Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Sunshine in a drink

It's Limoncello and I'm making it with some of the lemons off our tree.

The tree has gone crazy this year...too many lemons just for tarts and cakes and curd...so Limoncello it is

This recipe yields about 2 litres, but I'm starting with just one litre....it's an easy thing to make but it's a long process so I thought I'd post the results in stages so we can do it together if you like



Ingredients for 2 litres of Limoncello

- 10 lemons
- 1 kg of sugar
- 1 litre vodka

- 1 litre of water

Grate the lemons with a fine grater and put the zest in a couple of jars with lids. Pour in the vodka and close the containers tightly, letting the mix rest for 15 days in the dark. Make sure you shake it every two days to help distribute the flavour



At this stage, the alcohol will remove all the colour and scent from the lemon zest.


Pretty easy huh?

See, it's cloudy already

I'm yet to make the syrup, but here's the recipe in case you'd like to get started on it

To prepare the syrup... juice the zested lemons, add 1 litre of water and the sugar and mix together in a pot. Bring it to the boil then let simmer for a few minutes till it thickens a little and resembles a syrup. Let it cool and refrigerate

After 15 days, it’s time to mix the lemony alcohol with the syrup. Put all the liquid in a large container or bottles and let stand for another day

Time to drain the Limoncello into sterilised bottles. Use a funnel lined with cheesecloth to make sure you remove all the zest

Seal the bottles, put them in a dark place or fridge and let sit for another month...then drink...on Christmas Day!!

I know there are recipes around that don't use the juice of the lemons, but I thought I'd try it this way, for a change

Monday, October 29, 2012

When I say progress, I mean progress....

Another weekend another step towards my little sewing room/studio being finished

Did I say little? ahhh no, it's not little at all.


Mr P the builder turned up yesterday and helped MONT get most of the frame up.


The rest will be done this week (fingers crossed) and then MONT can start on the weatherboards to get it weather proof...

We're hoping to get it completed by Christmas. I think that's a bit ambitious to be honest, but hey, we can certainly try

I described it as "little, but I have to say it's not little at all.

The room will be around 3.3 x 4.7 metres, and that doesn't include the 650 deep floor to ceiling cupboards along the back wall.

I'm pretty stoked with the way it's all coming together... can't wait to get in there and start painting and getting all my sewing stuff in there...

Sunday, October 21, 2012

A little holiday

MONT and I have just arrived home from a little vacation in Thailand.

It was planned some time ago and by the time it rolled around we really needed it, especially MONT who's been run off his feet these past couple of months.

I love traveling but I have to admit, it's the waiting around that can drive me absolutely bonkers.

The 9 hour flight is manageable...but it's the 3 and four hour stop overs doing absolutely nothing, that are so frustrating

We did have a wonderful time though....

Saw quite a few of these critters...


Cute baby huh? He was just 5 years old...



...and the view from our room was amazing!


If you look into the distance between the palm trees, you can see a white structure.. just beyond that is the beach. It was so beautiful! Such a wonderful place.

We would definitely go to this place in Phuket again. Five stars from us.




Sunday, October 7, 2012

A great time of year

It really is a lovely time of year...



The wisteria's blooming


The Banksia Rose is gorgeous


...and the bees are buzzing...they're everywhere.

I love Spring!