Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Staying up super late at night, picking apples and making pies.

This week has been so very full of new projects. One of the most exciting ones is a new blog one of my dearest friends Lillie, and I started together. Its a collaboration of my love of writing and cooking, her love of photography, and our shared love of good wine and exploring new cafes. So far we have been having the best time putting it together and dreaming up all the things we are planning on blogging about (you can find it at goodtimeswithcherryandlillie.wordpress.com) 






Lately I've been spending quite a bit of time pottering about in my little vegie patch. I dream about turning our tiny back yard into a small farm, much to the dismay of one of my housemates. A few weeks ago I voiced the idea of getting a bee hive and unfortunately this was met with very little excitement. I think I am just a little bit homesick for the outdoors, and want to feel a tiny bit more self sufficient. For now I have a few herbs flourishing, salad greens growing, and I have sowed all my seeds for winter. They are poping their heads up through the soil and growing strong. I was so surprise to watch them sprout, which is silly, as thats what they are meant to do. All the same I felt a small thrill to think "I put those seeds in the ground and they are growing!" I have also taken to wearing some wonderful ripped jeans, red gumboots, and checked shirts, in an attempts to look country chic. Realistically I probably just look like a bit of a dag, but Im pretty ok with this. 
 


Apart from my gardening ventures I've also been baking a lot of pies. This was inspired by the song 'Fake Empire' by 'The National.' Its this beautiful song about picking apples and making pies. I listen to it when I first wake up to drag my weary head away from my pillow. This is especially helpful at 3am. It started with a blueberry pie, then I made an apple pie for work, and yesterday the grandest of all pies was made, a whisky and chocolate, caramel meringue pie. It was pretty epic. 


I best be off, as I have a batch of cookies in the oven and a tone of jobs to do. Hope your day is lovely. 

Friday, May 16, 2014

Ladies Who Lunch.

Today was one of those glorious sunny days in Melbourne. Everything was so lovely, except for me. I woke in the worst mood. I tried everything to lift it. I made a pot off coffee, it didn't help. I went for a bike ride, it didn't help. I did some baking, but had no luck. There were jobs to get done, I had catering work to do, and I just didn't care for it. I had organised a little lunch with two off my best friends and by the time they arrived I was relieved to see them holding bottles of wine. "Is it too early to crack open a bottle now" one of the girls asked. I looked at her sternly and said "I fear it may be too late already!" With that we poured ourselves some wine, moved the dining room table outside into the sunshine, and started to work our way through a feast or a lunch and a blueberry pie. My bad mood melted away, and I felt so grateful for such cheering friends. 



As it often does, one bottle turned into two, and before we knew it the day had nearly passed and we were sitting around full and a little tipsy. The perfect way to spend the day really. I love long lunches where you have time to talk for hours and don't have to rush off anywhere. I think being 24 may be the best year I've had yet. There is so much time for doing all the good things in life, and I spend my time at work baking luscious cakes. 

I hope your afternoon was sunshine and wine drenched. 

Monday, May 12, 2014

Byron Times, and Whisky Drinking.

I know I always blog about how much I love winter, but Im pretty stoked that its here and starting to set in. Im starting to think about winter projects and all the great things Im planning on doing. One of my best friends and I are planning a pretty great side project blog........I'll keep you posted on that one as it comes together. 

Last time I wrote I was feeling pretty inspired about doing some cooking and having a crack at my first building project, which is now complete. I built a little crate for the back of my bike to make it easier for carting around wine and cakes. These days I go everywhere on bike, and with the extra storage space it makes life extra easy. 

Last week I took a little trip up to Byron Bay to have a holiday with my sister. We stayed in a little beach like self contained shack. It was beautiful, but the best thing about it was that it was only two minutes walk from a little whisky bar called 'The Road House.' I think its a newish place. During the day they serve breakfast and lunch and at night time they stoke up a big fire, cook beautiful rustic food and sell a huge selection of whiskies. There was also a pretty great (although small) wine list. My sister and I set up there for most of our holiday, drinking and reading books, only venturing out to other places in search of other restaurants and well.....more wine. If you happen to be passing though Byron anytime soon I very much recommend you check it out.   

After a trip away I felt so happy to come back to my little patch of Melbourne. The week ahead is quickly filling up with dinner parties with friends, catering work, and shifts in the kitchen, but today Im spending a little time pottering around my garden, baking a whisky a pear tart from Donna Hay's most recent magazine (Im all about whisky at the moment, and luckily so is Donna Hay.)

Hope your enjoying all the winter weather, and baking some treats at home too!