Happy Friday

Have a good weekend!

 We shall be enjoying sharing our small local alleys and island treasures with sweet visitors,  (some of you may know) and then it is away to New York to be with family and friends for the funeral. 

So see you all in a week or so! 

Necessity the mother of invention

My recent fix for the problem of earring storage, a strip of cloth attached to the inside hinges of our wardrobe doors, it's proving very handy. If any of you find your self in the same boat, this solution only takes an hour ( I did it by hand but with a sewing machine it would take 5 min).  Measure the distance between the hinges first. Then you make a fold at the top and bottom of the cloth strip, add a small tie through the loop at the back to tie it on at the top and bottom and your set! It in no way interferes with the opening or closing of the door.

  

Looking forward

Thank you for all for your  thoughtful comments. Traveling state side in a weeks time for the funeral, looking forward to seeing my sisters, brothers, nephews, uncles, aunts and parents.

Recently the Mr and I walked down to this restaurant(Lupanara) in Birgu, it is literally built into a cave, along the backside of Fort St. Angelo, which dates back to the Phoenician period. Was a nice evening, and sitting out near the water we managed to catch a wee whisper of a breeze (the heat has been a little overwhelming these last weeks). 

**Side note. Am reading a book called the Sword and the Scimitar which describes the period when this area was a thriving hub of activity (1560's) - a good read if you like history and are at all interested in Malta. 

• Needing a little smile? Have a look here ! 

Feasts ad farewells

It's the village feast of where the Mr. is from, so we have been out amid the festivities of St. Helena in Birkirkara (as also seen last year). Band marches, endless fire works, music and great enthusiasm (even with the thick humid heat).

Alice T. Winfield

My mind is not here though, we received news that my grandmother passed away suddenly, and without having the chance to say good by or to speak to her one last  time makes my heart feel like lead. These are the moments when living so far from family and old friends is difficult. It had been a year and a half since last I saw her. To be fair she was 97 years old. Until the day she died she was still reading the New York Times, a lady who wore berets tipped to one side in the winter time, could argue with the best of them about any given topic, loved to travel (and did a fair amount- from Kathmandu to Cuba). She was an optimist who was always willing to have a conversation with a stranger, a curious, tennis playing gal, my hero.  The woman who taught me to play cards, to swim in the sea, to iron a shirt and to drink afternoon tea. We share the same feet, hands and eyes.  

The world feels slightly duller with her not in it. 

 I will be taking a few days leave from the blog.  

Amid the heat

Some places to put pencils and paintbrushes 

(thought it was about time to put some of those old cans to good use and I do so like oil cloth). 

Reversible headbands for the girls 

ohhh and a new Ice cream! 

Carol Jean I call it (after my mother who first introduced the glorious combination of 

dark chocolate and orange to me)

This recipe is much like Zanzibar (found here) except using 75 grams dark unsweetened cocoa, and the 3/4 cup sugar needs to be brown sugar, when you simmer the milk and chocolate add in one strip of an fresh orange rind (roughly two inches by half inch wide), a 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla and be sure to remove the peel before adding the cream. 

It is very good, the chocolate being dark, the orange a solid hint without being overpowering.  

Taking time to ....

give thanks.... (as inspired from this blog).
 Thanks so much Melissa for pointing it out!

Taking a moment to give a small momentary thanks -
- to the scrawny old man across the ally from us (their front stoop five feet from our door) who is blasting out old Elvis records ( am all shook up is echoing through the stone ally at the moment in the noon day penetrating sun)

- to the quiet few hours my husband gave me while he takes the children to the park and shopping ( I can clean and run errands in complete blissful peace.... podcasts filling my morning). Long lines at the post office with no stress.

- to the breeze that gave a short reprieve from the down ward beat of the sun and which made me look up at the rustling leaves of a fig tree heavy with fruit leaning out beyond the school fence.

- to the three boys racing in our ally, cheering and hooting  with the thrill of the competition,  they made me fondly remember those care free never ending summer days of when I was a child.

- to the chance  this morning to give my full attention to a particular story on womans hour- (knitted lives) oh  how it made me smile.... what full of life women!!! What a delightful project. It appeals on so many levels. The knitted swimming shorts excerpt a particular hoot.

- to the cool dancing police guys in this video who made me want to get up and move too.

- and lastly thanks to my middle child (whom I tend to worry most over) who yesterday made me smile with her cuddly soft caress as she layed down for a mid day nap next to me, kitten purring between our shoulders, the fan rhythmically beating on and blowing gently the small curl by her temple... these are some of the moments my spirit appreciates.

And you? Which things could you give thanks for today or yesterday?

Happy Friday

to one and all..

Dash assisting T in rescuing a paper airplane

wooiee there is nothing like hot weather and trying to do a few errands with three kids in tow... some moments are fine, even nice, and fulfilling in that parental sort of way, kids singing and skipping down shady alleys. Tanned legs cheerly making their way past beaming stooped over grannies sweeping doorsteps and past crowds of old men standing or sitting in the shady part of the piazza  drinking small glasses of sweet tea.

Then come the testing grating on your nerves moments when not shouting takes every bit of strength you have, like when you have gone to the bank and your 6 yr old boy scoots up very close in order to get a very good view to the random lady trying to get money out of atm machine in front of us, at the same moment curly topped older girl child teases your younger girl child in stroller -within seconds come a few high pitch screams and the loud sound of the  aluminium water bottle clanging onto the stone floor,  ..it rolls, knocks past to older already annoyed  people waiting in the hot sun and on into the street and traffic - just at the moment you are trying to explain to said 6 yr old - please give the lady some space... atm machines are a time for PRIVACY (for lack of a better word)(privacy a relatively newly introduced term in the house). This slightly chaotic moment is then topped off with curly topped middle child (who is obsessed with finding coins)  screams she has found a MONEY!!!! Younger child (aka destructo) demands A MONEY TOO!!!! I NEED A MONEY!!!!

Moving right along that was peanuts next to the crowded hard ware store experience.... waiting in line, having various small hands belonging to my wee tribe nearly tipping over huge rolled up hoses, black shade material, aluminium trash cans neatly stacked up as I wait in the short but sloooowwww line (and get skipped by a stocky old lady) what can I do?! Arguing in Maltese is not my strong suit. Finally when it is my turn, I try to explain what I mean by a glue gun. Meanwhile boy child insists I ask them for sparklers.. first time I ignored his interrupted question but upon the fifth repeat I finally excuse the child, tell him off quietly and then start trying to explain what a sparkler is in sign language.. with two old men behind the worn out dusty counter looking very very confused... cake candles is what they eventually handed to me... so yes, coming home, out of the sun, is heaven sent.. time for  huge juicy peach and banana smoothies..(the peaches in Malta are absolutely delicious right now) what else can cure frayed nerves right?
I won't bore you with the next thing asked for (aside from painting all the windows with random paintbrushes and muddy water and setting the kittten up in his own boat... in the kiddy pool). Actually (  I only just narrowly rescued the poor little guy from his sea fairing  adventure .. much to the extreme dismay of child 1,2 and 3). Its not even lunch time. Sometimes half a day with the 'tribe' is like one bumpy and uphill treck.... some nice sights and sounds, loving lovely moments but there is no way around the fact that it takes heaps of energy and patience.

For sanity I find a run down to this bay as the sun comes up helps me keep my cool, in moments of being pulled (sometimes literally) in three or four directions. 

Wee little gift I made this week for a friend thinking of making another for the shop...

Zanzibar ice cream

Named more for an ice cream  I remember loving as child then the exoticness it may allude to. 

Now I am not exactly sure if there ever really was a Zanzibar ice cream that I tried as a child but I seem to remember it and it was most certainly a dark chocolate type (I come from the midwestern state of Wisconsin known for it's dairy products, ice cream being one found in unusual abundance). 

Here is my version of the Zanzibar Ice Cream

  (or dark chocolate ice cream with a hint of mint)

2 cups full or 2 percent milk

3/4 to cup dark cocoa powder ( I used dark Perugina powder) 

(Picture shown) 

*of note, I am  not entirely sure if it is just dark unsweetened cocoa powder or perhaps something you make the thick hot Italian hot chocolate with. 

4 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar ( I used a tiny bit less than this) 

1 cup single cream

1 spring fresh mint

Heat two cups milk in a medium saucepan. 

Mix 3/4 cup cocoa powder with the milk.

add 3/4 cup sugar ( I used demurera but any plain sugar would do) 

* I like my chocolate ice cream to be on the dark and bitter side as I like to taste the chocolate so you may want to add a little more sugar).

Let the mixture heat just to a gentle simmer (then add one three inch spring of fresh mint) and watch closely so as not to burn for 2-5 min, stirring continuously. Then remove from heat ( also remove the soggy mint spring) and add the 1 cup single cream (in the US it may be safer to use double cream) (here single cream whips just like double cream, only difference I can see is single cream is a little less thick to start with and it is near to impossible to find double cream).
Separately beat 4 egg yolks till fluffy,  (should be ribbon like when you bring a whisk through).
Add the heated milk and cocoa mixture in a tiny smooth stream to the whipped egg yolks, and when completely combined bring the mixture back to the stove top and heat slowly till it thickens enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, remove and let cool , then refrigerate for a few hours and lastly pour into ice cream churner (this recipe makes about 10 two scoop servings).

The weeks are galloping by at an unusual pace here, sorry I have not managed to write many posts or leave many comments. amid visitors and neolithic temple reading here I have been working on some sewing commissions. But here are a few tiny snippits of the week, 

The season of village feasts, Birgu (our close neighbour) had hers on Tuesday. The sound of fire works and marching bands have been a constant all week. 

Going out, and enjoying skirts ( I go through phases of forgetting to wear them) 

but ahh in summer heat they are the best!

Little creations- oil cloth bag for kids

Happy Monday

Nothing like a full weekend of activities and nice slow meals with friends to help the back to business of Monday mornings! Am coasting from the nice talks, new faces and interesting films caught at this weekend's short film festival. 

Hope your week is starting off well.

oh!

I tried out a very tasty new recipe - Zanzibar chocolate ice cream I am calling it- recipe to come soon! Swimsuits to rinse and hang on the rooftop and kitty boxes waiting to be cleaned... 

more soon though! 

p.s. Isn't Zibibbo a fun name for a grape?!   

Like some old time roving hobos

Pokey Lafarge and the 3 c's

This made me smile SMILE .. late last  night while sewing.... perhaps I am missin my lil sister and her guitar playing  (and making) husband... this music makes me think of them. Seems straight out of a different era. I like this guy's face- he is like a living cartoon or something. 

What a name ...Pokey. Find more info here.

day dreaming

So when I am not deep in history books I may be found, sitten in the sun, feet in the kiddy pool, sippen home made lemonade and dreamin of having something like this (found here) in one room or another of my itty bitty house... you see I do miss the constant sight of trees... life in Malta brings with it the constant sight of stone, and at this time of year with the light from the reflection of the sun so intense that there is not much to do but look down. 

A good simple lemonade recipe (makes 2 litres of lemonade concentrated). 

You only need to pour about an inch and half in a tall glass and fill the rest with ice, cold water and a sprig of mint (dash of rose water is pretty nice if you have some on hand- trick from a Lebanese roommate back when I was at University).

7 lemons

600 grams sugar

1.5 litres water

step 1. squeeze the lemons and set aside the juice (reserve two of the rinds).

step 2. boil the sugar in the water along with the lemon rinds - till it has boiled for at least  5 min. 

step. 3 remove rinds and let the water cool, once cool combine with the lemon juice and store in fridge.

whoolaaaa you are good to go for at least a few weeks! 

  

Changing gears

Hannibal Crossing the Alps

With the start of August comes a shift in focus... my head is in the books now days... preparing for teaching this fall... Maltese and European History... oh my is there a lot to cover! Luckily it's fascinating... 

Malta was truly in the cross paths of one Empire after another! 

Friday already?!

 Ode to Jumble sales

jumble sale, garage sale, car boot sale ,flea market.. call it what you like..I'm a fan. 

It's like treasure hunting.

 I heard this little piece this week and thought  of ways I could hop over to London... I just love the idea of combining jumble sales and an afternoon out.

 There is no chance of finding anything close to it here. 

click on link to hear the radio clip.

Bit of local flea market bounty. 

(Every time I catch a glimpse of the blue pitcher it makes me smile.. )

The boy child of mine digs his new tin plane. old wind up toys never run out of batteries.  

Ode to small creatures

So charmed by our time kitty sitting that we decided to enlarge our little family and get one of our own.  Meet Dash our newest addition! 

If he is not causing the children to burst out in excited giggles and squeals as he leaps and bounds after string or stray flip flops  he can be found curled up purring on my shoulder or lap as I sew or attempt to type.  

I grew up having all sorts of pets; 

dogs, cats, birds, mice, hamsters, rabbits and it has to be said I spent a good deal of my teenage years rescuing and raising baby squirrels, rabbits and birds. 

After  a 17 year gap I once again have a small furry creature at my side... 

I can't tell you how happy it makes me! 

And yes, the market last night went well!! So busy though (with customers and crazy winds blowing things willy nilly) that I neglected to take even a single photo! Sorry. 

It was worth all the effort of this last month (many a sewing session at 4:30 AM). Am feeling so relaxed now...time to clean up the neglected corners of my house and sweep away the sewing trail!

Happy Monday to you all! 

Feeling a little daring?

Avocado and lime chilled cheesecake

The Mr. had a birthday this week and I indulged in some full on  cooking time- Mexican in all it's flare takes a little bit of time. Mango salsa, baked black bean burritos, some guacamole and this!  I tried to find a cold desert that would go with Mexican and this one turned out better than I expected.  Actually it was delicious, a good finish to a spicy meal on a very hot evening. Click here for the recipe if you want to give it a try.

Happy Friday to one and all

Hope to see some of you here!

Potato salad with capers and lemon

A recent favourite 

dressing: 2 garlic cloves pressed,

 the zest of one whole lemon

fresh rosemary ( 2-3 springs) leaves finely chopped 

2 Tbs capers

olive oil

juice of one lemon

salt and pepper to taste

*small tip - toss the potatoes with the dressing as soon as they are done cooking and leave to cool in the fridge dressed. 

***

Ahh sweet summer sunsets

sandy toes

salty skin

 iced coffee mornings

rushing to do anything or go anywhere quickly is impossible

 the heat is heavy 

May your Monday be slow and gentle

New in the shop

Little bits of bold summer

and for myself an impromptu lab top case (notebook size)

Pockets for pencils and a pen drive

Wednesday's Corner View: me

Not a very easy cornerview.

 I am shy by nature and although I like being behind the camera taking photos, 

I am not very comfortable on the other side. 

 

but here you go... 

plain ole me

For other 'cornerviews' go here. 

Cold mint and pea soup

Having a bit of a heat wave here in Malta so it is time once again for some cold soup. 

This is one of my favourites, simple and so refreshing!

COLD MINT AND PEA SOUP

2 onions chopped
1TBs butter
1/4 cup fresh mint
450 grams peas (frozen is fine)
450 ml vegetable stock
400 ml milk
single cream to garnish

Step 1. sauté onions in butter till translucent.
step 2. add in mint, peas and stock and cook on low heat for 30 min.
Step 3. Take off the burner,  add the milk and puree. Place in fridge to chill for at least two hours.
Step 4. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve with a drizzle of cream.

Also of note this week in the Francalanza house hold is we have been kitten sitting for this sweet fella. He will be very missed when his owner returns to collect him tomorrow.

Today's impromptu muffins were plum and almond..which turned out to be delicious!

General recipe follows (as once again it was spur of the moment and not from a book).

PLUM AND ALMOND MUFFINS

175 grams margarine (keeps it moist when baking with fruit)
200 grams brown sugar
3 eggs
400 grams self raising flour (if not using self raising add around 2 tsp to plain flour)
pinch of salt
150 grams ground almonds
6-8  red plums cooked down and pureed (I had them on hand in the freezer)
1/2 cup milk

Start with the margarine, add the sugar and mix in the eggs, next add the flour and almonds and last the wet ingredients (you can alternate the wet with the dry of course).

makes 24 muffins.

*Often if I buy more fresh plums or peaches then I can possibly eat (or they are not as great tasting as they looked) I cook them down and freeze them to use in smoothies or muffins.

and the winner ...

of last Friday's give away (July 2nd) was chosen with the help of my four year old and her hat. 

Congratulations Janis !!

Will happily be sending something from this sunny rock your way.