Success, at last

Today, my last day with the house to myself, I have finally felt like doing something. Actually, it was last night really. This is what I have achieved.

1. Made 2 rich fruit cakes (to take away on our holiday for morning tea everyday).

2. Made 5 batches of meringues for my next door neighbour's daughter's wedding on Saturday.


3. Packaged the aforesaid meringues into 90 bags and tied with a ribbon.

4. Made a horseshoe for the bride.


5. Helped the said bride's 17 year old sister to make a horseshoe (no sewing experience at all).

6. Made a frenchy bag with some gorgeous fabric I bought the other day from Amitie.

I have only achieved the above because I didn't eat meals at all - I just grazed all day and I had no-one saying to me that they were hungry. Not many dishes, yay!! Only cooking ones. No breaking up arguments or telling people to go to bed.

Now that I have finally written my list about what I have achieved I feel alot better and I have decided that I haven't really wasted much time at all while I have been home alone.

I have about 2 hours left of this peaceful time, but I must admit I really am starting to miss everybody. I just need another day or two so I can clean the house properly. I would be doing it now if it wasn't so darn hot!!!! I hate hot weather!!!!!

I still have quite a few things still to do, but I guess I will get around to it when I can.

We are off on a 2 week break to here - apparently, it is even hotter than Melbourne - what was I thinking?

See you when I get back.

Pink Monday

Pink is such a lovely colour. I think it would have to be my favourite. Baking day today - pink meringues for Mothers' Day. I am baking for the Mothers' Day Stall at our school on Thursday. Pink Meringues sell so well - they are so easy to package and so easy to make.

Alot of people seem to have a fear of making meringues, I used to as well, until I found this fantastic recipe, now if you promise not to tell my secret I will pass on the recipe -

2 large egg whites
1 and half cups of castor sugar
1 teaspoon cornflour
1 teaspoon brown malt vinegar
pinch of Cream of Tartar


Place all ingredients into a small bowl of electric mixer, turn on to low and then add 4 tablespoons of boiling water and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. At this stage I know it will look like it will never come together, but please persevere and trust me, I am not known as the meringue queen for nothing. Turn the mixer on faster and beat until it is stiff and glossy - If you own a kitchenaid - it doesn't take long maybe 5 minutes. If you have any other mixer you will need to beat everything for about 10 minutes.
Place teaspoons on lined baking tray and place in very slow oven (130C) or 110C - fanforced. One hour later turn off the oven and open the door and let the meringues cool before placing into air tight containers or beautiful jars like this one.

Good Luck. I have not had any flops with this.

PLEASE NOTE: to make them pink I use Queens Rose Colour food colouring (in Australia). Red food colouring does not give the same nice pink.

Here are some gorgeous roses from my garden. They smell just as good as they look, and they have a long vase life.