Also known as: I want to write down what I actually put in my chutney this year...!

600g green tomatoes
600g red onions
200g currants
200g brown sugar
600ml malt vinegar
1tsp ground cardamom
1tsp hot cayenne
1Tbsp murray river salt

Almost ready to jar - cooked a bit better this year than last, so I'd not started sterilising when I should have... :)

Another set of photos up on Flickr, this time from Sydney. I should mention I didn't massively enjoy my sightseeing there - the weather was a tad gloomy and everything indoors seemed to cost wads of cash or just didn't quite appeal. Catching up with people was great, though. (Pity I don't photograph them!)

I'm slowly posting photos from my trip to Australia - they're arranged by location rather than date, and the set "Fleurieu Peninsula" extends quite a bit further than that, but you get the idea...


Everything around Adelaide, except for...


...Adelaide Zoo. It has pandas!


Melbourne (I'm surprised how many people didn't know where this photo was taken...)

They're redoing my window now. I'm cleaning out my bookcase in the meantime.

Thoughts so far:
- Exactly what was I thinking by keeping all my english heritage guides from 2003 to present?! Given I do not have an interest in researching and comparing access to their historical sites in that sort of timeframe (if any), in what universe would that yield any information whatsoever? *bins*

- Why is there a 120G harddrive there? Where did it come from? Did I buy it or was it given to me? Why??!

- Christ I keep some crap...

- Does Wizz Fizz have an expiry date? I can't find one on the packet...

- How much bloody food have I got stashed in this bookcase??

- Damn, I can't remember how to solve a Rubik's cube anymore. Must re-find the instructions...

- My nose is full of dust. But I now have an entire shelf free, apart from the food stash!

A more serious question:

I have a flash card or two without a protective case. What's the best way to keep them? Do I have to watch out for static? is a ziplock bag ok?

I've not bothered with a filter, so sorry for those who don't care...

I'm going to be back in Oz for 3 weeks from Easter. My general plan is to head to Melbourne about Wed 27th April or Thurs 28th (seeing as the Tues is probably a public holiday) and then up to Sydney about Mon 2nd May, and back to Adelaide about Wed 4th.

There's a problem - I have to rely only on the savings I have in Australia, as I am going to be running close to not being able to afford my rent while I'm away. This means I really don't have much I can afford in terms of accomodation. This may mean shortening interstate trips according to what I can afford.

In short, I need help in the form of couches to sleep on as much as possible.

Are any of you willing and able to help? Please?? :)

And for the Adelaide people - I will be trying to do a pub catch-up again. If there are any dates to avoid, please tell me. I can't really just pick a date - it all depends on what suits my family as I will need their help to get me to and from Adelaide.

See this xkcd strip? It's been bugging me for a few days now... (ie: since I first saw it.)



Based on the idea of how homeopathy is supposed to work, surely this would either prevent pregnancy or work as a morning after pill??

Right, glad I got that off my chest...!

I realised I'd missed a photo from the zoo trip - went and uploaded it with one more just now.

This is the second one - I can't work out why I like the photo, though. Part of me is just picking out the bits that aren't perfect, but I find it quite captivating regardless - anyone have any clues? (Preference is replies on Flickr, btw!)

Anyway:

Especially for missyk8:

(From: "Green Cuisine" by Karen Meyer - My parents gave me this book when I moved out of home for the first time - I was veggie as I was a broke student and couldn't really afford meat.)

Cauliflower-cheese Dream Soup

2 large potatoes, cut into chunks
1/2 head cauliflower, broken into florets
1 small carrot, peeled and chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed (I use more and just peel, chop off the root and halve the cloves.)
4 cups water or vegetable stock
a little salt (if you want - I don't!)
2/3 cup grated cheddar
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp dill or caraway seeds
1/4 tsp dry mustard (I just use a dollop of dijon)
freshly ground black pepper
a little chopped parsley
1/4 cup extra grated cheddar for serving

Put veggies, water/stock and salt into a large saucepan. Bring to boil, cover and simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Puree the mixture until creamy. return to saucepan and reheat while whisking in the cheese, milk, dill/caraway seeds, mustard and pepper. Serve with a little parsley and cheese on top.

Suggestions: replace some or all of the cauliflower with broccoli. Sprinkle with parmesan instead of cheddar.

---
Of course, I don't do all of this: I use a stab blender, not a food processor, and bollocks to whisking! I think I used tarragon instead of the dill or caraway and added extra parsley to the soup. (But then, I think parsley's a vegetable...) Oh, and don't let it boil when you reheat it - it'll curdle the milk. (In the not-bad way, but still not ideal!)

This time I had broccoli in it, as there was less cauliflower than I thought.

You know that thing where you wrote down the lyrics to songs as a kid? Skipping back to listen and relisten to a line that you couldn't make out on the tape player?

Yeah, well watch with awe and/or amusement as I do it as an adult...

( I'm afraid I think I'm human )

Anyone who has the cds in the same country as them who want to correct that one line (or tell me if any others are wrong!) please comment!

It was just bugging me that the lyrics aren't online anywhere!

OK, so this is probably only exciting to me, and I suspect would seem just as exciting even if I didn't have the week I have:




I have a prototomato!!!! (See it? It's in the middle there... No really, it is!)

*does happy dance*

ETA: And no damage from the hail! :) (Or at least, not that I can see...)