive oil… I think)
42. Infuse oils and vinegars—find some awesome tall skinny jars/bottle for this
43. Learn to weave baskets—or at least get a really good book on it
44. Paint the bookshelf. Perhaps paint both bookshelves to match?
45. Get a beautiful teapot, and start brewing my own tea
46. Make iced tea
47. Keep thinking of our dream house—start collating pictures and ideas we love
48. Stop shaving, start waxing. (Well, getting waxes.)
49. Cook one meal a week in the slowcooker
50. Make bagels

Ten Things

Well, I tried to use my blog as a motivational tool, but it hasn't really worked. And yes, I am a bit behind on the thesis front of things... Which brings me to today's topic: Ten Things I Am Grateful For! I've seen many other people list ten things they are grateful for, some occasionally, some on a regular basis. So... what am I grateful for today?

1. My husband, who buys me chocolate whenever I need it "if it will help me study better." And because he loves me. He has also been doing a lot more of the cooking lately, which has been great!

2. My new hot water bottle (even though it's heading into summer lol!) and it's oh-so-cute cover! (Noooooo. Not homemade. Store bought. Sorry. Though I could knit one myself: I have a pattern that just uses garter stitch and embroidery)
3. My diningroom table: a beautiful old, extending table, with THE MOST COMFY dining chairs in the world. I kid you not. I can sit in them ALL day and still not have a sore back (or backside) when I finally get up. Great for studying! Speaking of studying...

4. My thesis supervisor, who has great faith in my ability to write quickly yet well. He has been really encouraging! Hopefully he won't be disappointed!! Also speaking of studying...

5. My new fitball!!! It is totally awesome because it is pink!!! I bought it for studying, as they are great to sit on. Not only are they great for balance, but also for your posture. Having said that, I am sitting on it now, and am slouching over because I have my knees tucked up strangely. I can sit on it crosslegged. But it is very dangerous. If the opportunity ever arises I shall get my husband to video me attempting to sit on it crosslegged, and then falling off. I may use it for exercising in the unforeseeable future.
And here it is more in context: in my "study space". If you can, look past the mess to see the diningroom table and chairs!6. My basketful of lemons. I am still deciding what to make with these... lemon curd? lemon butter? lemon marmalade? Heaps of lemon icing? Some of each (there are 8 of them). Hmmmm. Any suggestions?

7. My sourdough starter! Oh, the adventures that await!

8. The new ink cartridge in the printer!!! Yay yay yay yay yay!!!! Now I can print out the recipes I want to try, instead of writing them out by hand! And I can also print out the thesis drafts so I can edit it more easily. Not so 'yay' but still very good.

9. Friends and family. Generic I know, but I have been going through something really tough over the past month, and I have been surrounded by people who love me. I really appreciate it!

10. Not living with a fussy person who can't cope with a bit (a fair bit) of mess. (I don't clean when I have essays due! Too busy playing solitare, checking Facebook or reading blogs!) Speaking of mess... does anyone want to clean my kitchen??? (Spot the yoghurt maker... Hint: it is pink! Like my fitball!! It is currently making nectarine flavoured yoghurt! Yummy!)

Thesis Update No.1

As you might know, I am doing Honours in English this year. Well, it is officially four and a half weeks to go until the thesis is due. I thought I would put my blog to some actual use and turn it into a motivational tool by posting updates on the progress of my thesis a couple of times a week. No doubt my mind shall gradually go crazier and crazier as my thesis progresses, so I shall try to report on that too :)

Anyway, after that little introduction, here is my first update:

Progress on thesis: 600 words out of 12,500 are written, though perhaps 50 to 80 of those are still in point form. But I am counting them anyway! It's my Right!!! Also printed out an article (which I still have to read) and thought some more about how I want to structure the main body of the thesis. I am fairly happy with the current plan of doing a close reading (of two children's novels by Nan Chauncy) and then applying theory to the close readings to come to a better understanding of how the texts work and the impacts they have upon children's perceptions of Tasmanian Aborigines.

State of Mind: Relatively calm, considering the personal crisises that have been taking place (all totally unrelated to the thesis) and the looming deadline. And considering I have a 5000 word essay to write AS WELL!!! by the 13th of October. Yup, thats 17,000 words I still need to write in 4 1/2 weeks. Well, 3 1/2 weeks really because the thesis needs to be finished early so my supervisor can go over it and so that I can get it bound. That's nearly a thousand words a day!!! Okay, I think I need to update my state of mind since writing this paragraph. Now feeling ever-so-slightly overwhelmed. Ah well, I'm sure I'll get over it!

Days left until the due date (24th October): Thirty. Yup that's all. 30. Three-zero.

Issues: Somewhere between now and the 11th of October I need to buy a nice black cardigan/cute jacket and dress shoes and a wedding present! I love weddings but this is really awkward timing. I need to buy some new pantyhose, too.

Good Things: My husband bought a new ink cartridge for our printer so now I can print out stuff at home. This will be really helpful when I come to editing my thesis (if I have enough time for that haha!) because it is so so so so so much easier to see mistakes on paper than it is on a screen. Don't ask me why. Another good thing is that once I get this in I will have four months of holidays. And while I am writing it I can eat as much chocolate as I like and not feel guilty!

Optimistic Requests: Can someone send me brownies??? Or chocolate mud cake???