Panforte`...quick, easy, yum, great for gifting!

Are you stuck for a quick and easy gift for a special occasion? Birthday? Mothers Day? Fathers Day? International something-or-other Day?

This Panforte is yum, comes together in 5 minutes flat for baking, and makes a fab gift for just about any occasion.    I like to do mine in a round tin, so it slices into wedges like a regular cake but you can make it in a square tin and cut into neat cubes too. I've also found that using a spring form tin, makes it easier to remove in one piece without accidents. If you don't have a spring form tin, line the base and sides of your tin with baking paper. Some recipes for Panforte specify certain quantities for this or that sort of dried fruit or nut, but I just use whatever I have on hand and it always turns out. We like it particularly chunky, and adore whole dried figs, crystallised ginger and walnuts, with some mixed dried fruit sprinkled between. Here's my recipe. It's evolved over a few years, and withstands all sorts of substitutions, so don't be afraid to be adventurous!     The Recipe in four sentences:

Mix 3 1/2 - 4 cups of mixed dried fruit and nuts in any combination, with 2/3 cup plain flour, and a teaspoon each of Nutmeg and Cinnamon. Bring 3/4 cup condensed milk, 1/2 cup raw sugar, a good drizzle of honey and 2 teaspoons vanilla essence to a simmer in a small pan, stirring constantly, and add to the dry ingredients. Fold until well combined and transfer to a lined cake tin, before baking in a low moderate oven (150C) for 25-35 minutes till firm to touch. Allow to cool before slicing into long thin wedges.
You can present this whole as a 'wheel' for gifting, either dusted with icing sugar, drizzled with melted chocolate or garnished with gold or silver leaf. It looks very special wrapped in tulle, cellophane or muslin, with softer fabric tied in a top knot in the middle and decorated with bells or flowers.
You can add flavoured essences such as Rum, Mint, or Almond, as well as cocoa, orange zest or candied orange pieces, crystallised ginger, choc bits or whatever you fancy to personalise this one too.
The gold and silver leaf, edible, is available at Cake Decorating Stores and in the baking aisle of your supermarket. The little silver or multicoloured cachous sprinkles are another cute idea for decorating the top of your Panforte.
Enjoy!

Motherly Advice....Gentle Encouragement for the soul....

 

 

Sometimes life is hard.

Sometimes we all feel like we're four years old again, with that hitching that precedes a flood of tears, hiccuping in our chest.

Sometimes we just need a hug.

I've had a challenging week on so many levels. What about you?

I had days where I just wanted Mum. Alas she is gone 18 years.

I know that many fall back on their faith in times of despair. At times I can do this, and sometimes, it seems I am being called to right my own wrongs, and find a way out of the despair alone.

That was the case this week.

I've really gone back to grass roots and determinedly clawed out some time for me, for reflection, for planning, for goal setting and for a good hard look at where I am in life, and where I want to be.

I've realised that nothing we do in life is a waste. If nothing else, when things don't go according to plan, we can dust ourselves off and say 'Well! What did I learn from THAT experience?'. 

I'm sure some of you think I'm referring to my recent post about the perils of enforced time with family during the Covid-19 restrictions. I can assure you that this was but the tip of iceberg of my challenging week. 

No matter the why and wherefore, I have been buoyed by so much positive sent my way in a harrowing week. Thanks to you all, I feel I am on a good path. A path that will see me fulfilling some dreams and goals, that I realise now, were buried in the humdrum and routine.   

I've always operated from a stance of gentle encouragement, and that has been my message fairly consistently. I've always felt that the best person to change your life situation is you, and offered my own experiences to illustrate that.

So now, I want to return some of the encouragement I received this week.

I want to encourage you, to do one thing in the coming seven days, that will make you proud this time next week. 

It could be a random act of kindness, for example. Last Saturday, my daughter and I bought 3 packets of Ferrero Rocher Chocolates, and approached the cleaner in the food court of our local shopping centre. We said 'Hi. We've noticed how hard you ladies work, and we're pretty sure that nobody ever acknowledges you, so we'd like to give you these chocolates so you know you're appreciated'. Her face was priceless, and she couldn't believe that someone would do that for her, and her colleagues. Heck. They were $3 chocolates. It was the gesture that made an impact. That left us all grinning from ear to ear.

Maybe you could rustle up a few bottles of Annabels' bubble bath I mentioned recently. You don't need to spend much on the bottles. Recycled bottles of any kind will do. Sauce bottles, vinegar bottles, even wine bottles if you know someone who drinks wine. Or ask at a local restaurant for their clear empty wine bottles. Wash them well, soak off the labels, and they're perfect. And free. Fancy bottle stoppers are available on eBay for under $3 each, or you can buy craft corks, and seal them with those. Imagine bubble bath in tall bottles, sealed with corks with tea dyed lace, lavish ribbon, or natural raffia tied to their necks, and monogrammes or beautiful decals attached. A gorgeous gift.

Maybe you could start a vision journal. Use this time constructively. How do you want your life to look this time next year? That journey has to begin somewhere. It might mean tidying the garden, it might mean changing jobs, or maybe it means nurturing your relationships. Just start. Having a plan, a list, and an idea of how to work towards that goal, day by day, week by week, is the only way you'll get there. You can't keep doing the same thing and expect a different result, as the saying goes. 

My primary goal this year, is to have my own limited edition magazine or YouTube channel, by Christmas. So I already have my plan on the wall. It's going to be a hard slog to make that happen and I may not get there in time for Christmas. But I'm going to try. Maybe it will be more like Mothers Day next year, and that's not a bad thing. But at least I have a plan.

Some mornings, just before I wake, I almost feel my Mothers touch on my shoulder. As if she's there, gently nudging me towards my day. I miss her hand in mine, and her gentle encouragement, terribly. But I have all of you, cheering me from the sidelines, and that is a wonderful bonus in my life.

Thankyou.

....Mimi...

Motherly Advice....This too shall pass....

 

What a moment in history we are all living through...I'm baking endless miles of Jam Crostadas to cope....

 

Just 4 months ago, we were on the trip of a lifetime.

 

New York, Paris, Nice, Singapore.

 

Never for a moment, did we imagine that we were escaping a global Pandemic by a whisker, or that our travel plans for the future would be in disarray.

 

 

Just six months ago, my son married his long time sweetheart.

 

Two months ago, I celebrated my sixtieth birthday, and I had a loooong list of 60 things to do when I'm 60, that I've never done before. 

 

That list is now reduced to "Spend 60 days at home with nobody but Musician Husband and Diva Daughter to keep me company".

 

Actually...that is probably the accomplishment to trump all accomplishments.

 

I don't know about you, but I'm finding that bulk time 'en famille' can be challenging.

 

Three wilful adults in a household together is fine when it's a hour here, and a weekend there, and other stuff in between.

 

But lemme tell you....the home grown Lavender is getting a workout. Breeeeeathe….Peeeeeace...Inhaaaaaale...Exhaaaale...

 

Of course, working from home arrangements are another challenge.

 

Thank goodness for my new home office. What do you think of my secretary? She's a bossy little minx. Thinks she can sit in my chair, but not do the work. Another challenge.

 

 

Meanwhile, chandeliers at the Lido entry have been replaced by thrifted ones in our entry...$60 if you please. And all husbands own work. It was a tangled nightmare when we got it.

 

 

The city of Nice and it's beautiful scenery...

 ...and Laduree in the First Arondissement in Paris…

 

 

...and the Azure blue of the Mediterranean ocean...

...and Princess Graces garden in Monaco...

 

….and the Chocolate Shop in Old Town Nice...

 

….are but fond memories.

 

Frankly, we feast upon them. Memories of good times are what holds us together in times of difficulty.

 

I know of two families who are sadly, contemplating divorce, due to this enforced togetherness we are now so commanded to conduct. It's tough. We've had our moments, Lord knows.

 

We've had to sit down and have some very uncomfortable conversations around household responsibilities and personal space, and mutual respect. ALL of us.

 

The thing is though, our mantra has been 'Be Kind'. In all that we are doing, we are keeping that mantra foremost in our minds. It's standing us in good stead.

 

If home life 'en famille' is getting the better of you, perhaps a family conversation will be useful for you too.

 

Here's how:

 

1. Be clear about what you want from the conversation.

 

2. Give everyone else 48 hours notice of said conversation. Ask them to air their grievances too.

 

3. No insulting, no ridiculing, no yelling allowed.

 

4. Lists are good.

 

5. Allow each person to have their say without interruption.

 

6. Have a 'talking stick' if necessary. The person holding the stick, is the only one allowed to talk.

 

7. Discuss potential solutions and agree to them.

 

8. Everyone takes responsibility for household chores.

 

9. Stay on topic.

 

10. Draft an agreement, have everyone sign it and put it up somewhere.

 

---0---

 

This worked for us, and basically prevented World War III. Honest. It's not perfect around here, but it's liveable, and we're all trying extra hard. This is a time to try extra hard.

 

Meanwhile, in addition to working like a beaver to get office stuff done, I'm planning outfits for when social distancing measures are lifted.

 

I'm partial to this one.

 

I think I'll wear it to Aldi tomorrow....

 



 

Daughter Diva is getting ahead on making Christmas presents. These tassel earring she's invented are very much in demand....

 

I'm looking forward to the day when I can pick lavender with my little darlings again....

 

 

...and now that the weather is cooling here, the snuggly rugs are out...

 

 

...and crepes are on the menu for Breakfast, Lunch AND Dinner.

 

How are things for you?

 

Remember dears....this too shall pass.

 

And.

 

Be Kind.

  ….Mimi....

What do you mean I only get 24 hours in a day...

 

We've just returned from A Big Trip. Well, it's a Big Trip for we Aussies.

 

We started in New York....a lifelong dream...

 

Continued on to Nice and Paris...

 

 

Had a quick look at Monaco...

 

...and back home again.

 

Oh to have MORE TIME!

 

I have a significant birthday in just two short weeks. One that starts with a 6 and ends with a zero. I'm perplexed. How did I get to be OLD?? Not that I'm not grateful and all. Lord knows many loved ones have been denied the opportunity.

 

It's just daunting to imagine I have less years in front of me, than behind me. Lets be honest with ourselves. I'm not living past 100 even in the best case scenario.

 

So how does one make the most of the years left on this one beautiful planet?

 

That's something I'm pondering big time.

 

Meanwhile...

 

Work happens.

 

Renovations continue.

 

Life goes on...thank goodness.

 

To those of you wondering 'Is Mimi still blogging?', the short answer is 'yes'. The more convoluted one is 'as often as I can', which clearly hasn't been very often lately.

 

I'm hoping to remedy that. Fall down, get back up again sort of mentality.

 

I'm waving to you! Can you see me?

 

...Mimi...