Choc Chip Slice

Today I whipped up this super easy super quick slice. I discovered this recipe after consulting google in search of a quick to make and bake slice and I would like to share because it is a winner!

Recipe Link

Happy eating!
Annie xx

A Birthday Celebration

My darling son has celebrated his 25th birthday.
Birthdays are a big deal in my family and cake plays an important role in the celebrations.
Cake is Mandatory.
Complete with candles until one reaches the age when the amount of candles run the risk of burning down the house.

I rehearsed in my mind the post I would dedicate to my boy but truly no words can convey my love for my son. And my daughter.

Why is the number 25 a big deal to me. I can't answer this, it just is.

I love them both more than I could ever convey here.

More than life itself.

Mum xx

Shellac and A Few Bits and Bobs

Lo and behold I have experienced the new revolution in nail varnish.

Shellac.

Am I impressed? You bet!

But...I'm now having an internal debate about the health implications concerning the use of a UV lamp which is used to dry and cure the shellac. A quick google search informs one about the health implications of these rays. I did read a tip which was to slather sunscreen on one's hands before application. Next month I'm visiting my Dermatologist and I shall ask for advice because there's a mass of differing opinions being expressed.

 I do adhere to safe practices where sun protection is concerned and no doubt will be somewhat swayed by my health professional. 

I would like to have shellac applied before a special occasion or travelling because it really is brilliant. This pretty pink was applied nine days ago and it's still as good as new other than the colour slightly moving due to nail growth. Two weeks seems to be the length of an application before removal.

Are you a shellac devotee and what's your opinion?

Here's a few snippets from my thrilling life of late...
Whipped up a big beautiful slab of chocolate cake. My mother taught me a baking trick...extend baking paper up higher than the sides of a cake tin to produce a level cake and prevent burning the edges.

Purchased a new frock. This was a no-brainer because I like the designer and it was On Sale.
The fashion Gods dangled the carrot and I did bite.

By now you know my abhorrence to packing for a trip but is unpacking even worse? To enthuse myself in the task of finally putting away freshly laundered apparel from my recent jaunt I figured new hangers would do the trick. My favourite hangers are the faux velvet variety. Great for their non-slip properties. Nabbed these pink beauties from BigW.
My wardrobe is grateful.

Recently rediscovered a love affair with music from the band Supertramp, their sound brings back wonderful memories of life in the 70's and turned up to a decent level this music puts a spring in my step.

A gift of pretty red roses and I'm ready to enjoy the weekend. Our autumn weather is magical..just perfect actually.

I shall leave you with a clip from youtube featuring Roger Hodgson the singer from Supertramp performing my favourite song (there are few original clips in existence apparently since the group disbanded).
The lyrics never fail to move me.



Annie xx

Cars and Cake

Look who is curled up beside me as I write this quick post, quick because I'm exhausted, head achy and  dehydrated after we set about researching a new car today and initiating negotiations with a dealer. Suffice to say we returned home not much further advanced (there goes four hours of my life I'll never see again).

Annoying. 

The trade-in price for our present car was woeful so onto plan B. Whatever that is?...

private sale, broker or just keep the present model until it has a gazillion kilometres on the clock and is worth absolutely nothing (actually today's sob story being spun was our car is worth a mere fraction of the  price paid six years ago). We know better.

Annoying.

Anyone would think the Pooch was the one who stood in the blazing sun and talked turkey.

All I feel capable of eating for dinner is a huge slice of Buttery Butterscotch cake.
With lashings of cream.
Pity it's all been gobbled and I'm too tired to whip up another.

Researching and buying cars is not my forte...it sends me quite delirious and I just wish to curl up like you know who!

xx

Food Glorious Food

This week seems to be revolving around food and the consumption of same. We have a house guest this week...our son had unexpected surgery and is recuperating at the hacienda (he flew the nest a year ago). He's lapping up his mother's love and home cooked treats. Banana & cranberry muffins, healthy mango smoothies, smoked salmon pasta salad, watermelon, stir fry's and dried cranberries to name a few. My son and I are just a little bit addicted to munching on dried cranberries.

 This week also sees my daughter celebrating a birthday which of course means birthday cake and dining out.  I baked Morgan's Grandma's Red Velvet cake. This recipe is dead easy to whip up and the result is divine.

Have a great rest of the week everyone. I'll just go squeeze in another slice of cake then paint my toenails before dining out tonight at a Japanese restaurant.
What colour nail varnish you ask? I do believe Rimmel Cranberry Zest will be appropriate.

Annie xx

Fabulicious Jam Drops

My Jam Drops are gathering a reputation and a lovely reader has requested the recipe. 

So lets start a jam drop revival and embrace these beauties in all their retro fabuliciousness.

Many of the old time home cooking and baking treats are winging their way back into our hearts which quite frankly is just marvellous.

Before I divulge I would like to introduce you to my battered, dog eared, pages falling out, 20 year old recipe book. Buried in her pages are family favourites.
Several attempts recently to replace this book by copying into another model or onto recipe cards has failed dismally. Somehow I felt like a traitor and couldn't bring myself to abandon this treasured asset.
My children have grown up with it's pretty strawberry pattern and I know my daughter wishes to inherit the contents one day.
Only if it lasts the distant and hasn't totally disintegrated!

The following recipe was given me by my mother-in-law when I married. Mr red roses mum maintained a constant supply of baked goods in her home (sensible when feeding four kids) and the bickie/cookie tin in particular was never empty.

Biscuit Recipe                                                      

1/2 cup soft butter                                               

1/2 cup sugar                                                  
1 egg                                                                
1 1/4 cups SR flour                                            
1 tsp cornflour

Cream butter & sugar
Beat in egg then fold in sifted flours
Place small ice-cream scoop portions onto
baking tray.
Make a dent with end of round wooden
spoon and fill with jam.
Moderate oven 180-190C  /12-15 min


An easy peasy biscuit recipe and one the whole family loves. Let me know how long these last in your house!

Happy baking and eating!

Ps..I almost forgot to mention the inspiration for this post is attributed to a recipe request from Blue Fruit at 'Glamour Drops' x

Annie xx

Hello

A quick post to check in and say Howdy. 

Lately there's not enough hours to achieve all that I could/should/ and Mr redroses has some leave this week so we plan to move mountains at the hacienda and hopefully catch some quality moments together, hence my bloggy time might be rationed ie. I really should devote myself to other pressing stuff plus get this house in order cause it resembles a tip!

                                     A bit out of focus..still learning how to snap pics with the iphone camera

BTW I'm loving my new oven to bits and whipping up baked goods is giving me tons of pleasure. The eating is not half bad either.
I think a Kitchen Love post might be in order...

And Hello what's this! A home grown lettuce. The first from our little vege patch and boy was it sweet.

So take care all and I'll be back after we have moved those mountains :)

Oh and many thanks to the readers following, with thousands of blogs circulating I'm chuffed you take the time to visit Red Roses and Crystal x

Annie xx

Colourful considerations

Black and white are my signature colours but spring and the abundance of colour is cheering to my soul. At the moment I'm obsessed with snapping these brilliant colours for blogging. I'm working on my photography skills (or lack thereof ) and having oodles of fun in the process. 

Not a flower but colourful and a popular childrens treat in Australia. Buttered bread sprinkled with hundreds and thousands (confectionery). Affectionately known as Fairy Bread and served at many a birthday party. The name is thought to derive from a poem of Robert Louis Stevenson's named 'Fairy Bread'. Or so Wikipedia informs me so I hope this is correct.
Freshly made today by my darling daughter as a contribution for her friends 21st birthday tea party.
Who says we have to 'grow up' upon turning the magical 21!

Do you treat yourself to a glass of wine and cheese and bikkies while preparing the evening meal? It's nice to reward ourselves after the days adventures. I'm rather partial to an Australian Havarti or Brie cheese and a chilled Pinot Grigio

The reason I designed a large kitchen island bench...is it obvious? Messy cook, that would be me. This display is from two cakes let alone dinner. The quick mix cakes book is my cake baking bible. The pages are spotted with grease smudges etc, the pages are dog eared and it's literally falling apart. Circa 1993.
Have been looking at the front cover since 1993 and avoiding whipping up this piece of fabuliciousness. I should just Do It.

This little Ronson hand mixer is quite old now and she does not owe me a cent bless her but I am seriously considering upgrading to the queen of mixers, can you guess what model I'm interested in?
Every blogger who owns one absolutely loves theirs to bits so that's a great recommendation. Serious consideration is being given to choice of colour. Hmmm....black and white kitchen, should I play safe or strike out, live dangerously and purchase one of the bright shades to sit on the benchtop?
Suggestions appreciated.

Enjoy your Saturday night, I'm off to pour a wine and create kitchen mess.
xx

Kitchen Corner

Today my plans were scuttled due to the sniffles and so I wandered around this morning feeling sorry for myself until I happened upon my kitchen corner. This spot is beautiful on a sunny morning.
First thing every day I boil the kettle and brew green tea in a teapot. I cannot start the day without this fix. First item I pack when travelling is a supply of green tea. Unless of course I'm visiting Japan because to pack green tea would just be silly.

The sun streams through my kitchen window and fills me with delight. I'm a summer personality and glum overcast days are not to my liking.
Do you have a tea arrangement set up in your kitchen? Tea is my poison and am known to imbibe several cups a day.

These delicate orange beauties jumped into my shopping basket yesterday. See I need to get me some roses growing quick smart.

For the sake of a nice photo the stainless steel kettle was removed. The framed postcard I purchased in Paris and knew these two ladies would fit very nicely at my tea station.

Sigh.....Talk about glam..those were the days.

I don't eat pineapple upside down cake for breakfast although it would be nice. Baked this oldie but goodie last night for dessert and because the colour matches the roses it is included in this post.
By the way this cake is a favourite with everyone. And dead easy to make.
In fact last nights dinner was also very retro with a 70's mainstay Coq au Vin as the main course. My daughter remarked on this step back in time and laughs when I pull out my dog eared recipe books from that era.
What can I say..I'm a child of the sixties.

I love this jar. Mind you it is empty as the lid is not airtight but oh well, it looks pretty.

Mr Owl sits on my window sill as a reminder to 'Be wise Annie'. Do you think the eyes express his concern that he has a monumental task which burdens him greatly?

The cute picture below is from the front of a greeting card I kept. Love it to bits because the pooch is a little princess and don't we all like to be a princess and precious sometimes. For the life of me I cannot remember the giver but perhaps they were trying to give me a hint? Maybe it was my husband. Must ask.

Time to boil the kettle AGAIN and partake of a good strong brew of Irish breakfast tea and a piece of leftover cake. Must confess I belong to the group that enjoys tea sipped from fine china.

Now a comfort movie or two might be in order and perhaps a mani with my fav shade to give my sorely neglected nails a treat. I will be wise today and take it easy.

Hope your Friday is being kind to you.
xx