hot n cold: Manly

I love a cafe with wifi. I love a cafe that serves good, smooth coffee, not too strong but strong enough to drink as a piccolo.

I love a cafe with a kids corner complete with little table and chairs, toys, and drawing bits and pieces. I love a good cafe on the street where you can watch the world to by, the busy-ness, while the kids are entertained and still feel a part of the vibe.

HOT & COLD opened recently in the centre of Manly at the traffic lights. It ticks those boxes.

The cafe is floor to ceiling glass so you can people watch from the comfort of a bar stool or a couch.

Don't visit HOT & COLD if you're craving a big cooked brekky on the weekend. There's a limited menu and the closest you'll come to a cooked brekky is a toastie. Mind you - a few weeks ago when we first went to the cafe they kindly made me up a cheese and tomato toastie free of ham because there weren't any in the fridge.The owners assure me that croissants will soon be on the menu though!!

My advice - visit HOT & COLD when you want a quick coffee and be prepared to have a second because the kids will be entertained for a while!

Action Pack

I read about the drowning of two Canberra parents in Western Australia a week or so ago which left two children without their parents. They were at the half way point of their year-long trip around Australia which they'd documented online through their blog Action Pack.

As well as a legacy to the couple, who were both writers, the blog is a testament to their passion for education. It's worth checking out if you're interested in activities for kids. The activities are detailed in editions of magazines which can be purchased through the blog and are downloadable.

You can read a dedication to the couple here and find more information on how to donate to the children here. 

knit wear

knit wear: winter woollies

You can find the instructions for these warm, inexpensive wool pants here.

I was lucky - someone had already (accidentally) felted their jumper when I found it at the op-shop and $5 later it was mine.

Just remember (because someone in our house didn't - I'm not naming names) wash them on a cool/wool wash otherwise they'll end up being dolly's pants.

know when to fold 'em

When do you give up on a cake? 

I made this flourless (almond) caprese cake today. The skewer was coming out moist so, naturally, I gave it more time in the oven but now the sides and base are a tad burnt. I've trimmed it and begun glazing it but I can't hide the cracks or the burny bits. This cake needs to come in to my work with me tomorrow for a morning tea. 

Do I give up on it now and bake something else? Or take the chance that my baking reputation may be tarnished forever?!

('xcuse the photo!)

North Narrabeen Markets

 

Do you frequent a local market? I'm making it a part of our weekly 'activity plan' (term to be used flexibly) and it's especially fun with 2yo P (while 4 yo B is a preschool). Our local market, at North Narrabeen is an organic market (with a few exceptions). Stall operators bring their produce which includes everything from buffalo yoghurt to baklava, nuts and dried fruit, breads, crafts and clothes, soaps and olive oils. I always bring a limited amount of cash and my own bags and have a few bucks at the ready to grab my caffeine first!

After P and I gather a few essentials - (coffee and) usually veggies - she gets to choose one of the three kids' activities - the jumping castle, a ride on a pony or a stint in the petting zoo The petting zoo is always her favourite and despite having our own guinea pigs and chooks she still loves grabbing them for a cuddle. Last Friday P insisted on wheeling her doll's pram around the market. We bought some gorgeous organic celery and I was just leaving the stall when I noticed P had grabbed some pak choy from the stand and shoved it under her pram. We had a laugh as I handed it back!

If we are still at the markets at lunch time I like to grab some street food from Rustic Flair. (check out their blog They are on FB too). The pork-wich is a favourite and the phở is good but I am still a fan of the fresh rice paper rolls. I had to cackle last Friday when I watched a lady ask for a 'salad sandwich.' She didn't know she was missing!! But it was made without hesitation.

I especially love the community feel of the markets. I love having a chat with the stall holders and finding out about their prodcts, their love of food and how they like the markets. There's a sense that custimers who visit the markets tend to engage with their meals and food making!

layered skirt

 

 

 

I made P a skirt skirt in just one afternoon. The only thing I'd do differently next time is use a lighter weight fabric (instead of denim) as the lining. My machine struggled with sewing the layers of denim.

I was inspired by a friends' post on Pinterest - on 'gathered' stitch. I've never done gathered stitch before (she was right -it's simple!) or made a skirt! I am pretty pleased with the result. The fabric is the one I used to sew my yoga mat bag from, from My Patch Fabrics.

While I was at it I thought I'd whip up a hair clip to match.

chocolate coconut bars

I have three favourite Women's Weekly cookbooks: Best Recipes from the Weekly; The Big Book of Beautiful Biscuits and; Cakes & Slices. Before you go rushing off to find them be sure to scour your local op-shops. I have three copies of 'Best Recipes' from my op-shop escapades (saving them for friends).


Chocolate Coconut Bars

Do you need a quick-to-prepare recipe? This is a fail-safe recipe I use regularly.You probably don't need me to tell you, after you've read the ingredients, that it's sweet!

for the base:
125g (4 oz) butter
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 cup self-raising flour
1 tablespoon of good quality cocoa (I use Droste cocoa from the Netherlands. It's widely available in supermarkets)
1 egg

for the icing: 
1 cup icing sugar
1 tablespoon cocoa
1 teaspoon soft butter
1 tablespoon milk, approx

Base: Melt the butter over a low heat. Stir in sugar, coconut, sifted flours and cocoa, then lightly beaten egg. Spread mixture evenly over the base of a well greased (or lined with baking paper) 28cm 18 cm lamington tin. Bake in moderate oven (180ºc) for 20 minutes, or until just firm to touch. Spread with icing immediately and stand for 10 minutes. Sprinkly with extra coconut if desired; cut into bars; cool in tin.

Icing:  Sift icing sugar and cocoa into bowl, stir in butter and enough milk to make a thick paste.

an encounter

I had to wake P abruptly from her sleep today and so followed a loud, mega, age/developmentally appropriate tantrum. As I sat at my two year old's level, quietly trying to console her, an elderly woman came past and said "You are a NAUGHTY girl. Stop your crying. Stop it or your mother will beat you."

I was too shocked to say anything and evidently so was P. She stopped crying.

Since I became a parent 4 1/2 years ago I have had countless encounters with strangers who feel the need to comment. Fortunately many of those interactions have been positive as parents share stories of raising their own children, but there are a few negative interactions that stick in my mind.

Have you had encounters like the one I had today? How should I have responded?

a renaissance with Jamie Oliver

 It began because I picked up a copy of one of my first cook books in the op shop yesterday for $3 (bargain!!!) - Jamie Oliver's first cookbook The Naked Chef. I have my original copy but I couldn't leave it there on the shelf.

Today we arrived at the park at lunchtime so I was hungry. I was also hunting around the car for some reading material with the plan that the kids would play while I sat on the picnic rug. There, grinning at me, was the naked chef himself, Jamie Oliver. His recipes are achievable and I can almost see him coming to life through the pages with his lubbly jubbly passion for food.

I had ten minutes (between swings) chomping on a not very satisfying vegemite sandwich but I did get to revisit some great recipes. In that time I dog-eared a few I'll try later (sorry, in advance to the recipient of the book) but this is the one that took my fancy, seared encrusted tuna steak with fresh coriander and so this is the on we're having tonight.



ingredients
1 small dried red chilli
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1/2 clove of garlic
1 good handful of basil picked and finely chopped
1 good handful of fresh coriander picked and finely chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper
juice of 1 lemon
4 tuna steaks 285g each about 20mm thick

method
Smash up the chilli and the coriander seeds in a pestle and mortar.
Add the garlic basil coriander and lemon juice to taste.
Mix together and season.
Lay out your tuna steaks on a tray season both sides and rub the herb mixture on to each side.
There are two nice ways to cook it: I prefer to cook it on one of those ridged grill pans or in a frying pan.
Rub your pan which should be very very hot with a tittle bit of oil on a piece of kitchen paper then put in the tuna. What you want to do is sear the tuna so that it toasts fries and browns (about 45 to 60 seconds on each side). Once cooked I like to rip the steaks in half and serve with salad and chips or boiled potatoes and a big wedge of lemon. It`s quite sexy sometimes with some marinated sun dried tomatoes olives and basil.

variations

* I omitted the chilli since the kids are eating with me.
* The tuna wasn't cheap so I only bought two small steaks. You could use any firm fish.
* I also had a huge bunch of basil in the fridge and parsley in the garden so I swapped those instead of the coriander.
* I whizzed this up in the Thermomix but next time I'll grind the coriander seeds in the mortar and pestle or use ground coriander.It just didn't end up fine enough.
* I'm serving mine with steamed potatoes and a fennel (bulb) and orange salad.

coconut icy poles

An ice cream or icy pole is just the thing for a warm day and, despite being a a month out from winter, we've had a few lately.

We whipped up these tasty morsels with a half-can of coconut milk I had left over from a curry. They are an inexpensive alternative to pre-packaged and processed ice creams.

You can pick up these ice-cream molds for the supermarket or a kitchen shop.

ingredients
200ml coconut cream
fruit - sliced into slivers*

* we used nectarine and mango.
2 tsp honey (optional)

method
Combine the coconut cream with the honey. Gently place fruit pieces into a mold. Pour the coconut cream mixture around the fruit and freeze overnight.

where can you find me?

Hi readers...

I've now updated my social pages and you can find me on Facebook and Pinterest. Simply search for Miss May Blossom and you'll receive snippets of exciting news that I won't share here.

Keep an eye on this address, though, for blog posts.

Thank you readers!

Miss May Blossom

a request

Early morning (some time starting with a 5)

B: Muuum. Can you and Dad make a baby today?
Me: Why do you want a baby?
B: So Phoebe can play with it.
Me: Probably not today, Byron.
B: Tomorrow?

flying solo

Do you have stints when your partner is away and you are the sole parent? Are you one of those incredible people who is a single parent all the time?

J is due home in 2 days so I've just managed two weeks flying solo. It's not like the three months at the end of 2010 with a two year old and being heavily pregnant. It's not like the six months in early 2011 with a toddler and an eight-week old (waking through the night) but the same rules apply.

I always try to keep a balance between keeping busy and having quiet days at home. Busy means arranging (usually) free activities and play dates and quiet days at home are usually spent trying to get on top of the chores with a conscious effort to have activities for the kids rather than hours upon hours of TV. Mind you - an hour or so of ABC4Kids is sometimes all we need!

This fortnight I had so many things planned but we were plagued by illness. Luckily we were able to fit in a few great things - a trip to The Rocks in Sydney where we visited the Windmill and The Rocks Museum.

We visited the new and incredible rocket playground on Callistemon Way at Warriewood. This playground is perfect for children of all ages. We spent a good two hours here and the kids did not want to leave. Mum and B did manage to return to Te Rocks Windmill for Diego's "Wild Crafting for Stories: How weeds tell the tale of humans" which was interesting. 

We had friends drop in and visited others. We had my grandmother, my mum and close friends come to stay. It worked so well as we could tag-team with our kids and getting things done on our own. I just don't know how single parents do it of they don't have a strong support network.

When illness came our way I had to call in favours. I hate doing this but sometimes it is best to ask for help. I can justify it by thinking I'd help out a friend if they needed it and I've found friends are usually more than happy to help where they can. In 2010/11 when J was away it took me about 6 months before I admitted to myself that I just couldn't do it (the parenting) alone so we bit-the-bullet and had a babysitter come and help a day or two a week. It was expensive but the toll it was taking on my health was greater than the burden of the expense.

I was able to get out three nights while J was away too! I wouldn't usually be out this frequently while he's home! Thanks to Mum, my grandmother and a paid babysitter I went out to a Youth Food Movement dinner at The Rocks Windmill  (Check it out. There are still some great things on until 12 May). My friend and I were also in the studio audience for a new SBS comedy show and I went to a local demo (& many course dinner) for Thermomix ran by a friend of mine.

I also made sure I made it to a gym session which was satisfying.

What supports do you put in place to help with the juggling of children, chores, work, time for you, illness?