tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-266393162024-03-07T21:11:11.213+01:00scientician kate says this is about:crafting, parenting, the idle thoughts of a Dr of nothing useful/mother in Sweden who amongst her experimentings and wiping of small bums likes to dance, knit, sew and sleep.scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.comBlogger247125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-10609592896190774652014-09-25T20:46:00.000+02:002014-09-25T20:46:27.029+02:00Blueberry and zucchini muffins -FODMAPs friendly<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being the mother of a three year old, I'm always keen to get said three year old to eat vegetables. She is actually pretty good with it, but you can never have too many veggies and she has become rather enamoured of the muffins found at the supermarket nearby. They are not fabulously healthy items, so I thought I'd try and make some at home to ensure that if she was eating a muffin, it was also benefiting her health.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I googled and found a blueberry and zucchini muffin recipe that I then adapted to make it low FODMAPs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I present said recipe here for your enjoyment. Photos to come when there are some left. I didn't get a chance to photograph any before TWO (the wee one) decided to eat them all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/2 cups gluten free flour mix</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup white sugar</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup brown sugar</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 teaspoons baking powder (if you make this with regular flour, use only 1 teaspoon)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon ground cinnamon</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup olive oil</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup lactose free milk</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 egg</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup grated zucchini</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/4 cup frozen blueberries</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Method</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix all the ingredients together with help from the small person until well mixed. The mixture will probably appear quite runny. It works anyway and they are incredibly moist.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cook in the oven until a skewer comes out clean. About 15-20 mins. I didn't really time it just went back and tested them. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made these in a small muffin tin that fit 24 mini muffins in a tray and I got a tray and a half out of it. Next batch will be large muffins and photos will be forthcoming. </span></div>
scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-63110306582477108342014-09-18T10:13:00.000+02:002014-09-18T10:13:49.686+02:00Moist vanilla cupcakes with cream cheese icing - FODMAPs friendly<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/15252598916" title="cupcakes by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="cupcakes" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3914/15252598916_83677a1f41.jpg" width="375" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night we had friends over for a late summer/early autumn BBQ. The weather has been unseasonably warm. The whole summer has been the hottest and longest one since we moved here 5 years ago. We thought it best to take our possibly last opportunity to enjoy eating outdoors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I adapted a Sue Shepherd cake recipe to make vanilla cupcakes instead of a big chocolate cake and I can definitely call it a success. I changed out the cocoa for soy flour. I know that some people still react to soy flour and I have plans to try a different flour combination next time I make these to see if it still works. But personally I have no problem with small quantities of soy flour in baking. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In any case, these cupcakes were indeed moist. The icing/frosting was pink at the request of TWO and incredibly tasty. The recipe ended up making about 30 cupcakes. I have a whole bunch still left in my fridge and they are very very tempting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bring you : moist vanilla cupcakes with cream cheese icing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">130g rice flour</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">75g corn flour</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">90g potato flour</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">70g soy flour</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tsp baking powder</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp bicarbonate of soda</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp xanthan gum</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 eggs</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/2 cups sugar</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">50g unsalted butter, melted</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">200g lactose free vanilla yoghurt </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2/3 cup lactose free milk</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp vanilla essence</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Method</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 170 degrees C.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whisk the eggs and sugar until well combined. Add melted butter, yoghurt, vanilla and milk and stir. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add the wet to the dry and mix well with electric beaters. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fill cupcake moulds two thirds full and bake for 10-15 mins. They are ready when they are firm to the touch and slightly golden. The standard skewer inserted into the middle of the cake coming out clean is a good test. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cool and while they are doing that, make the icing/frosting.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Icing instructions</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">200g icing sugar</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 packet lactose free cream cheese</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">food dye of choice</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Get the ingredients together in a bowl and mix with electric beaters until they are a lovely mix of sugary goodness. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ice as you like and add sprinkles if it floats your boat. The only thing left after this step is to enjoy. I sure did. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/15272482521" title="cupcake by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="cupcake" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3896/15272482521_fc658aa63f.jpg" width="375" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-36859967951411635342014-09-16T10:24:00.000+02:002014-09-16T10:24:51.177+02:00Oy <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/15255842845" title="No racists on this street by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="No racists on this street" height="375" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3843/15255842845_88bd6d46d1.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sweden held their elections on Sunday. 13% of the country voted for sverigedemokraterna, or the Sweden Democrats, otherwise known as the ultra right wing scary racist party. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a bit of the old outrage on the go around town. This was on the street near our house. The translation is "No racists on this street!". Made me feel better about the part of Sweden I live in. </span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-55886902364175866092014-08-19T04:30:00.000+02:002014-08-19T04:30:00.179+02:00When we were in 'Flance'<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a few memories from our trip to what TWO refers to as "Flance" to get out here. It comes with pretty pictures, so it won't be entirely boring for people to read/look at. Or so goes the hope. Most of my experiences in France seem to relate back to food or knitting. I was most pleased that my belly coped so well with being away from the comforts of home and that I was able to enjoy some of the delights that southern France had to offer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a pictorial representation of what I got up to, when it comes to food, while there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First day we were there we went to a giant supermarket to grab supplies and for a bit of a stickybeak. I think going to a supermarket in a new country is a great way to really get a sense of what the culture is like. What sort of things are commonplace? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The things I found that I enjoyed, apart from the entire row of alcohol that seemed to never end were the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rainbow pasta: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14747244427" title="Rainbow pasta by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="Rainbow pasta" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3922/14747244427_6ca7a06942.jpg" width="375" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm sure that this exists elsewhere in the world. But I've yet to see it in Sweden and it was really really pretty. Shame I couldn't eat any of it, what with the whole wheat is the fructan containing devil that wants to destroy me from the inside out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the wall of sausage: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14747242517" title="For the Love of Sausage by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="For the Love of Sausage" height="375" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3869/14747242517_08cdfb3c0a.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So much dried sausage. We took home a giant dried duck sausage that was enthusiastically enjoyed by all members of the family. It is a big shame that it is all gone now. It was ever so good. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first southern French meal we enjoyed was confit duck with cubed potatoes cooked in duck fat and a salad. Can I just say now *drool*? It was amazing. Crispy duck, crispy spuds and some lovely salad. All washed down with a local red wine. I was in heaven. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14910800486" title="Confit duck. NOM! by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="Confit duck. NOM!" height="375" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3836/14910800486_c271c7f144.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our adventures continued at the local market on Sunday. The boy, Kristin and I went to get some ribs and vegetables for our evening meal. We found both without difficulty. We also found a ginormous piece of beef that we just had to buy. We cooked it up as it came, on a giant bone. Sealed both sides in the pan and then into the oven to finish up. It was perfection in steak form. You can see just how enormous this steak was. I think it must have been close to 10cm thick. It took up the entire pan!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14933429832" title="Enormo steak is enormous by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="Enormo steak is enormous" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5576/14933429832_871c3c4e4c.jpg" width="375" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While at the market, Kristin and I got ourselves an espresso from the only coffee van at the market. The sugar packets were very cute.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14747191848" title="Toulouse Market sugar by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="Toulouse Market sugar" height="375" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3905/14747191848_5b8463d7d1.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And we were given a complimentary biscuit. I ate it, even though it was a wheat laden treat. I survived this small test of the fructan group. It was worth testing too. Delicate and light biscuity goodness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14807065792" title="French market coffee by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="French market coffee" height="375" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2914/14807065792_4887510f12.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did thoroughly enjoy my long weekend in Toulouse. I think I might find my way back there sometime to visit again and get some more duck! We brought home two tins of confit duck. They are sitting in our pantry now. We are thinking they might make an excellent Christmas dinner this year. Most years we have a roast chicken and watch Kalle Anka. But maybe this year we will eat duck and watch the duck? Could be good. </span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-66851126448547955762014-08-17T10:19:00.000+02:002014-08-17T10:19:59.572+02:00Tex-Mex low carb mince -FODMAPs friendly<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14756815870" title="dinner by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="dinner" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5570/14756815870_3c7e776817.jpg" width="375" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our household has always been enthusiastic about Tex-Mex food. For my 23rd birthday the boy got me a Mexican cookbook. It was really good but was really written for a US audience who have ready access to Hispanic grocery stores. However, we took a fair bit out of the book in terms of flavour combinations. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made up this recipe for mince when adapting one of the recipes from my book. I use very approximate measures for the spices and taste as I go along. It is actually a very quick meal to prepare. We serve it with a salad and TWO gets corn chips with hers. I occasionally have corn chips with mine too, depending on how high my FODMAPs load has been that day. Corn is moderate when it comes to FODMAPs and should be limited. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">500g minced beef</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">garlic oil</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2-3 tablespoons cumin</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2-3 tablespoons dried oregano</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 bay leaves</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2-1 teaspoon dried paprika</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 large dessert/tablespoon tomato paste</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a little bit of water (yay for accurate measures)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a splash of balsamic vinegar</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">salt to taste</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To serve: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baby spinach leaves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Red capsicum/bell pepper chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">coriander leaves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cucumber slices</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lactose free sour cream (if available)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">grated cheddar cheese</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lime wedge, if you so desire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">corn chips, optional</span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Method</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fry the herbs in garlic oil on a medium/high heat in a frying pan or saucepan until aromatic. This takes a few minutes. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add the beef and brown it up. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Splash in the vinegar and add the tomato paste. Stir through and if it looks like it could do with some moisture add a bit of water. I usually just add a little bit at this stage, usually from my kettle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reduce heat way down and let it simmer with the lid on for 20-30 minutes or until you are ready to eat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Always before serving I check to make sure that the taste is right. I usually end up adding a bit of salt at the end and maybe a little more vinegar. I'm a bit of a fan of sour food. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serve in a bowl with your salad items underneath and mince piled on top with sour cream and cheese. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can even serve this with some of my <a href="http://scienticiankate.blogspot.se/2013/10/fodmaps-friendly-salsa.html" target="_blank">FODMAPs friendly salsa</a> but it won't be quite so low carb as it currently is. But it will no doubt be tasty. The salsa has a pretty similar herb profile and I love it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy! I know I did. </span></div>
scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-9257703450997648062014-08-15T12:36:00.000+02:002014-08-15T12:36:00.026+02:00Broken seed stitch socks<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Socks are my go to knitting project when I don't want to think about anything complicated. I recently saw <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/broken-seed-stitch-socks" target="_blank">this cool pattern </a>on a facebook group I'm in for knitting. Broken seed stitch is both easy and pretty. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I made a pair for my friend Anni for her birthday. It's a while before she'll have a chance to wear them, but they should be nice and warm for the upcoming winter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm looking forward to handing them over soon. I think it might be time for a rice paper roll dinner at ours again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14895100875" title="anni's socks by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="anni's socks" height="332" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3888/14895100875_7d1b6eeeca.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/scientician/broken-seed-stitch-socks" target="_blank">ravelled here</a></span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-67924753492511829802014-08-14T12:41:00.000+02:002014-08-14T12:41:00.052+02:00Making playdough<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14804303791" title="Saturday morning playdough cake by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="Saturday morning playdough cake" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3905/14804303791_e17301a34e.jpg" width="375" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TWO has had some form of bought playdough in the house now for a year or so. But as is the way with all the playdough in the world, it was getting dry and sad recently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were getting towards the end of the holidays from dagis and I was still pretty immobile, so playing in the park and adventures outside were out of the question. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we made some of our own and as is my wont, it was dyed with bright colours. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used a recipe I found on the <a href="http://www.playgroupaustralia.com.au/nsw/index.cfm?objectid=D51E1F71-E7F2-2F96-317011B24FA282F3" target="_blank">playgroups Australia website</a> and it worked really well. I added a few drops of peppermint essence to the dough too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the recipe if you don't fancy following the link:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups plain flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tablespoon of oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tablespoon cream of tartar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">food colouring</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Heat, stirring continuously until the dough becomes thick and pulls away from the side of the saucepan. Take out and knead. Split into small balls for dying and mix through dye in each. I made 6 because I had six pots leftover from the store bought stuff. Store in airtight container.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14805049324" title="Playdough morning by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="Playdough morning" height="500" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2909/14805049324_72b56b3515.jpg" width="375" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a great time making different cakes and shapes. So my objective was achieved, entertain madam in a manner that allowed me to sit down and rest my knee. The colours got all mixed up and it's not necessarily the prettiest looking dough anymore. But It's still good for making things and when it's done its job I can just make some more. Cheap and cheerful. Huzzah.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14620882507" title="Cherry on top by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="Cherry on top" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5573/14620882507_2d58c6516c.jpg" width="375" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-47658295028239182352014-08-11T12:01:00.001+02:002014-08-11T12:01:40.139+02:00My cousin is having a baby, so I got to sew and knit<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TWO is very specific about the clothes she likes to wear now. She is particularly enamoured with stripes, blue and black. Which is great in one way because it means that our shopping trip yesterday to pick her up a few things for this autumn went well. There are a lot of stripes at the moment and she found some new bright blue pants that will see her through most of the autumn. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The downside is that all my patterned fabric that I love is not considered worthy and she outright rejects so much of the cute stuff I have to offer her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here comes the benefit, my cousin is about to have her second baby in a few weeks and I was able to use some of my new favourite elephant print fabric to make a pair of <a href="http://scienticiankate.blogspot.se/2014/04/roads-and-robots.html" target="_blank">big butt</a> <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2010/08/big-butt-baby-pants-sewing-pattern/" target="_blank">baby pants</a>. But I decided to change things up a bit and added a waistband and cuffs in ribbing. I'm really happy with how they turned out and hopefully they will look fantastic on the small person in the upcoming Australian summer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14882015234" title="altered bbb by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="altered bbb" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5560/14882015234_42a7f62f8c.jpg" width="308" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And due to my somewhat immobile status of late I've had a lot of time to knit. I bought some cotton/lyocell mix yarn in France and thought it would be perfect to make a facewasher. I found a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fisch-blubb---spuli" target="_blank">gorgeous fish pattern </a>on ravelry and sat and watched some Stephen Fry documentaries on youtube while knitting it up. It took almost no time at all and I'm really happy with how it came out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14882015124" title="fisch-fisk by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="fisch-fisk" height="332" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3839/14882015124_7ef048df97.jpg" width="500" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/scientician/fisch-blubb---spuli" target="_blank">ravelled here</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-49073422215984471062014-08-08T13:06:00.000+02:002014-08-08T13:06:39.072+02:00FODMAPs friendly dessert - goat's cheese, pine nut and golden syrup parcels<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14671164369" title="Goat's cheese pine nuts and golden syrup- yum! by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="Goat's cheese pine nuts and golden syrup- yum!" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3835/14671164369_e47658b4fd.jpg" width="375" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently bought some gluten free puff pastry at the supermarket and it has been sitting in my freezer, waiting for me to find a use for it. It's also lactose free, perfect for FODMAPs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also had some goat's cheese in the fridge that had to be eaten. I double checked the Monash app to see if it was safe and was ever so pleased to see that it was indeed safe on FODMAPs and I could go nuts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This recipe I'm about to share is one that a friend used at a dinner we had years ago that I remembered fondly. But it included puff pastry and honey, so I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to use it again. But with the gluten free pastry and my new homemade <a href="http://scienticiankate.blogspot.se/2014/07/making-my-own-golden-syrup-tale-of.html" target="_blank">golden syrup</a> I figured it couldn't hurt to try. And I was rewarded. I ate this last night and I can report that today my belly is still happy with me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 sheet of gluten free pastry</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">goat's cheese</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pine nuts, toasted</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">golden syrup </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">milk for brushing</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Method</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Toast the pine nuts in a frying pan</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spread out the pastry on some baking paper on the oven tray</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cut into rectangles and place a piece of goat's cheese at one end</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take 1-2 tablespoons of the toasted pine nuts and sprinkle them over the cheese</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take 1-2 tablespoons of golden syrup and drizzle over the cheese/nut combo</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14834796546" title="Drizzle by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="Drizzle" height="375" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3894/14834796546_2ef536b165.jpg" width="500" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See the lovely drizzle action there? YUM!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fold the pastry over and seal using milk and brush the tops of the parcels with a little more milk</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Into the oven for between 20-30 mins. I based my decision on when to remove them by a browned top and golden syrup leaking out the sides. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Allow to cool for a few mins before serving. Remember the cheese inside is hot. Tasty, but hot. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here is a crappy photo of what it looked like on my knee last night as I ate it in front of the TV. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14834802156" title="Dessert by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="Dessert" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5593/14834802156_e2acc0025a.jpg" width="375" /></a></span></div>
scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-84037909183547531402014-08-02T10:58:00.000+02:002014-08-02T10:58:07.384+02:00Islands, knees and pushing it too hard<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My visit to the rheumatologist just over a week ago was fantastic. She was attentive, took a proper history, drained over 50ml of fluid from my knee and added in some cortisone to help with the swelling. She set me up with a plan to keep my knee functional and I felt good about the plan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I perhaps pushed the newly "recovered" knee a bit hard in the last two days and paid for it yesterday with some swelling, which if I'm entirely honest, set me to panicking. I have no desire to have a hugely swollen and non functional joint for any longer than necessary. And I need to remember that just because it looks normal, or a close approximation thereof, it is not currently normal and needs to be treated with some care. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first mistake I made was to go and visit Brännö on Thursday, an island in the archipelago off the coast of Gothenburg. We walked quite a bit and climbed on rocks and paddled in the water at the little cove we found ourselves at. It might have been a bit much. But check out the overcast, but still lovely view we had. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14620774749" title="Brännö by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="Brännö" height="375" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5564/14620774749_72fdd8ffe5.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sat and watched a group of five geese eat their way across the shoreline while TWO and the boy went and climbed the rocks at the side of the cove. It was all rather lovely to be outside, enjoying the breeze and the warm weather. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day was exactly what I needed mentally. We were unhurried, relaxed, well fed and TWO behaved brilliantly throughout the whole day. She collected shells and threw them in the water, searched for crabs, paddled in the water with me and had a brief snooze in the pram as we walked through the unexpected rain shower back to the ferry. She was entirely convinced that the ferry was actually a pirate ship and was very excited about that fact. We even got to pick some wild blackberries that were growing at the tram stop. I collected them in my hat and we have just a few left in the fridge. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14805045334" title="Tram stop haul by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="Tram stop haul" height="500" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2917/14805045334_f448a8e028.jpg" width="375" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday was possibly a step too far after my island adventure, when I walked with a friend to visit a cafe. We ended up walking about 4km and I'm guessing that wasn't the best idea because I felt the knee start to swell as we walked. Fortunately, rest and ice seem to have done the trick and brought it back down. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My lesson has been learned. I need to exercise, but not that much. It is so difficult to go from running between five and eight km semi regularly to not being able to walk even half that distance without setting off the knee into a swollen rage. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-14584726560854447982014-07-26T16:21:00.000+02:002014-07-26T17:32:59.979+02:00Newest knitting project -Alberni cowl and a challenge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mailleapartir.com/images/frimas_violine_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.mailleapartir.com/images/frimas_violine_1.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mailleapartir.com/images/frimas_violine_1.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">photo source</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We spent last weekend in southern France. We went to visit a friend of mine, Kristin, and her family who had just moved to France recently and with two small kids for TWO to play with, it seemed like a silly idea not to spend a long weekend enjoying all things French.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://kristinpalmer.photodeck.com/" target="_blank">Kristin</a> has just started a photography business specialising in maternity and newborn photography, that link goes to her site, check it out. So we also had a bit of a photo shoot with TWO and her elder son who is just a month older than TWO. If you happen to find yourself around Toulouse, I can highly recommend her skills. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a wonderful time eating lots of duck, drinking lots of beer and wine and Kristin and I got our knit on while the kids rested in the middle of the day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday saw us take a day out without the kids, on the metro into the centre of Toulouse. We ate crepes, wandered around, bought some yarn for a joint remembrance cowl knitting experience (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/alberni-cowl" target="_blank">pattern here</a>), drank coffee on the central square and watched the police chase a Palestinian protest. We got home just in time for dinner. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We plan on having a knit a long of the Alberni cowl using the same yarn in different colours. I've got the raspberry and she has the purple. An easy way to remember our lovely afternoon wandering around the streets of Toulouse and the whole weekend of visiting fun. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cast on today and set myself a challenge. I have wanted to learn to knit like a Swede (ie continental knitting) for a while now. It is supposed to be faster than English knitting and better for colour work, which I have intentions of getting into. But every time I have started a new project, I have been too impatient to slow down my knitting speed to learn it properly. But as I'm knitting along with Kristin, and I know she won't have a chance to cast on for a while, it seems appropriate now to attempt to learn. Wish me luck and patience, I think I will need them both. If you fancy following my progress it will be over at ravelry : <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/scientician/alberni-cowl" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.mijnwebwinkel.nl/winkel/knotjewol/full29957723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://static.mijnwebwinkel.nl/winkel/knotjewol/full29957723.jpg" height="320" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.mijnwebwinkel.nl/winkel/knotjewol/full29957723.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">photo source</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-52297781427595669962014-07-23T13:40:00.000+02:002014-07-26T16:27:37.758+02:00Making my own golden syrup, a tale of laziness combined with too much time on my hands -FODMAPS friendly<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14724279862" title="golden syrup number the two by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="golden syrup number the two" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3921/14724279862_3cb1bd17f8.jpg" width="375" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last winter I was trying to make something that I could eat for my Swedish class's Xmas party. I thought I would make the Australian classic biscuit, ANZACs. Great idea, I thought. The only problem was I didn't have any golden syrup. I also didn't have the desire to go out in the December weather, I think it was snowing at the time, to go and buy some syrup. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that's what led me to google how to make my own. How hard could it be, I reasoned? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It turned out to be not so difficult once I learned a few more things that the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksIHlV9T17U" target="_blank">youtube video</a> I was looking at failed to mention, like not stirring while the sugar is caramelising. I managed to repeatedly crystallise the sugar again until I discovered the solution. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The golden syrup was duly made and tasted a bit fantastic. So much so that I was forced to make some more again recently. It now lives in an old jam jar in my fridge and the most recent effort is a little thicker and has a richer, more toffee like flavour to it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you fancy making it, here's what the video will show you, written out for your viewing pleasure. </span><br />
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<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things you will need to have ready:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">100g sugar to start</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with 2 tablespoons water to dissolve</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">500g sugar to add later</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">300ml boiling water. The boiling part is important</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A slice of lemon, or lemon juice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Start with :</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-100g sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-2 tablespoons of water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dissolve the sugar in the water and cook over a medium heat. Unlike the video, don't keep stirring once it is dissolved, but just wait for it to caramelise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it is a good colour add the boiling water, but slowly. It will be very hot and you could get burned. Add about a tablespoon at a time and stand well back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the boiling water has been added, dump in your remaining 500g of sugar and stir until it is dissolved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simmer for about 45 mins with a slice of lemon in there or juice from about half a lemon. What you need is some acid to help prevent crystallisation of the syrup afterwards. So if you don't have a lemon handy, some vinegar would also work. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once it is finished simmering, allow to cool and then sieve out the bits while pouring the syrup into a clean jar. In my case it was an old blackberry jam jar. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Store in the fridge and enjoy. I've been using the syrup for baking and also to sweeten chia seed puddings. I'm not entirely sold on chia seeds. I think they are bit a of gimmick. But the puddings I've made (recipes to come soon) have been tasty, fodmaps friendly, and, the best bit, easy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14537937818" title="golden syrup by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="golden syrup" height="375" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2938/14537937818_bd6f40b0de.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Edit note: There is some debate as to whether invert syrups are entirely safe on the low FODMAPs diet. I've found this one not to be a problem for me personally. But I know that we are all different when it comes to intolerances. So if you are on the elimination phase of the diet, I would perhaps give golden syrup a miss until you are ready for some challenges. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-89579688286820146692014-07-23T13:12:00.001+02:002014-07-23T16:38:35.354+02:00Grateful three : arthritis edition 1<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This post comes to you from my armchair. We have become firm friends in the last month as my knee goes through various phases/stages of swelling. Currently it is sitting on big but not uncomfortable. I have an appointment to see a specialist tomorrow and have my fingers crossed for some kind of plan to deal with it. It is getting more than a bit tedious to be sat indoors, unable to enjoy the warmest summer we may ever see in Sweden. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I figured it was time to remind myself of the good stuff in life and not just the things I'm missing out on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. We got to visit friends in the south of France and I was able to eat without consequences for my gut and TWO had another kid her age to play with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. The boy has been working from home a lot to help me out while TWO is on holidays from dagis. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. I've got friends I can whinge to about the frustrations of having a dodgy knee.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(4. My plants on the balcony didn't die despite being left alone for 4 days at 30 degrees. This is especially impressive because the balcony is glassed in and warms up a treat on a mildly warm day, let alone a scorcher. And yes, 30 in Sweden is a scorcher.)</span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-88081631447653206542014-07-18T05:00:00.000+02:002014-07-18T05:00:00.858+02:00OWL hat <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/13422729754" title="Owl with beads by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="Owl with beads" height="375" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2830/13422729754_5c3f5aa49d.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you know Kate, you know she loves an owl. I think it stems back to the time that I was pregnant with TWO and it was all the rage to have owls on everything. For me it appealed no end and I made good use of the trend. Lots of onsies and wall decals and things with an owl motif. I even sewed a swaddling cloth by hand in an owl print flanellette. This is a demonstration of my enthusiasm for owls, evidence of the boredom I felt at being told to rest from 30 weeks due to premature contractions and an indication that I should have bought a sewing machine in Sweden much earlier than I did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In any case, owls, love em. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A dancing friend of mine, who possibly gives the best hugs known to man, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and was on the search for hats to keep her head warm during winter while undergoing chemotherapy. We both love the 20s in terms of style and I searched until I found <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/owl-hat-4" target="_blank">this</a>. It is almost cloche like (okay not really) and has owls on it! I started it almost immediately in a very soft DROPS 100% alpaca yarn. And would have finished it sooner were it not so difficult to find eyes that I liked. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here you can see it without eyes, and it really doesn't pop in quite the same way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/10982824093" title="owl hat without eyes by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="owl hat without eyes" height="332" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3685/10982824093_84af87f307.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And with a close up of the unworn hat, you can see just how lovely it is. My friend helped me pick the beads to make the eyes after a lovely sushi train lunch in town. After which I was able to hand over the hat, finally, at the beginning of spring. The colour ended up very closely matching her lawn and she sent me a photo of the two together. But I'm not sure if she wants me sharing that photo here. But she wasn't wrong, they matched almost perfectly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even better news than the matching grass to hat situation was that the chemo and radiation have finished. She has an excellent prognosis and her hair is growing back. But I hope that the owl hat gets another go next winter anyway. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/scientician/owl-hat" target="_blank">Raveled here</a></span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-9343699439621218242014-07-16T05:00:00.000+02:002014-07-16T05:00:00.179+02:00Lotta Lotties. Well, two.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/9955460924" title="harryandab by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="harryandab" height="332" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2884/9955460924_f519305f70.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my oldest friends is the mother to two gorgeous girls and lives in Tasmania. She's always been really good at remembering birthdays and occasions and tells amazing stories. I am less good at the remembering birthdays and sometimes get far behind in the gift giving. So early last Autumn as it started to cool down here in Gothenburg, I thought of her girls and what I might be able to make for them for their upcoming winter, some eight months away. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A friend put me onto the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lottie-set" target="_blank">Lottie set</a> and I was immediately delighted. I used a DROPS yarn called Nepal which was so soft to work with at 65% wool and 35% alpaca. Perfect for kids clothes and extra warm for those freezing Tasmania winters. I have a bit of a thing for DROPS actually. I'm not a fan of their patterns, but their yarns are delightful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In any case, I finished them up in what felt like record time and sent them off to the girls. They were well received and worn almost immediately on arrival. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the smaller of the two, a redhead, I picked a natural colour and used purple buttons as an accent. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/9955573213" title="ab1 by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="ab1" height="332" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7385/9955573213_27b25c353c.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And for the bigger of the two, a blondie, I picked a red with wooden buttons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/9955439515" title="harry1 by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="harry1" height="332" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7318/9955439515_0aa250b6ba.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apologies for the lighting in these photos, didn't end up taking them on a particularly light day. And I was under time pressure to try and get them done and sent to Australia before it got too warm. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Such a fun knit with a chunky yarn. I so often work with sports weight and sock yarn that it's nice to get something that knits up quickly. </span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-29560182421318258882014-07-14T22:25:00.000+02:002014-07-14T22:25:26.054+02:00Chicken soup -FODMAPS friendly<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used to make a chicken soup back at uni that was quick and tasty. I got the recipe from my friend <a href="http://www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com/" target="_blank">Steph</a> (link to her website there), and have subsequently forgotten the specific details of it. But there were a few things that stuck out, coriander, ginger and so very much flavour. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So in an attempt to recreate the soup she taught me to make, and to make sure it was low FODMAPs, I made up my own version of her recipe using the <a href="http://scienticiankate.blogspot.se/2013/10/making-chicken-stock-fodmaps-friendly.html" target="_blank">chicken stock </a>that we make regularly at home now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some chicken stock, we usually end up with about a litre</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chicken thigh fillets </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 bunch of fresh coriander/cilantro</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1-2 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">salt/pepper to taste</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">juice of one lemon</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">garlic oil</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp chilli paste (optional)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">small packet of rice vermicelli noodles (optional) </span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Method</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are using the noodles, set them into a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water while you prepare the rest of the soup. Drain after 10 or so minutes and set aside.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fry the ginger in garlic oil on a medium high heat until fragrant and add the chicken pieces.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fry the chicken fillets on the higher heat for a few minutes, until they start to brown/seal. Then add the lemon juice and reduce the heat. Cover.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(I use an electric cooktop because it is almost impossible to get gas in Sweden. By medium high I mean a 5 out of 6 on the stove top. I find when I cook the chicken at a high heat to start and then reduce it I get a better result. When reduced, I take the temperature down to 2)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then use this time while the chicken is cooking further to take the coriander stems, chop them off and crush them with the back end of a large knife. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put the coriander stems into the stock and start bringing the stock to a simmer.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the stock is simmering, add in the cooked chicken and chopped coriander leaves. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cook further for another 5-10 minutes, tasting as you go and adjusting the seasoning. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>To serve:</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put a small amount of noodles in the bottom of the bowl, sprinkle some extra coriander over the noodles and spoon out some soup. If you want to make it a bit spicy, add some chilli paste now. I'm a big fan of adjusting seasoning, including chilli to taste as you go. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photos to come. I made this soup a few weeks ago when the boy was unwell with a nasty cold. He's currently on a low carbohydrate kick and so I excluded the noodles for him, but added them to my meal. It was tasty and easy to make. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-61762128867973888432014-07-14T20:41:00.001+02:002014-07-14T20:43:07.111+02:00Bedtime giggles<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/10497682134" title="ship1 by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="ship1" height="500" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/10497682134_1189008ef4.jpg" width="332" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My girl is rather enamoured of what she refers to as the fish museum. It is actually the <a href="http://goteborg.se/wps/portal/sjofartsm" target="_blank">seafarer's museum</a> and has become a go to venue for after dagis excursions. The only problem is that she often wants to go on a Monday and museums are shut on Mondays. It has all too often been my sad duty to inform her that alas the fish museum is shut.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This evening I was putting her to bed and we were chatting about what we enjoyed most today. We went for an adventure with a friend and her two kids to the beach. TWO rather enjoyed seeing crabs in the water, climbing on the high rocks and swinging on the swings. She then asked me very seriously "Is the fish museum open tomorrow?". When I informed her that it would indeed be open tomorrow she bunched up her fists towards her face and did a Muttley-esque laugh (see video below).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe there will be a visit in the not too distant future. Who wouldn't want to go and visit the gorgeous starfish and coral? </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/13465467993" title="sjöfartsmuseet starfish by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="sjöfartsmuseet starfish" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3805/13465467993_e43eb012f2.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-67189205238824674322014-07-03T09:39:00.001+02:002014-07-03T09:39:26.428+02:00Apologies and an explanation<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been an absent blogger for nigh on a few months now. I'd like to apologise to the three of you that read my blog. Life has been exceptionally busy, my health has been interesting and I've lost my blogging mojo.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I am determined to get it back. I have been busy with lots of craft projects that I desperately want to show off. I have been cooking a bit of low FODMAPs food that has been tasty. I've even made my own golden syrup because I was both bored and lazy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most recent "interesting" health adventure in my life has been the return of my reactive arthritis. 14 years ago I had what was the first of 2 and a bit years of swelling in my left knee. It took six months to diagnose and meant I was predominantly sedentary for a good section of those two years. Two weeks ago the other knee kicked off with unexplained swelling and the left one joined in for shits and giggles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can tell you that there is a distinct difference between being 20 years old and immobile and being 34 with a 3 year old at home and immobile. I now also live two storeys up with no lift. Negotiating stairs has been an entertaining experience. So long as you define entertaining as long, awkward and uncomfortable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The good news in this recent flare up is the following: it didn't take six months to diagnose. It took about a week. I saw a less than fabulously engaged Dr initially who sent me off for an x-ray and gave me some drugs without indicating how long to take them for or asking if I was on any other medication which may interfere. I then returned to see a much more engaged Dr who not only looked at the joint(s) for more than 10 seconds but checked all my ligaments and did a proper history. He even sent me off for blood tests to rule out rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Bloody amazing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since then I've had a failed aspiration of fluid and an injection of steroids into the larger of the two joints and a new prescription for a different anti inflammatory. I have already seen improvement in the last two days. I may even walk down my stairs today like a normal person and save my obliques from a hard few minutes work of lifting my hips up to help clear each step. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a new word of the week coming tomorrow and a recipe for the weekend. I hope that my three followers will look forward to seeing them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll leave you with a picture of one of my recent crafty pursuits. Another puerperium cardi for a newborn. This time I dyed the yarn for the stripes from the same lot as the grey and had a lot of ends to sew in to finish it. But the final result was super sweet and will now be keeping a brand new baby girl warm and snug in a Melbourne winter. So worth all the extra sewing in ends time, methinks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/14143825799" title="M's jumper by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="M's jumper" height="332" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/14143825799_58e10119e8.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-45410635383927245412014-05-08T11:25:00.003+02:002014-05-08T11:25:58.539+02:00I have a bike!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got on a bike yesterday for the first time in seven years. Wheeeeee!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TWO was rather excited to be picked up from dagis yesterday and ride home on the back of Mama's new bike. She insisted that we keep riding through the drizzle, past home and onward to the bike path for a bit of a spin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I already have plans to embellish Belle with some knitted items. Her name is Belle because her former owner (my wonderful neighbour) named her that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-33870706798248361722014-05-06T08:53:00.000+02:002014-05-06T08:53:25.545+02:00Apt Swedish phrase/word of the week - the drinking edition<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Bakfull</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Literal translation : back full/drunk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Actual translation : hungover</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was me on Sunday morning. Saturday night consisted of a party to honour my friend Elma who passed away at the end of January this year. It was a wonderful night with music, dance, joy and tears. I may have been drinking whiskey with friends while I was DJing. I may also have not got much sleep after slipping into bed at 2am and being woken at 6am by TWO. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt entirely bakfull with a horrible headache and tiredness. </span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-35812426842067445322014-04-21T09:24:00.000+02:002014-04-21T09:24:01.928+02:00Street art in the Swedens<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/13898983034" title="hair bow by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="hair bow" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7300/13898983034_802cbd02ae.jpg" width="375" /></a></span></div>
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On our walk to dagis every day TWO and I take one of two different routes. One involves a shared walking/riding pathway. Recently, the path has had extra markings, one of which I think is a nod to Easter. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/13898624463" title="rabbit cyclist by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="rabbit cyclist" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7372/13898624463_4cf06436a9.jpg" width="375" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It makes the trip just that little bit nicer, knowing I will be seeing a pink bow and an orange rabbit on my walk. Especially considering they are at points of the trip that are uphill. I am a lazy bastard, and hills are my nemeses. Evil inclines making me work hard! *shakes fist*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other news, we are attempting to toilet train TWO this Easter long weekend. We have discovered that as long as she is without anything on her lower half, she is more than capable to get herself to the toilet. The second that fabric of any kind is in contact however, we have accidents galore. Not sure how that is going to fly at dagis tomorrow. </span></div>
scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-70055112460187977222014-04-19T07:00:00.000+02:002014-04-19T07:00:02.941+02:00Crayon rolling<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/8694288487" title="crayon roll inside by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="crayon roll inside" height="332" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8255/8694288487_d4f266f360.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My newest go to gift for the toddler set has to be crayon/pencil rolls. I enjoy the process of choosing which of my scraps of fabric are going to be used. It's a bit like the principle I apply with the <a href="http://scienticiankate.blogspot.com/2013/10/scrap-happy-baby-gifts.htm" target="_blank">burp cloths</a> I make for newborn babies. You don't need much fabric and end up with something functional and pretty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made a whole bunch of them as gifts for three year olds on our trip back to Australia. But the one I wanted to show you today was for a friend's daughter, living in Seattle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bought the fabric initially as a remnant</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to make a wheat bag for my running buddy. I used what was left from that to make a </span><a href="https://flic.kr/p/efof25" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">knitting roll</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> as part of a craft swap with my friend. There was just enough to make the matching crayon roll for her daughter. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/8695407898" title="crayon roll rolled by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="crayon roll rolled" height="332" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8544/8695407898_c154f471ab.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really enjoyed this one because I added a layer of fleece in the middle and quilted it together with some turquoise thread. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/8694288505" title="crayon roll back by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="crayon roll back" height="332" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8256/8694288505_976b0f50d6.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am reliably informed that it gets a lot of use, especially when they are travelling. </span><br />
<br />scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-78863347920724231952014-04-17T09:31:00.001+02:002014-04-17T09:31:58.063+02:00Grateful three <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was in the midst of post natal depression after the birth of the wee one, I used to try and get a list of three things I was grateful for together every day. It was a way to help remind myself that there were positive things in the world and that everything wasn't as bad as I imagined.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not depressed anymore, huzzah!, but I am currently suffering from a cold that includes much snot and a sore throat. So I've decided to bring back the grateful three here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. The boy is back from four days away in Korea for work and I am no longer solo parenting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. My strawberry plants have flowers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. I finished a pair of socks that are made from leftover sock yarn that wasn't enough to make a whole pair of socks on their own. They are the kind of socks that just make you happy to look at. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/13894968363" title="leftover socks by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="leftover socks" height="320" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3722/13894968363_959e424436_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/13895336194" title="leftover socks by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="leftover socks" height="320" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3751/13895336194_fa8ab51740_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-74891217058533623792014-04-15T07:30:00.000+02:002014-04-15T07:30:00.773+02:00Swedish word/phrase of the week <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/13465468513" title="sjöpungar by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="sjöpungar" height="500" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2935/13465468513_596e5ef8f5.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Translation : </b>sea squirts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Literal translation: </b>sea pouches or sea scrotums</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wee one and I like to head to the seafarers museum after dagis sometimes. She calls it the fish museum because the ground floor contains an aquarium. I noticed this sign there a few weeks ago and was immediately struck by both the image and my understanding of the word "pung". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I present to you another example of why my brain is a bit like that of a 14 year old. I see smut and silly jokes everywhere. </span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26639316.post-15779185975423673262014-04-14T07:30:00.000+02:002014-04-14T07:30:00.449+02:00When clearing out your crap from your parents, you find the darndest things<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we left Australia in 2009, it was only intended to be a 2 year trip. Some five years later, we are still in Sweden. We have even been granted permanent residency and are allowed to stay indefinitely. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what do you do when you are only going to be away for two years? You leave some useful stuff behind that doesn't fit in a suitcase. Right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exactly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So amongst the pots, pans, crockery, cutlery and linen left in boxes in the shed, I found a lot of my old sewn items and sewing supplies. Including a little pin book I made and the pinking shears I used to make it. Score! Both items fit in my luggage on the way back and will get some good use in the coming months I'm sure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the pin book:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/2980113581" title="pin book by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="pin book" height="375" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3193/2980113581_8684dfa2c3.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It features an applique dog made from fabric I used to make a 1939 dress. And inside it uses the same fabric I used to make PJ pants from and then subsequently dribble cloths for TWO when the PJs got a huge hole in them. That fabric has done some amazing things in the last 9 years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/33874672@N00/2980113589" title="IMGP5087 by scientician_kate, on Flickr"><img alt="IMGP5087" height="375" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3195/2980113589_546a4630d1.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It even had needles and pins still inside and they were still sharp and useful. Winner, winner, chicken dinner! </span>scienticianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759324730554512703noreply@blogger.com1