Good things about winter :: rhubarb

...and some self seeded leeks from our garden. 

Leeks for soup and thinking about a rhubarb and orange cupcake....

Good things about winter :: pomanders

Don't you feel all Christmassy?  With all this cold weather, wouldn't it be lovely to give the smalls a little gift, invite friends and family over, roast a huge bird and drink eggnog right now.  I'd even go a little tinsel. In fact, I'm close to hauling a large conifer indoors, to decorate and fill the house with a fresh piney scent...  

Showing some uncharacteristic restraint, we'll stick to some winter inspired crafts.  I'm loving Mariah's gorgeous site and found this project filed under winter::making a pomander. Easy for the little ones, they smell beautiful and last for ages I'm told.  A little bit of Christmas in July.  Now, where did I see that egg nog recipe...

Good things about winter :: the museum

Specimens in drawers 

Ancient worlds to explore 

Elsa meets Wickham

And of course, mettaburrasaurus...ggrrrr

Perfect for winter:: Hobart's TMAG.

Well, actually...

Life is full of ups and downs, and you learn to take the rough with the smooth.  But the downs really do smart when the disapointment involves your children.  Like when you wait for what seems like forever for a place at the school of your choice. And after being told that you were at the top of the list, you wait patiently.  But then, when a space does comes up, you're told that well, actually, you're not anywhere near the top.  It hurts. It's dreadful. It's devastating.  Really. 

To soothe my vexed nerves, I probably should exercise, but I bake.  

Today I turned to a recipe from Christine Manfield's Paramount Desserts for a quick chocolate fix.  These are super easy and Hugo did most of the stirring. And bless Miss Chris's temperate little socks, she suggests that these be eaten as a petite fours.  So I slice these into elegant little squares, one per person as instructed.  But to help medicate that gutted feeling I have, my suggested dosage is to eat as many as required. Here's the recipe, file under first aid. 

Chocolate Brownie Fudge Slice

170g unsalted butter

340g caster sugar

3 x 61g eggs, lightly beaten 

75g cocoa powder

1tsp vanilla 

75g sifted flour

270g dark couverture chocolate, chopped (I just use chips - I'm in a hurry)

Chocolate Cream 

125g dark couverture chocolate 

100ml thick (45 per cent) cream

To make the brownies, melt butter over low heat.  Whisk the sugar and into the lightly beaten eggs, then add the melted butter, cocoa and vanilla and mix well.

Stir in the flour with a spatula, then stir in the chopped chocolate.  Pour into a greased 20cm square slice tin, lined with baking paper, and bake in a 160C oven for 25 minutes or until just set (I always find it takes about 40).  Allow to cool in the tin.

To make the chocolate cream, shave the chocolate into a bowl.  Heat the cream in a pan to simmering point and pour over the chocolate.  Stir until glossy and smooth.  Allow the cream to set in the refrigerator for 2 hours (an hour if you're desperate) to become firm enough to spread.

Turn the brownie slab out onto a chopping board and spread the top with a thin layer of the chocolate cream.  Slice into small elegant squares and serve with tea and sympathy.

Homeschooling never looked so good...

Good things about winter :: mail order plants

The dormant perennials I ordered from here arrived in the mail today.  Dahlias along with some salvias.  I've never grown many flowers before, so I'm a bit unsure. Especially dahlias as you're supposed to dig them up and store them over winter.   Sounds a bit scary.  But I'm keen to grow some cutting flowers for the house so we'll see how we go. These little pots of dirt with a stick in them will hopefully grow into the stunning Bishop of Llandaff.  Couldn't post those out in summer!

Good things about winter::cinnamon scrolls

I love the smell of sugary spice wafting from the oven when we bake these.  So delicious, I have to try really hard not to eat them all!

Good things about winter :: diamond dust

Thinking about and documenting the good things that makes winter special. A project to keep those winter blues away.

Jack Frost scatters diamond dust on the fence: glittering in the morning sun.

We love dirt

A glorious winter's day today.  The peeps were keen to escape the coop for some good clean fun. Mud and puddles are always first class on our dirt road after rain and today the mud was extra sticky due to heavy tractor traffic. Perfect.

Exploring puddles::

Stomping in mud::

And collecting stray worms off the road to bring home.

Why do worms always appear on the road after the rain?

Winter and me, we're good.

Days get longer, cold gets stronger

Ancient wisdom sure rings true.  This week has been so cold and so grey and now really wet. I've always loved winter but this year, I'm not so sure.  Trying to keep the cold out and our spirits up, we're surrounding ourselves indoors with yellow and orange. Keeping warm with comfort food. Soup.  Tea. Toast. Summer's preserved golden peaches and apricot jam. Glowing log fires. Hugo cut and pastes, rolls play dough and builds worlds.  Happy to be inside for now. Meanwhile, I'm waiting for the imminent arrival of a package of fun from here. Please hurry.

I'm glad we managed to dash out the door during the precious three hours of clear blue skies on Tuesday.  We spent some time in the park to just run around and climb ancient pine trees. Then we noticed the first sunny yellow wattle blooms.  Right on queue, just after the solstice. A timely reminder that despite the cold, the sun is surely on its way back. Please hurry.

To market, to market

Spiced chocolate with quince and vanilla bean cream cheese frosting?

Orange creamcheese cake with orange blossom frosting perhaps?

Golden vanilla filled with dulche de leche and about to be smothered in milk chocolate?

The cupcake menu at the Mothers Market proved so popular we sold out early!  Awright! 

I tried very hard not to spend all my money, truly I did.  But there's so many talented Tasmanians at the market I couldn't resist just a few super lovely things.  I mean, *cough*I have to do my bit and support local artists and crafters don't I?  A lovely purse from clever Mlle La Revolution Des Cache-pots, and toasty wrist warmers from crochet superstar Michelle at two and six. Chatting to gorgeous stall holders, along with delicious food from Mondo Mama, Bree, sigh, meant  all in all, another ace market.

I'll show you my new treasures during the week, but in the meantime, some behind the scenes snaps to share. Taken in my super talented and lovely cupcake partner, Jo's fabulous kitchen.  

Sadly, no leftover cupcakes for me, just truckloads of cuddles from the little ones who missed their mama. Sweet enough for me!