Pattern for Crazy teacozy

A dead easy way of knitting quick gifts.  (see photograph of my teacozies on previous blog titled 'Crazy teacozies')  If you would rather knit complicated patterns, this one is not for you.  I love colours and using up all sorts of leftover wool.  My temperament means that I don't like being dictated to as far as which colours to use and I am impatient to finish it quickly so I can start the next one.

Make 2 squares for each cosy.  I use 8 ply acrylic wool. One 100 grm acrylic will knit a tea cosy. It will knit a couple if you make the smallest size. Sizes are small,medium and large.

1-2 cup pot,4-6 pot and large for at least 8 cups.

Use 4.5 mm knitting needles and cast on 38 (48,54) stitches.

PATTERN

Row 1 Knit

Row 2 Purl

Row 3 Knit

Row 4 Purl

NEXT Knit 10 rows (GARTER STITCH)

Keep repeating these 14 rows until your work measures 14 (18,20) cms or length desired.

SHAPE TOP

Row 1 Knit1*Yarn over,Knit 2 together* repeat *to* to the last stitch (knit 1)

Row 2 Knit

Row 3 Knit

Row 4 Knit

CAST OFF LOOSELY (make 2)

Place the pieces right sides together and stitch the top section and the bottom section of each side. Use the spout and handle of your pot as a guide. Turn the cosy right side out and thread your choice of ribbon,cord or braid through the eyelet holes. Pull tightly and make a bow. 

Your imagination knows no limits and if you would like help with basic knitting skills, there are various YouTube exercises that may help.

Tricky sweet treats

At our holiday home, I have a tea tray set up all the time complete with teapot/teacozy and cups/saucers. It is kept neatly in a shelf so that there is no excuse not to have visitors around for tea and scones.  Being of English heritage, before living in Australia/New Zealand/South Africa and Tanzania, means that I am fussy about how tea is made.

Boil the water, and warm the pot with a little before throwing the water out. 1 teaspoon of tea leaves per person and add one for the pot. Now you may want to spend time in the kitchen making the scones, but I don't want the dirty surfaces and dishes afterwards.  I have already frozen my scones (store bought) and defrosted them.  In small jars, I serve up butter, (oh yes), jam (I like big chunks of fruit in mine) and thick cream (fresh from the cows of the next door diary farm) for visitors to help themselves. Sometimes I have home made lemon curd to pile up on my scone.  Making jam seems to take a long time but curds are quick and easy.  Some recipes insist that you sieve the fruit juice but we like the texture of a thicker not as smooth curd.  It also saves time and washing up.

Lemon and lime Curd

115g /4 oz butter

3 eggs

grated rind and juice of 2 lemons

grated rind and juice of 2 limes

225g /8oz castor sugar                (makes 2 X 450 grms/ 1 lb jars)

Set a heatproof mixing bowl over a large pan of simmering water. Add butter.

Lightly beat the eggs and add them to the butter.

Add the lemon and lime rinds and juices, then add the sugar.

Stir the mixture constantly until it thickens. Pour into sterilized jars. The curd will

keep in the fridge for up to 6 weeks, not that it ever last that long before being eaten.
(see photograph on previous blog entry 'Inspired by our European adventures') 

Spread on toast or muffins and scones and watch your popularity increase.  I sent a small jar back to Melbourne with my older daughter to ensure she visits us again. ;)

Trickery in the kitchen

After my 40 something years in the kitchen, I think I have learned a few things to keep myself and my family happily fed while on holiday.  We like gourmet food but not spending hours in the kitchen using piles of dishes!

My tips for a self catering holiday-

Where the budget allows eat out! You do not have to choose the most expensive places to eat.  The Gold coast area has hundreds of places. Consider choosing different times of the day.  Breakfast or lunch can be better value than dinner.

 If you are a party of adults, consider having a counter lunch at the local pub. Our Canungra Hotel offer 5 or 6 variations with bountiful salads. With children, consider sharing a huge bowl of noodle soup or something like Nachos. Go to the local fresh markets (Nerang or Mudgeeraba//Beechmont/Canungra) and sample their produce.  Bakeries are great for breads and pastries while taking advantage of Lamington Park or walks on the beach.

Benefit from the dozens of easily cooked meals at the chain grocery stores.  They cater for every budget from the simple sausage roll/pies/fish to lamb shanks done in a red wine sauce slow cooked already for 11 hours!  I take advantage of the ready made mash or even frozen mash which I microwave. I enthusiastically embrace holidays for relaxing and will be trying out the slow cooked pork belly also from our local chain grocery store this weekend.
With these pre prepared meals, buy a packet of green salad leaves or a bunch of spinach/broccolini to steam. Use fresh fruit and vegetables that are in season and remember variety is the spice of life.

Take pizza bases and any leftovers can be spread on to them with a minimum of fuss.  Most children are happy to get involved and they can leave out what they don't like. Use leftovers from your picnics and be inventive.

Risotto is great for using up bits and pieces in the refrigerator. Mushrooms, pumpkin, capsicum, (don't tell my daughter) onion, spring onion or spinach. Use any combination and at the last minute throw in some frozen vegetable to add interest.  Grated cheese on the top and you have an complete meal or a great accompaniment for barbecued meat.

Create a home made pasta sauce for your fresh pasta. Once again it can be made with virtually any fresh ingredients in your fridge. For a professional finish, pop some fresh herbs on the top.

Get creative and above all have fun. That is what holidays are for. Besides you have earned it with all those walks.  

Surrounded by twenty somethings

Back in Brisbane, we plan my younger daughter's 21st birthday party.  I make sure we don't run out of food by packing the grocery cupboards and ordering in weeks before the actual event. Family is flying in from Melbourne and I have our spare bedrooms ready with new 1000 count sheets and soft luxury towels.  New bath oils, pretty soap and bath washes line the vanity.

My thoughts regularly wander to Beechmont  and I am reminded why we are successful having people to stay at the Bavarian Hut and why we are always fully booked in our peak winter season. I am grateful for the lawn mowing which gets done every two weeks and our cleaner who comes regularly.

At last the day comes when our older daughter and partner is picked up from the airport.  A huge pot of rich Bolognese sauce simmers on the stove waiting to be eaten while we catch up with family matters.  The next day Bruce puts up the indoor and outdoor lights and we place the many candles through the house and on the decks.  We have a wonderful drinks fountain which lights up when we pour the brightly coloured cocktails.  My ingenious idea of putting frozen berries clogs up the works and we abandon that idea!

The braziers fire up and the marshmallows are piled waiting to be skewered and roasted.  The oven houses the hot snacks which come out every 15 minutes ready to be consumed. Young twenty something year olds pile in and surround the food before going out to chill on the decks.

I am reminded of the enquiry I have for a small, intimate wedding that I have quoted for at the Hut and wonder if that is an area we want to explore?  Happy dreams...

Wet days and full tanks

This is our peak season with sunny days and cold nights.  Well, the cold nights sitting by the fire are a reality but we are having our wettest winter in a long time!

We cheer in the full tanks, being fully reliant on tank water and relish the opportunities for our new plants and shrubs to be nourished. The camellias are starting to flower while they continue their steady but slow growth. 

Being fully booked mainly with families, we go off to the Lifeline Bookfest to find more games and books for those rainy days. Gigantic rows of books/games/DVD's line the Brisbane Convention Centre and before long we have collected our fill.  Back to the car we trundle with our stash, knowing there will be weeks of blissful reading.  

Fortunately with all our trees at the back of the property, I am able to collect many pine cones to stock pile.

The wood burner is used constantly while we settle in for the winter.  

The little opportunity shop which opens a couple of times a week at the old school Hall in Beechmont is great for finding treasures. I have a collection of crockery, jam jars and sundries while chatting to the lovely local person I meet.  Church services are next door and the local craft ladies meet regularly.  Tea and scones are served on embroidered cloths near the old kitchen.  Each table has a small vase of fresh flowers.  How I love this country life.