Morning tea with the girls...

I had a morning tea with some girlfriends this morning and amongst bountiful roses, some scrap booking and cuppas I served up this:

Chocolate & Cranberry Slice (Annabel Langbein)

Gently melt 350g dark eating chocolate – use the best quality you can for the very best flavour – over a double boiler, or just a heatproof bowl sitting over a pot containing a little boiling water.

While the chocolate is melting, line a small loaf tin with baking paper so the slice will be really easy to get out.

The trick to melting chocolate is not to overheat it. Once the chocolate starts to melt, the heat that is generated carries on heating the rest of the chocolate, so keep stirring until all the chocolate is melted.

Once the chocolate has melted, remove from heat and mix in 3/4 cup of sweetened condensed milk, stirring until it is evenly combined. Then add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, 3/4 cup of shelled pistachio, 1 cup of dried cranberries and 1/4 cup of icing sugar. Mix well.

The mixture will start to set very quickly but don’t worry about that. Just mould it with your hands as it is really malleable, and press firmly into the prepared lined tin. It takes just 30 minutes to set in the refrigerator.

It was definitely a HUGE hit and I did little take home bags for everyone ( like a party favour bag!!!)

This is a keeper for sure, so easy and will be on my Christmas baking list......it makes so much and slices up in to fine delicate slices perfectly...it will go a long, long, long way!!

So if you feel like being decadent - go right ahead - divine!!!

Monday Musings....

A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning, as if supported by the rays of the sun, a bird settled on the fire escape, joy in the task of coffee, joy accompanied me as I walked  

~ Anais Nin ~

may joy follow you throughout this week.

TK xx

Monday Musings....

'I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow.'

~ Scarlett O'Hara, Gone With The Wind ~

.....sounding familiar to anyone???.....

TK xx

Open Your Mind

We have been celebrating Mental Health Week here in Australia this week - did you know that? Did you think about mental health issues? Did you think about what YOU can do?

In the next 12 months, 1 in 5 of us will experience a mental health problem. That is 20% of the population......rather a large portion isn't it. We need to work together doing whatever we can to reduce the stigma and discrimination that STILL surrounds mental illnesses. Maybe you can allow some time to help a person with a mental illness or do a little bit of research into a type of mental illness.

There are the more obvious visual illnesses where a person is brain damaged and we can see they are challenged and make allowances......but there are literally THOUSANDS of people who suffer from depression, bi-polar disorder, psychosis, scizophrenia, post-natal depression, anorexia, bulimia, life limiting phobias, breakdowns, anxiety and on the list goes. These are not always so obvious.

I had the privilege of attending the "Words Poetry Evening" last night here in Adelaide. It was the Open Your Mind Poetry Competition and Words Evening brought to us by the SA Writers' Centre and the Mental Health Coalition of SA.

It was exciting, invigorating and I felt just so blessed to be a part of the story that unfolded. We listened to 2 guest speakers who fight their own personal mental health issues every day and work for better understanding and acceptance of mental illnesses as a whole, along with hearing the winning pieces of the 'Open Your Mind' poetry competition. Totally amazing writing......each category winner was presented with their piece painted onto a canvas by the very talented Suzie Morizzi.

Wow - what an emotional but amazing night. I came away more determined to face my own issues following a breakdown 3 years ago and to put pen to paper to record my journey now. Not because I want it published and I am important, but because I need to own my journey: where I have been and where I have come.

I ask you to just stop and consider your own mental health, keep yourself well and spare a thought for those who struggle. They cannot 'help it' and just get better, it is a VERY REAL illness that affects daily life, relationships, ability to work, ability to be involved in community, ability to socially integrate. It requires assistance, often medication and can be a life time issue. Take the tail end of this week and give a thought to what YOU can do to help reduce the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health.

blue woman dancing

I hope in doing so you are enriched and blessed,

TK xx

All things tagged

I have been tagged by my dear new blog friend Lisa so its only fair to join in. She wants answers to 7 things about me so here goes:

1. What really cheesy/bad TV programme can you not help but watch?
Bad TV ...hmmm...... well I am a sucker for those dreadful 'made for TV' telemovies that often appear in the middle of the day. I often can be found recording them for later.....much, much later when everyone is in bed asleep!!!

2. What book you think is terrible, and why.
I love most books BUT just cannot get into anything written by Jodi Picoult. Yes, yes I KNOW she is a great author & everyone raves about her BUT her style just doesn't do it for me.

3. What does your bedlinen look like? please feel free to include a photograph
photos - no way...I just got out of bed after a nana nap!!!! We have black and light blue cotton percale sheets & a striped quilt cover by Sheridan (now out of stock.....its OLD style - all of 2 years ago!!! & so cannot get replacement anything!!!) with white, blues, murky green and subtle black.....rather beachy looking actually - ties in with a large photograph of a beach we have above our bed.

4. What is your favourite quality in yourself (you all have them so suck it up and pick one!)
I find this ridiculously difficult to answer...maybe my quality to be empathetic to a person/situation...not judgemental.

5. This one is from Dave - What is the worst injury you have had?
A couple of years ago I went ice-skating with my step-daughter and had decided to finish up. She asked me to do one more round with her and I got a bit too keen, fell over and twisted my knee - it hurt like hell!!!! I could not put any weight on that knee for weeks......it still plays up now & I have ABSOLUTELY NO DESIRE to do any more ice-skating anytime soon!!!

6. Do you listen to the radio/podcasts often and if yes, what do you listen to?
 don't get how podcasts work (maybe its my age...) but I listen to ABC Classic FM a LOT in the car.

7. If you stay in a hotel, do you take the mini bathroom toiletries home with you?
Okay I am a total brand snob here........it depends on the brand of said toiletries!!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed this little insight into me, scary isn't it!!!!

I am going to tag a few other bloggers whom I would I like to learn more about. so be sure to pop on over and check with Carolyn, Kasia, Mindy and Kelly. Hope you join in the fun........

TK xx

Monday Musings....

'Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.'

~ Mother Teresa ~

TK xx

We are going camouflage at our place...

Customize a free invitation card

Well I don't see myself as that creative...I would dearly love a gorgeous tea party BUT that just will not make the grade with my little man!!! What do you think? We have more camouflage creativeness on its way soon!!!

TK xx

Jacaranda Days

Although I am an autumn girl

this recent sunshine and beauty popping up

around me

also gives much delight...

not the least of which is the

beautiful jacaranda tree

so so many in flower just now

got to love these majestic trees

image via Tumblr

TK xx

Monday Musings....

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air..."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

via Patsydancer.com

TK xx