A philosophic Australian writes here, one who admits to loving Scandinavia. I'm interested in global politics, but scratch the surface and you'll find I am a practical Environmentalist with an Egalitarian bent trying to unleash a little creativity.
Scandinavian culture, literature and traditions are close to my heart, even though I am Australian. Travel broadens the mind, so I travel whenever I can. I am an avid reader, I enjoy photography, writing and a variety of crafts, particularly traditional art forms. You are always welcome to stop by at S.t.P.A.
One of every three bites of food we eat is derived from plants pollinated by bees. And bees are in trouble worldwide.
Stingless Native bees on a paperbark tree
As pollinators, bees along with other insects play an essential role for our gardens and plants, fertilizing plants so they may begin producing fruit and seeds. Bees are very important because:
70 of the top 100 most popular food crops are pollinated by bees
80% of all flowering plants on earth and pollinated by bees
Pesticides, parasites and climate change are diminishing bee populations worldwide and we can help them.
How?
We can help them with organic gardening practices, planting flowers to attract them and provide them with shelter, so at the Home by the Sea is opening a Bee Hotel.
The Pavlova recipe I make is an old recipe taken from my trusty Aussie Women’s Weekly Recipe book. *(Page 32 is a tomato veal dish, Peggy!)
This book that was gifted to me in 1979, by my Mother. 41 years later, with its spine tatted and broken, this book continues to reveal recipe secrets I have yet to make.
My Christmas gift the year after I left home
Pavlova Recipe
Following is the recipe I use, although I don’t use a piping bag to make the edges.
I just dump the meringue mix on to a lined baking sheet and form it into a makeshift circle, by dragging around the edges from base to tip with a broad spatula. It is less fuss, and noone wants too much fuss in the kitchen, when the mercury soars in summertime!
Pavlova Cooking Tips
I cook my Pavlova in an oven set on 150 degees C. (300 degrees F.) for around 35 – 40 minutes. Then I will leave the pavlova to cool in the oven.
Once the Pavlova has finished its cooking time, I turn the oven off, and place a wooden spoon in the door to allow some heat to escape, but not all the heat, at once. This extended minimal heat is enough to dry the outer shell of the Pavlova whilst allowing the middle to be all soft and gooey.
It ends up quite rustic looking but leaves a crater or depression in the top into which you can place your fruits, custard or cream, or all three.
How shall I choose the final photo in this challenge that Ju-Lyn from All Things Bright and Beautiful kindly nominated me to complete?
Shall I choose somewhere closer to home?
Or:
my favourite destination – some Nordic ‘hygge/koselig’ location
enigmatic Poland
wistful Estonia
mystical Japan
South-East Asia
This is what I decided. One of the most incredible places on earth.
A place you can literally stand between two continents.
And I did.
Once again if you would like to be nominated for this challenge, I would be happy to update this post with your blog url. This is the final post in this challenge.
In nominating me for this challenge, Ju-Lyn has helped me realise how narrow my travel interests are. I have visited the same countries over five times. You can deduce from this that I am quite in love with them.
I have nominated Ushashita, who kindly volunteered to join the challenge to post ten days of travel photos, no explanation and nominate other bloggers with each post.
Modification to travel challenge – due to the time of year I am not nominating any bloggers just pingbacks to blogs I like to read. Take a look at Marlene’s blog.
I am nominating my fantastic co-host of the Friendly Friday Photography Challenge, Sandy from thesandychronicles to join in with the fun travel photo challenge of posting one travel photo without explanation, or with explanation as I think she prefers that, for ten days.
If Sandy would like to nominate another blogger, that would be fun. I like to discover new blogs, but there is no obligation to do this.
N.B. Sandy – I modify these challenges to suit me. Ten days and nominating ten bloggers is I feel too much. Especially over Christmas. But I do like to participate here and there.
You know your own children’s preferences, but when they become adults and bring home partners, you might have to face the prospect that the partners has different dietary preferences that need to be accomodated at festive occasions, like Christmas.
I am rather late in planning this Gluten free Christmas menu and it is not Vegan, nor vegetarian so that is a heads up. But it is highly nutritious.
Entree or Nibbles
First off we have a Prawn, snow pea and Capsicum Entree, I used the following Prawn dish idea but made it a kind of tasting nibbles board, rather than a whole dish. I will add some nice cheeses, home made Knekkerbrød (Norwegian crackers) and nuts to accompany this.
Fresh is best for this opener. Given that all prawns are frozen at the point of capture, fresh is a loose term these days. But we are Australian, so we have to have some kind of shellfish option to start the hot meal.
Mains
Meat
Assortment of oven-roasted, gluten-free meats – without stuffing and preferably organic in nature
Roasted Vegetables
Potatoes roasted with garlic, thyme and dill
Pumpkin, sweet potato, and carrots (all roasted with rosemary sprigs)
Onion
Choko
Red capsicum drizzled with olive oil and roasted lightly
Salads
Cauliflower butter beans and Pumpkin Hommus
Chickpea Spinach and Eggplant Salad
Broccoli, Quinoa and Edamame Vegetables (served warm for the Moth)
Dessert
Smashed Pavlova with seasonal stone fruits – there is just a little teaspoon of cornflour in this Pavlova recipe but when there is a coeliac visitor, one has to be extra careful. This is not just Gluten intolerance, but allergy!
Gluten-free Option – Chocolate Brownie
For the Moth: Warm Plum Pudding served with custard and ice cream
(not gluten-free)
What kind of different dishes are you cooking this Christmas?
Are you breaking from preparing traditional foods?
I actually wanted to cartoonize the photograph of Nyhaven, Denmark, so it looks like a digital illustration, but as that involved a Canva pro subscription, I opted for something less, this time.
Using the postcard template is a fun way to re-live past travel memories.
In case you were wondering, yes my newly purchased cap with Danmark embroidered on it that I had purchased at a souvenir shop near the H.C. Anderson exhibit in Odense, did blow off and land in the canal. It was never seen again and yet, I still have one today.
On my return home to Australia, I managed to find a similar cap in a store and had the words Danmark embroidered on it, complete with Dannebrog. (Dannebrog is the Danish flag).
I will be back next week at Something to Ponder About with a new photo challenge prompt.
I do enjoy drinking a lovely cuppa at mid-morning. To savour that cuppa with other enthusiastic bloggers at Su’s Virtual Tea Party, is an extra treat.
The Thirteenth day of November in the calamitous year of 2020, is auspicious, but I am not superstitious. I do wonder how many extra lotto tickets will be sold today.
Having once worked in a Newsagency, I can vouch for the increase in sales on days like these.
Meanwhile November has been busy. There always seems to be something happening at the Home by the Sea.
Melbourne cup day without the racing crowds continued in our neighbourhood and one of our wonderful neighbours dressed up as a bookie running a sweep or two.
I have been joining in with Qi Gong exercise every day that I can through the week, however turned awkwardly this morning and have pulled a muscle in my back. Ouch…. Getting old sucks. Really.
Schnauzer November News
The dogs have not been forgotten and had a fantastic run at the fenced off leash area and the doggie beach. First time off leash for the pup and she loved running with the chocolate labradors and then having a hydrobath afterwards. They rested well afterwards.
The doggies were spoilt a bit with early Christmas presents from Pupsnaps anti – anxiety beds. Since these arrived, several of my friends have had theirs delivered. Pupsnaps must be so pleased with the business from the Schnauzers. The dogs almost need to recieve a commission.
The Koala Rescue group have been making Christmas garlands, complete with koalas. We threaded up all of these one weekend. I hope they sell well at the markets as the funds all go towards running the Rescue operation.
At least one koala is killed or wounded every night in breeding season. Staggering statistics.
