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The Toddler's Guide... back again!
Posted Jan 30, 2014
So I faffed around for a year or so, but I have finally sorted out a blog for the toddler's guide, now renamed as the Comet will not remain a toddler for much longer.
Here it is: http://kiddingherself.com/
I am mixing revised versions of the ones I started here with new ones. It's fun, although there is much about self hosted blogs which I am finding frustrating.
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Latest reply: Jan 30, 2014
Sol: NaJoPoMo 2013
Posted Nov 1, 2013
So here we are on November 1st *again*. Every year, just like clockwork.
Anyway, one of the things I rarely do at this time of year is mention Halloween. That was so last month. But here goes.
[Brief pause while I go and fish some poo out of the Comet's bath.]
I like Halloween. So we had the neighbours round last night, and got dressed up and so on. The Star was a vampire bat. I am getting quite good at drawing teeth dripping with blood on children's faces. The Comet was supposed to be an evil butterfly but she didn't want to wear her wings so what she mostly looked like was a small enraged Pict, blue being her facepaint of choice. I got carried away and went green, with black trimming round the eyes and mouth. A `witch's outfit is very easy to rustle up when your preferred wardrobe colour is black. Still, next year I think we will try a bit harder. I fancy some tights with cobwebs on.
[Brief pause while I go and decant the Star into the bath.]
The downside to inviting the neighbours round, or rather the neighbours' children, is that today the house looks a little the worse for wear. Still, I can take comfort from the fact that for once I did not bother to spend hours cleaning before having people round, so I am not sure there is a vast amount of difference.
[Brief pause while I go and stop the kids from drowning each other in the bath.]
The upside is that all of us flaked out at 8pm last night and didn't wake up until 8am today. Well, B had to get up at 5, but that's his problem. I am feeling just about strong enough to actually tackle the mess. Wish me luck.
[Prolonged wet and angry sounds from the bathroom while I wash the children's hair.]
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Latest reply: Nov 1, 2013
Kulich
Posted May 4, 2013
At the risk of using these journals as a sort of clippings folder for recipes, I've had a first go at making kulich today, the Russian panacotta-esque bread they make for Easter. It being Orthodox Easter tomorrow, of course. Yes, that is a month after British Easter. Luckily Russians don't go in much for chocolate eggs.
Anyway, I am making the kulich so that the menfolk could go and get them blessed when they go and do alterboy duty this afternoon, this being another Russian tradition. The blessing of the kulich, I mean, not the alterboy bit. Never volunteer is what I say (ha!).
Unfortunately all the recipes I found use dried yeast, rather than fast action yeast, which is all I have time for (note to self, next year, start yesterday). So I am busking a bit.
This rarely works.
750g plain flour
250g butter
Rub the butter intothe flour.
Add I forget how much sugar and the fast action yeast and a pinch of salt.
Separate 5 eggs. Beat the whites until they form stiff peaks. Add to the yolks the rum (I used brandy) which you soaked the raisins I forgot to mention earlier in. Supposedly 100g raisins with 50ml rum, except I think I had more rum (brandy) which is probably a mistake. See below. Add a taspoon of vanilla essence. Add the yols mixture and the whites to the flour and fold in.
That was probably the mistake as you are also supposed to add 350ml of warm milk, but I only got to about half that before the mixture was way to wet and I had to add quite a lot more flour to make the dough firm enough to knead. It's also possible the recipe doesn't need quite that much milk. Or fewer eggs. Or less rum (brandy). But probably next time add more of the milk first.
Knead for ten mins, in the usual manner, let rise for 2 hours in a warm place.
What do people do for warm places without airing cupboards? I had to turn the oven on a bit since the sun wasn;t shining. That can;t be right.
Knock back, add the raisins, add to the custom made kulich pans I don't have, leave to rise again, oven 160-170 degrees celcius for 30-35 mins.
Or at least that's what I will do when the oven warms up.
Kristos voscress, people (now you say 'vieistinu voscress').
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Latest reply: May 4, 2013
Merry Christmas...
Posted Dec 24, 2012
... everyone.
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Latest reply: Dec 24, 2012
On Xmas Tunez
Posted Dec 18, 2012
Today I had my Last Lesson of the term. I am not much of a one for going down the pub with the students, so I invited themk to bring in some food, took along some classic items of British cuisine, and prepared an British Christmas Music Extravaganza.
I am a bit Christmas musiced out now.
But what do you think I played them?
The criteria is this: I wanted to give them an overview of what a British person would recognize as typical Christmas music, both traditional carols and the pop and rock songs. I also wanted to amuse and entertain them. But I also wanted to reflect my own taste a bit too. But at the same time I also had to consider that the students are intermediate level - neither very strong nor very weak.
So? Any guesses?
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Latest reply: Dec 18, 2012
Sol
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